Decluttering, downsizing, still stressing

last year

last modified: last year

I have developed some health conditions in the past couple of years. I am living in a small house with two large dogs and one space-consuming DH. The planned house addition and the kitchen remodel keeps being put ”on hold.

Feeling a bit stressed and out-of-control I’ve been downsizing ”things.” We’ve made several trips to the thrift stores with donations; given items to various friends, and I have parceled out nearly all my ”good” jewelry to nieces.

This week I bit the bullet and tackled the vintage sewing machines ”herd.” Oh my!

I don’t know if I’m relieved - or completely heartbroken - over the loss of these machines.

I made a big dent in the sewing machine inventory while freeing up needed space in my sewing room and closets.

Now I actually have space, mental and physical, and time to use the remaining machines.

My machine-guru friend has a list of people that want/need/appreciate these indestructible iron maidens

He took the Singer 42 cabinet and bench. Giving up that set hurt, but he knows a very worthy woman who wants, needs, and will use it to its fullest. It was given to me, “for free;“ we gave it to her “for free.”

This is a blessing for me; I I now have space for a chest of drawers to fit comfortably in the guest/sewing room.

He also took the:

(1) 1952 Pfaff 130-6

(2) 1954 Singer 202-2

(3) 1953 Singer 301

(4) 1957 Singer 401

(5) Kenmore 148.

(6) 1911 the Wilcox & Gibbs.

(7) I have found a separate home for the 1925 Singer 128 La Vencedora.

My car was stuffed to overflowing. Wes loaded and packed all the machines in like sardines. I drove myself to town for the first time in months. The trip completely wore me out but made me feel good, too too.

If these machines make others as happy as they’ve made me, then it’s “a good thing“ to pass them on.

These machines had been traded and bargained for, adopted, and snatched from the curbside! Very little cash outlay was involved.

Just so you don’t think I’m a Pitiful Pearl, I am not! I can still do piecework, quilting, sewing, and mending on my “few” remaining machines.

I still have:

(1) 1954 Singer 15-91 - It may be adopted out, too.

(2) 1958 Singer 185k3 in a cabinet. This was DH’s mom’s machine and is his to keep or give away.

(3) 1924 Singer 15-30, the beautiful “Tiffany” model. it has a motor, but can be treadled, also.

(4) 1912 Singer 127-Sphinx in a treadle cabinet. It was my Grandmother’s and is actually at my niece’s house in Arkansas.

(5) Singer 221 Featherweight ❤️

(6) My modern, computerized Bernina 230PE Activa.

(7) and a Pfaff Coverlock Serger 4850.

Next up...I’m doing ONE box from the basement.

Featured Answer

woodrose

last year

I love my Singer 301 and you couldn't pry it away from me ! Good for you on the decluttering. I need to do the same, but my health is holding me back.

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Comments (24)

Annie Deighnaugh
last year
Oh my! I only have 3 machines including the Singer 401 that was my Mom's...what a work horse! They were one of the best ever made. I know just how you feel...I haven't been able to part with any of them.
caroline94535 thanked Annie Deighnaugh
blfenton
last year
OH wow - I envy your love of sewing machines and your collection. I know you're sad but are also glad that you appreciate the fact that they've gone to good homes. It must be nice to have that part of your belongings sorted out. As you say Now I actually have space, mental and physical, and time to use the remaining machines.
caroline94535 thanked blfenton
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The past couple of years of both of their lives was exhausting for us (their caregivers). I'm 49 and have 3 teenagers and own a shop. Days were none stop from the moment I woke until the moment I fell into bed. I wouldn't change it for the world. I had one sister who thought they needed taking care of. Would it have been easier? Yes for us. Would it have been better? Not if its something they weren't ready for, which they weren't. The past 4 months, cleaning out their home of 87 years of life has been the hardest thing I've ever had to do and the most rewarding. I'm still not completely finished. The house is empty and waiting to be sold. I go in about once a week to make sure all is ok and I leave knowing that I was able to help two wonderful people be happy and content right up to the end. I hope If I'm lucky enough to live to be 87 that I'll be right were I want to be when I die. It might be assisted living or a smaller home or right where I am right now. I hope my children will not make me choose which things are important to me by their standards. I understand what you're saying and I'm glad you were able to help your parents live out their lives. I think, however, that the balance is different if there's only one of you doing the caretaking (along with job/career and family obligations) and/or if the "destination" is not death but long-term care. Right now my 70-something mother is caring for my wheelchair-bound brother. He has a degenerative disease that, for better or worse, does not really affect his lifespan. I am responsible for his care after my mother passes on. It is not possible for me to provide my brother with the full-time care he needs and keep any kind of decent-paying job -- nevermind the career I have now. He really will need to move to a nursing home -- a shame, because he will be a generation younger than almost anyone else there and because, at some hours of the day, he does pretty well for himself. Nursing home spots -- especially at good facilities (or, very especially, at one that can better serve people his age) -- don't open up automagically when you need them. So my mother and I have agreed that, if we find a good spot for my brother before it actually is needed on a daily basis, it would make sense to move him there and let him acclimate to this new stage in his life. My brother likely will not be ready for that whenever it happens. At this point, my brother rarely understands the limitations imposed by this disease. We're doing what we can to prepare him. But the time ultimately will not be of his choosing. When my mother passes on, my brother may have to deal not only with that loss, but with a complete change in his living accommodations. Moving him to a care facility - especially before it's absolutely necessary -- is not easy, either. But, for him, we think it will be the better way to go.
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I have to say decluttering is not all its cracked up to be. I went through a big one recently. Now I must admit... it felt so liberating... but there was a catch to that liberation. See, I was in the process of getting rid of a lot of things when one day I got a flyer on my door stating that a charity would be coming by and if I would like to donate then all I have to do is leave my bag on the front lawn clearly marked and they would pick it up. WHAT? someone is coming to get my junk? YES!! I had a week. and silly them for thinking it would only be ONE bag. They asked for it they are going to get it!! I thought this was soooo wonderful so I got busy. On the day of pick up I spread a large tarp in my yard and filled it with bags and bags of everything under the sun; from clothes to DVD's and VCR tapes, to books to old pots, pans and knives to furniture to whatever. I went through every room and purged and then went through them and purged again. On the day of pick up they left a few things behind that they decided they did not want either and I just put a "free" sign on it and it was gone by the end of the day. OMG you can never imagine how great this felt. I danced through the house in my new spaces. The elation did not last long though because while I love the way it made my house look so much neater there was a huge problem. NOW I CAN'T FIND JACK IN HERE. Say what you want but when you live in a lot of clutter there is a method to the madness and you know where everything is. For example... I moved my uniform shirts into a pocketbook rack in my closet. I thought this will be neat to have everything right here in one place. Made sense at the time. Next week I could not find them because I forgot where their new place was. It took me over three weeks and after ordering new shirts to find them. Oh yeah and not to mention that when I can't find something I assume I gave it way by accident. Like my uniform shirts, a pair of new shoes I still had in stretchers, and other stuff. COme to find out later I had them, I just couldn't find them. I damn near got in my car and drove to the charity place 4 hours away to see if they would let me go through my bags to find all my missing stuff. LOL. Okay so now to what to do about the dishes. I gave away things I wanted to hold on to for dear life as well. What I wound up doing is calling my daughter and nieces and gave them the story about the responsibility of being keepers of certain things in the family and I told them how important it was to preserve this stuff and NEVER give away. My nieces took the holiday serving platters and a few other things they really needed in their kitchen. Years ago I gave my son a whole china cabinet and it was full of dishes. It made him feel important and he thought it was impressive to be in his 20s and have a china cabinet already full of good china. I doled it all out like that and being that they know I am the family "stuff" keeper they felt it an honor to keep it for the family. Welp I hope that helped just a little bit, if nothing else but to give you a smile.
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I've been doing pretty well so far! Between my husband and I we have donated about 10 bags of clothing. A couple hundred books. Not as much kitchen stuff as I would like, but that is the husband's domain and we did get rid of a few moving boxes' worth. Took another car full of stuff to donate after the free yard sale, maybe seven or eight bags of knick knacks and kitchen ware. I do notice a real difference between the relative proportion of stuff I have purged using the Marie Kondo method (clothing and books) and my usual method of picking through my belongings to find stuff I can let go of (knick knacks, building supplies and kitchen stuff). I did the latter out of necessity because I ran out of time, but the first is much more thorough and has led to a much greater proportion of stuff going out the door. So I do plan to follow through with the Konmari method systematically over the next few months. The weekend give away in my city was hugely successful and everything I put out (I did not put out junk) was gone within 12 hours. I am really stalled in the Konmari method because I went back to work, and only really have energy to clean or work in the same day, and because I am onto papers. Very tedious work and unrewarding. We have just a ton of paper to go through. The good news is I have put it all in one room and shut the door but it feels very psychologically heavy, like there's a black cloud around the room.
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Zalco/bring back Sophie!
last year
I am sure your generosity will bring much joy to many people. Knowing how to sew and create beautiful garments and home furnishings is wonderful.

I remember how happy my grandmother was with her new c-1975 Pfaff.

Brava for making room for new things and experiences in hour own house.
caroline94535 thanked Zalco/bring back Sophie!
petalique
last year
As a sewing machine enthusiast, I feel for you. I hope you do better and that your hwalth continues to improve. There are a lot of us who appreciate the vintage sewing machines. I am familiar with most that you have described. Your sewing machines will find an appreciative new caretaker, I am confident.

Meanwhile, you get to open your wings in a new direction. Enjoy your expanded space, caroline. As you say, you can still quilt and enjoy needlework.
caroline94535 thanked petalique
carolb_w_fl_coastal_9b
last year
Wow - that's an impressive collection, even after downsizing, you might be mistaken for a shop 😃

I love old all metal Singers and have 3 in working condition, along with my mom's old Featherweight, along with tons of fabrics and notions and patterns I've collected over the years. I admire your strength of resolve to get rid of so much. I know I need to myself 😏
caroline94535 thanked carolb_w_fl_coastal_9b
bev2009
last year
Good for you! Too many possessions does weigh us down. I'm a big fan of Döstädning, or Swedish death cleaning - cleaning things out so your loved ones don't have to once you are gone. I've been slowing working on it for three years. One more closet to go and I've been through everything at least once. Then I'll keep going through things until I'm at the level I want. Good luck with your clearing out.
caroline94535 thanked bev2009
nicole___
last year
WOW! That's an impressive sewing machine collection. I only own two machines. That's plenty for me! I don't want to lose the space. Giving the machines to people who will use them is so nice and generous of you. Good machines are hard to come by...you've given someone a way to improve their lives! You have a BIG heart! ❤️
caroline94535 thanked nicole___
bpath
last year
It makes it so much easier to say goodbye to them when you know they are going to good homes. I recently dropped off a few boxes of sewing notions, fabrics. zippers. etc, for a community house’s sewing classes.

I still have Mom’s Necchi. I wonder if it’s what she sewed her wedding dress on in the early ’50s? I need to find a good home for it.
caroline94535 thanked bpath
OutsidePlaying
last year
What an impressive collection! Now that you feel so free, I’m sure it will be easier to ’let go’ of others in the future as your time and inclination permits. Thankfully you have a friend, your guru, helping you find good homes. Just think, if you werent around, your kids would likely be lost as to what to do. Hopefully this will relieve your stress.
caroline94535 thanked OutsidePlaying
desertsteph
last year
good for you! so many people must be very grateful to you for your generosity. I've been working on going thru boxes and closets etc myself in recent years. I don't want my kids to be burdened with it when I'm gone. I have tons of stuff I don't need / will never use again. clothes, craft supplies, sewing supplies, books etc - and I'll be boxing / bagging them up for someone who can use them. my hands can't do those things anymore and my brain agrees with my hands. I seldom cook anymore (just for me) so even most cookbooks are going.
caroline94535 thanked desertsteph
nannykins
last year
Caroline, your post strikes home here.

Age (89) and health issues too, signal a need to do some major clearing. I have three machines and use only one regularly. One could easily be rehomed.

My sister died last year and clearing out her house was a wake up call and I began purging here with loads to the thrift store. But as Bev said, time for a second or third go round. The hardest part to let go is fabric. I have way too much and while my daughters do sew, they don’t quilt, so all this cotton needs a new home. A lot of craft supplies went to a great grand daughter. She was thrilled.

It really is almost painful to part with possessions but time to ’rip off the bandaid’ and make things easier for those who will have to do it later.

I hope your health issues improve, that is a big part of the stress. I know!

Theresa
caroline94535 thanked nannykins
rob333 (zone 7b)
last year
last modified: last year
I hope your enjoyment of the new-found space in which you can create, and the happiness you brought to others' lives with your generosity far outweighs your anxiety over the changes. You're doing the hard work to accomplish the goal you started. Give yourself time to breathe and get used to it. Then play in your new workshop, free to embrace what you've made.
caroline94535 thanked rob333 (zone 7b)
bkay2000
last year
Yeah, I have some machines that need to go, too. It's sometimes hard to let go of stuff. At some point, I realized I'm not going to fix those machines or use them. I still have several to go, though. I cleaned out a bunch of my fabric and unfinished projects and sent them to Project Linus. I still have a long way to go, though.

bkay
caroline94535 thanked bkay2000
socks
last year
Carry on, Caroline!! Nice collection, machines finding good homes. You inspire me.
caroline94535 thanked socks
Judy Good
last year
I use my 37 year old sewing machine everyday. I do have a back up, just in case, same machine. I have been given others and they have never been used. I too am getting rid of them for more space. Good luck with the rest of you downsizing, i know it is a lot of work.
caroline94535 thanked Judy Good
chisue
last year
MAJOR step forward, Caroline! I'm especially glad to read that you got out of the house and into town. I know what it's like to feel tired but happy, once you've accomplished something. Rest and recoup, then enjoy *using* space that was locked up in dead storage.
caroline94535 thanked chisue
dedtired
last year
Fourteen sewing machines?? Thats a lot. i have one, a White that i use on rare occasions. It weighs a ton.
caroline94535 thanked dedtired
lily316
last year
I have zero sewing machines and never sewed but I am impressed at your decluttering. I was an antique collector for 45 years and need to pull off the bandage because my kids are not interested in anything except maybe a very few family pieces.
caroline94535 thanked lily316
blubird
last year
I just had this discussion yesterday with my grandaughter. i told her not to get rid of the Kenmore which I had purchased in 1971, if (or more likely, when) I'm gone My other machines, the Husqvarna Viking Epic and Designer Diamond, along with my 2 Featherweights (one black one white) are great machines, but if I have a tough to sew project needing heavy needle penetration, the Kenmore is my go to.

In addition, I have two ancient sergers, my Bernina 2000DE which I love, and the Elna 927, which I dislike intensely.

She has used my Epic to both sew and embroider, but if that's not where her future interests lie, then definitely keep the Kenmore and unload the rest.
caroline94535 thanked blubird
grammyp
last year
Wow, I'm impressed. I bet it did hurt to let go of so many machines but hopefully they went to loving homes.
caroline94535 thanked grammyp
fran1523
last year
Kudos to you. It's got to feel good.
caroline94535 thanked fran1523
caroline94535
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year

This is a picture of a Singer 42 cabinet and matching storage bench, like the one I shared. The woman that received it was also given the Singer 201-2 machine, its original paperwork, and all its accessories like the one below.
bkay2000
last year
I love that cabinet. I bought one, but it was in bad shape, so I had to trash it. My old Singers are my favorite machines. They never give me trouble. They just keep on going and going and.....

bkay
caroline94535 thanked bkay2000

Decluttering, downsizing, still stressing

woodrose

Comments (24)

Annie Deighnaugh

blfenton

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bkay2000

socks

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caroline94535
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bkay2000

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