My experience in buying a Singer feels similar to adopting a guinea pig. It
doesn't matter if it's in bad shape (like
Mabel) or has a bad attitude (like
Willow and the Newbies). Once I see it and have introductions, it needs to come home with
me. I'll give it love and affection while it's here. (Including when it causes me to pull my hair out. <sigh>)
My most recent machine is a 201 I picked up from nextdoor. It looked in better shape from the online photos. I
tried testing it out before bringing it home, but the bobbin and feed dogs were packed with lint. I couldn't tell if it would work or not. The mechanism to lower the feed dogs was also too gunky to test. I negotiated with the woman and brought it home in spite of promising myself to only take a fully working machine (just like Mabel).
To top this off, I have two machines in the living room right now. My very first sewing machine is about to be dissected. The machine is unusable in the summer - humidity causes the timing belt to jump and causes the needle to strike the hook mechanism. No one wants to repair it because it's a time consuming (therefore very expensive) task. Rob and I will attempt to replace the belt ourselves. Either we'll fix the sewing machine or give it away for parts. I sincerely hope it's not a long term resident here either way.
Both of these are distractions from actual sewing! Those sewing machines are crowding my living room and need to vacate before I add in guinea pigs.
I'm so impressed that you are able to figure out what's going on with different sewing machines and fix them! I have three sewing machines - kind of surprising to realize that! My first sewing machine looks much like the one sitting on the table in the second photo. I know it still works, but not sure if I have bobbins for it anymore.
ReplyDeleteI have the Singer Quantum now and like it though I'm not doing free motion quilting on it which is why I chose this one. Not the machine's fault for sure. I'm hard on machines and have to get Tony's help from time to time. So far I've practised serial monogamy with my sewing machines, LOL.
ReplyDeleteI was very tempted by a Willcox and Gibbs at a huge tag sale, but 1) it was a grubby mess, and 2) it was way overpriced, especially considering no one even knew what it was. I was SO grateful there were two valid reasons not to bring home a project machine! And I did buy a big box of patterns, in case I ever decide to actually, you know, sew something.
ReplyDeleteI have a few older machines too. My dad was great at fixing them. He would take them apart and have them working in no time. I guess it's one of the things I miss about him!
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