I have been sewing on this little machine nearly every day for the past year. My parents got it at an auction and had it refurbished for me. It came with all the attachments and the little instruction book still in its plastic envelope. It has served me well.
Sometime this summer, someone in my family, did something to the treadle. I was able to balance it back together and continue sewing.
Then in about October it began to take about three minutes of "warm up" sewing after each thread change to begin to sew correctly, but I continued on.
Then this last week the treadle began to sloooooow down. The machine sews for about thirty stitches, then stops stitching, so I have to pick up and shake the treadle to get it going for about thirty stitches more. Needless to say, it has slowed my production considerably, and about 1:30 this afternoon started to make me very cross.
I really want to think that I can get it fixed, but at what cost and how long will I have to be without it? What would the learning curve of a new machine be? I might be tempted to buy something fancy and grand, but deep down know I would be better off with another old tried and true machine. I have never sewn on another machine and maybe it could be so much better.
Back when I started selling my little handmade things, I used to hand stamp each letter of sheppard girls on the back of each item, one letter at a time. It was the part I dreaded most. It took so much time and made my hand tired, but getting a custom made stamp seemed like a big project, and probably a lot of money too. Finally, after a big order I came in, I decided to investigate a new stamp. $10! Man what a lot of time I wasted.
I should probably go get a new machine huh?
Tee hee hee.
I know exactly what you mean, Lisa and I am glad you just went ahead and got the silly stamp.
Why make it harder on yourself? :)
Have you decided on a new machine yet?
Posted by: stephanie | January 10, 2007 at 02:07 PM
i have my grandma's old tried and true sewing machine. after she gave me hers and bought a new one she decided she wanted hers back because she didn't know how to use her new one well enough! but in the end she figured it out and i got to keep her machine. :)
Posted by: nadine | January 10, 2007 at 03:16 PM
Some friends in St. Louis has a stamp made from a drawing someone did of their house. It was so darling and they used it to make their own thank you cards and invitations. I loved it and that is what this post reminded me of.
Posted by: Val | January 10, 2007 at 04:33 PM
Reading this I felt every painful stamp of e a c h l e t t e r....
I can totally relate.
Go for the new machine:)
Posted by: martha | January 10, 2007 at 07:10 PM
I have a low-end Viking and I hardly sew at all. I adore it. I would marry it if I wasn't already taken.
Go test drive some others and see what you think and get an estimate on fixing it. Do you have a good repair place near by?
Although I love the bells and whistles, I didn't get bells on my sewing machine (too pricey).
how's that for rambling?
Posted by: Katy | January 10, 2007 at 07:33 PM
Hey! That's my mom's sewing machine!! It rocks - it's a solid little machine and I used it all last week while visiting her.
I'm so sad yours isn't working. It's tough to switch to a new machine and try and figure out what features you want/need. Good luck!!
Posted by: shannon | January 10, 2007 at 10:47 PM