Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums >
  • Main
  • For Vintage & Antique Machine Enthusiasts
  • Hand cranks at the museum for Kansas day >
  • Hand cranks at the museum for Kansas day

  • Hand cranks at the museum for Kansas day

    Thread Tools
     
    Old 01-29-2018, 06:59 AM
      #1  
    Super Member
    Thread Starter
     
    leonf's Avatar
     
    Join Date: May 2016
    Location: near Topeka kansas
    Posts: 4,524
    Default Hand cranks at the museum for Kansas day

    Today is Kansas, USA's birthday. Friday Chrisquilts, Iris and I took handcranks to show kids and teachers at the historical museum. around 800 kids came through and many did a seam or a little pouch with our machines. Great fun. It was nice to have one more machine than demo folks so if someone made a thread jam, we could just trade.

    Many kids got to thread ne[ATTACH=CONFIG]587996[/ATTACH]edles too.

    IRis L and Chris R
    [ATTACH=CONFIG]587997[/ATTACH]

    [ATTACH=CONFIG]587998[/ATTACH] Somebody was tired.

    [ATTACH=CONFIG]587999[/ATTACH]Dad/teacher? tried it too.
    Attached Thumbnails chris-iris-ks-day-hc-b.jpg   chris-girl-hc-ks-day-b.jpg   tired-little-one-b.jpg   dad-too-hc-vfsm-ks-day..jpg  
    leonf is offline  
    Old 01-29-2018, 09:17 AM
      #2  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Mar 2016
    Posts: 2,834
    Default

    Nothing's quite a much fun as teaching the 'younguns'.

    bkay
    bkay is offline  
    Old 01-29-2018, 10:26 AM
      #3  
    Power Poster
     
    Join Date: Mar 2011
    Location: Ontario, Canada
    Posts: 41,481
    Default

    Wonderful activity for all!
    Tartan is offline  
    Old 01-29-2018, 11:20 AM
      #4  
    Senior Member
     
    Join Date: Feb 2012
    Posts: 673
    Default

    I envy those who know how to use (and enjoy) hand crank machines. I have a couple of them but could never warm up to the idea (or the reality) of engaging one hand with the crank and manipulating my work with the other; too often I need both hands to ease, navigate sharp curves or other fine work. I do like the idea of human-powered machines, so I've found pleasure in working on treadles; a Singer 31-15 (the "tailor's" machine) from 1916 is now my go-to.
    Manalto is offline  
    Old 01-29-2018, 06:04 PM
      #5  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Nov 2010
    Location: Utah
    Posts: 2,074
    Default

    What a great thing to do!
    quiltedsunshine is offline  
    Old 01-30-2018, 09:00 AM
      #6  
    Banned
     
    Join Date: Oct 2012
    Location: San Lorenzo, CA
    Posts: 5,361
    Default

    Interesting, every person we have ever shown how to sew with a handcrank has said that it was WAY easier to control and be more accurate....

    What folks do not take into account when considering this, is that there is a direct "connection" between the action of your right hand and the action of the feed dogs pulling the fabric through. It is as though you are pulling it but it is "virtual"

    With an electric motor, you lose the feeling of control over the feed and to the second hand is needed for stability. With a handcrank, you hold/guide the fabric in line with where you want the seam and you "pull the fabric" through with the feed dogs.

    Once a person has done piece work on a handcrank, they almost always say that going back to electric is hard to get the same control.

    My .02
    SteveH is offline  
    Old 01-30-2018, 09:28 AM
      #7  
    mim
    Super Member
     
    mim's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Nov 2010
    Location: maine/washington
    Posts: 1,572
    Default lady in russia

    when I was in St Petersburg Russia I stayed with a lady who had 2 sewing machines - a new electric and a handcrank. She didn't like the electric. Here she is hemming a sheet. She could sew as fast as an electric. Said it sewed straight stitches. Her mother had owned it as a treadle before WW2 and they managed to keep it safe all during the 3 year seige of Stallingrad. Shehad it modified into a handcrank because it was easier to use.
    Attached Thumbnails woman-hand-crank-sewing-maching-st-petersburg.jpg  
    mim is offline  
    Old 01-30-2018, 09:32 AM
      #8  
    Super Member
     
    chris_quilts's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Dec 2009
    Location: leavenworth, ks
    Posts: 3,093
    Default

    I had a blast working with the kiddos & tje adults too. Sew much fun. Leon & Iris are a hoot too.
    chris_quilts is offline  
    Old 01-30-2018, 08:48 PM
      #9  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Dec 2010
    Location: Dallas area, Texas, USA
    Posts: 3,042
    Default

    Thank you for doing this for the kids! It's not something that many get to see, much less try for themselves. I love it, but as I looked through the pictures it dawned on me that probably a few of those kids may have never seen a recent sewing machine up close, and they might have the impression that sewing is something people did only in the old days. It would be cool to put a modern machine side by side with one of the hand cranks and demonstrate that much of the working concept is still the same and the stitches can look the same, too. We owe a lot to those who went before.

    By the way, I grew up in Leavenworth and have many fond memories of the town and Kansas. Last I saw it was a few years ago for my 50th LHS reunion.
    Rose_P is offline  
    Old 01-31-2018, 05:40 AM
      #10  
    Member
     
    Join Date: Jan 2018
    Location: Pocatello Idaho
    Posts: 2
    Default

    We do this same thing in Idaho and Montana. Here we are in Bannack Montana. We have the kids of all ages sew a little bag It's a blast. If you ever get the chance to get to Bannack Montana (ghost town) it's the third weekend in July. [ATTACH=CONFIG]588125[/ATTACH]
    Attached Thumbnails img_1130.jpg  
    LaMar is offline  
    Related Topics
    Thread
    Thread Starter
    Forum
    Replies
    Last Post
    Champanier
    For Vintage & Antique Machine Enthusiasts
    12
    07-25-2014 05:14 PM
    Boscobd
    Main
    3
    10-18-2013 06:25 AM
    Joyce29
    For Vintage & Antique Machine Enthusiasts
    15
    05-05-2013 04:52 PM
    mo-rie
    For Vintage & Antique Machine Enthusiasts
    16
    11-17-2011 06:23 AM
    Tallbald
    For Vintage & Antique Machine Enthusiasts
    10
    11-11-2011 12:49 PM

    Posting Rules
    You may not post new threads
    You may not post replies
    You may not post attachments
    You may not edit your posts

    BB code is On
    Smilies are On
    [IMG] code is On
    HTML code is Off
    Trackbacks are Off
    Pingbacks are Off
    Refbacks are Off



    FREE Quilting Newsletter