What was your VERY FIRST sewing machine?

[teacupdelights]

I was in grade school, and loved to sew things. I got a little manually driven sewing machine and thought it was wonderful. I made little dresses for my dolls, and anything I could imagine. Just loved it, and can remember how excited I was to see comething come together from these scraps...and I do mean scraps. The only fabric I had was from worn out or outgrown dresses and housedresses. No sewers in the family, and I'm not sure what or how I became so interested in sewing, most likely it was something I was exposed to at school. Still love sitting there watching something materialize before my eyes.

Carol

[Susie]

My first sewing machine was a little toy one that had a crank on it. As I remember it didn't work all that well but I sure had fun trying to sew on it. Next my mom started letting me sew a bit on her machine. She had lots of patience with me and always praised whatever I made (even though those first projects probably looked pretty bad!) She saved a little scrap of fabric that I hand-sewed on...my first feeble attempt with a needle and thread. I found it in her cedar chest. I was probably about 5 years old or so when I made it.
Susie

[Rose92]

My Dad got me an old treadle machine that was converted to electric when I was 8. I never "played" dolls, I just sewed for them. I had the best dressed dolls in the neighborhood! I, too, had only old material from clothes to work with but as I grew older and became the neighborhood babysitter I earned enough money to buy new material. My second machine was a basic Sears Kenmore that someone gave me. My third machine was another basic Kenmore that my husband gave me 25 years ago. It still sews great! But now I do have my eye on a Baby Lock. Here's hoping!!

[qltsbme]

My sister's (sewglad) first sewing machine was a cool little Singer toy sewing machine. It was NEVER mine. I NEVER got my own. I could touch it only if she didn't catch me.

When I was a 15 year old sophomore in high school, I got my first job. I started working in November. When I got my first tax refund check, I went straight to the Singer store and got a Singer Touch-N-Sew. I didn't get the golden (top of the line) TNS, I got the one just under the golden. I loved that machine. I wish I hadn't traded it in when I got my second machine - a Singer 2001.

Nancy

[knitnoid]

I learned to sew on my mom's Kenmore. Can't remember the model, but it was from about 1960. Mom finally wore that machine out a few years ago. We had Berninas, Elnas and a Singer or two in the school sewing lab. Before I took off for college, mom and I made my school clothes. She sewed on the Kenmore, and I sewed on my grandmother's or great grandmother's treadle machine which had a motor on it.

My first very own sewing machine was a mid- to lower end Kenmore that I bought shortly after I got married. Sewed lots of clothes on it for me and shirts for my husband. About 5 years ago, I took an Heirloom Sewing class and decided I needed a machine which could really sew a nice/fine seam and bought a Viking Quilt Designer. My sister now has my Kenmore.

[maryq]

My first sewing machine was my Grandmothers Treadle machine, which I still have! Learned to sew on that and then about 9th grade my Mom got me a Machine from Montgomery Wards! I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Traded that in for my Dial n Sew (which I am sure nobody has heard of) and still have that one along with my Elna--a special gift from some very special friends!

Marymargaret

[WeSignificant]

I'm sure it must have been something my mother had. There were 4 daughters in the family so I think we all just used her's. Dad was in the military making next to no money at that time. I do remember that when I was probably around 9, I won a blue ribbon at the CA State Fair for a Chocolate Cake and Sleeveless Dress. When my parents sold their home a couple years ago, we found all the ribbons!

[Geneva2]

I learned to sew on my mother's Singer treadle machine. I learned to piece quilt and make my own clother as did my 3 sisters. The 4H culb classes helped me refine my sewing. I continued to sew even while I was in the USAF. The first machine I owned was a Kenmore my MIL gave me when we first moved to Charleston. I sewed on that machine for many years making clothes for myself and my daughter and even some things for my sons and my DH. That was a great machine and I'm sorry to say I traded it in on a Singer. I wanted a zz machine. I still have that Singer and it is good machine but I wish I hadn't traded in the Kenmore. I now have a Brother PC 8500 embroidery machine, a Babylock Ellageo embroidery machine and a Brother PQ1500s for quilting. I would hate to think of a world that didn't have sewing mchines or a time when I couldn't use one. Sewing has always been a part of my life and eventhough I couldn't make it a part of my DD's life I am now making it a part of my DGD's life.
Geneva

[SewGlad]

qltsbme (My sister) will get my Singer child machine, someday. I knew she touched it, I knew she wore my clothes, my shoes were safe.

The first sewing machine I bought was in 1967. I bout a Singer touch-n-sew. It had a salmon color on the front. I sewed tons of things on that until 1996 when I bought a Viking. I remember I spent $285, case and all. I thought it was a fortune. Now thread costs that much.

Ruthie

[suzette58]

I learned to sew on a Singer 301 that my mother bought from our neighbor who was a professional seamstress. I kept that machine after my mom got a new Singer. Then the motor burned up on the 301. I bought a cheapy which NEVER compared to my old Singer. I just recently bought a "new" 301 from EBAY. It was like a gift from heaven.

suzette58