The little Singer SewHandy

This has been one of those days. I've been puttering since 6:30 am and haven't really done much. All in all it was a great day! I was still thinking about kids learning to sew, this "kid" in particular, and decided to dig out my first sewing machine, still a prized possession. I got it for Christmas when I was 4 years old and sewed up a storm from day one and I've been sewing ever since. My mother wasn't really a seamstress though she had a that great Singer Seamstress machine,mostly she mended, the thought of which will send me to find chocolate and a trashy novel and wait till it's either out of style, or no longer fits the owner. Gran'ma didn't sew, she did do beautiful hand work and embroidery and passed that on to me. Her real contribution to my sewing was to sit with me and read directions and give me lots of encouragement.

I also remember that you could send in the wrapper off the Rick Rack pack and tape a dime to it and then you'd get a big fat envelope of end trimming of all kinds of lace and neet-o trims a few weeks later in the mail. Perfect for dolly clothes.

I had a Betsy McCall doll and a beautiful Miss Revlon 18" doll that I sewed for with this little chain stitch machine. Boy, did they have extensive wardrobes, much easier to sew for than Barbie if you are a little kid. I also made some aprons for Christmas, I found one still wrapped in tissue after Gran'ma passed away, I can still see her wearing it and telling everyone how brilliant I was.

My very favorite thing to do was spend my 25 cent weekly allowance on a little naked storybook doll at Woolworth's and make really outrageous costumes. I was hooked on "movie clothes". I remember gluing sequins and feathers on scanty "showgirl" clothes and then coating that little plastic body with glue swirls sprinkled with glitter. I brought one out to show my mother and some of the neighbor ladies having coffee and they almost had heart attacks! They just knew I was doomed to a life of sin and no good! LOL I think it's too bad Bob Mackie and I didn't live next door to each other, we would have gotten along just fine.

I took pictures of my little Singer SewHandy. Even with all the use it still looks like new, boy did I love that little machine. My brother was just astounded when I told him I still had it and the case he made me for my birthday in his wood shop class.

Being nostalgic, Val Machine pictures at this link;

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Reply to
Valkyrie
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Terrific . I also have my first Singer, exactly the same as yours, but called the Singer 20 and mine is black. I do have the original grasscloth case and clamp with the little Singer scissors and screwdrivers that came with it. Did a lot of clothes for Betsy on it. Wonderful memories, thanks.

Reply to
Hanna's Mom

The little Singer SewHandy

Reply to
sewingbythecea

"Valkyrie" wrote in news:1058411604.881661@yasure:

Gosh that is a really cute machine! Looks very sturdy too. The case is nice too! Too bad they don't make stuff like that for kids anymore. Those plastic kids machines are such a joke. I remember wanting one so bad as a kid and almost resenting having to use my mom's Singer. But then I tried using one at a friend's house and was appalled at how useless it was! I never complained about that Singer again!

-j

Reply to
julia

This particular model of the SewHandy was never for sale (an antique dealer told me this, I'm taking his word for it), it was a premium gift from the dealer that was given out when a particular Singer machine was purchased. That was the era of Mother/Daughter dresses, aprons, hats, etc and also, apparently, sewing machines. All little girls were encouraged to be little clones of the "perfect Mom", it was the 50's!

Val

Reply to
Valkyrie

i loved reading the memories,and enjoyed the photos!

betsey "we do not inherit the earth, we caretake it for our children"

Reply to
Two x over

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