I am team vintage all the way. For sewing machines, that is. I totally and completely double-heart my 36 year-old Bernina 830. That machine has been with me longer than my husband! And it is WAY easier to feed and care for, I might add! 🙂 A new needle every 8-10 hours, some cleaning and dusting after every garment, a drop of oil now and again, a yearly physical tune-up, and my little baby continues to just hum along without a single complaint.
Look how cute she is – all eager to have the next sewing student sit down and take her for a spin. She won’t let them down. The stitches will be balanced and smooth, the tension even, the adjustments simple and easy – she is a real workhorse. She has sewn everything from my firstborn’s Swiss organdy christening gown to 48 linear feet of vinyl cushion covers for my nephew’s coffee shop. Without a single complaint, thank you very much!
Let me introduce her younger sister, only about 15 years old (20 maybe?). This is my daily machine now, since I have been spoiled by the “needle down” button and the automatic buttonhole function. Especially on my DH’s shirts – cuz the likelihood of me getting 13 buttonholes exactly the same length is nil. Zero. Zip. Nada.
How about you? Do you prefer the newer, computerized machines with all the fancy embroidery and other functions? Have you bought a new, inexpensive model that is working well for your needs? Did you score a great machine at a garage sale or thrift shop? Or, like me, are you still sewing on vintage model machines that work beautifully? I’d love to hear from you!
Happy sewing!
Maris Olsen