Zigzaggers

Husqvarna Automatic 21A

by Jessicah, whose blog, Spinning a Yarn, has luscious photos; she's got a tutorial up right now showing how she dyes wool with food coloring

Love it, hate it, or something in between? Definitely love it!
 
When did you buy this sewing machine? I was given this machine for my 16th birthday from my parents. I'm now 21, so I've had it 5 years. Mum bought it from her mother's junior bridesmaid. It used to be her mother's. I love thinking about the history this machine has -- the hours it has spent lovingly sewing clothes into the small hours of the night, and the children who learnt to sew on it. I like to think some of the skill and love from the hands of everyone who has sewn on it get sewn into the things I make too.
 
When was it manufactured? I have in my head 1953, but I can't actually find a date anywhere, and am not sure where that one came from! Similar machines (The US version) have 1959 attached to them, so sometime around then. Either way, it's still going strong!
 
How many projects have you done on this machine? Describe the kind of work you've done with it. I have sewn just about everything I've made since I was 16 on this machine! Knits, woven, polarfleece, wool, cotton, linen. You name it! I've made bedspreads, roman blinds, tee-shirts, pants, ball dresses, and a suit with waiscoat and tie for my partner. I even attempted a pair of jeans, and it was certainly not the machine's fault they didn't turn out right.
 
What do you like and what do you hate about it? I don't think I have any gripes about this machine; it's easy to use and never jams. It's a solid beast.

I love that the whole machine is made of metal (apart from a small piece of plastic that the arm of the bobbin case rests in) -- every moving part. There's something so solid about an entirely metal machine, which of course makes it heavy, but I'm not small and frail, and I don't move it about very often so the weight isn't a big deal. At the back it has a space for cams, which are cogs that dictate different stitch patterns. Mine has 3 removable cams to change the stitch pattern with. It also has two gears for fast and slow stitching. I also love the little green suitcase it comes in; the fact that it's green enamel; and the pictures, and expressions, such as "zigzag stitching is sheer fun!" in the instruction manual!

Viking 6440

by Amanda, whose blog, Red Jet Whistle, covers all kinds of craft and design stuff with a Boston focus

Love it, hate it, or something in between? I love it, it's the first consistent machine I've ever sewed with. It's all metal, quiet, simple to use, and dependable. My previous experience was all on Singers - my grandmother's and mother's 60s Singers, which were quirky but generally good machines, and then 2 current Singers from Sears and Target that were terrible pieces of plastic junk. After a lot of research on the web, Viking, Bernina and White were the highest rated. I chose the 6440 based on the simple controls, free arm, cams, and frankly - looks. It's very smart looking! I'm also happy that there are always cams, feet and replacement parts for the 6440 on ebay.

When did you buy this sewing machine? September 2007

When was it manufactured? Not sure exactly - late 1970s I think.

Where did you buy it? I purchased it on ebay. After watching quite a few good deals few go by, I got anxious and bid on a machine from a seller I should have guessed would be questionable by the way the listing was written and the poor quality photos. The listing stated that the machine ran and sewed well, but it was unusable when I got it - the presser foot was stuck in the up position. I took it to Sewing & Vacuum Center in Somerville, MA (a great resource for anyone in the Boston area) and had it repaired and tuned up. In the end, I'm incredibly happy with the machine, but I regret not buying it from a more reputable seller and avoiding the repairs. I strongly recommend only buying from ebay sellers that you feel comfortable with, who can demonstrate that the machine is in running condition - ask them to thread it and sew a sample for you.

How much did you pay for it? $170 + $40 shipping + $140 repair = $350. These tend to run in the $100-200 range on ebay.

How many projects have you done on this machine? Quite a few! Maybe 20-30.

Describe the kind of work you've done with it. I've made purses, curtains, pillows, clothes, all kinds of projects. I was really impressed when I sewed through 4 layers of vinyl, and it hems jeans beautifully.

What do you like and what do you hate about it? Loves: I know that if something is going wrong it's me and not the machine. I also love the simple controls that can produce a lot of sophisticated stitches. The cams are fun and easy to change, and the lower gear ratio has been great for sewing through vinyl and denim. The free arm is nice and small making sleeves and purse openings a breeze. It's really easy to thread and came with all sorts of feet that I'm looking forward to playing with. I also love that it's a colorful, sleek looking machine.

Hates: I'm not in love with the bobbin winder being located on the side of the machine, and I miss the built in thread cutter on my crappy Singer. No on/off switch - I dislike having to plug/unplug it all the time. Small complaints, it's really a great piece of equipment.

Soon after, I bought the Viking Huskylock 431 serger, and it's also a dream!