Tuesday, May 05, 2015

Loving the 1950's

It is so/sew fun to be sewing on a vintage sewing machine while watching TV shows about the 1950's. I am sewing rows of log cabin blocks together on my 1952 Singer Featherweight.  I enjoy getting a video of an entire season of my favourite shows from the library and watching the episodes while I sew. (Yes I could join the new century and get Netflix, but the library is free, which means more money for fabric!)

One of my favourite shows is Call the Midwife, which is a British show about a group of nurse-midwives and nuns who help the poor in London in the 1950's. My favourite character Chummy has been seen many times sewing clothing and making alterations on uniforms on her hand crank Singer.
Also lately I have been sewing while watching the third season of the Great British Sewing Bee. For some reason it is easier to location season 3 episodes than it was for season 2. My favourite episode so far this season can be seen on YouTube here. The sewists (don't you just love that word?!?) are using beautiful Featherweight sewing machines, and complaining about them the whole time. They are the easiest machines to use, but the sewers are familiar with complicated computerized sewing machines, and can't figure out how to work the old ones! LOL! 


Here is a good laugh... "never approach sewing with a sigh or lackadaisically...

And when you sew, make yourself as attractive as possible". 
I am laughing hysterically now!
Excuse me while I go and do my hair and put some make up on! LOL

15 comments:

Karen said...

I just watched the sewing episode you link to. What a delightful watch. I have only used my Featherweight machines for quilt making so do not know what it would be like to use one for garment making. It evidently was quite a challenge for the contestants but, if they had been familiar with the operation of the machines to start with, it may have gone easier for them.

Mary said...

I watch Call The Midwife on my Public Broadcast channels. I miss Jenny in the most recent series. I love seeing Sewing machines and Quilts in the shows I watch. I'm sure you have seen the I Love Lucy one, right?

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

I just pre-ordered the latest season of call the midwife from amazon. Love it! :)

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

I just pre-ordered the latest season of call the midwife from amazon. Love it! :)

Deb A said...

Oh poo..... you mean I should have showered before I took a break from cleaning and sewed for an hour! Yikes =) Happy sewing Kathy.

Terri said...

Oh yes, and don't leave dishes undone, or the cleaning. If I did all that first there'd be no time for sewing.
Hugs

Janet O. said...

Oh my goodness, that manual is a total hoot!! Thanks for the laugh!

Julierose said...

Oh, I just love that --I think Helga would faint if I came in wearing anything but old jeans and a sweatshirt (and bare feet!! --the better to pedal to the metal with!! lol).
Well If I could sit down with someone and my singer 301A and have them "show me"--maybe I could get to like my new "old " machine...so far, nope!! Hugs, Julierose

Scrappy quilter said...

I've never seen the program however I might try to find it. I love that you are making log cabin blocks on your featherweight. I'm going on a hunt for one this summer.

Lesley said...

Love seeing your little Singer being so busy. I also watch Call the Midwife...love the series!

Missy Shay said...

I thought that episode was funny too!

Lisa J. said...

I love that excerpt from the sewing manual. I would never get any sewing done if I had to make the beds and do the dishes first.....as for lipstick well that's just not going to happen. Thanks for the laugh.

Catherine said...

I'm glad you have been enjoying some of our British TV. Call the midwife was great and I hope they do another series. The log cabin blocks are in such pretty colours.

Deanna W said...

After reading your post, I watched 4 episodes of the British sewing contest. I use to watch it a few years ago and forgot about it till you mentioned it. Thanks for the reminder!!

Kate said...

Isn't it amazing how much things have changed. Thanks for sharing the sewing manual, what a hoot.