A new-old sewing machine, a pair of pants, and a question

The past few weeks have been FULL of sewing machine mayhem! I visited my parents in Indiana, and brought home a new-to-me sewing machine, a gorgeous 1925 Singer 66. After cleaning out the decades of lint, replacing the belt, and oiling every single moving part I could found, it WORKS!

(pardon my messy sewing area)

It’s really an incredible machine. If you haven’t sewn with a treadle before, you should try it out. It’s a good workout, as well as being fun. I think the physical requirements make me feel like I am doing so much more.

(There are more pictures and even a video of the bobbin winder on my blog.)

I knew I had to sew something vintage on the machine once I got it working. I was hoping for something 20s/30s, but got too frustrated trying to find a pattern I liked, so one night I just sat down and made a pair of ’40s pants from Simplicity 3699. I’ve made them before – such a good and comfortable pair of pants!

One of these days, I’m going to make the blouse (I even have fabric picked out). For now, though, the pants are fun and easy. I was able to finish them in a night and morning.

(sorry for the distant photos…I’m still trying to teach my husband how to take proper “fashion” pictures of my projects)

I didn’t change the pattern too much. Last time, the waist was WAY too high (I love the 40s waist, but goodness I’d like my pants below my bellybutton, please!), so I took about 3 inches off. It’s still pretty high, and the crotch rides fairly low. They were also very long, so I sewed a cuff on the bottom (which you can’t see from the pictures). Overall, I’m very pleased. They are great lounging pants.

Now for a sewing machine question. In the midst of figuring out how to make the Singer 66 work, my “modern” machine (which is about the same age as me…), a Singer Sonata, decided to kick the bucket. It had been hanging on for dear life desperately for some time, so it is probably time to let it go. That, and the repair cost would be outrageous. So! I need some advice. What type of sewing machines do you all have? Do you like/love/hate them? I mostly sew clothing, so I don’t need fancy computerized embroidery stuff. I’ll be happy with a buttonholer, bobbin winder, blind hem, and the ability to sew on all types of fabrics.

If you have suggestions, or a link to someone’s wonderful sewing machine advice, I would be grateful! Thank you!