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Lorcan said:
So, had a conversation with my mother earlier and she asked if I'd be interested in trying sewing. So I pointed out that not only would I not know where to start but I'm not about to just go out and buy a sewing machine.
"Oh you could have my old Jones machine - it only does straight stitch and zig zag and only goes forward or back so it's not particularly complicated."

Now she insists she'll bring it over sometime, which is interesting because, you know, there's a sea in the way and everything, but I figured I'd mention it to the people who know more about sewing than I do - which is you lovely people. Would it be worth it?
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I'd say yes - go for it! My mums had a basic electric sewing machine for about 50yrs, it does forward/backwards, straight & zigzag stitches of varying widths, she's done kids clothes, craft items, repaired clothes, bridesmaids dresses & even the odd Guinea pig cosy :tu: with it.

You can have a good practice at home & it doesn't matter if it all goes pear shaped as nobody else would know ;)

You could expand your creative streak :wub:

Maybe tell her you'll have it next time either of you visit, so as not to make a special journey though? X
 
GPTV said:
I'd say yes - go for it! My mums had a basic electric sewing machine for about 50yrs, it does forward/backwards, straight & zigzag stitches of varying widths, she's done kids clothes, craft items, repaired clothes, bridesmaids dresses & even the odd Guinea pig cosy :tu: with it.

You can have a good practice at home & it doesn't matter if it all goes pear shaped as nobody else would know ;)

You could expand your creative streak :wub:

Maybe tell her you'll have it next time either of you visit, so as not to make a special journey though? X
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Oh I'll not likely see it for months either way. But I don't drive, so it's them'd be bringing it over here.
 
Lorcan said:
So, had a conversation with my mother earlier and she asked if I'd be interested in trying sewing. So I pointed out that not only would I not know where to start but I'm not about to just go out and buy a sewing machine.
"Oh you could have my old Jones machine - it only does straight stitch and zig zag and only goes forward or back so it's not particularly complicated."

Now she insists she'll bring it over sometime, which is interesting because, you know, there's a sea in the way and everything, but I figured I'd mention it to the people who know more about sewing than I do - which is you lovely people. Would it be worth it?
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these are my beloved machines the oldest is from 1901 and the younger one, which is the main one I use, is from 1922. I also have an early electric singer from 1958. none of mine go backwards or do zig-zag stitch just plain old straight stitch but it's faster than hand sewing and there is something nice about keeping them going.

so yes you should absolutely take your mums old machine Jones is a great brand and sewing machines have always been built to last.sm1.webpsm2.webp
 
Sweet Potato said:
these are my beloved machines the oldest is from 1901 and the younger one, which is the main one I use, is from 1922. I also have an early electric singer from 1958. none of mine go backwards or do zig-zag stitch just plain old straight stitch but it's faster than hand sewing and there is something nice about keeping them going.

so yes you should absolutely take your mums old machine Jones is a great brand and sewing machines have always been built to last.View attachment 143753View attachment 143754
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I'm 99% sure she's using a singer at the minute, something which comes with its own desk/table/thing anyway.
 
Lorcan said:
I'm 99% sure she's using a singer at the minute, something which comes with its own desk/table/thing anyway.
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sounds like a treadle machine could be singer or some other vintage brand they were very common at one point as it allows you to use both hands for manipulating the fabric while you use your foot to power it. I prefer a hand crank machine because i struggle to co-ordinate my hands and feet doing different things (a bit like patting your head and rubbing your tummy). my older machine is designed so that it can be attached to a treadle table but as far as I know it's never had one.
 
Merab's Slave said:
@GPTV those cakes look amazing.
We should set up business together - I’ll bake the cakes and you can decorate them.
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I'd have jumped at the chance, but think the cakes may be a little stale by the time they made it down here 🚙
I've had operations on both hands since my decorating days, so they're inclined to do their own thing :( dexterity is a thing of the past! :bye:
But you do make some lovely cakes :) 😋
 
GPTV said:
I'd have jumped at the chance, but think the cakes may be a little stale by the time they made it down here 🚙
I've had operations on both hands since, so they're inclined to do their own thing :( dexterity is a thing of the past! :bye:
But you do make some lovely cakes :) 😋
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Ah well - we can but dream.
Maybe in a parallel universe!
 
Lorcan said:
So, had a conversation with my mother earlier and she asked if I'd be interested in trying sewing. So I pointed out that not only would I not know where to start but I'm not about to just go out and buy a sewing machine.
"Oh you could have my old Jones machine - it only does straight stitch and zig zag and only goes forward or back so it's not particularly complicated."

Now she insists she'll bring it over sometime, which is interesting because, you know, there's a sea in the way and everything, but I figured I'd mention it to the people who know more about sewing than I do - which is you lovely people. Would it be worth it?
Click to expand...
Yes, yes and yes.
Jones machines are brilliant - solid and made to last.
My wonderful Mother in Law has one, and I love using it when we are in the UK.
It is different, but such a treat to sew on a really solid and basic vintage machine.
She got hers as a gift when she was pregnant with her first child in 1963.
She sewed many baby clothes on this machine, and her first child later became my husband!
The machine is officially left to me in her will, but for now it is at her house, and I make sure I drag it out and use it every time we visit (usually 2-3 times a year).

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Sweet Potato said:
these are my beloved machines the oldest is from 1901 and the younger one, which is the main one I use, is from 1922. I also have an early electric singer from 1958. none of mine go backwards or do zig-zag stitch just plain old straight stitch but it's faster than hand sewing and there is something nice about keeping them going.

so yes you should absolutely take your mums old machine Jones is a great brand and sewing machines have always been built to last.View attachment 143753View attachment 143754
Click to expand...
So lovely to read about someone else who is passionate about older sewing machines.
I love sewing on vintage machines.
 
Swissgreys said:
Yes, yes and yes.
Jones machines are brilliant - solid and made to last.
My wonderful Mother in Law has one, and I love using it when we are in the UK.
It is different, but such a treat to sew on a really solid and basic vintage machine.
She got hers as a gift when she was pregnant with her first child in 1963.
She sewed many baby clothes on this machine, and her first child later became my husband!
The machine is officially left to me in her will, but for now it is at her house, and I make sure I drag it out and use it every time we visit (usually 2-3 times a year).

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what a beautiful machine. I think it's wonderful to keep them going given the history they hold. I often wonder what sort of clothes my machines would have made 100 years ago.
 
Swissgreys said:
Yes, yes and yes.
Jones machines are brilliant - solid and made to last.
My wonderful Mother in Law has one, and I love using it when we are in the UK.
It is different, but such a treat to sew on a really solid and basic vintage machine.
She got hers as a gift when she was pregnant with her first child in 1963.
She sewed many baby clothes on this machine, and her first child later became my husband!
The machine is officially left to me in her will, but for now it is at her house, and I make sure I drag it out and use it every time we visit (usually 2-3 times a year).

View attachment 143784
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That looks somewhat similar to the one I think she's talking about. It's been years since I've seen it, she didn't touch it for donkeys years and it hid in the attic, and then she brought it downstairs and it had yellowed. You know what I mean, with the plastic? It's at least as old as I am, and I'm 32. She did clean it up though, especially when she got back into sewing again. But I think hers was all white (well...yellow) plastic rather than two tone.
 
Lorcan said:
That looks somewhat similar to the one I think she's talking about. It's been years since I've seen it, she didn't touch it for donkeys years and it hid in the attic, and then she brought it downstairs and it had yellowed. You know what I mean, with the plastic? It's at least as old as I am, and I'm 32. She did clean it up though, especially when she got back into sewing again. But I think hers was all white (well...yellow) plastic rather than two tone.
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The beauty of the older machines is that they were solid and basic.
I am not mechanical at all, but I managed to clean and oil the entire machine, replace a couple of bits, and get it running beautifully again without too many problems.
If you Mum can bring it over then I would definitely give it a go.
 
I’ve been using a fairly basic Brother electric machine recently and to be honest it’s ok but it does over heat, jam etc. You can actually get far neater tidier stitching with an older manual machine. I have a 1950s Singer that I will not part with for love more money. The only thing is it weighs a ton and isn’t very easy to move around. I don’t have a permanent sewing space, so I can’t leave it out permanently. So this latest batch of sewing had to be done on the machine I could get out for a couple of hours each day and then put away again.
 

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VickiA said:
I’ve been using a fairly basic Brother electric machine recently and to be honest it’s ok but it does over heat, jam etc. You can actually get far neater tidier stitching with an older manual machine. I have a 1950s Singer that I will not part with for love more money. The only thing is it weighs a ton and isn’t very easy to move around. I don’t have a permanent sewing space, so I can’t leave it out permanently. So this latest batch of sewing had to be done on the machine I could get out for a couple of hours each day and then put away again.
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My mum made my dad reroof the conservatory so it was no longer a conservatory, and then took the place over as her sewing room lol. I think Dad did it because it was less stressful to remodel than to argue with her lol. I think I'll give it a go, might ask her to send over a photo of the Jones machine if she can get one.

Still, I prefer working with my hands. Might have to take up embroidery too. Y'know.
 
Swissgreys said:
The beauty of the older machines is that they were solid and basic.
I am not mechanical at all, but I managed to clean and oil the entire machine, replace a couple of bits, and get it running beautifully again without too many problems.
If you Mum can bring it over then I would definitely give it a go.
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I know she was working with it again, not long before I moved to England and she didn't get the Singer all that long ago. Maybe a few years? I know the Singer's not new, I think my dad found it somewhere and bought it as a birthday present for when she hit a milestone (heheheh) birthday which would've been 2016.
 
Love old seeing machines.
Here are my 2 . No1 belonged to my mum and I made clothes on it when I was in my teens. No2 was a birthday present from my hubby two years ago, as I always wanted a singer table, the machine inside was a bonus.
 

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rhymer said:
Love old seeing machines.
Here are my 2 . No1 belonged to my mum and I made clothes on it when I was in my teens. No2 was a birthday present from my hubby two years ago, as I always wanted a singer table, the machine inside was a bonus.
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I love them! they must be a similar age to my newer machine. what age are they?
 
And finally here is a not very good picture of my complete quilt.
It was a 13th birthday present for my daughter, and she absolutely loves it, and has slept with it every night since I gave it to her.
If it isn't clear teh front is striped and the back is one large piece of blue batic, with a black binding on both sides.
It's huge though, hence the slightly dodgy photo.

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Swissgreys said:
And finally here is a not very good picture of my complete quilt.
It was a 13th birthday present for my daughter, and she absolutely loves it, and has slept with it every night since I gave it to her.
If it isn't clear teh front is striped and the back is one large piece of blue batic, with a black binding on both sides.
It's huge though, hence the slightly dodgy photo.

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That is gorgeous.
 
Qualcast&Flymo said:
I love those blues. I bet it's lovely to wrap around one's self too.
The view in the background isn't bad either - very Swiss!
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Glad you like the view.
It actually looks like it was taken in the middle of a field - I really need to cut the lawn :whistle:
 
Swissgreys said:
And finally here is a not very good picture of my complete quilt.
It was a 13th birthday present for my daughter, and she absolutely loves it, and has slept with it every night since I gave it to her.
If it isn't clear teh front is striped and the back is one large piece of blue batic, with a black binding on both sides.
It's huge though, hence the slightly dodgy photo.

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That is beautiful! And in my second favourite colour (range). I can understand why she’s been using it every day since it was finished 🙂

I’m working on two sleeves at a time. I’m excited not because I’ll be starting the colourwork soon. Possibly tomorrow. I have about 18 rows of plain blue left before I bring the grey in. FCDF6592-E1BB-4216-BE0A-3C7EDDA1930F.webp
 
@Betsy look away now. I’m using those dreaded double pointed and circulars 🤣

The exciting (and scary) part has started! 💃 😆 I’ve got to the colourwork section on the first sleeve. I think it’s going well because there’s been no puckering/pulling in. It still looks even thank goodness! The recipient used to machine knit jumpers so I’ve got a lot to live up to 🥺
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At the moment the body is looking plain. I still have about 20 rows to go before I start the increases. I can’t remember when the colourwork starts.
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