Thea Starr - The Repairess

Here's a static photo of the Singer Center ad/pamphlet I found in the manual of my Singer 328K.
More photos are available here:
theastarr.com/blog/2026/4/24/vintage-singer-center…

19 hours ago | [YT] | 14

Thea Starr - The Repairess

For anyone interested in more information about the Singer 328K that I mention in my Short: youtube.com/shorts/g_gF17KMO0...

Here's a link to my blog post about it:

theastarr.com/blog/2026/4/23/singer-328k-1964-anot…

1 day ago (edited) | [YT] | 12

Thea Starr - The Repairess

Last night I looked in vain for a power cord for a Singer 403 that I wanted to use. (I just need find what box its still packed in.) After feeling defeated, I decided to do a quick side project of organizing some of my ribbons.
I just uploaded a little short about it - but here is a still photo of the ribbons.
I love adding a bit of trim to an otherwise plain project. Out of display like this, I'll think of them more often.
-Thea

2 days ago | [YT] | 11

Thea Starr - The Repairess

Weird light in my sewing room right now. But I just wanted to share a glamor shot of this beautiful gal.
I've been sewing on my Singer 201-2 (potted motor) for about a month. Last night I switched to this gal. I just love it so much.
If anyone needs to be talked into buying a Singer 301, send them my way. I have nothing but good things to sat about it.
xo-Thea
#vintagesingersewingmachine #singer301

6 days ago | [YT] | 36

Thea Starr - The Repairess

I do need to do a follow up video on my most recent video about the buttonholer attachments because I used an older model (1940’s low shank in the green rectangle snap case) on a 1951 Singer 201-2. My attachment did not come with a feed dog cover. I was advised by an older long time sewist, that I could still use it. It might cause my buttonholes to warp a little, so I am mindful of that when sewing. I was told this information prior to posting videos online and I have been doing this for quite a few years now. I decided to post the video as I’ve always done it on that machine.

Here’s your reminder to always weigh the information you consume online. I expect someone to come at me and tell me that I’ve shared bad information. For me, I was told personally by an older and much more experienced sewist and decided it was worth trying. So far so good for me. You make your own decision on what to do with your machine. I will say if your attachment does come with a feed dog cover, you should use it. I didn’t even know that existed until I was told it did- because like I said, mine did not come with one.

I do typically use one of my Singer 301’s to do buttonholes now - which I can drop the feed dogs on. I plan do a follow up video showing that as well as using the feed dog cover on a Singer Featherweight.

xo-Thea

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3 weeks ago | [YT] | 14

Thea Starr - The Repairess

For those of you who caught my Short video on this mystery badged treadle, here are some still photos on it.
I did leave it behind for someone else. (I have two treadles that I love at the moment and I'm hoping to add one very specific one to my collection.) But I like to learn all the things and I am curious about it. I have not seen a badge like that before and it did stand out to me because of the stars. I didn't spend a lot of time looking at it in the store and only took a couple photos, because I knew I wasn't going to purchase it.

There are some good guesses going so far. I originally thought it looked like a badged New Home. But someone mentioned that it's probably a National. Which I forgot about that brand and I think it's a strong possibility.
I couldn't make out the "brand" on the head, nor did Google Lens. It's been fun trying to quench my curiosity on this one.

Here's the link to the Short:
youtube.com/shorts/gZgdcMMsVG...
#vintagesewingmachine #treadlesewingmachine

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1 month ago | [YT] | 17

Thea Starr - The Repairess

Hi friends!
I've taken the liminal time between Christmas and the New Year to just sew. I completed my first make of 2026. A crazy chicken lady house dress. It's flannel with a zipper front closure. Bonus photo of me holding my baby boy rooster Gonzo.

Also, I'm relaunching my shop! (www.theastarr.com) I'm making the move from my handmade silk flowers (those will still be available on occasion) to vintage sewing machines, accessories, vintage fabrics and more. Because if moving taught me one thing, it's that I have a lot of stuff. A lot of the fabric I have available at the moment is Japanese fabric from bales I bought in the early 2000s.

More to come, but please check it out and leave me a comment on what you'd like to see in there.
Machines are planned to come, I just need to work out the best way to ship them safely.

Happy New Year!

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3 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 27

Thea Starr - The Repairess

I'm steadily sewing up Christmas gifts for my family right now. A luxury I have as a vintage sewing machine collector is that I can set up many machines at once.
I have one machine to do knits.
One machine to do quilting cottons.
One machine with black thread, one with red - you get the idea.
All of that requires different threads and I have to say one of the worst things I've done to myself is toss in all of my threads into one container.
Old threads and new threads all jumbled about together. I did this without thinking when I was packing up to move. Oof. Bad idea. Don't be like me friends.
(For those unfamiliar with vintage thread, they have a shelf life for actual use. I do use them for basting and small hand stitching projects. My machines get fresh new spools though.)

4 months ago | [YT] | 6

Thea Starr - The Repairess

I'm steadily sewing up Christmas gifts for my family right now. A luxury I have as a vintage sewing machine collector is that I can set up many machines at once.
I have one machine to do knits.
One machine to do quilting cottons.
One machine with black thread, one with red - you get the idea.
All of that requires different threads and I have to say one of the worst things I've done to myself is toss in all of my threads into one container.
Old threads and new threads all jumbled about together. I did this without thinking when I was packing up to move. Oof. Bad idea. Don't be like me friends.
(For those unfamiliar with vintage thread, they have a shelf life for actual use. I do use them for basting and small hand stitching projects. My machines get fresh new spools though.)

4 months ago | [YT] | 14

Thea Starr - The Repairess

Hi friends!
Just a little update on my recent acquisition - an Elna Supermatic. I discovered that I have a common problem with mine. (Pictured) One side of my motor pulley (friction wheel) is flat. Apparently this is a common known issue for these. I've tabled this project due to time of the year it is, (Holiday season in the U.S.) because I haven't decided on which resolution I plan on taking to fixing it. Thankfully, it seems like an easy fix. This is my very first Elna- I'm a PFAFF & Singer gal. So, I'm taking my time with learning the ins and outs with this cutie.
In the meantime, I've been sewing on my 306W. (Love it so much.) I'm working on another video with my 306s since I've been exclusively sewing on them for the past few months.
xo- Thea

4 months ago | [YT] | 9