Sunday, June 13, 2010

Meet BERNINA, a very close companion.

My trusty BERNINA.

She is a vintage sewing machine created sometime in the 50s and continues to be strong and steady and always ready to get down to work whenever I ask. I found her on craigslist, being sold by a man who thought he might like to try his hand at sewing. He never did and rather than keep it unused in a closet, posted it for sale. I learned it was once used by seamstress in California, repaired at one point (detective work: zero - there is a repair slip in the case) and what I learned upon taking it to my local repair shop, extensively robbed of original parts. I can only speculate how and why and under whose watch that happened but despite all the plundering she keeps on going. Straight stitch and zig-zag is all she's capable of and all I need and countless aprons are her current claim to fame.

I like the idea that a vintage machine helps me create my vintage-inspired aprons. It's fitting, I think.

Let us raise a toast: May she continue to accompany me on my sewing journey and stitch many more aprons. Here, here!