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Rediscovering an older pleasure

March 17th, 2017 at 09:08 pm

Years ago I had a sewing machine. It was my grandmother's. Big heavy "portable" thing that you had to be a weight lifter to put it on a table. I used it. A lot. I then decided to buy a newer machine with a cabinet. My mom was an expert on machines and she picked it out and we brought it home. We both used it. She used it far more than I did. When I moved out, I gave it to her since she was using it more than I did. When she died, I didn't have room for it, so I gave it to one of her friends who had a daughter who wanted a machine. It's been ten years since my mom died.

Since I am retired, I have time to do more than just sew on a button. I decided I wanted a machine. I found one at a thrift store for $20. It isn't perfect, but it works. It also isn't as heavy as my grandmother's. I have no idea what happened to my grandmother's machine, by the way. This one has a few problems, but for the little bit of sewing I plan to do, it is workable.

Yesterday I decided I wanted to try and make a cloth grocery bag. I had no pattern, but I measured one and made my own pattern. As I'm pinning the pieces together I just felt a degree of satisfaction. I won't be making anything big or fancy, but it certainly is nice to make something I can use. I bought some scrap material for $1 and I didn't use it all, so my bag will be less than a $1 when I get it finished. I decided to crochet the handles so I'm not quite finished with it.

There is something so satisfying to creating something and finishing it, isn't there?

I think I may have mentioned a group from church where we knit hats on looms. One of the reports for the local paper is a school chum and I told her about our goal of making more hats than this year and adopting some classes next year and giving them hats. The story did make the paper and as a result, we have had four people donate some yarn and a couple more promise. It's kind of nice when people like to get involved. Anyway, here's the link to the story if you are interested:

http://herald-review.com/news/local/stitched-with-love-lutheran-women-knit-hats-for-decatur-students/article_92359267-25af-5b5a-b3d7-35d95df884cf.html?haa=123&utm_content=bufferfeddf&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=LEEDCC

To follow up on an earlier post, I did cancel the subscription to the Sunday Chicago Tribune. It wasn't easy. I wrote a letter to the editor of the Trib and I haven't seen it published, but received another phone call this morning begging me to reconsider. I refused. DH said he didn't want me to have to bother with it anymore and I'm relieved.

Hope your Friday is a good one and if you are Irish or Irish wannabe, hope you had a great St. Patrick's Day!

7 Responses to “Rediscovering an older pleasure”

  1. NJDebbie Says:
    1489794937

    I read the article and looked at the pictures; those hats are so cute!!!! What a great project. Keep up the good work.

  2. NJDebbie Says:
    1489795005

    Can you post a picture of your grocery bag when you're done. I've always admire people who can sew.

  3. NJDebbie Says:
    1489795024

    Can you post a picture of your grocery bag when you're done? I've always admire people who can sew

  4. rob62521 Says:
    1489795053

    Thanks, NJ Debbie for the kind words. Yes, I'll post a photo of the grocery bag when I'm done. Just remember it was a first attempt at something I haven't done in a really long time. Smile

  5. creditcardfree Says:
    1489799649

    I love to sew. I don't do it often but there are some fun things to make. I'm excited for you! And love those hats.

  6. FrugalTexan75 Says:
    1489802618

    I heard a story about a church kitting group making sweaters for chickens, and thought of you. Smile

  7. alice4now Says:
    1489927754

    Sewing is my "fun, new hobby" that I have taken up again this year. I can make simple products, no actual clothes, but I do get a lot of satisfaction from the work.

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