I own an old Brother basic model. I have had Singers that crapped out. The best thing about this machine is that it will double stitch, which produces a very durable seam. I have made gloves, hats and other simple items plus repairs and alterations. A sewing machine can save a ton of money.
I’ve always had one. I lugged my first one home from a thrift store and eventually replaced it with a newer (and much lighter!) model. I do all my repairs, buttons and hemming by hand. I guess I have it because there are some sewing tasks that would require too much time to do by hand, like making a whole set of drapes or sewing clothing. I use it rarely but I wouldn’t want to be without it.
I’ve owned 5 sewing machines since I was in high school, including my grandmother’s Singer treadle machine, which I still have. My latest is a Brother electronic machine, pretty close to bottom of the line, but it works for me. Mostly I use it to sew stuff for our boat (like upholstery and canvas covers) and some repairs around the house. Eons ago, I used to make most of my clothes, but these days, I just don’t care enough to bother.
I own one and occasionally use it, but there will be no whipping up of Halloween costumes in this house. I wouldn’t even trust my ability to hem a pair of pants evenly (sewing in straight lines is for PANSIES), never mind trying to make a full garment. I mostly use it for small craft projects, like making bags.
I do occasionally consider becoming more ambitious and trying to make some doll clothes or something, but I don’t think that’ll happen any time soon. At best, I think I might manage to make a superhero cape for my nephew some time before he’s too old to use it.
There’s one in the house but it belongs to BloodyL. She used it a lot at first. 
I own a sewing machine. I believe I can follow a pattern, but that might just be hubris, I’ve not tried to actually sew anything in a while. Unless your Halloween costume is “Ghost” or “Pillowcase” or “Sheet of blank paper,” sewing a costume is not easy. Even though I’d assume that most of my friends own a machine (just based on my friends) I wouldn’t expect them to have that level of sewing skill.
I didn’t realize how rare it is to be an accomplished tailor/dressmaker/sewer these days! I’ve made everything from a simple apron to ballroom competition dresses to renaissance fair costumes to mens suits. I can’t conceive of a world that I didn’t own a sewing machine and a serger.
I’m male, and my wife has one, and knows how to use it, but only ever uses it for Halloween costumes any more. If she didn’t, I’d never buy one on my own. I guess I’ll vote other.
I don’t own one, but I’ve considered it. I think it would be fun to learn, and I have a couple of teachers close at hand. Mom and Gran are both very good at sewing. Mom can alter anything to fit anyone, and Gran can make incredible stuff from scratch, so if I need anything done I just lug it over to one of them. I can sew buttons on and fix simple seams by hand but that’s the limit of my skills.
Sandra Battye, you’re right, it apparently is a rare skill these days. Mom and Gran both make a fair amount of money making/fixing stuff for people. Mom has off and on considered starting her own shop, she’s worked in alteration shops for years.
I actually own two - one electric powered which I almost never use, and a Singer treadle machine that is officially 101 years old this year which I love.
I thought this post was kind of sweet. 
I have a sewing machine. I got it last January and I can’t live without it. Baby clothes, curtains, alterations, whatever. I can’t wait to fully construct garments for myself to wear. At the moment, I’m sticking to short kids. And yes, I’ve sewn costumes on it. 
I’ll probably make mine this year.
How does a grown woman NOT have a sewing machine? It’s like…getting married, giving birth, being a homeowner or some other such important milestone in life.
I don’t own a sewing machine (female). I can get a needle and thread and repair a small rip or maybe sew on a button but that’s the limit of my skills. My mom can sew but hates it and so never really taught me.
I haven’t done any of the other three.
Well… I’m a grown woman with TWO sewing machines but I’ve never given birth (not likely to at my age) and never owned a home…
Well, perhaps there is more than one way to be a “grown woman”?
I’m a guy and don’t own one. My partner has one - an old Singer that belonged to her mother which I believe in 1930’s 0r 40’s.
Female, own a sewing machine - but have neither given birth nor bought a home.
I could probably make a costume from a pattern but I’d need a lot of time to deal with it, and I don’t think it’d look as good as it could if someone more skilled dealt with it. Plus my machine could probably use a cleaning and a little maintenance.
I own a sewing machine (Bernina) and a serger. I used to do a lot of dressmaking but haven’t for ages because I spend far too much time on the computer nowadays.
I could make my own Halloween costume if I a) celebrated Halloween and b)put my mind to it.
I’ve got a basic Brother sewing machine. It supposedly can do embroidery, but I’m not inclined to muck about with that (I’ll do it by hand if I really need to and I never have…). Made myself some clothes, hemmed some things, done repairs and made a few other items. Velociraptor’s halloween costumes from time to time. It’s a handy item to have.
Skewing it for the men… There’s an ancient White treadle machine in the front hall. I think it just needs a drive belt and a bit of oil to be good as new.
A smallish Morse Fotomatic has been pining away for me to use it for working in leather. The little beast was a challenge to resurrect from the near-dead.
The “guest” machine is a near-the-bottom-of-the-line Brother that’s actually much better than its price might suggest.
There’s at least one Singer Touch & Sew that sees active use.
A Viking serger does the serging (obviously enough!)
A Babylock embroidery machine that cost more than what I’ve paid for most of the cars I’ve ever owned rounds out the collection.
Yeah - we make our own costumes for Faire… 
Female, and my poll answer was that I have one…but actually I have three. Plus I’m inheriting the ancient (used to be treadle, converted to electric) machine my great grandmother owned, and the fancy shmancy sewing/embroidery machine and serger that my mother bought about 20 years ago. I’ll probably see if I can’t trade in the 20 year old machines for a newer serger, as they’ve been languishing in the spare bedroom, and I know that my mother never took them in to be cleaned and serviced on a regular basis.