i don't think that everybody should have multiple machines, but there are several different reasons to consider having more than one.
reason 1 - when i first started sewing, i knew i was addicted. to improve my skills, i started taking classes at a couple of area shops. these classes did have machines for classroom use, but it made more sense for me to really learn how to sew on my machine instead of bouncing back and forth between different models as a new sewing student. the only machine that i had at the time was large, heavy, and expensive. not only did i have to deal with those challenges, i had to deal with them while going up and down several flights of stairs. it was not fun, and my husband agreed that i should look at getting another machine after lugging the big one up and down the stairs for me. so, i purchased a small, portable machine that i could use for classes. sure, it didn't solve the issue with bouncing back and forth between machines, but it gave me the consistency of a single portable machine instead of whatever the particular store had to borrow.
reason 2 - ever been in the middle of sewing something and all of it sudden the machine goes kaput? yeah, it isn't cool. of course it will happen whenever you're in a time crunch or you're super excited to wrap up your project. even if everything is running smoothly on your sewing machine, it should probably still have periodic trips to the shop for cleanings and tune-ups (less so in vintage machines that are user serviceable if you are comfortable doing so). most of the dealers in my area don't have a service department that will work on your machine while you wait, so at very best, my machine is gone for at least a week. thanks to my purchase that i mentioned in reason 1, i can just use my class machine. it doesn't have as much piercing power, features, or bells and whistles as my main machine, but i can easily use it for most of the projects that i do.
reason 3 - frequent re-threading and/or needle changes can be annoying and a time suck. that sounds awfully silly, i know, but if you have a project that uses multiple thread colors in fairly quick succession and you are fussy about thread colors matching like i am, having a second machine can speed up your work. even if you are a speedy re-threader like i am, it can be a huge waste of thread to constantly re-thread. i'm not one to harp on saving every scrap of fabric or thread, but it does add up. i don't have a lot of space to work in, so i don't often leave 2 sewing machines out. this also works for people that work on different projects at the same time. not only do you have to change thread, there are also needle changes (size and/or type) that might need to happen.
reason 4 - some machines are better for certain tasks than others. i'm sure many of you, like me, rely on a modern, electronic sewing machine that is capable of zig zag stitching. in inherent flaw of zig zag machines is that the straight stitch will usually have a slight slant (although some high end machines have next to no visible slant). for something hidden in a seam, that might not be a big deal, but for a project with a lot of top stitching, a straight stitch only machine might be the answer. there is a fairly limited selection of modern straight stitch only machines that are designed for non-commercial use. they do exist, but there just isn't the variety available as with the zig zag machines. for me, i turn to my vintage sewing machines. they are reliable and are capable of a beautiful slant-free stitch.
reason 5 - if you like machine embroidery and own a machine that is capable of both sewing and embroidery, you may find that it will be hours before your design will be complete (seriously). you can kick off the embroidery on one machine and sew on another at the same time.
reason 6 - you like sewing machines, so you want to collect them. hey, it happens. i'm sure most of us have found something that we like to collect at some point in our lives. maybe you want different variations of the same machine, machines from different eras, different models from a specific manufacturer, or maybe you just see something that catches your eye. we all have different reasons.
honestly, my biggest reasons for having multiple machines are numbers 1 and 2. i'm thankful to even have a machine that is a back up to my back up. late last year, i had my primary machine in for a regular service (no issues with it, just a normal cleaning and tune-up). while it was at the shop, my class/travel machine had a thread snap in a non-user accessible area. i could see it, but there was no removing it as it somehow got wrapped up in the mechanics of the take-up lever. so, off it went to the shop too. one of my teachers chuckled and commented that it was at good thing that i had backups for my backups. yeah, i totally agree!
i don't think that everybody needs to run out and buy a backup machine. maybe you have a family member that has an old one tucked away in their garage, basement, or attic. perhaps you might find one at a thrift shop or garage sale too. whether it is your primary machine, backup, a backup backup, or a even a collectible, it doesn't have to be fancy or modern, but it should be properly cleaned, oiled (as appropriate), and verified to be mechanically/electrically sound. with a little TLC, you might find yourself falling head over heels for a machine that weighs more than a boat anchor or is smaller than a bread box.
so, that's that. you now have 6 reasons to justify/console yourself/explain to others why you need multiple sewing machines. will they believe you? maybe. will they look at you and just shake their head? probably. will you feel bad/guilty about it? quite possibly. will you go back to having 1 machine again after you've learned the truth? i know that i won't!
reason 1 - when i first started sewing, i knew i was addicted. to improve my skills, i started taking classes at a couple of area shops. these classes did have machines for classroom use, but it made more sense for me to really learn how to sew on my machine instead of bouncing back and forth between different models as a new sewing student. the only machine that i had at the time was large, heavy, and expensive. not only did i have to deal with those challenges, i had to deal with them while going up and down several flights of stairs. it was not fun, and my husband agreed that i should look at getting another machine after lugging the big one up and down the stairs for me. so, i purchased a small, portable machine that i could use for classes. sure, it didn't solve the issue with bouncing back and forth between machines, but it gave me the consistency of a single portable machine instead of whatever the particular store had to borrow.
reason 2 - ever been in the middle of sewing something and all of it sudden the machine goes kaput? yeah, it isn't cool. of course it will happen whenever you're in a time crunch or you're super excited to wrap up your project. even if everything is running smoothly on your sewing machine, it should probably still have periodic trips to the shop for cleanings and tune-ups (less so in vintage machines that are user serviceable if you are comfortable doing so). most of the dealers in my area don't have a service department that will work on your machine while you wait, so at very best, my machine is gone for at least a week. thanks to my purchase that i mentioned in reason 1, i can just use my class machine. it doesn't have as much piercing power, features, or bells and whistles as my main machine, but i can easily use it for most of the projects that i do.
reason 3 - frequent re-threading and/or needle changes can be annoying and a time suck. that sounds awfully silly, i know, but if you have a project that uses multiple thread colors in fairly quick succession and you are fussy about thread colors matching like i am, having a second machine can speed up your work. even if you are a speedy re-threader like i am, it can be a huge waste of thread to constantly re-thread. i'm not one to harp on saving every scrap of fabric or thread, but it does add up. i don't have a lot of space to work in, so i don't often leave 2 sewing machines out. this also works for people that work on different projects at the same time. not only do you have to change thread, there are also needle changes (size and/or type) that might need to happen.
reason 4 - some machines are better for certain tasks than others. i'm sure many of you, like me, rely on a modern, electronic sewing machine that is capable of zig zag stitching. in inherent flaw of zig zag machines is that the straight stitch will usually have a slight slant (although some high end machines have next to no visible slant). for something hidden in a seam, that might not be a big deal, but for a project with a lot of top stitching, a straight stitch only machine might be the answer. there is a fairly limited selection of modern straight stitch only machines that are designed for non-commercial use. they do exist, but there just isn't the variety available as with the zig zag machines. for me, i turn to my vintage sewing machines. they are reliable and are capable of a beautiful slant-free stitch.
reason 5 - if you like machine embroidery and own a machine that is capable of both sewing and embroidery, you may find that it will be hours before your design will be complete (seriously). you can kick off the embroidery on one machine and sew on another at the same time.
reason 6 - you like sewing machines, so you want to collect them. hey, it happens. i'm sure most of us have found something that we like to collect at some point in our lives. maybe you want different variations of the same machine, machines from different eras, different models from a specific manufacturer, or maybe you just see something that catches your eye. we all have different reasons.
honestly, my biggest reasons for having multiple machines are numbers 1 and 2. i'm thankful to even have a machine that is a back up to my back up. late last year, i had my primary machine in for a regular service (no issues with it, just a normal cleaning and tune-up). while it was at the shop, my class/travel machine had a thread snap in a non-user accessible area. i could see it, but there was no removing it as it somehow got wrapped up in the mechanics of the take-up lever. so, off it went to the shop too. one of my teachers chuckled and commented that it was at good thing that i had backups for my backups. yeah, i totally agree!
i don't think that everybody needs to run out and buy a backup machine. maybe you have a family member that has an old one tucked away in their garage, basement, or attic. perhaps you might find one at a thrift shop or garage sale too. whether it is your primary machine, backup, a backup backup, or a even a collectible, it doesn't have to be fancy or modern, but it should be properly cleaned, oiled (as appropriate), and verified to be mechanically/electrically sound. with a little TLC, you might find yourself falling head over heels for a machine that weighs more than a boat anchor or is smaller than a bread box.
so, that's that. you now have 6 reasons to justify/console yourself/explain to others why you need multiple sewing machines. will they believe you? maybe. will they look at you and just shake their head? probably. will you feel bad/guilty about it? quite possibly. will you go back to having 1 machine again after you've learned the truth? i know that i won't!
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