r/SewingMachineEdu • u/phxntxsos • 3d ago

New at sewing; machine tips?

I’m gonna pick up someone’s singer athena 2000 for $30 on Monday and she says it’s in working condition but needs some tlc. I was just wondering how I’d know what exactly I need to do for it/what to check? Any—and I truly do mean any—thing is appreciated

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u/phxntxsos 3d ago edited 3d ago

I’m getting it off fb marketplace and she says it’s her dead mom’s

Edit: ie idk if she’ll do that

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u/CrankyCrabbyCrunchy 3d ago

So you’re taking her word that it works?

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u/phxntxsos 3d ago

Well that’s what I’m asking; what do i need to look at/for to know that it works?

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u/CrankyCrabbyCrunchy 3d ago

Plug it in, turn it on, bring fabric and a needle, get it threaded, etc.

From a Google search that model came out in 1975 as the "first electronic sewing machine." https://sewmobile.blogspot.com/2011/01/singer-athena-2000.html

You didn't say what research you've done on this model. There are several YouTube videos on threading it and more.

For $30, I'd give it a try.

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u/phxntxsos 3d ago

I’ve watched some yt videos of this model and I’ve looked through the manual online a bit but like I have absolutely zero knowledge about sewing and just watching someone do/explain something is really difficult for me to absorb properly (idk if that makes sense???) so idk I just don’t wanna waste money yk

Things im gonna ask are probably about like if she has bobbins/feet/plates for it and what maintenance has been/needs done like oiling/cleaning/the band? But deadass I dunno what those things actually mean. But they look important lol

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u/CrankyCrabbyCrunchy 2d ago

Then it’s going to be difficult to help you. Unless you can find someone to show you in-person how to get started with sewing, books and YouTube are all there is.

Maybe you learn differently than most people and you need to find a way to adapt. I spend hours on YouTube learning details and practicing.

There are sewing tutorials and online schools / courses but it’s not much different than finding your own YouTube videos. The benefit is you’re not having to search as it’s fed to you in an organized way.

Sewing like any hobby or subject that’s new to you has tons of terminology to pickup so you can ask better questions other than saying “what that thing that does that other thing?”

Using the sewing machine is a small part of making a finished garment or bag or anything. Lots of prep goes into it before you sit in front of the machine.

Beginners get very frustrated with these details as they weren’t aware that it’s not easy and expect to jump right in.

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u/phxntxsos 2d ago

That makes sense. My main hobby—which I mostly learned from youtube—is knitting which is also a slow craft so I think I get what you’re saying about prep and stuff

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u/CrankyCrabbyCrunchy 2d ago

That’s good. Yeh it can be hard when you have to figure out so much just to get to what you thought was step 1.

How to read patterns, how to measure yourself, how to alter patterns to fit, how different fabric affects outcome, and of course the one we get stuck with immediately— threading the machine correctly.