March 7, 2008

Sew and Tell

Ok, time for full disclosure. I currently have four sewing machines in my yarn room. Now to be fair, one of them belongs to my mother-in-law but it has been at my house for almost a year and she only uses it when we quilt together, so it might as well be considered part of my collection. So, without further ado...my own little version of show and tell:

First up we have my very first sewing machine. I picked this up at a yard sale about 6 years ago for twenty dollars. I had to have it serviced which cost about 30 bucks, but I'd still say I got a deal. I'm not sure how old it is, but it still works. Although it does take a little patience to get the thing threaded and the bobbin tends to be a bit tempermental, but it's not my primary sewing machine so it doesn't bother me.



Next up, my primary machine. Now I say primary, but this thing only sees action every few weeks when the mood strikes. It is the one that sits out on the sewing table most of the time, but it is usually wearing it's dust cover.


Next up, my mother-in-law's machine. Like I said, this one might as well be considered part of my collection. I think she has used it once on her own, but she doesn't really know much about sewing so she relys on me to show her how to use it. (Which is funny because I only barely know how to sew anyway!)



Finally, my most recent addition to the collection. This is one of my most proud bargain-shopping finds ever.

(Thanks to Chance for making the shot more interesting.) I know what you are thinking, that's not a sewing machine-that's just a table (and a pit bull). Where's the sewin machine? Well, I'm glad you asked....

It's one of those tables that folds up all neat but is secretly concealing a machine underneath! I found this at Goodwill for $10!!! I was so excited to find it just to have a relic like that in my yarn room, but I was convinced that when I got it home it wouldn't work. Nope, runs like a dream. I haven't used it though, because there is a spot on the cord where the wires are showing so I am looking for a replacement cord just to be on the safe side.

So there you go....my collection. It's a little weird to have that many when I hardly ever sew at all, right? My scrapbooking and knitting are by far the much more actively practiced crafts, yet...I can't pass up a sewing machine at a good price. I really really want an antique one. You know, the kind that you use a manual foot pedal and they are black and really heavy. Wow. That would be like the holy grail of sewing machines.

In other news...I went to my sister's last weekend for my nephew's birthday. My other sister brought her nephews from her husband's side with her which resulted in 4 kids there all under the age of 9. (Three of them were under the age of 5!) This little guy stole my heart...

That's Caden. He's 2 yrs old and is sooo adorable. He invented this fun game where he would throw his arms in the air and run at me and I would swoop him up. Then he would do it again and again.

So the hit of the party wasn't the presents or the cake. It was a simple cardboard box that my sister and nephew had turned into a pirate ship the day before. We spent a good ten minutes singing "A Pirate's Life for Me" and saying "Ahoy!" and "Arrrr, Matey!". The three youngest boys managed to all fit in the pirate's ship while Galen was the caboose.

Fun times! Morgan has some new knitting, but I forgot to take pictures to show here. I did however remember to take a picture of my only completed quilt.

This is hanging in my living room. (on my boring white walls...I want to paint them SO bad!) I made this in a class that I took at Cottonwood a few yeas ago. I think I completed the whole thing in less than a month. I don't think you can see the prints that well, but it had a sort of "Americana" theme to it.

My blog needs some major updating. I haven't changed anything in the sidebar in a long time. Look for some changes coming soon....

52 comments:

EmmaP said...

love the collection. Also, the timing of the FB is spot-on, since it was national pirate's day only about a week ago!!! arggh! to the nephews!!!

Anonymous said...

Aren't two year olds just the cutest!! I can't wait until my little girl gets there. Umm oh wait yes I can because I am really enjoying this time right now and don't want her to grow just yet (though she is going through a growth spurt right now :()

BITR Country Girl said...

We have three sewing machines at our house and they all get regular use. My mom acutally has two of those fold out machines....Goodwill or in some of our recent purchases the Hospice thrift store are great for finding cool stuff like that!

Love your wall hanging! I soooo want to learn how to do that sort of thing!

Creative Junkie said...

I never did learn how to sew. My mother is a fantastic seamstress and when I was growing up, one of our bedrooms was converted to her sewing room - she was always making something. She made almost every single one of my daughters' Halloween costumes when they were younger.

Unfortunately now, her hands no longer allow her to do that kind of work.

Unknown said...

Wow, I'm jealous....I'd love to have ONE sewing machine!! I'd probably use them (never).... but now without one, I can think of oh, so many projects that I think I"d love to do if only I had one! Does that make ANY sense or is it way too early in the morning...

Val said...

Wow, 4 sewing machines that work. That's great.
Happy SITS day!

Heather said...

I inherited my grandmother's sewing machine. It is ancient and she hadn't used it for maybe 10 years before she died (she had Alzheimer's) and now it's been sitting in my basement, all covered up, for the past 4 years. I keep meaning to learn how to use it - I used to know how to sew when I was in high school, but that was the last time I used a machine. These days, the most I do is hemming or button-replacing, all by hand.

Sigh. I'm so NOT crafty, LOL!

Oh, and one other thing - my mom has one of those antique, heavy, black, wrought iron-foot pedaled sewing machines. As kids, we used to love to sit under the table and push on the pedal with our hands to get the wheel spinning as fast as we could. Many a finger got pinched that way, I might add... :)

~Trish~ said...

I remember my mom having a flip up green machine...LOL that sounds funny.

Unknown said...

Lot of sewing machines. My mom is so funny - the first thing she did every time she moved is get someone to set up her sewing center.
Only thing, unlike my gramma who was a genius with it, she very very rarely sewed - has to be more than 20 years now since the last time.
Everyone laughs at her but she isn't at home til it is done even though we all know until that last ligth is hung there will be no peace at mom's house.
Because, don'tcha know, she has to have it ready in case the urge strikes.
Hope you find your holy grail of sewing machines. :)

Crazy Momma said...

Boxes are ALWAYS a hit at our family gatherings. Kids and their imaginations are amazing.

That is a beautiful quilt. Quilts decorate our home as well (my mother is a quilter and teacher). They are a great way to cover up an enormous wall with something beautiful.

Twyla said...

I love it. The table one is so cute and what an unbelievable steal. I'm just learning to sew myself.

Aubrey said...

I love the old, "hidden" sewing machine table. I also saw one at our local goodwill and thought to myself, "How neat is that!"

Momma Trish said...

I like the table sewing machine a lot. What a find! I have no sewing machines, as I am not particularly crafty. But I have a sister who is a fabulous seamstress, and I keep meaning to get her to teach me. I don't know when or if that will ever happen.

That is one very cute 2-year old!

Ronnica said...

My mom has one of those fold out type of sewing machines as well. I have no sewing machine, and no need for a sewing machine. If I need to be domestic, I'd prefer to cook or even to clean!

Brooke said...

My grandma has one of the fold out machines and also one of the black, heavy ones you are referring to. I do not sew but I would love to inherit one of those babies one day......

Teri said...

What a great collection. And what an excellent bargain hunter/gatherer you are. I am now inspired to sew...or at least think about it really, really hard. :-)
Found you on SITS.

Vicki said...

I love, love, love sewing machines! I only have one actual sewing machine. I've also got a serger and an embroidery machine. The embroidery machine does sew so I technically have two. Well, the serger can sew too, so I guess I have three!

Katie said...

Grr... Your post totally reminds me of the time there were TWO old sewing machines with tables at my local GoodWill on 50% off day. I passed them up! What the heck is wrong with me!? As soon as I got home and started thinking about it, I knew I wanted one of them. Of course, they were gone when I got back.

You have quite a lovely collection going. :-)

Salt City Mistress said...

Yay, I am a sewing machine junkie! I have two that I use on a daily basis, in not daily then at least weekly. One vintage that was my great aunt's and it's a singer paddle. I finally gave my first machine to my mother and I gave another one to my sister.

Ali said...

Love the table - don't you just LOVE a good bargain? Kudos to finishing the quilt (and any other projects) - I too am a startaholic (not so good on the finishing...). Happy SITs day!

Maternal Mirth said...

Ok, my mom was a Home Ec teacher for like 20+ years and I shame her by not even knowing how use a sewing machine ...

Andie said...

Great collection! :) I have two of my own (one new and one like your table sewing machine from my Grandma)!

Jenny Grace said...

That makes me feel a little better about my two, except one of mine is an old school peddle machine that takes up, well, a LOT of space.

Stephanie said...

My one sewing machine (it looks much like your first) sits in a box in our coat closet - I never use it and there's no place else in our small apartment for it! I think that folding sewing machine/table is so awesome! And for ten dollars? How cool is that?!

I like the idea of hanging a quilt on your wall. We aren't allowed to paint our boring white walls, I might have to drag out the sewing machine and sew up some "wallpaper" for our wall too! :-)

G. said...

nice machines! I'm a beginning sewer (if that's a word). I have one my mom found at an estate sale and it is a nice one. Also, your quilt is beautiful! What a talented gal!

Lula! said...

Oh, please get a 5th...because something about having 5 sewing machines sounds really COOL! Not overkill at all. Seriously. Go for 5...

Jenni said...

My problem is I keep looking at the fancy schmancy new machines that practically sew for themselves. . .I can hardly afford one, let alone four of those babies. Some day. In the meantime I will stick to my one, well used, but rather cheap, one-trick machine.

Lorie said...

Hey, if you use them why not have that many! I have one and it never gets used!!

Melanie Dickens said...

My mom use to have one of those machines, boy that brings back memories.

Melodie said...

I want a sewing machine, but I can't justify buying one since I don't actually know how to sew. I want to learn how to quilt. I thik I'd be good at it since I have a mathmatical mind and I love patterns. My aunt quilts (professionally, even) so I'm sure I could pick up some pointers (and patterns) from her, plus she could finish them all for me with her long-arm machine.

Maren said...

I just love quilting and sewing and I'm crazy for crochet...but with 7 kids, I'm not going to get a whole room to myself for a long time! I guess I'll be living vicariously through YOU:)

Kaycee said...

Wow, i'm looking at a second sewing machine now and I thought that was a lot..hehe! Congrats on being featured over at SITS!!

Jacie said...

I love the sewing machine in the table. I used to have my grandmother's that is just like that, but I gave it back to my mom when we moved. Now you've got me wanting it back- just for the decoration of it (I can't even sew back on a button.)

The Boss Lady said...

Four machines? You're phenomenal, Karen!

Anonymous said...

I love the sewing machines, your vintage one is beautiful. I wish I had something like that in my classroom for my students to draw. :D

Unknown said...

I have two machines, but only one works!!!

I used to own one of those sewing tables that has the machine attatched to it. had to leave it behind in NZ when I moved over here. Rather miss it!

My next buy, I think, is going to be a serger..

Holly said...

Oh! I love the pic of all those pirates! Yo ho ho!

You know that table machine? I learned how to sew on a machine like that. Eventually the tension thing was shot.

So with three and a half sewing machines, do you sew three and a half times as much?

;)

wendy said...

I used to have a sewing machine table just like yours. I loved it. My sewing machine is in hibernation since I'm too busy with work to sew. *sigh*

Happy SITS day!

♥ Becky ♥ said...

What a beautiful quilt. Do you go to the quilt shows?
Sometimes I kick myself for never learning how to sew or use a sewing machine. I relied to heavily on my grandmother.

Happy SITS Day

mrsmouthy said...

I had a Holly Hobby sewing machine once. Or was that an oven? Anyway, your collection is impressive. :)

Sandy N said...

My oldest wants me to buy her a sweing machine for Christmas this year. I dont have any idea how to sew though.... But I WAS excited that she is interested.

Rachelle Lynne said...

I don't sew very well but have a sewing machine and want a new fancy digital one that also embroiders. How silly is THAT?

Michelle said...

My great grandmother had one of those sewing machines you are talking about, and I was fascinated by it. I wish I had it now, but no idea where it is now. The whole collection cracks me up.

KatBouska said...

I have never met anyone with a sewing maching colletion...that's really cool. And I love the quilt you did!! Amazing!!

Swift Jan said...

Your collection is impressive!! I do enjoy sewing also!
I have 2 machines, my Grandma's old machine (in one of those cool concealed cabinets like the bargain you picked up). Unfortunately it doesn't work very well. ANd I recently got a brand new one for my birthday. I am loving the one step button hole!! Woo Hoo!! :)

S Club Mama said...

I wish I had a sewing machine so I could learn how to sew instead of mending things (very poorly) by hand.

Cheryl said...

Love those sewing machines. I can't sew. I have a brand new one that I want to learn on and want my daughter to learn but it has sat for a year now. I haven't even turned it on. Use to have the kind that has a foot manual but didn't use it either. Finally sold it!
Love your quilt.
Cheryl

Unknown said...

I'd like a sewing machine, if you're giving any away! I'm not a big sewer, either, but if I had access to a machine in my craft room I know I'd use it every few weeks like you.

Nessa said...

What a great quilt!

Learning to sew is on my to do list, but dh says I'm too clumsy to play with a machine that dangerous, lol!

cricketphx said...

Nice job on the Goodwill find! Note to self: go to goodwill more often! I'm very jealous!

Live.Love.Eat said...

Wow, I've never owned a sewing machine. If I did, it would sit next to the ironing board I never use :)

Melissa Lester said...

I got a Babylock Ellure sewing and embroidery machine for Christmas several years ago, and every year I thank my husband for it again. I don't think he could give me anything I would be more excited about. Congrats on your amazing find!