Before and After: Refinishing an Old Wooden Sewing Case

Before the era of everything-is-made-of-plastic sewing machines, these helpful tools were created from long-lasting materials designed to stand up to any project and the test of time, namely: metal. And the cases, while usually covered in some once-stylish but now worn vinyl are often made from wood.Which does make it heavier than a modern machine, but it also makes things quite easy to refinish. 

Instructable-r Seamster recently restored this vintage Necchi machine and figured it needed an updated case to match. He says, “I recently restored this lovely old Necchi Supernova sewing machine, but couldn’t bring myself to put it back into its ratty old case. The case was beat up and looking pretty sad, but I could see it had some potential.These are the steps of how I stripped it down, fixed it up, and refinished it into something a little more suitable for the machine that was going into it.”

It’s a pretty specific project, sure, but there are lots of good tips here for removing the old paper, sanding and filling the wood, and a cool stenciled two-toned finishing technique that keeps the brand name on the case – keep that one in mind for your next project

Check out the full transformation: Refinish an old wooden sewing case [Instructables.com]