Help! My daughter wants my sewing machine!

[snippet]

When I started quilting again, my daughter was amused and happy I had a hobby in my retirement. Then she wanted to make her boyfriend (who is now her husband) a quilt for Christmas. I gave her a few easy patterns to choose from and we went shopping for fabric. She did a really great job too. It was a four patch with sashing and cornerstones, so lots of matching seams, but she handled it well.

Now she's in California and we're talking about our plans for the next visit in the spring. She's coming home and wants me to teach her more sewing and .... "maybe I'll take your old machine" It seems she's seeing other friends who have made their curtains, some cute dresses, a quilt for a baby, etc and she wants to do it as well. So she'll have others to help her when she gets home, that's good.

I'm happy but I'm sad. What to do?!?!?!

I'm happy because she's wanting to sew/quilt. But I'm in a quandry too.

It's not that she assumed I'd just give her my machine. She knows I will; we're just that kind of family. It's that I don't know if I am ready to part with it. I love that machine. Or should I buy her a new one? Wait. If I am buying a new machine, maybe I should give her my old machine and buy me a new machine!

Either way, someone is getting a new machine. lol

hmmm, off to search craigslist......

[BobW]

Decisions, Decisions. I still have the first used sewing machine I bought back in 1983. It is a 1960 Singer Clone called a Capitol. It has built in button-hole and zig-zag stitches, but it weighs 12 tons. I can barely lift it anymore. But it sews like a new machine.

[songbird857]

I guess it depends - if the machine she is eyeing is one you don't want to part with, then buy her an inexpensive starter machine... seriously, what if she decides she's not really into it after making a few things...

[Kgrammiecaz]

I was in this dilemma too. I got together with my other two daughters and we bought her a new machine, one she had sort of talked about. She loves it, although she is not quilting but loves to find things to make.

Thats a tough decision to make.

[JCY]

If you don't want to part with your machine, don't! Your dau. should not assume you will give it to her. IMO, if she really wants to sew, let her buy her own machine.

[Hulamoon]

I'm going to say no. I have a dd that i bought two good ued machines for. But she feels intitled to my things. She wanted to go through my Christmas ornaments, /these are not just off the shelf glitter balls, they were handmade collected treasures from unique shops. Then when the last member of my family passed it was like can I have that. I didn't get through what I was going through and she was being a brat. What I don't get something? You din't even know my grandmother.

sorry that was a vent. I'm a really generous person, but I have one kid that doesn't appriciate me.

[K. McEuen]

Your daughter is on her own, she can buy a machine.

[auntiemern]

I don't think I would give my daughter mine, or buy her a new one...maybe...but not an expensive one. But then I don't have to worry about her wanting my sewing stuff. It is my 7 yr old GD that has her eye on all of it...she has already claimed it in case of my demise.

[icul8rg8r]

I see you have three machines - if there is one that you don't use regularly, perhaps she could start with that!

Or you could give her a gift certificate to her local dealer that she could use to apply toward the purchase of a new machine. Her husband may even go in so the amount is higher, closer to the price of a machine.

Or...better yet, if you've been eyeing a new machine, give her one of your old machines and spend the money on a machine for yourself! That's what I would do.

[Sylvia H]

.......

...... She's coming home and wants me to teach her more sewing and .... "maybe I'll take your old machine" .......

I'm happy but I'm sad. What to do?!?!?!

I'm happy because she's wanting to sew/quilt. But I'm in a quandry too.

It's not that she assumed I'd just give her my machine. She knows I will; we're just that kind of family. It's that I don't know if I am ready to part with it. I love that machine. Or should I buy her a new one? Wait. If I am buying a new machine, maybe I should give her my old machine and buy me a new machine!

Either way, someone is getting a new machine. lol

hmmm, off to search craigslist......

We are that kind of family, too. However, I have had to rein in that type of generosity because of financial reasons. Quilting and sewing is more than just using a machine to "make" things. We put our heart and soul into what we are making. Because of this, you need to think long and hard about whether or not this is the time to pass your machine on to another.

As for buying another machine, I think that a starter machine for your daughter would be less expensive than a new machine for yourself. But with such generosity as a standard in your family, I am sure you will finally know the best way to handle this situation. (And isn't it great to have a daughter that shares your passion?)