I might have a problem. Every time I go to a thrift shop, I scour the aisles for vintage sewing machines and accessories. I’ve definitely got the bug. I justify it because I use each machine for different purposes. My husband seems to support my nonsense luckily, and even helps me fix and maintain them. It’s really fun to play around with vintage sewing machines and I appreciate their vintage style. My foray into vintage machines started when my modern machine started giving me a bit of trouble. I decided to start hunting for a machine that had a larger throat area for quilting purposes. So far my collection contains five…
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New Serger and Two New Project Reveals
I’ve steered away from making a lot of clothing in the past because I didn’t have a serger to make those clean finished edges that you see on ready-to-wear clothing. However, I think that’s going to change with the most recent addition to my sewing machine collection! My main reason for not owning a serger was the cost. While thrifting recently with my husband, he spotted the serger thread guide peeking out above all the items from an aisle away; you’ve got to love having a tall husband! We rushed over and there she was, the White Super Lock 534 serger, sitting there waiting for me with a decent price tag…
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Birthday and Anniversary Singer Featherweight Vintage Sewing Machine
I may have a little problem when it comes to collecting vintage sewing machines. I just love their charm and utility, and I love both displaying them and using them whenever I can. One of my favourites is the Singer 221, the Featherweight, and this is one model that I always wanted to add to my collection after seeing collectors online posting their photographs. I needed the adorable lightweight machine to be mine. I told my husband about the machine and showed him pictures of what it looked like and what the case looks like. We go thrift shopping often, hunting for this and other beautiful or interesting vintage sewing machines. I may have…
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Sewing Machine Showcase – Singer 99
Last year while thrifting I picked up this vintage sewing machine with case. I was instantly drawn in by the case, which had this beautiful Singer handle and a two-colour design in beige and brown. I couldn’t resist bringing this machine home with me. The Singer 99K is the 3/4 size version of the Singer 66K that I already have in my collection. I love having both of these machines because the 99 is like the little sister of the 66. My 66 is in a cabinet while the 99 is fairly lightweight in comparison and is portable. The base serves as both the base of the sewing machine and the…
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Sewing Machine Showcase – Singer 301
My Singer 301 sewing machine has become my favourite sewing machine for piecing quilts. It’s one that I would recommend to any quilter looking for a solid straight stitch machine. I never really sought out the Singer 301 – it wasn’t on my list of must-haves. I had read great things about the machine, but I didn’t think that I actually needed to seek it out because I had machines that could do the same things that the 301 could. So why did I add this machine to my collection? The Back Story of My Singer 301 I wrote a post recently about my two Singer Featherweight machines. My first Featherweight was missing…
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Sewing Machine Showcase – Singer 237
I picked up the Singer 237, a gem of a basic sewing machine, while travelling to pick up my Singer Featherweight machine for my wedding anniversary. While shopping for the Featherweight, I found this machine with its dirty case looking sad and lonely. It was labeled with a sticker that simply said “not working, $9.99.” I had a 30% off coupon so I figured I would take a chance on this machine and take it home with me; if worse came to worst, I could always donate it back to another thrift store locally to give someone else a shot. When I plugged in the machine, it actually did work but the tension was…
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Singer Tiny Serger TS-380 Plus Video Demonstration
I spotted this Singer Tiny Serger in the display window of my local Value Village thrift store. It was tagged at what I feel was an unrealistic price for this plastic machine, $129.99. I watched the machine as it slowly came down in price over a few months, and I eventually scored it for just $29.99. Good things come to those who wait! Singer Tiny Serger TS-380 Plus Video Review My Notes About the Tiny Serger The Tiny Serger works for what it is, but if you are doing a serious amount of sewing, I would recommend skipping this and purchasing a full-size serger. Why, you ask? The machine is…
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White 642 Domestic Sewing Machine Demonstration and Review
Today I’m going to show you a demonstration of the White Model 642 Sewing Machine. I picked this up from a thrift store a few years ago. The dials on this machine operate a little differently than I was used to, so I thought I would share the settings I used to achieve different stitches in case you were having similar problems. Watch the video below for the full demonstration. I go over the parts of the White 642 sewing machine, how to thread the machine, and the settings I use for each pattern. I also show you the variation of stitches you can achieve purely by adjusting the stitch length…
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Video: Singer 127 and Singer 128 Threading and Identification Guide
In this video threading guide, I’ll be showing you how wind the bobbin, how to prepare the shuttle, and how to thread the Singer 128 and Singer 127 sewing machines. If you have a knee pedal version, I’ll also show you how to to install the knee bar lever. I’ll perform the demonstration on my model 128. The model 128 can be considered the little sister of the model 127, which is the same machine except at ¾ the size. There are another pair of similar machines, model 27 and model 28, which are often confused. If you’re not sure which one you have, scroll to the bottom of this…
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Eaton’s Viking 788P Vintage Sewing Machine
This is the Viking 788P sewing machine. Recently my husband was passing through Value Village when he spotted this machine in the electronics section. He texted me immediately and told me it was a retro Viking sewing machine for $19.99. The bobbin case, cord and foot pedal were all there. It operated well – and did I want it? Of course, I had to try it out. Both of us figured it was an older Husqvarna machine. But no! These two Viking brands are totally unrelated. After doing some research online, I found out that Viking was the store brand of the Canadian department store chain, Eaton’s, which went bankrupt…
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White ESP Model 4000 Computerized Sewing Machine Guide
The latest sewing machine in my sewing machine collection is the White ESP model 4000 sewing machine. What attracted me to it was its small size – it’s no Featherweight, but while this sewing machine is in its case, it measures only 6 inches deep and 12.5” inches tall. After doing some research online, I learned that it was one of the first, if not THE first computerized sewing machines made by the White Sewing Machine Company, produced in the 1970s. This isn’t the type of sewing machine I usually seek out (I usually want them older), but I was pleasantly surprised with the smooth operation. I was walking down…
