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  • Blog 2014-2021

scribble mending and magical helpers

4/6/2021

 
Picture
When the sewing machine
your son found for $25
and returned to working order
so your husband could make you the jacket
you wear as you type--
Picture
--prefers the the spools of polyester thread
your adorable ex-grandmother-in-law
included in a care package
back in 1983
(nestled among
dented cans of tuna,
month-old brownies,
and a pile of her favorite Harlequin Romances)
Picture
--thread you have ignored for years
because you are a natural fiber snob
yet still could not bring yourself
to use or discard--
thread that has waited in the back
of your sewing machine drawer--
Picture
--so was more than ready
to take center stage
in the work of resurrecting a quilt--
Picture
--a hand stitched quilt
made you know not when
by you know not  who--
a quilt with very specific demands
 patiently spelled out
back in 2015 when the mending began
)--
Picture
-- well,
when all those things come together
there really is nothing for you to do--
Picture
--but go with it.
Picture
Picture
Jodi
4/6/2021 04:01:54 pm

I love that you talk to your sewing machine. ♥️

Jessica
4/6/2021 04:12:56 pm

I love this! Of course I am an avid quilter. It's lovely how you are mending the quilt. And I love old sewing machines!

Lauren
4/6/2021 04:13:38 pm

Me too, also I love that the sewing machine talks back.

Terri
4/6/2021 04:37:04 pm

I'm in the process of mending an old and worn quilt that my mother used every day for years. Her mother and a group of senior ladies handstitched at their senior center back in the day. I was going to try and hand stitch every repair but now maybe not. What a wonderful old sewing machine!! They stitch the best. Thank you for the inspiration!!

Michele
4/6/2021 04:41:06 pm

I just love your sewing machine. Wish I still had my old one. Somewhere in one of our moves from house to house, we got separated.

Eileen Van Bronkhorst
4/6/2021 04:47:36 pm

Sewing and mending are ritual in a way. Creating something from something that had a different life, and are giving it a new. 😉

Nancy Martin
4/6/2021 06:39:04 pm

So fun to read about yr sewing machine -- I love old sewing machines as well - still have my grandmother's Singer machine that my mother had motorized way back (I am 83!) and have two other that I keep promising myself to use but have put off because I started Rebecca M's tapestry weaving course. I so love your posts, and y address growing up in Brooklyn, NY was on E.. 8th St as well
but your are in Idaho. thank you for YOU and your sharings!!!

Christine Rivers
4/6/2021 06:39:27 pm

Those old polyester threads already have plastic spools. I still have a few spools of thread with wooden spools - they are old! My sewing machine is 50 years old and I have owned it since new. A good old machine that is not fussy and keeps on working. Your White machine looks like that good old machine that keeps on working and is simple to fix. I enjoy how you are bringing new life to an old quilt.

Fiona Bureau
4/7/2021 03:17:10 am

Those old wooden spools were wonderful - I inherited some from my granny via my mother. They made great little wind-up toys for my sons when they were small - rubber bands, matchstick and cuts in the edges for traction.. Happy days.

Patti Kirch
4/6/2021 07:26:29 pm

Family Team work💕💕💕

Masseyna olstynski
4/6/2021 07:26:35 pm

Try E Bay! Coats and Clark duke duty ! It usually works on most of the older machines. I use the c&c duel duty for my Betsy Ross hand crank works wonders. Have you tried a hand woven quilt top?? I've used some of my small tapestery and used hand knots .. Food for thought..have fun.

Michi Mathias link
4/7/2021 12:25:11 am

I love everything about this. The wonderful drawings as always, and beautiful quilt getting a new lease of life makes me happy.

Bethany Garner link
4/7/2021 03:39:20 am

TREASURE Sarah... and your focus on the hand stitches and the ART play associated with saving the quilt touch my heartstrings! Remember the joy your way back family linked granny had when she discovered thread that did not break! One day - I would love to see a quilt made with your linen, handspun threads and in natural dye colours!

LaDonn
4/7/2021 04:56:44 am

Sarah, love the way you have chosen to save the quilt and have something fun to show for it too. Ahhh, the old sewing machines and moving... as someone else mentioned, I have regrets now of letting go of my very good sewing machines, during one of the moves made to a different location. Maybe another will will find a home here again. And I can look forward to finding a quilt in need of some updated & uplifting repair. What a fun post. As I recall, I have spoken many times to my sewing machines and indeed, they did answer back, in their stubborn way. 😁

Ama link
4/7/2021 05:42:01 am

Another lovely post, thank you!
My mother used to sing at her treadle sewing machine, "Oh a sewing machine, a sewing machine, a girl's best friend ..." She gave me my sewing machine as a 21st birthday present nearly 55 years ago. Still going strong and in regular use.

Sue Schwarz
4/7/2021 06:28:10 am

I love the White sewing machine. My Mother had one from the 1940’s that I learned to sew with, and I wish I had it.

Louise Abbott
4/7/2021 07:22:48 am

Hi Sarah!
Love this quilt, sewing machine and repair story. At the risk of becoming a hoarder, I save and repair my old textiles. Our “throw-a-way” society could learn a lot from you. The White sewing machine is neat. Looks efficient and simple to use! Thanks for your sharing.
Louise

Juliet Butler
4/7/2021 07:27:00 am

I'm still using up polyester thread from my mother's stash in the 60's when I started sewing seriously!

Kathe Todd-Hooker link
4/7/2021 10:35:49 am

Wonderful use of sewing thread. i use and collect it as it comes from estate sales to weave into my tapestries. It gives me a feeling of connection and continuity to past women(s)possibly unfinished projects as I use up and finish projects and sometimes possible insites into imaginary life’s and dreams. PS I learned to sew on a machine such as this.

Kerri
4/8/2021 09:17:46 am

Thank you for your pictures of the quilt repair in progress. Love to see how you are breathing new life and making it better than new. I would have just tried to replace the red, spent forever looking for an appropriate fabric, and never gotten it done. It looks BEAUTIFUL. PS. I finally found a used copy of your Kids Weaving book and it came in the mail this week. Now hoping I can thread the pipe loom I made from the copy I had to return to the library.

Annie
4/11/2021 04:25:23 pm

I bought my sewing machine nearly 50 years ago and we're still best mates. She's always up for the next adventure and loves nothing more than creating something with me. Good to see someone else speaking to their sewing machine, long may your creative relationship continue.

Janet Kovach
4/14/2021 12:16:46 pm

On the Atlantic Coast on 4/13/21
I received my first Singer electric sewing machine in 8th grade in Jr high School growing up in Pittsburgh Pa in the late 40's. I thought it a great birthday present and promptly made a dirndle skirt with green leaves and some kind of orange flowers on it. Fun!


Comments are closed.
    Picture

    ​Sarah C Swett 
    tells stories
    with
    ​ and about

     hand spun yarn. 


    Picture
    Click for info on
    my four selvedge
    warping class
    with
    ​ Rebecca Mezoff  
    fringeless


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