Zigzaggers

Singer treadle

by sarai, who blogs at Mumbling Monkey about her life, crafts, academic endeavors, and Nova Scotia

Love it, hate it, or something in between? Love it. It's old, it's wooden (and metal and leather), and it still works.

When did you buy this sewing machine? My mom gave it to me, probably four years ago.

When was it manufactured? 1923, I believe. I looked it up on the Singer website once.

Where did you buy it? I think my mom bought it locally from a private owner.

How much did you pay for it? No idea how much it cost.

How many projects have you done on this machine? One or two, and various repairs and details on other projects.

Describe the kind of work you've done with it. I've sewed in zippers, done a little machine quilting, made a skirt, that sort of thing.

What do you like and what do you hate about it? The only regret I have about this machine is that it's so big and heavy. I don't have it right now - it's in storage across the country. I miss it.

What I like:
- it doesn't use electricity. I appreciate hand- and foot-powered tools, and independence from mainstream energy sources.
- it has lasted so long, and is going strong. I put a new belt on it when I got it; belts, needles, and bobbins for machines of this age are still available!
- What it does, it does very well. This machine will only do straight stitch, which would be a disadvantage for some. But, it does the best and neatest straight stitch I could ask, and will sew through denim no problem. A sailor friend of mine told me that Singer treadles are reputed to be so amazing that they can even handle sailcloth.
- The machine folds down into the wooden housing. If I am not going to use it for a while, it's nice to protect it, and be able to use the top of the housing as a little table.
- The housing has a hinged extension at one end, so I can spread out a lot of fabric.

Janome/New Home SW-2018E

by Rachael, of Grandy and Baa (she makes seriously cute baby clothes -- here are links to her blog and her etsy shop)

Love it, hate it, or something in between? I love it.  Ignore what my husband might tell you about the yelling and screaming at it  - I confess that for the most part that would be user error.  It's a simple machine to use and does everything I need it to.  It has 18 stitch options, including some fancy stitches.  I do wish this machine had a 1-step button hole – then it would be perfect.  I would, without hesitation, recommend this machine to beginners, but it still has enough options available for an intermediate to advanced sewer.  The machine comes with a load of feet and ‘things.’  I recently purchased an instruction manual online as we couldn't find the original one.

When did you buy this sewing machine? My mother bought this machine new as a spare about 22 years ago.  My mother sews a lot - she used to make and sell children’s clothes, is a mad quilter, and teaches a sewing class.  As my family lives in the country, Mum was worried that she would be stuck without a machine if her primary machine broke down.  Although it didn't have as much use as her then Husqvarna, it was still used fairly often.  My mother ‘lent’ it to me in the early 1990’s when I went off to University.  I seem to have forgotten to give it back.

When was it manufactured? I am unsure of exactly when it was manufactured but I would say in the late 1970’s/1980’s.  I understand that Janome made that model for some time.

Where did you buy it? It was purchased at a sewing machine store in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia.  My overlocker/serger (a Christmas gift from my lovely mother) also came from the same store.

How much did you pay for it? My mother cannot recall exactly but I have seen this machine second hand for around $100.00US on eBay.  I am ‘watching’ one on eBay at the moment and it’s at $25.00AUS!  Fingers crossed I may have a twin soon…

How many projects have you done on this machine? Not including the many projects that my mother has done, I have probably done somewhere near 350 – 400 projects (including little jobs to big projects).  For a number of years it was really only used for adjusting thrifted clothes.

Describe the kind of work you've done with it. I have done an amazing array of projects on this machine, including making curtains for a huge bedroom and lounge room, a play quilt for my baby, cushions, clothes for me, taking in and up clothes for others, lots of appliqué for my Etsy store, dozens and dozens of pouches used for packaging my sales, dresses, dress up costumes, lots of bags, bibs, softies, and the list goes on… Probably some of the most inventive projects I have made on this machine include a fabric ‘stair gate’ to shut off the stairs from our then baby (The Stella Stopper 2006), men’s and women’s shirts up-cycled into shopping bags (the long sleeves are the straps), and an astronaut’s costume made from sliver insulation food bags (the fabric covered ones that we get in the supermarkets in Australia).

What do you like and what do you hate about it? I love the sturdiness and simplicity of this machine – no fancy computers and things beeping at you. Just nice big dials! It is pretty forgiving as I have treated it quite badly at times – like sewing the massive curtains, or quilts that are probably a tad thick, or denim that could be confused with steel sheeting.  It is pretty easy to maintain (oil free machine) but it could benefit from a good service (Mum, it’s time to visit me…) [editor's note: Rach's mother even does repairs!].  I hate that sometimes it won’t reverse when I need it too but I am sure that a good service can take care of that. I like that it has stood up to being moved all over Australia – I was tempted to take it when I moved to England for 2 years but it wouldn’t fit in my backpack – I had to be content with hand sewing (another story for another day…).

Look out, Christo

This is a picture (used with permission) of an abandoned gas station in Syracuse, New York, that's been entirely covered by panels of fabric that were sewn, knit, crocheted, painted, and otherwise decorated by people ranging from professional artists to grade school students.

I just caught wind of this project on a Yahoo group I subscribe to, and it blew me away. It's called the World Reclamation Art Project (W.R.A.P.), and it was started by an M.F.A. student at Syracuse University named Jennifer Brooke Marsh as an expression of concern about the world's oil dependency.

The result is quite amazing-looking, but the process is just about as astounding: She organized numerous workshops (you can see samples from them on the website) and got three-foot-square panels from schoolchildren and college students as well as hobbyists and artists -- many of them in Syracuse, and others from as far away as Argentina. Her focus on collecting work locally and using the project to bring environmental awareness and creative instruction to kids makes the piece a really moving and beautiful example of true public art.

Bernina 1008

by Susie Bright, sex writer and sewing columnist for CRAFT magazine 
(the picture above shows her partner and her daughter at the latter's Bernina 1008)

Love it, hate it, or something in between? My sewing machine is the last mechanical Bernina that Bernina makes... the one that isn't a computer.

My sewing teacher swears it's the only mechanical machine worth owning, and that Bernina is practically the only manufacturer not currently producing swill. She would recommend people buy used machines from twenty years ago rather than most of the new ones today. She told horror stories of the cheapies for sale at Costco that cannot even reliably sew forwards, backwards, and zigzag.

Nothing is more discouraging to a new sewer than a machine that backfires, it makes you feel so incompetent. So I was excited to get this machine. It did indeed make me feel like a pro, simply because it handles fabric so well, and with such intuitive design.

When and where did you buy this sewing machine, and how much did you pay for it? It cost me about $600 ten years ago, from a local dealer who, ironically, just closed their door and filed bankrupcy yesterday. They run a repair shop and there's about a thousand angry women ready to storm the doors and get their machines and scissors out of the back room.

I also have my mother's Singer Featherlite from 1955, the first item she ever bought on a loan. Her first credit line was to buy that machine!  It still sews straighter and stronger than anything you could buy today on the consumer level.

How many projects have you done on this machine? I've sewed every week on this machine since I got it, I have no idea how many projects that is. My daughter sewed custom pillowcases and bought one for herself, which is now side by side with mine, since it's handy to have two machines set up at any given time.

Describe the kind of work you've done with it. I like to sew clothes; so does my daughter. We're slaves to our own peculiar fashions. I made a ballgown out of a sleeping bag flannel one time.

My husband uses it to make marine rescue supplies, scuba gear belts, all kinds of stuff for the lifeguard service. I have no idea, but it's rugged. I've done knits, chiffon (don't forget to run a roll of adding machine paper underneath it!), wool, plastic, leather, everything. This machine can do it all.

What do you like and what do you hate about it? I love everything about it. It should come with the walking foot, which is IMPERATIVE for working with textured fabrics and knits.

I have no plans to replace it. I got a serger, the basic Babylock. If there is such a thing as an easy, fast, coverstitch machine, I'd like one of those. Otherwise, I'm done!

Elna Model #1 (the Grasshopper!)

by McKenna Linn, fiber artist (I love her pieces created from vintage men's ties), sewing book author, and sewing machine lover/refurbisher (not collector! according to her). Check out McKenna's site to see her gorgeous work and her stunning not-collection of sewing machines. Also check out the awesome sewing machine shopping tips that she put together here!

Love it, hate it, or something in between?  Love it, it is one of the absolute best (easily in the top three) machines I've ever sewn on... and I've tried well over 100 machines.

When did you buy this sewing machine? About a year ago, bought on eBay and I refurbished it myself. As with most eBay machines, it needed servicing before I could use it.

When was it manufactured? May 1950. Elna stamped manufacture dates on the metal under the black circular plate on the handwheel-end of the machine. I believe these were first manufactured in the 1930s, through sometime in the '50s. Really ahead of their time.

Where did you buy it? eBay.

How much did you pay for it? About $175. But it needed refurbishing, which if I hadn't been able to do myself would have added another probably $200 to the bill (there were some major cosmetic issues, e.g., the rubber feet from the case had melted all over everything and took days to clean up and rivet in replacements).

How many projects have you done on this machine? No projects, I've just played with it... make free-motion quilt samples, etc. Plan to bring it on my next out-of-town trip.

Describe the kind of work you've done with it. It's straight-stitch only, but really, really good at it. A perfectly balanced stitch. Quiet as a mouse; it's incredible how quiet this machine is, you hardly hear it running. I've done seams, of course; perfect. And freemotion quilting, also perfect. Smooth as silk, with perfectly balanced stitching. The case becomes an extension bed, which gives plenty of support for freemotion quilting, too.

What do you like and what do you hate about it? Likes: As mentioned, the large extension bed, a.k.a., the case. Lightweight and portable. Quiet. Perfectly balanced stitches. Quirky design. Green. Beautiful design. The light switch. Handwheel at the bottom! Built-in knee controller. It's one of only two consumer machines every made with a true low gear, for heavy-duty work (you need the black gear-down mechanism for this, often missing from these machines). Attachment box, beautifully machined feet. Great at freemotion stitching.

Hate? There's nothing I even dislike a little bit about this machine.

A few great links

This graphic, which shows how a bobbin works, was making the rounds last year; in case you missed it then I'm relinking to it at Material Mama's blog: link
(I saw it first on Craftzine, the website for the awesome quarterly print publication Craft, which got it from the fun group blog Crafty Daisies)

Speaking of Craftzine, they do some testing and reviewing of new machines, and post occasional interviews with prominent bloggers about their machines, as well as including some pictures of machines that just look super-cool: link
(the link above goes to the second page of Craftzine's sewing machine link, where a lot of the stuff I like is located; most of the newer information and reviews are at this one, but for some reason I can't seem to get to the good stuff from there)

Susie Bright usually writes about sex and gender (you might not want your co-workers to glance over your shoulder while you're reading her main blog). I love it when she writes about sewing -- she's funny and irreverent, and her enthusiasm for making clothes really shines through. She wrote a beautiful piece last fall about her mother learning to sew from a really creative nun -- it's a moving portrait of her mom, and an interesting look at how sewing was, during her mother's childhood, every girl's obligation, but also an important creative outlet: link
(I'm not going to go posting links to every website about sewing here, don't worry! I just thought this piece was great, and I didn't see a lot of links to it on crafty blogs when it came out.)

Feel free to post other great sewing machine links in the comments!

Soft sewing machine

If you love sewing machines, you have to see the soft-sculpture Kenmore featured at Burdastyle (link). It's a piece by Canadian artist Blythe Church, and there's also a picture of an awesome Underwood typewriter made from felt.

How to shop for a used sewing machine

OK, I'll start by saying that I'm totally unqualified to give advice on buying a sewing machine. I've only ever used two -- three if you count my mom's machine, which, as a teenager, I once used to make a bathrobe (I still wear it!) but otherwise never paid much attention to. I don't even know enough about the machines I do have to take full advantage of their features. That's why I'm recommending these two articles, by really smart and crafty bloggers, Erin at A Dress A Day (link) and Megan at Not Martha (link).

That said, I do know about the perspective of a beginner searching for a used machine, and wanting to find something reliable on the cheap. One of my main concerns was that I'd lay out a lot of money for a great machine and then find myself losing interest in sewing. I mean, I really enjoy sewing, but the time I have available for it varies according to my work schedule and my son's nap schedule. And, honestly, I'm depressingly bad at sewing. I learn something new with every project, but I still keep making major mistakes that require what seem like weeks of futzing to render each item wearable. And many of them are wearable only at home, or under sweaters! While this isn't yet putting me off the whole enterprise, I know myself well enough at this advanced age to be aware that I might lose steam if my learning curve doesn't pick up soon. Thus, my big requirement: affordability.

I have often seen the suggestion to buy a used machine from a local dealer or repair shop. However, there aren't many choices in my city. There's one shop, which had only a few used machines, none of which rang my bell. (This might be because I'd been looking at some of the beautiful older machines available on eBay, and these were all bland-looking 90s-era machines.) Still, my point is that this might not be a viable option for everyone, so don't feel bad if it doesn't work out for you. If that's the case, I'd definitely check out Craigslist and Freecycle before I'd buy a pricey new machine (or a cheap new machine, as my experience taught me) I've seen really cheap sewing machines on the former, though they rarely post pictures and often don't even include details, so you'd have to call. Freecycle machines would be free (obviously), but the price you'd pay would be all the time spent reading the offerings constantly so you don't miss the few that get posted

Even better, borrow a machine from a friend or family member to start you out (I'd hand my Singer over in a heartbeat to a friend who wanted to start sewing, both to have it put back in use and also to convert said friend over to my sewing obsession). Or shop at garage sales. Or thrift stores. You don't want to get started on a machine that's only going to frustrate you, but if the price is right and you can see that it runs and the needle goes up and down, you have a good chance of getting a steal.

Oh, and a major caveat for old machines: If you're a beginner, you want a manual or you'll never even get the thing threaded. If the machine you want to buy doesn't come with one, search online -- lots are available on the internet.

Another good thing about older machines -- I'm talking about mechanical ones, without computers -- is that you can do basic maintenance yourself. The manuals tell you how to open them and where to put the sewing machine oil on a regular basis. I had to replace the main belt on my White right after getting it -- luckily, our one sewing machine shop had the belt I needed in stock (they'd be able to order it otherwise), so I bought it and installed it according to the manual's instructions. I could see that it was slipping when I ran the machine with the cover off -- it was beautifully simple to diagnose and repair.

So, my experience: I bought the White off eBay -- it was, in fact, my first ever eBay purchase. It worked out great, and I have no complaints, but I can easily see how one might get screwed. Here are the things I think you should keep in mind:

1. Shipping costs are really high. Old machines are heavy, and they require really careful packing, so this isn't surprising. That said, some sellers appear, to me, to be overcharging for shipping, possibly for extra profit. I emailed one seller in my state about a machine, asking if I could come in person to pick up. They wrote back that I could not. I think they were charging some $50 or so for shipping, so this, to me, was a tip-off that they were building that into their profit. The shipping for the machine I did buy was about $30 -- definitely on the low end.

2. A lot of sellers claim to be professional repairers. Maybe they are, but I wouldn't assume they're telling the truth. Still, it's a no-brainer to check their past sales -- if they sell a lot of sewing machines (preferably only sewing machines) and have great ratings, then they probably make a point to sell nice machines in good shape. The seller I bought from offered to take the machine back and refund my money when I talked to him about the slipping belt -- these guys really want to keep their ratings up.

3. The other type of seller I'd consider buying from is an individual who is selling his or her own sewing machine. Sometimes they claim to have had it serviced recently -- ask them to show a photo of the receipt as confirmation. Make sure they know how to package it -- the guy I bought from packed my machine into a box wrapped in bubble wrap, and then put that inside a bigger box filled with packing peanuts. This seemed to work -- I can't claim any expertise in packing machines, but be sure the seller is aware that they really have to cushion it and be super-careful.

4. You've probably played around on eBay before, so you probably know this: Don't bid until the auction's almost over. If you bid early on, other people will swoop in at the last minute to outbid you (if it's a good deal). Watch a couple of auctions to see how this works.

5. Some machines seem to be really trendy on eBay -- Berninas, in particular, go for hundreds of dollars. Maybe they're worth it -- I honestly don't know, but it seemed to me like paying $700 for an 830 Record would not be as thrifty as I wanted to be. My impression is that, on eBay at least, you should watch out for trends that drive up the price of certain machines beyond their real value.

I hope we'll get some reviews of these machines -- and others from eBay and other sources --  on this site soon, so we'll have a better idea of how much they're worth! Please add comments about your experiences buying used, and any tips you gleaned from the experience so that newbies will have a head start in extending the useful lives of great old sewing machines!

Jo-Ann Sonata 540

by Melissa Fehr of Fehr Trade

Love it, hate it, or something in between? Love it. It's a fabulously sturdy tank of a machine that does exactly what I need it to do without any extraneous features getting in the  way. Even though it's a Googlewack in itself, I've got no problem finding feet to fit it and it's really easy to take it apart to clean. Other than regular cleaning with a soft brush, it's not had any maintenance on it in the 4+ years I've been using it as my main machine.

When did you buy this sewing machine? I didn't buy it - I was given it by my sister-in-law when she bought a new, computerised machine and knew I wanted to learn to sew. She had it tuned up in a shop and then my mother brought it with her in checked luggage the next time she came to visit. Luckily, my sister-in-law included the original hard, plastic carrying case and tray, plus the
manual and a whole bunch of assorted sewing machine feet.

When was it manufactured? The manual says copyright 1985, though I'm surprised it's even that late! The machine itself is mostly metal construction, with only the knobs, levers, and detachable arm being made of plastic. As far as I know, none of the plastic parts have ever broken or been replaced, though I'm not sure how many previous sewers this machine has had!

Where did you buy it? The manual makes a few oblique references to "Jo-Ann Fabrics Stores
Ltd" so I'm going to assume this was bought in one of their stores, though the current Jo-Ann's site has zero historical information on any machines previous to their current line.

How much did you pay for it? (free!)

How many projects have you done on this machine? Honestly, I have no idea, but I'd guesstimate that I'm well up over 100 now. This is my only (and therefore main) machine, and I sew several times a week.

Describe the kind of work you've done with it. I've sewn pretty much every type of fabric on it: cottons, silks, wools, polys, linens, bamboos, and even shower curtains! It's handled every
possible thickness I've thrown at it, from heavyweight denim to silk charmeuse. It truly is a workhorse of a machine, built like a tank for everyday use.

What do you like and what do you hate about it? I absolutely love how reliable it is and that I can depend on it to handle whatever I throw at it. It's happy to perform without much adjustment between projects, and the only parts I have to change with any regularity are the stitch length and bobbin tension (which tends to  loosen a touch after a couple months, easily fixed with a screwdriver!).

The only thing I don't like about it (and I'm having to think a bit here!) is that it's got a 3-step buttonhole process, and I hear having this all in one step is pretty nice...

Bernina Record 730

by Melissa of tinyhappy

Love it, hate it, or something in between? I really like this machine- even though there are few things wrong with it- the needle isn't quite aligned properly and is prone to shifting during sewing. This means that the zig-zag and other decorative stitches don't work very well, but i don't mind. I love the weight and sturdiness of it, and its quiet purring noise as I sew. And its olive green and cream colour scheme, of course.

When did you buy this sewing machine? A friend who I met through blogging, Emily http://www.ravenhill.typepad.com/ lives nearby, and, after reading on my blog that I hadn't brought my sewing machine with me from New Zealand, she very kindly brought me the Bernina Record to borrow. I think she found it in a thrift store here in Norway a while ago. It came in a beautiful old suitcase-style box, with some great accessories- a chunky green foot pedal, and a green tool box, with little drawers for keeping threads, bobbins and needles in.

When was it manufactured? 1965-66

How many projects have you done on this machine? Quite a few since January. I make baby shoes to sell in an etsy shop, and have made a few batches of those, plus about 20 other small projects for friends and family.

Describe the kind of work you've done with it. Most of my projects involve basic straight-sewing- but I have been really thrilled with the neat, even stitches that this machine makes. I bought an overlocker in Sweden, so I use that to secure my seams and edges, rather than the zig-zag stitch. This machine is capable of doing a total of 22 different stitches, and I think if I took it to a repair shop to fix the needle, these would work better. But for the kind of projects I've been doing, the straight stitch is adequate.