I have been cleaning top of garage and tucked in a box I found the first sewing machine I ever purchased. It is from early 70s and uses cams to sew fancy stitches. The case is nowhere to be found. I oiled her up and plugged her in. She purred very happily. Will thread and try to adjust tension and see how she sews when time allows. I remember how excited I was when she arrived in the mail. Best sewing machine I had ever seen. I put a lot of miles on this little darling. All my kids clothes were sewn on her. Looks so tiny compared to my Brother dream machine. Loving the memories that came with my find! Hugs and Blessings. Barba

My first sewing machine was a Frister and Rossman cub 3. I wanted a Bernina minimatic but at that point couldn't afford one. A year later when i had started teaching one of my first purchases was my Bernina minimatic. It came from the shop I bought the Cub 3 from. They advised me to sell the Cub 3 privately as it was so new which I did. I had a message recently that it had gone for a service. The machine went to a friend - the one who bought me my first embroidery machine.

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by barba 03 Jul 2020

My second machine was a Bernina 930 electronic which was purchased in 1985. I still have that machine. She is a workhorse that sews through everything. I did upholstery sewing on that machine and she did amazing. Hugs and Blessings, Barba

My mother had this type of machine when I began to sew, back in 1957 but when I married in 1966, my sister-in-law used a. then. antique singer machine which I wish I had put dibs on back then. It had a bobbin and shuttle which might have been the first bobbins used for home machines.

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by barba 03 Jul 2020

I have found some of those bobbins in boxes that belonged to my Mom. Hopefully i will find that old machine packed lovingly away before I finish cleaning. The memories this has brought up is awesome. Thank you, Hugs and Blessings, Barba

My first machine is the only one I've ever had. it's 50 years old - got it as a wedding present from my parents. It is a Montgomery Wards machine. It has cams, but I NEVER learned how to use them very well. My fancy stitches were never even. I have worked it to death though. Love using it because it reminds me of my parents. My mom wanted me to be able to sew so badly. In high school I used her electrified treadle. It sewed backwards and forwards - that's all, but I made a lot of things on it. Last thing was my wedding dress.

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by barba 03 Jul 2020

The old machines carry with them so much history and so many memories. They are definitely treasures. I used to make shirts for my Dad and put fancy stitches on the cuffs, collar and down beside the buttonholes. I sewed my kids clothes and had so much fun creating. I bet your wedding dress was gorgeous. Hope you were able to preserve it for future generations. Hugs and Blessings, Barba

Ahhhh, yes! I still have my first machine which is now 64 years old. I find it interesting that we all have an emotional connection to our machines no matter how long ago or how old!

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by barba 03 Jul 2020

Yes, we do have that connection. Little did we know 50 to 60 years ago how our hobby would progress into these elaborate embroidery machines that do so very much. Am loving all of them. Hugs and Blessings, Barba

I got my first sewing machine at 12 and it was a Singer. I didn't get one with Cams in it till I was 21 and that was a Lemair Helvetia, then I got a Husqvarna (still have that as a spare for sewing when my other machines go in for a service). My Nanna used to sew on a Singer Treadle and I have many happy memories of sitting down watching her sew with her foot going up and down. Great memories there Barba. Love Chris

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by barba 03 Jul 2020

Thank you, I guess 21 was the age for sewers to get their first fancy machine. ha ha. I have never heard of Lemair Helvetia. When I googled the name it came up as Brother Lemair-Helvetia. Is that the same Brother company we have today? Machine history is very interesting. Yes, I am loving all the memories. Hugs and Blessings, Barba

I also had my first machine at 21. Before that I used my grandmother's.

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by barba 03 Jul 2020

Loved the old machines that carry so many precious memories. I sewed on my Mom's old singer machine before I got my own. Hugs and Blessings, Barba

Mine was a Kenmore also with cam brought it from Sears, sew a lot with it, I remember I love it.

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by barba 03 Jul 2020

Thank you, probably same machine. I read that Singer made them in Japan and sold them under Kenmore, White, Dressmaker, Montgomery Ward and Alden's catalogue. Great machines! Hugs and Blessings, Barba

I got one with cams for my 21st, ..wendy

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by barba 03 Jul 2020

Cams were such a great advancement when they first came out. All those fancy stitches! I was thrilled when I saved up the money to purchase her. Hugs and Blessings, Barba

Such a beauty! My first machine had cams too. I did lots of sewing garmets back then. Now days it's what to embroidery next! Love your machine.

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by barba 03 Jul 2020

Thank you. I am going to piece my next quilt blocks on her to renew old memories. I will still embroider them and do quilting on my Brother dream machine. I am hooked on mach9ne embroidery! Hugs and Blessings, Barba

Wow what a faithful little machine. Still running. Maybe small but made of steel.

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by barba 03 Jul 2020

Thank you. She is wicked heavy. I took the top off ad cleaned and oiled her. No plastic gears anywhere. All metal. Hugs and Blessings, Barba

I have a machine fetish and I am just drooling over this one. Such a treasure. Glad you found it and will use her.

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by barba 03 Jul 2020

Thank you. You made me smile! I am so tickled to have found her also. Hugs and Blessings, Barba

My first machine was a Brother in a cabinet. I paid $99. for it at Woolco's if I remember the place name right.
I gave my daughter my mother's machine. It is a Singer in the cabinet with Cams too, for the different stitches, even the zig-zag stitch, you had to insert a Cam! Mamma sewed on it until she died. When her mind was getting bad with dementia, she would call me long distance charges too, and asked what was wrong with her machine because she couldn't get it to sew a backstitch. I told her she had a lever to the right of machine front to raise it up to go back and lower it the same number to sew your stitch length. She would leave the phone on (still long distance charges) and go try it. When she returned she would exclaim, "well it's working again!" Poor mamma... Thank goodness we can call now unlimited calling, still paying, but not as high as one call at a time charge by the minute. Also glad we have new improved machines without changing cams!-lol

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by asterixsew 01 Jul 2020

Toogie I love this story about your mother. My mother had a singer that was so heavy sewing had to be planned for when my father was home to lift it onto the table

by barba 03 Jul 2020

Great story Toogie. Love all the shared memories. Hugs and Blessings, Barba

Love your machine. Mine from then is currently being serviced and I am missing her and looking forwards to her return. Are you going to use your machine again?

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by barba 03 Jul 2020

Thank you, yes I am going to get her adjusted and use her again. I am quite excited to share this vintage machine with my grandchildren. Hugs an Blessings, Barba

Oh my, you have brought memories of my very first machine that I bought. And around the same time as yours. Mine was a Kenmore and I saved and saved to buy it. I wore it out. But oh, the happy memories and the wonderful outfits I created thanks to it. Enjoy making new memories .

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by barba 03 Jul 2020

Thank you. According to what I read about my machine, Singer made them in Japan and they were sold under many names, including Kenmore, White, Dressmaker, Montgomery Ward and Alden's catalogue. Hugs and Blessings, Barba