by Kit Joslyn
I have always sewn items for family and friends. For many years I made baby blankets, bibs, Halloween costumes, clothing and quick gifts. When I got my embroidery machine most of my basic sewing flew out the window in order to embellish ready made items. I’ve also spent hours making FSL angels to send to strangers in need. Recently I was asked to make some items for a friend who was becoming a grandmother for the first time, she was excited about the pending arrival of twin grandsons. Of course I had many twin embroideries to add to the items, but during the construction of the hooded towels and bib sets, I re-awakened the sewing bug within me.
Now I am back to making items and embellishing them. What joy I have in finding new patterns for my projects. These completely hand made items are valued by the recipients far beyond anything store bought. I look at the price and availability in the stores and find poor quality and small selection. My homemade items are unique and well made. I am not a perfect seamstress, but the love and care I sew into each item is evident.
We all love our embroidery machines, but sewing was one of my first creative outlets and I am so thrilled to re-discover the happiness it brings me. My husband didn’t understand why I didn’t trade in or sell my old sewing machine but I am sure all of you do. I keep my embroidery machine (always in embroidery mode), sewing machine and sergers ready to use at all times. I never know when the sewing bug will bite, but I enjoy the results when it does. If you haven’t really sewn for a while, try it, and see if the sewing bug bites you too!
Hi Kit:
I really enjoyed your article and know exactly what you mean. I look around my beautiful sewing room and it looks and says “Frustrated Sewer Lives Here.” By that I mean there are projects stacked with patterns on top of each with the fabric just begging to be made. And all my machines in the ready to carry out my good intentions..
However, I do miss the creative part of simple sewing. So this is what I am going to do..Clean out my sewing room, leave out only one project and serge it, sew it and embelish with embroidery!! This will be a very simple apron for a new bride. How’s that for getting back to simple sewing.
I just needed to read your article to beccome inspired again in something that gives me so much pleasure!
Thank you Kit!!
Gerry
I am like you. Always have used my sewing machine since a little girl. But the joy of watching designs come from my embroidery machine, choosing the colors is such fun. I live in a 5th wheel travel across the USA and carry, serger, embroidery and a combined sewing and embroidery machine. Would not give one of them up. Hope others enjoy their machines as we do.
I kmow exactly what you mean! When I am sewing, I am thinking about my next embroidery project and when I am embroidering, I can’t wait to get stitiching again!!
Since I’m soon to be 81, and have been sewing since I made doll clothes as a child, I always find it odd when people are looking for something ready-made to embellish.
It is so much more satisfying and unique to make the article yourself with the materials you want, and then embellish. (lots easier, too)
I know exactly what you mean. I love the almost instant gratification of sewing and embroidery. I have been making hooded towels for baby shower gifts for several years. The new Moms love being able to cuddle their little ones in the towels and often order new towels. Pillowcase dresses is a new quick project I have discovered that are well received. My current project is making a jacket for my youngest grandaughter from “antique” handkerchiefs. It is time consuming, but the response and appreciation is well worth it.
I also keep my embroidery machine embroidery, sewing machine and sergers ready to use at all times.
and will never trade or sell my machines.
so I really understand what you mean.
Greetings Renske from Holland
I keep my embroidery machine (always in embroidery mode), sewing machine and sergers ready to use at all times.
And will never trade or sell my machines.
so I understand your feelings about it because
it is so much fun to sew and embroider.
Greetings Renske from Holland
that is why i bought mt ellismo. i don’t have to take off the embrioidery unit to sew, it slides out of the way. Sewing was my first love too, but now I like to embelish what I sew to make it really unique.
I went back to sewing and am mow making “Little Dresses for Africa”. such a worthwhile cause and soooo easy to do.
I LOVE GOING THROUGH PATTERNS IT HAS GIVEN ME A LOT GOOD IDEA’S.I SEW A LOT ALSO.THANK’S FOR THE GREAT PATTERNS.THAY ARE GREAT.
Kit, I was the same way – making all the clothes for myself and 5 kids, plus drapes, curtains and doing mounds of sewing. Then, like you, the embroidery bug hit. I was fascinated by the talk of FSL and had to try it.
Hundreds of angels, bells, photo ornaments and tree ornaments have been made but I still haven’t returned to the clothing mode, but……in my mind, I’m making lovely garments THAT FIT! Shirley
I have loved sewing ever since I was in the 7th grade-I am 62 so I have been sewing most of my life. I sew for my grandchildren and friends-need to put myself on that list! Machine emb. is just an added pleasure.
The same thing happened to me. I am sewing more now than I have in many years.
I know exactly how you feel, I had my first embroidery machine 12 years ago, but I still kept my old Brother Star 3 sewing machine and my sergers and have just purchased another embroidery machine. I have two young grandsons and have lots of new nieces and nephews on the way and have been busy making crib sets for them all using the patterns I have downloaded from this site. Now if only I could figure out how to upload the image of one of these to the site! So if anyone knows, then please pass on the information.
I could have written your article. I have my sewing room set up just as you do. Sometimes I try to multi-task, sew while my embroidery machine is stitching out a design.
I am the same!! change to embroidery machine a couple of years ago, but.. afew months ago started w/ sewing and hand embroidery again.
Becky
I agree with you about the machines. I leave mine up where I can use them whenever the urge takes over. Much better than having to get them out and set up from scratch.
I love my embroidery machine as well.
Nancy B
like you i love to sew and have over the years made alot of quilts, but recently ive found a love for making bags. this has been so exciting as i get to sew ,embroidery and embelish with lace and beads. it combines all my great loves and i can be so creative, i love making them and my family and friends most defintly love receiving them. Its so good when you can combined all your sewing mediums and end up creating works of art and family hearlooms. Ps dont forget to name and date your creations its such a delete when you look back to discover how long ago it was when you made an item. and how far you have developed your skills form when you first started.
This speaks to where I am in my life also. I just finished several receiving blankets for Showers and it is so rewarding to see the Mamas delight in something so very special. Time to get back to the basics for me. Been sewing for 60 years and still love it. Thanks again for this article.
Dear Kit, my husband could not understand why I refused to give up my 30 year old sewing machine when I bought my embroidery machine..I love to embellish ready made blanks BUT nothing beats starting from scratch and seeing what comes out…fun for me and fun for whoever gets the finished product…the sewing bug bites around here all the time.
We are all definitely kindred spirits! lol!
We all think, feel and do the same things! What a joy to hear of other like-minded ladies out there in love with sewing and yet feel the heat wave come and go, when the sewing bug bites and we settle down to create and embelish new items there is just no stopping us!
My heart is warmed reading the comments. We are blessed with our machines, rooms, supplies and opportunities to share our hearts and skills. Thank goodness that part of humanity is still alive and kicking.
I was itching to confirm what you were saying… then read all the comments from many other like-minded folk. Like them, I feel the same. I have a mid-arm machine, as well as embroidery and sewing machines and I just hop from one thing to the next as the bug bites. I love creating with fabric and though I’ve had a few contracted items to make, it never fulfills like making something to give to loved ones, friends and those in need.
~thank you for sharing your article~
We could be twins. I have three machines in my sewing room all raedy to go when I can get away from every day life.
I too, leave all of my machines set and ready to go.My only problem is that for 42 years, I worked in sewing factories, AND I hate to tcut anything out.But my youngest daughter solved that for me. She comes to the house every other Sat and she has been cutting out garments for mee.Now I can get something done. Right now, I’m making bibs and burp pads for a baby gift. MY daughter made a shopping cart cover for her granddaughter out of zebra print material When the baby’s picture got on Facebook, she got orders for several of them.I got material for one to go with my gift. She took it home with her to make/It is fun to get in the sewing room with her and work.I’ve told her that she will get all my machines when I pass on.
The more machines the better, have two embroidery, two sewing and a serger. Hubby loves it when I’m doing embroidery and working on a quilt. Me, I’m always in a good mood as long as I can handle threads and fabric. As the sayings goes, I can’t die until I use up my stash.
I really enjoyed this article. I recently retired and bought a Diamond and a serger. I’m eager to become a proficient sewer. I’m always looking for beginner’s patterns especially for my serger. I will continue to check out your si te.
I also know exactly how you feel, my first love of sewing was clothing, then I got into quilting, and oh the wonderful things I could create and then add embroidery to all of that and the creative genes went crazy. Now I have a new generation of young ones coming into my life so that creative gene is coming alive even more with sewing clothing for baby and putting that special touch w/ embroidery from great aunt connie. and dont ask me to give up not one of my six machines I use them all!!
Yes, I kept my old Elna sewing machine, and that is the one I always sew on, so my embroidery machine, overlocker and elna sit in the room, plus my 2 knitting machines, and they take so much room, but I love them all.
Betty XXX 000 ###
like most of the commentes, I rencently found out I cant live with out my machines.I went through and still am going through a deep depresion the almost only thing that brings me out of my room is sewing, and embrodery the sound of the machins and the beauty that is the finished item makes me smile or even laugh.at the looks and smiles of the ones I give them to
It takes away some of the pain of the many losses I’ve lost in the past 5 yr and getting on the computer and finding someones creatice ideas that some of you share and I;ve just got to try is a great way to get me going for another day so bless every one who understands this love we have thank you and keep up the Ideas