Category: Crafts and Hobbies
I know absolutely nothing about sewing but think that it's time that I learn. I've heard of many blind people who sew, both professionally and at home, so that shouldn't be an issue. I've always been a bit saddened by the fact that Grandma can sew but neither Mom nor Joanie can and I didn't want to follow in their footsteps. My grandmother has a machine, probably from the 70's or 80's, an electric model, and while it's nice, I want to work with a completely mechanical one. I adore old technology, as I'm sure you know by now, and have a special love for all things mechanical. So I figure since these exist in that form why not get one? Plus, it seems like I would have more control here, since I can easily control the speed and whether it stops/starts etc. But I could be wrong. Perhaps, these machines jam more?
So can anyone recommend a simple, durable machine for a beginner? I would prefer something relatively compact if at all possible and under $100, no more than $150. The machine could be brand new or totally vintage. So long as it's accessible to the blind. I'm not really sure if this would be a problem here, since I'm not using a computerised one, but if so, what things should I try to avoid? That is, are there certain features that would make a sewing machine difficult to work with for someone who has never seen? Will it be difficult for me to maintain a nonelectric one as far as oiling etc? I've heard that there's some kind of simple device used to keep thread in place. Can it work with nonelectrics and are there any special needles, like the self-threading ones for hand-sewing, that would make things easier for me? Which should I get, a hand-crank one or a treadle? My guess is the treadle, since I could use both hands, but if anyone has arguments for the former, I'd be interested in hearing them. If you have a really good reason as to why I should choose an electric model, what is it? Thanks for your assistance. Finally, since I've never sewn anything, would it be a good idea for me to try sewing by hand before buying a machine at all?
I know pretty little about the machines specifically and certainly not how to use them.
As to the generational thing, welcome to your world, your generation. Mine, your mom's age, had nothing to do with it, because real or imagined, women were to believe it was oppressive, and we men could buy better-made stuff at the stores anyhow.
But as to your machine, make sure it's a make / model whose parts can be replaced. This isn't a computer or notetaker or Braille 'N' Speak. I have never seen the inside of one of these, but you're probably talking a pretty standard electric motor, of course, probably tension rods so the fly wheel if there is one won't start spinning out of control. Even without software, you can control the RPMs which would keep what I'm assuming must be a up/down motion of the device used to go through the clothrunning smoothly.
If you are doing this all mechanically and not with digital Solenoids, you are using a combination of tension and friction to control the speed: you do what, flip a switch to kick it in gear? If I'm right about this, by definition you will have parts break down. So you need to find one whose parts are common and serviceable.
I don't know where you'd get it serviced for use, but if you buy it used, that's precisely what I'd do if I were you. Generally servicing of a mechanical device will mean not just lubing up belts and sealing gaskets, but doing any alignments that are necessary. Again, I don't have the specifics on how these are constructed, but if you're talking mechanical parts that are supposed to run thread through cloth at very high speeds, there are a lot of moving parts, some of which can get out of alignment. That stuff isn't just for automobiles. Just a fact of life with motion, inertia and mechanical resistance - friction.
Mechanical things with a lot of parts take a lot of attention and maintenance.
Personally I find the whole thing a bit strange, but hey, whatever floats your boat. I've got cousins who do stuff like this, go check out pioneer websites and take the express train back in time, while blogging all the way. Goes with the electric coffee grinder on a cattle drive, if you ever saw the movie City Slickers.
I'mnot sure if it's necessarily generational. I know some other people Mom's age who can sew. She's just not into domestic stuff, though she's into feminine clothing, totally unlike me. You're definitely right about parts, and thanks for bringing that to mind. This is especially important if I go for a nonelectric model. I'm not even sure if they were standardised or not, even within the same company. Like I said, I'm a complete novis. There may be parts available but some may be expensive as may some of the machines since there are people who actually collect them. But I'm not looking for one that's valuable, nor does it have to be in perfect cosmetic condition. It just has to work. Another thing that I was warned about is the weight. If I get a treadle model, I was told that it could be very heavy, which could jack up the shipping costs to something insane.
lol I should hope that I'm not using a digital machine. You should know me better than that. *smile* The most I'd be willing to use is a very basic electric model and even that's not my original intent. I think Grandma's works by pressing down on a pedal which starts the motor. If I'm right, in order to get a treadle machine working, you need to use the foot pedals to start the friction and get a constant rhythm going or it will stop/slow down. I'm not entirely sure how the hand-crank ones work, that is, whether you crank them and work or whether you have to keep cranking them as you work. But they said that the treadle allows you to use both hands, so I'm assuming that you'd need to crank it while sewing.
Thanks for the tips on getting it serviced. I'm not sure where to have this done either so must really make sure that it's in good condition before I buy. I'll probably get a Singer if I get an older one, since they seem to be very popular, though I'll try to get one that's not on the top of the collecting list. I wish that I could learn more about mechanical technology in general. I've been fascinated by it ever since I was a child. It is a bit strange for me to want to learn this, I'll admit. But when you stop and think about it, it does make a little sense too. Grandma is 80, and as much as I don't like to think of it, there will come a time when she's no longer here, or perhaps, when she can't do certain things as she used to. Why should I have to take my clothing to a tailor and pay a fortune just to fix a hole or two, or worse, throw it out just because it has a rip in it. Again, I'm of the if it's not broken don't fix it type, but I also believe that if there's only a tiny thing wrong with something and it works fine otherwise, you should fix it not throw it away. I'm not much into films, and though I've heard of City Slickers, I've never seen it. But my coffee maker is stove-top so I'm safe there. lol
Oh, I also forgot! If, for some reason, I should become really good at sewing to create new things like table cloths, bags, clothing etc. I might even be able to sell some of my work as part of my crafts.
A nonelectric model? I didn't know they made those.
It would then probably have a treadle as you said, some device to transfer foot power into the necessary energy to turn the shaft / flywheel if there is one. Probably some form of clutch / stabilizing mechanism to add a level of stability as a human pumping with a foot or feet would not by itself be very even when it came to machined precision.
That's more parts to wear out, something to consider: I'd start looking around and see who makes what parts for what models, and who even knows how to service these things. Don't be surprised if you pay a premium for this, as it's likely to be a real boutique industry.
I read up on what it takes to have a pump organ restored, only because some relatives thought they might still have one, and there's a guy in New York and one in Canada who will do them. Here again, lots of moving parts, the mechanics rather make sense to me although the music is primitive and quaint. Fortunately, the relatives were wrong, theirs is long gone, as they would have only been able to look longingly upon it: restoring it would have been far more costly than it was ever worth to begin with.
Consider why humans moved away from these mechanically complex machines: it wasn't idealism like you talk about, it was because the price tag for maintaining them was out of reach for the masses. Pure and simple.
Unless you have a lot of cash to throw around, I'd consider all this before getting anything boutique like a manually operated machine whose purpose is to supply a certain amount of constant tork and motion / resistance.
You may be right about servicing costing alot but I've also read that some models are very cheap when it comes to actually buying them. Of course, there's no sense in purchasing something if it's not going to work. But according to this page, these machines are still being made!
http://hubpages.com/hub/Treadle-Sewing-MachinesSew-Simple
They also say that these machines last a long time, are easy to maintain and can even be fixed by the owners. Singer even has manuals for many of their vintage models on their site and the above page even gave a link to parts and to an Ebay guide on older machines. I'm actually very interested in seeing the newer ones, but again, price is really an issue. As a beginner, I can't afford to spend $300 on a machine, even if it's totally new. If I really love the art, then I may do it but not now. Anyway, I was right about it being easier to control the speed of a treadle as opposed to an electric machine, so this is good to know, and it can even help my posture, since I need to sit up straight when using it.
While it may sound ideal to you, I'm also concerned about the way the world is going. If there's some kind of asteroid or nuclear attack, I doubt my family and I would survive, as we don't have a fall-out and/or bomb shelter. But if it's a war, a natural disaster or some other catastrophe that turns off the electricity for awhile, I'd like to have some food and some mechanical products around to take the place of the electric ones where possible. Who knows? Sewing may become something important if such a thing happens, at least once things calm down. I'm also looking for a manual clothes washer and drier but that's another story.
I found a page which explains all about how to select a sewing machine for use, as opposed to for collecting.
http://www.treadleon.net/sewingmachineshop/treadles/selectingtreadle.html
Now all I have to do is search on Ebay and look at the features of each machine. But they even said which are the absolute best to get, and they know far more than I about these things. So I'll trust their judgement.
I've found a few without their cabinets. The site recommended getting machines with them. Would I still be able to use a machine with no cabinet or is it essential to the machine's operation?
I've learned a few things since my last post here. For one,, the cabinet is essential. I believe this is what actually contains the treadle. For another, a very close family friend might have a machine in her basement! When I asked her about it, she said that it was her mother's and that she gave it to a relative some time ago. But Mom swears that she's seen it and that it's a singer. She admits that she could be wrong but is pretty sure it's a sewing machine. Our friend is 90-years-old and not very mobile anymore, and although her mind is usually as sharp as a tack, I think she honestly forgot that she still has it and can't go to check. If so, and if she's willing to give it to me, then I've really lucked out! The only thing is that I don't know the model. Hopefully, it's a standard one. Mom says that it appears to be in good condition, but being in a basement in a house where dogs used to live, it doesn't exactly smell new. Plus, it's huge and heavy. Still, who could argue with a free item in working condition? Mom has some objections to me using a sewing machine, whether treadle or electric, because she worries that I could get hurt. This is odd coming from her, as she has seen me work with a chef's knife made for professionals and often jokes that I'm the only one allowed to do the cutting around here. Still, she says that even sighted people have been known to do things like sew their fingers etc. But I told her that I know of many blind people, mostly on the Blind Krafter's Korner, who use these machines. As a matter of fact, most of the crafts discussed there involve sewing to one degree or another.
Finally, I found a page full of sewing machine needles for the blind!
http://www.abledata.com/abledata.cfm?pageid=19327&top=15397&deep=2&trail=22,13134,14592&ksectionid=0
Now, I just need to see which are still available, which I want and where to get them!