For a while in the 80s it seemed like fancy computerized sewing machines were a status symbol among my costuming friends. It seemed like they all had to have the latest and greatest (and most expensive) electronic sewing machines out there. Some of their machines did cross stitch almost as nice as mine, so they were very impressed that I did mine by hand. In fact I became known for my handwork.
This handwork is only partly because I discovered embroidery, and ethnic surface decoration back in my Hippie days, before some of those folks were born, and partly because I have the patience to recreate it. But it's also because I could never afford such a fancy machine, preferring my old, all-metal machine that did nothing but sew. I learned that I got more control when I held the needle. I learned things that a machine still can't do, like putting the needle in one place and bringing it out another. And I learned to be more content with things that I had than things which money I didn't have could buy. Get a reconditioned workhorse of a machine and it will outlive you. The old straight-stitch machines are great workhorses, to make just about > anything you could imagine. > If you look, you can find specialty feet that do all sorts of things-- > Hemming feet that turn in a tiny hem & hold it for the sewing, > Gathering feet that put in tiny pleats after a set number of stitches, > Bias-feeding feet that help you put bias binding onto a piece of fabric, > Buttonholer, etc. -- Carolyn Kayta Barrows -- “The future is already here, it is just unevenly distributed.” -William Gibson -- _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
