What is this
Quiltmaker to do when a lonely and unloved vintage
machine is cast aside in favor of a modern
computerized wonder-model? I adopt them!
I love them, each and everyone!
It seems the more "modern" machines advance to
become computer driven and pre-programmed, producing
die-cut perfection in their abilities, the more I
feel that real skill is taken from the Quiltmaker,
and atrributed rather to the machine, instead of the
person driving it!
The fancier the machines get, and the more expensive
their add-ons and abilities, the more I want to run
to my vintage friends, leaving the wonder-machines
to those who want to live in the modern world.
I'm more of a piecer, than an embellisher, so all I
really need is a super straight stitch, along with
the occassional zig zag for when I actually NEED to
sew on a button by machine, or perhaps join scraps
of batting together to make a piece that is big
enough for whatever quilt I am getting ready to
quilt!
There is NOTHING like sewing on a vintage machine.
Nothing in the world can connect you to Quiltmakers
Past than feeling the hum of their machines beneath
your fingertips as the fabric pieces feed through.
These are the machines in my household! I hope you
enjoy them as much as I do! Click on each thumbnail
to see the full size pic. Click the highlighted
name to view any associated blog post to learn more about each machine
and how they came to abide with me.
~Treadles &
Hand Cranks~
~Singer Featherweights~
Bertha (From Boise!)
Singer 221K Featherweight, 1945
Serial # AG545758
|
Bea
Singer 221K Featherweight, 1964
Serial # EV970152
|
Hot Rod Magenta 221K Featherweight
RIP,
Magenta!
This machine demolished by baggage
handlers on
a flight from San Francisco to Oregon. |
Doris!
Singer 221K Featherweight, 1957
|
Missy
Before & After!
Singer 221K Featherweight, 1948
Painted by Gerald!
|
|
~Electric Full Sized Vintage Machines~
Martha!
1950s Singer 301A and Card Table
Found in Pennsylvania
(shown here sewing in my hotel room!) |
Dagny!
Before!
After!
1950s Atlas in Strawberry Milkshake Pink! |
 
Verna Fern
Singer 15-91, 1942
Serial # AG370158
(Named after my GrandmotherThis was her
machine :c)
|
 
Greta Garbo
Singer 99K, 1927
Serial # AB804064
|
 
Lela
Singer 24, 1946
Serial #AG740463
The Singer 24 is a chain stitch machine!
|
 
Big
BlueWizard
Serial # 88291, Japan, 1950's?
(clone of singer 15-91)
I love this blue color, and the little bit
of decal on the bed.
Who wouldn't want to sew on a blue machine
named Wizard!?
|
Norma
Jean
Singer 404, 1958
PDF Manual
|
Sandra Dee
Singer 401A, 1957
|
Sally
Singer 328K, 1953
(found her and her converted treadle cabinet
at the Salvation Army)
|
Mean
Judy Green
Singer 185J, 1954
|
Sparty
Spartan 192k by Singer, 1958
Serial #33681 |
 
Lloyd
Bell
Bell Micro: Real, not a toy! 1954
(posed in front of 185J Judy to show actual
size!)
More
Info |
Ugly Betty
Singer 301A, short bed 1951
Serial # NA289792
Poor Ugly Betty was a gift from friend
who discovered her at a flea market after
having
spent all winter outdoors under a tarp! She
still runs!
|
Gracie
Singer 99, 1941
This one has the "godzilla" finish and was
found in her decal
adorned cabinet at a second hand store in
Kernersville, NC!
She came with bobbins, needles, thread, and
the green
button holer attachment box. RUNS GREAT!
She is now living in my guestroom.
|
Edie
Singer 301A, long bed, 1951
Serial # NA156809
Edie is a tan long bed, found at the
Quilter's Unlimited show in
Chantilly, VA where I was teaching June
2009. She just HAD
to come join my menagerie!
|
Singer
128 Black-side, 1940s
Found in Pennsylvania |
Marilyn
1950's Morse sewing machine, made by Toyota
in Japan!
Marilyn is an early zig-zag -- revolutionary
because she didn't
require the use of cams! Love that
paint color on her -- it's
original!
|
Barbie!
She's a pink 1950's Singer 15 clone,
also made in Japan! She sews like a dream!
|
This is the Grey Wizard!Also known as "Joe
Cool".
He's also a 1950's Japanese import
Just like Barbie! Found at a yard sale for
$30!
|
Sophia
Necchi Supernova Ultra, 1958
Serial Number # 35-0281438
Found in an antique mall in Virginia for a
whopping $28.00!
|
Ken
1950s Kenmore, Made in Japan
Found in antique mall in Mooresville, NC!
|
Bobby
1950's Brother, made in Japan
|
Jane
Singer 500a, The Rocketeer! 1963
Serial Number # NO544107 |
Francesca
Pink Necchi Supernova Ultra Mark 2
|
Petula!
1967 Wizard Citation made by Brother in
Japan
Salvation Army find -- $35.00
|
Best
Built!
"Shimmy Jimmy"
1950's Japanese Import class 15
Birthday gift: $22.50!
|
Flora
1930's Eatonia, a badged "National"
Lady Eaton (of Canada's Eaton's department store chain)
was named Flora. |
~Novelty
and Toy Machines~
My friend Lucy started my toy collection!
The first 3 shown were gifts from her, along
with two mini quilts!
The third machine, a Regina, is shown with a
mini quilt that I made myself.
Casige, 1940
Nick Name: Thelma
|
" Made in USSR"
No age idea on this one?
Nick Name: Louise
(Also known as Red Russian!)
|
Regina, 1940's
Nick Name: Regina
Shown here with her box
and the mini quilt I made.
|
Singer 40-D, 1950's
Serial #22855
Nick Name: Little Brownie
|
 
Little Singer Touch & Sew, 1970's
I always wanted one of these when I was
little.
I didn't get one then,but I have one now!
Nick Name: Marsha Brady
|
Found in Virgina, unknown manufacturer
battery operated, says Japan on the bottom
Nick Name: Japan Blue
|
Little Gateway NP-1 (1940)
Found in Altoona, PA
Nick Name: Rosie
|
Singer Sew Handy, 1950s
This little cutie was adopted at an
antique mall
in Augusta, Georgia while shopping with my
friend Siobhan. The box is even in great
shape!
|
|
I DO sew on my vintage machines,but
this isn't the end of the list!
~Modern Computerized Machines~
|
~Great
Links for Vintage Machine Collectors~
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