National Sewing Machine Day

Each year on June 13th, National Sewing Machine Day honors an invention that has kept us in stitches for over 150 years. Before the sewing machine, tailors and sewists created clothing by hand, stitch by single stitch. The invention of the sewing machine brought about revolutionary change. Not only did it boost an entire industry, but it also changed the way we viewed the garments we wore. However, the development of the sewing machine took time. 

Skilled cabinet-maker and English inventor, Thomas Saint, received the first patent for a design of a sewing machine in 1790. He intended his design to sew on leather and canvas. However, he never advertised it and no evidence of the design, other than his drawings, could be found. In 1874, William Newton Wilson found Saint’s drawings in the London Patent Office. With some minor adjustments, Wilson built a working model. The London Science Museum currently owns Wilson’s model. Other sewing machine inventors include:

• Walter Hunt invented the first American lockstitch sewing machine in 1832.
• John Greenough patented the first sewing machine in the United States in 1842.
• In 1851, another inventor, Isaac Singer, developed a sewing machine model that would endure and also thrust him into court with Elias Howe over patent infringement.

Industrial use of the sewing machine reduced the burden placed upon housewives, moving clothing production from them and seamstresses to large-scale factories. This also resulted in a decrease in production time which caused the price of clothing to drop considerably. CREDIT: https://nationaldaycalendar.com/days-2/national-sewing-machine-day-june-13/

Inspired by my Grandmother

My grandmother stitched many garments by hand and I remember she hand sewed and machine sewed most all my clothing when I was younger. The one item I remember was a beautiful blue coat with red lining. She made this coat from my cousin’s Navy uniform, complete with the brass buttons. I wish I had a picture of this coat, I was so proud when I wore it. She also made my older sister and me matching dresses and this is a picture from Children’s Day at our church way back in the late 1950’s with our neighbor. Did you know today is also National Children’s Day? Back when I was younger, our church celebrated it every year and it was as important as Mother’s and Father’s Day. I watched my grandmother sew since I was not much older than Lia and she is the reason I have my love for sewing. She even made my bridal gown and all the bridesmaid dresses.

One if her handmade items she sewed was a Christening gown she made for her seven children back in 1907’s. My mom ended up being caretaker of this beautiful gown and my two sisters and I also wore it at our Christening. After our children were born, my mom turned the gown over to me for our children to wear and the next generation to wear it was our grandchildren. Never realizing this Christening gown that my grandmother handmade would be worn by so many family members and never thinking farther than our children. But in 2019 Lia was the first great grandbaby to wear this beautiful heirloom. It is now safely packed away for me to pass it down to Alexandra so when Lia is grown and has little ones, they can wear the same gown and the love that my grandmother put in the gown will continue to make memories. http://themarthareview.com/christening-gown-passed-down-through-generations/

Sewing Machines in our Stable

Rich and I started our drapery workroom back in 1967 and the picture of the top industrial machine has been with us from the start and we still use it today. The next one is a blind stich hemmer to hem draperies. The third machine in line is a Johnston Ruffler, all it does is make ruffles! This has been in our stable since the early ’80’s and it’s basically a regular straight stitch sewing machine that Mr. Johnson from North Carolina converted to just make ruffles back in the day when ruffles were a big thing on window treatments and bedskirts. The White machine is another one from the ’80’s to overlock the seams. My favorite is the Elna from the late ’70’s. At that time we also sewed a lot with many layers of denim and I needed a machine that would stitch through at least 6 layers. I had a Bernina and ended up returning it after a week of broken needles. When I went to the Elna dealer I told her what we needed and she guaranteed this machine could handle it or she would double my money back. Well the machine handled it and more! We still have this machine and it’s still running like a bear!! These are only part of the machines we use steady, we also have a few more.

These are a few of my “play” machines. The top one is a Brother embroidery machine that works off disks that I download designs from the computer. It also converts to a standard sewing machine with a variety of fancy stitches. The Elna Air Artist is another embroidery machine that I received a few years ago to test but I get to keep the product after testing. This one works off an app from my phone, I just chose a design from the many listed in the app and stitch away. Of course the first test I did was a butterfly for Lia. It’s interesting to watch the design on the phone as it stitches on the fabric.

Since Lia enjoys sewing and helps me often, I think the next machine may be one for her. Alexandra started sewing when she was a few years old so like mommy like daughter.

I hope you enjoyed reading about my sewing machines for National Sewing Machine Day. Do you are anyone in your family sew? What machines to you have?