What was your very first sewing machine, and how old were you?
#181
A Singer Genie. My sister gave it to me for my sixteenth birthday. It is still my only sewing machine. My sister had sewn most of her clothing and some of mine all my life til then and taught me to sew the summer I was fourteen. (my sister is nearly 13 years my senior so very motherly to me for all my childhood)
My mother's first sewing machine (a singer treadle) is still at the old homestead (owned by my sister so still in the family). It was purchased with money sent home by mother's brother from his CCC money when he was working on public works out west during The Great Depression, I'm guessing early to mid 1930's. My grandmother used it after Mama married and moved away from home. I remember standing at Grandma's side at that treadle while she made a vest for my cousin for her birthday one summer when I got to stay for the whole summer instead of just two weeks. I was eight.
My mother and I moved back to the old homestead in 1976 and she resumed using it, if only for special projects. All it needed was a new belt for the pulley system. I still have a skirt she sewed for me in the late 70's...I did the gathering of the ruffle and hand hemmed it but she did everything else on the treadle. If I remember the ruffle correctly it started out nine feet long....I'm sure glad my sister taught me right!!
Thanks for the memory!
My mother's first sewing machine (a singer treadle) is still at the old homestead (owned by my sister so still in the family). It was purchased with money sent home by mother's brother from his CCC money when he was working on public works out west during The Great Depression, I'm guessing early to mid 1930's. My grandmother used it after Mama married and moved away from home. I remember standing at Grandma's side at that treadle while she made a vest for my cousin for her birthday one summer when I got to stay for the whole summer instead of just two weeks. I was eight.
My mother and I moved back to the old homestead in 1976 and she resumed using it, if only for special projects. All it needed was a new belt for the pulley system. I still have a skirt she sewed for me in the late 70's...I did the gathering of the ruffle and hand hemmed it but she did everything else on the treadle. If I remember the ruffle correctly it started out nine feet long....I'm sure glad my sister taught me right!!
Thanks for the memory!
#184
Originally Posted by Deb watkins
Mine was a treadle singer and I was 9.
#185
Don't remember my age(to long ago) it was before I started school. I used my mothers old singer untill I got married. For a wedding gift(1970) my parents gave us a singer golden touch and sew. I hated that machine I must have gotten a lemon it was either out of alinment or the tension was off all the time I could set the tension sew for an hr. Leave the room, not move the machine sit down to sew again and have to re adjust the tension! It was in the shop more than out! No one could figure out what was wrong with it. In 1972 I bought a Bernia had it for over 25 years made cloths, repaired jeans, made home decorations, even made horse blankets, leather chaps, reapolstered furnature, all 3 kids learned to sew on her finally had to give her a tearful good-by her moter burned up. Next came my Janome.
#187
I learned to sew on my grandmothers Singer 15-91 (1946) and used that machine until I left home and married. Our first Christmas together (1977), my ex bought me a Koyo, with stitch cams, it came from Fingerhut, lol! I used it until the early '90's when I purchased my first Janome with my first annual bonus check. Three years ago my DH bought me a second Janome with lots of fancy stitches on it but I haven't used it much as I love the Janome I bought for myself. So today, I moved my favored machine to the RV and set up my newest one in my home. All these stories got me to thinking that a sewing machine might make a good graduation gift for my DD2. I bought one for my DD1 when she and her new husband shipped out to WA state a few years ago. I went ahead and ordered an entry level - 25 stitch - Brother machine with case and two newbie sewing books for DD2. I hope she likes it and gets good use from it until some day she can buy the machine of her dreams.
Thanks for sharing your stories, everyone!
Rose in Nebraska
Thanks for sharing your stories, everyone!
Rose in Nebraska
#188
Used Mom's Singer and treadle till bought my own :) that was a Singer also, now using Pfaff and Brother only cause after many many years it finally needs more repair than I know how to do :(
No comment on how many machines :)
No comment on how many machines :)
#189
Wow.....my first experience was playing underneath my moms Singer treadle machine. She may still have it, as she is still with us, but I watched her use that until I was 11 and my daddy bought her a brand new Kenmore which she still owns. That was in 1970, so it is quite aged, but stillw orks.
Unfortunately she cant sew any longer. Her body doesnt function well, and she is fighting off cancer, but later on when I was 12, she let me sign up for 4 H and we started the Buttons and Bows 4 h sewing club. Learned all the basics, cuz Mom was the leader!! Funny thing though she never quilted.
I am helping to care for her. She has a stash but it has been years since she has physically been able to thread or work amachine. She also is suffering from dementia so we talk, chat and when it is a good day, talk about the memories she still has. Sewing has always contained great memories for me.
Unfortunately she cant sew any longer. Her body doesnt function well, and she is fighting off cancer, but later on when I was 12, she let me sign up for 4 H and we started the Buttons and Bows 4 h sewing club. Learned all the basics, cuz Mom was the leader!! Funny thing though she never quilted.
I am helping to care for her. She has a stash but it has been years since she has physically been able to thread or work amachine. She also is suffering from dementia so we talk, chat and when it is a good day, talk about the memories she still has. Sewing has always contained great memories for me.
#190
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 203
My first was a small, toy sized machine, where you turn the crank handle to sew...don't know the brand...then was a Phaff, traded that for a Bernina 930, traded it for a 1630..Also have a 180E and a 830...this should be my last machine as my husband has retired....enough said!!
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