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Six Reasons
To Keep Your Old Sewing Machine

If you own a twenty or thirty year old or older sewing machine, you may have some strong feelings about the idea of getting a new sewing machine.

You may reject the idea out of hand and refuse even to think about it.

You may think to yourself, “I love that machine. I used it to make Sally’s first party dress.”

You may even think buying a new sewing machine is just a waste of money.

It is an emotional question for many, but there are some good reasons to keep an older sewing machine.

First, you already have it. Buying a new machine requires actually shopping, evaluating, and making a decision about the best machine to buy. It also requires a little money ($800, $1500, $9,000). You can buy cheap, but why ever buy a cheap throw away machine.

Second, you already know the machine. You have used it on hundreds of projects. You know it quirks. You know how heavy it is. You know about its solid cast iron frame. Using this machine saves you from dealing with the relative light weight easy to care for modern machines. If you use the old one, you never have to worry about discovering the newest features, capabilities, conveniences, and benefits built into a modern machine. You don’t need special classes or technical support on the neatest new techniques. Your old machine is familiar, you don’t have to make any new friends.

Third, your current sewing machine does everything that you have been using it to do. You might think, “All I really need is a straight stitch anyway.” As long as you have your current machine, you won’t feel any urges or have any thought about trying new and different kinds of projects beyond the capability of the old machine. You know its limits.

Fourth, sewing is often a nostalgic experience, and sewing with an antique or older sewing machine helps keep that feeling alive. It is not so much that way with the new machines which are so sleek, shiny, clean, and smooth. Your old machine shows its age proudly with scars, bumps, bruises, and a few rust spots here and there to remind you of projects long past. The slightly frayed cord still works, but keeps you ever aware of the many years of faithful service your sewing machine has provided.

Fifth, your machine fits into this nice cabinet and just looks right in the sewing room. It folds away with a little elbow grease and straining to hide inside the cabinet covered by a cabinet lid. It makes perfectly neat storage when the sewing machine is not in use. If you bought a new machine, you might have to buy a new cabinet too. These new ones are strange. On many of them, you just press down on the top of your sewing machine and they instantly and easily drop down inside hidden away until you are ready to use it again. Some even have electrical systems that hide your machine away at the press of a button. Some of the new cabinets fold out to make fabulously large work areas, and then fold away into a neat looking cabinet suitable for any room in the house.

Sixth, Your old sewing machine is dependable. Like an old friend, you can rely on your trusty older machine. It may run a little rougher than when it was new, and it may show its age, and make noise a bit when you use it, but you can depend on it. If it starts acting up, you can always take it to your local sewing machine shop and have it repaired and fixed like new for about a hundred dollars. In most cases broken parts can be replaced, but occasionally they are no longer available. When the repairman calls and says, “Your machine needs four new gears… it will cost $159 for the total repair…” You may be shocked, get upset, feel you are being taken for a ride, but what is the real value of your sewing machine. Like an old car with 300,000, how much is too much to invest to keep it running? While you can be sure you will never find a buyer willing to pay $150 for your old fixed machine, it is still like part of the family. It can be hard to part with your dear friend.

It has been so dependable all these years, but like most appliances - dependability wanes with age.

So, after considering all these reasons, why should you keep that old sewing machine, why would you even consider a brand new sewing machine with hundreds of exciting new stitches, automatic needle threaders, automatic tension, thread trimmers and cutters, needle up/down, multi-directional sewing, monogramming features, dependable DC pulse driven motors to provide constant dependable sewing, and many other new conveniences. Why would you even think about setting aside your old machine for a new machine that has capabilities and conveniences not even dreamed of when your sewing machine was made?

On the other hand, who says you have to completely cast aside that old faithful companion that has served so well for so long. You might just keep that old machine in a place of special honor and remembrance, while you embrace the new adventures, thrills, and pleasures of sewing on a top quality brand new fully featured sewing machine.

As for me, I love to look at that 1885 Jones hand crank machine in my living room, but when I sit down to sew I must have my new Baby Lock or Bernina. It just makes sewing so much easier, more enjoyable, faster, and more productive.

The next time you consider getting a modern sewing machine, consider it thoughtfully. Your feelings will follow, because you deserve the very best. Once you start using a quality new sewing machine, the thrills will quickly overcome those feelings of nostalgia.

To learn more about the exciting possibilities available to you through sewing, get all your sewing answers at Sewing Answers. Com.

AUTHOR:
Donna Trumble is a professional designer, seamstress, author, sewing educator, and sewing business owner. She leads several Sewing Show And Tell groups in her stores guiding participants to shop sewing machines and learn about sewing and quilting.

David Trumble is a sewing professional, author, semi-retired minister, sewing machine technician, and CFO of Temple Sewing And Supply, Inc.

RESOURCE:
For more information on sewing show and tell groups, check out "Sewing, The World's Greatest Hobby" by Donna and David Trumble. And check out the local Sew And Quilt Stores in Killeen, Temple, and Waco, Texas or at www.sewandquiltstore.com.