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Show Us Your MYOG Sewing Machines


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Viewing 25 posts - 1 through 25 (of 70 total)
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  • #1269057
    John Donewar
    BPL Member

    @newton

    Locale: Southeastern Texas

    I've been using my wife's almost 35 year old Singer Stylist model # 538. The one in the picture isn't mine but it is a picture that I found online that is identical to mine.

    Singer model # 538

    It has gotten me through all of my MYOG projects that I've posted here on BPL. It is a home style machine that could use a stronger motor but aside from that it has served me well.

    Let's see what the rest of us are using. :-)

    Party On,

    Newton

    #1695886
    Backpack Jack
    BPL Member

    @jumpbackjack

    Locale: Armpit of California

    John here's mine. I picked it up from a friend, she found it at a garage sale. It's a 1950's ? Singer 401a Slant-o-matic, she cleaned it up, and replaced a missing nob, picked it up for $70.00. I haven't used it much, still trying to figure it out, it has a lot of function's on it, but so far really nice.

    Yeah baby

    #1695892
    Javan Dempsey
    Member

    @jdempsey

    Locale: The-Stateless-Society

    That's a steal for a good 401A, they often go for $200 on ebay.

    I'll post some pics of mine later. My main machine is a 500A, and I've got a couple of 301's I use also. Although I'll be replacing the 500 with a Juki DDL 8700 this month, and just picked up an industrial Juki 5-thread Serger.

    For a do everything heavy duty home machine, the Singer 401A or 500A can't be beat, I suggest anybody looking for a serious MYOG machine to try and find one.

    #1695896
    Backpack Jack
    BPL Member

    @jumpbackjack

    Locale: Armpit of California

    Thanks Javan, I got lucky, I just called my frind one day, and said I'm looking for a sewing machine to do MYOG projects, and her reply was, I just picked this up, if you want it, it's your's. "SCORE" now I just need to learn how to use it.

    #1695899
    Javan Dempsey
    Member

    @jdempsey

    Locale: The-Stateless-Society

    neon and 500A

    There's one of Neon and my 500A before I moved into my studio. ;) You can see a 301A down on the floor to the left.

    #1695919
    John Donewar
    BPL Member

    @newton

    Locale: Southeastern Texas

    Jack,

    Do you have the manual for your machine?

    There are printed copies available at Sewing Machine Manuals Dot Com for $25.00.

    You can also download one at Backpage Dot Com. Just make sure you have plenty paper in the printer because it is 112 pages long. :-)

    I would imagine you could just store it in a file on your computer but you may have to do a lot of scrolling to find what you need. You may want to move your sewing machine to your computer room. ;-)

    Hope this helps.

    Party On,

    Newton

    #1695960
    Jared Dilg
    BPL Member

    @village

    Locale: Texas

    For silnylon and lightweight rip-stop I use an old Necchi BU machine from the 50's. I don't have a pic of it though.

    To sew anything heavier such as XPAC, Cordura, and upholstery fabrics, I use my Jki 241H walking foot machine seen here:

    #1695965
    . ..
    Member

    @dgowler

    It looks like you guys are mostly using some pretty vintage machines here. Are the old fully metal machines a better choice? Ive had an eye out for a good deal on a sewing machine to make a few small projects, but I declined an old singer machine from my grandmother. Its from the 60s and built like a tank, should I reconsider this freebie?

    #1695966
    Jack H.
    Member

    @found

    Locale: Sacramento, CA

    Just getting into sewing after a hiatus.

    I'm using my mom's fancy Janome Memory Craft 6500. It's nice!

    adsf

    BPL open on the computer. Windstopper fleece, mesh and a mystery nylon on the left.

    #1695969
    John Donewar
    BPL Member

    @newton

    Locale: Southeastern Texas

    Devon,

    In a word, YES! :-)

    Party On,

    Newton

    #1695971
    Backpack Jack
    BPL Member

    @jumpbackjack

    Locale: Armpit of California

    John, Yeah I got one on ebay for $7.00 I figured I better have one just to start the thing, HA! HA! I do like the fact that my machine is all metal and no belts, all gear drive, just clean, lube, and go. I do need to invest in a nice big table though, that's my next purchase, then some silnylon, and so on, the never ending light weight gear endeavor, ya gota love it.

    #1695972
    BlackHatGuy
    Spectator

    @sleeping

    Locale: The Cascades

    I have many 'sewing machines.' Here are three of them:

    .ron

    and another:

    .lawson

    and yet another:

    .tim

    I do, however, hope to have one that looks much more like y'all's someday!

    #1695975
    Jerry Wick
    BPL Member

    @jerryw

    Locale: Illinois

    My thread injector is a late '50's Singer Style-O-Matic 328K. It's all metal construction, no plastic anywhere. It's sewn everything from light Momentum fabric and no-see-um up to multiple layers of leather and canvas.
    Singer 328K

    #1695977
    Kattt
    BPL Member

    @kattt

    I am relieved that people here still call it by its pefectly respectable name…..sewing machine. It even has the word "machine" in it.

    #1695986
    Ken Thompson
    BPL Member

    @here

    Locale: Right there

    I am relieved that people here still call it by its pefectly respectable name…..sewing machine. It even has the word "machine" in it.

    A big +1

    #1696011
    Jerry Wick
    BPL Member

    @jerryw

    Locale: Illinois

    KP – "I am relieved that people here still call it by its pefectly respectable name…..sewing machine. It even has the word "machine" in it."

    Seems I ruffled some feathers. No matter what you call it, it's all in the name of fun. Bottom line – that's what all of this is about anyway. :)

    #1696092
    Kattt
    BPL Member

    @kattt

    "No matter what you call it, it's all in the name of fun. Bottom line – that's what all of this is about anyway. :)"

    Agreed.

    #1696094
    JJ Mathes
    Member

    @jmathes

    Locale: Southeast US

    LOL…Douglas wins!

    #1696104
    Ken Thompson
    BPL Member

    @here

    Locale: Right there

    new

    My $25 like new New Home free arm machine.

    nec1

    My first Necchi BU. It is a real workhorse. 1954 all metal. Ooh and look at the manly chrome.

    nec2

    Liked the first one so much I bought a second. This one is set up to sew with heavy duty thread.

    sewroom

    All of them live in the sewing room. Nice and roomy with plenty of light. Thanks to my wife for letting go of the living room we never use.

    #1696147
    Jared Dilg
    BPL Member

    @village

    Locale: Texas

    Ken, I have the same machine! I inherited it from my grandmother who bought it new in 1956. I used it to sew multiple layers of 1000d Cordura until acquiring an industrial machine. The chrome and black enamel is nice, and it runs very smoothly.

    #1696185
    John Donewar
    BPL Member

    @newton

    Locale: Southeastern Texas

    Ken,

    I know I started this thread so I guess I asked for it. But……..

    Your living room is your sewing room!

    Two Necchis!

    "Nice and roomy with plenty of light. Thanks to my wife for letting go of the living room we never use".

    Your wife is a real keeper. :-)

    You're a lucky man. Does she hike too? ;-)

    Party On,

    Newton

    #1696291
    Ken Thompson
    BPL Member

    @here

    Locale: Right there

    "Your wife is a real keeper. :-)"

    +20 lovely years together. The joke is now I have kept her for so long she has no resale value. Me, I was worthless from the get go.

    She does not hike. Car camping only. Nobody is perfect…

    #1696303
    Javan Dempsey
    Member

    @jdempsey

    Locale: The-Stateless-Society

    I've got a Necchi BU head just like that mounted in an industrial table+motor. Gifted to me by Judy Gross at Lightheart Gear. Awesome machine.

    #1696738
    Earl Derby
    Member

    @xj35s

    I bought this "Style Elements" mini sewing machine from Big Lots for $15. It came with a ton of extras and has an AC adapter and even a foot pedal control. You'll see in the picture the Singer hand held which is total junk for the same price. I sew through denim jean seems with it no problem. I came here looking for some ideas to sew with it.Style Elements mini sewing machine

    Here is a list of what came with it. Yes it say's 20 threaded Bobbins and I bet there is enough thread on the spools to refill them each twice.list accessories

    #1696813
    robert perks
    Member

    @rperks

    I opted for a new machine, but covet some of those vintage beauties

    Juki HZL 35Z

    Juki HZL 35Z, so far so good with light materails all the way up to canvas, And yes if you were wondering, the glitter glue is super cool.

Viewing 25 posts - 1 through 25 (of 70 total)
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