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She hasn't had a machine for years (Moderated by Sharon1952, EleanorSews)
Posted on: 1/9/12 6:16 PM ET
As some of you may remember (I posted about this a while back) a good friend of mine is getting married this spring and is sewing her wedding outfit; I'm going to be her matron of honor. As I mentioned above, she hasn't had a sewing machine for years -- but she used to sew professionally. She was going to borrow my machine to make her outfit, but last night she called and said she'd decided to buy a refurbished machine. I recommended our local sewing machine shop, which has lots of refurbished machines and does very good service work. So, I took her and her fiancé there this afternoon.
There was a circa-1970's Kenmore there (quite a bit like this but not exactly) -- I'd noticed it myself a few weeks ago. Well, it was pretty much love at first sight. It ran like a purring kitten and sewed gorgeous, even stitches. It even had the original manual and attachments, all in great shape. No automatic buttonholer, but there's a buttonhole attachment, and my friend says she's had tons of experience making buttonholes without an automatic buttonholer, so, no problem.
The coolest thing, though -- and the reason I wanted to share this with you -- was how she clicked back in and was right at home again after spending all those years without a sewing machine. You could almost feel her ease and confidence rise as she played around with the machine to get the feel of it. She figured out pretty much everything about it within just a few minutes (it would have taken me days). She was so happy that now she'd be able to make things for people again. When her arthritis got bad a while back, she had to stop knitting Christmas gifts and so on, but now she'll be able to sew them.
Just thought some of you might find this story as heart-warming as I did!
-- Edited on 1/9/12 6:17 PM --
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There was a circa-1970's Kenmore there (quite a bit like this but not exactly) -- I'd noticed it myself a few weeks ago. Well, it was pretty much love at first sight. It ran like a purring kitten and sewed gorgeous, even stitches. It even had the original manual and attachments, all in great shape. No automatic buttonholer, but there's a buttonhole attachment, and my friend says she's had tons of experience making buttonholes without an automatic buttonholer, so, no problem.
The coolest thing, though -- and the reason I wanted to share this with you -- was how she clicked back in and was right at home again after spending all those years without a sewing machine. You could almost feel her ease and confidence rise as she played around with the machine to get the feel of it. She figured out pretty much everything about it within just a few minutes (it would have taken me days). She was so happy that now she'd be able to make things for people again. When her arthritis got bad a while back, she had to stop knitting Christmas gifts and so on, but now she'll be able to sew them.
Just thought some of you might find this story as heart-warming as I did!

-- Edited on 1/9/12 6:17 PM --
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my shield and my very great reward ~ Gen. 15:1
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid. ~ Albert Einstein
People have a way of becoming what you encourage them to be, not what you nag them to be. ~ Scudder N. Parker
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid. ~ Albert Einstein
People have a way of becoming what you encourage them to be, not what you nag them to be. ~ Scudder N. Parker
Posted on: 1/9/12 6:40 PM ET
That is great. I understand your friend. I started sewing again this spring after a break of about 10 years (except for a few odd projects here and there). I don't understand why I quit. So glad for your friend. I am also glad she got that Kenmore. It is almost like mine (looks like it-mine has cams etc). It is still running strong and purring. She will get alot out of it. Is she a member here on PR yet?
Posted on: 1/9/12 7:36 PM ET
In reply to Vintage Joan
That sewing machine is just like mine. A friend of mine gave me her's. She was going to throw it out. I use it for leather and other heavy fabric. Its a great little machine.

Very nice heart warming story. Congradulations your friends up coming wedding.
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Very nice heart warming story. Congradulations your friends up coming wedding.

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Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to god. And
The peace of god, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
The peace of god, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Posted on: 1/9/12 7:51 PM ET
In reply to Vintage Joan
That looks much like my Mother's 1970's Kenmore. She still has it. Except I think she has a few more stitches. It has always been a very good machine. For over 40 years now. And very easy to keep cleaned and oiled yourself. Once, maybe when it was 10 years old or so, the reverse lever hanging off the front of it, broke inside, but my Father just bolted it back together with just another piece of metal, and it's been good as ever, ever since. Her Buttonhole attachment is really nice too, because it works with that separate plate that goes in, and the little gears on the special plate, fit into the button hole templates, so I think that is just as good or better than automatic button holes sometimes. Especially since it does the rounded edged button holes. I actually like that better than some more 4 step manual button holes in lots of other machines.
Posted on: 1/10/12 8:31 AM ET
In reply to Marie367
Quote:
That is great. I understand your friend. I started sewing again this spring after a break of about 10 years (except for a few odd projects here and there). I don't understand why I quit. So glad for your friend.
That is great. I understand your friend. I started sewing again this spring after a break of about 10 years (except for a few odd projects here and there). I don't understand why I quit. So glad for your friend.
It's even more than just taking a break in her case -- she's been through more than you can imagine. I think the reason she didn't have a machine for so long was that hers broke and she couldn't afford a new one (or to fix the one she had) and also was in the grips of too much depression to really care. So, this machine is kind of a symbol of new-found life for her. She credits me with having something to do with all this (she's been inspired by the transformations that have taken place in my life... she met me a year or so ago when I was what she calls a scared little mouse, lol). I don't know about that, and there's a lot more to this story. But I'm glad I got to be part of the big day yesterday.

It also really brings home how little the glitter and frills mean, in the end -- a machine that's solid and reliable is like a dream come true to her, and she'll make great use of it.

-- Edited on 1/10/12 8:34 AM --
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my shield and my very great reward ~ Gen. 15:1
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid. ~ Albert Einstein
People have a way of becoming what you encourage them to be, not what you nag them to be. ~ Scudder N. Parker
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid. ~ Albert Einstein
People have a way of becoming what you encourage them to be, not what you nag them to be. ~ Scudder N. Parker
Posted on: 1/10/12 1:25 PM ET
That is a heartworming story, and thanks for sharing it! I hope she will get many hours of joy from sewing now.
Re: My friends new sewing machine :) (posted on 1/10/12 2:57 PM ET)
Encouraging for anyone who has been out of sewing for eons & thinks they won't be able to.
Posted on: 1/10/12 3:40 PM ET
I wish your friend and her new machine many happy hours together. :)
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Pat in Rockport, TX
"As ye sew, so shall ye rip."
http://community.webshots.com/user/pknord
http://www.quiltingthoughts.blogspot.com/
"As ye sew, so shall ye rip."
http://community.webshots.com/user/pknord
http://www.quiltingthoughts.blogspot.com/
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