Vintage Sewing Machines

Vintage sewing machines are more than decorative – they work!

Today, lots of people search out vintage sewing machines as beautiful examples of furnishings, but use them strictly as decorative conversation pieces. If you have such a piece or would like to own one, here's a bonus to consider. Vintage sewing machines are typically not dependent on electricity. Instead, they operate by use of the treadle, an ornately decorated, wrought iron platform near the floor. You place your feet on the treadle and rock one foot (it's easier to establish a rhythm using only one foot) back and forth, causing the treadle to swing forward and back on its hinges. The motion of the treadle causes the sewing machine's business parts, such as the flywheel and needle, to go up and down, thus creating your stitches. It's not difficult to master the operation of the treadle. Once you've got it down, you can fly through your sewing tasks with ease.

So, that vintage sewing machine you have, or have your eye on, is not only a lovely furniture addition to your home. You can actually use it. Think what this will add to the conversational aspect. Women of the times rarely bought ready-made clothing, unless they were particularly affluent and could afford the services of a seamstress. Women made everything their families needed in the way of fabric goods, from clothing to bed quilts right on through window treatments. When you consider that some of the fashions of the day had complicated details, such as extensive pleating, bustles and custom fitted bodices, it just makes sense that you can easily make shirts, skirts and curtains of more modern, and simpler construction.

In cold winter climes, items like sheepskin and leather overcoats were made by Mom for family members. Back in the day, I made a sheepskin coat on a vintage sewing machine of the treadle type. That machine was more than up to the task, and that coat was the talk of that small town for months.

True, these vintage sewing machines did not have all the fancy attachments for machine embroidery and such. So you'll encounter some sewing tasks which must be done by hand. However, you can make buttonholes!

Using these old machines is a lot of fun. If you've got one which you don't use functionally, because you've got a fancy modern machine, try making just one garment as an adventure in nostalgia. See what your friends have to say then!

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