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Share your memories of Singer sewing machines

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Did you know that the patent for the very first Singer sewing machine was issued on August 12, 1851?  That’s 160 years ago!!  The folks at Singer are celebrating the 160th anniversary of their machine with a special website where people can post stories and memories of their Singer sewing machines. 

I’ve got a couple of my own out there, including one of the Singer 20-10 toy machine that I used to play with when I was a child.  It had been my mother’s, and we recently let my own daughter sew on it as well.

Go to www.mySINGERstory.com to read all of the stories out there already, and to enter your own.  Anyone who shares a Singer story gets entered to win one of the limited edition commemorative machines (available Jan. 2012).  According to Singer, these commemorative machines look like antiques on the outside, but their insides are modern and the features innovative.  (Can’t wait to see what one looks like!!)

Deadline is August 31, 2011.

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Comments

  1. I got my first Singer sewing machine in 1972, I was twelve. I loved it, my mom and grandmother were both sewers and out of 5 children in our family I am the only one to wanted to learn. I made doll clothes, mini quilts, more like pot holders, after all the maching was only abot 8″ high and 12″ long. I learned a lot with it. I often wish I still had it, working or not.

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  3. Here’s a question! If one DOESNT’ win this fabulous machine, can one BUY IT somewhere????? That would be REALLY GREAT!!!!! Thanks!~

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  4. I’m sewing on my mom’s 1971 high school graduation present! She moved overseas and I get her wonder machine all to myself. We’re good friends 😉

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  5. I designed my own wedding gown and made it on a Singer Featherweight. That was over 30 years ago! The first sewing machine I ever used was a Singer Featherweight, I love them, they’re so reliable and they sew beautifully.

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  6. My mother had the Singer Featherweight on which I learned to sew and I loved it, neither of my daughters have had any interest in sewing but my granddaughters have the “bug” and it is a joy to teach them, I am 66 and still remember making my own skirts and slacks when I couldn’t afford to buy what was in style for JR and SR high school. Singer has been my sewing friend since 7th grade when I hade my first “home ec.” class of sewing

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Have you read?

Learn All About Sewing Velvet Fabric

 

I’m always tempted by the pretty velvets at the fabric store.  So much texture!  And the way the fibers catch the light!  But sewing on velvet is trickier than you’d think.  That nap that lends beautiful texture also likes to slip and crawl.  That nap can also spell disaster if you cut a piece the wrong direction.  That isn’t to say you shouldn’t use buy that velvet and sew it into something gorgeous, you just need to go into your velvet sewing project prepared.  And Melissa at Melly Sews has a post that takes you step by step through sewing on velvet. 

Velvet is such a luscious fabric, especially for winter sewing projects.  Of course there are velvet Christmas sewing projects – stockings, tree skirts, santa hats – but velvet is beautiful for all winter.  Think of all the gorgeous velvet dresses, evening bags, hair accessories, even pillows and other home décor that you see all winter long. 

Melly Sews’ post gives you the tips and tricks you need to know in order for your velvet sewing project to end up a success.  There are types of projects better suited for velvets, and kinds of projects to avoid.  She describes the different types of velvet available.  And she also tells the best way to lay out and cut your pattern pieces from velvet fabric.  Her tutorial also covers marking, pressing, and of course sewing that beautiful fabric.  There’s also a video included in case that’s your preferred method for learning.

Head over to Melly Sews to learn how to sew on velvet fabric. 

And if you want to learn more about that lovely blue velvet dress shown, she has a post that tells more about it including 2 ways to style it depending on if you want to be more dressy or more casual.

[photo credit: Melly Sews]

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