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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1 week ago (edited) | [YT] | 26

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.)

1 month 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.)

1 month 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

1 month ago | [YT] | 9

Thea Starr - The Repairess

For those who might be interested in what it took to get my sewing room to its current state. I have a short video on my homestead channel ‪@MadronaAcres‬

2 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 0

Thea Starr - The Repairess

I'm currently editing my sewing room tour video. But I just had to share this cutie looking stunning on my sewing cabinet. It's not the green Singer I hoped for, it might be better.

2 months ago | [YT] | 20

Thea Starr - The Repairess

Hi friends! I promise I am still here. I just happened to have totally underestimated how long it would take to unpack. For those who don't know, I went from living in suburbia for 18 years to buying a dilapidated homestead in a rural area. My husband and I have been working our buns off to restore this place. Plus side, is that there is definitely more room for all of my machines.
Right now I am cry/laughing at myself as I unpack things for my sewing room. I've also cursed at myself for having this hobby only due to the actual weight of some of these machines. Those old PFAFFs weigh as much as a car, I swear!
I know the big question is, just how many machines, do I have? The honest answer is, I have no idea. Hahahahaha! I think I quit counting at 35. I know, I am sew-crazy.
I just wanted to do a quick check in and show this ridiculous picture of a few of my machines.
-Thea

7 months ago | [YT] | 25

Thea Starr - The Repairess

Hi friends! I am anxiously awaiting to set up my new sewing room. Let me know if you're interested in seeing the process it of it being set up. Meanwhile, while I've been waiting, this little gal flung herself in my cart at my local thrift store. I absolutely did not need it, but I love the #singer301 so much I couldn't leave her behind.
I hope you all are sewing some fun things so I can live vicariously through you all for a bit longer. - Thea

9 months ago | [YT] | 31

Thea Starr - The Repairess

Happy New Year everyone!
I have so many things already on my 2025 work list. I'm excited about them all.
I will of course keep an eye out for some gems and share what I find "out in the wild". I'm always hoping to come across one of the few machines left on my wishlist.
Thank you all who have joined my journey here and have offered thoughtful feedback, experienced stories and more. I'm still so surprised how many of us are out there. I'm thankful for all of you!
-Thea

Vintage ad of a Singer 306

1 year ago | [YT] | 17

Thea Starr - The Repairess

I thought it would be to share the images from my most recent video about my 1950s PFAFF 230 Automatic.
The vintage ads are aesthetically pleasing.
Check out all of the stitch patterns on the Dial-A-Stitch guide wheel. Amazing.

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1 year ago | [YT] | 13