I was out shopping today in my favourite shops second hand and Antique shops not looking for anything in particular but I am going into a blog swap soon and the colours aqua and red are the theme.*************************
Anyway I found these two beautiful post card pictures of ladies behind the humble treadle sewing machines.
And got to wondering just what it must have been like to get one of these for the very first time back then, how modern it would have been.
"the latest thing!"
To be the owner of this new way of sewing this very fast treadle sewing machine. O! how your friends would envy the skills & workmanship you showed on that new stunning outfit all done on the sewing machine.
What wonderful crafts or dressmaking idears came about because the machine instead of just the needle & thread could now be used.
I have been in victorian homes and looked at the furnishing and the detail and skill was an art form itself.
These machines are such a beautiful item found now in many country home now but not very often used yet back when they were the latest thing the treadle must have been running day and night with the delight of producing another lovely item from them.
I dedicate these two lovely photo's to all of my dear new blogger friends both the crafters and those that admire the work of others, it is so much fun being part of this lovely blogging world and I can honestly say the people you meet and the friendships that come from all this is nothing short of wonderful.
Gina you are right I do love this world of blogging very much!
28 comments:
My grandmother sewed on one of those when I was a young girl. I love old things like that...It makes for happy memories.
Thanks
Love your beautiful postcards...the images are divine.
Oh Lee-Anne you are so right about these humble machines being the 'latest thing', at their time. How wonderful it must have been to own one. My Mum had an old Singer, but not a treadle...and I now own a treadle singer table, where my new sewing machine sits proudly on.
Have a lovely evening my friend, and thanks always for popping over and commenting!
Love the vintage photos. Very nice!!
Dear Lee Ann. Now this is truly amazing, I’ve just discovered your blog from a comment you’d left for Alice about the wonderful quilts. I was really enjoying reading your posts, when what should happen, my computer gives a little ping to indicate I have mail and who is it from, yes YOU! How wonderful. I’d gone back as far as reading your June archives and thought to myself, ‘Yes, I like this blog’.
I’ve been admiring your vintage collections. You have some very beautiful things. I must return and spend more time looking closely at your pictures. I love being able to click on them to enlarge. I spotted a small blue tin in one picture, that I know I have a similar one too, but first I wanted to reply.
I’m pleased we have found each other, I feel sure we shall find that we have a lot in common.
Thank you for the comment you left for me and your good wishes. Its good to feel I’m getting back on track with blogging again. Do keep in touch please.
Your post about the treadle sewing machines is interesting. I have a fascination for them too. I have made two lovely tables for my garden from the framework of two machine. They are now fitted with old marble washstand tops and are not only attractive features in the garden, but useful too. I think I have pictures of them on my blog somewhere.
Marion
Your postcards brought back so many memories of my early years of sewing. Mum had a singer similar to the one in the first postcard - black with gold, red and green intricate flowers painted on. I started sewing when I was 11 and used that machine for many years to make clothes for Mum and my sisters and my own clothes. Mum then bought a new machine, but still a treadle as we didn't have electricity. I made my wedding dress on this machine, and ironed it with the black flatirons off the woodstove.
I hope you have a lovely weekend planned. I'm sure there are many signs of Spring coming in Kyneton.
Those cards are lovely and you're so right about those old Singer machines. I learnt to sew on one and it did me proud. You'll like my friend April 1930s, she's on my sidebar - she's the Singer Queen.
PS Don't the ladies in those cards look pretty? I love the styles of the 20s and 30s. Beautiful!
PPS Come over to my blog and have (virtual) chocolate cake anytime you want - there's no calories in it!lol!
Hi Lee-anne
Those lovely postcards bought back memories I also was taught to sew on a singer tredle machine and when I married, my Motherinlaw owned one and that one now sits in my daughters home . Thank you for visiting and your comments
Hello, Lee Ann! I DO love your post today - how special. Actually, these treadle machines are still used today in some parts of the country (by treadle enthusiasts, of course) and a lot of these machines are used WORLDWIDE because of there being no need for electricity. I've heard of them being shipped overseas to mission fields and the like for that purpose. And, yes... we must be kindred spirits! :)
The postcards are wonderful. I love most anything vintage. My grandma had a treadle machine and made lots of fantastic clothes for my dolls when I stayed with her. I still have some of the doll clothes but sure wish I had the treadle machine, too!
PS - I have some old postcards that I'm going to be putting on my blog soon. They aren't sewing related but they are old!
Beautiful postcards Lee Ann. I have many wonderful memories of my Grandma's sewing away on their treadle Singer machines. My DIL now has the old treadle in her home..
Yes, what a lovely post! I love the old treadles. I do Civil War Re-enacting and we use an even OLDER version of the sewing machine...the Hand Crank! Several of the seamstresses bring them to reenactments and do mending for the troops. They are almost portable! (heavy, though) as they are not on a table with legs and treadle like the later versions. Fascinating! I'm going to send you an email with some of my old sewing machine graphics in it if I can scout around on here and find your email address!!!
Lee-ann~ I enjoyed this very much. Those postcards are wonderful treasures, what a find! Can't you see them framed?
I am a crafter. While I certainly don't claim talent, it is still fun!
G'day Lee Ann!
How neat! I just love old vintage photos and graphics! Got plenty too.if you'd like some! Your blog is so nice.
--Shelley
Lovely postcards!
I made some doll clothes on a treadle my grandmother bought at a church rummage sale for $5.
I have acquired an old Singer treadle, made in 1884 in Glasgow, Scotland. I, too, have wondered who bought it new, and how did it get to the U.S.?
Enjoying your blog!
--Barbara
Hello everyone,
Yes they are so lovely and they remind me of all you crafters and the adventures you all get into in your crafting day!.
So many sewing memories by you all makes this post so special to read but your comments make the post.
thank you all.
Lee-ann - I am so glad that you are joining the red & aqua swap! I have been collecting bits too. Need lots more though. I am going to an art shop next week to add to the vintage stash I have. I think this swap can be both vintage and new - any how it sounds like lots of fun.
Thankyou again for visiting my blog - I loved to read your 'long story' as I love to read people's stories. Love that you adore the perfume of violets ! but 98 violets to a bunch - gee, that puts my poor little 25 to shame :)
oxox
Hello Lee-Ann,
It was so nice to "meet" you today through your comment. And I can see that I am going to love your blog : )
One of my goals is to learn to sew, I used to be utterly fascinated with my grandmother's sewing machine growing up. And I loved these pictures. My first goal before diving into sewing though is the rather mundane but core one of healing my relationship with food, and I was really inspired by your pumpkin post (http://xmastree2.blogspot.com/2006/05/dont-let-frost-get-on-your-pumpkins.html). Something about it really spoke to me there, "AND all because two little grandsons poked their little fingers into the soil alongside their poppi and dropped in a pumpkin seed." If you don't mind, I would really love to qoute you from there in my little food blog that's just starting.
I look forward to exploring your lovey blog here Lee-Ann! I think we have much in common, and its lovely to find that, especially when we are in such different parts of the world : )
Blessings! Wendy
My great grandmother, grandmother and my mother sewed on a treadle machine. I am sure they were thrilled to death not to have to use a needle and sew by hand. I have sewed by hand and am not the best but it is something that is fun to try once in a while!! Young girls will never understand where the new things started from. One day when I was working in computers, I sat a young girl down to have her type up some things for me. She absolutely NO IDEA how to even TURN a typewriter on!! She just sat and looked at it...Finally she said, "how do you turn this on?" I just never thought about it!! showed my age I guess!! Sandy
my hubby's grandmother had a machine...she told me she used to sew all of her own clothes and for her children...I wish I still had that machine but it was sold at auction and at the time I could not afford to buy it!
I love Blogland too...so much inspiration to be had!!
:-D
Oh Lee-Ann, your postcards brought back so many memories of learning to sew on a treadle machine (it was a Singer) when I was about 8 years old. I remember having problems with coordination at first, but soon mastered it.
Great post.
Hugs
Lots of "new" technologies are interesting to look back on now. I'm thinking of washing machines, with the separate ringer that you had to put your wash through. My mother talked about getting one of those when I was born (1945) and she felt so happy to have her own machine and not have to wash by hand.
My mother sold her old singer - a featherweght, I think, - a couple of years ago. She didn't even ask me if I wanted it. It was a lovely old machine though the tension was irratic. It was the machine I learned to sew on.
love these pics they really trapped the time didn't they.
Singers are the best I have a toyota but wish it was a singer, mum still has one, her mum was a dress maker, think this is where i got the sewing bug lol
Hi Lee-ann ~~ It seems we all remember the old treadle machines. I
learnt to sew on my mothers and then had one myself for a few years, both were Singers. Thanks for your comments
I am having trouble posting again tonight so will leave it for a while. I don't need another 3. I love the
crockpot and there are some good recipes if you google Crockpot recipes
Take care Lee-ann, Cheers, Merle.
Hi Lee-ann. I have my mother's old treadle Singer but it is in very poor condition. I cannot bear to throw it away, the memories are just too strong. I still kind of expect to find treasures inside the little drawers.
I see there are ]o many of us out here who remember the humble treadle sewing machine so maybe it is not as old as we are thinking it is..............after all we are not all that old are we!
cheers to you all dear friends I will keep these lovely post cards until our renovation is finished and then display them with my own singer!!
Enjoy your crafting one and all! this post was all about you.
Lee-ann
Just caught my name at the end of your post Lee-ann, and yes - I knew you would be a great addition to our blogging family, after reading your posts on the eBay chat boards that were always so jolly! (Isn't that a lovely word...rarely used these days, but it is one of my favourites from Enid Blyton's books. I could always picture anyone she described as 'jolly').
Everyone's enthusiasm for the old Singer sewing machines has prompted me to write an additional paragraph or two for Patracat's Memories. I'd forgotten about my adventures on Mum's old treadle!
Love the postcards.
My Mum still has one of these but a table top one and she still uses it!
I`ve linked you so I can easily come back and read your blog :)
tea
xo
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