My mom let me have great grandmothers treadle when I was just a kid. Both grandmothers sewed, one for the need, one for the profit - I had a good foundation. My mom died still barely able to thread a needle and mend a pillowcase.
But in her last years she sure enjoyed immensely being with me, helping, while I worked at my quilting. I made my kids clothes on that treadle; eventually daddy got mom a Kenmore in a cabinet (Only the Lord knows why he bought her a machine!) and I was the one who used it.