Thanks Teresa (and Bella!) I am glad to know you got it ok.

ooh, you just reminded me of my current mom daughter argument…  Long story short, my mother is mechanically challenged.  I don't say this meanly.  She is.  (We won't go into how long it took her to learn to use a microwave…) 

I don't know how many sewing machines my mother has been through.  She broke an antique treadle - had to get that fixed, and banned herself from it.  Off the top of my head, I can think of at least three, maybe four portables that she has properly killed.  No sane person will lend her their machine - they just do what she needs done for her.  She is after the 1953 Singer she gave me - although she has never asked for it back, she keeps saying it was the only machine she could ever get to work for her. 

Mom doesn't sew on a regular basis.  She'll hem jeans (jeans are a machine murder weapon in her hands) or she'll sew a straight something - like a curtain hem.  No matter how many times someone shows her - or draws her a picture, or leaves a machine threaded - she cannot figure out how to thread a machine.  This is the beginning of the end for a machine under her control.

I don't live near her, so the 1953 Singer is safe.  It's temperamental.  It was a mess when she gave it to me.  Call me hateful, but it's my favorite machine, and I actually USE it all the time - and I'm NOT giving it back!!  If I thought she really wanted it - say, to make a quilt or actually use - I'd give it back.  (I did offer, but she refused - so I think it's more of an excuse with her now - and this isn't a mean fight - more of one of those fun, teasing arguments.)

Last time I was home, she announced that she needed a machine.  I told her I'd get her one for Christmas - that we'd pick it out while I was there.  Then I get, “No, I'm not sure I want one.  I just need a simple one…”  Therefore, I am on a machine quest.  I need a good, simple (is there such a thing as a self-threading?) machine that is tough and can reach it's arm out and slap my mom's hand before she murders it.  Is there such a machine on the market?  I'm not buying a used one - she has killed every one of those…  I don't want one that's too expensive - because I really doubt she'll use it much. 

Help?!

I am sure your moms quite a card, just like mine. It took us months to teach our mom how to work a vcr, and them it all turns to dvds,  dad still  can only push play. But her sewing machine is pretty much an extension of herself, just like mine are to me. (I have 4 and 1 serger, I'm sure thats some kind of hording sin or something!)

Anyway, Moms favorite machine is a 1955 Singer. Actually its my favorite too, but its hers for now. She was talked into a new Elna $900. at a fabric store 20 or so years ago and hated it so much she barely used it. I was showing her the joys of being able to zig zag sometimes and the benefits of it. Since her singer only goes forward and backwards, we went to walmart and bought her a simple brother with a zig zag feature. I set it on the size she wanted and showed her how to thread it. She sets it behind her at her singer and can just turn around and use it and turn back. A brother is my favorite of new machines because of how they are made. Singer is made overseas now and has all plastic insides that just dont hold up like the great old ones. The simple brother we bought was $79. and has the threading design drawn on top of the machine. In fact almost every machine is threaded the same way. But you are right about teaching them old puppies some new tricks, it aint fun sometimes. I even bought her about 20 extra bobbins and several of those huge serger spools of white thread. We filled every bobbin and I rigged up a stand so she can use the big spools on her singer for when she is piecing quilts she doesnt have to run out of thread all the time and stop to refill bobbins. She loves it that way. I even do it when making my aprons, I have 3 machines set up with different color threads, for hemming and for trimming.

Now if I could just get it all into a sewing room and out of my dining room all the world would seem right!

You aren't going to believe this.  I have a Huskevana (sp) hubby got for me two years ago that I still haven't used.  I really need to use it don't I?  I like to to sew and used to do it all the time.  I thought I would use my machine in my cardmaking and papercrafting.  I haven't yet.

:J

Hey Jaymi, I am going back thru my lists of who is getting what and dont see where you have pmd me about color and specifics. I have calico in most ever color. Let me know.

Bee, got yours cut out and going, The one will have to have black trim, doesnt come in the right orange.

Jayne, lots of pockets and ruffels, color?

GeorgiaZ said:

Hey Jaymi, I am going back thru my lists of who is getting what and dont see where you have pmd me about color and specifics. I have calico in most ever color. Let me know.

Bee, got yours cut out and going, The one will have to have black trim, doesnt come in the right orange.

Jayne, lots of pockets and ruffels, color?

Ya know that's what I can't decide.  My kitchen is red and blue (but not patriotic per se).  Something that goes with blue jeans, LOL!

:J