I wasn't interested in sewing as my Dear Mother was just so good and made everything for me. Then I went traveling and my DM took over my machine . I still have it as Mother passed away in 1994, but it is covered with dust and never used. I also inherited Mother's machine when I reclaimed my Singer. It has a beautiful cabinet with it and the machine folds inside the cabinet. This machine sits in my passage way with a crochet cloth covering it and an old fashioned lamp on top. This I will always treasure. I do a lot of sewing on my Brother but need another as I am forever having to change from the Embroidery to just sewing.

Talking about machines........ I have about 13!!!!
DHDon and I don't seem to be able to go past an old machine without examining and wanting it. We haunt the secondhand shops just to see the machines. Only room has put a brake on our machine collecting addiction.
I have a couple of really old and very interesting little machines, a couple of hand-cranked Singers, a couple of Featherweights, an Elna Lotus (great for workshops - it's light), a couple of cabinet models and a couple of treadle machines. One treadle has a wooden chassis and the most beautiful stitch one could wish for. It also has superb go/stop control so is wonderful for patchwork sewing. It only does straight stitch but I love this machine.
Then I have a Huskystar E20 for normal sewing and workshops - again very light - and the big Husqvarna Viking Designer II with all its bells and whistles.
These are the two machines I use all the time now.
I also have a Babylock Serger which is proving to be worth every cent it cost me because I no longer have to fight the re-threading battle I had with the Janome overlocker (aging eyes and knobbly arthritic fingers made threading impossible).
I think that's all the machines I have.
Our aim is to get a model with the beautiful carving on the sides and front and carving on the three drawers.
DHDon has a couple of old machines in the shed. He used to make spinning wheels and use the fly wheels from the old treadles. These fly wheels helped to spin great wool but they worked very fast and it took a bit of practice to control them.
Oh... I forgot.... I have a small miniature and toy collection of machines as well, right down to the smallest sewing machine sew-on notion for wall hangings. Just about anything in the shape of a sewing machine is likely to find its way into this collection.
AlmaG.

1 comment

by mi30kaja 24 Feb 2011

Alma I will think of you every time I see a miniature sewing machine. Lyn

I first saw an embroidery machine about 15 years ago, and could not believe my eyes. the price put it in the "impossible dream " category. It was a Brother Super Galaxie II. About 4 years later, for my 50th Birthday, my darling husband bought me this model machine from a dealer who was updating to the new model. I was in 7th heaven! What a beautiful machine! I will never part with it.
Five years later, he bought me the software, five years later, he bought me the Innovis 700E (embroidery only). I love my Brothers, but love my DH more.These machines have brought me so much enjoyment.

1 comment

by mi30kaja 24 Feb 2011

There are so many different makes of Machines even in the Brother Brand. I have a Brother Innovis 1200. L

I collect singer featherweights and I think I have 10 of them. As far as old machines I have a old crank handle, my mom's first Pfaff from 1947, my old Pfaff from 1976. My Pfaff creative 2.0 that I bought in 2008 that is my embroidery machine. THen last year I purchased a Pfaff Smarter with quiling tray and feet for sewing and quilting.

1 comment

by mi30kaja 24 Feb 2011

We all seem to collect something. L

I currently have 4 machines and a serger. (Well the serger is on loan, it's been here for several years!) I have an old Singer treadle machine I use for the cabinet, an old Singer commercial sewing machine for doing home decor items, a small Bernina, and my Bernina Artista Embroidery/sewing machine. You are right. Having a sewing machine beside my embroidery machine is a huge time saver.

1 comment

by mi30kaja 24 Feb 2011

Lucky you. This will never happen for me. L

Let's put it this way: I can't say goodbye to an old and trusted friend, so there's my mum's 1953 Elna (straight stitch only), on which I learned to do free embroidery; my own 1963 Elna Supermatic; a 1999 Designer 1 (a dearly loved machine) promised to my daughter who currently has my 1991 Brother Galaxy (which still embroiders well but the sewing is past its best to put it mildly); and then there are the newer ones, too embarrassed to tell you more about those.
And do I use them on a daily basis? Not when I'm digitising. :)

1 comment

by mi30kaja 24 Feb 2011

Can you imagine how much money is tied up in our machines? L

My first sewing machine I remember because my DH loaned it to someone without asking. It was returned damaged (something said about being dropped in the parking lot) and after spending about $75 in repairs it was never right and had scrape reminder marks. Had to replace that machine and get the whole incident out of my sight. Right now I have three machines and one serger. The fourth machine I gave to a mother from my son's classroom after their home burned down. The treadle machine broke it's wooden spindle that was attached to the foot peddle so that is gone now. It made the best buttonholes of all the machines. Now if someone wants to use one of my machines they have to use it right here at my home. My DH learned not to ever lend something that don't belong to him and I promised to never lend any of his tools. lol

1 comment

by mi30kaja 23 Feb 2011

Don't you just Luv them? DH's I mean

I have my Elissimo and my 6 needle both Babylock machines. I just bought back my Ellegante that I made the mistake of trading in for the Elissimo. So good to have it back home. Now I can embroider on 2 machines while sewing on 1 or I can embroider on 3 and serge with my Babylock Evolve. Yes, I am very very spoiled.

1 comment

by mi30kaja 23 Feb 2011

Lucky you!

I don't have enough.... or rather I don't have what I want (insert spoiled brat screaming here). I have a wonderful Kenmore that I love - just for sewing.... I also have a baby Kenmore that my daughter uses. It has about 5 stitches on it - but we can tote it with us for quick repairs and all my regular kenmore feet fit on it. Then I just bought a Brother Serger - don't have a clue how to use it - it isn't even out of the box yet (that was my Valentines day present) ... gotta learn quick. And I have my brother embroidery machine - 4x4..... But I want the mac daddy - a 12 needle brother!!! Why - I dunno - just do. See - spoiled brat. Well - I guess the spoiled brat would get it - I just want it - badly (can you hear the whining ?????) I would like to upgrade but my rule is to only pay cash - no financing so its going to be quite some time before I can purchase a new machine.

1 comment

by mi30kaja 23 Feb 2011

Why should we be whining. We all understand. We all want even though we don't need. L

I know have 2 embroidery machines, a quilting machine, a serger and a sewing machine. I need to get rid of one of the embroidery machines since I have no room!

1 comment

by mi30kaja 22 Feb 2011

Should really get my Singer up and going again, then I would not have to keep changing. L

I think it's great you have your Mother's machines. I know she would want you to keep and cherish them. I have my grandmothers treadle machine. Just for display. Haven't tried to use it.

1 comment

by mi30kaja 22 Feb 2011

My Mother was One of those really nice people. You never heard a cross word from her. She was like my girlfriend. L

Think I have about 5 different machines but I am not too sure. I have been here too long as it is past my bed time. I do know my mums machine is now my younger daughters and is a Elna and is a lovely little machine

1 comment

by mi30kaja 22 Feb 2011

I know the feeling. This site has taken over my life. L