kmohan

I’ve recently been thinking about when I was younger and when I learned how to sew with a sewing machine. I think I was 7 or 8 and I used to help my mom with hemming pants before school started in the fall and basic clothing repairs. I want allowed to use the machine at first but I helped with some pinning and getting everything ready for her. My mom had an old Singer she had got in highschool. It had a solid case that clipped right into the body of the machine, which I have never seen since. She kept the machine until the pedal broke and our repair guy couldn’t get a replacement. I eventually sewed my graduation dress with that machine….good times!

When did you all start sewing? Any fond memories of specific machines?

Kristy

elizajo

My Mom received a new 1951 Centennial Singer Featherweight with all the accessories as a wedding gift from her aunt. She gave it to my sisters and I when she got a bigger machine. I was about seven. We used it to make doll clothes, rag dolls, aprons, etc. Then we got a white Featherweight in 1968; by that time we had moved up to making dresses (think Twiggy shift dresses!). On summer days back then, all three machines were often in use.

One of my nieces has the black 221now; the white one developed tension problems and lives in my sister's closet. I borrowed the black one last year while mine was in the shop. It still sews a perfect straight stitch, and the manual is still soaked in sewing machine oil!

QBeth

I started around the same age as you, 7 or 8, by hand sewing clothes for my fake Barbie doll. My first machine was a "portable" Singer that must weigh about 30 lbs! Still have it, won't part with it.

A few months back, I became nostalgic for my grandmother's hand-crank Singer. Unfortunately, my mother threw it away because it was broken; heaven forbid she'd ask if anyone wanted it anyways! :roll: So, thru my local LQS, I found someone selling her grandmother's hand-crank machine and I bought it! Looks like it might be the same model my grandmother had or, at least close to it.

My boyfriend's hobby is his 1962 T-bird. (He looks SO cute driving it!) I plan on taking the machine with us, plus small table & chair, to the various car shows so, while he's wandering around, I can sew. Figured it would at least be a conversation starter! It was too late in 2009 to try but am looking forward to the shows in 1010.

QBeth

Make that 2010!

butterjoy

My first experience in sewing was making a apron while in the 4H club. I was taking that to earn my "badge" in home economics. I did learn how to make tunic top also. I used my Mom's Singer sewing machine. 4H was the best experience I had while growing up. Never forgot it. After all these years, I am now making my first quilts. Love it!

lfw045

My mother taught me how to sew when I was 6 or 7 also. She sewed at home for other people so I grew up around that sewing machine pedal. That machine is now mine but I leave it at my Dad's for the time being and use it when I am there visiting. It is a Singer 206 model made in England in I believe 1952 or around that time. It is still a wonderful machine and wouldn't part with it for anything.

Oklahoma Suzie

I learned in jr high school. In high school I won awards for some of the things I made.

littlehud

I learned on my moms old Singer. When I was in Jr High my dad found an old White that had been converted from a treadle ( it was free ) and brought it home to me. It still sews. I sewed on that machine the whole while my kids were young and I still love it.