Friday, 22nd October 2021–Sew Heritage
From my home office window, I can see white, voluminous clouds sail by. The wind is nearly gale-force, with a deep chill. Meanwhile, the now-golden leaves flutter and shimmer in the afternoon sun. Inside, I’m listening to music via the internet.
I was thinking about heritage the other day. I guess because I uncovered the treadle sewing machine that is sitting in our bedroom. The machine was serviced five years ago, so I knew it would work. Last week I thought I would to use it for a sewing project. Well, the machine and I didn’t get along—it ‘bit’ me. In a second of distraction, the needle punctured my thumb. In that instant, I was finally ready to let the machine go.
Grandma’s Treadle Sewing Machine, c. 1889
The Singer treadle machine was my grandma’s. She used it until my mom gave her an electric machine. As I child, Grandma let me use it. When she passed on, I took ownership of it. Well, truth be told, my uncle and aunt stored it in their garage until I got married. It made the trip from Indiana to England in 2003, after the wedding.
The machine has sat, covered with blankets, unused. This has been a point of frustration for my husband. He wouldn’t mind me keeping it; if I actually used it. But he bought me an electric machine that I use. And yet, I resisted his requests to part with the machine because it is a tangible connection to my mother’s mother. My aptitude for sewing was inherited from Mom and both grandmothers. And those skills were taught to me by them.
For a long time, I thought about what a difference my unused machine could make to someone else. A sewing machine can be the difference between a widow in Africa or India supporting her family, or remaining in poverty. When the machine and I tangled, with the result of a sore and bleeding thumb, I knew it was time to research the possibility of donating it.
Google—a wonderful tool—helped me with finding the right place. The first place I called didn’t have anyone close enough to make a collection. Yet, the young lady was able to refer me to Tools With A Mission. I rang them, and they gave me the phone number of one of their volunteers, who made arrangements to collect the machine in early November.
I was near tears, to think that not only was I making a difference—but my grandmother was also making a difference. I am passing on my heritage to someone else. The heritage of sewing; the heritage of making a difference.
6 Replies to “Friday, 22nd October 2021–Sew Heritage”
Such a beautiful legacy, Lady D. I remember sewing on my Mom’s treadle machine as a girl. By the time I was in 4th Grade, Mom had an electric machine, which was so much easier. With the treadle, I always got it backwards. I was never that gifted in sewing as my Grandmother, whose machine had been passed down and made the trek from SoDakota to California had been.
Aww … That brought a lump to my throat and a tear to my eye.
My nanna had a machine just like your one and I remember her using it to make me dresses when I was a little girl.
I used to push my foot gently up and down on the treadle. I am now recalling, with nostalgia, that strange sensation of its movement.
Anyway, like you, I inherited something from my grandad and your story made me think.
My grandad fought in the First World War in the 18th Hussars. His horse was called Kitty.
He was in india at some point and brought back a pair of African figurines, yes African. Apparently, the moulds were sold to many countries for the tourist market. This pair, a boy and girl, each carrying a turine of water, stood either side of my grandparent’s fireplace, from my earliest memory. He used to tell me stories about them.
Well, since 1976, these figurines have resided in various garages belonging to the family. They came to me well over ten years ago.
This year, I decided I would have them restored. I knew that it would make my mum very happy to see them, once again in their full glory. She used to dust them when she was a little girl.
They now stand proudly on my living room. They make us all happy.
Hi Annette,
Thanks for sharing your family story. I hope you will write down your memories for your children and grandchildren. Our memories are true treasures. It’s so wonderful, comforting, and heart-warming to have mementos we that bring back the people who have gone before us. God Bless!
I do have an old sewing machine that works. Is there somewhere I can call?
Lovely idea to share for a worthy cause. I loved using the treadle machine that my mom had, but my sister Pamela is the artist in that dey. Much love.
My grandfather was a tailor by trade and my mother had his treddle for several years. I never could get the hang of it. You have blessed many generations to come.