Sewing Machine Day

Sewing machines used to be everyday household appliances, although they are no longer common. Even though the heyday of these contraptions as a domestic necessity has come and gone, we should recognize the subtle simplicity it adds to our lives. Without this important invention, the process of making clothing (and any sewn item) would be extremely tedious. Each article would have to be sewn by hand, stitch by stitch!

The sewing machine shown above is a Singer Featherweight that Dad bought for Mom in 1951 a few months after they got married.  After serving his first four years in the Air Force, Dad became a Singer Sewing Machine salesman from June of 1954 until November of that same year.  Dad said his manager said he liked to sell this brand of sewing machine because it was lightweight.  Mom and Dad stayed in Tampa during this time.    After working for Singer, Dad went with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company for about a year until around the 1st of December of 1955.  One of the families he tried to sell insurance to had a child die the next day with no insurance.  This upset Dad so badly that it put him in the hospital for a couple of days and he decided it was time to resign. 

They then moved to Georgia and lived there until the following May.  While there, Dad worked at Tifton Laundry doing pickup and delivery route.  (Back then someone showed up at your house to pick up your laundry).  After making $32.50 per week as his basic salary and with a wife and three girls, Dad decided it was time to reenlist in the Air Force and he did.

Back to the sewing machine...this is the sewing machine I used for all of my sewing for my entire life.  I've made bridesmaid dresses, prom gowns, pants, dresses, suits, etc. for every female in my immediate family.  The machine was given to me by Mom with the understanding that I would never sell or give it away.  No problem there - it's staying with me.
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Note:  These are two dresses I made using the little sewing machine.