After my mum passed away it was a given that I should have her sewing machine. It is a plastic Kenmore that is neither modern nor vintage. To be honest, I have no idea when she bought it and I can't exactly say I've witnessed my mom sewing...anything...ever. She would always hem my Jordaches back in the 80s but I'm pretty sure she hand sewed them. Poor mom! Now that I have an idea of what that job entails I never appreciated the effort she must have put forth. She always said she needed a sewing machine so she could make curtains but it never actually happened. :)
I had a go at cleaning up the machine (there was soil in it since it resided under a planter) and I did the best I could to oil it where possible. It sews well enough and I went through all the stitches. The only problem is it sounds like you are sewing through rocks and there is quite a grinding roar; not the quietest or most powerful machine out there I'm sure!
Still...it does work and is a great basic machine for my daughter to play around with. I don't have to worry about it and it gets the job done. There was no manual included (nor accessories other than one extra bobbin) but it's very simple to figure out. My daughter doesn't have the patience or attention span for fussing and reading instructions...we are very different!
I recently picked up this Singer Sewing for the Home book which seems to be from about the same era. There are some super projects in it and some of the techniques are always going to be applicable somewhere. It is perfect for when I'm trying to figure out some home dec stuff like ruffles and there are some very pretty placemats included. Hey, it was only $1.50 and the photo instructions are great! Too bad I hadn't found it sooner; half the book is filled with window treatments, from curtains to shades to valences to pleated draperies! Mom could've decorated every room! I doubt I will be creating anything fancy on the Kenmore but I have plenty of other great machines. I'll keep mom's as a wonderful reminder not to store my sewing machine under a plant...
I have that Singer book. I bought a bunch of them new when I worked for Singer in 1990. But they were all hardback then, and they cost a bit more than $1.50!
Posted by: Vireya | August 06, 2016 at 03:12 AM
By the picture, I would guess that your Kenmore is one made by Janome. If so, it should be a very quiet and smooth running machine. Maybe a little more oil and some time spent running the machine will loosen it up. It's probably a bit stiff from disuse. I hope you can improve its noisy performance. Always cool to have something of your mom's.
Posted by: Jennifer | August 08, 2016 at 12:54 PM
Thanks Jennifer! I will have to investigate further with this machine. I am happy to have it and it would be even better if it's actually made by Janome! I'll keep ya posted....
Posted by: angie | August 12, 2016 at 07:52 PM
Vireya, that is so cool! I'm glad I scooped it when I saw it - always a good thing to have on the sewing shelf. That's neat you worked for Singer!
Posted by: angie | August 12, 2016 at 07:53 PM
My Mom was so good at sewing - she made a lot of clothes for me right up until I started working. I admired her talent - and patience. She tried to teach me how to sew when I was about 15 or 16 - I just couldn't seem to make it work - straight lines seemed to be a challenge and I really didn't have patience when I couldn't get it right straight away. Unfortunately I didn't inherit the same talents she had.
Posted by: Rochelle | August 13, 2016 at 04:12 AM
Rochelle, that is so sweet. 16 is probably a tough age to be taught anything by our mothers, right!? I am self-taught and didn't start until my mid-40s so there is always a chance to try again. I couldn't sew garments I'm sure but quilting can be pretty do-able! Thanks so much for commenting!
Posted by: angie | August 14, 2016 at 08:41 AM