This is fantastic. But I guess I've been going at it all wrong all these years.......

to funny, lipstick on, hair in order, pretty dress... wash the dishes first....

lol

to funny

Moni

I've never seen anything like that, and I still use a Singer sometimes that is only about 5 years younger than that ;)

I have the owners manual someplace, I'll have to look and see if there is anything similar in it. It was a fairly upscale model for its time with a lot of attachments and I've referred to the book for those instructions, didn't notice anything in it telling me to wash my dishes or fix my hair ;)

My mother was still renting a sewing machine about once a year in 1949, doing all the household sewing she could fit in while she had the rental. I have the one she bought in the early 50's and still use it from time to time, you can't beat it when doing straight stitches, no need to do any tension adjustments whether mending a flimsy lingerie strap or hemming heavy denim.

This post was edited by morz8 on Tue, May 20, 14 at 12:59

Oh yes!!! That's funny!!! We have come a long way!!!

I guess that reinforces the fact that I am old..... I have never seen instructions, but deeply imbedded in my brain are those rules and I had no idea they were 'somewhere'. I have never been able to sew if there is housework or some other duty that needed attention. Who knew????

Love it!

That's amazing. Times certainly have changed. I wonder how all of those tailors managed to make suits without wearing make-up and dresses.

Yes, I always have my powder and lipstick on in case my husband comes home......and lord knows I can't enjoy anything until the dishes are done and the beds are made!

So funny...I sent it to my sis-in-law who also used to sew....we used to be up to the wee hours the night before sewing Easter dresses for our girls.

It's true. You must give it all your attention!
I was talking to a friend on the phone one day while making myself a pair of pants. Told her I had to hang up after I sewed the same seam wrong 3 times.

My first purchase after I went to work was a beautiful watch...$35 and my second purchase when the watch was paid off was a Singer portable. My roommate and girlfriend used to rent one once or twice a year to make her clothes and she asked me if I wanted to go halves so I did.. After she got married I decided to rent one on my own and the guy at the store convinced me that I should buy one. Don't remember how kong I made payments on it but I loved that little machine and used it for many years. I broke a little plastic piece from the inner workings that wasn't repairable and had to buy a new machine. That was maybe 3o years later. It was almost all metal not plastic like today's machines.

I'm not convinced that was part of a Singer sewing manual. At the bottom of the page is some fine print and I can make out "Tater Patch Quilts" and "------- , Oregon". It could have been an article in a private publication about sewing. It does offer advice about setting the personal stage and eliminate distractions while sewing. Mustn't let your mind wander while you've got your fingers near that mindless recirprocating needle.

The date of the article is 1949 which was only 4 years after WW2. The tone of the article fits a much earlier time, say 1900 or earlier. But then, I could be wrong.

"I thought I made a mistake but then I discovered I was wrong."

I sewed with my mom's treadle machine for years, and my daughters did a lot of sewing on that old workhorse.

There you go, jemdandy.... I was in 8th or 9th grade and taking my first "Homemakers" classes, most times using a Singer Sewing Machine! And there that message is, firmly planted in my sub-concious mind all these years. Funny!
Nice knowing that.

I have had a couple of sewing machines in my lifetime, but for the life of me, I never could learn to sew properly....I am envious of ladies that can do that,,,,, but just never took to it at all. I took classes a couple of times too... maybe it was the wrong color lipstick... ya think ?? LOL

I have my mothers 1949 Betty Crocker cookbook. It has similar things about setting a neat table, how to place silver ware and using pretty dishes. How eye appeal makes a good meal better. Although "eye appeal" wasn't how it was phrased. I get a bang out of reading those things. I couldn't sew a straight line with a sewing machine and a ruler. My grandparents both worked for Capps Clothing, making men's suits. I inherited no skill. Oh well, I have other talents. I do have a used Singer from the sixties, the case is aqua, and all the pieces and parts are there, including book. Bought from a friend who said it was her mothers. Works like a charm, but she made sure it was before she sold it to me. I'm happy with it. Just need to learn more.

I think this is a fun message. I enjoyed it. Thanks for posting the image.

My mother had a treadle powered Singer - great machine. She made many things on it during 1940 through 1954. I remember the war years when dairy feed sacks were made of printed cloth. After the sack was empited, unsewed, and washed, mother made shirts, dresses, pillow cases, aprons, etc.

Her cabinet was made of solid oak and it had 6 drawers, 3 on each side and a seventh middle tipping drawer. Most sewing machine cabinets that I have seen have only 4 side drawers. Mother passed away and inherited that machine. It is in working order. Currently, it resides at my sister's house since she has more use for it than I do, and she has used it. I do not know the date of its manufacture, but it must be before 1940. I do not know how or when mother bought the machine. Knowing the life of hard knocks she and my father endured and little spare cash during the 1930s, I suppose it was a used machine when she got it.

We had a Singer treadle when I grew up - I think that it had 4 drawers plus the tip-out central one.

Didn't get used much, as both Grandma, with curvature of spine, and hired help had lots of other things to do.

o j