If you don’t like people painting wood, or redoing an antique singer sewing machine, just walk away now. I understand how people feel about such things, but I’m in the business of repurposing furniture.
Today's project will show you how to transform a vintage singer sewing machine into a very versatile makeup vanity, jewelry organizer, desk, or side table.
Last year, I spoke about a great find on a sewing machine at a local Vendor’s Village. A whopping $25.
There are a lot of ways to repurpose sewing machines. I’ve already made 2 projects from one machine years ago.
I was looking for something different this time.
Visit the My Repurposed Life Amazon Store to shop my favorite items.
Disassemble vintage sewing machine cabinet
Basically, I began removing all of the hardware, starting from the underneath side.
I removed the top portion (lid) that was hinged. Firstly I removed the screws from the bottom. Then I was able to pry up the rim that the lid was connected to.
Construct simple box using pocket hole screws
First, I got busy making a box or a tray to fit inside the opening of the original top. I made the box using scrap 1x’s and my Kreg Jig 
. Because the box was so small, my drill wouldn’t fit, I had to use my Ryobi Right Angle Drill
.
Need more details on using a Kreg Jig? See my article How to use a Kreg Jig Pocket Hole System
I used some underlayment (thin plywood) for the bottom of the tray. You can see I drilled pocket holes to hold the tray in place.
Tip: I used my Jig Saw
to make the opening more of a square. Scroll up to see how the opening look originally. However, I had to add a small piece of trim in the front.
Remove the metal sewing machine chassis
At that point there were only 4 large screws holding the two pieces together. I separated them so I could spray paint the metal chassis.
After a thorough cleaning, and before Krylon Dual spray paint.
If you only have the chassis of the treadle sewing machine, make a t.v. table, or a unique side table.
Spray paint metal sewing machine base
I used Krylon Dual spray paint starting with the machine upside down to get full coverage of all the nooks and crannies.
I used my Behr Polished Pearl as a chalky paint primer and sprayed it on using my HomeRight Finish Max
.
If you follow me on Facebook, or IG you may have seen this picture. Now does it make more sense? You can see the large rectangle was where the lid was, while the four small rectangles were the sewing machine drawers.
Reattach sewing machine base
Now it was time to reconnect the chassis to the wooden frame with those four big screws.
An extra long screwdriver was necessary to reach the screws.
Being a little lazy, I opted not to paint the inside of the drawers.
Embellish Sewing Machine Drawers
I felt the drawers were a little plain, so I decided to do some textured stenciling. You can read about it here.
I began by removing the knobs (to be replaced with glass knobs)
Looking through my stash of stencils I found the perfect one for this project! I don’t really have many suggestions on how to do this. So follow the link above from Sweet Pickins.
I also did a raised stencil on the front little drawer.
Paint interior storage area with a bright cheery color
I painted a pretty turquoise inside the tray and the fold out drawer.
Secure mirror with clips
A mirror was purchased at the craft store, and some mirror clips at Home Depot. I attached the mirror to the inside of the hinged lid.
Attach glass knobs to sewing machine drawers
D. Lawless Hardware sent me some 1 inch glass knobs for this project, and they were perfect! The screws were too long though, so I clamped them and cut them with a hacksaw. I had to drill a hole in the drawer as the old knobs were just pegs.
Here is a close-up of the glass knobs from D. Lawless Hardware.
Finally, I did some light distressing due to the fact that it’s so old, and it didn’t look good crisp.
This was a fun project, and I’m happy with how it turned out. I think it will make a great vanity, makeup table, desk, entry table, or jewelry organizer.
How would you use it?
gail
Related Content: See More Desk Projects Here
See more great projects over at Elizabeth & Co. Be Inspired
Gail Wilson is the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. She is obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believes that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again, including herself!
Gail reinvented herself during a midlife crisis and has found purpose again. She hopes you will find new ideas for old things and pick up a few tools along the way.
Debby
Hi. I loved your singer sewing cabinet update. I’m going to use a lot grey for mine. I have the sewing machine in tack, so just refinishing cabinet. Thank you.
Debby
Gail Wilson
I love light gray. It's very popular in my booth, being the fastest selling projects on a regular basis. Good luck with the makeover!!
gail
Jamie
Good job. We in the vintage sewing machine collecting world call the bottom part the 'irons', and the wood part is the 'cabinet'. 🙂. When cutting off hardware screws, use a pair of wire stripping pliers. They have a hole marked 8-32, which is the typical size of the screw used on knobs and handles. Thread it in, squeeze hard, and thread it out! Hope this helps!
Gail Wilson
Awesome Jamie, thanks so much for your input! I truly appreciated it.
gail
Bev
Love the turquoise. What brand is it. I would use it as a desk
Gail Wilson
Bev,
The turquoise was from Home Depot many, many years ago. My daughter bought it for her bathroom and hated it! I had painted it while she was at work (she did pick out the paint) and when she came home she cried. So, she sent the paint home with me and I have used it for years and years. I think I may have enough left for a couple of small projects. However, I'm sorry, I have no idea what the name is.
I have had it in a milk jug for a long, long time. https://www.myrepurposedlife.com/how-to-deal-with-rusted-paint-cans/
Thanks for stopping by!!
gail
Janet Kynerd
I really like what you did with the sewing machine. I would use it as a desk.
Gail Wilson
thank you Janet!
gail
Elic
I'd use it for a desk, except I have 3 or 4 already... and can really only use one at a time. I do want to clean off the beautiful roll top, but... well... bad things have happened this year and I'm just not up to anything much.
Lisa
Another great project. I’ve always wanted one of these pedal sewing machines. My granny taught me how to sew on her petal machine. Brings back pleasant memories.
Hope
Beautiful work! I’m getting ready to refurb my grandmothers cabinet into a plant stand. The bottom metal is covered in rust. Any tips for cleaning it off before spray painting?
Gail Wilson
I dealt with a lot of rust on THIS sewing machine stand....
https://www.myrepurposedlife.com/antique-sewing-machine-table/
I hope that helps some!
gail
Tara Moore
I've removed the front flip down drawer located on the front of my sewing machine do you know how to reattach it? I forgot how I took it off
Gail Wilson
I'm so sorry, I can't help you Tara. Did you try turning it upside down to get a better look at it? This project was done so long ago, I can't remember. I wish I could be of more help.
gail
Lisa B
I'm a vintage sewing machine collector but I am also practical. I bought two 1916-ish Singer treadle machines in their original cabinets (not cheap, they sell for about $90-200 in my area). One is in excellent shape and still sews beautifully, and one is in terrible shape with a warped battered cabinet and rusted frozen machine. I cleaned and disassembled the rusted machine for spare parts (yes, these are getting hard to find) and now have a cabinet that needs a new life. Your ideas are inspiring -- thank you! I plan to restore the cabinet, keeping it as original as I can, but with a new life as a desk/hall table.
Gail Wilson
I have another in storage. If I take the machine out, I'll try to find someone who wants it for parts. Good luck on your project, I'm sure it will make an awesome desk/hall table!
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment.
gail
Bev
I know! I'm almost in tears at the thought that she might have thrown away a working sewing machine to do this. I don't care if she paints a cabinet, but the idea of someone junking a working vintage sewing machine when there's only a limited number of them left really kills me.
Lisa B
So many of these vintage machines were left to rust in outdoor sheds, leaky garages, damp patios and in other unsuitable storage. It breaks my heart, too, to see an old beauty which has been mistreated this way. They do get a new life as spare parts -- that's a good thing. The cabinets, fortunately, are too beautiful to trash, so there are many beautifully restored cabinets living a new life, as mine will soon be. It's the cycle of life. That's how I have to look at it.
Barbara Showell
Arrrggggghhhhhhhhhhh! Yes, some of us HATE when you rape these old beauties that will just about always work as intended again with tlc. But, I'm grateful they are plentiful and if it keeps it out of the land fill. Any non rotted or unbroken parts can probably be sold on eBay to those of us piecing them back together.
marilyn
Any ideas on repurposing a sewing machine coffin (wooden cover)
Gail Wilson
Marilyn,
Take a look at all of my sewing machine re-dos. Maybe something will inspire you.
https://www.myrepurposedlife.com/tag/sewing-machine-cabinet/
gail
Debbie
The cabinet looks great. I love the white and turquoise together. Can you tell me what brand and color it is? Thank you.
Gail Wilson
Debbie,
I'm so sorry I can't tell you the color. The paint was given to me by my daughter back in 2009. I had it for years, but finally put it into a plastic container because the paint can rusted. It still may be in the basement somewhere, but with no label I couldn't begin to tell you the name of the color.
gail
Jennie
A whole $25 huh? Do you know how cheap that is? Here in Arizona, $50 - $75 is considered cheap if the drawers haven’t been lost along the way. I do love what you did with it though. It’d be darling in a teenagers room. It’ll sell really quickly.
Allie
How did you attach the box to the top of the machine?
Gail Wilson
Allie,
Check out the picture where I talk about adding thin plywood to the bottom of the box. You'll see where I say I used pocket holes to attach the box to the underneath side of the sewing machine top.
gail
Sam
What a great reuse of all that scrap wood Gail - and so many pretty ways to use it!.
Judy
It's me again. If I turn it upside down as shown will the 4 screws separate the top from the frame?
I don't have many tools.
Gail Wilson
Judy,
There are four screws on most machines. If you can get to them, all you need is a flat head screwdriver. Please don't destroy the original wood parts of the machine. Maybe you could give it away, or ask on social media if anyone wants it. 🙂
good luck, have fun!
gail
Judy
Beautiful!
I want to put a glass top on my old Singer sewing machine frame. But I have no clue how to get the rest of it off??? How do you disassemble the sewing machine and drawers and top from the frame?
Are there any instructions available to show where the screws are? Thanks.
Doreen @ Altered Artworks
Hi Gail,
I'm working on a Singer sewing machine table makeover, similar to yours. From your photos, it looks like you moved the hinges to to the lid from the side to the back. Am I seeing this correctly? That's exactly what I want to do. Any issues with doing this? Thanks!
Doreen
Gail Wilson
Doreen,
I did move the hinges from the side to the back. It worked well, but it of course wouldn't stay up by itself. The wall was needed for support.
gail
Becky
It is adorable as a vanity Gail! Love the turquoise, a fun surprise!
Linda Moffatt
Gail,
This piece is beautiful--I love it. I have a very similar machine and cabinet (though not Singer) and I've been wanting to do something with it. I had thought of putting a drop leaf table top on it, but I like your project so much more since it uses all of the cabinet including the beautiful drawers. If you were to sell this, how would you price it?
Thanks for the inspiration--great work!
Linda
Gail Wilson
Linda,
I did sell this, and to the best of my recollection, I think I got $150 for it.
thank you for your nice comment.
gail
Nancy Jackowski
I have my grandmothers treadle machine that I learned to see on. I'm ready to repurpose it but don't know what to do with the actual machine. All I want to use is the bottom portion. Any suggestions.
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
I know some bloggers use the shiny pretty pieces for jewelry and more. I usually give it away or recycle it.
good luck, have fun!
gail
Kim
What was the box size? I prefer to buy one. Or maybe use a wine box. Thanks!
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Kim,
I do not know the box size, but it wouldn't really matter because each of these sewing machines are so different. Good luck, have fun!
gail
Kim
Did you move the hinges to the top side? I assume you covered the old spots with putty. I don't have a kreg jig. I might have to find another box to simply put in.
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Kim,
Sorry for the confusion--yes I did move the hinges to the top side. I highly recommend a Kreg Jig. Once you have it, you'll be reaching for it over and over again.
gail
Mariah
Did you use the behr as a primer, then use a chalk paint?
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Mariah,
I typically use Behr with Plaster of Paris to make my chalky paint primer, then the Behr without plaster of paris as a topcoat.
I hope that helps. Let me know if you have more questions.
gail
mary ballerin
I have my grandmother's functional Singer treadle machine in an oak table with very ornate drawer fronts. I plan to clean it well, oil the wood and metal, hang a mirror above or use a tabletop mirror and use a midcentury white fiberglass swivel chair, for contrast. I just can't paint it, it's too beautiful. The drawers should hold most of the makeup and supplies.
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
I think that's a perfect solution to make a vanity Mary! This one was far from beautiful. If I had my grandmother's machine, I would not change it either.
gail
Julie Herlein
I love this! I want to do this but I do not have Kreg Jig. What is another way that I can connect the box or accessory container in the center?
Thank you so much
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Julie,
You could use "L" brackets depending on how your machine is set up. 🙂
gail
Jonathan Pound
My grandmother had one of these old singer sewing machines in her living room. It no longer worked, but I remember playing with the foot pedal every time I went over to her house as a kid. Sewing machines sure have come a long way, but it's cool that some of these old ones are still around.
Kaitlyn
Gail,
I am in the same process of restoring a 1929 singer sewing table, boy what a project!! Id like to keep the front lid (i believe you said you removed it). But right now if i did decide to put it back on it would only open about half way up, thus making it more difficult for me to access the tray i will use to put inside the hole where the sewing machine was. I was thinking i can use different hinges to make it flip all the way back, but im not sure. I wanted to keep all of the original hardware used to initially make it, what would be your advice?
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Kaitlyn,
I changed mine from opening on the side, to opening on the back, using the original hinges. What keeps it from opening all the way up? Take another look at how I secured the hinges (you can see them really well in the photo where the lid is half open-I did that so the mirror would reflect the inside of the tray)
Keep me posted, good luck!
gail
Kelly
I absolutely love this idea and am currently restoring my sewing machine because of it! I do have one question, did you chisel the hinges in with the lid or did you just place them on the flat surface? Thanks so much for the inspiration and help!
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Kelly,
Great question! I did not chisel the hinges, I simply put them on the flat surface.
good luck with your project!
gail
Sherry
I love this sewing machine make over. I did one very similar to this. 🙂
Kraig Elliott
I love the look of this repurposed sewing machine. You did a wonderful job building the box under the hinged top for putting makeup, brushes, pens/pencils, etc. I am feeling inspired!
Sandy
Absolutely beautiful, I love it as a vanity....a piece you should be very proud of......I have several of the bases that I am deciding what to do with.
kyle
I have a home in Fl. and one in Blairsville Ga. where I am now I have been on the look out for one of these singers for quite some time. I've looked at flea markets antique shops and yard sales and haven't been able to find on for lees than $90. My intent is to just use the base however for $90 that wasn't even a choice as the wood was all rotted and only one had a machine attached and they wanted over a hundred. Just curious where you've been finding them at such a low price. By the way your repurpose was beautiful.
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Kyle,
I've come across 2 free ones since I did this project. Some people think they are gold, others just want to get rid of 'em. I would suggest that you mention it on Facebook. You never know, someone in your family or friends list might have one. I would just make sure that you let them know what you plan to do with it.
You also might want to check craigslist.
Thanks for your nice comment about my project.
gail
Lisa Aliperti
Love it and I have wanted to do this for a long time. However, I live with a purist husband.
You need to change your title. You used a Singer sewing machine cabinet for this project, not the sewing machine itself.
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Lisa,
Maybe someday you will be able to find a machine that your husband won't mind you changing up. As for the title, it's all about SEO when we bloggers choose blog titles. That's why titles may seem a little odd sometimes. People won't be doing a google search for a singer sewing machine cabinet.
thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment!
gail
Debbi
ive seen an antique Singer Sewing Machine just like this made into a wet Bar. Love the new uses for old antiques.
Debbie
Love it!! Awesome makeover 🙂
Tracy@www.bluridgevintage.com
What a great makeover. I have been in search of a machine like this for a long time and at a good price.....sadly no luck. I am one that works both sides of the fence on paint or no paint. Your decision to paint was fantastic and the transition to the desk/vanity is awesome . My daughter would be in heaven. Great Job!!!
JESSICA
LOVE THE DRYWALL STENCILING! I haven't seen that done before, I should be able to use plastic of Paris eh? I will have to follow your link 🙂 love your re-do's! Keep paintin!
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
I would recommend using the vinyl spackling instead of Plaster of Paris. I think it will last longer. 🙂
good luck, enjoy your new technique!!
Mindi
Such a genius idea to turn it into a vanity! It looks so beautiful, such a great makeover! I especially love those glass knobs they were perfect for this piece, D Lawless really does have such great hardware! Totally pinned!
Cathryn
Lovely idea, Gail-I didn't paint mine. I also removed everything from the top and placed a smokey topaz colored glass in a rounded off rectangle shape over it. It holds my stereo and the speakers. I also have another one I found that is only the metal base. I put a metal grid over the top and made it into a plant stand for my porch.
Terri Hughes
Hi Gail, you can come up with some of the greatest ideas on repurposing furniture.....I just love what you did with this old sewing machine. Beautiful job!!!!
Patty
Beautiful job! To those people who don't like painted furniture - then don't paint your furniture, lol. It's far, far better to repurpose old items into something useful rather than just let them decay to the point they end up in a scrap pile (though you do an awesome job salvaging things from scrap piles, Gail!). I currently have 4 of these babies (none of which can be sewed on), so I think I may need to make myself a vanity. I love your work, keep it up!
Patty
Traci
I have this same piece sitting in my living room, its been sitting there for several months while I've been trying to figure out what to do with it. I'm beyond thrilled to see your makeover. The top on my piece is in need of repair much like your piece and one of the drawers has come part but I have the pieces.
I'm going to restore mine to hold my modern sewing machine but I needed inspiration and I'm thrilled to see this.
I really want to paint the bottom metal bright red!
Thank you for posting this!
Robin
Beautiful. I generally prefer restored rather than painted pieces but I follow your site because when you paint, you can tell how much you care for the pieces. In this case, you brought this back to life and your efforts should be appreciated.
Stacie
So I almost had a heart attack, but you kept the integrity of the piece. It's beautiful!
Dawn
I did this to mine too but I didn't paint it. I absolutely love it and use it every morning!
shelley
this is very nice....I know some gasp at painting "old" furniture...and it's hard to do....that first time....then it's pretty easy to do.....lol...if it's not really worth lots of $$$ then paint it and enjoy it...
Kay
Well, you've done in again, Gail!, another beautifully repurposed and for me, a long-ago remembered treasure! When I was a little girl - which was many, many moons ago - I remember sitting in front of my grandmother's Singer and pedaling away - not sewing anything - just pedaling away. I loved that old Singer. And I love your "new" Singer, especially the embellishments you added.
Derrick Lawless
Really cool project! We love antiques! Used to move some singers through our shop back in the day. Thanks!
Cindy
Love it, Gail!!
girlfromwva
This is beautiful! i know some people are going to go on & on about you painting it, but now it can be loved & used instead of sitting in a thrift store.
Cathy
This is a great idea! Of course I'm one of those that would not paint the wood, so I would choose to do this and jut refinish the old wood.
Beautiful job!
Cher @ Designs by Studio C
Gail, you are an absolute genius! The sewing table is really beautiful, functional, and maintains the integrity of the piece!
kirby carespodi
I love it! The drywall compound stencils give it a little something extra!
Julie @ follow your heart woodworking
That is so cute. I like the turquoise and white together and the raised designs.