shopping coup
I like buying some stuff second-hand. Sometimes, just sometimes, the deal is so amazing, I get get to do a victory dance.
So, I have been dragging my heels for a year on buying a new sewing machine. I quilt (when I have the time). And I have been borrowing my friend's machine for a year, now (oops). A new, basic machine starts around $250, and a good quilting machine is easily $1000 and up, well out of my price range, hence the heel-dragging.
The local newspaper advertised an estate sale for today and tomorrow, and mentioned a Singer Featherweight.
translation notes for those not in the Midwest of the US:
estate sale: the equivalent of a garage/rummage/yard sale, but it's for the household effects of someone recently deceased.
Singer Featherweight: an antique portable electric sewing machine, a miniature version of those heavy black steel Singers, both much beloved of quilters and other fabric-fondlers for their quality. Search ebay for some photos and prices.
So, despite severely lacking sleep, I towed the little guy off to this estate sale a mere hour after it started. At an hour after opening, I was way too late; the seller said that people were (understandably) lined up at the door before the sale started to get their hands on this machine. However, he said, the deceased quilted, and had other machines, if I was interested. Yeah, sure, why not, I'll take a look. There was a Bernina 807 in working order, for $60, which I bought. It was sitting on an old, dropleaf sewing table (the kind that hides a sewing machine). Inside was an old, heavy black steel electrical Singer. I figured, for $15, even if I had to repair it, I was still ahead. It has a little plaque on it that says "Singer 1851-1951".
So, sheer curiosity, I searched ebay, and discovered that the "centennial" Singers are being offered in the $200-300 range. Completely overlooked by all the Featherweight buyers!
So, I have been dragging my heels for a year on buying a new sewing machine. I quilt (when I have the time). And I have been borrowing my friend's machine for a year, now (oops). A new, basic machine starts around $250, and a good quilting machine is easily $1000 and up, well out of my price range, hence the heel-dragging.
The local newspaper advertised an estate sale for today and tomorrow, and mentioned a Singer Featherweight.
translation notes for those not in the Midwest of the US:
estate sale: the equivalent of a garage/rummage/yard sale, but it's for the household effects of someone recently deceased.
Singer Featherweight: an antique portable electric sewing machine, a miniature version of those heavy black steel Singers, both much beloved of quilters and other fabric-fondlers for their quality. Search ebay for some photos and prices.
So, despite severely lacking sleep, I towed the little guy off to this estate sale a mere hour after it started. At an hour after opening, I was way too late; the seller said that people were (understandably) lined up at the door before the sale started to get their hands on this machine. However, he said, the deceased quilted, and had other machines, if I was interested. Yeah, sure, why not, I'll take a look. There was a Bernina 807 in working order, for $60, which I bought. It was sitting on an old, dropleaf sewing table (the kind that hides a sewing machine). Inside was an old, heavy black steel electrical Singer. I figured, for $15, even if I had to repair it, I was still ahead. It has a little plaque on it that says "Singer 1851-1951".
So, sheer curiosity, I searched ebay, and discovered that the "centennial" Singers are being offered in the $200-300 range. Completely overlooked by all the Featherweight buyers!