Ebay and the Sewing Machine

The mad search for a sewing machine has finally come to a close. Mike offered back around Christmas that he would buy me the sewing machine I wanted for my birthday. I said I liked that idea so I started looking into potential candidates. I knew I wanted something multi-purpose that could go through many layers of fabric with ease as not only do I quilt, but Mike has expressed interest in being able to work on projects that involve sewing canvas, denim, leather, etc. I'd also like to have these abilities in a sewing machine. The only problem with the 'house' sewing machine is that it tends to be a jack of all trades. Even though it has the capability to sew through rather tough fabric as long as the needle size/tension/thread thickness ratio is correct, it can't do it for very long and has a high chance of breaking down. The big problem with "industrial strength" machines is they're ridiculously expensive and can only do one thing like button holes or sew straight.

There's also the problem of: multi-purpose. I want something that can embroider, quilt, do all the basic sewing functions, as well as be able to sew through anything and not break down. Most multi-purpose machines out there are a combination of embroidery and quilting/sewing and aren't hardy in regards to tougher fabrics. It's expected you're sewing through softer, finer things to embroider and quilt. They're also very expensive and even though I'd like to invest in one in the future, I just wasn't ready to spend that kind of money on a first sewing machine.

This led me to start researching antique sewing machines when I read a review on Yahoo! about sewing machines that can sew for hours every day, similar to the "industrial strenght" but are much less expensive and for home use. There was a review by a guy who restores and refurbishes antique sewing machines who said that the Singer 201 and 15-91 are the best because they can sew through anything for extended periods of time and not break down. This is due to the fact that the motor is gear operated not belt operated and so you just can't hurt it. The only key is unless you know how to restore them; you have to make sure you're buying it from a reliable source. I then read another article on buying sewing machines through ebay and how to tell if someone is reputable or not in regards to the antique sewing machine.

So why the 15-91 instead of the 201? Well, it's all about the bobbin! The way the bobbin fits into the 15-91 is very forgiving and allows for rather beautiful free quilting and strange threads to be fed into the machine. That was the selling point for me. Both can do pretty much the same thing when it comes to sewing through tough fabrics, but the 201 bobbin goes in differently so you can't do as much creative stuff as easily in regards to quilting.

There's also a lot that can be wrong. As it's from the 1950s it's more than likely got decaying wires, gunk all in the motor, and a whole other list of problems that can lead to personal injury if you don't check before plugging it in and using it. Plus, some people selling just turn on the machine and see the needle go up and down and assume its "working." Just because the needle goes up and down doesn't mean it can sew right. That $15.00 machine might not be exactly what you were hoping for. So after a search through ebay I found one. I also found a cabinet to go with it as it needs to be mounted in something since it's not just built with a base included, and it's a 30 lb. cast iron beauty.

I've put up the pictures. The stool has different upholstery than the one I'm buying. It's this weird velved material. The stool and cabinet aren't sold together as a set as they're from different vendors so we'll probably have to revarnish them to match, which isn't a problem and I think would be a good project for me to do. The picture I posted of a matching set is the wood color I'd go for. I'd also like to reupholster the stool and maybe put a different fabric. I like red and I like velved, but both together are a little gaudy. Plus, for hygiene purposes I think it'd be best to have new fabric and cushion for me to sit on.

I'm pretty excited. I've also started looking into potential embroidery sewing machines. Some of them are so smart it's like they have a mind of their own. The companies I've been looking at in regards to a machine that can do a lot of bells and whistles are: Bernina (the aurora 440 QE), Husqvarna (the lily 550), and Pfaff (the 2056). Michael really wants it to be able to do letters for monogramming purposes, but other than that he's not too picky. Again, the only problem is these machines are rather expensive so it's an investment. The nice thing is you can get a more "mid range" version of the insanely expensive ones that cost about as much as a car, and it'll do everything you need just not be the top of the line version. The ones I listed are more mid-range. I'd just like to have a better idea of how each machine's programming works. And maybe down the line I'll look into a long arm machine...but we'll see. I need to be a rather serious quilter for something like that to happen. Plus, there are a plenty of places out there that offer long arm studios where you can rent a machine for a few hours and voila! Completed quilt!

I'm still in the midst of a bidding war so to speak. They're not "mine" officially yet. I'm not sure about the cabinet and stool because apparently the Queen Anne style is rather rare and it's hard to find both the stool and cabinet together. It's a major collector's item for people who have the antique Singers. Leave it to me to find the thing that's rare and expensive as a result. The sewing maching is going to be a few days yet. I'll keep you posted if I win, though!

All in all we're doing pretty well. Can't wait to be home. I hope everyone's happy, healthy, and safe. TTFN.

~R.