Hope's Journal 2026

[sanmagic7]

hope, i'm so jazzed for you about how you managed to get your sewing machine working.  congrats on that!  i have one which has been sitting for 2 yrs., too anxious to use it.  not sure what i'm scared of, but i can't get myself to sew, and i used to make the majority of my clothes and for my daughters as well.  so, it's wonderful to see you 'tame the beast' so to speak, go to references when needed, and accomplish the job.  well done!!!   love and hugs

[Marcine]

That's fantastic, Hope! I've been there too and those YouTube videos can really save the day. I relate with feeling daunted and doing it anyway. The good feeling of a successful sewing project.

(A geeky sidebar, if interested: several years ago I passed along my electric sewing machine when I had the chance to adopt and rebuild a foot-powered Singer. It was pretty decrepit and had been abandoned for years in a leaking garage. Scraping clean the serial number and lo and behold! Singer maintains the online database still and this beautiful machine was made on July 2, 1906...!

But even more amazing to me— with some basic mechanical rebuilding, degreasing and oiling, a bit of research on how to purchase a new leather loop that transfers power from the foot treadle — this beautiful machine that only runs 1 stitch, no back stitch, no fancy zig zag, no electrical power— is the best sewing machine I've ever worked with. Smooth and even stitches, a pleasure to sew on. It was built to last and it has.

I found the original advertisement for the machine— "a faithful friend"... ! Oh be still, my heart.

So, as I was working on reviving this machine, I felt its friendliness, its loyalty to service over many decades. I do love machines and I have an active imagination... I believe it was grateful to be taken care of, as a faithful friend deserves.

I had moments of doubt and concern about the project, especially when all the parts were loose on the workbench...

I did receive encouragement from the machine itself as I heard,
"It doesn't have to be Prissy Perfect."
"It's ok not to know."
"Take your time."
"Thank you for taking care of me."
"Don't fret. Relax and breathe."

Our faithful friendship endures.)

[Hope67]

Hi SanMagic, Thanks for sharing your feelings about sewing machines - it's helpful to hear because I also used to be able to use one many years back - but somehow I've developed quite a triggered relationship to it all - and when I went to that sewing class I didn't feel confident at all about what I was doing or trying to do - but I am so thankful that I am tackling it and making some progress with it.  I don't really understand why it changed, but clearly it did.  Hugs to you 

Hi Marcine, Wow, I found your experiences with that lovely sewing machine that you nurtured back to life to be really poignant.  Those words of encouragement you heard from the machine, they made inner parts of me feel a whell of emotion - it was really powerful - it felt really special that it spoke to you like that, and that a faithful friendship was enabled to endure.  Really inspiring and thank you for sharing it.   

[NarcKiddo]

Well done for sticking with it and getting the repair done.