How many sewing machines?
#241
Okay, I am a newbie and I have one machine that I bought about two years ago because I was determined to teach myself how to sew. With that being said, I went to Walmart and picked the first machine I found: a Singer Simple. I read the instruction manual from cover to cover. It is THE most basic machine ever and it is what I use. After reading this you are probably wondering how in the world can I quilt but I've had no problem so far HOWEVER, I've only completed one quilting project, a table topper. I completed a large lap quilt top way back when I first bought it and attempted to quilt it but gave up. I'm going to drag it out and finish it. So that is what I have. I took my mom's basic Brother as a backup but I've never used it (she hasn't either for that matter). I just wanted to make a post in case there is anyone out there who is truly a beginner also and has a basic machine too.
#242
Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Panhandle
Posts: 2
I currently own 11. From older metal bodied ones that will get re-cammed some day for specialty sewing, a Johnson Ruffler, and up to my Janome 11000. Total elapsed count, 34. My first machine was a Singer 602and I totally wore it out. I like when I get into a project cycle to have the serger and 3-4 other machines set up to be able to work station to station. You can never have too many sewing machines.
#243
I used to wonder why anyone needed more than one. Now...my first one was a Janome Memorycraft 4800 which is great for piecing and walking foot but useless (to use a politer word than I usually do) for FMQ. So I bought a 7700, which is fabulous for quilting. I kept the 4800 because of its other strengths, in case I wanted to work on both piecing/walking foot quilting and FMQ at the same time. People on here talked so much about Featherweights that I gave in to my curiosity and bought one. I fell in love, and that gets used for making blocks and piecing smaller projects. Later I found a Centennial FW in a local junk shop for a very low price - I still have it but may sell it at some point. And before I gave in and bought the 7700, I was looking for a cheaper solution to the FMQ issue and tried a Singer 301. It didn't solve that problem, but I've held onto it because it's brilliant for any heavy duty work - eg sewing together several layers. When my Mum died about 18 months ago, my sisters gave me first refusal on her very solid 1960s Husqvarna, and I was tempted, but had to admit that I didn't need it, so my sister has that - and there's a little bit of regret there...but she's more likely to use it.
And that's how I went from "why would you want more than one machine?" to 5!
And that's how I went from "why would you want more than one machine?" to 5!
#244
1920's singer hand crank
1940's white Rotary
1950's singer 66 in the treadle
all three gifts or barter
1960's singer 404
Janome 6600
Janome 8900.
+ a 15 singer clone
and a featherweight. The last two will go on the block when I get around to it.
I wish I'd thought harder about the 8900. Primo machine and they gave me an amazing trade in deal, but I've been sewing since I was 15-ish and quilting since 1970, so I've done it all. If I'd have thought about it I'd have known the vintage 404 straight stitch was all I needed for sewing, and the 6600 for quilting. Oh well. Best of all worlds I guess.
1940's white Rotary
1950's singer 66 in the treadle
all three gifts or barter
1960's singer 404
Janome 6600
Janome 8900.
+ a 15 singer clone
and a featherweight. The last two will go on the block when I get around to it.
I wish I'd thought harder about the 8900. Primo machine and they gave me an amazing trade in deal, but I've been sewing since I was 15-ish and quilting since 1970, so I've done it all. If I'd have thought about it I'd have known the vintage 404 straight stitch was all I needed for sewing, and the 6600 for quilting. Oh well. Best of all worlds I guess.
Last edited by KalamaQuilts; 03-29-2015 at 10:23 AM.
#246
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Round Rock, TX
Posts: 2,207
I have 3 machines. All Brothers. A Brother 2010 within a sewing cabinet. I bought myself a Christmas present, a Brother SE450, and husband got me a Brother XR9500PRW. Use the latter one mostly. But sure enjoy putting them all to use. I am in the process of looking for a long arm quilting machine.
#247
I have four:
My two main machines are a Juki 2010 (straight stitch) and a Juki F400 (computerized with all the bells and whistles)--I use both of these nearly every day and they're both set up with projects on them.
I also have a vintage White Rotary, circa 1918--my first sewing machine, bought at a resale shop in Seattle when I was 22-years-old. I keep it in working condition and still use it when the other two machines are in use.
My newest machine (taken out of the box YESTERDAY) is a Janome MyStyle 100--it's lightweight with minimal stitches. I plan to use it for classes and for travel. With a job that requires me to travel, elderly parents in a different state, a fiancé in yet a different state, and a niece and nephew in yet a third different state--I really needed a traveling machine!
I wonder if I'll learn to embroider? Or if I'll "need" a serger.....
My two main machines are a Juki 2010 (straight stitch) and a Juki F400 (computerized with all the bells and whistles)--I use both of these nearly every day and they're both set up with projects on them.
I also have a vintage White Rotary, circa 1918--my first sewing machine, bought at a resale shop in Seattle when I was 22-years-old. I keep it in working condition and still use it when the other two machines are in use.
My newest machine (taken out of the box YESTERDAY) is a Janome MyStyle 100--it's lightweight with minimal stitches. I plan to use it for classes and for travel. With a job that requires me to travel, elderly parents in a different state, a fiancé in yet a different state, and a niece and nephew in yet a third different state--I really needed a traveling machine!
I wonder if I'll learn to embroider? Or if I'll "need" a serger.....
#248
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,666
I was not going to get infected with the "collecting sewing machine virus."
I have gotten infected.
So far, I only have 9 sewing machines, 3 sergers, and one hemmer lurking in the basement.
One serger needs to be repaired - the presser foot lifter handle broke - and much to my wondering eyes - appears to have been broken before - and glued together.
Mine are all middle-aged - too young to be truly vintage - and too old to be truly up-to-date.
If I had known then what I know now - I would have grabbed several of my Mom's machines - but I let them get away from me.
Ah, well, Too soon old, too late smart(er)!
I have gotten infected.
So far, I only have 9 sewing machines, 3 sergers, and one hemmer lurking in the basement.
One serger needs to be repaired - the presser foot lifter handle broke - and much to my wondering eyes - appears to have been broken before - and glued together.
Mine are all middle-aged - too young to be truly vintage - and too old to be truly up-to-date.
If I had known then what I know now - I would have grabbed several of my Mom's machines - but I let them get away from me.
Ah, well, Too soon old, too late smart(er)!
#250
I have 5 Janomes and a Singer overlocker (serger). I never set out to have so many machines. I bought my first Janome 5024 in 2001 after having one machine for 30 plus years. My serger is around that age now. I was quite happy with that machine until I started quilting. I made quite a few quilts on that machine but wanted a larger harp space as I quilt my own quilts. That led to me getting a 6600 which still gets used regularly. Then a friend passed away and I bought her embroidery machine from her husband - a Janome 10000. I then decided as I was retired and well and truly hooked on quilting to buy another machine to go on my quilting frame so then came the Janome 8200.
Ever since I had acquired the 10000 I had always wanted to be able to do larger embroideries so when the owner of the LQS showed me the 15000 I fell in love with it. I decided to take some of my super annuation money and buy one. As we had to wait for the orders to come in I paid money off the machine every month. I maybe suffered some buyer's remorse but the more I use this machine the happier I am about it. I can actually have three machines going at once. I set both embroidery machines going then sew on the 6600. I'm one happy quilter and stitcher as I make bags, pincushions & sew together bags as well as other small projects and of course quilts.
Ever since I had acquired the 10000 I had always wanted to be able to do larger embroideries so when the owner of the LQS showed me the 15000 I fell in love with it. I decided to take some of my super annuation money and buy one. As we had to wait for the orders to come in I paid money off the machine every month. I maybe suffered some buyer's remorse but the more I use this machine the happier I am about it. I can actually have three machines going at once. I set both embroidery machines going then sew on the 6600. I'm one happy quilter and stitcher as I make bags, pincushions & sew together bags as well as other small projects and of course quilts.
Last edited by katesnanna; 05-09-2015 at 03:08 PM.
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