I have decided that things crash in three’s: within a few short weeks I’ve lost my car, my Mac and my sewing machine.
I do not complain about my sewing machine.
She’s an ugly old girl. I got swindled on Craig’s List three years ago in an attempt to save my dearly beloved some money. Instead of getting something new and cheap, I bought myself an old Singer, circa 1983-ish. Despite my intense and immediate buyer’s remorse (why do I feel obligated to to pay top dollar for other people’s crap just to make them feel good about themselves?), I knew the only way to save face with the man was to suck it up and sew already.
And oh how I’ve sewn.
For the past three years I’ve sewn pillows and costumes and Christmas pajamas, ball gowns and pin cushions and curtains. I’ve made purses and aprons and banners, stitched up dozens of wounded stuffed animals (Rex’s animals require at least one surgical procedure a week), mended pants and crafted skirts and ran the needles until they were dull as doorknobs.
Thanks to my in house sewing station I’ve been a regular little DIY princess who routinely avoids the children so I can learn to be a “homemaker.”
And I’ve done it all on the world’s stupidest sewing machine.
Three project packed years. Talk about ploughing through, I’ve put more miles and needles and stitches on that baby than I ever expected. And not once, not once have I even allowed myself to dream of it’s death. I’ve taken great care to hone the fine art of practicality and thrift in this department. The shoe department is a different animal, but as far as sewing machines go I get an A+.
A month ago I started taking a sewing class with my girlfriends. Apparently I’ve been stuck in the 60’s with my sewing mentality; my machine isn’t the only thing that’s holding me back. Despite being three decades behind in all things mechanical I’ve allowed myself very little machine envy during class, even when my lawnmower and I have had to listen to the purr of the new computerized Singer Curvy that sits next to us.
Imagine hauling a 1986 personal computer into a college class while everyone else is using laptops. A PC that your kids have lovingly decorated with permanent pens. So not cool. And for whatever reason, I really don’t care. It gets me from stitch A to stitch B, so no complaints here.
Yesterday while working on my sewing homework my routinely loud and obnoxious machine started making a rather uncomfortable grinding noise, kind of like a chain saw. But hey, the thing was still stitching so I decided to just press through. It’s not like I can take it into my local Singer stationmaster.
And as I punched in the back button at the end of the row it gave a little hiss and slight stench and presto: nothing but a death hum.
Apparently I’m being blessed for not caring that I don’t have the coolest or the smartest or the quietest or the newest or the most convenient machine. Either that or someone dropped my machine off a balcony without telling me (why did I not think of that before?).
For once in my marriage there was absolutely no argument when I called Jason and told him that my machine was dead and I would have to buy a new one pronto. He knows, he’s seen, I’ve done my time. This isn’t a passing fancy and I have earned a grown up girl machine.
According to Amazon it shipped this morning. As Rex would say, I sure hope the Seven Little Postmen hurry.
Please tell me that in the continent that produces the Bernina you did not order a Singer!!!!! Bernina, Viking, Phapff but no Singer!! I grew up sewing on the WORST machine in the world, that being a SInger and vowed that I would never own one. And I have not. I vowed to have a Bernina or a Viking like those every so lovely machines at school. Ahh yes I LOVE my Bernina! 28 years later and it still sings the sweet music of quiet sewing……………..that is when I get it out these days;-)
I have only had Elna’s and love them. Of course, this is because my mom has only had Elna’s and I always get her hand-me-downs. Oh, I hope this is the last thing you need to replace for awhile. I’ve had months like that too!
It’s not the age of the machine so much as the quality. In fact, a cheap new machine is often much, much worse than an expensive old machine. That said, I’ve never met a Singer I liked regardless of its age.
I’m so excited for you!! What did you get? I love sewing and am incredibly addicted to it.
i am just like you in the paying top dollar for someone else’s junk. My husband is big on Dave Ramsey and I save where I can.
I grew up sewing on my Mom’s Bernina that she bought when she was in college. I recently bought myself a new singer because of the price. I ended up taking it back because it was horrible. The feed dogs would not feed the fabric through smoothly, and I had nothing but trouble with it. I then talked my grandpa into giving me my grandmother’s sewing machine (she passed away 2 years ago). It was an old 1986 Brother. It gave up the ghost last week, and I had only used it since November. I am ‘to the point that I will go get a Bernina because I was so spoiled growing up using my Mom’s. Let’s just hope my husband will give me his blessing.
I am with the first commenter – My mother had a Bernina, I’ve always used one of her hand me down Berninas, and when she took it in to get it tuned up the sewing machine repair guy always tried to buy it off of her because the old Berninas are uncomplicated, reliable, and dependable and he sells them to sewing schools. I was in a quilting group for a while, and EVERY ONE of these admittedly old-enough-to-be-my-mother ladies had a Bernina, several of them older than mine. The new Berninas will practically pick the fabric out for you and deliver the completed items.
There, I’ve cast my vote, now that the box is already on its way… what did you get?
I would like to add one more vote to the “I hope you bought a Bernina” club.
My mom is still sewing on her Bernina which is at least 48 years old. That poor machine has taken a lot of abuse over the years, especially around the time when I was ten and begged my mom to teach me how to use it.
My first Bernina is 21 years old and still purrs like a kitten. My new Bernina is only 4 years old, but is still pretty awesome. (I bought the new one not because there was anything wrong with the first one, but because all the new bells and whistles on the new machine) (Shhhh! Don’t tell my husband)
If you want your husband to feel better about how much you spent, email me, I will let you know what I spent on mine.
No matter what machine you bought, I really hope you got one with an automatic needle threader, that is the best invention since disposable diapers.
My Singer stitched it’s last stitch just before Christmas. It truly was a sad day! That machine lasted me 20+ years without missing a beat. Like the others…I’m curious, what did you get to replace it?
WHOOOPPEE…Now you’ll never want to leave your sewing room.
I haven’t had a sewing machine since the early 80’s.
yes, be sure to share what machine you got. Had you asked and posted in on Facebook – I would have given you lots of advice on what machine to buy! Happy for you! Just like a mechanic or a builder – you need the right kind of tools to do the job well. And sewing machines, a good one, is the right kind of tool.
I got a gorgeous well-reviewed Janome, it’s the 8077 which is just like the top Magnolia (but made special for Hancock Fabrics). She does just about everything you can think of plus some. Got her for just under $300 and trust me, there’s a reason Janome has been around so long.
Funny, I didn’t even consider a Bernina. I should have asked my lady friends first…
I had a brief moment of panic there before I realized Singer was capitalized — I had visions of having to break the news to my mom that her singer (literally, the man who sings who is her favorite ever ever ever — and is also yours) had kicked the bucket. Vigil repeat playings of “I Am . . . I Said” and “Play Me”, tearful listenings of “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” in a darkened room, accidentally calling all of her granddaughters Caroline — we have truly dodged a bullet here. So forgive me if I’m happy it was your mechanical Singer who we lost instead of your impassioned and gravelly-voiced singer!
Can’t wait to hear how you like it! You certainly deserve it after the way you’ve proved yourself. I guess I’ll have my old Kenmore forever. The thought of learning to run a new electronic one is just too much for me. You know how proud I am of you. Really it seems there is just nothing you can’t do!
I just found you via DeNae and love your blog! I just got a Janome myself for Christmas and love it. Do you?!?
All I can say is Bernina who? I am so loyal to Janome, she sews like butter and purrs so pretty.