My mother taught me to sew on my great grandmothers treadle machine. I was around 8 years old. I have a picture of my dad at 3 standing outside and in the back ground is the machine. GGM would have the men take it outside as soon as the snow had started to clear. That way she could sew with natural light AND get out of the house after the long winter.
My mother is gone now, little did she know what she started...I sewed my way through collage, am a registered historical seamstress, teach sewing, member of a quilt guild. Thanks to my mother and great grandmother. Oh, and I still have that old treadle machine it is my pride and joy and is still in use.