Sewing machine

Lovelyw auntie Flo

Someone was giving away a Singer treadle sewing machine (in working order) on freecycle recently and I was so tempted to take it, for reasons of nostalgia. My mother had one and would sit and sew late into the night, having returned from her full time job and cooked for herself and three children, once she got us off to bed. She would make and sell what she called "Hostess Aprons"- fancy ones with frills, heart shaped, etc. for extra money.

My nan had an old treadle singer machine which I remember mum using. I don't know what happened to it when nan died. Mum had an electric machine after that. We sold it when she died. I could never thread the blooming thing

We used treadle machines at school when we weren't being compelled to sew by hand. A 'hostess apron' was one of the first things we were allowed to use the machine on and I made a red gingham one for my aunt with an embroidered red panel set in - freehand embroidery of an owl sitting on a branch and I've never done such a thing since! My stream had to give up needlework and cookery after two years at secondary school. My mum's Singer electric machine, instead of a foot pedal, had a control which you pressed with your knee and I have never seen another like it. As a teenager, I made my own summer dresses and skirts using that machine and later the new one with a zig zag stitch.

(Nonnet??) Bonnet,
Also when I previewed my post, not very well, the photo WAS upside down, now miraculously, it is right way up. Weird. How did it do that?

I use an electric one but I used to use my Mum't treadle machine I just loved the noise and rythym of it, I still have a singer hand machine in its original wooden box I have to use a meat skewer to open the lock its black with the gold painted leaves on it very pretty, I'd like to display it somewhere but I don't have a place for it.

My first machine was a Singer hand machine from my Gran. It always worked well, no problems, had a strange boat shuttle.
Eventually got an electric one and gave this one to daughters to share, and they used it quite a bit.
I don't know where it is now.
Compared with the 3 I've had since it was much more reliable, though hard work if I was making curtains etc.