>New-To-Me Vintage Sewing Machine!

>I had to share my newest fun find! This was waiting for me at a thrift store a few weeks ago- it’s a vintage Pfaff 230 machine with table and chair.  I found it for… (drumroll please)… just over $30!  Crazy, right?  I was working on my new swimsuit on this machine (sneaky-peek on the dress form in the pic).  It’s the first machine I’ve owned that’s powered by a knee lever.  Interesting! I’ve worked on industrial machines with a knee pedal for lifting the foot but never one powered by the knee.  It’s something to get used to!

I love how the little chair pulls out and has two drawers at the bottom.  Perfect to keep pins away from curious kitties- even if they try their darndest to find them anyway (example above).  The machine folds down and the flap covers the top- and when you put the chair back in it looks like a little mid-century end table.  It’s really pretty tiny!  That’s German engineering for ya.  I was too lazy to fold down the table for pics, but you get the general idea of what it looks like all closed up.

 I really like the machine and it runs really well, even without a professional tuneup.  It must have been pretty high end because it’s got all sorts of different stitches it can do- though I haven’t tried any out yet.  It looks kind of intimidating!  It doesn’t go as fast as my modern Pfaff machine which is the only real downside I can find with it.  I like sewing FAST.  It’s fun.
Yay for new toys!  Especially new toys that are vintage and sewing related!

23 Comments on >New-To-Me Vintage Sewing Machine!

  1. Erin
    February 8, 2011 at 7:47 pm (14 years ago)

    >OMG, I absolutely love it!! That table is TDF!

  2. Blondie
    February 8, 2011 at 7:48 pm (14 years ago)

    >Wow what a find!!!! Kori xoxo

  3. Tasha
    February 8, 2011 at 7:56 pm (14 years ago)

    >Wow, what a fantastic find! I adore how the chair has storage. More chairs need storage for odds and end, methinks. Genius!

  4. Amber
    February 8, 2011 at 7:56 pm (14 years ago)

    >Hey–I have a Pfaff 230 also! I don't think I've ever seen another one online. Mine is in a cherry colored cabinet, with two leaves rather than one, but otherwise looks identical. I think you'll find it's a workhorse–Mine sews sheers and 6 layers of denim with equal ease and is definitely my "go to" machine. I really like the knee lever, actually, once I got used to it. It doesn't skate all over my wood floors!Hope you enjoy your new machine!

  5. Beth
    February 8, 2011 at 7:57 pm (14 years ago)

    >It's awesome! Love the chair! Someday can you show how the knee pedal works? I don't quite understand…And your bathing suit looks great!

  6. Lise F
    February 8, 2011 at 8:23 pm (14 years ago)

    >What a great find! I feel like that table and chair would fit right into my sewing room!I dunno if you're new to vintage machines (new reader–I just clicked in from Gertie's blog), but I tell everyone I can how great they are. I lovelovelove my vintage 1940s Singer Featherweight, and use it for everything but buttonholes (which I could do with a buttonhole attachment, if I really wanted). The best part of vintage machines is the all-metal parts, which means that they will sew through anything (multiple layers of fur, leather, denim, etc) and last forever. Oh, and they sell for much less than modern machines, too, as you found. I tell people who are learning to sew to pick up a vintage machine as their first machine. There won't be a lot of doodads and features to confuse them, and even a mint condition vintage machine won't set them back nearly as much as a bottom-of-the-line modern machine.

  7. misc-maranda
    February 8, 2011 at 8:29 pm (14 years ago)

    >what an awesome find! i have my grandma's old sewing machine and it fold down into the table like yours-so handy, especially in my tiny new apt.! it also has the knee peddle, which is what i learned on, so it was weird for me to use a foot peddle for the first time ;)

  8. BaronessVonVintage
    February 8, 2011 at 8:54 pm (14 years ago)

    >great find! I've got my grandmother's black pfaff (from the late 50s) and I agree that they were so well made! HEAVY but sturdy! Um, that swimsuit is making me weak in the knees!! Awesome!

  9. Stephanie Lynn
    February 8, 2011 at 9:31 pm (14 years ago)

    >How fabulous! I particularly love the ingenious chair!

  10. Our Heroine
    February 8, 2011 at 9:52 pm (14 years ago)

    >What a fabulous find! You're so lucky to get the chair, too. I wonder whether cleaning the motor would speed it up?

  11. Steph
    February 8, 2011 at 11:16 pm (14 years ago)

    >I've often wondered if it's possible to make a sort of hot-rod sewing machine…. If I get inside and monkey around, can I convince my machine to run faster?Loooove the table, especially the chair, it's too cool.

  12. Debi
    February 8, 2011 at 11:20 pm (14 years ago)

    >AWESOME Find! Ohhhhh and I love the swimsuit too!

  13. casey
    February 8, 2011 at 11:41 pm (14 years ago)

    >Oh wow–what a great find!!! I honestly still look at machines when I visit a thrift shop; you never know what you'll find! (And vintage Pfaffs are such a good piece of machinery too.) Even though I have two older machines in storage at my parent's house… lol.Have fun playing with your new toy! ;)♥ Casey

  14. Dolly the Bird
    February 9, 2011 at 1:18 am (14 years ago)

    >Ooooo! She's lovely!! I discovered my grandma's green mid '50s Elna Supermatic a few months ago and ever since I've been trying to get used to that darn knee pedal! I'm still unsure with it and tend to just go back to my 'modern' Singer with a foot pedal after a few seams, but I'm determined to learn to use it eventually!!

  15. Time Traveling in Costume
    February 9, 2011 at 1:28 am (14 years ago)

    >LOL! I forgot about those knee pedals. I grew up using my mom's Pfaff, about a 1958 version, and it had that pedal. Years later using a foot pedal is still hard for me. Great find!

  16. Lauren
    February 9, 2011 at 2:04 am (14 years ago)

    >Very nice!

  17. Gina
    February 9, 2011 at 2:34 am (14 years ago)

    >Omg that machine is amazing!! What an insanely good find!! <3 PS: And cutie suit!

  18. Miss Caitlin Elizabeth
    February 9, 2011 at 5:18 am (14 years ago)

    >oh my gosh, that chair is the greatest thing ever

  19. khriste B
    February 9, 2011 at 8:09 am (14 years ago)

    >You lucky thang. I'm so jealous. It looks to be in superb condition.

  20. couturetteinenglish
    February 9, 2011 at 11:35 am (14 years ago)

    >What a cool find, I am a little bit envious. How come you get to buy vintage German machines in the US and no vintage machines at all in Germany? Not fair! ;-)I've never seen one of those sewing furnitures with a chair – amazing. And it obviously passed feline quality inspection, so you're all set.I learned sewing on a Bernina with knee-lever and I think that it gives you better control over the speed.

  21. lahbluebonnet
    February 9, 2011 at 2:08 pm (14 years ago)

    >Oh wow! I have 2 modern Pfaffs today, but I hope to inherit my mom's. When I first bought my Pfaff, she told me she had one that was her mom's…dating back to the 40's or 50's. It's a little different from yours. It's black. I don't know if it has a knee lever or not. Also I stumbled upon the pattern site you mentioned, from where you got your swimsuit. In fact, I saw that swimsuit and a few other things I liked and wondered if it would be a safe place to order from. Looks like it is! Laurie

  22. Lauren
    February 9, 2011 at 11:23 pm (14 years ago)

    >Thanks so much, everyone, for your nice comments on the machine! I agree that the furniture is half the fun!! Yay!!

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