“You haven’t had enough coffee until you can thread a sewing machine while it’s running” is a saying that has been printed on many images. “Trying to get a word in edgewise with some people is like trying to thread a sewing machine with the motor running” is a jocular one-line saying that has been cited in print since at least 1963.
 
“If the only way you could thread a sewing machine is with it running, you’re drinking too much coffee” was posted on the newsgroup uk.misc on February 6, 1998. “You know you are drinking too much coffee when…You can thread a sewing machine, while it’s running” was posted on the newsgroup talk.religion.course-miracle on July 26, 1999.
 
Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos was credited with a version of the much-used line in 2003:
 
“In Seattle, you haven’t had enough coffee until you can thread a sewing machine while it’s running.”
 
 
1 July 1963, Washington (DC) Post, “The District Line” by Bill Gold, pg. D14, col. 3:
“Trying to get a word in edgewise with some people is like trying to thread a sewing machine with the motor running.”
   
11 July 1963, Hobbs (NM) News-Sun, “Chatter” by Leata McQuiston, pg. 14, col. 4:
“Trying to get a word in edgewise with some people is like trying to thread a sewing machine with the motor running.”
   
Google Groups: uk.misc
Addiction (was: God I’m Lazy)
David Yehudah
2/6/98
(...)
If the only way you could thread a sewing machine is with it running, you’re drinking too much coffee.
 
Google Groups: talk.religion.course-miracle
GET FRESHLY GROUND COFFEE ONLINE 36945
Fool
7/26/99
You know you are drinking too much coffee when…....
(...)
* You can thread a sewing machine, while it’s running.
     
16 March 2003, Evansville (IN) Courier & Press, “Getaway Sunday,” pg. C3:
“In Seattle, you haven’t had enough coffee until you can thread a sewing machine while it’s running.” —Jeff hitBezos, founder of Amazon.com
     
Twitter
Christine Hennessey‏
@TheNewChrissy
Got a card in the mail from Bobbie! “You haven’t had enough coffee until you can thread a sewing machine while it’s running.” I love it.
6:59 PM - 15 Jul 2008
 
Twitter
Scrapiana‏
@scrapiana
“In Seattle you haven’t had enough coffee until you can thread a sewing machine while it’s running.” - Jeff Bezos
7:36 AM - 11 Nov 2008
 
Google Books
The Reader’s Digest
Volumes 174-175
2009
Pg. 117:
In Seattle you haven’t had enough coffee until you can thread a sewing machine while it’s running.
Jeff Bezos
 
Google Books
Chicken Soup for the Coffee Lover’s Soul:
Celebrating the Perfect Blend
By Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Theresa Peluso
Cos Cob, CT: Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC
2013
Pg. ?:
In Seattle, you haven’t had enough coffee until you can thread a sewing machine while it’s running.
Jeff Bezos
 
Google Books
Coffee:
A Drink for the Devil
By Paul Chrystal
Gloucestershire, UK: Anberley Publishing
2016
Pg. 7:
In Seattle you haven’t had enough coffee until you can thread a sewing machine while it’s running.
Jeff Bezos