Yeah, so this is my mother's “new” sewing machine. She got it the year she was pregnant with me.
It's now vintage. Sigh.
She sewed many a dress on this machine. For a while, as a single mom supporting me, she made extra money dressmaking for Yale music students doing their senior recitals, only I don't know how cost effective that service was, because I remember many a night that she stayed up late, pins in her mouth, satin slipping all over, trying to get a gown finished in time. For some reason, vocal artists in particular have very fancy taste, running to fabrics that are most resistant to ease of working with. (I was going to say “singers” but thought that would be confusing, given the name of this machine!)
Also, my mother is a perfectionist. Her standards are exacting. If a seam isn't absolutely smooth, it has to be redone. Zippers must be put in by hand, invisibly, with tiny stitches. Hems have to have tape, raw edges have to be finished even if hidden in the depths of the garment, necklines have to be interfaced and neatly turned, facings have to be tacked.
I well remember her teaching me to sew, and no one could have been a more frustrated, tearful student. She would always tell me that in the olden days ladies who bought their gowns at Worth's in Paris would say that you could wear them inside out and no one would notice, that's how well they were made.
No wonder she doesn't sew any more! And I know that I'm a sad disappointment to her, because I long ago realized that if I paid half of what she thought was the bare minimum of attention to what I was making, it would turn out twice as nice as if I went out and bought it (I don't shop at Worth's!). I put my zippers in by zipper foot.
Anyway, I've now handed down, with her blessing, this machine to Suzanne. I hope she will use it well. I've had it looked at by a sewing machine guy, and it runs very smoothly except for the one issue (see the caption above and get back to me!). After a long search I ordered two replacement bulbs for the light.
That light is truly an ill-designed element. The Chief had to open it up for us, to tell you how hard it is to open, and then we found that the new bulb didn't work, because something was wrong with the wiring for the switch. So (devoting his afternoon to the task), he hard-wired it so that it goes on when the machine is plugged in and goes off when it's unplugged, which is fine, because you always need the light on.
{I think Suzanne took these photos — I found them on the camera when I was doing yesterday's post, and I thought you might like to see them.}
Pippajo says
I don't know anything at all about sewing machines (my mother still uses her grandmother's machine so I'll ask her about the screwy thing on yours) but I can chime in about vocal artists' fancy tastes. My guess is we go for fanciness because we're just standing there with no instrument in front of us. It's just us so we'd better look good! Besides that, we tend to be artsy, flaky, dreamy people!
_Leila says
I mean, it's not like they should be expected to go out there and perform in gingham, but it would have made my mom's life easier, and so I faulted them for their choices. I guess there is some advantage to getting to be “vintage” — you start to question your assumptions!
WRC says
If someone in your family has the time, that person can join the Vintage Singers yahoo group and peruse the archives for the answer to your stitch length lever problem. If the answer can't be found in the archives (or files – they're extensive), said person can post a message and ask. The group is very friendly and helpful. If your husband can work out the wiring issues on the light, he's likely to be able to fix the stitch length lever problem.
I love vintage Singers.
_Leila says
That's a good idea, WRC.
Rabbit says
Did you grow up in CT? 🙂 I did too.
_Leila says
Yes, I did!
priest's wife says
I'm drooling over that non-Chinese made machine. I say go 'vintage' when you can! I bet the insides aren't made with plastic (as I was shocked to learn that my GAS TANK is plastic- still cost tons to replace because of a little crack…)
_Leila says
I assure you it's made of pure metal. It's so heavy!
kimberly says
Did you screw tighten the knob in the desired setting? I am using my 22 year old Singer, it's a work horse. I'm not sure where it was made, but it's plain and simple and I love it. I have a fancy sewing/embroidery machine combo different brand, that I've had repaired a couple times, I used it for a few years but grew tired of having to deal with it's issues, it's now in the garage, waiting to be sold.
_Leila says
Yes, I did tighten it, but it pops up while you sew.
It didn't used to do that…
Salome Ellen says
My guess was already that the screw threads are stripped. Perhaps a wing nut in the proper size? Not as pretty or vintage, but could be effective? (I have a 1963 Husqvarna Viking; what my mom got when I was in seventh grade and she decided to replace her old treadle machine!)
Karen says
I also think that the problem is stripped screw threads. If I remember correctly, you need to (or should be able to) turn the screw before adjusting the stitch length. Lovely machine! I've got a basic plastic body one and the whole thing bounces when I get going. I grew up with my mother's Singer Featherweight and could really motor on it, no bounce at all. Hope you get this resolved.
womanofthehouse says
A friend gave me a vintage Kenmore (though not as vintage as your Singer), and I've been teaching myself to sew. The outside is plastic, alas, but the machine was free and has gotten me sewing, so I'm grateful. My mother had (has?) an old metal Singer that weighs a ton despite the fact that it's supposed to be portable!
Robin says
When I went to buy a very cool dial phone at my local antique shop, I made note of the fact that I was born the same year that the phone was made.
“Does that make me an antique?” I asked, worried.
“No, dear,” the lady replied, “you are a collectible!”
There you go, Auntie Leila, you are a collectible!
Jessie says
Oh, what a beauty! This was also my mom's first machine, which she still has, only hers has a clown sticker on it. Avocado green — lovely! 🙂 I used it for a while until I got my old Bernina 830 for college graduation. I remember playing with all the knobs and switches (unplugged!) before I was old enough to know what they did. Thanks for sharing these photos!
polly says
My grandmother was equally exacting and made gorgeous dresses that could also be turned inside-out beautifully. I have inherited her passion for sewing but not her perfectionism. (You should see the back of my cross-stitching–she'd be so ashamed!)
Vintage things are very in style. Sewing machines…people! You should be proud!
Denise says
You're like a fine wine and just get better with age. All women do you know 😉
the fabled needle says
i love the green! i'm glad the machine will (hopefully) be put to good use.
Joy says
My mother had a Singer sewing machine that looked exactly like that except hers was tan. I used it for years until some movers broke it. I hope Suzanne has many happy hours sewing with it. BTW, my mother was a perfectionist, too, and all of her clothing and quilts are so beautiful because she was always careful with the details. Her cross-stitch is almost as beautiful on the back side as the front side, just like the Worth gowns your mother mentioned. 🙂
deb meyers says
ah…my mother didn't know about Worth's, but she sewed the same way! “No wonder she doesn't sew anymore” How true! If I heard “It must look as good inside where you can't see as it does outside where you can see” once, i heard it a thousand …
That is pretty good life instruction, though, when it comes to character : )
Sorry I can't help with the fix-it question. Wish you had access to my local repairman at Bittersweet Fabrics in Boscawen, NH. He is trusty, thoughtful, and can figure out ANYTHING. I treasure mom and grandmother's old machines…must have been late 50s Singers, because they look like beige Airstream trailers.
fun post : )
Susan (DE) says
Wow. Now, except for forcing me to pin and repin and REpin when cutting out, so I'd use EVERY LAST BIT of the fabric most efficiently, my mother is MUCH LESS perfectionistic than I am with the finishing/details. And I am not like those Worth gowns!
My machine is from 1976. Is that very youthful?
Susan
margo says
You just come on down and visit me and I'll take you to my Mennonite sewing machine shop. They are awesome. They fixed my mother's ancient Singer for $30 when the other sewing machine shop said it couldn't even be fixed. I have now graduated to a Bernina, which makes me a far better seamstress. What is Suzanne (Suki, right? I love that nickname) planning to make?
sarah says
Something went wrong with the wiring in my Singer one day. I wasn't even standing near the machine when it began running at full speed as if I were flooring it on the pedal. Apparently it thought it was high time I start sewing again?
Tamara says
I long hoped that my mother would pass along her Singer (same one as yours, I think… if not, hers was older!) One day, when I had mustered up the courage to ask if I could have it someday, my mother informed me that she had sold it in a garage sale!!!! I just about died. I am still wondering where I got my love for all things vintage, heirloom, antique, and collectible…..
Erin says
I have a “collectible” Singer as well, but it is a little less “collectible” than your mother's. I'm with the other posters who said a stripped screw is the problem. To set the stitch length on that machine you had to screw or unscrew the knob until it went down only as far as the length you wanted (I believe unscrewed (counter clockwise) gave me a longer stitch and screwed in (clockwise) reduced the stitch length. Once set, it didn't move at all.
jess says
I love my old Singer 301A. It was my grandmothers. That this will go and go and go. Totally gear driven so nothing to wear out. I have a new but still basic Singer and I defer to the older one every time.
Kathy Marrone says
Hi. Just wanted to let you know that we liked your story so well that we posted a link from the Butterick facebook page.