Deleted
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Nov 2, 2024 9:26:34 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2019 4:06:50 GMT
I bought a babylock 9 a few years ago, I really like this machine.
But:
I found a white at goodwill for $13. It is great for straight sewing.
And today I found a dressmaker 7000. For $8.00! Omg it weights as much as my car. I can buy the stitch cogs on eBay, if the machine can sew. Right now it runs, I haven’t threaded it yet.
Tell me about you sewing machine finds.
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,840
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Jul 31, 2019 4:12:34 GMT
I teach Math and Science and a STEAM elective at a k-8 school. Another teacher and I were at a science meeting talking about wanting to get a few sewing machines for my STEAM program so I can do a costume and set design class in the 2nd trimester to support our school play. At another table, there was a high school teacher who over heard. She mentioned that the home ec teacher was clearing out her sewing stuff because it doesn’t fit with her Career and Tech Educational program. I emailed her IMMEDIATELY. I now have 10 Bernina 1008 machines sitting in my science lab! She even delivered them!  . Hoping to score some notions from her too. My dad found a Morse sewing machine and had it cleaned up for me. . It’s CRAZY heavy! I have tons of different feet, hemming feet too! I have zero idea of how to use them! I have a workhorse of a Viking machine that I use all the time. Much lighter and easier to lug around the house when I Need it. |
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Post by beaglemom on Jul 31, 2019 4:20:06 GMT
I found a Babylock rachel on fb marketplace for $75 and a Babylock serger/coverstitch combo on marketplace for $200. I also found some great vintage machines at thrift stores, but had to pass them on to others because I didn't have the space. My favorite was a White treadle in a beautiful table that I got for $40.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Nov 2, 2024 9:26:34 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2019 4:31:49 GMT
That was a really good find on all those berninas
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ashley
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,400 
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Post by ashley on Jul 31, 2019 12:23:15 GMT
Mine are just two vintage machines that are in unused condition. This pretty blue Singer was I’m sure never used, and comes in an amazing wooden box. Very midcentury. It was $25. http://instagram.com/p/BmwOX5zD3M2 I just bought this one, a nice aqua Stitchmaster, with such lovely gold detailing and lines. It currently does not work but it also appears to have never been used much at all (no signs of wear, not even on the painted gold lines where the fabric would slide along). It was only $20. http://instagram.com/p/B0Jii-iHhZu |
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,840
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Jul 31, 2019 14:17:06 GMT
That was a really good find on all those berninas I know! I was SHOCKED! Now to learn how to use them! |
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Post by rst on Jul 31, 2019 14:41:48 GMT
I found a Singer Featherweight for $50 in a thrift shop in Queenstown, New Zealand. The plug had been cut off, and the motor was clearly shot, but at that price, I couldn't pass it up, so it was my son's "personal item" on the plane. We got a lot of weird looks coming through airport security.
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Post by Rainy_Day_Woman on Jul 31, 2019 15:52:41 GMT
My main sewing machine is a Singer Rocketeer 500J that my dad refurbished for me. I paid maybe $75 for it? I don't remember. I love the purr of the all metal gear Singers. I bought my babylock when I was 16 from a lady off Craigslist who was movjng back to England and didn't want to ship it. My best friend stole her parents car and drove me out of town to pick it up  She was a good friend, LOL, and the machine still works perfectly!  |
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Post by playingcinderella on Jul 31, 2019 15:58:40 GMT
Your vintage machines are beautiful. I have a basic modern Singer that my mom gave me for graduation but now I want a pretty (and functional) one to display and use.
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DEX
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,400
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Post by DEX on Jul 31, 2019 16:02:54 GMT
I found Featherweight at a garage sale for $5.00. I later gave it to a fellow quilter friend of mine as a gift for hosting our little quilting group at her house every week,
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Post by lbp on Jul 31, 2019 16:24:13 GMT
I bought a 1970's Kenmore at an auction last year and it runs like a top!! $15.00
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Post by tracyarts on Jul 31, 2019 16:26:08 GMT
Long story:
In the early 90s I worked at Sears selling sewing machines (and vacuum cleaners and microwaves) on straight commission.
We had received our first electronic model, it was $749. I earned $200 every time I sold one. I rarely sold any. But I tried... I had a couple (husband and wife) and wife's elderly mother come in. Husband promised MIL her choice of any sewing machine for a gift. She wants the $749 machine because it will stitch letters and numbers and she wants to make keepsakes for grandchildren.
Guy tries to back out of the "any sewing machine" part of the deal, but the wife holds him to it. MIL leaves beaming with joy, and husband carries out machine with a sour look on his face. I get $200 out of the deal, yay me!
6 months later, guy comes in with machine in box, plunks it on the counter and demands his money back. Sweet old MIL had died and "barely used the thing" and he wants a full refund. It's way past the return period but Sears was way big into the customer is always right so I try to process the return anyway. No go, so I call my manager.
Manager and the guy get into a heated conversation over it and manager finally caved because the customer is always right. He looks up the UPC on the machine box, finds out that since it's now an obsolete model, the remaining stock is selling for $499. He can only refund the $499. The guy pitches a fit, but that's the best we can do and eventually he takes the money and leaves.
My manager is done with the situation and tells me to make sure all the pieces are there, mark it $249 and stick it in the refurbished section. I wanted an electronic machine really badly and could actually afford that one, and told him I wanted to buy it. He said fine, process it into the system and make the tag, stick it under the counter and he would ring me up after I clocked out.
So I got my machine, with my 10% employee discount! I took it home and was giving it a good cleaning and oiling. I heard something rattling in the area by the light bulb and thought crap... it's broken. I open the cover up and a huge gaudy gold nugget ring with a few diamonds falls out. I look at the ring, it's real.
Machine works fine, is in perfect condition. And the ring?
I told my manager, showed him the ring, and asked if we should call the guy. Manager says nope, he's done with that S.O.B. he got his refund, I bought the machine fair and square, and we never had this conversation.
I sold the ring at a pawnshop for $180.
I got an initial $200 commission for selling the machine. Since it was returned so many months later, I didn't lose my commission. I bought it for $249, minus my 10% discount. So, $225. Then sold the ring for $180. I got my machine and made about a $150 net profit out of the deal. Ha, fucking ha!
I had that machine for 20 years before I donated it and bought a newer one, and probably earned several thousand dollars using it to sew for people.
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pridemom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,843
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Post by pridemom on Aug 6, 2019 17:51:48 GMT
My main sewing machine is a Singer Rocketeer 500J that my dad refurbished for me. I paid maybe $75 for it? I don't remember. I love the purr of the all metal gear Singers. I bought my babylock when I was 16 from a lady off Craigslist who was movjng back to England and didn't want to ship it. My best friend stole her parents car and drove me out of town to pick it up She was a good friend, LOL, and the machine still works perfectly! I have one, too. Built in 1967 and love it. |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Nov 2, 2024 9:26:34 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2019 20:36:37 GMT
Long story: In the early 90s I worked at Sears selling sewing machines (and vacuum cleaners and microwaves) on straight commission. We had received our first electronic model, it was $749. I earned $200 every time I sold one. I rarely sold any. But I tried... I had a couple (husband and wife) and wife's elderly mother come in. Husband promised MIL her choice of any sewing machine for a gift. She wants the $749 machine because it will stitch letters and numbers and she wants to make keepsakes for grandchildren. Guy tries to back out of the "any sewing machine" part of the deal, but the wife holds him to it. MIL leaves beaming with joy, and husband carries out machine with a sour look on his face. I get $200 out of the deal, yay me! 6 months later, guy comes in with machine in box, plunks it on the counter and demands his money back. Sweet old MIL had died and "barely used the thing" and he wants a full refund. It's way past the return period but Sears was way big into the customer is always right so I try to process the return anyway. No go, so I call my manager. Manager and the guy get into a heated conversation over it and manager finally caved because the customer is always right. He looks up the UPC on the machine box, finds out that since it's now an obsolete model, the remaining stock is selling for $499. He can only refund the $499. The guy pitches a fit, but that's the best we can do and eventually he takes the money and leaves. My manager is done with the situation and tells me to make sure all the pieces are there, mark it $249 and stick it in the refurbished section. I wanted an electronic machine really badly and could actually afford that one, and told him I wanted to buy it. He said fine, process it into the system and make the tag, stick it under the counter and he would ring me up after I clocked out. So I got my machine, with my 10% employee discount! I took it home and was giving it a good cleaning and oiling. I heard something rattling in the area by the light bulb and thought crap... it's broken. I open the cover up and a huge gaudy gold nugget ring with a few diamonds falls out. I look at the ring, it's real. Machine works fine, is in perfect condition. And the ring? I told my manager, showed him the ring, and asked if we should call the guy. Manager says nope, he's done with that S.O.B. he got his refund, I bought the machine fair and square, and we never had this conversation. I sold the ring at a pawnshop for $180. I got an initial $200 commission for selling the machine. Since it was returned so many months later, I didn't lose my commission. I bought it for $249, minus my 10% discount. So, $225. Then sold the ring for $180. I got my machine and made about a $150 net profit out of the deal. Ha, fucking ha! I had that machine for 20 years before I donated it and bought a newer one, and probably earned several thousand dollars using it to sew for people. I knew that commissioned employees made good money, but wowzers! Your one commission was more than I made in 2 weeks there. I think you actually made more than my aunt who worked as the office manager in the parts department full time. Your stock option must have been quite nice when you left. |
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Post by papersilly on Aug 6, 2019 20:42:50 GMT
i've always bought my sewing machines new but when i see used ones, they always weigh a ton compared to mine. they just don't make them like they used to. those older machines were work horses.
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Post by hmp on Aug 6, 2019 22:41:27 GMT
I bought a Singer Featherweight 4 years ago in Indianapolis. Came in it’s original case with all the original pieces (manual, bobbins...). It had been meticulously restored. Cost me $450. But she runs like a dream. Will be my first and only sewing machine. All those modern computer machines made of plastic scare me. I too caused a stir going thru airport security. TSA wanted to confiscate her until I showed them their own website stating you can carry on a sewing machine! The name Featherweight makes me laugh though. It’s anything but a Featherweight 🤣
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Post by Linda on Aug 7, 2019 3:35:58 GMT
my everyday machine is a Singer Futura 200 that I've had for 12.5 years. It replaced my JCP branded machine I bought in high school back in the mid 80s.
I found a Dressmaker at a thrift store for $15 complete with all the cams and feet. It's heavy but it works well. I haven't used it enough to really try out everything (I don't have space for two machines to be set up so it's currently stored).
My girls both have basic Singers - one from BigLots, one from Aldis. Neither sews often but they're sufficient for their needs.
I dream of finding a working treadle machine at a price I can afford (not that I have space for one but ....)
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Post by AngieandSnoopy on Aug 7, 2019 5:16:00 GMT
My mother showed me how to sew Barbie clothes on her sewing machine when I was 9. But wouldn't let me use it without her being there but taught me how to use our grandmother/great-grandmother's Singer Treadle which was at my grandmother, her mother's house. She later bought me a lousy sewing machine that nearly had me in tears and she was pulling her hair out trying to keep the tension correct. I finally was able to get a Singer slant needle but really wanted the Golden Touch and Sew but my mother wouldn't spring for the extra. I paid some of it with money gifts and she paid the rest. That was the ONLY sewing machine I had for many many years. Not until I inherited a Singer Featherweight from my late husband's aunt. After my dh died in 2001, I bought a EuroPro serger. Was hoping to earn some extra money sewing but I was just braindead from grief to learn to thread it correctly. I finally got it out and figured it out this February! Then about 8 years ago, I found the VERY model of Singer Golden Touch and Sew I wanted as a teen. I know it is the same model because the serial numbers show that it and my original Singer were made the same year. I got it very cheap, it would sew but the rubber feed dogs wouldn't work, rubber came off. I paid $8 for metal replacement feed dog online. Bought a bunch of bobbins from eBay. Both machines look very much alike but use different bobbins. It had NO cams with it. I finally did the research to figure out what cams fit it and got a great eBay deal for most of the white cams that fit it. BUT apparently a spring or something is missing because the "srm" won't move back and forth and work. I've been googling and checking YouTube but so far, no help... Several years ago, I found a Singer Heavyweight. not much of a heavy weight, had so so reviews. I went ahead and got it because #1, it had a free arm! And a never opened clear quilting table. Most of the accessories were still in the unopened packages. And it came with a used folding sewing machine table. And the nice thing is, it uses the same bobbins my original Singer does. And as I said, the free arm, always wished I had one and finally got one! Oh and $45 for the entire thing! Sewing machine, all the accessories, clear quilting table and sewing machine table. Glad I got it, it is the only machine I have that will use the 40's Singer Buttonholer other than the Featherweight. I got that at a thrift store a few years ago. I'm glad I thought to check YouTube videos to find out how to use it on modern machines. The videos told me it won't work on my slant needle machines. That is all I had and wasn't really wanting another machine unless I got an embroidery machine and the kind I REALLY want is way too pricey. I was given a Brother sewing machine last month. I want to practice freehand embroidery on it. The darning plate and all but the foot on the machine was missing. I bought a big batch of inexpensive feet to fit it AND the flower foot and a freehand embroidery foot, both also fits on my newer Singer. I've McGyvered a work around for the darning plate but that is my next purchase. After a mostly long dry spell, I'm finally getting into sewing again. I made two pair of pants for work, with extra pockets for my wallet and phone, kind of cargo pants in pastel colors. I've also recently made a bunch more neck coolers to sell at my craft shows. I have plans to make some western shirts for DH, finally found a good pattern and working on a dressy halter vest for my little Mandy. |
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She was a good friend, LOL, and the machine still works perfectly!
