SEW MUCH FABRIC AND SEW LITTLE TIME. ARE YOU ITCHING TO STITCH, TOO?

To sew or not to sew,  that is the question. While I am certain others answered this question earlier in life than I, a friend recently said something that made me confront the question myself.

A career girl known for her business prowess shared, "My husband bought me a sewing machine for Christmas, what do you think that means? Does he want me to sew things?"  Looking highly concerned she questioned the purpose of this puzzling gift, muttering under her breath--her self-assured nature evaporated by the thought of sewing or other potentially related activities. 

And just having received several vintage patterns based on successful trolling on eBay, I pondered her apprehension. Having not received a sewing machine or any other domestic device from my husband, I wondered, "Could I sew?" 

Of course it's in my family, the sewing gene--My grandmother was a seamstress, my mother made all her clothes, her children's clothes and the clothes of non-related children. My sister is an expert seamstress. Recently I ran into a person who stated, "I'm in my second grade picture wearing a shirt your mom made me." Really? My mom made various and sundry brothers from another mother clothes, too? And here I was, 35 years old, not having sewn a stitch in my life, but attempting to cut a pattern, terribly, one Halloween to the tune of my mother's good natured laughter? 

So, in my regular old school fashion, I set about searching for a sewing machine, looking to the past for the most well built unit.  Creeping on craigs list late one night I came across the ad I was looking for, "Vintage 1958, Kenmore 88 Sewing Machine, Desk and Chair, for SALE." That was a Thursday night. By Friday, I had the machine in the back of my car, completely tested by my mom who told me it had to at least go forward, backwards and do a zig-zag stitch to be considered a functional machine. 

And indeed it did do all those things and more, being purchased by the original owner, Dena in 1958 when she was 23. The machine was truly in pristine condition, with a working lightbulb and 30 decorative stitches. After servicing from a local sewing center, Miss 1958 and I were ready for a lesson from a local seamstress who diligently taught me how to make seams, sew straight stitches and expertly close them off. 

To enhance my learning, I read from Elizabeth Todd's, Clothes for Girls,  originally published in 1947 and again in 48 and 53, which has eight chapters on sewing. "If you are planning to make some of your clothes, you will find it necessary to do three things in getting ready to sew: get the equipment you need, learn how to use a needle and thimble, and learn to operate a sewing machine." 

While I haven't introduced myself to a thimble yet, I have caught the sewing bug, making three vintage aprons in two days and dreaming of the time when I can sit down at my table and make three more. Visions of bows, skirts and suits made from vintage patterns are dancing in my head, the hum of the machine, the cadence of the stitch, and the precision of patterns having an oddly calming effect on me. 

Living here in good ol' Beaumont, there are lots of places to help anyone with their sewing dreams. Antique stores with awesome vintage patterns, a warm, welcoming quilt shop with a wonderful selection of material and knowledgable, friendly folks, and several outstanding seamstress's ready and willing to teach you every sewing trick in the book. 

While my work might not be the best yet, and in fact, a ten year old I saw sewing at the quilt shop is a hundred times better than me, I know without hesitation the answer to my original question to sew or not to sew is, definitely, TO SEW. Terribly and with love at first, and then better over time (and still with love), but most assuredly, to SEW!