Sew Pretty

I am so excited to show off my Christmas present from my amazing boyfriend. It’s a vintage 1944 Singer sewing machine. Its the super cute kind that hides away in its own table and a cute little compartment for the threads and bobbins. Did I mention it’s completely working? It works like brand new and even had it’s original manual with it (with a thousand super helpful pictures). My boyfriend knows me so well:)



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I love it… love it love it.

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94 Comments

    2. Planned obsolescence or built-in obsolescence in industrial design is a policy of deliberately planning or designing a product with a limited useful life, so it will become obsolete or nonfunctional after a certain period.This is why things don’t last and are not built as well as things used to be built. It is all a scheme to make money. This is also the reason a product breaks right after it goes out of warranty. They KNOW how long it is supposed to last and so only warranty until about the time it should stop working. So sad!!

      Great sewing machine!! What are you going to make first?

  6. What a great gift! I sew on a vintage Singer and love it way more than my 90s machine which is far less beautiful and sews much less beautifully.
    Happy sewing!

  10. I learned to sew on a machine just like this one. I had one myself that I had for years and finally sold it a few years back when I moved. I used it for an entry way table for the longest time, because I just didn’t want to part with it. I’m sure my mother still has the same one she taught me to sew on. I thanked her a few years back for teaching me to sew. It has become one of my favorite things to do. As well as being a valuable skill that has given me a great outlet for my creativity, I’m sure I’ve saved a large amount of money over the years with all I’ve sewn. Enjoy your Christmas present and Happy New Year!

  14. That must have been difficult to find. I am impressed!I agree about the details…craftsmanship isn’t what it used to be. I was in a very old building this year (housing the Lick Observatory)and I remember noticing the details of the hinges on the doors –not unlike the design on your sewing machine, but in brass.

  15. It’s electric? It must be. Those older, all metal machines are great. I have one from the 70’s from Montgomery Ward and it still works. I’m sure yours is far more charming, though. But the ones nowadays that are all plastic parts — blech. Congrats on getting such a wonderful present. Your boyfriend sure knows how to pick a unique gift!

  16. my mother also had one of these little featherweights. we all (girls) used it to make our school clothes. i lost it about 30 years ago when i had borrowed it. last year i saw one in an antique store and bought it. i have used it, but need to take it in for adjusting. i found out that there is are websites dedicated to the featherweight. i now i see them even more often in antique stores…. i am always hoping i will find my mother’s someday….

  18. Oh, I bought a sewing machine with the best intentions. It’s been over a year and it’s still in the box.
    I always drool over vintage machines when I visit antique shops, but I have told myself I am not allowed to invest until I use the one I’ve got!

    Congrats on your new love. Your boyfriend did well!

  20. We have one almost exactly like it! It sits in our hallway as a table where we keep photos. And ours is working too! Isn’t it amazing to find something so elegant and old, something with such history, a thing to which your possessing adds to its story? It’s a good feeling.

  21. Smart man that boyfriend of yours! I have a 1952 Singer Featherweight – in its own little portable black carrying case. Got it for Christmas when I was 16. And I still love it love it as you love yours. How wonderful! Yours is a beauty. The best gift ever.

  27. My grandmothers,both of them, had this kind of machine(brand,design..) I never thought of calling it vintage,just old…I never was familiar with “vintage” at those times.:((( Darn it!!!! If I only knew there would be time when people would actually buy those things…

  31. My mother has a similar machine, which once belonged to my grandmom. My mom has stitched so many things for me.
    This blog of yours brought so many sweet childhood memories, I suddenly feel so loved

    Thank you so much for sharing this.

  33. Beautiful, isn’t it? My mother had around 10 of these all by “Singer”, as she used to run sewing classes from home. I learnt to sew on this and even did a lot of machine embroidery by using the foot pedestal. I may be able to ship one(the last one that we are left with) to Melbourne next year.I must add that your boyfriend is very thoughful 🙂

  34. LOVE it ! I am an antique freak. That machine is a piece of art. I know you appreciate it and will enjoy it—what a treasure. Even the owner’s manuals were beautifully done back then. I collect antique typewriters & telephones and like to imagine the person/people who may have used each of my antiques WAY WAY back. You have given me a good idea to showcase maybe a few of my special machines on my blog.
    http://rotarydial.wordpress.com/

  35. Do you have any leads about parts? Mostly, bobbins and the like. I am also interested in seeing the pages of your instruction manual.
    It has been years since I have sewn, and that was on an old treadle machine, but I recently borrowed a “modern” machine and have the bug. My mom gave me her old Singer, much like yours, but it is missing things like bobbins. Illustrations and instructions would be quite helpful.

    Happy sewing.

  39. I love old sewing machines, we have a White treadle machine that still sews. When I was growing up, my mother made many a dress and summer outfit on this machine.
    I learned to sew on it also. Those machines are something special. I am glad you received such a wonderful gift. Congrats on being placed on Freshly Pressed.

  42. Wow – you know how to work this thing?!This brings back fond memories of my mom, toiling away on her identical machine on an outfit for me. I was the youngest of nine children, yet my mom still found time to make me special dresses and costumes, so I was ensured an original.
    I never did learn to sew – too finicky and I am not patient – but admire those that can. Have fun creating on your beautiful antique; the sky is the limit.

  45. Congratulations for showing up on Freshly Pressed, I wouldSinger’ve never found you otherwise!
    I have a drapery business and I really appreciated your post. I remember as a little girl going to my grandmother’s house and sitting in front of her treadle machine, a Singer, and dreaming of the day when I could have it. Alas, the house got sold and I guess they figured I was too young.

    In 8th grade, I got my first Singer machine and still have it, 34 yrs later and still use it from time to time. I have all industrial machines now for my business but I will always keep my first machine.

    Enjoy yours and if you have any questions about sewing, feel free to contact me.

    Tammi

  46. I have a sewing machine very much like this one but it’s a portable. I think it’s a few years newer — 1950s maybe — but it still works just fine. It was my mother’s. There’s a repair shop in the Lower Mainland (of BC) that services these old machines. I had taken it to several shops for a tune-up and they just told me I needed to get rid of it and buy a new one. The guy in Burnaby fixed it up for me in minutes, and only charged $25!

  49. Those machines were built to last. My mother had an older version that was built in the 1950’s, and it still works. My mother-in-law had an older one that was still treadle-run–it was strong enough to run the needle right through her five-year old sized fingers, so be careful! And, keep that boyfriend.

  50. I have a 50 year old metal framed Bernini which I have been using since I was 11. I am 57 now and I have been using it constantly. I made all my son’s clothes when he was little and my clothes all of my life. I also used it as an industrial machine for 15 years and sewed all the clothes in my shop. It was not new when I got it, so I am not really sure exactly how old it is. I used it today. I expect to use it for the rest of my life.

  52. What a great machine ! I remember my grandmother had one. So many of these machines have been cannibalised into tables ie. wrought iron stand – no machine – “modern” table top. In fact, I saw such a bastardisation this Christmas in a friend’s house. I didn’t comment – just thought it sad. I’m sure you’ll cherish it. Great gift. Top marks to your man !!

  53. I stumbled across this site due to the photo. Lucky lady but I am sure it has gone to a good home. Nice also to see that there are so many kindred spirits with an abhorrence of the in-built obsolescence in today’s society. Enjoy your Singer!

  54. Thanks for sharing….
    Fascinating to see what passion these machines elicit! Your beau is a great guy for being able to appreciate such age, beauty and utility in one object. One of the best gifts I ever received was a Japanese vanity chest (they have a very tall mirror and are very small), as it has all of these qualities.

    Now you’ll have to come back and show us what you’ve made!

  58. Your machine is so wonderful. I love the Singer Featherweight and I know many people show still love and use this excellent machine.
    Congrats on making Freshly Pressed!! You may find our blog useful to you since it is all about fashion knowledge. If you go to our blog, make sure you look for the link to Fashion-Incubator, it is a fantastic site that will help you with many sewing and pattern making issues.

    Great boyfriend with great taste!!
    http://fashionnation1on1.wordpress.com/

  59. Singer made a great machine. Don’t hesitate to take it in and get it tuned up (Timing and tension do go out after a while, and it probably needs to be cleaned up and de-gummed from oil that’s sat too long).
    If the place you take it tells you to junk it, junk THEM, go somewhere else that appreciates fine craftsmanship. Those places are out there. My parents owned a sewing machine store and my dad liked to work on these old machines. He gave one to me, too.

    When you do get it tuned up, have them show you all the places you need to oil it, because that machine will want to be oiled regularly. It will last fo-eh-vah. It does one thing (straight stitch) but it does it to perfection. You can have a lot of fun making quilts with it, you know, and if it has a bunch of those fun attachments you can learn to use them as well.

    Have fun!!

  60. You MUST really love it–the angles you took of the machine was incredibly well photographed. It’s also very unique. I’ve never seen anything like it before and it works! That’s a very thoughtful gift. You’ve got a great b/f who went out of his way to get you something like that. I think he’s a keeper :).

  65. That. Is. Beautiful. I aspire to have one of these one day, I am totally in love with them. I feel that they have to be gifted or acquired somehow though! It just wouldn’t feel right to go and buy myself one! Congratulations on your beautiful christmas gift, and being freshly pressed!

  74. We had one like this when I was little. It was treadle operated and I remember it was really hard work to get your feet doing one thing while you concentrated on making something delicate with your hands. The other kind I’ve used is the sort with a handle on the flywheel, which meant you didn’t even have two hands to use as one was constantly turning to keep the needle going. Still managed to make a really nice silk blouse on it though.

  76. That sewing machine is SO beautiful! My grandpa has one, but I don’t know the brand name, and it’s pretty antique. He lets me use it when I wanna start a project. My messenger bags come out so much cuter from it than by hand! Haha! Congrats on the amazing gift!

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  83. […] latest project I made just for her. A little pair of super-soft leather moccasins! I made them on my 1944 Singer (actually, I was so nervous about messing up, I hand-turned the sewing machine for the whole […]

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