Monday, July 14, 2008

Sewing Love


Check out this great list of sewing blogs. I'm a new member on the list. There is a ton of inspiration and practical help on these blogs. I'm so grateful to Suze for compiling the list.

I love sewing. And I love this machine. Although it says Electrolux as the brand, it's really a Husqvarna (as sold in Canada) or a Viking (I think that's the US brand). Why Electrolux?
I bought the machine in Quito, Ecuador, in 1983. We were living in a little town on the edge of the Amazon jungle. One of my friends had just purchased an identical machine. I'd been looking to replace my first machine. The exchange rate at the time was in our favour and so my husband and I raced up to Quito (5 hours away), with our 14-month old daughter, bought the machine, at the Electrolux store, and raced back, all in the same day. Maybe racing isn't the right word - jolting, jouncing and jiggling are more apropos.
The salesman couldn't understand why I was in such a hurry. He wanted to show me all the bells and whistles of what the machine could do. I already knew how to sew and an instruction manual came with the machine (in Spanish), and I just wanted to get going.

With the help of this machine, I've sewn maternity clothes, baby clothes, school uniforms, costumes, toys, tablecloths, more curtains than I like to think about, gifts, upholstery, quilts, pillows, graduation dresses, bridesmaid dresses, and one wedding gown. I'm actually getting choked up here, writing about all the history this machine and I have shared.

Even my husband (Mr. Handyman) has used this machine to make - get this - a sailboat cover. Yes, last fall he took the machine downstairs where there was more room to spread out and had tarps all over the family room. He stitched and stitched, cutting and shaping the tarp to fit the boat just perfectly. I thought he was nuts, but it worked. The boat was protected all winter.

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4 comments:

  1. Anonymous10:28 AM

    Thank you Lorrie,
    I'll check out the Sewing Blog list. I also have a beloved Viking from the 80's which my husband and I went out to purchase on a very cold sub-zero winter day. we had our little 2 year old son with us. If feel like if we were neighbors you would be a wonderful friend!
    Joy

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  2. Hey!! Thanks for the link to the sewing blogs list. I will check that out. Thanks for visiting my blog..you will be entered in my giveaway - whatever it is! ha

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  3. Hi Lorrie...

    Thanks for visiting...
    That restaurant looks wonderful...so quaint.
    There is nothing better than a good sewing machine! Sounds like it has been your soulmate through many events in your life!!

    Have a great week!
    Hugs, Nancy

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  4. That's a great story about your sewing machine's history. It's interesting how much our lives can change, and yet we'll still have the same possessions :)

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Thank you for your comment. I read and value each one, cherishing the connections we can make although far apart. Usually, I visit your blog in return, although if you ask a question I try to contact you directly.

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