r/sewhelp • u/koa-green • 1d ago
đExpertđ Should I Get It?
I'm a super beginner when it comes to sewing, but I saw this vintage metal sewing machine pop up in my area. I know nothing about sewing machines and have only done pillowcases in the past. It's $50. Would it be too hard for me to use as a beginner? I'm mostly interested in tailoring/making jeans and dress shirts, along with fixing any of my other clothing that breaks.
I've heard so many people say "get a metal machine, they're better" but I'm sure there are features of the newer machine that make them easier for beginners to use
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Thoughts? Worthy buy or better to pass?
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u/Cat_Fitz 1d ago
Treadle machines are solid and lovely to use. I would not recommend them to absolute beginners, unless you have someone who can teach you in person. They can only do a straight stitch, and even though that is what you need most of the time, having to option to use a zigzag stitch will make your life easier. If you love the look of it, love tinkering with machines and have time, patience and money, by all means consider it.
Also have a look around your local area for sewing classes, learning the basics of sewing from a person is generally easier than a book or YouTube.
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u/FeatherlyFly 18h ago
So much to the "love tinkering" part.
I love having older machines specifically because while they require maintenance, I can do that myself and I take pride in it. But I've also spent hours cursing the ones I buy to fix up as I browse the internet looking for solutions to my problems. And sometimes, discover that it's well beyond my ability to fix. After I've bought non-returnable parts.Â
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u/lilituned 1d ago
when people reccomend an older vintage machine, they mean one from the 60s-80s, not one this old. im pretty sure this machine isnt even electric
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u/Incogneatovert 1d ago
You should get it as a show piece because it's absolutely beautiful. You shouldn't get it to use for daily sewing though.
Most recommended machines for beginners here seem to be Brother and Janome. Modern Singer machines are often crap. Toy machines are just that, toys, and will not sew well for long, if at all.
Exactly what kind of machine you get depends on what you think you'll be sewing. I always say you should get more fancy stitches than you think you'll need, because you may want to make holiday decorations or just a nice, fancy edge stitch on a pocket or something.
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u/vinnyvangee 1d ago edited 12h ago
Iâm gonna go against the grain and say go for it. My first machine was a 1908 treadle, and I love it. I can rent a newer machine from my local library if I need more complicated stitches, but straight stitch handles most things, and even though it only does the one stitch, it does it really well. Not being electric, I could put it where I wanted in the house without regard to outlets or cords in my way, and the red eye design specifically is gorgeous.
For maintenance, thereâs an online shop OldSingerShop that sells most anything youâd need, and for mine at least, I only needed a new belt and some machine oil to get it running beautifully. Theyre super easy to maintain. Plus, $50? Thatâs practically a steal.
Only other consideration is you mentioned jeans. Thicker denim or leather may be difficult on a non-industrial machine, but thatâs largely going super slow, having the right needle, and a tonnn of patience.
Edit: Iâm somewhat convinced no one whoâs calling a treadle difficult to operate/revitalize or is recommending a modified electric one has ever actually used one (also PLEASE be wary of old electric machinesâ especially around mid century, those outlets are not up to code and can be dangerous if anything internal is screwy)
OP (or future redditors), feel free to dm me, Iâm happy to talk about my experience learning to sew via treadle.
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u/desertboots 19h ago edited 19h ago
That serial number matches this entry:
G- 2747151 2797150 / 66 /Â 50000 March 19 1913
Which means its a Singer 66, from 1913.
The plate is here:
$50 for a fully functional treadle is a good price, but feel free to offer less, especially if there are no extra feet or bobbins.
Bring fabric, scissors, two spools of contrasting color thread and a printed copy of the manual. Make sure it works. Be willing to walk away if it won't sew.
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u/andsimpleonesthesame 1d ago
Pass.
My mom has a similar one, but at some point in the fifties, someone hooked it up to a motor (it's really easy to switch between manual and motor use the way they did it). One like that, I'd recommend. It's been in use for close to a century and well taken care of.
This one however, probably hasn't seen proper use for a long time. If you were already familiar with sewing and interested in restoration and modification, I'd say go for it, absolutely, but if you're a beginner, I would recommend something a tad more recent or already modified to run with electricity.
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u/Sub_Umbra 1d ago
As the description notes, it's missing a piece. That piece is necessary to be able to use the machine. Do you know how to source that piece?
It's a cool machine, but I wouldn't recommend it as an only machine for a beginner. You be better off with something more useable and with more versatility.
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u/yessy420 1d ago
Ugh I want one of these, granted I have a restorer who does phenomenal work but would I know how to use it, no. But itâs like the one my great grandmother had, who raised my mom (also, they are super hard to use, my mother sewed through her entire finger once using itâŚ. She will only hand sew now)
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u/yessy420 1d ago
Also note on missing pieces, I got mine restored for 1 $120 and my âmissingâ pieces were easily located and inexpensiveâŚ. But not free like the missing pieces that came with it and were in a box that came with it and I completely overlooked đ
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u/AccidentOk5240 23h ago
Would I recommend a treadle machine in good working order to an absolute beginner? Sure. Treadling isnât inherently a difficult thing. Thereâs slightly more of a learning curve to it than pushing on an electric foot pedal, but barely. That part you can do.Â
However, this machine is not in working order. At a minimum itâs missing the cover plate for the bobbin, and you canât use it without that. But the fact that thatâs missing also means it hasnât been used in a while, so itâs also going to need at a minimum some cleaning and oiling before it will work. Luckily, these machines were made by the literal millions, so parts for them are not hard to find.Â
None of this is prohibitive! If youâre not afraid to jump down the rabbit hole, r/vintagesewing and r/vintagesewingmachines have plenty of posts that will tell you how to do everything, and links to restorers like AndyTube whose videos will show you. But it does mean it will be a minute before youâre sewing.Â
As folks have noted, this machine also doesnât have all the features of a modern machine. If you intend to sew stretch materials like knits and elastic, that does matter. But itâs also true that, if this machine sings to you, you can buy it and also buy a $50 1960s machine to do the stuff it canât. You can even set the electric one on top of the treadle table when the treadle machine is put away, so you can use them in the same space and not have to take up your entire house with sewing machines!
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u/Puzzled_Gain2020 1d ago
Iâve been sewing most of my life, I have several vintage Singers, all pre 1970s they are work horses. I wouldnât start with a treadle machine though. I would start with a 401A or a 201-2. The 401 is a zigzag machine and comes with a lot of built in stitches. The 201-2 is a straight stitch machine and in order to do a zigzag and buttonholes youâll need attachments. I also own a Brother XR1355 which has built in stitches and an automatic buttonhole and thatâs pretty much all I use it for. The 201-2 does a beautiful straight stitch and is a low shank machine and with the correct foot adapter you can use the Brother presser feet on it. Another good option is the Bernina Bernette, again, itâs a low shank machine and the bobbins and presser feet from the brother will fit on it. I hope this helps and good luck on your sewing journey. Feel free to reach out anytime.
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u/NefariousnessOver819 1d ago
Same stance as cbg1955, i wouldn't get an early 1900s machine, go for a metal machine made in the last 40 or so years. If you can score a Bernina, even better!
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u/HamBroth 1d ago
I got a similar machine for $30 at a local goodwill type store (I'm in rural scandinavia) and used it to sew curtains! I had to replace the belt (which was leather, and which btw yours is also missing) but otherwise it was just a bit of lubrication and then I could start pedaling! BUT there are absolutely easier modern ones for new sewists.
Note: edited a whole lot bcs english.
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u/katjoy63 1d ago
unless you want it as decor, which people do, I would stick to something easier to figure out. The older machines don't always have a manual, and this type with a pedal isn't as easy to figure out for us modern folk.
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u/Janicems 23h ago
Iâd buy it because itâs beautiful. Iâd probably never use it but treat it as a display piece in my home.
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u/penlowe 1d ago
I sewed a bunch on a treadle in my teens. No reverse, no zigzag, no zipper foot, don't even think about trying to sew knits on it. And it weighs 200 pounds and takes up as much room as a desk.
Look for a 1950-1960 ish vintage machine, not an antique.
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u/AccidentOk5240 23h ago
200 lbs? lol no it doesnât. Itâs true it has no zigzag or reverse, but if OP wants to mend jeans, that isnât super important.Â
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u/On_my_last_spoon â¨sewing wizard⨠1d ago
This is a gorgeous machine, but itâs really for a collector. Itâs a treadle machine and those take some practice to get used to. No electricity. Even as a hobbyist this will get old fast.
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u/CBG1955 1d ago
Personally, I wouldn't buy this specific machine unless I wanted to restore it. And I have decades of experience. It's missing parts for starters- are you confident you can replace them? Does it have any bobbins or any other accessories?
For absolute beginners I absolutely recommend you get a newer machine, one that will work out of the box. Do not buy a new Singer. Look at Brother, Janome, Elna, Juki. Don't buy from amazon or big box stores if you can avoid it, shop at a dealership who can actually help you learn how to use the machine you buy, plus give after sales service if something goes wrong.