What was your very first sewing machine, and how old were you?
#111
My first machine was a Kay-EE Sew Master hand crank machine that did a chain stitch. I still have it sitting on a shelf in my sewing room. I was around 8 years old. I then moved "up" to mom's Singer tredle machine and made my first dress for me when I was 10.
#112
My first and only - Singer 401A. My mother sewe so there was always a sewing machine out in our dining room. In the late 50's her Singer bobbin case broke and at the time Singer Co would leave a machine to use while yours was being fixed. The salesman left this 'new' Singer 401A. It zig-zagged, did stitching patterns using various discs. I was in high school and came straight home every day to use the machine. One day my mother's machine was returned BUT the Singer 401A was still on the dining room table. My father and mother bought it for me! - my Christmas, Birthday, and Graduation Present - all in one! My uncle made a cabinet 5 feet long to fit exactly in the bay window of the room. The sideboard went into the garage so I could have the space. I had it overhauled once and the repairman wanted to buy it from me. He admitted it was the last machine all metal and a gem. The 50th reunion of my high school graduation was celebrated last year and I and my Singer are still going strong!
#113
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Carolinas
Posts: 239
I bought my own first machine when I was 18. It was a Kenmore and I paid $100 for it, used it hard for 10 years including making my wedding dress (a case study in beginner sewing errors!), then I got $100 trade-in to buy a Pfaff. I wasn't crazy about the Pfaff and traded it for my Bernina 1130 nearly 30 yrs ago. The Bernina is staying with me!
#114
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 416
I learnt on a treadle Singer, when I was 20 I bought a Necchi, which I hated dearly , the thread would nestle every time you started a seam. My husband bought me a Pfaff which I used to raise my family. One night my daughter used it to make a fur animal, she broke it so good that I bought the newest model of Pfaff at the time, the 1415. I know that some machine can perform more but I still hold to it dearly.
#116
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Battleground,IN
Posts: 1,496
My very first machine my DH bought me for Christmas the second year we were married it was a singer I used it so much making craft items and clothing items for family I wore out the gears. It was basic machine but earned it's keep.
#117
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Springfield, Ohio
Posts: 5,446
Mine was a Royal portable machine. I lived in California and was a young married, so being away from home I didn't have mother's machine to use, so she sent me money to buy this machine and it did just fine for several years until I could afford the Singer I wanted. My first Singer was a 401A and it served well for 14+ years.
#118
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Northeast, PA
Posts: 388
My first very own sewing machine was a Necchi. I was 16 years old and was working part time at the fabric shop. I paid $9.36 a month to purchase it. I used it until about 10 years ago when I purchased a new Elna.
#119
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Northeastern Washington
Posts: 203
I was 11 years old when my mom bought me a Singer 201 in the desk style cabinet with 4 drawers. I still have that machine, cherish it dearly and sewn countless hours on it. The stitch is so straight just like my 222K. I have a Singer ZZ purchased in 2001. It can't hold a candle to my 201.
#120
I was 13 and saved up my babysitting money to buy a Brother at K-mart. I put it on layaway. I made my wedding dress on that same machine, on my first anniversary my husband got me a Kenmore 1980. Of course having now loyalties, several other machines have joined us.
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