The Singer Sewing Machine
By lilaclady
@lilaclady (28207)
Australia
September 10, 2008 2:04am CST
How many people remember the Singer sewing machine, is there anyone who still uses one, I learnt to sew on one of these at school and my mother had one, I always thought they were a good fun machine that was very reliable....maybe with the electricity prices going up these are the sorts of things we should be going back to...
6 people like this
18 responses
@LittleMel (8742)
• Canada
10 Sep 08
i do. my mother used it too if i remember correctly. and we had a family member gave one to us. we don't need it now we can't operate it and i would like to return it to the owner but she got divorced and we lost contact.
that one needs electricity but the one my mother used was using paddles.
@lilaclady (28207)
• Australia
10 Sep 08
I saw one in an antique shop the other day, they are worth a bit of money these days..
1 person likes this
@LittleMel (8742)
• Canada
10 Sep 08
really? i'm going to ask the owner if she wants it back or else i will sell it
maybe someday we will get her contact info
@maxilimian (3099)
• Indonesia
10 Sep 08
I still remember this singer sewing machine, i think my auntie still keep one 
, but she's not using it anymore, i dunno, maybe she is already old, once i remember she always said that her hand is hurt everytime she's sewing, there's something like lump on her hand 
, but she's not using it anymore, i dunno, maybe she is already old, once i remember she always said that her hand is hurt everytime she's sewing, there's something like lump on her hand 1 person likes this
@lilaclady (28207)
• Australia
10 Sep 08
Oh thats a shame, but they make a nice piece of furniture anyway...they look good.
@venshida (4836)
• United States
10 Sep 08
Singer Sewing Machines are still around. They are top of the line sewing machines. I am actually using one right now. I have a Kenmore that is not working so I borrowed my mom. She did not have the manual. It look horrible. My mom brought it back in the 70's, and I thought without the manual and mom not remembering how to use it. I would not be able to use it, and I am happy to say I was able to do some sewing today.
1 person likes this
@abbey19 (3106)
• Gold Coast, Australia
11 Sep 08
I'm showing my age
by admitting that I remember the old Singer Sewing Machine, but yes I do! My mother had one which had been my grandmothers. It was the super-duper one - it looked like a table, but if you lifted the front of the table up, the machine used to pop out! You worked the sewing maching by pushing the treadle with your feet.
Unlike the electric sewing machines we have today, we never had anyone out to repair it because it never broke down!
I have a friend in Canada who still has one - and it works!
by admitting that I remember the old Singer Sewing Machine, but yes I do! My mother had one which had been my grandmothers. It was the super-duper one - it looked like a table, but if you lifted the front of the table up, the machine used to pop out! You worked the sewing maching by pushing the treadle with your feet.
Unlike the electric sewing machines we have today, we never had anyone out to repair it because it never broke down!
I have a friend in Canada who still has one - and it works!
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
10 Sep 08
LOL...my great grandmother had one of those first Singer sewing machines...yikes after all these years I still remember it...it was one of those pedal jobs where the only way you could get it to work was to use your feet and pedal away. the machine itself was made completely of metal and it was on a wooden table with iron wrought legs..the pedal was iron wrought too I have a Singer machine as well that I got a few years ago ...but an electric version....Singer still does make machines...but they have been ousted by other companies now
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
10 Sep 08
I managed to find an image of the type of machine my great grandmother had..a bit similar to the one you show--I used to have fun "playing" on it
@iskayz (5420)
• Philippines
11 Sep 08
Hi there!
My family owns 2 singer sewing machines! We actually have several sewing machines but they're so old and some got rusty and can't be used at all.
My mom's dad used to be a tailor in the 40's. Her brother and sister follwed her dad's footsteps. My mom knows how to sew but she's not that good when it comes to dresses hehe. She can only make curtains and pillow sheets. I also like to learn how to sew but I guess that's not my craft so I'm having a hard time learning.
Sewing machines are good. They're very reliable and durable. Maintenance is also easy. Just put some oil to avoid rust and for smooth usage. Knowing how to sew can also help us save money in buying dresses because we can make one for ourselves. My aunt, eversince she learned how to sew, she never bought a single dress for herself because she sew every clothing she had. She also repairs them and that's good!
Ciao!
My family owns 2 singer sewing machines! We actually have several sewing machines but they're so old and some got rusty and can't be used at all.
My mom's dad used to be a tailor in the 40's. Her brother and sister follwed her dad's footsteps. My mom knows how to sew but she's not that good when it comes to dresses hehe. She can only make curtains and pillow sheets. I also like to learn how to sew but I guess that's not my craft so I'm having a hard time learning.
Sewing machines are good. They're very reliable and durable. Maintenance is also easy. Just put some oil to avoid rust and for smooth usage. Knowing how to sew can also help us save money in buying dresses because we can make one for ourselves. My aunt, eversince she learned how to sew, she never bought a single dress for herself because she sew every clothing she had. She also repairs them and that's good!
Ciao!
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
11 Sep 08
Don't give up on learning to sew. When I took home economics for the first time I flunked making my dress! (LOL) I started working on my sewing through the summer and soon was making all my clothes. I took home economics again and passed making clothes with flying colors. Now, I not only make clothes, suits, coats, and clothing for my grand daughters but I also make teddy bears and other stuffed animals. I am a bear artist and have sold tons of my creations. I also supported myself and my daughter by doing alterations while I was living in Montana. I was able to also make enough to buy a new sewing machine! My goal for Christmas is to make my BF a quilt! This from a person who flunked sewing in middle school!
Don't give up, just start with easier projects and work your way up to the more difficult stuff. If you have problems don't be afraid to ask for help. Don't measure your abilities by what someone else can do. You have to realize that the other members of your family had to be in the same position that you are, just learning, and it takes a while to gain the experience to be able to do the the kind of sewing that the other members of your family are doing. Pick out a simple thing to make, like a tote bag and then work your way up to a little more difficult item each time you decide to sew something. Then one day you'll be surprised to find that you are able to sew as well as the rest of your family.
@iskayz (5420)
• Philippines
12 Sep 08
Hi lovebear!
Oh I love to teddy bears
! That's the reason why I want to learn how to sew. I like to make crafts. I love to make pillow cases with ruffles on them combine with cross stitch design cause I love to cross stitch too. I want to sew dog dresses cause I have pets. I also want to give gifts that I made rather than buy them. You know, labor of love lol.
I have lots of books actually but I just can't seem to understand the diagrams and instructions. But I am not giving up learning how to sew. I have lots of creativeness inside me that's been longing to come out lol and I know I can do it.
Thanks also for offering help!
! That's the reason why I want to learn how to sew. I like to make crafts. I love to make pillow cases with ruffles on them combine with cross stitch design cause I love to cross stitch too. I want to sew dog dresses cause I have pets. I also want to give gifts that I made rather than buy them. You know, labor of love lol.
I have lots of books actually but I just can't seem to understand the diagrams and instructions. But I am not giving up learning how to sew. I have lots of creativeness inside me that's been longing to come out lol and I know I can do it.
Thanks also for offering help!
@Christmas2006 (1661)
• United States
15 Mar 10
My grandmother gave me her sewing machine when I took an interest in sewing and I learned on the old treadle. Can't remember how many times I got the needle stuck in my finger! In 1979 I bought my first electric sewing machine. A Singer TouchTronic 2001. I still sew on that machine. I have had to take it in and get it fixed but I love it and the sewing machine repair shop told me that it was the best sewing machine Singer ever made. I taught my girls how to sew on it and when my daughter wanted a sewing machine she bought 2 at WalMarts and wasn't happy with them so we went down to the machine repair shop where I take mine to get it fixed and we bought her one like mine. She just loves it.
@diansinta (7544)
• Indonesia
13 Sep 08
Hi lilaclady,
My mom stilll using this machine. And all we have to do is just put singer oil in it. Good to maintain..all my clothest fix by this machine.
Happy posting always!!
oxo'dian from Bali island.
And all we have to do is just put singer oil in it. Good to maintain..all my clothest fix by this machine.
Happy posting always!!
oxo'dian from Bali island.
@moondancer (7433)
• United States
10 Sep 08
I started out on the old singer sewing machine. I don't have one now but would love to have one.
@positiveminded1977 (7072)
• India
12 Sep 08
I can't sew even to save my life. But my Mom can. She used to sew and embroider clothes, and she had the machine that you are talking about. She used to love it. And then, when we shifted house, we had to sell it. Mom then had an operation too, and she found it difficult to use it.
Cheers and happy mylotting
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
11 Sep 08
I had a 1945 Singer that was in the hump back case. It would sew through anything, my dad even used it to recover the seats in my brother's car. I was sick when I found out that my parents sold the machine at a yard sale! I haven't had a machine to equal that one yet.
I agree that we need to go back to the old fashioned machine, but we need to be able to have some of the improvements built into it. I had an electrified treadle machine and one of the things I missed was the stop to the needle when you finish a seam. You couldn't tell where the needle would end up when you finished the seam.
I am currently using a 1960's New Home machine. It does zig zag, streight stitch and the blind hem. It sews the heavier materials but it still isn't the old Singer. I am going to get one of the fancy embroidery machines simply because I use in in my bear making business. Plus the business is going to pay for it. (Shoot, the business owes me the machine anyhow! LOL)
You still can't beat the old machines though. They are made of all metal rather than having plastic parts that are nearly impossible to replace. If you drop the machine or have other problems the machine is toast! I would much rather have the two ton machines for my heavy duty work than to try to do it on a newer machine.
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
28 Sep 08
I had a Singer that dated from the early 40's. I learned to sew on the machine and we did upholstery and everything you can think of on the machine. I was so upset when I found out that my parents sold the machine at a yard sale for five dollars. I paid ten for it, and didn't want to get rid of it!!! I am still looking for one that is the same model that is strictly straight stitch with the reverse lever on it.
I wish they made machines like that now, but with plastic parts and planned obsolesence it is difficult at best to find a work horse like those old Singers!
@sunny69316 (638)
• China
14 Sep 08
Hi,
I remember Singer sewing machine!It is interesting to sew when I was childhood!
@cowgirl03051979 (918)
• United States
6 Dec 11
i remember the singer sewing machine though i have not seen any of them lately but there are alot of discussions on mylot about them i never owned one of them but i have heard that they are a really good brand guessing from all the discussions about the singers on mylot i would think that alot of people still use them i wish they had taught me to sew while i was in school they only taught me usless stuff that i would never use my grandmother had already taught me how to sew but that was besides the point haha
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
10 Sep 08
You do mean a treadle sewing machine don't you? I have both a treadle and an electric Singer (brand) sewing machine. I still use both.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
10 Sep 08
Sewing machine is singer's pioneer product. It is this machine that have popularized singer in the consumers world. It has become a household name, and now singer has produced many other products to its name but their sewing machine has top the list. We have two singer sewing machines at home still in very good condition and have been in service since my grandmother's time.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
10 Sep 08
My mom had one too. And I had two....now I have a Sears as my kids bought me one for Christmas a few years ago. I love to sew when I have time. I taught both of my daughters to sew too and they both still love sewing. My oldest sew costumes etc for her little girl and my other daughter makes quilts. I make and sell table runners. I don't know if I could still sew clothes and the patterns have gotten to be so expensive.
@super_jj (1416)
• Philippines
10 Sep 08
We have one at home. My grandmother was a dressmaker in her prime,and my mom inherited one of the Singer sewing machines they owned in the dress shop. It still works and mom uses it a lot to fix my clothes, sew shorts for me and and pilowcases and curtains. I think mom's gonna sew my uniform for me too. And my bluesuit. Hehehehehehehe.
We have the machine,yes,but i never thought about learning how to use it. My grandfather's pretty good at it too when he was younger.
