Men Who Sew

I personally own four sewing machines.
- A Singer portable, about 50 years old (it has a name, but I don't
remember it just now)
- Another heavy duty Singer, treadle converted to 1/3-hp electric motor
- My Grandmother's turn of the Century (1900, not 200) White treadle
converted to electric in the 1920's
- And a European brand electric multi-stitch I bought 20 years ago.

My mother was a seamstress, so I was taught at a very early age how to
sew by hand then with a machine. My mother put together a small sewing
kit that I took with me to school. The kids laughed until one of them
need a button sewn on one cold day during the winter so he could go out
for recess.

I've got an old Singer treadle machine. Works very well, though the
belt has stretched out a bit. A few years ago I used it made a
RenFair tunic on it of loose-woven plaid, with a long diagonal seam on
the bias. I'm proud to say the pattern matches up *exactly*.
I've also got an electric machine, plus an assortment of hand-sewing
gear for leatherwork. (That reminds me, my A-3 needs some repairs.)
Once I make some more progress on the airplane, I've got a Hawaiian
shirt pattern I'm waiting to try out on several yards of a terrific
airplane print.

I'll wager the "real men don't sew" crowd would probably also starve
to death or die of dysentery if left to themselves, since they
probably think "real men" shouldn't cook or wash dishes, either.

I've got an old Singer treadle machine. Works very well, though the
belt has stretched out a bit. A few years ago I used it made a
RenFair tunic on it of loose-woven plaid, with a long diagonal seam on
the bias. I'm proud to say the pattern matches up *exactly*.
I've also got an electric machine, plus an assortment of hand-sewing
gear for leatherwork. (That reminds me, my A-3 needs some repairs.)
Once I make some more progress on the airplane, I've got a Hawaiian
shirt pattern I'm waiting to try out on several yards of a terrific
airplane print.

I'll wager the "real men don't sew" crowd would probably also starve
to death or die of dysentery if left to themselves, since they
probably think "real men" shouldn't cook or wash dishes, either.


I have a small walking-foot machine. It hasn't been getting any use
recently, but that is obviously subject to change.

Peter

"Wilbur could sew a shirt as good as any woman" ...Katharine Wright,
1900

"The flying machine is in process now. Wil spins the machine 'round by
the hour, while Orv squats around marking the places to sew. There is
nowhere in the house to live" ...Katharine Wright, 1902

"When are you going to get your wing off my sofa and out of my living
room?" Rosemary Ooyen, 2002

Without sewing men, there would be no airplanes. I'm proud to call
myself a sewing man.

Harry Frey
Wright Brothers Enterprises

When I restored my '51 International half-ton truck, I sewed
up the upholstery for the seat. People (men, mostly) ask me who did
it, and when I tell them that I did, they say "Huh! Wish I could do
that!" I've done upholstery for several boats I built as well as my
Jodel. I make other stuff from fabric: logbook bags, pouches, storage
containers for the tiedown ropes and chocks and for survival kits for
our Citabrias. Whenever I see another $5 sewing machine in a garage
sale I grab it, especially if it's better than the one I'm using.
(Same goes for old electric irons, for shrinking aircraft fabric; the
new ones aren't nearly as accurate at holding temperature.)
Sewing ain't hard. Just need to think it through, take old
stuff apart to see how it was done, and go at it. Saves money and
allows you to do more of the total job.

Dan

wrote in message
ups.com...

When I restored my '51 International half-ton truck, I sewed
up the upholstery for the seat. People (men, mostly) ask me who did
it, and when I tell them that I did, they say "Huh! Wish I could do
that!" I've done upholstery for several boats I built as well as my
Jodel. I make other stuff from fabric: logbook bags, pouches, storage
containers for the tiedown ropes and chocks and for survival kits for
our Citabrias. Whenever I see another $5 sewing machine in a garage
sale I grab it, especially if it's better than the one I'm using.
(Same goes for old electric irons, for shrinking aircraft fabric; the
new ones aren't nearly as accurate at holding temperature.)
Sewing ain't hard. Just need to think it through, take old
stuff apart to see how it was done, and go at it. Saves money and
allows you to do more of the total job.



Agreed. My mother was an excellent seamstress, and started teaching me at a
very early age. I keep intending to by one of the new low cost machines, and
due a few upholstry projects for myself. Just never seem to find the time.

Real men should be able to do most everything! I even have some laundry
techniques I'm proud of.

wrote:
Whenever I see another $5 sewing machine in a garage
sale I grab it, especially if it's better than the one I'm using.
(Same goes for old electric irons, for shrinking aircraft fabric; the
new ones aren't nearly as accurate at holding temperature.)

Just to prove that we're not real men, we're going to now argue about
what is the best iron.

I bought a Sunbeam travel iron to do fabric work with. Best $15 I've
ever spent. I calibrate it with a digital thermometer. It has little
clicks that help you dial in the setting. Unlike the older irons that
have a mechanical control, this one has a digital sensor. It brings the
temp up fast and holds it dead on. The older irons would range
somewhere around 10 degrees of the setting.

It's also half the size of the standard iron, the handle folds down and
part of the handle is a water bottle for the steamer. The bottle is
removable. Put the handle down and remove the water bottle, and the
iron becomes very flat, and able to reach into some cramped corners.