Monday, April 26, 2010

The long and winding road to sewing


 I was a late bloomer when it came to sewing.  In fact, when I was a kid I hated was not fond of sewing at all.  The only instruction I had ever had was in Home Economics classes which were taught by starchy old ladies using ancient, public school sewing machines.  No wonder I didn't like it!  In fact, I actually told my friends who liked to sew that they were crazy. (Linda, If you are reading this, I apologize....again!)

It was during my first few years of married life when the domestic side of me suddenly appeared and I decided to take a sewing class.  Well, to be honest, a friend and I decided to take a photography class at Community Education but the class was full, so we signed up for the sewing class instead. (It was her suggestion).  What a difference it made to be taking a sewing class because I wanted to, not because I had to! 

Fast forward to today. Now that my parents have downsized to a smaller home, my Mom passed down her sewing machine to me.  I told my husband "I now own the machine I learned to hate sewing on!"  Of course, I don't feel that way anymore.  In fact, I'm quite sentimental about it.

So shiny and pretty with it's mint green color.  It's been waiting patiently for me to come around, I can just tell.


Look!  It's welcoming me with open arms.


It's actually a pretty nice machine for it's time.  It was made in 1969, which was way before computerized machines of course, and yet it could do several decorative stitches.  It uses a mechancial cam system.  For each different stitch, you place a cam into the top of the machine and it guides the needle to making the stitch.


There are enough cams to make 24 different stitches. 


It also has this niftly needle threader gizmo that I never even took out of the box as a kid, but is sure to be one of the most useful items now.  Ahem.


It will need a good cleaning and oiling since Mom hasn't used it in a while, but I'm looking forward to taking it for a test drive.  I'm sure it will come in handy if my daily machine has to go in the shop.  Besides, the closed sewing cabinet is a great place to stack fabric!


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6 comments:

  1. Your sewing machine cabinet is a beautiful piece of furniture, and the sewing machine looks brand new. Hope you have many a happy hour sewing on it.
    Enjoy,
    Patricia

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  2. Nice machine there. The cabinet is really nice. Should work out well for you. I took sewing in home ec as well but didn't really start sewing till after I got pregnant the second time. Now I don't know what I would do if I didn't sew, Maybe housework, naw....

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  3. What a nice looking sewing machine! Looks like a real treasure. Hope you enjoy it!

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  4. Enjoy that machine its lovely .

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  5. Em,
    There is definitely no apology needed. I am just glad you saw the "sewing light". It is nice that you were able provide a home for your mother's sewing machine.
    Linda

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  6. Wow that is an amazing sewing machine and cabinet! You will have many hours of enjoyment with that machine. I can't wait to see what you sew with it! Sam xox

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