1 sewing machine, 2 sewing machine, 3 sewing machine . . .

My name is Patti and I am a sewing machine addict. Well not really, unless you look at what I've obtained in the past 12 months. 

Riccar Zig-Zag

This is like my first machine, a Riccar. It was a good solid heavy metal machine. Mom bought it for me when I was 14, in 1966. The date is still stamped inside the cabinet. 

I can't begin to tell you how much this machine was used. I made most of my clothes in high school. I not only made my wedding dress, but 2 flower girls' dresses, my two attendants' dresses, and my going away dress.

For the kids, there were baby blankets, baby clothes, little boys overalls, little girls dresses, Halloween costumes, Christmas dresses, quilt tops, and more quilt tops. 

This machine now resides with my niece Mandy. 

Elna Quilter's dream 6003

My next machine is about 10 years old. It's an Elna Quilter's dream 6003. It's plastic. Enough said. In the last year it's been in the shop more times than I can count on one hand. I'm still not pleased with it. In my opinion the feed dogs are worn out. I never have been pleased with the machine quilting I do on it. 

It is now in time out in another room. 

On December 12, 2012, we went to a local auction. 

The blacksmith saw this machine among the furniture and other items up for auction. No one there seemed to know how to get the cabinet off. He succeeded.  He then pointed out to me that it was a hand crank.  It was going to be hours before the auctioneer would be close to selling it. We went home and did a little research. I decided I wanted the machine. Four hours later we returned. The bidding started at $10 and had I not gotten a little excited and made some noise behind the auctioneer, the lady in front of the auctioneer might have won it for that. In the end it came home with me. 

It needed just a little fine tuning. Our blacksmith/sewing machine repairman Phil came to the rescue. 

1931 Singer 99, hand crank  

This is how he returned it . . . fully restored. I love how smooth and quiet this machine is. One day during a storm our electricity went off. I sewed an entire baby quilt top together just one crank at a time before the electricity came back on. The grand kids love stitching on this one too. 

1949 Featherweight  

On February 10, 2013 I found this Featherweight on EBay. It was located fairly close. I made a phone call and  two days later went to see it. After a little haggling on the price, it came home with me at a bargain price.

Several hours later it was visiting with Phil!

1956 Singer electric 99  

October 19, 2013, we were at a blacksmith conference in Oklahoma. My sister in law called from a craft show in Missouri. She had found this machine. After she described it to me, I told her grab it. It was another steal. Currently this is my go to machine. I love sewing on it.  

1952 Singer 15-91, #56 cabinet

November 22, 2012 I saw this machine in a local antique store. I took a picture, wrote down the serial number and came home to call my man Phil. He told me it's a unique Singer. It is gear driven where most are belt driven. He said Margie (his wife) has one. He does a little modification on them and they make wonderful machines to quilt with. 

The next day I went back, bought it, and loaded into the back of my jeep. After all it was born the same year as me, how could I pass it up?  Not to mention it was only $65. The cabinet alone sells for more than that on EBay.

A week later it went to visit Phil for the modifications. 

December 23, 2013 . . . craigslist, St Louis area (2 hours away) I find this. . .

1919 Singer 66 Red eye   

The parlor cabinet it came in!

I emailed the pictures and the description to my man Phil. He said if he were closer he'd buy it. He said it's a gem. 

I wasted no time in making a call to the owner. Two days before Christmas we traveled to Villa Ridge to pick it up. 

It is one of the sweetest machines I have acquired so far. The tiger oak cabinet has 9 doors, 5 drawers. The machine can be used as either a treadle or electric. It is in wonderful condition. It was fun trying to figure out how the machine retracts into the cabinet. We finally found a YouTube video telling how to push the machine straight down into the cabinet. To bring the machine up, you push a wooden button on the front of the cabinet, the machine then lifts up. 

1920's Franklin 

This machine was purchased at the auction of family member over 20 years ago.  It is a vibrating shuttle machine and takes the long bobbin. 

1953 Elna Supermatic  

What a unique machine! It's sewing case becomes it's sewing table. It has lots of cams to change the stitching patterns. It is using by pressing a knee bar. It was given to me by my friend Mara after she found out I was searching EBay for one. Her late husband (a blacksmith too) also liked to buy old machines and restore them. It was collecting dust in her garage and she was happy to send it to me. I got this in September of 2012.

Bernina Deco 600

This machine resides among the others. It's an embroidery machine that I am still learning to use. 

So in the past 12 months, I have acquired 5 new-to-me Singer machines; good, metal, good sewing, 

dependable machines. I'm hooked on them!

I now have a machine from the teens, 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's 60's, and more. Sometimes I feel like Johnny Cash singing "One piece at a time". 

So my New Year's resolution is not to buy any more machines this year. . . 

. . . at least until the next one comes along!