Would anyone lend one of their sewing machines?
 

Well we started a group of young ladies to tie comforters and most of them do not know how to sew. We are tying denim comforters for a non-profit and so we have a bin of denim squares to make more tops. The machines that have been donated to the church are missing parts (drop in bobbin cover) and another if frozen.

Anyway I said that i would think about taking my sewing machine to use next Tuesday evening....now I am rethinking it. I think I would rather spend some $ and donate one rather than risk my $500 machine.

My friend said that she is taking in one of hers...she picked this one up at an auction for $35. and I cleaned and oiled it for her. I am feeling selfish. I still have an old Kenmore and a Singer 301 in cabinets.

No I would not lend any of my 6 sewing machines.

I have (somehow!) acquired a stable of vintage machines that I use to teach 4-Hers to sew. I've had no problem with featherweights, 99s or other old workhorses in the hands of beginning sewists. Boys really like the sewing machines - especially when you also insist they learn to clean and oil them. I, of course, am confident enough in my skills that I can keep them running from most mishaps. And I've also found that older machines are hard for them to muck up; whereas the newer ones can be pulled off time, subject to thread jams etc. Get the donated machines fixed and running and watch for good old (working) Singers and Kenmores and such. You might try to ensure all the machines take the same bobbins or at least have groups of them. And print off the manuals for reference; just do an online search and invest some money in downloadable pdfs. Just keep them simple. And remember to give the machines periodic breaks.

And yes I've let beginners use my machines. They are fancy computerized ones but so far, there have been no problems.

I wouldn’t loan out my machines. Can you see about getting the donated ones fixed? You could probably also find a used one at the machine repair shop if they’re unable to fix the donated ones for a reasonable cost.

I would have no problem letting someone use one of my machines in a setting like this.

Cari

I always told everyone there were three things I would never loan, my husband, my records, and my sewing machine. That was in the 60's and 70's and still holds true today.

I have shared my machines teaching young girls. Never had a problem.

i would lend an older mechanical one but not a computerized one. Especially for denim.

That’s a tough question...I have and am happy to loan my machine to someone who knows how to sew and is consciencienous, however I’m not sure about someone who is inexperienced. I guess as long as I would be present to oversee the care and handling of my machine then I would be willing to take one for the team.

I sew with a group at church and I've become responsible for donated machine maintenance. (DH has also been known to do a wonderful refinish on cabinets) Love those old mechanical Kenmores except they are heavy.

Since I am a retired Home Economics teacher I am in favor of using my machines to help others learn to sew. I have several machines, vintage and new. I use them all. I see no problems with sewing denim squares. Just be sure to use the proper needle and thread. I would certainly be on hand to teach someone before turning them loose on their own. I love to sew and quilt and I want others to love it also-so I have a measure of responsibility. I would not use machines that I knew to have problems-that is discouraging.

I do it all the time, in a school setting and in my home. No problem for me as long as I am present to keep an eye on how things are going.

I don't think you're being selfish at all.
I wouldn't loan my Bernina to anyone for any reason! If I loaned one of my older machines I would still want to be there.
Do what you are comfortable with.

I don't see how an old Singer or Kenmore could get hurt by use. All the adults I have taught to sew were intimidated by a machine and were cautious about using.

If you were closer to me, I'd give you 10 or so to give away. they would all be fully functional. I'm trying to pare down my collection and have 50 machines pulled.

I would never loan out on of my newer machines, they are too easy to break. The older vintage ones are workhorses.

The only way I would lend one of my machines is if the sewer was experienced in using one. Have learned my lesson doing that. Wished you were close, when we bought "The Fish Camp" 3 machines were left behind. We have 2 of them working. Want to get the 3rd working before we donate them.

A friend and myself started a quilting group for charity. We have grown so much in size, that many of the ladies choose to bring their own machines. I brought my Pfaff 1475 and let people use it as long as they know how to sew. We also had an old Pfaff mechanical donated, and it has yet to be used because of the weight and many of the ladies either have their own, or they prefer something a little newer. We also purchased a "cheaper" Brother on a Black Friday special and that one has been used often. Another woman has her own machine, but donated her mother's Singer mechanical and it is sewn on as well.

I would check with a sewing machine shop and see if they would consider fixing the two machines that were donated to you since you are sewing for charity. Of course, it would be on their schedule since they would do this for"free". Offer, of course, to pay for parts( a bobbin cover shouldn't be that much). Most sewing machine repair shops can tell you quickly what parts would cost and if they are available. You could then decide if it would be too costly for parts to get the machine up and running.

I have no problem with letting someone use older, vintage machines, because as stated before, they're near indestructible, although heavy. But with that said, there are certain machines that I would not let anyone use, except for myself.

As stated before, I also would run off the manuals(at least how to thread and wind bobbin). This is what I did done on the older Pfaff as it came with no manual. Beautiful machine and I wouldn't hesitate to sew on it. I also have been somewhat designated to be the "repair" person for the donated sewing machines. Many times, it is a threading issue or sometimes tension when things go out of whack all of a sudden.

I bought my machine many years ago for a thousand and I would never lend mine either. Not too long ago i read a posting from someone just starting sewing who had borrowed a machine. she messed it up and then wanted help. I told her to stop, put it all back and give it back to owner. I would hate to be in that room when she did.
sewing machines are a personal thing and too costly to not take care of.

I wish I was closer to you. Our small group of Mission Sewing meets at my place weekly. 2 of the 5 ladies are older and unable to carry their machines to our mtgs. This does prompt me to check with my dealer for cheap used machines. Good luck with your downsizing.

Yes, this.

I have a couple older machines I was gifted or bought at GW or yard sales to use for things like this. They are very basic but in good working order. My good machines don't leave my sewing room. Even my kids, that know what they are doing have to ask before they use them. doesn't happen often, but they all do love my Juki for certain things.
May not be practical for many but since I work with 4-H kids it works for me. Our clinics were successful enough we were able to buy several identical basic machines so none of us has to bring our home machines.

I would lend out my Singer 237s - they are very basic - the down side to them is that they are heavy. The sewer would have to sit still for a "how-to" on how to thread the machine, winding the bobbin, how to insert the bobbin, and how to change the needle.

If the person is not willing to go through that part of using my machines, no deal.

I won't even touch some of the newer, fancier machines for fear of messing them up.

I would not let someone I didn't know borrow one of my machines if I wasn't there. If I was there in a class setting, I would have no problems letting someone sew on any of my machine.

My machines are all vintage except for my cheap Brother that is just for taking to classes. The vintage machines are sturdy and I got them for cheap. I've lent them to friends for extended periods of time when someone's primary machine is in the shop. I make sure they are threaded correctly and set up for the appropriate use (quilting or zigzagging for example), along with basic supplies in a kit.

A friend of mine is giving me her old Bernina, even used it is worth more than all my machines put together and more than my computer, but less than my car. That machine will not leave my sight/house ever.

I have to agree with others, if you have some vintage machines, I would use those, wouldn't want to chance new "students" using a modern machine. But maybe what would be better, is to have some sewing machine and sewing lessons first.

Same here. Only for it's my husband, my cars or my sewing machines. :D

I don't loan out my machines. They are pretty important to me. Maybe it's selfish but in the past when I have loaned something, it either didn't come back or came back damaged.

Had a friend that was interested in getting started making quilts - after seeing the sewing machine she had - it was pretty bad - I gave one of my machines to her... She is sewing and quilting up a storm - so happy for the spare machine that was just sitting in the closet.

I agree with Zozee. I had one friend that wanted to use my Gammill, but tactfully put her off as she screws up the threading, tension, etc, etc on all of her own machines. She even tried to sew on my Elizabeth one day after I just had used it and she couldn't get it to work. After she left, the machine sewed just perfectly.

Patrice I must disagree. But then we are nearing the end of a 6 month reno and have done most of the work ourselves. There have been many times I would have traded my DH for a featherweight or a faster work person or a person I could fire....

Our neighbour constantly tells us that she is amazed at the amount of work that we have done ourselves. I am not amazed at it and honestly, if finances allowed, I would have loved to just supervise.

Okay back to subject. Yes I will allow other people to sew on my machines within reason as stated before. My 'vintage machines' --just two are not up for use. But I am teaching my DGD's to sew on my Janome Jem that has speed control.

My Pfaff 5.0 is only mine and no one touches it!!!

No way. I recently gave away one of my machines to someone who needed one. Yesterday, on eBay, I purchased the same vintage machine, new in box, for $47. It will probably need servicing after being in a box for years, but I have a great service guy who specializes in vintage machines. I had three identical machines, one the feed dogs won't stay up. The other two were in great working order so I gave one away. But history has proved that I should not loan my machines (especially if I like them).

I lent a sewing machine to someone who knew a bit about sewing and I knew she would take care of it.
Otherwise, no.

As a retired educator, I could not bear for a young sewist to be without a machine if it were in my power to provide one. I first gifted my "old" Morse to one of my high school students to take off to college years ago. That was back when most of us only had one machine. I gave an inherited Singer rocketeer to a cafeteria lady friend who spent the weekend sewing drapes by hand because she could not afford a machine. Mama would have loved this. A gentleman doing some extended work for us wanted to know if I thought he could make his girlfriend bras. He knew how to sew. I showed him how and he left with a Necchi Nova in a cabinet that I purchased for $15 all accessories included.There are more gifting opportunities I could share. The point is, I seem to attract inexpensive or free "giftables" and rehome them. Nearly all were mechanicals.

I appreciate those who have personal machines that fit them like favorite old shoes. I have a new speedy straight stitch only Janome that I could not live without. And I can see the problem with giving or loaning some persnickety electronic machines. I have been fortunate to cast my sewing machines out into the world only to discover that replacements find their way to me so that giving opportunities down the line can be met. I'd take the risk.

As long as I wasn't leaving my machine, I would let anyone use any of my machines - some that have cost $1,000's. I feel if I am confident that my machine will easily sew what is being sewed, that it has the proper needle and is threaded by me; there should be no problem. A quick lesson on the importance of letting the machine feed the fabric and not pulling it through should be all that is needed for most new sewers. You can usually id those that should not even be allowed to use a hand needle, let alone a machine - LOL. No problem, I like to encourage sewing - I have let me daughter, when she was 10 years old, use any of my machines after a few lessons. I think the most important thing is what you are comfortable with - not what someone else would do, as you are the one that would have to live with any of the consequences.

Nope, thousands of dollars for my machines.....no experience in this group.....no way. Not selfish, just smart.
Check with local quilt shops, sewing machine dealers, post on church bulletin board.....you might be amazed at the donations. Best wishes.

Long ago I learned to never loan anything that I would be upset if it was lost or broken. Better the person asking and told "no" getting mad than me never forgiving them. I have had a student break my extended table while I was helping her learn to sew. Upsetting but no big deal. Sometimes schools sell used machines they are no longer using. They are usually pretty sturdy machines. Also watch Craig's list.

I bought my granddaughters a sewing a machine, but they did not care about sewing. They loaned the machine to a church sewing event and it never worked again.

There's a reason I send my husband off to work and hire someone for all the renovations on our house (and there have been a lot because we bought it as a fixer upper). I can fire them if they don't do what I want. :D

I would (and have) lent my sewing machines and my serger out several times. Everyone but one was a sewist but everyone treated them just fine. They are machines and they are meant to be used and I am happy to loan them to someone who will take care of them. I loaned my Juki 2010 to a fellow quilter who wanted to try it out, the only problem I had is missing it!

NO, I do let my grandchildren use my machines when they sew with me but that is as far as I would go with taking it out for someone else to use. My machines are high end Berrnina and Featherweights

Oh how I wish we were closer to each other. I have been tasked with disposing of 3 machines from my church quilt ministry. Sadly I have a vintage machine in cabinet with accessories and feet i cant even give away. I fear all 3 will end up in landfill. I may be able to sell some accessories. Or not. So sad.