Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Sewing Machine - Manatee Historical Village


Sewing Machine Memories as I wandered through the times past in the village.

This is the type machine my Daddy's mother, Carrie Terrell McCall 1886-1959, used.  You will find her photo in the link of her name.

She once sewed right through her pointer finger with it. She also caught her fingers in the wringer washer.



 Times were hard for her, my grandfather had a stroke that put him in a wheel chair while her 7 children were young. 2 girls 5 boys born between 1906 and 1917.


She ran the general store, took care of her husband, raised 7 children, sewed all their clothing and cooked and cleaned. All of this in rural Georgia during the depression and as the south still reeled from the Civil War between the states.


18 comments:

My Mind's Eye said...

I learned to sew on a pedal Singer. And my son in law made me a table out of the bottom of a machine just like this.
And I remember washing machines like that too. Yep I'm a dinosaur
Love this post
Hugs cecilia

eileeninmd said...

Hello, I am not a sewer. My mother loved to sew, usually she made a lot of doll clothes by hand. But, I enjoy seeing these antiques. Enjoy your day and the week ahead!

Cranberry Morning said...

I have a worse tale about a wringer washer, that happened to one of my great aunts, but will spare you. Love those sewing machines. I have two very old treadle machines and need to find someone to get them in working order. They're such a connection to the past, one from each side of the family.

Suburban Girl said...

Wow. She was quite the woman!

EG CameraGirl said...

I have used an electrified version. I cannot imagine having the work the treadle while sewing. Your grandmother must have been a saint to raise seven kids and run a general store!

Anonymous said...

Love the sewing machine and the washing machine.

My Mom used them both. Plus my sister and her husbands Granny lived with them and taught the one niece of mine to sew. To this day she is a real sewer and knitter.
Won ribbons for her work and money at many a Fair.

Thanks for sharing.

TexWisGirl said...

she was a strong woman! my mother had a sewing machine similar to this one, just a bit 'younger' model.

Rose said...

Oh, Sandra, did you think of me at all when you posted this sewing machine--I would imagine your thoughts were all on your grandmother. I so love it thought...

Ann said...

I don't envy your father's mother. That sounds like a very rough life. She must have been an incredibly strong woman. That machine looks very similar to the one I remember sitting in my grandmother's house. I don't recall what year she was born but I know it was the late 1800's

Ruth Hiebert said...

Oh how times have changed. I do remember those old machines.I also remember using a wringer washer,although a more modern one than the one you show.What a pain it was to do laundry that way.

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

We also had a similar sewing machine in my home when growing up, and we also had a Maytag washer that looked similar to the one in the museum. Thankfully, I don't recall hearing of any accidents to people who used them. Your grandmother was one strong woman, Sandra.

Anonymous said...

I read the linked post. Your mother was a beautiful woman. You didn't get away with anything having the four to look after you. ;) Those sewing machines were a staple in the household. I like the fashion flair evident in the photo of your paternal grandmother. I think someone in every sewing class managed to puncture a finger. My brother ran his entire arm in the wringer--so I've heard.

Cheryl @ TFD said...

Both my grandmother's had this kind of sewing machine. One grandmother died when I was 9 and I inherited her sewing machine in later years. I wasn't thinking at the time as I knew I'd never use it so I took the top off and made a table out of the base. I now kinda wish I'd kept the top with the machine. My other grandmother did some alterations for people and always used the treadle machine. She was an excellent seamstess. Your grandmother was an amazing woman to do all that work with that many children. I don't think the youngun's today could do half of what the old-timers used to do. Or would do it, I should probably say. I don't know that I could! :)

Linda said...

Amazing lady!!! We are such wimps now!!!

Marie said...

OUCH! your grandmother's poor fingers. :( my mom sewed in NC for work before we moved to FL. my great-grandma made her own patterns and sewed. I haven't sewn anything since high school. lol Kyle has been sewing since he was very young, maybe 8 or so. He made a super hero costume out of old costumes. He just starting cutting and then got needle and thread and sewed it himself! He go this talent from his great-great-grandma. They are 100 years apart. :)

Ida said...

Quite the old sewing machine. I can't sew worth diddly squat. I can't imagine doing laundry on one of those wringer washing machines either. My mom got her finger caught in one. Thankfully the neighbor heard her screaming and came to help. Plus she had a ring on that kept the machine from ripping her finger off.

Gail said...

I have used both. I did sew my finger, right through the top of a fingernail but just backed the needle out. Never told Mom, either. I am very pleased to say nothing belonging to me but my clothes got put through the wringer.

Debby@Just Breathe said...

What an amazing woman she was. I can't even begin to imagine. I would love to have that kind of strength. My grandfather was a tailor and I have his Singer sewing machine.