September 9, 2015

NATIONAL SEWING MONTH: WE'VE COME A LONG WAY BABY!!!

...... Since we're celebrating all things sewing this month it would be hard to over look that magnificent invention called the Sewing Machine.  I've been near sewing machines for as long as I can remember - starting with the days I sat next to my Great Grandmother while she used one like the picture below.  I got several spankings for playing with that machine after being told not.  Granny might as well have told me "Faye, I'm leaving the room now - have at it".  Ha, I was so bound and determined that I was going to learn to sew that those spankings meant nothing to me.  I did, by the way, inherit my Great Grandmother's Singer treadle sewing machine.  Terry's Fabrics provided me with an informative infographic history of the sewing machine that I thought I'd share with you to commemorate the invention that we so wouldn't want to be without.  We've come a long way baby...
 
   
ENJOY READING THE HISTORY OF THE SEWING MACHINE BY CLICKING THIS LINK:  

14 comments:

  1. I sat at my Grandmother's knee, like you, on the side of a treadle machine while she pumped away. It was heaven and so fascinating to a small little girl.

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    1. So many of us share similar Grandmother memories Bunny. I know you value yours same as I do.

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  2. Great history lesson. My grandmother had a similar machine and I remember many of the garments she made for my mother, herself and me!!!

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    1. My Granny loved working outdoors Linda, but on a rainy day she'd spend all day long sewing. Those were the best days for me, and I can never forget the button down tops and gathered skirts she made for me and my sisters.

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  3. I didn't have any sewers in my family....I guess it began with me. By the time I got interested in sewing my grandmother had stopped. She couldn't afford a machine. She and her sisters sewed by hand. She did beautiful crochet work though. I'm passing the knowledge on to my grands, hope at least one of them catches the bug!!!!

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    1. I'm positive that one of your grands will pick up your passion for sewing Tee. It's a wonderful gift to pass along to loved ones.

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  4. Loved your story, Faye. I was at my grandmother's knee while she created new dresses for my Betsy Wetsy doll (at the time a new innovation!). Thanks for the memory....
    She willed me her machine (a 401 Singer) and I continue to sew on it in her honor today!

    Cynthia

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  5. Aren't these memories precious Cynthia. I'll bet you can't sit down at that Singer without thinking about your Grandmother!

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  6. Thanks for sharing this Faye. I don't remember any sewers in my family and my hankering for sewing came out of necessity to make clothes that we could not afford, ini the beginning I refashioned everything that I could get my hands on. Thanks again.

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  7. Michelle I think you are a person with GREAT vision. People who are able to take an older existing garment (sometimes a matronly over-sized dress in a lovely fabric) and change it into something modern, artsy and beautiful always amaze me. I love your play on print/color/textue mixing.

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  8. Anonymous9/13/2015

    My grandfather was a master tailor and had an industrial sewing machine. When I was 15 I spent the summer with my grandparents. I wanted to sew a dress but he did not want me using the industrial machine because it sews very rapidly so he replaced the broken belt on my grandmother's treadle machine with clothesline and I spent the summer mastering the treadle machine. I have fond memories of that summer but unfortunately I wasn't able to inherit it; you're so lucky to have your grandmother's.

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    1. Like you,I love recalling sewing memories.

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  9. Great post. Thanks for sharing !

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