If only she could talk...

My Singer that is. Actually, my Mom's Singer. As long as I can remember, this was the machine my Mother used. Dad bought her another Singer once, and as she said, it was a lemon! She would get so frustrated with it, then I would see her back to sewing on her tried and true first Singer. She really tried her hardest to teach me how to sew. I was a hard case! I wanted to learn, but I was so impatient. I wanted to be good from the start. Mom tried. Then I took sewing in High School. What a disaster. If my Mom was ever unhappy with one of my teachers, she never let on. She never talked badly about them. But my Home Ec. teacher let us go to Cloth World and pick out whatever fabric and pattern we wanted for our sewing project...no limits! I came home with a pattern that was super complicated. So complicated, my Mom said she would have NEVER selected it and she knew how to sew! Mom was not happy. Probably because she was so hopeful my sewing teacher would be able to teach me to sew and to love it! Well, as you can imagine, my time in class was miserable. I tore out seams so many times that I wore out the fabric! I really don't know how I even finished it. All I can remember was it had many ruffles, puffy sleeves, french cuffs, a zipper, buttons, etc. Not really a good first clothing item! I should have made elastic waist pajama pants, that is challenging enough for me! At the end of the semester, we had a fashion show and we wore our garments. I remember I could not breathe! The bodice on my dress was so tight that I thought I would pass out before I got across the stage. I am sure my Mom was a nervous wreck that her daughter would pop all the buttons and zipper before I finished modeling. It was one of those experiences that more or less scars you for life. The thing that makes me so sad, is I WANT to sew so badly! There is really no telling what this little sewing machine would tell us, if it could talk! She has been there through my whole growing up years...the years when I would sit by my Mom and watch her sew me clothes, make my babies and my Barbies clothes, make curtains for my bedroom and that was just when I lived at home! Then after I married, mother made curtians for our first home, then dust ruffles, etc. for a nursery and the list goes on and on. I don't know how many times, I have wished I could rewind the clock and take those lessons again. I am trying to teach myself. I am not a good student, I am sure my Mom is nodding her head right now! I don't want to make all my own clothes! I would love to be able to sew for my granddaughter. I would love to be able to make a simple quilt for all my grand kids. It is more the "crafty" home decor sewing I aspire to do. I am determined to take baby steps. Today, I pieced together a table runner. I finished the top and it was actually a lot of fun. I didn't have to rip out one thing! Yahoo. Of course, it isn't finished but I went as far as I could today. Now I must find time to go back to Cabbage Rose and find some fabric for the back and binding. As I was sewing today, as that Singer was making those little stitches, I got to thinking about my Mom. She sat at that machine so many hours, creating things for her family and for her home. I may not have taken after her in that area but she would be thrilled to know that someone has...Ashley. Ashley isn't afraid of trying. She thankfully doesn't have a scar from a bad experience lurking over her! I didn't teach her to sew, but she is learning on her own and she is doing a great job! Mom would be so proud! I know I am!