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Posted by Trish Brown on August 5, 2009, 1:40 pm
ellice wrote:
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> Lovely history of your family sewing tools. It's nice to have that to go
> with the actual items. Thanks for sharing.
I always wonder, when I see old tools, who used them and how and why. I
wish we'd kept more of my Nannas' things because both had interesting lives.
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>
> I have DH's mothers old, old Singer, which was put into an Art Deco sewing
> cabinet that I refuse to give up (he thinks I should sell it). It's way too
> small for anyone over about 5'2" (and puffy) - legs really jam in there.
> But I love the style of it. I've been trying to think of some other use for
> it 'cause it looks like it came out of Hercule Poirot's flat from the BBC
> series - curved, swing out drawers and all. And just put the Singer on a
> shelve displayed downstairs somewhere.
Oh, how lucky! I think everyone loves Art Deco and you couldn't
*possibly* part with such a treasure! Could it be used as a dressing
table? Or as an occasional table in a sun-room (pretty table runner,
vase of flowers, maybe suitably framed family photos on it)? It would be
a nice place for keepsakes to live, perhaps lined with some pretty
fabric (lace it over stiff matt board and fit firmly into drawers). You
could keep cutlery in it, or jewellery or heirloom baby clothes? If you
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can't find a use for it, I bet I could! ;->
>
> I found an old wooden darning egg that clearly came from his grandmother at
> the latest. My family - hmmm - I do have the Samovar that came over on the
> boat - complete with tax stamps on it from old Russia in the early 19th
> century. Mostly, I know how to do a blind hem & iron because Nanny Lily
> taught me when I was quite little - so no tools, but a skill. And I always,
> always think of her when I'm hemming something.
>
> ellice
>
I love the notion of an old darning egg! Imagine how many socks it has
known and loved. It's just a humble, workaday item, but it probably saw
more of your family's life than fancier keepsakes. And a Samovar!!! Wow!
That's really something: few families would have such an unusual item to
keep.
Funny about hemming. I love doing it when it's on the edges of something
dainty in linen with embroidery. I *hate* doing it when it's on the
edges of curtains (ie. several kilometres of it) or, worst of all,
trousers. Whoever invented flared pants was clearly not a person used to
the art of hemming! A nice, well-behaved straight-leg is bad enough, but
trying to ease hems on flared pants is nothing but a nightmare! And
jeans are the worse offenders of all! I've developed a cunning little
trick by cutting and splaying the bottoms, but it's still a pain in the
quince and I'll avoid it whenever I can (safety pins are a woman's best
friend!)
Just wondering whether you've taught your own daughter to do blind
hemming, Ellice? I tried to teach DD to sew and she nearly fainted from
boredom. Sigh. Then the little moo commented 'Why would I need to learn
that when you're there to do it so beautifully for me?' Arrrrggghhh! I
chased 'er around the house three times and hit her with my bodkin! In
the rump!
--
Trish Brown
Newcastle, NSW, Australia
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Posted by ellice on August 5, 2009, 7:09 pm
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> ellice wrote:
>
>> Lovely history of your family sewing tools. It's nice to have that to go
>> with the actual items. Thanks for sharing.
>
> I always wonder, when I see old tools, who used them and how and why. I
> wish we'd kept more of my Nannas' things because both had interesting lives.
Exactly my sentiment. I at least also have some old evening bags - they're
really something, and assorted odd things.
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>>
>> I have DH's mothers old, old Singer, which was put into an Art Deco sewing
>> cabinet that I refuse to give up (he thinks I should sell it). It's way too
>> small for anyone over about 5'2" (and puffy) - legs really jam in there.
>> But I love the style of it. I've been trying to think of some other use for
>> it 'cause it looks like it came out of Hercule Poirot's flat from the BBC
>> series - curved, swing out drawers and all. And just put the Singer on a
>> shelve displayed downstairs somewhere.
>
> Oh, how lucky! I think everyone loves Art Deco and you couldn't
> *possibly* part with such a treasure! Could it be used as a dressing
> table? Or as an occasional table in a sun-room (pretty table runner,
> vase of flowers, maybe suitably framed family photos on it)? It would be
> a nice place for keepsakes to live, perhaps lined with some pretty
> fabric (lace it over stiff matt board and fit firmly into drawers). You
> could keep cutlery in it, or jewellery or heirloom baby clothes? If you
Very good ideas. I think I might be able to put it into the sunroom, as I'm
hoping to use that room for teaching needlework anyhow, and it does have
some space. The knee space is really tight - so it's not really practical
as a dressing table. I also have a very straight designed thread table -
little side table with 2 drawers, each having wooden curved inserts that
were meant to hold spools of thread. And a bunch of old wooden spools -
which I'm using as somehow decorative!
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>>
>> I found an old wooden darning egg that clearly came from his grandmother at
>> the latest. My family - hmmm - I do have the Samovar that came over on the
>> boat - complete with tax stamps on it from old Russia in the early 19th
>> century. Mostly, I know how to do a blind hem & iron because Nanny Lily
>> taught me when I was quite little - so no tools, but a skill. And I always,
>> always think of her when I'm hemming something.
>>
>> ellice
>>
> I love the notion of an old darning egg! Imagine how many socks it has
> known and loved. It's just a humble, workaday item, but it probably saw
> more of your family's life than fancier keepsakes. And a Samovar!!! Wow!
> That's really something: few families would have such an unusual item to
> keep.
The darning egg is fun, and truly well worn. As for the Samovar, I love
that I have it - and my selfish SIL didn't manage to steal it (I think DM
had given it to me before she passed away). It definitely has some pride of
place.
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> Funny about hemming. I love doing it when it's on the edges of something
> dainty in linen with embroidery. I *hate* doing it when it's on the
> edges of curtains (ie. several kilometres of it) or, worst of all,
> trousers. Whoever invented flared pants was clearly not a person used to
> the art of hemming! A nice, well-behaved straight-leg is bad enough, but
> trying to ease hems on flared pants is nothing but a nightmare! And
> jeans are the worse offenders of all! I've developed a cunning little
> trick by cutting and splaying the bottoms, but it's still a pain in the
> quince and I'll avoid it whenever I can (safety pins are a woman's best
> friend!)
My DGM was quite strict on the hemming thing, so I learned on many flared
things, like skirts, then pants, and consequently don't really mind having
to ease in fabric. But, you're right - it is a PITA. Especially on heavier
weight stuff. I end up hemming DH's hockey ref pants - that's a pain, worse
is doing the repairs on them because of locations of some of the more rigid
padding.
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>
> Just wondering whether you've taught your own daughter to do blind
> hemming, Ellice? I tried to teach DD to sew and she nearly fainted from
> boredom. Sigh. Then the little moo commented 'Why would I need to learn
> that when you're there to do it so beautifully for me?' Arrrrggghhh! I
> chased 'er around the house three times and hit her with my bodkin! In
> the rump!
Well, if I had children I would teach them. But, sadly, Puckster's webbed
paws don't seem to take to sewing - although he does a fine job signing
greeting cards. I've taught one of the granddaughters some XS, and
knitting. The eldest is now asking to learn some things. Mostly I'm on the
hook to teach them how to make real chicken soup and matzoh balls - to which
I've told them they have to come to the house and watch, play 'cause I
cannot precisely convey the textures at different stages without showing.
Pretty funny picture hitting her with a bodkin!
Ellice
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Posted by Bruce Fletcher (remove denture on August 6, 2009, 3:21 am
ellice wrote:
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> I have DH's mothers old, old Singer, which was put into an Art Deco sewing
> cabinet that I refuse to give up (he thinks I should sell it). It's way too
> small for anyone over about 5'2" (and puffy) - legs really jam in there.
> But I love the style of it. I've been trying to think of some other use for
> it 'cause it looks like it came out of Hercule Poirot's flat from the BBC
> series - curved, swing out drawers and all. And just put the Singer on a
> shelve displayed downstairs somewhere.
Maureen has an elderly Singer sewing machine (complete with table & foot
treadle etc) which I found in a "junk shop" about 30 years ago. It came
complete with umpteen gadgets and a handbook that contains photographs
of a lady whose hair-style Maureen describes as a "Marcel Wave".
--
Bruce Fletcher
Stronsay, Orkney UK
"My friend had a pet rock, he called it Trelawney"
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Posted by ellice on August 6, 2009, 8:10 am
On 8/6/09 3:21 AM, "Bruce Fletcher (remove dentures to reply)"
show/hide quoted text
> ellice wrote:
>> I have DH's mothers old, old Singer, which was put into an Art Deco sewing
>> cabinet that I refuse to give up (he thinks I should sell it). It's way too
>> small for anyone over about 5'2" (and puffy) - legs really jam in there.
>> But I love the style of it. I've been trying to think of some other use for
>> it 'cause it looks like it came out of Hercule Poirot's flat from the BBC
>> series - curved, swing out drawers and all. And just put the Singer on a
>> shelve displayed downstairs somewhere.
>
> Maureen has an elderly Singer sewing machine (complete with table & foot
> treadle etc) which I found in a "junk shop" about 30 years ago. It came
> complete with umpteen gadgets and a handbook that contains photographs
> of a lady whose hair-style Maureen describes as a "Marcel Wave".
Sounds quite similar! Those old machines are really works of art with the
beautiful gold paint on the black surface. I suppose that when someone had
one, it was out so much that part of the pride in having a Singer was it
looked nice, and was kind of a status, albeit functional, item.
I love that your machine came with photos - that Marcel wave is certainly
right out of the 30's. I think the machine which I have was actually used
when DH's mom got it, as the cabinet is clearly from the 20's, maybe 30's,
but I think the machine is a bit older. And, well, his mom was born in the
early 20s so I really doubt she was given this as a welcome to the world
gift. DH (and the SILs) had actually never figured this out. I bet
Maureen's machine still works - mine does. Great for sewing straight seams
- though I really don't use it now.
ellice
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Posted by Nickname unavailable on August 6, 2009, 3:49 pm
If you get an aching finger from the thimble, you could try one of the
Thimblelady thimbles. The "holes" are on the pad of the finger rather
than the tip, so you can hold the finger in a much less stressful
position to push the needle. They're designed for hand quilting, so
they might not suit all sewing needs. The metal ones are expensive,
but you can buy them in plastic for not too much. I'm not a quilter
but I have a plastic one, and I cut through the back of it so it fits
my finger.
Johnno
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> with the actual items. Thanks for sharing.