My mom left me a sewing machine that was worth more than any car I've ever owned.I'm a costume designer, so no stranger to machines, but this one is so new fangled and computerized I was  intimidated so I continued on my old machine.  When I finally got the courage to try the fancy one (4 years later) I'm kicking myself for not trying it sooner.  What a dream machine!

My mom tried to teach me to sew when I was a teenager (more than a quarter century ago!), but I just wasn't that interested and didn't learn much. She gave me a new machine seven years ago. It sat in the box for six months before I finally got it out and started playing with it. I fell in love, and now I'M a sewing machine!

My mother gave me a sewing machine out of self-defense!  She claimed that I kept messing up the tension on her machine!  I still have that machine and use it a lot.  I also have two others.

I bought myself a cheapish sewing machine for my nth birthday in December, after a lifetime of hand sewing everything from clothes to curtains. I made a pact with my husband that if kept my machine set-up on the large table in the living room, then I would use it (practising like mad on it in the period before expertise kicked in), and become even more creative. I've bought a couple of classes from Craftsy's large selection of downloadable stuff as an incentive. I'm now low in funds, but high in resources.

Gill Sutherland

Years ago I was given a machine by my parents as a birthday gift. It was opened immeidately, and I started sewing not too long after that! It did not languish at all. My mother had taught me to sew, hand and machine, when I was very young. So I was not intimidated by a new machine, quite the opposite. I couldn't wait to use it. It stood by me for many, many years. Now I have a Viking, but I still miss that old machine.

Having been born into a family of sewing enthusiasts I have sewn since I can remember. I was always on the receiving end of an old machine whenever Mom or Grandma upgraded to new machines. This meant that I did not own a brand new out of a box sewing machine until I was 50!

I admired the box for about half a day, letting my anticipation build...and then ripped that box open and am still using the machine 2 years later.

Read more about my sewing adventures at my blog WeSew@blogspot.com

Are you kidding? I couldn't wait to take that new machine out of the box. I had a few lessons on a treadle machine from my grandmother and I knew this had to be an improvement. I've had several new machines since that first one and now teach at our local Bernina shop. I'm always amazed at the women who finally drag themselves in, after finding they don't know how to do something and are stuck in the middle of a project. What really knocks me flat are the ones who say, "I was afraid to try it." Hey! I don't bite and neither do most other sewing teachers. We love to "hook" a new seamstress; Sewing is addictive....and fun!

I really identify with so many of these memories! I reverted to my old, mechanical machine for buttonholes for so many years simply because I knew exactly what to do--and usually by the time I'm at the buttonholes, I'm on the home stretch. One day I just hauled out that manual and mastered the buttonholes on my new machine--and haven't looked back. (But I still miss a few features on that machine.)

My sister brought me my sewing machine in 2010.  I'm a 50+ granny who needed an outlet. She suggested I start learning to sew because i always talked about making clothes (wishing that is). Her and my Husband asked all the time about when I was going to break the machine out and sew something! My work schedule doesn't allow me to go to sewing classes and I can't afford it anyway. So to make a long story short, I started researching on the internet about sewing tutorials and blogs. That's how I found your site, and please I AM! I made my first pajama pants this weekend. Not to bad. Thanks for all the help you give us. Please don't stop!

Signed

Still a little nervous, But getting there!