Sewing Machine Repair & Restoration · Portland, Oregon
Keeping good machines running well.
Tandem Sewing Company services domestic sewing machines of every era — modern and vintage — from Singer, Kenmore, White, Bernina and beyond. Tune-ups, restoration, quick fixes, and one-on-one instruction, done by hand and explained plainly.
To keep sewing machines running well, so the craft of sewing stays alive for generations to come.
Our mission
Repair & Service
Sewing Machine Repair Pricing, from Quick Fixes to Full Restoration
Every job starts with an honest look at the machine. Prices below are starting points — a confirmed quote follows an in-person assessment, and I always check with you before ordering parts or adding a fee.
Full service · The core of the shop
Standard Tune-Up
The complete service most machines need: full disassembly, deep internal cleaning, fresh lubrication, a motor and electrical check, timing and adjustments, and a test sew before it goes home. Seven standardized steps, every machine — laid out in full just below.
Set pricing by model
- Singer 201$125
- Singer Featherweight$140
- Viking 6000 series$160
A few well-known models have a set tune-up price. Everything else is quoted after an in-person look.
Good to know
- No bench fee$0
- Rush service+$40
- Every serviced machine sold90-day warranty
I’ll never order a part or add a charge without your okay first. Machines are dropped off at the shop by appointment.
What a tune-up includes
Seven steps, every machine, no shortcuts.
A standard tune-up isn’t a wipe-down. It’s a full teardown and rebuild — here’s the sequence every machine goes through on the bench.
Disassembly
Covers, handwheel, belts, bed extensions, needle plates, bobbin, case, and hook come off as appropriate.
Internal cleaning
Lint, debris, and old lubricant cleared from the upper cavity, needlebar area, bobbin area, and lower cavity — then a chemical clean.
Lubrication
Fresh oil and grease through the upper cavity, needlebar, bobbin area, and lower cavity.
Motor & electrical
Wiring and foot pedal checked and cleaned, motor brushes and belt inspected, motor cleaned and lubricated, bulb replaced.
Timing & adjustments
Hook timing, hook-to-needle clearance, needlebar height, needle position, zig-zag clearance, and parabola set.
Test sew & balance
Rethread, wind a bobbin, and run straight stitch, zig-zag, and reverse — checking tension, sound, and overall operation.
Close out
Polish the external metal, clean the machine, final test sew, and return the power cord, foot pedal, and every accessory.
Also on offer
Serviced machines to buy, and lessons to go with them.
Vintage Machine Sales
Fully serviced vintage machines, sold as they become available. Every machine leaves the bench tested and ready to sew.
- A complete professional tune-up on every machine
- Three bobbins and a digital manual when one’s available
- A 90-day service warranty
- Local pickup in Portland only — no shipped sales
Inventory changes often. Get in touch for what’s ready right now, or tell me what you’re looking for.
Sewing Lessons
One-on-one instruction only — no group classes. Beginner through intermediate, paced to you, whether you’re starting from zero or working through a specific pattern.
- Held at my workshop or your place — travel’s included, no extra fee
- Sessions run one to three hours
- 24 hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule
$50 / hour · 1-hour minimum
About Tandem
Run by someone who sews.
I came to sewing machine repair through a health-forced pivot. A vestibular condition made screen-based work unsustainable, and it pointed me toward a bench, a set of tools, and training through Sewing Doc Academy — the premier training institution for sewing machine technicians.
But the sewing itself goes back to childhood, taught by a mother who used it to bring joy to other people. I came back to it seriously in 2021, and the business grew out of that.
This isn’t a service business that happens to work on sewing machines. It’s run by someone who sews, who learned the same way many of my customers did, and who understands the attachment people have to their machines.
Keeping functional vintage machines out of landfills is a genuine value here, not a marketing line. These are beautiful, hardworking tools, and most of them have decades of good work left in them.
About the name. Tandem was a foster dog — a boxer mix with a snaggletooth and a lot of heart, playful and sweet and strong. The company is named in her honor. It’s a real story, and it says something true about how this place runs.
How we work
The plain details.
Where
Drop off by appointment at 310 SW 4th Ave, Ste. 210, downtown Portland. Lessons can come to you around the metro area.
Turnaround
Quoted at drop-off. Complex repairs and restorations are timed case by case.
Payment
Cash, check, Venmo, or Cash App — due in full at pickup, before the machine goes home.
What I service
All domestic sewing machines, modern and vintage — Singer, Kenmore, White, Bernina and more. (Singer Touch & Sew models excepted — their nylon gears can’t be reliably repaired.)
Pricing
Firm and transparent. No discounts, no bench fee, and nothing ordered without your okay first.
Honest calls
If a machine isn’t worth repairing, I’ll tell you — even if it means turning down the job.
Questions
Good to know before you come in.
Do you repair modern and computerized sewing machines?
Yes. Tandem services all domestic sewing machines, modern and vintage — Singer, Kenmore, White, Bernina, Janome, Elna and more. The one exception is Singer Touch & Sew models, whose nylon gears can’t be reliably repaired. While I can service computerized machines, I am unable to repair computer related issues.
What is a $30 Quick Fix?
A flat $30 for a single, well-defined problem — a threading or tension issue, a stuck handwheel, an uncooperative bobbin, or a small adjustment. If your machine turns out to need more, I’ll tell you before doing anything else.
How much does a sewing machine tune-up cost?
A standard tune-up is $100. Machines needing more involved work start at $150 plus parts, and repairs start at $100 plus parts. A few models are set-priced — Singer 201 is $125, Featherweight $140, and the Viking 6000 series $160. Every price is confirmed after an in-person assessment, and there’s no bench fee.
Where are you located, and do you offer pickup?
The shop is at 310 SW 4th Ave, Ste. 210 in downtown Portland, open by appointment. Machines are dropped off at the shop.
Do you sell serviced vintage machines?
Yes, as they become available. Every machine sold gets a full professional tune-up, three bobbins, a digital manual when one exists, and a 90-day service warranty. Local pickup in Portland only. Inventory changes often — get in touch for what’s ready now.
From customers
In their words.
“My partner surprised me with a 1911 Singer 66 Red Eye in horrible shape. Jefferson replaced all the electrical parts, oiled, cleaned and polished it, and got it running like new. A true antique — and part of American history.”
1911 Singer 66 “Red Eye” · Google review
“Incredibly knowledgeable and kind — he answered all of my questions. When I picked up my machine, he offered to give me some education and a demonstration. I’ll be using his services again.”
1951 Singer 201 · Google review
“A wonderful job cleaning and servicing my Janome MC6600P. Friendly and communicative throughout, with a quick turnaround — I picked up my machine the day after dropping it off.”
Janome MC6600P · Google review
Get started
Bring in your machine.
Tell me the make, the model, and what it’s doing (or not doing). I’ll come back with a starting price and we’ll set up a drop-off. Quick fixes and full tune-ups both start the same way — with a message.
- Call or text
- 971-238-3632
- Where
- 310 SW 4th Ave,
Portland, OR 97204
By appointment · View on map - Hours
- Monday–Friday, 10am–6pm