@oro these are my machines:
Elna Overlocker, bought last year:
Brother sewing machine, bought 2010:
I love my overlocker. The sewing machine will occasionally be grumpy and skip stitches. It’s been serviced twice in its life and probably needs another service soon.
I’ve never used anything but a machine that folds into its own table. Frankly, I can’t imagine how you manage lifting fabric up to sew and letting it fall back down again, keeping everything out of the way and moving smoothly through the mechanism, on anything but a flat surface. To me, that flat surface is a better advantage even then the ability to fold the machine away when it’s not in use.
I guess, in my world, the sewing machine has always been a piece of furniture.I’ve definitely always thought of it in those terms when moving to a new place, for example.
My sewing machine sits on a flat surface, which is actually an old desk abandoned by my children. It’s bigger than most sewing machine tables.
My mom had a machine that folded into the table, and it was pretty heavy to set up, though that was back when machines were metal.
Mine is metal (I use my 1928 Singer treadle exclusively now), but I don’t find the up and down hard to handle. I definitely couldn’t move the whole thing, table and all, if it weren’t on wheels - the whole bottom part of the table and treadle are cast iron.
A bigger desk like you have actually might be useful sometimes, but I’ve never sewn on a machine that wasn’t flush with the surface around it - I guess I could learn, but at this point I have a lot of years of muscle memory the other way.
I have read that many portable machines can be put into an old sewing machine table, so I guess that might be an option for those who are interested.
I am pretty short, so I don’t get a lot of leverage when lifting things even though I’m reasonably strong.
I have seen setups where people modified a desk or sewing table so that there was a recess to set the machine into. There are probably pictures on Pinterest!
My server is on an IKEA table - used to be my desk at school - and I also have a cutting table.
This is me. I’ll try to get photos sometime.
Oh, and now that I think about it, my 1928 model with table is definitely shorter than some newer ones I’ve used. Makes sense; people were shorter (I’m short, too, but likely wouldn’t have been then). I bet that makes a big difference.
I didn’t realise machines came with their table! My mum’s was definitely bought separately.
E.g.
https://www.hobbysew.com.au/furniture/horn-sewing-tables/horn/horn---crown-mkiii.aspx
Heh. I actually received a very flimsy version of this (without the cool storage) with my grandmas 1990s machine when she gave it to me. It’s on caster wheels and Partner is actually using it as a desk LOL. it’s not really good for much, even being a desk…
(It’s must veneered particle board and is not sturdy or nice)
I just have my machine on a long rectangular table. It’s not recessed or anything cool, but it works fine. 
Likely I don’t know what I’m missing re: recessed machines. 
Oooh, I just found this thread! Hello! I have never had a dedicated space for a sewing machine, so I have always used the dining room table. I have a Brother that my mother gave me for Christmas circa 2007, meaning she probably bought it at a Good Friday sale at Walmart. Its primary limitation is stitches. For instance, it has a STRETCH blind hem stitch but not a regular one. I keep thinking of buying a new one but I never pull the trigger because I don’t sew all that often.
Anyway, what I have been wanting to ask sewing people is this–how useful is an overcast foot? If my sole goal ATM is to make flannel squares, would an overcast foot be adequate to the task? The room at the library with the serger is closed for covid.
You know, maybe not anymore! I just did a quick Google and didn’t see any for sale with table. I don’t see any cabinets of the sort that I have for sale at all, for that matter, except for antiques. I have two, but my newer, broken machine is probably from the late 60s.
This is what I use - not all that much bigger than the machine itself. (It doesn’t actually suspend itself sideways.)
It’s probably a bad idea to get a sewing machine that is actually treadle powered, right?
Right. I’m probably going to get one of the two sewing machines on FB Marketplace that have an included table and are electric. (My coworker decided to keep all of her machines after all.)
But it’s so beautiful…
It’s not a bad idea if it works. My parents have my grandmother’s at their house and it works perfectly. And one day soon I shall have it. And I can’t wait.
Ha, I’m currently in the process of rehabilitating an old treadle machine. (A 1918 White that I found on craigslist - we bought it from the grandson of the original owner, who passed away 50 yrs ago.)
Personally I’m on team electricity for my main sewing machine, but I really like the idea of having a treadle, too. It’s not hoarding if it’s a sewing machine collection, right? Right…?
Hellooo! I’ve been lurking in this thread for a minute and thought I’d introduce myself 
I started sewing maybe 3 years ago because I got frustrated with clothes shopping. I want prints and color and also plus size clothes that fit. I’ve really enjoyed garment sewing and recently started branching into quilting. One of my goals for myself this year is to sew through more of my stash and also slow down and focus on finishing details – some of my earlier makes are starting to wear down in the wash, and I could have totally avoided this with better construction and seam finishes.
My partner & metamor also sew, so we have quite the large collection of sewing supplies, but recently I acquired a private craft room of my own, muhahaha. Between the 3 of us we have a serger, 3 electric machines, and 2 antique machines (1 treadle, 1 TBD).
I am almost certain that I would go for both if I had room for a sewing machine collection!
Also yay, welcome to the thread!
My only working machine is a 1928 singer treadle. It will see through almost anything (6 layers of heavy canvas, sure, and also fine fabrics), but be aware that a treadle is likely old enough that it only does a straight stitches.
Ug this is why I wanted to get my old treadle up and running. 
Someday I’ll buy a replacement to put in the cabinet. The idea of getting 6 layers of canvass through my modern machine is laughable lol.
Then again, I would not give up my modern machine. I would just become one of ya’ll with like a whole bunch of them. I’m still vaguely considering a serger/overlocker.
