Thea Starr - The Repairess

Maintenance day:
I typically do this at the beginning of the month for the machines I’m actively using.
Unless, I happen to be sewing a lot on one machine, which is the case here.
My 301 long bed needs a new needle and a lint clean out after sewing a bunch of stuff with batting.
I’ll do a little video on what I generally do, but here’s all the stuff I have on hand to do a little maintenance sesh: (Save this for later for reference)
Sewing machine oil.
Grease.
Fresh needles.
Cotton swabs.
Microfiber cloth.
Paper towels.
My ‪@iFixitYourself‬ set with tweezers. It happens to have a flat head screwdriver too which is needed for servicing.
You can just use what you have tool-wise (flathead screwdriver and sharp tweezers). As a rehabber, I love a kit with all the goodies in one spot.
Lastly, the machine manual. I personally don’t need it for this machine since we’re in a serious sewing relationship and I know her well. But if you have yours, add it to your list.

Pro-tip: I have found many vintage sewing machine manuals on archive . org
#singer301 #sewingmachinemaintenance #vintagesewingmachine #therepairess #sewist

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3 days ago (edited) | [YT] | 42

Thea Starr - The Repairess

Side Quest: Finding my mom a vintage sewing machine.
I go into detail on her needs here: theastarr.com/blog/2026/6/3/side-quest-finding-a-v…
One machine I am considering is this late 1980s Viking 990 S.
I haven't had that best experience with the one Viking I have. So, lots of testing will happen with this machine. I'm curious if any of you here have experience with this machine. Love it, wish it had something it doesn't?

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 16

Thea Starr - The Repairess

Hi friends! I don't have any fun videos to share this week. I've been grinding away here on the homestead (that my husband and I are reviving)‪@MadronaAcres‬ . As well as sewing up some special gifts for family. Which did lead me into a deep dive of my fabric stash. I happened upon this little gem. 1993 vintage sewing machine print fabric from Fabric Traditions. not the Robert Kaufmann highly desirable Singer / Featherweight print, but I was excited to find it. I'm thinking of sewing up a little pillow for my big comfy chair in my sewing room. 
What would you use it for? I think I have about a half of a yard of it. I wish I had more for a sewing machine cover or an apron even.
Happy sewing!
xo-Thea

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 23

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…

1 month ago | [YT] | 24

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 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 15

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

1 month ago | [YT] | 12

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

2 months ago | [YT] | 37

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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2 months ago | [YT] | 15

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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4 months ago | [YT] | 18

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