I bought my first sewing machine at a garage sale almost 30 years ago - a Singer99K. My only machine until I inheirited my mother's featherweight (Gram had got it new in the '30s). Ok, used them both regularly. Then a few years ago an odd green machine caught my eye at our local thrift shop. $30 later my Elna Supermatic came into my life! I love that machine. Last year, same shop, a commerical Japanese machine from the 50's. This is a workhorse and hums through canvas, upholstry fabric, plus it came with a complete set of decrotive cams. So, four, and I use them all!

Good question. But to tell you the truth, for me is to secure a backup situation. 2. To not miss out on a unbelievable deal of second bernina, phaff and a $ 40 featherweight. 3. Because it sadden me to see them unwanted at yard sales. And i know they are good machines and i can find a user for them. 4. Its nice to have extras in order to let friends get together. But i still cant explain the reason to adopting them and not be able to let them go to just anyone.

I have 4, a 1920's treadle, a 221 FW, a Viking, a Kenmore and a Singer 301. The 301 is in a beautiful cabinet and I love to sew on it. I has a beautiful stitch and it sit next to to a large window to my back yard... My 221 and Viking go with me to classes and quilt retreats. I learn a long time ago to always have a backup. A lady at a retreat was lucky that I had a spare machine in my car, hers' broke and we were 1 1/2 hrs up the mountains...

I have given away 4 machines that did not mean much to me but were very much needed by others...

I have my MIL's 1896 Singer treadle, my mom's featherweight and my white featherweight found at garage sale for $25. and my small Janome that I do all my piecing on..and looking to upgrade soon..

Sewing, featherwt. Serger, whats left of an emb machine. Two other given to me that ill donate.

I have several machines because I can't find a machine that "does it all". I used my Bernina 830 Record for over 30 years but once I started quilting, the harp space was too small to quilt King sized quilts. My Janome 6500 FM quilts well but is not a great piecer. My Husqvarna #1 Plus has lots of wonderful stitches but the harp is too small. My Featherweight is great to take out to Stitch and Share for straight stitching but I can't quilt large quilts with it. My Singer 201 is a heavy duty fast stitcher for mending coveralls and making buttonholes with the old Singer buttonholer but won't do anything but straight stitch. If only they would make the perfect machine I'd buy a new one!

And what might this new child be called? :)





Me?? ... two machines ... had my basic Janome and kept it when I got the Janome 6600. It is there as a spare, and certainly lighter and smaller to take to classes than the 6600. Love them both though the bigger machine certainly is a nicer machine and definitely my preferred at-home model!

I have 4 sewing machines but they each have a different job. My basic Baby Lock Decorator's Choice for piecing, the Pfaff GrandQuilter on the frame for quilting, a self threading Baby Lock Serger and a Baby Lock Coverstitch for hemming knits & silkies!

I am addicted to buying, I have too many machines. ;) A couple are for decorating, cute ones, and a featherweight I just wanted to have, and an extra.