Saturday, January 24, 2009

Grammie squares

Classic Americana crafts are making a comeback and I'm stuck on sidelines. It seems like everyone but me can work yarn or thread. I can't sew, crochet, knit, or needpoint. I'd be hard pressed to sew a single button. Fifty years ago, every self-respecting girl learned some sort of craft. What happened to that tradition? It's gone, just like Sunday dinners at Grandma's house. Some of my best memories as kid involve my Granny sewing something by hand in her little house on Kentucky Street. I don't really remember what she was creating, if anything, maybe just sewing up a seam or something, but it left an impression. My mom used to lug out this beast of sewing machine on our dinner table on occasion, while I played with the avocado-green sewing box, chock-full of colorful buttons and patches. In our throwaway society, a sewing box is a cultural relic, talked about like milk bottles left on doorsteps.

But a renaissance is happening now, and I'll be damned if I miss out this time around. David's step-mom made us this beautiful afghan for Christmas, so you see, inspiration is all around me. I'm not sure I'd have the patience for knitting or crocheting, but sewing does appeal to me.



Motivation — check. Inspiration — check. Sewing machine — need to go get one.

My first project should I actually buy or inherit a machine will be these cloth baby shoes. Wish me luck.

5 comments:

Liam 'n Augusts NanaSu said...

That is a beautiful afghan -

My grandmother taught me how to needlepoint, crochet, knit and cross-stitch. When she died I inherited all of her crochet hooks, books, and various colors of embroidery threads. She gave me an embroidery box that belonged to her mother. I still have the box and scissors she gave me many years ago. I was blessed to have her in my life.

Missy said...

Go get a sewing machine!
We can learn together!
I have some retro apron and cloth diaper patterns to ATTEMPT.

Debra said...

The first step is get a sewing machine in the house, borrow your moms, or you can get one that does the basic stuff fairly inexpensive. Mine was $100.00 and it does everything I want it to do. If your mom sews she could probably help you through the first pattern, or take a class at Joann's. I'm not saying it's easy, it can be a little time consuming, but you sure do feel good when the project is completed.

Liam 'n Augusts NanaSu said...

Kenmore sewing machine on sale @ Sears for 94.99. I won the Superbowl pool at work so guess what I am getting? I've never had a new sewing machine.

The Vintage Housewife... said...

oooh the heart ache...i 2 can't sew a lick...thank goodness my girls are learning to make scarfs...the art is lost...i am however inspired to learn...someday...hee hee cat