Sewing Machine Day Update 2013

By Diane Forrest

Twenty-five years ago when I moved to my current city, I remember going to Wal-Mart to the sewing department.  There were 2 rows of tables with stools there.  You could pull up a stool and look through books and books full of patterns from Simplicity or McCall’s.   Once you picked the pattern you wanted, you would go to the long filing cabinets, pull out a drawer and find your pattern.  There were rows and rows of material, and bolts of material stacked on tables.  There were even two ladies working back there to help cut your material and answer any questions you had.

I would get all my supplies, take it home, cut out my pattern and pin it to the material.  Cut it out and set about sewing on my mother's old Singer sewing machine. I could even make some things just by designing it in my mind.  I made all of my son's Halloween costumes, recovered an old couch a few times, and made several throw pillows with that machine.

As the years passed by - the sewing department at Wal-Mart has gotten smaller and smaller.  Today it hardly exists at all.  The country has seen a decline in the use of the sewing machine that was once a standard in every household. Most of this generation has never even seen a sewing machine, much less know how to operate one.  Sewing has become a lost art, with people buying premade clothes and home items, and where alterations can be done at a laundry/dry cleaning or by a few little old ladies at home.  My great grandmother did alterations from her home as well as my mother in law. .  My mother was not a "craft" person, but I did learn how to use a sewing machine from my dad and while in school during a home economics course.   While I am proud to say I can whip up a skirt or set curtains in no time flat, I am ashamed to say I never taught my son to use a sewing machine.  This concerns me because what if he has a child that needs to have a pumpkin costume for Halloween, or a clown?  What if he needs a cape to be Dracula?  How will he make these?

Today is Sewing Machine Day.  Thomas Saint patented the first design of the sewing machine in 1790 and it has since undergone many evolutions. This hallmark of the Industrial Revolution allows for efficient creation of clothing and other stitched items.  Sewing machines did not go into mass production until the 1850's, when Isaac Singer built the first commercially successful machine. Singer built the first sewing machine where the needle moved up and down rather than the side-to-side and a foot treadle powered the needle. Previous machines were all hand-cranked.

Why not pull out your old sewing machine, or your mom's or grandmothers and try your hand at recovering a pillow or making a quick skirt.

Sewing Machine Day - 2012

(Google Image) 

By Diane Forrest

Twenty five years ago when I moved to my current city, I remember going to Wal-Mart to the sewing department.  There were 2 rows of tables with stools there.  You could pull up a stool and look through books and books full of patterns from Simplicity or McCall’s.   Once you picked the pattern you wanted, you would go to the long filing cabinets, pull out a drawer and find your pattern.  There were rows and rows of material, and bolts of material stacked on tables.  There were even two ladies working back there to help cut your material and answer any questions you had.

(Google Image) 

I would get all my supplies, take it home, cut out my pattern and pin it to the material.  Cut it out and set about sewing on my mother's old Singer sewing machine. I could even make some things just by designing it in my mind.  I made all of my son's Halloween costumes, recovered an old couch a few times, and made several throw pillows with that machine.

(Google Image) 

As the years passed by the sewing department at Wal-Mart got smaller and smaller.  Today it hardly exists at all.  The country has seen a decline in the use of the sewing machine which was once a standard in every household. Most of this generation has never even seen a sewing machine, much less know how to operate one.  Sewing has become a lost art, with people buying premade clothes and home items, and alterations can be done at a laundry or by a few little old ladies at home.  My great grandmother did alterations from her home as well as my mother in law. .  My mother was not a "craft" person, but I did learn how to use a sewing machine from my dad and while in school during a home economics course.   While I am proud to say I can whip up a skirt or a set a curtains in no time flat, I am ashamed to say I never taught my son to use a sewing machine.  This concerns me because what if he has a child that needs to have a pumpin costume for Halloween, or a clown?  What if he needs a cape to be dracula?  How will he make these?

(Google Image) 

Today is Sewing Machine day.  Thomas Saint patented the first design of the sewing machine in 1790 and it has since undergone many evolutions. This hallmark of the Industrial Revolution allows for efficient creation of clothing and other stitched items.  Sewing machines did not go into mass production until the 1850's, when Isaac Singer built the first commercially successful machine. Singer built the first sewing machine where the needle moved up and down rather than the side-to-side and the needle was powered by a foot treadle. Previous machines were all hand-cranked.

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Why not pull out your old sewing machine, or your mom's or grandmothers and try your hand at recovering a pillow or making a quick skirt.

(Google Image) 

Sewing Machine Day - Do you remember?

By Diane Forrest

June 13th is Sewing Machine Day, and I wanted to share with you some fond memories I have with sewing machines.  I remember as a young girl getting my first sewing machine.  It was a Betsy Ross model like the one pictured here.  It didn't have many functions, just sewing a basic stitch, but I felt so grown up.  Then I remember my mother getting a brand new sewing machine, paid for with S & H green stamps.

For those who don't remember these, they were stamps given at the grocery store with each purchase.  You would save them in books, and when your book or books were full, you could take them to the green stamp store and trade them for all kinds of things.  The Singer sewing machine, like the one pictured here, came in its own carrying case, and must have weighed a ton!  The machine tilted back revealing a hidden compartment used for storing the operating pedals, extra bobbins, needles and zippers or buttons.  This also served as the bottom of the case where the lid attached.  I still have this machine, however the handle broke some time ago, and since it still weighs a ton, and I hardly ever get it out any more.

When I was in the 5th or 6th grade, my mother enrolled me in a 4-H class to learn the fine art of sewing.  I made a sun dress, and was so proud.  I wore it often, even though it was pretty hideous.  Later, when I was in the 10th grade, we were (ordered? forced?) required to take home economics.  In addition to learning how to cook, we also had to complete a sewing project.  I pulled out my trusty old sun dress pattern and made another dress.  This time it turned out slightly less hideous.  The seams actually matched, and the hems were straight.  Do they even teach Home Ec. at schools anymore?

Later, when I moved into my first apartment I inherited my grandmother's old sewing machine.  It is like the table one shown here.  It is a very basic machine; however I did use it to recover an old couch that I also inherited.  I also still have it today, but now it is used for a table to hold my copier.

These days, sewing machines have moved into the high tech arena like many other appliances. The one pictured here operates on a computer.   Sewing has become a lost art, just like knitting, crocheting, needlepoint, or quilting.  These skills are being replaced by computers and video games.  I have to admit that even I barely break out my sewing machine, using it occasionally to hem a pair of pants, or make a quick throw pillow. 

When my son was younger, I used it often, especially every Halloween when I made his costume.   When he informed me that he was engaged, and was bringing his intended to meet the family, as a joke I got her the good wife book.   (To be fair I also got my son the how to be a good husband book)  We all got a big laugh about the "suggestions" that were included in this book, well the women laughed anyway.  But it made me realize how much things have changed.  Each generation things change, either improving or becoming obsolete.   So today, on Sewing machine day, dust off your old machine if you have one and whip up some new throw pillows.  Not only can you brighten up your living space, but you will have a feeling of satisfaction creating something with your own two hands.  It is also a good day to teach your children, grandchildren, or friend how to use a sewing machine and create things for themselves too.

Please share some of your sewing machine stories with us.