Becky's Favorite Things
Until I get my entire blog (over 100 posts) organized and properly linked, I am adding a link here, to the alphabetical INDEX of my blog posts. I'm not tech savvy, my daughter has helped set this up, and we are still in the organizing stage, as we update my blog to make it easier to read on cell phones, one of the ways people look up information on vintage sewing machines, and sewing problems.
I have a "sewing buddy" online, who created the Vintage Sewing Center and Museum, Inc. in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where you can actually sew with the many sewing machines, from home machines, and toy machines, to industrial sewing machines. It even has the enormous treadle sewing machine that was on one of the U.S. submarines! I highly recommend joining the M-bassadors group on Facebook, as well as visiting the Museum, when it is open again, after the Covid-19 scare. Links to these are on my blogpost about it here-
Vintage Sewing Center & Museum Tulsa Oklahoma
Please be patient, I haven't gotten everything properly completed, so some blogs may have issues, until we complete this process, which may not be done until after January 1, 2021. In the meantime, I will continue to add posts and photos. Please enjoy, and share with your friends!
INDEX blog posts alphabetical
I have a "sewing buddy" online, who created the Vintage Sewing Center and Museum, Inc. in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where you can actually sew with the many sewing machines, from home machines, and toy machines, to industrial sewing machines. It even has the enormous treadle sewing machine that was on one of the U.S. submarines! I highly recommend joining the M-bassadors group on Facebook, as well as visiting the Museum, when it is open again, after the Covid-19 scare. Links to these are on my blogpost about it here-
Vintage Sewing Center & Museum Tulsa Oklahoma
Please be patient, I haven't gotten everything properly completed, so some blogs may have issues, until we complete this process, which may not be done until after January 1, 2021. In the meantime, I will continue to add posts and photos. Please enjoy, and share with your friends!
INDEX blog posts alphabetical
Muumuu Dresses with Designer Details
I honestly have too many FAVORITE sewing machines, I literally can't choose just one! I dearly loved my Bernina 930, the Singer Featherweights both the 221 and the rare freearm 222k, but these machines were high dollar value, so when I had major medical debts (brain tumors, spinal cord tumors, and nerve tumors from NF2 guarantee I stay in medical debt), I sell them, to help pay bills.
Singer 222k freearm Sewing Machine Quilting & More
Singer Featherweight 221 & 222k Sewing Machines
Bernina 930 My Favorite Sewing Machine
I kept a Bernina 830, that I had changed the motor brushes, polished the commutator on the motor, and gone through the entire machine, to ensure it all is in working order, and a great set of feet in the special large tray, so I still have wonderful Bernina sewing machines. I do consider this a KEEPER!
Bernina 830 sewing machine
Kenmore 158.960 is another KEEPER, mint green and cream, HEAVY, simple, one of the easiest machines to maintain or fix yourself, yet it takes 45 stitch cams, and DOES SEW STRETCH stitches! It does not have multi needle position, but is low shank, and I have a snap on shank and large set of feet I use with it, besides the original Kenmore feet. I bought the 1802 accessory set, and switched out the geared plates, and super high shank feet, for low shank feet, to make a special set for my 960. Officially, this is the model 96 (there are several nearly identical Kenmore machines with different model numbers). It did not come with the chainstitch capability, but I switched out the bobbin hook with a Kenmore that did, and the accessories to allow it to do that, too.
Kenmore 158.960 Model 96 Sewing Machine
Necchi 575FA is one of my very favorite KEEPERS, too! It is much lighter weight, but as my health goes downhill, it is lightweight enough I can still lift it and set it up easily. It sews stretch stitches, as well, all cams are built in, has a slide on table that fits over the freearm, but has a narrow drawer, that goes behind the freearm, and holds bobbins, snap on presser feet, and screwdrivers!
Necchi 575FA portable freearm sewing machine
Sundia 5 thread safety stitch serger- in the industrial table, with a clutch motor, and knee lift for the presser foot, this is INCREDIBLE! Never want to be without an industrial serger again! These are so sturdy and strong, they don't have as many problems as home sergers, but you usually set them for one type of sewing, and leave it that way. This sews the 2 thread chainstitch, and the separate 3 thread double loop overlock. The knives on industrials are much stronger and sturdier, the presser foot feeds even better than home sergers, you can literally serge an entire quilt top in an hour or two, with the edges overlocked so they won't fray! SUPER FAST!
Sundia 5 Thread Safety Stitch Industrial Serger
BabyLock 838D with knee lift, and built in needle threader, and self threader lower looper, is my favorite manual tension serger, KEEPER. It has Differential feed, is a 2,3,4, thread serger, high speed, high quality, incredible machine!
BabyLock 838D Serger
BabyLock Evolve is my most expensive serger, also a KEEPER! 8 threads, coverstitch, chainstitch, overlock, safety stitch, you name it, it can sew it, if it is a serger stitch! It does not have the very wave stitch, or the very newest home serger stitch, the coverstitch with the top looper, but I don't need that. It is more for looks than function. I love how functional, and easy to thread this serger is. Jet air threading, does not have needle threader, but you can use needle threaders with it.
BabyLock Evolve
NEEDLE CHANGING TOOL- To make changing needles on sewing machines, and especially SERGERS, buy yourself a needle threading tool, which often has a cleaning brush, or a needle threader at the other end. Needle threaders, and needle changing tools are ESSENTIAL to making sewing and serging easier. (Click on link below to see many special notions & tools!)
Needle Threaders Needle Insertion Tools
Rotary Cutters industrial electric, buttonhole knife, cutting tools
Industrial rotary cutters are a GAME CHANGER! I ADORE my industrial rotary cutter, that is 110 electric! You have to make sure you get the 110 electric for home sewing, for these, unless you have a 220 outlet for it. Especially for CUTTING UP JEANS, for quilts, this is a fabulous tool! Need to cut a bolt of fabric into strips? Roll the fabric as if it was still on a bolt (do not keep the cardboard in it), make sure the sides are even, mark the width you want the fabric cut in, and this cutter goes right through it, like a hot knife in butter! Built in stone sharpener, and oiler wick, help keep this in super sharp, ready to cut shape!
I honestly have too many FAVORITE sewing machines, I literally can't choose just one! I dearly loved my Bernina 930, the Singer Featherweights both the 221 and the rare freearm 222k, but these machines were high dollar value, so when I had major medical debts (brain tumors, spinal cord tumors, and nerve tumors from NF2 guarantee I stay in medical debt), I sell them, to help pay bills.
Singer 222k freearm Sewing Machine Quilting & More
Singer Featherweight 221 & 222k Sewing Machines
Bernina 930 My Favorite Sewing Machine
I kept a Bernina 830, that I had changed the motor brushes, polished the commutator on the motor, and gone through the entire machine, to ensure it all is in working order, and a great set of feet in the special large tray, so I still have wonderful Bernina sewing machines. I do consider this a KEEPER!
Bernina 830 sewing machine
Kenmore 158.960 is another KEEPER, mint green and cream, HEAVY, simple, one of the easiest machines to maintain or fix yourself, yet it takes 45 stitch cams, and DOES SEW STRETCH stitches! It does not have multi needle position, but is low shank, and I have a snap on shank and large set of feet I use with it, besides the original Kenmore feet. I bought the 1802 accessory set, and switched out the geared plates, and super high shank feet, for low shank feet, to make a special set for my 960. Officially, this is the model 96 (there are several nearly identical Kenmore machines with different model numbers). It did not come with the chainstitch capability, but I switched out the bobbin hook with a Kenmore that did, and the accessories to allow it to do that, too.
Kenmore 158.960 Model 96 Sewing Machine
Necchi 575FA is one of my very favorite KEEPERS, too! It is much lighter weight, but as my health goes downhill, it is lightweight enough I can still lift it and set it up easily. It sews stretch stitches, as well, all cams are built in, has a slide on table that fits over the freearm, but has a narrow drawer, that goes behind the freearm, and holds bobbins, snap on presser feet, and screwdrivers!
Necchi 575FA portable freearm sewing machine
Sundia 5 thread safety stitch serger- in the industrial table, with a clutch motor, and knee lift for the presser foot, this is INCREDIBLE! Never want to be without an industrial serger again! These are so sturdy and strong, they don't have as many problems as home sergers, but you usually set them for one type of sewing, and leave it that way. This sews the 2 thread chainstitch, and the separate 3 thread double loop overlock. The knives on industrials are much stronger and sturdier, the presser foot feeds even better than home sergers, you can literally serge an entire quilt top in an hour or two, with the edges overlocked so they won't fray! SUPER FAST!
Sundia 5 Thread Safety Stitch Industrial Serger
BabyLock 838D with knee lift, and built in needle threader, and self threader lower looper, is my favorite manual tension serger, KEEPER. It has Differential feed, is a 2,3,4, thread serger, high speed, high quality, incredible machine!
BabyLock 838D Serger
BabyLock Evolve is my most expensive serger, also a KEEPER! 8 threads, coverstitch, chainstitch, overlock, safety stitch, you name it, it can sew it, if it is a serger stitch! It does not have the very wave stitch, or the very newest home serger stitch, the coverstitch with the top looper, but I don't need that. It is more for looks than function. I love how functional, and easy to thread this serger is. Jet air threading, does not have needle threader, but you can use needle threaders with it.
BabyLock Evolve
NEEDLE CHANGING TOOL- To make changing needles on sewing machines, and especially SERGERS, buy yourself a needle threading tool, which often has a cleaning brush, or a needle threader at the other end. Needle threaders, and needle changing tools are ESSENTIAL to making sewing and serging easier. (Click on link below to see many special notions & tools!)
Needle Threaders Needle Insertion Tools
Rotary Cutters industrial electric, buttonhole knife, cutting tools
Industrial rotary cutters are a GAME CHANGER! I ADORE my industrial rotary cutter, that is 110 electric! You have to make sure you get the 110 electric for home sewing, for these, unless you have a 220 outlet for it. Especially for CUTTING UP JEANS, for quilts, this is a fabulous tool! Need to cut a bolt of fabric into strips? Roll the fabric as if it was still on a bolt (do not keep the cardboard in it), make sure the sides are even, mark the width you want the fabric cut in, and this cutter goes right through it, like a hot knife in butter! Built in stone sharpener, and oiler wick, help keep this in super sharp, ready to cut shape!
