treadle sewing machine

[have4goneinsane]

does anyone have one?

I have spotted a lovely one on eBay and am happy to do the maintenance needed to make it work again. Am thinking about it as both a beautiful thing but also for DD(8) to learn to sew on - she is creative but autistic and horribly impulsive so I don't want her near my precioussssss 15yr old Elna or my overlocker, until she is a bit more competent.

It only has straight stitch and no reverse so really would be as simple as could be (it's a Singer 66K)

I don't have one at the moment but learnt on one.

They are very simple to use and very pretty to look at! If you have the space I would go for it! I would love another but haven't the space at the moment.

I have a few vintage machines and I prefer using those to my modern ones. You may find you are getting the treadle out yourself instead of the bernina!

Bernina! Sorry I meant Elna!

I have a 66k, just got it working and loving it so far. My 4 year old DD strokes it and is desperate to get it working and make things, lovely things x

I learnt on a 66 and have now upgraded to a 185k (same body shape but with a motor). Its outlived my 1980s singer where the tension has gone wrong, and I'm not missing the zigzag of the other machine either!

well I missed out on the 66K, but I did get a 201K treadle and after a bit of oil and a clean up she goes beautifully (the treadle tabletop is another matter, but I'm counting on the fact that my dad likes a good restoration project!).

2 out of 4 kids have had a go at sewing on it and the other 2 are keen to have a go

A 201k!

I have an electric version and she sews much better than my computerised brother!

Although the 201 is a straight stitch there are so many attachments. There's a couple of buttonhole attachments - there's a singer adjustable one and a template one. Both do great buttonholes - better than the brother as you can adjust the gap in the middle.

There's also zigzaggers to produce different stitch patterns plus overcasters and blind stitch attachments. The rufflers are also good and the pin tucker attachments. As you can see I've got addicted to vintage!

If you do get into that side try
www.helenhowes-sewingmachines.co.uk/feet.html

Plus there's a lot on eBay US site

well, I've ordered some more bobbins and a presser foot holder so that I can use my Elna's feet with it. I've also ordered a ruffler foot as I've been wanting one for a while

Not much housework getting done at the moment!