This is outrageously cool. There's even a video, which shows this contraption in action. It's toward the end, but you won't want to fast-forward through all the crazy bikes that appear beforehand.
Erin McKean pointed this out (@FakeErinMckean); it's on the Modern Mechanix blog and comes from a 1939 issue of Popular Science magazine.
by Bethany, whose crafts of all (adorable) varieties are posted at bethsco.blogspot.com
Love it, hate it, or something in between? Love, definitely! This is my first vintage sewing machine and I learned how to clean and adjust machines from this one. I really enjoy sewing with it and love how beautiful these old machines are and what incredible quality they were made with. Though I have 4 sewing machines currently, I think I may sell all but this one. (Okay, maybe all but this one and 1 other?) Though it's a simple straight stitch machine, it can sew through anything like butter! I can increase or decrease the pressure on the material and drop the feed dogs.
When did you buy this sewing machine? Four months ago. It seems like much longer ago than that!
When was it manufactured? 1950s? It's a "clone" of a Singer 15-91. There's very little info about Montgomery Ward machines, so it's hard to date it. I did recently find out it's a model URR 188 and found the manual for it online. I actually like that it doesn't have "the" name brand on it... or even a close second. This machine is beautiful and I'm so happy to get to work with her!
Where did you buy it? It was a craigslist find. The guy I got it from said he got it from the attic of someone's house when he was helping them move. He gave me a box full of Greist sewing feet and attachments to go with it. Love these and the ingenuity of them! I checked out similar sewing machine feet in a store and was amazed that the design of them does not seem to have changed at all in the last 60-100 years! It has attachments
for ruffling/pleating, hemming, quilting, zippers, gathering, binding, edge stitching, and more!
How much did you pay for it? $50. I later had to replace all electrical components (for about $35) and still don't have the light working. I may use an awesome vintage lamp though... once I can find one.
How many projects have you done on this machine? Countless!
Describe the kind of work you've done with it. Some examples of the wide range of things I've sewn:
-a strap for my husband's weed whacker (out of many layers of jean material)
-layers of painter's canvas for knitting needle cases
-very lightweight woven fabrics for dolls and skirts
-lightweight stretchy knit clothing
-thick knit sweaters to re-purpose into leggings.
It does a great job on everything!
What do you like and what do you hate about it? Okay. Honestly, I dislike the clovers on it (funny but true and not too important). The gold leafing is not in mint condition. Sometimes the thread slips out of the take up lever, causing instant trouble. Now I recognize the problem immediately and put it back in, and all is well; but it is an inconvenient quirk. When the wiring went bad, I actually got a few low level kind of continuous shocks from it. So I learned my lesson, to take the old wiring on these all-metal machines seriously! I love all the awesome feet it came with. I love the quiet purr it makes when sewing and the feel of it. You can just tell it was made right.
a note from Krista, the editor of Zigzaggers:
Hello, fellow sewing machine lovers!
I've neglected this site terribly over the past year -- paying work and other obligations have kept me from it, but I don't like letting it languish. I have been sewing on my trusty White 614, though -- here's a photo of me in my homemade silk evening gown (that's my handsome husband, Jim Meddick, in the tux -- I didn't sew that, though I did hem the pants).
Thankfully, you can't see the dress's zipper issues or the not-perfectly-straight hem (that's how I roll). I've also been working on a superhero costume for my 5-year-old, who's designated himself "Wind-man," but it still needs a mask and gloves. Let's just say the shirt has a hurricane symbol appliqued on the front.
I don't have room to buy more sewing machines, but I want to hear about yours if it's old and useful, and particularly if it's beautiful. So please send me an email at kristacarothers(at)yahoo(dot)com if you're willing to fill out a questionnaire! Hopefully, we can get the ball rolling here again, and build out our collection of reviews (in place of a collection of vintage machines).
by Robbie Brewington, one of zigzaggers' most faithful (and productive) friends. Check out her blog!
Love it, hate it, or something in between? Something in between, actually. There are certainly things I like about it, but there are others I definitely don’t like. The down sides have been outweighing the up sides.
When did you buy this sewing machine? I’ve had her a little more than two months. That’s not a long time, but my #1 machine has been down most of that time so the Husky has had a real workout.
When was it manufactured? I’m not sure. Information about this model is really hard to come by. Viking did send me a pdf of the manual, but no manufacturing date. I’m guessing she dates to the mid-1970s.
Where did you buy it? My favorite thrift store in Alvin, Texas.
How much did you pay for it? Well, I bought the Husky and an old Wizard (that I’ll probably sell for parts) for $50.00. The thrift store made me a deal so I would take both of them. Since I’ve had no luck getting the Wizard up and running yet, you could think of it as paying $50.00 for the Husky and getting the Wizard free; or $25.00 each; or $35.00 for the Husky and $15.00 for the Wizard…
How many projects have you done on this machine? Lots — everything I’ve made for the past two-and-a-half months (except what I did on the serger).
Describe the kind of work you've done with it. Let’s see. I’ve made clothes for myself (pants and tops, mostly) and the ladies I sew for, loose jackets (using a rolled hem foot, which worked beautifully), free-motion quilting, piecing quilt blocks, a couple of tote bags, a denim vest made of recycled blue jeans, and a couple of other things. Plus I used it when my granddaughter wanted to learn to sew.
What do you like and what do you hate about it? This is a real workhorse of a machine. She goes over multiple layers of denim like nobody’s business. I love that she uses the big Class 15 bobbins which hold a lot of thread. I really like the reverse lever (over other machines’ buttons). She has the basic utility stitches, nothing fancy. I also like that she uses snap-on pressure feet, which are so easily interchangeable with a whole range of low shank feet. I can use all the low shank feet I’ve accumulated over the years, plus the snap-on feet from my much newer Kenmore and Brother machines.
I’m not too fond of free arm machines in general, but other folks really like them. Also, the threading ‘feels’ backward (for instance, the take-up arm is to the right of the tension assembly) but that’s no big deal. The biggest thing I dislike about this machine is that in order to oil her, you have to completely remove the entire back of the machine! It’s easy to keep the bobbin area cleaned out, but that’s only part of the job, and oiling this machine is at best inconvenient. At worst, it’s a real pain.
I’m not sure what I’m going to end up doing with this machine, but I doubt she’ll ever be a go-to machine once Miss Sophia is back up and running. Still, she does go like blazes and doesn’t blink twice at going over seams in blue jeans.
another Necchi! This one comes from Tammy, who also reviewed her lovely Bernard Stoewer treadle machine for Zigzaggers in November 2009 (here); check out her sewing/quilting/machine-collecting blog, Tammy's Craft Emporium for more pictures of the Necchi Lelia and the rest of her collection
Love it, hate it, or something in between? I absolutely love, love this machine.
When did you buy this sewing machine? November 2009
When was it manufactured? My Lelia was manufactured in Pavlo, Italy, between 1963 and 1971.
Where did you buy it? In Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. A lady posted it for sale at Kijiji in Winnipeg.
How much did you pay for it? I paid $50 Canadian. I had to replace the bobbin tire ($2.75), which was rotten. When Lelia arrived at my house she was so starved for oil that the felt pads were bone dry and the needle bar and feed dogs were solidly frozen up. The machine would not zigzag or change needle positions. The feed dog switch moved freely back and forth but the feed dogs remained up. Many thanks to Ed Lamoureaux, who is a Necchi expert -- he advised me to use a screwdriver, hair dryer, and sewing machine oil to fix the problems (see how at Ed's blog).
How many projects have you done on this machine? About half a dozen. I made a polyester/nylon laptop case using ½-inch foam covered in polyester with velcro closures. Lelia sewed through one inch of foam with four layers of polyester like butter! I tested free motion quilting on a sample and sewed some tea towels. Lelia purrs like a kitten and she sews like a Ferrari. It is so smooth, and her stitches are precise and perfect.
Describe the kind of work you've done with it. I haven’t used Lelia as much as I would like because I have so many other machines. I plan to use her for sewing heavy fabrics like denim and leather. I will most likely use her for piecing quilts while watching television because she is so quiet.
What do you like and what do you hate about it? There is nothing I hate about Lelia. In fact, she sews perfect stitches on cotton, polyester, nylon, denim, and leather. I love everything about her, especially the way she looks. Lelia came complete with her manual and all her accessories. I think the cabinet is a homemade job as it is solid wood. The cabinet is well designed with four good-sized drawers on the right hand side. Lelia uses standard bobbins, high-shank feet, and standard needles. The machine is very heavy. At Christmas-time, when I was sewing with Lelia in the TV room downstairs, which is about ten feet from my grown up daughter’s bedroom, she and her fiancé were sleeping. Neither one of them heard my sewing machine. I love it tons! Lelia is a most excellent toy!
by Robbie Brewington, who reviewed her lovely Featherweight here, and whose awesome blog, From My Hands to Yours, includes sewing machine tips such as where to put sewing machine oil! What's more, Robbie's been serving as an expert on sewing machine maintenance and repair at Fixya.com under the name "lookingpast"
Love it, hate it, or something in between? Love it! “Sophia” was so dirty and neglected when I found her, and usually I would have passed, but something about her was so appealing. Plus I’d been doing a bit of reading about the older Italian-made Necchis and was very impressed by their solid design and reliability. Necchi aficionados are a serious bunch, too, and this was a chance to see what they knew that I didn’t.
When did you buy this sewing machine? Three Fridays ago on, my lunch break (to be exact).
When was it manufactured? I’m not certain, but I think she’s from the late 1950s or the 1960s. Kind of like me.
[Robbie added this note: The folks at the Yahoo Italian-made Necchi users group tell me that Sophia was made in Japan, not Italy. I don’t care—she’s still my classy Italian lady!]
Where did you buy it? A local pawn shop. I went in just for grins (to avoid going back to work right away) and asked if they had any sewing machines. They had just the one, which happened to be coming available that very day. So they hauled her out, broken plastic case and all. Sophia (what else would you call a sophisticated Italian lady?) ran when we plugged her in, but it was obvious she’d need at least a really good cleaning and oiling.
When I got her home and opened her up, she had old thread wound around her bobbin case and lots of impacted lint in her feed dogs. After a good brushing, and some digging around to get all that nasty lint out, I opened up the top of her case and found there was amazingly little old oil gunk on her gears. A quick squirt of WD-40 and it loosened up and came right off. Even Sophia’s underside was amazingly clean for a lady of her years.
(NOTE: WD-40 is JUST for cleaning the old oil gunk out of sewing machine innards. It is NOT for oiling the machine. Unless you’re partial to gunky gummy gears. And machines that don’t run.)
How much did you pay for it? $70.00. If I’d waited, the price would have come down, but someone else might have walked away with her. She came with the broken plastic case, one bobbin, the bobbin carrier, and the foot controller/power cord. Originally, her accessories would have included several more feet (including a buttonhole foot), but I’m not complaining (see below for why not). I’m a big believer in having the manual on hand, so I ordered one from Relics ($19.00) but I really didn’t need it to get her up and performing like the star Sophia is!
How many projects have you done on this machine? Four in the first week! I made her a cover, mended one of my nightshirts, made a flannel tunic, and made a mug hug (see photo). She performed flawlessly.
Describe the kind of work you've done with it. One of the amazing things about this machine was that the tension was perfect from the start. I didn’t have to fiddle with that, so I spent a lot of time just playing with dials, seeing what kind of stitches she’d do and which knob controls what. She has six utility stitches plus the straight stitch, and that’s plenty for most kinds of sewing I do (clothes, household sewing, kitty toys—that sort of thing). I plan to use Sophia for clothing construction mostly. And kitty toys. (My girls reminded me that I promised to make them more kitty toys.)
What do you like and what do you hate about it? Hate about it? What’s to hate? If you twisted my arm—really twisted it—I might mention that access to her front-loading bobbin case is a bit awkward. But on the other hand, the bobbin case assembly is straightforward, easy to disassemble and clean, and a snap to put back together. Sophia is solid, mostly metal, and has a long useful life ahead of her! She powers over multiple thicknesses of fabric without hesitating. Her class 15 metal bobbins hold a lot of thread, and I really like that. (Plus I already have a bunch of class 15 bobbins on hand.) She has a snap-on adapter so I can use all of my snap-on feet from my Kenmore and Brother machines, and I can take the adapter off, to use all my low-shank feet from my Featherweights!
I’m extremely happy with Sophia and look forward to many years together.
by our lovely friend EmilyKate, who's made another amazing sewing machine purchase
Love it, hate it, or something in between? LOVE
it. It is not only a versatile little machine with nearly all the
stitches you need for garment-making, but it's also SO CUTE! Who could sit down
in front of that sunny yellow-and-orange flowered control panel and not
smile? I think if Marcia Brady had had a sewing machine, it would have been this one. When did you buy this sewing machine? Five days ago. When was it manufactured? Around
1973 in France. There are two Genie models -- the first was the 353, and
then the 354 came out very soon after. It's the same machine with
an additional special stretch stitch. The 354 is the one I got. Where did you buy it? eBay.
I don't as a rule buy machines on eBay but this was a local pickup and
the price was right. I would never risk shipping because machines can be so easily damaged by it. How much did you pay for it? $20.50.
I wanted a portable sewing machine with a good range of garment sewing
stitches that I could take for sewalongs at my sister's place or down to our holiday house. I was thinking about getting an Elna
Lotus, but they are pretty pricey these days, and something about the
fold-down sides put me off a little, too. I saw the Genie mentioned on
a few blogs and sewing websites and decided to keep an eye out for one
at a good price. People spoke of finding them in thrift stores for
around $20; online bidders in the US, Canada, and the UK have paid up
to $135 but they've also gone for as little as $15. Genies
are slowly becoming more collectible -- retro enthusiasts love the
styling. If you want a cute portable but don't have a head for the
dizzy heights of a Featherweight or Lotus auction, snag a Genie while they are still reasonable . How many projects have you done on this machine? I have made a shirt muslin and really like the stitch quality. I wouldn't do the buttonholes on this machine, though. Describe the kind of work you've done with it. I
expect to do mainly wovens, the heaviest being decorator-weight cotton. I probably would not do multiple layers of denim. I'm pretty sure
Genie could handle it but I know that the interior gears are plastic,
and are getting onto being 35 years old if they are the original set.
There are new replacement gears available but I've no wish to actually
have to go ahead and buy them and pay for labor, so I'm going to treat
Genie fairly gently. What do you like and what do you hate about it? Genie has a straight stitch;
zigzag in varying widths; a three-point zigzag; a blind hem that can
also be used for overcasting seams; a special stretch stitch; and
center, left, and right needle positions. She has a buttonhole too, but,
sadly, not a very pretty one. Now, I could use one of my vintage
buttonholer attachments, but the problem is that this machine
cannot drop its feed dogs -- it originally came with a little lifter or
shim that is put under the needle plate to shift it upward a few
fractions of an inch so the feed dogs won't reach the fabric, and that
little shim is long-gone. I haven't been able to find one to purchase
online. I will do a little more investigating to see if some sort of
feed cover plate could be used instead. Needle bar pressure is not
adjustable. I
love love LOVE the cute styling of this machine -- great personality.
It's not noisy, and it weighs just 18 pounds. Given that it was designed
to be portable, I had expected it to be more plasticky but the bed and
much of the interior is metal; the outer plastic is nice and tough --
shockproof. The hinges and clasp of the cover are sturdy and hold
securely. I'm, uh, a bit of a machine collector but I'm not even in
trouble for buying this machine because she fits neatly away into one
of the cubbyholes of my Ikea Expedit. Her case is very cute and clever,
allowing you to store the foot-pedal easily and safely. Threading is
simple, though there's no place to store any feet or bobbins, which I
feel is a pity. The original machine had a little wallet-pouch for
accessories so I can just make another one.
by Stephanie Newman, an Australian quilter and designer who blogs and posts gorgeous pictures of her work here
Love it, hate it, or something in between? Love it! Aaah my Nova 900 -- it is a sweet machine, with very groovy red trim on the handle, dials, and wheel; and the foot control is red and circular! It has Bernina's legendary precision and quality, and is a delight to sew with. I love how simple it is to use and love the sound of it as it sews -- it purrs like a kitten. It has functional stitches, straight stitch, zig zag, three step zig zag/serpentine, stretch overlock, blind hem, scallop decorative stitching, and buttohole -- all the basics. It does a wickedly good satin stitch. It has no bells and whistles, but you can get into the machine properly for thorough cleaning and oiling -- the whole free arm top is removeable, as is the central bobbin hook, so cleaning couldn't be easier. It's also fun to be able to see what goes on inside a sewing machine. It came with 7 or 8 presser feet, a darning hoop, an extension table, and accessories. The old style presser feet can still be ordered, too -- I've already ordered the 1/4-inch foot. Bonus for me, it takes the same bobbins as my Bernina Aurora 440QE, so they can share.
When did you buy this sewing machine? Early December 2009.
When was it manufactured? The records indicate they were made between 1982 and 1985 in Switzerland. I know they made them in the red trim (maybe the most common) as well as yellow and khaki trim versions. I don't know if different colors were released in different countries or not, but I've not seen the yellow or khaki version around my own state. I've only seen two others in 9 years of teaching, so unless there are many well hidden in people's homes, I think they're not very common here. My mechanic is sad they stopped making them -- he loves them for their reliability and says they can be easily fixed. Bernina parts are still available, so these machines can be kept sewing for a very long time. He tells me it will outlast several of my lovely electronic computerized machines.
Where did you buy it? Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
How much did you pay for it? The sewing machine shop where I found it was asking for $399 AU, but I got it for $350 AU.
How many projects have you done on this machine? It's fairly new to me, so I've only had time to piece around 50 reasonably complicated quilt blocks with multiple points and many layers of intersecting seams; and I've sewn a micropolarfleece jacket, and repaired a couple of garment hemlines. What it has shown me is that it can handle both thin and thick layers easily despite having no adjustable presser foot pressure, and the stitch quality is typical Bernina: outstanding. My children have named it Supernova (because it is super), and I believe it had a previous life in a clothing manufacturing business -- I found the business name and "machine number 5" written underneath the removable free arm cover. I suspect it was part of a fleet working in a small scale factory or business.I purchased it as a backup for student use in classes. At other times, it will be used at home for piecing and sewing clothes. I like to sew some large projects with several machines threaded in different colors, or set up for different techniques (for efficient use of time). When the children are older they will graduate to the Nova from the hand crank. If I ever see another available in good condition, I wouldn't hesitate to add a second to my herd.
Describe the kind of work you've done with it. Patchwork. Lots of patchwork! Garment construction in stretch knit fine polar fleece. This machine is going to be used.
What do you like and what do you hate about it? I love its simplicity. I can set the needle position where I like and dial up specific combinations of stitch length and width. If I turn the machine off, the settings stay put. I like the stitch quality -- stitches look the same on the front and back. I like the all-metal construction with colorful plastic trim -- it's cheerful but solid. The handle is convenient for carrying, but it is not a lightweight machine -- I struggled to carry it down the street when I couldn't find a carpark close to the store. That's fine: I don't like flimsy machines! There is a separate light switch on the side of the machine so you can turn off the bulb if you have a sunlight area for sewing and save some energy -- just remember to pull the power cord out when you are done. Because I worry I might forget to do so, I leave my lightbulb turned on as reminder the machine is still plugged in, and check to make sure I've pulled the cord out when finished.
Because it's mechanical, if I have to go anywhere where electricity supply is erratic (which it can be even where I live) there is no mother board to fry and no electronic components that might be damaged by rough bumpy roads. The one circuit board in the machine can still blow, but it is not so expensive to replace. It is a robust machine.
Like many older machines, this one plugs directly into the wall socket and has a nice long power cord. It is wired directly into the machine so you will never run the risk of losing it. The foot pedal is removable. The hard case is hinged and articulated; it wraps around the machine and has a couple of positioning lugs and a latch to secure it around the machine. I have seen some hard cases with colored linings that have places to store presser feet and bobbins; mine has a bucket for accessoriesbut is missing the lining. The handle and the flywheel extend beyond the case and are visible once it is in place.
Bernina USA has downloadable manuals for a range of their old classics (under the website's support menu) -- a wealth of information is included in the manual. There really isn't anything not to love here. There is nothing I hate about it at all.
In summary, the Nova is cute and a serious machine that's capable of sewing consistent high quality stitches at speed. I'd say if you see one, grab it while you can!
by Tammy, who collects beautiful old machines and sews up a storm -- her blog is here, and on this page you can read even more about this gorgeous antique (and see loads of amazing photographs!)
Love it, hate it, or something in between? I absolutely love this machine. It is fabulous piece of furniture to just look at as well as being a great, fully functioning tool. The gold lion sunburst decals are simply stunning and the cabinet is lovely.
When did you buy this sewing machine? About three years ago.
When was it manufactured? 1910 in Germany
Where did you buy it? Locally, in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. A lady posted it for sale on ebrandon, which is an electronic garage sale site similar to Craiglist or Kijiji.
How much did you pay for it? The seller wanted $100 Canadian, but I negotiated the price down to $80. I had to replace the treadle belt ($13.99) and the bobbin tire ($2.75), since both were rotten.
How many projects have you done on this machine? About 50.
Describe the kind of work you've done with it. Most treadles sew only a forward straight stitch, but Bernice has a reverse! I hem unbleached cotton tea-towels with mitered corners, piece patchwork quilts, hem denim jeans, sew leather dog boots, and upholster cushions with welting string on Bernice. I also use her to teach others how to sew, because treadling gives the operator complete control of the needle motion. Some even say that treadling is good for varicose veins and blood circulation in your legs! Plus, it's environmentally friendly.
What do you like and what do you hate about it? There is nothing I hate about Bernice. In fact, she sews perfect seams no matter what kind of fabric, needles, or thread I use. Bernice is a vibrating shuttle machine. I love everything about her, especially the way she looks. I think she is a real piece of art. Unfortunately, she does not have a manual or accessories. However, the thread pattern for the Singer 127 VS machine is identical and my Stoewer uses standard short shank feet.
by Virginia, who blogs about her sewing projects (dresses!) at A Sewing Life
Love it, hate it, or something in between?
Oh, I certainly love it, but that's no great endorsement, since I seem to love all of my machines. I first got interested in trying out a vintage Necchi when the circuit board on my Bernina 160 failed. I surfed the internet reading various reviews and just happened across a couple of glowing accounts of vintage Necchis on Pattern Review. Their enthusiasm led me to the Vintage Necchis Yahoo Group. After reading along on this group for a couple of months, I had to have one. What they said is true, there is a quality to this massive chunk of Italian machinery that is quite unlike any other sewing machine I had used before.
When did you buy this sewing machine?
Summer of 2008. I had to wait until the fall to actually try it out. Read on...
When was it manufactured?
According to the Vintage Necchis Yahoo Group, this model was manufactured in Italy between 1948 and 1953. The easy-to-spot differences between this model (BU) and its successor, the BU Nova, are the VN (for Vittorio Necchi) logo on the machine bed, and the plain chrome face of the tension assembly. The later model had the newer cartoon-style N logo and a black face on its tension assembly.
The BU is a flat bed machine with an oscillating hook and manual zig zag (which I believe means you select zig zag by shifting the stitch width lever rather than pushing a button). Necchis designated as BC, BCJ or BF are straight stitch only. The BU was manufactured in black or green. It is a very simple, very heavy cast iron machine with no plastic parts whatsoever.
Where did you buy it?
I had been watching eBay for a vintage Necchi for several weeks. This machine was listed by a damaged freight company. As far as I could tell from the very indistinct photo, its spool pins were bent, and the plastic modern case it had been shipped in was cracked, but otherwise things looked okay. It turned out that it came with no power cord or foot pedal, or attachments other than the bobbin case, one bobbin, and the all-purpose presser foot. I had ambitions of resolving the power situation myself, but in the end I took it to a local sewing machine mechanic who was backed up for seven weeks! The replacement foot control he provided is okay, but it does have a tendency to race. Since I sew clothing, I like to go slowly much of the time, and I find that I don't have the control I would like. I've heard of others with similar problems with replacement foot pedals. When the perfect treadle table comes along, I plan to convert this machine to treadle operation.
I don't have a base or a cabinet with hinge pins for it. As a heavy machine that generates some vibration, it could really use the extra stability of one of those.
How much did you pay for it?
I paid $55, plus $30 shipping, which was a good deal, but then I spent around $100 for the mechanic's services and the foot pedal, and $40 for a set of attachments belonging to a BU Mira. My total cost was higher, and my gratification much more delayed, than if I had bought a complete outfit to begin with.
In hindsight, I would not recommend buying a machine over eBay in unknown condition as one of your first vintage sewing machine purchases! A complete setup from a local source or a well-established eBay seller might have been a better way to go. In the year that I've been on the hunt, I've only seen two Necchis in my state (North Carolina). One had a broken part that is no longer available, and the other was the same machine I have, but after I had already bought this one.
How many projects have you done on this machine?
Quite a few, but other machines have happened along since, so it hasn't been my only machine. I pieced a twin quilt top and made my son a pair of jeans as the first pair of projects. I have made a couple of denim skirts for myself, several cotton blouses, a rayon dress with piping, and six very wide and long sheer curtain panels.
Describe the kind of work you've done with it.
This machine is wonderfully well-suited to a wide variety of woven fabrics. It handles light fabrics just as beautifully as very firm and heavy fabrics. I am not sure, in all honesty, that it pierces heavier fabrics any better than my modern Bernina 160 (which I did have repaired, to the tune of $250!). And I have not had great luck at all using it on lighter weight knits, such as jersey.
What do you like and what do you hate about it?
The sewing experience on this machine is fantastic. The BU gives me the feeling that together we can push right through nearly any project. It handles thick topstitching or upholstery thread in the needle and the bobbin much, much better than my Bernina. I love that it has an adjustable needle position (left, center and right). My Bernina probably has 10 different positions from left to right, but I love the simplicity of the three, which turns out to be plenty for any need. I like that it has adjustable presser foot pressure, which two older Berninas I used to own did not. I like that the feed dogs can be dropped for free motion work, though I haven't explored that much yet. This machine is a high shank model, so it can use many industrial presser feet. These feet are rugged, very specific to a purpose and cost between $5-$10 per foot. Compare that to between $30-$60 per Bernina foot!
Somehow the visibility of the sewing surface and the ease of reaching it on this machine are both great. The "head" of my Bernina seems to be higher and come forward more, and I feel like I hunch over more when using it. The ergonomics of the Necchi are terrific for me. It's awesome to set the levers in one position and know that they will stay put until I change them. On the other hand, it isn't so easy to change back and forth between different settings on the fly.
I wish it handled knits better, and sometimes I wish it was a pink and cream Supernova with the circular needle plate and a full set of cams! This machine does straight stitch and zig zag, forward and back, and free motion work. That's all. That's enough.
I haven't seen a lot of discussion about the way the needle mounts on these vintage machines versus the more modern arrangement, but it presents an issue for me. The needle mounts with the flat side to the right. Threading goes left to right. This is not just Necchis, but actually all of my vintage machines. It's easy enough to thread, and easy to insert the needle once you learn which way the flat side goes, but it doesn't make two parallel rows of stitching with a twin needle. Instead the twin needle makes a sort of a shadow effect vertically. I like to use a twin needle for hemming knits, so I have to hold onto a modern machine for this purpose.
I'm collecting reviews of old sewing machines at zigzaggers.typepad.com
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