jennb

I was the recipient of most everything my mom made when we were growing up. I was born in 1975. As far back as I can remember she sewed on a 1948 Mocha 301. She got it from her mom, who bought it when she was pregnant with my mother, and made all her baby clothes, etc. My grandmother didn't own any store bought clothing that I ever knew about. She even made her own undergarments. I started performing when I was 4, and literally spent my childhood on the stage. Mom made all my costumes, and I never owned a store bought dress until I was in high school and bought them myself. Mom upgraded to a new plastic Singer in 1985 when she started making costumes for some of the other kids I performed with. She was given a new Bernina 1260 in 1992 from a high school friend living in Switzerland, and she gave me the 1985 Singer. Though I had never really done any sewing myself other than hand stitching/needlework, etc. I asked for it anyway. When I had my first child in 1998 I began getting interested in sewing, quilting mainly, and I started putting that Singer to good use. Mom always made clothing and I did everything BUT clothing so everything I learned was basically self taught. We don't live close enough to get lessons but we talk almost daily so I can always call her with questions...and I do

My step dad bought mom a Viking Designer I in 2002 and she gave me the Bernina, which was a massive upgrade from the crappy Singer, which was being serviced more often than not by that time. I used it to begin my custom sewing business and begin alterations for my husband's unit on base. When he was deployed I got a good deal on a used (though most had never been out of the box) Designer I. I was really wanting to do embroidery so I jumped on it with the extra pay we had, and I had it for 2 years. Due to software issues I never got to use the embroidery aspect of it. Hubby finally caved to my whining and let me buy a brand new Viking Designer Ruby in May, and I've been having a ball with the embroidery aspect. I also picked up a brand new Brother serger at a yard sale for 20.00 so I could play with it and see if I even liked what it could do. It is a nice addition for making custom baby bedding.

We live in the middle of nowhere now, and since I had more room than mom, she let me have the 301 and cabinet, and when we cleaned out my grandmother's house, I also took the 501A in cabinet that she had. Mom told me all the time how she hated sewing with it, and she'd never use it so I could have it. Both are in my studio now, waiting to be cleaned up and brought back to life. I'd wanted a treadle for years just to play around with, and I swear there's something in the air around them, and you become addicted when you get one. For years I could not find one that wasn't outrageously priced, and in the last 6 months they've just fallen to me in one spectacular deal after another, leaving me unable to say no! I figure that if we ever have a meltdown of the power grid, I'll be able to sew forever because I have now acquired so many machines that do not require power! After yesterday's haul and the one that was delivered by FedEx today, I'm at a grand total of 36 machines.

Since getting my first antique, I've become fascinated with learning about the history of these machines, and love seeing a visual display of the industrial revolution, and my kids think its cool that we have such a neat part of American History right in our living room...and dining room...and car port...and studio.... I homeschool my 4 kids, and all but my 3 yr old have sewn on my machines, my oldest making quilts by herself now (she's 13) and my boys (8 and 9) are making pillowcases.

Having the opportunity to rescue so many of these machines that were in a museum at one time made me feel obligated to protect as many as I could, and hopefully keep them from ever being forgotten in a storage building again. My daughter has already laid claim to some of my machines. Fortunately my husband doesn't complain when I do things like leave the house to get groceries and come back with 10 machines and no groceries 2 hours later...which is what I did last night haha!

cabinfever

You are hysterical! I am a clone. Although my husband does not like me acquiring any more machines, I share that love of the historic and beauty in the quality-made functional machines of old. I have wanted a treadle my whole life as well, and only recently got to sew on one at a friends house; she has 6 treadles, among her other 60+ machines. She is the one who sold me many of my working vintage machines. She cleans them all up and is a marvel at both quilting and sewing machine mechanics.

You are a generation younger than I, and it's nice to know a younger person who understands the significance of these treasures. I can really relate to your comment "I figure that if we ever have a meltdown of the power grid, I'll be able to sew forever because I have now acquired so many machines that do not require power!" I do have one treadle given to me by my MIL, although not working. Sadly, I always loved this machine in her livingroom. One day 10 years ago, my non-sewing SIL actually asked my MIL if she would give her the machine. I was shocked, as that is not OK in my family. My MIL promised it to her, but since she moved cross-country decided she didn't want it anymore; I hadn't realized until too late what happened. It got moved to the shop/barn, and sat there for 3-4 years. Although it was on a concrete floor and protected from rain, it got bird droppings all over the beautiful cabinet, and some of the parts, like the shuttle, were lost from the tilt-out during the move. It nows sits in my insulated shop, and although will not suffer any more damage, needs work.
I've decided I need to move back to the country, as I need more space for my "hobby"! Have a great day.

jlm5419

I don't remember the machine my mom had when I was very young, but when I was a teenager she got a White "portable" that weighs a ton. It is a zigzag machine that uses cams for decorative stitches. I now have that machine, along with the first machine I bought as an adult, a 1977 Kenmore zigzag. And of course, a number of the old black straight stichers.

MimiBug123

My mom had a Slant-o-Matic, but traded it in on a Necchi with a zillion cams. My grandmother and her 2 sisters all lived next door to each other and had Singer treadles. My favorite machine today is my g'ma's 1907 Singer 27 in treadle. I've used it a lot, but leave the drawers full of the "stuff" she had in them. It's a reminder of someone who loved me dearly and vice versa!

JabezRose

I remember sewing a little on my grandemother's treadle machine, looooonnnnng ago. Then my Aunt gave me a Montegomery Ward in a cabinet shortly after getting married in 71. Didn't sew a lot on that. Didn't sew a whole lot till about 8 years ago on a old Janome I picked up at a yard sale. THen my sewing careet took off. Have about dozen maybe machines now, featherweights, 301's. New Home. Sergers. But my real favorite is still that big ol Janome that I sarted out with after sitting and watching a friend put a quilt together. Oh wait, I went out and bought a brand new Singer, then the Janome came along. Gave the Singer away. So glad to discover quilting and mahines. I know where my grandemothers treadle is, but sister won't get it out of storage and let me have it. Had to go buy one at local St. Vincent. Still want my grandmothers though.

Skyangel

My first introduction to sewing was my Mom's 401 in a cabinet with a knee controller. When the 70s his and knit fabrics came out, the 401 did not do knits well. My Dad went and bought her a basic Kenmore portable that still sits on top of the Singer cabinet. Daddy bought me my own portable Kenmore for my HS graduation in 1978 and it was my only machine for 25 years.

Interesting about My Mom's Singer cabinet, it originally held a 66-6 my Grandfather bought for my Grandmother. Eventually she gave it to my Mom when she had kids, then Mom wanted the new functuions so she bought the 401 and put it in the cabinet, moving the 66 to a case. She always said there used to be an old black Singer in the cabinet but she did't remember what happened to it. A year ago it turned up in my Cousin's garage and I have it now.

When I got the quilting bug, I bought a used Bernina since that is what my best friend had. Then I found about Featherweights and had to have one. That was all it to to get the vintage sewing machine bug. I'm holding at 14 total machines since my hubby and I are building a house and will have to move everything in a few months. Most are portables but I have one cabinet with my Bernina, one with a 301, and a beautiful drawing room cabinet with my 1886 Singer IF fiddlebase treadle.

sak658

The only machine my mom had when we were growing up..was her black featherweight..She got it in 1957..when she married my stepfather..and it was used...would like to know what he paid for it back then...I have the machine now..and it is in great condition case and all..I found a white featherweight at a garage sale about 15 years ago..paid $25 for it...great condition also..I use them all the time..I have my MIL Singer treadle that was made in 1896...I have had the machine and cabinet refurbished..love it.. use my Janome alot also..but always looking for another machine..would love to have another treadle...but here in Houston, Tx. they are hard to come by and cost a fortune...if they are in good shape..but I'm always looking...

koigirl

I remember the old sewing machine my parents had and my parents both used it quite a bit. I can remember alot about it as far as what it looked like, but nothing about the details. The machine was black with Singer spelled in gold lettering. It was in a wood cabinet that had (I think) 3 drawers on the right and one in the front. I'm pretty sure the 3 drawers were rounded/curved. The single drawer had some kind of round 'thingy' inside, used for something?? When you opened up the cabinet to pull the machine out, you needed alot of room. Underneath the cabinet, with the stool pulled in close, made for the greatest hiding spot on rainy days playing Hide-n-Seek in the house.

I can remember once upon a time, my dad would lock himself in their bedroom late at night. I could hear the sewing machine going. I could not figure out what he was doing and I wanted to know SO badly. Christmas morning I opened up a box and it was FILLED with Barbie and Ken clothes that he had made. How he found the time and the energy for all those late nights, I will never know. He worked one full time job during the week, and another part-time in the evenings and plumbed houses on the weekends.

I wish I still had all those clothes AND the sewing machine. For all I know, they may still have it. I will have to ask. I have a baby blue Singer 347 made in the late 1960's. I don't use it, as I cannot find anyone around to work on it.

Neighmond

Well, here goes.....my Ma had four boys and worked two jobs as long as I could remember, and didn't sew with a machine if she could help it. She had a white with orange trim Brother machine from the late 60's early 70's, with push-button reverse. It had some terminal issue, and when I wanted to use it for home ec we took it to be looked at, and the man in Evansdale pushed it back across the counter and told her not to spend anything on it. My teacher put me on an almond and white Bernina; probably one of the last generation before all of the electronic cards and controls were standard. A year went by, and (at age 14) I found work after school and in the weekends with a fellow in the interior of the city that repaired clocks, and had a brother that did sewing machines. Come to find out these two fought all of the time, and when the brother that did the sewing machines wanted to sell out and go to Texas, the clockmaker hired me on and ran it himself, as the business no longer warranted two full time skilled repairmen. I used to look at those Berninas and wish I had one pretty bad, but even a second-hand one was big bucks. The boss must have taken pity because he finally took me out to the shelf (where the unclaimed/unrepaired machines lived) and said he would help me scrounge out a decent machine and I could have it for the value of the parts. He recommended I grab something popular so I could get what I needed to repair it. I about had a redhead 66 with timing issues in a bentwood case picked out and he banged his leg on the top of the nastiest old wood portable case in the place-it had blue trim and white pebble grained Morocco paper covering, which looked distinctly worse for the wear. At first he lit in to cursing his brother who left it sticking out where it was, the basement door that wouldn't let it get pushed all the way back on the shelf, the burnt out light that wouldn't shine back there, the customer that wouldn't come get it, and anyone else he could line up a name or face to. Then he cocked his foot back to give it a boost across the room, thought better of it, told me to grab hold of it and cart it up front to be dismantled for the parts because "that *(&^ thing's lease just done run out!" When I lay it on the bench he sort of looked it over and looked at me a time or two and motioned me over. You can probably appreciate my apprehension given the evil humour he had been in, so I sort of dilly-dinked up there, and he told me that the machine was a 15 class, "bachelor's special" bulletproof and sound as a pound, provided I wanted to correct its issues. He even offered it to me for the cost of a few of the parts-$20! This was on the condition that it went home that night, and only reentered his shop when I was actually engaged in working on it; it was never to enter his back room again! Eventually, that little black machine went with me to Illinois, Minnesota, back to Iowa, and a few places around this state too. I replaced the old case with a walnut cabinet that the school de-aquisitioned when they consolidated home ec rooms, and just this autumn got a nice new abode in the form of a quarter sawn white oak 7 drawer cabinet with treadle base.

Cheers! I am off to bed.[ATTACH=CONFIG]383560[/ATTACH]
Chaz

Caroline S

Wonderful story Chaz and a beautiful well loved sewing machine. She sure is pretty.