Zigzaggers

Vesta

and another review by Michelle Jensen, of naughty little epoch

Love it, hate it, or something in between? I was completely bowled over by this hand crank when I saw it. It was at the height of my sewing machine fascination and I had never seen a vibrating shuttle machine. (I love the long thin bobbin and the way the bobbin holder looks like a bullet. It's a joy to wind that bobbin!) I never really sewed a whole lot with this machine -- its stitching isn't perfect and it seems to have thread and fabric preferences -- but I always thought it would be great to have something to sew with in a power cut!

When did you buy this sewing machine? I bought it a couple of years ago, purely on a whim. I think I was seduced by those lions.
 
When was it manufactured? It was made by a German manufacturer called Dietrich. I'm not sure when mine was made, really. Its badge is from the 1890s, but the decals are from around 1903 (according to needlebar.com).

Where did you buy it? I bought it in a charity shop in my hometown. There is something about seeing something like that in a charity shop that makes it hard to pass up. It seems like such a stroke of luck.

How much did you pay for it? It is the most expensive machine I've bought at £25. The others didn't cost that much all together.

How many projects have you done on this machine? Only a couple, but I love the challenge of the hand crank option.

Describe the kind of work you've done with it. I made one appliqué completely in its honor with Nahmaschine written in ribbon across the top. Mostly I've just played around with it.

What do you like and what do you hate about it? I think this machine has real character. It isn't something that I would use all the time -- just when the mood takes me. There is nothing to hate; it has great character and I'm sure that like most sewing machines it just requires the right touch.

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.