Singer Singer Trudy!

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Meet Trudy!

I bought a Singer! an old one! and I am excited!  My Husband thought it would be an old treadle machine but I really didn't want to go that far back-  although I did learn on one.  This one is electric.




These old machines are so much fun!  I feel weird saying that because the only thing they can do is a straight stitch forward (I'm not sure if this can do a back stitch lol). Despite that there are some definite advantages. They are metal (this one does have a few plastic parts but not moving ones) and metal machines don't bounce and they work through heavy-duty fabrics.  The opening under the machine, which probably has a name, is about twice the size of my much newer and fancier Brother machine so sewing larger items is so much easier. They are easy to fix because there is no computer and no belts- everything is gear driven. 
If I need to do any of those fancy stitches I can use the new machine.

It cost me $32 at the thrift store!  All electrical cords are in fine shape. It came with over 20 bobbins many with thread attached, 6 different pressure feet which I will never use because they are complicated, 5 packages of sewing needles that show their age by the prices ( 70 cents for 5 needles is the best bargain while 3  were $1.25) and the original brush and screwdriver.  

Accessories with their original manuals were also included. The buttonhole attachment is just like the one my mom had, so I know how to use that one.  The other one was unfamiliar and it turns out that it is a zigzag attachment.  Since the machine does not have the capacity to do the zigzag stitch this attachment moves the fabric instead.  The Singer company was very inventive!

A friend, who offered to clean and oil it, collects these old machines as a hobby and told me all personal sewing machines need a name. After thinking about it, I've decided to call her Trudy after my mom who taught me to sew!



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