I'm a bit of a sucker for old sewing notions.
Recently, I decided that I needed to get a buttonholer for my Singer 27 and went on a bit of an internet search for one. I did some research to find out what ones would be compatible with my machine, then I was all over Ebay and Etsy, looking at different ones. I almost went for the "Jetson's" model. But, I found this one from 1930 or so and bought it instead. I like the fact that it doesn't attempt to hide it's mechanical nature, you make the needed adjustments yourself. I also like that it is more in keeping with the vintage of my machine. Of course, since I was paying for shipping anyway, I bought a couple of other goodies from the same seller that will end up framed in my sewing room.
This embroidery base is actually not on a card, but, a flimsy piece of paper. It's amazing this stuff survives at all. Since it has no printing on the back, I'm likely to mount it to a heavier piece of stock to stabilize it for framing.I remember looking at stuff like this with my grandmother in the five and dime. They were in drawers with a sample stuck to the front and you'd look through and get the one you wanted. Sometimes they were in little glassine envelopes, sometimes they weren't. You couldn't market anything like that now; it would get torn up.
All in all, it's been an exciting mail day, here. A total of three packages arrived, all containing notions. One of the packages contained the magnetic snaps I ordered for my Minoru jacket. So, I officially have everything I need to get underway with that project!
More photos are here.
6 comments:
I have two of the "Jetson" buttonhole makers. One came with my first sewing machine of my own. When I went to college in 1964, I needed a sewing machine of my own. Then, in about 1998, my 94-yr-old friend died. When the family sold her belongings, I purchased hers that was identical to mine, intending to cannibalize the machine if I needed to repair mine. Now, I think I will give it to my granddaughter, taking it to NY and teaching her how to sew. My daughter refused to learn....sigh.
Is your granddaughter interested in learning? That would be a wonderful experience for both of you!
You know, I was an oddball among my friends, because I sewed. Coming up, most girls my age couldn't have been less interested. I bet your daughter is roughly the same age as me.
But, there are a lot of younger women now who are interested in sewing. There is a pretty nice online community. For instance, check out http://wesewretro.com/ . Many of the women there maintain a personal blog and some of them are pretty interesting. There are many younger women online who practice needle arts in general and you can find tons of information and camaraderie on pretty much any subject that interests you (or your granddaughter).
Thats an awesome button card! I have found mismatched cards like that in thrift stores and always thought that some lady long ago just added the buttons she was saving for future use.
I know nothing about sergers or buttonhole makers but congratulations on a good mail day:)
Linda: I don't know about you, but, the history of everyday objects fascinates me. I think oddball thrift store finds like that are really interesting!
PP: here is another really great resource: http://www.sewweekly.com/ and http://circle.sewweekly.com/ . The second is the weekly sewing circle of the first. You might really enjoy this group and your granddaughter may, too.
My daughter is 41. Sewing sites are not my thing. I don't like sewing sites. They bore me. Plus, lots of the construction is just all wrong. They don't use standard sewing terms, making up terms as they go along.
Wow, am I sounding like a Grinch yet?
For years, I have been on the teaching end of sewing. My friend could barely sew. I taught her how to do all sorts of techniques over the phone because she and I used same terms and she listened.I love to sew. She hated it an wanted me to make her like it...lol. I created patterns and made a prototype for her to copy and put in her shop.
I have a commercial serger, home serger, commercial collarette, 1955 Singer, 1964 singer, and a treadle and two other machines I am not using.
For 61 years I have been sewing.
Sorry to hear you have found sewing sites so boring and vexing. I'll be sure not to recommend any to you in the future.
How nice that you and your friend were able to work on projects together over the phone and it sounds like you have a lovely assortment of machines.
Post a Comment