Some of you have noticed that it’s been more than a few weeks since I’ve posted anything on the blog. Thank you to everyone who reached out – it means the world to me. I appreciate everyone who takes the time to read what I write here, and to know that you miss and worry about me — someone you have never met in real life — is so very heartwarming. Thank you.
When I first began quilting I never dreamed I would own more than one sewing machine. The one I had worked perfectly for what I was doing with it, and frankly, it never crossed my mind to buy another.
Then about five years ago I was visiting my sister and we stopped in the shop of her local Janome dealer. I came home with what I called my ‘big girl’ sewing machine. You can read about LeAnn by clicking here, if you’re interested. 🙂
It wasn’t long after that I started hanging out at the local quilt shop who also happens to be our local Babylock dealer. Hmmm…..I bet you can tell where this is going…
I was doing a lot of traveling between my house and my sister’s and I wanted a machine that would travel easily. I didn’t want to lug that big, heavy Janome around so I added a small Baby Lock (Rachel) to what was now becoming a collection of machines. I’ve heard it said that three is a collection so I guess that’s what I have.
About a year later, I got bit by the embroidery bug and added a Baby Lock Accord to my growing collection. It is currently the machine I do all of my piecing on. I love the way it sews, and playing with the embroidery unit has been a lot of fun too.
I have recently added a new machine to my ever-growing collection and can’t tell you how excited I am to be the proud owner of this sweet Singer Featherweight:
I have wanted a Featherweight for some time and one day this one walked through the doors at the quilt shop where I work. I feel like it was just meant to be! I’m a real newbie when it comes to knowing anything about these machines, but I’m willing to learn all I can. And I can’t wait to sew something with her. Here’s more pretty pics:
I added an extension table and I love how it blends with the machine perfectly. The extension table is larger than the one I have on my Baby Lock – there’s so much room for piecing on this tiny machine.
I still have to name her, but for now I’m just letting her hang out and waiting for her to talk to me. She’ll tell me her name soon, I just have to pay attention when she finally speaks. 🙂
I feel like this post is long enough so I’m going to stop talking now. I would love to hear about your machines and their names, just leave a comment below.
I feel like this is a pretty big crush for MCM this week. Now it’s time for you to share yours. What has you excited to be in your sewing space this week? You can link any blog post, Instagram or Flickr pic – here’s how:
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I have a system for naming my Featherweights (I have two of them!). I named each of them after the Academy Award winning Best Actress for their year, so my 1935 machine is named Bette after Bette Davis and my 1950 machine is named Judy after Judy Holliday. So if you want to use my method, your beautiful 1945 Featherweight would be named Joan after Joan Crawford, who won Best Actress in 1945 for her role in the film “Mildred Pierce.” 🙂
I think you have a very manageable collection. I don’t feel that my modern machines need names, but my Featherweight is Adelaide (from Guys and Dolls) and my 301 was my Mom’s machine, so she is Edna. I have a treadle head that was electrified but I don’t have set up, a Husqvarna as my backup , and my main machine is a Pfaff 3.5 expression. If I ever stumble across a hand cranked machine I will buy it.
I hope you enjoyed your blogging break. Your new sewing machine looks awesome! I didn’t know that matching extension tables were available—all the better! I have two Viking sewing machines: one at home and one at our cabin. I have a serger that I’d like to trade in on a Juki, so I could have a machine with a larger harp. No names for my two Swedes, but they are loved.
Ah, Tracie — it would be so much fun to name your “Swedes!” Birgit, Elin, Sonja, Greta, Elsa, Astrid, Annika… Lots of Swedish celebrities and historical figures to choose from!
I love my featherweight! I named her Edna in honor of my Grandma. She was a professional seamstress and made my wedding dress and four bridesmaid dress for my wedding. She taught me a lot about sewing and a lot about life. I hope you enjoy your featherweight!
My hubby saw a friend’s Featherweight and became obsedded: by the time he was done he had bought 4. One for me, one for him, and one for my two daughters!! (He’s an upholsterer, so that is why the “man” is interested in sewing machines.) So he also found some youtube tutorials on how to care for your machine. Just thought you might want to know you can get some info on taking care of your new baby. 🙂 Hugs, H
My trio of machines is my Handiquilter Heidi, my Featherweight Fiona, and my trusty Pfaff. All three are pictured in
http://dianeloves2quilt.blogspot.com/2015/09/i-scored-ribbon-and-more.html
How did I come up with the names? I got Heidi in the fall of 2014 and I am trying not to “hide” my FMQing anymore. The alliterative sound to Heidi Handiquilter just seemed to fit. And for the featherweight… anyone, for a FEE, can OWN A Singer Featherweight machine. Again with the alliteration theme, I decided to name my featherweight Fiona.
Nice machines! I never thought I would own more than one either….11 and wanting more.
I miss you, lady!!!! I need a real life date soon 🙂 Isn’t there a machine missing from this parade of sexy machines?
I started out with a Viking 500, I think she says her name is Ursula. Then there is a serger of unknown name as well. It is in hiding now in storage. A Brother Mom in love gave me with a longer reach between the body and the needle… yet unnamed as well. Then there are my Singers: black Singer featherweight: Ella Fitzgerald. Toy sized tan thread loop (no bobbin) Singer – Lena Horne. Hubby’s tan Singer 301: Eartha Kitt. a black Singer Spartan – Pearl Bailey… that my brother gave me. My mother’s Singer sewing machine (from around 1960?) – Betty Lou, after her. Grammie’s Singer Treadle – Emma Rose, after her. Hope that I have not stepped on anyones toes with the names, but they are/were black singers.
Welcome to the addiction, LOL, I have ten machines!! Singer has a site to look up the serial number and find out when and where your Featherweight was born. Mine is a 1941 model.
Love love love those sewing machines! Thanks for this great post and linky party!
Great to read you again! I checked your IG and could see you were still alive ;)) I own 3 sewing machines, but none of them have a name!
You are going to love your Featherweight. They are fantastic for piecing. And, great to travel with. I have 3.
Welcome back Beth! I’ve missed seeing what’s going on in your studio. Yea for a new featherweight. They are terrific machines and I really like the extension table. I’ve been naming my machines for awhile but the only one I really call by name is my longarm. She answers to Ruthie! I have a new Viking so I might need to get creative and come up with a name for her. Happy 2019!
I hope you were enjoying a much deserved holiday break, Beth. Happy New Year!
What a fun purchase. How will you decide which machine to use for your next project? You and I think alike. I just wrote a post about owning more than 1 machine. I shared it here. Happy sewing!
Love her! That little extension table is perfect too! If you need any help with figuring out her year, where she was made, etc, I have some really good sites. Glad all is well.
love your little featheweight – Connecting Threads has a table that goes with them – I didn’t see that you can find a small extension for around it too.
Hi Beth, I was just wondering about you yesterday, but hadn’t gotten an email sent. So I was happy to see your post drop into my inbox. Congrats on the featherweight! I’d like to have one someday. I have four working machines, two toy machines, and two antique machines, one that needs some fixing. My main machine is a Janome Skyline S7, which I bought almost two years ago, after “just looking” at a quilt show. Haha. I hope you have many happy hours with that little beauty!
Hi Beth! {{Hugs}} I’m glad to see you back. I have four sewing machines. One is a Kenmore, my very first one when I was 12. My second machine, Lily, is a Husqvarna who I used for 15 years until I upgraded to a wider throat on Ellie the Elna (not very original names). Finally, I picked up an inexpensive embroidery Brother machine at Walmart for under $200. The Kenmore rarely gets used anymore as I’m spoiled with needle down and the knee pedal to lift the pressor foot. The other three all have a home on tables in the sewing room. ~smile~ Roseanne
A very useful and pretty addition to your collection. Love the detail in the machine and that extension table. Very elegant.