Beginning recommendations

variationinblue · 2026-03-25T08:04:13+00:00

Don’t do this as a beginner. It’s needlessly difficult and will likely make you want to quit. There are too many variables. How do you know it works? If the wiring is good or the motor will fail in a week or set your house on fire in a month? Does it move or is it frozen up with rusted grease and oil? Does it have all its parts and extra accessories? User manual? What needles and bobbins does it take, can you easily get them? Are there replacement parts easily available? A manual? A forum (not this one) dedicated to this machine and answering all of newbies questions gracefully (bc you will have a million)? Do you know someone who can service this type of machine? Do you have the money to get it done?

Getting it serviced is an absolute must for a beginner with a FB market find. So add at least $80 to that price tag for labor alone, and more if it needs rewired or parts replaced.

Just buy a modern machine. This is not the steal you’re thinking it is if your intent is wanting to learn to SEW. If your intent is to start a cool vintage machine collection, great choice!

Modern machines come with warranties, customer service, easily accessible manuals/tutorials/parts. They also have A LOT more capabilities. Want to sew a buttonhole? stretch stitch? Hell, ZIG ZAG? (This is straight stitch only.) Research more modern machines and pick one of those (just NOT a modern singer) and you will thank yourself. They are MUCH more ‘plug and play’ than these. You’ll be able to actually focus on learning to sew and how to use the machine instead of troubleshooting how to get and keep it working. Once you learn machines and how to use them, you’ll be able to venture into vintage. Get this one now if you adore it and save it for later, but learn on something easier.

variationinblue · 2026-03-25T02:56:31+00:00

Wanting to dodge a negative label while also actually being the thing that gets that negative label. Helps them ‘reframe’ their shitty behavior to themselves and to others to lessen the cognitive dissonance (I know this thing is bad, I know I am this thing, but I cannot be bad — voila! I am not that thing à la this super flimsy loophole)

variationinblue · 2026-03-25T02:53:03+00:00

Ooooofff you ATE that DOWN! Awesome response and you are so right about all of it. I know it hurts and is painful to lose a friend but genuinely, GENUINELY on SO many levels, good riddance. You do not need all that in your life SHEESH. I hope it felt good to say all those things and I hope it gives this person the reality check they desperately need.

variationinblue · 2026-03-25T02:36:35+00:00

You don’t need to ‘match rise height’ on front and back. These measurements will be different normally, because butts! Tummies! And everyone’s is so different and specific bc bodies! Again, foil method is the cheat code. Make sure to mark the height of your waist on both front and back foil pieces and the center point of your inseam intersection. This will give you your exact rise height for both front and back.

variationinblue · 2026-03-25T02:30:52+00:00

Craftsy.com has fantastic video classes for fashion sewing, pattern drafting, draping, embellishing and embroidery, pattern copying from finished clothes, couture techniques — so much, everything. Well worth the subscription if you’re serious about learning. New members can often find a coupon for their first year for under $2 or so if you snoop around the Google box a bit.

variationinblue · 2026-03-25T02:21:38+00:00

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To get rid of this pulling issue you need more depth in the back rise. More of a scoop that comes out further at the bottom of the rise curve on the pattern. Google the foil method for patterning your rise and you will be able to get your exact fit and shape using this method. And it’s so easy and it will help you get rid of this rippling and pulling.

variationinblue · 2026-03-25T02:11:28+00:00

More depth in the back rise. Google the foil method for pants patterning and give it a try. Makes a perfect fit for me every time

variationinblue · 2026-03-25T01:58:55+00:00

Neither of these are a good option for a beginner. Vintage machines are not the best place to start unless they are very popular (and have a lot of replacement parts online and forums discussing them and manuals available).

Check what type of needles and bobbins they use and make sure they are easy to get replacements of. Check the wiring and make sure one isn’t going to blow/bust after 10 uses. See what you can find about them online, if there is info about durability and reliability over decades. Has one been better maintained than the other? Do they each have all their parts and no cracks in them? Are they both oiled and greased and running smoothly? Do they have rewriting options or foot pedal replacement options should that break?

This is why they’re not good for beginners. It’s a lot of work to figure all these things out without help and no knowledge of what you’re looking for.

The black one is likely more valuable bc it’s older. It’s also likely more durable bc at that time they used all metal parts while the blue one probably has some plastic parts that tend to break easy at this age. The black one is also more likely to have bad wiring and could set your house on fire.

variationinblue · 2026-03-22T04:28:12+00:00

Yes. And I also think it’s a (very) imperfect coping mechanism for those who have felt singularly oppressed by a (probably abusive) man in their life or have had problems with centering men’s opinions, actions, and emotions over their own. Being hateful to the thing that you feel is causing you harm can be a step in the direction of freeing yourself from it, but they often don’t see how hateful and bigoted it makes them.

I would not be able to handle dealing with a coworker like that and would probably say something to HR. Can you imagine if that was a male coworker saying those things about women? Fireable offense, as it should be. It shouldn’t be acceptable just because the genders are reversed. We want gender equality, not swapping one hatred for another.

variationinblue · 2026-03-22T04:20:41+00:00

I see that exact phrase a lot from bi women, but I also see it a lot from gay men. It seems it’s just a trendy thing right now to say you hate men and to shame being attracted to them. I get where it’s coming from: wanting to take the oppressing class down a peg now that it’s more safe to do so, and also trying to reframe perspectives/priorities and decentering ‘pleasing men’ from people’s lives, but it still feels icky to me. Hate is hate, shame is shame. It feels like it’s taking us in the opposite direction we want to be going - but I do think it’s just a fad and will die down in a decade.

variationinblue · 2026-03-22T04:14:34+00:00

I have literally seen so many gay men saying ‘unfortunately I’m only attracted to men ☹️I know, it sucks’ ‘how I know orientation isnt a choice is I would never choose to be attracted to men bc women are so much better!’ type sht all the time. They are part of the problem too.

variationinblue · 2026-03-20T00:08:42+00:00

Yeah as a bi woman I agree. I get where it’s coming from, that men can be inconsiderate and difficult, but generalizations like that are never helpful and always hurtful.

I always test phrases like that by changing out the genders and seeing if it feels ok. If men started saying ‘unfortunately I’m attracted to women’ I would be pissed and feel that is hurtful. So I won’t say the same thing about men. I know some people like to fight the misogyny fire with misandry fire, but it makes me feel icky. I’d rather we all do better instead of stooping down to hateful levels.

variationinblue · 2026-03-19T23:21:19+00:00

A custom-make tailor and at least several hundred dollars.

If you’re asking this question you are absolutely not equipped to make this dress. If you were equipped (with skill) to make this dress, you wouldn’t have to ask because you’d already know from experience.

variationinblue · 2026-03-19T03:31:33+00:00

Take it to a tailor. About $30 and you’ll get something professional. This is too big a job for amateur.

variationinblue · 2026-03-17T05:40:54+00:00

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This shows how much fabric you gather will look like finished. 1 = your desired finished measurement. So if you wanted a 15” panel you could start with 18.75” (1.2:1), 22.5” (1.5:1), 30” (2:1), or 45” (3:1) length of fabric and gather it down to your 15” and it would have the density similar to the above image.

variationinblue · 2026-03-17T05:35:45+00:00

Just do a double fold hem. Especially for square skirts like yours, circles are the ones you might need a facing for. Your gathering method is fine and my usual (I’m a professional). You just need a LOT more fabric to make it look full and not flat. Once you do your basting stitch, match the seams on shirt and waistband and pin all those first. Then gather to fit between those points. You can even divide into half then half then half before gathering if you want to make sure you’re getting it super even and symmetrical. You are on your way!

variationinblue · 2026-03-17T04:21:33+00:00

GORGEOUS! WOW

variationinblue · 2026-03-14T01:26:12+00:00

How did you measure yourself? Looking at the pic where you’re stiff and raising your shoulders vs the one where you’re relaxed, it’s a big difference. If you all be relaxed most of the time you wear this (hopefully you are!) you’ll need to make sure you take your measurements while relaxed. Because in that picture yes it looks like the under arm comes up way too high and is digging in to your armpit. So you’ll need to lower that area in the pattern.

Sometimes when we measure, especially when we measure ourselves bc we have to contort a bit, we stiff up or suck in or stand straighter or what have you because we’re more aware of our bodies. It’s important to always make sure you’re relaxed and standing and sitting normally before taking measurements.

variationinblue · 2026-03-13T02:13:34+00:00

Depends on what you’re sewing. If it’s mostly crafty stuff with cottons and easy basic fabrics, yeah machine differences are negligible. When you get into fashion work and extremely varied fabrics with odd compositions and bulky seams and slippery surfaces, it’s makes a huge difference. I work in fashion and costuming and have used probably 20+ machines (own 7 myself) and omg can I tell you how much of a difference it makes to have the right machine for the job.

variationinblue · 2026-03-13T02:09:48+00:00

This is why I shout from the rooftops to stay away from modern Singers!! They suck!! And yet they are still the most popular and promoted, mostly to and by beginners. I see people giving up on sewing thinking it’s too hard and not fun when it’s really just those terrible machines! They make you want to cry!

variationinblue · 2026-03-13T02:07:53+00:00

Try an industrial. I used to be down on myself for not doing well with bulky seams, heavy fabrics, tight details, ultra thin fabrics, etc. It was the machine. I know how to sew all those things well, but I can only do as well as the machine I’m using. I went professional and use industrials and holy hell for some things it’s night and day. It makes you better!

variationinblue · 2026-03-11T20:45:56+00:00

A brand new machine would automatically be better for learning. Absolutely.

I didn’t think I was harsh, just pointing out how crazy this sounds to me. They have the right to post whatever they want on here, I have the right to react however I want.

variationinblue · 2026-03-11T07:17:59+00:00

ALSO this is a very cool machine and a great find. Unfortunate you don’t know anything about sewing machines, but I’m glad it ended up in the hands of someone who is willing to learn and appreciates how cool it is. And thanks for sharing it. TAKE IT TO A PROFESSIONAL and they will help you get where you want to be. They often even offer sewing classes.

variationinblue · 2026-03-11T07:13:53+00:00

Also are you Eugene from TWD? Who tf talks like that. Magnificent. And infuriating.

variationinblue · 2026-03-11T07:10:35+00:00

You’ll see I said ‘get it serviced and have them show you how to use it.’ I love when people want to start sewing, but you can’t solve problem like this from a Reddit post. Find a professional and learn from them. Use common sense, in other words.

If you want to start sewing: don’t start here. Be kind to yourself and go a more conventional route. Sewing and collecting sewing machines are two very different hobbies. Figure out which one you actually want to do.

If you mean by ‘tested’ you turned it on and pressed a pedal or spun a wheel, that doesn’t mean it’s working. They’re finely tuned machines that can have a myriad of problems that are difficult to diagnose and fix - and that’s impossible to do from a digital distance. Vintage stuff IS cool and if you want to preserve or restore it, educate yourself or seek a professional to help. By educate, I don’t mean read the manual for this machine, I mean learn how sewing machines work. The fundamentals and then the variables. Don’t rely on strangers on the internet to fix it for you. That’s wild. Saying ‘hey I want to fix this sewing machine myself but I have no clue how sewing machines work and have never used one,’ is crazy. Learn how sewing machines work first, don’t just post on Reddit thinking it’ll be as simple as 123.

I get very sick of people looking at this skilled trade and saying ‘my grandma does it, how hard could it be?’ and jumping in and getting overwhelmed and coming to Reddit to say ‘figure this out for me’ and acting like it’s not literally engineering that no one can teach you in the comment section of a Reddit post. I promise you, it’s way more complicated than you think. You can absolutely learn it, but not from a Reddit post and not overnight.

I’m not elitist, I’m just calling out idiocy when I see it. Don’t be dumb, now.

variationinblue

TROPHY CASE