Treadle Sewing Machines & Childhood Memories
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One of my childhood memories is of my grandmother sitting at a treadle sewing machine sewing. The power for the machine came from the rhythm of her feet moving the treadle up and down. There was no motor, thus no electricity was needed.
The treadle sewing machine allows you to sew as slowly and precisely as possible, or go at a faster speed. The treadle motion spins a large flywheel, which is connected by a leather belt to the smaller hand wheel, which turns the machine.
I understand there is a resurgence in people buying and using these sewing machines due to the popularity of all things retro. And you don’t need electricity to use one, so you can sew “off the grid.” For those interested in a more sustainable lifestyle, they are perfect.
I only wore dresses back then, the kind that tied in back. My great-grandmother came from a time when people made their own clothing. Of course as a little girl growing up in the sixties and early seventies, I yearned for store bought clothing. But we lived simply and had no car to go to town.
I didn’t understand the importance of these skills that she had. It didn’t occur to me that the treadle sewing machine was actually probably a step up from what she’d grown up with. But I do understand all of this now.
Treadle Sewing Machines & Childhood Memories:
Many of these sewing machines date back to the first half of the 20th century and still sew perfectly. But I haven’t set eyes on one in a long time.
Treadle sewing machines were manufactured until the 1950s. In case you like little bits of trivia, Elias Howe and Isaac Merritt Singer are credited with creating the foot treadle. As you can imagine, these machines became very popular.
In terms of industry, this enabled improvements to be made in the manufacture of almost anything that required stitching.
It’s possible to convert a treadle powered sewing machine to electrical power by simply buying a sewing machine motor kit. Then you screw it onto the existing boss on the machine. It must have a motor mount on the machine head below the hand wheel to switch it to an electrical device.
I haven’t seen a treadle sewing machine that actually worked off the treadle and not electricity for a very long time. I’ve read that sewing on a treadle sewing machine makes lovely stitches.
I thought of the irony of using the internet to search for a treadle sewing machine that needed no electricity.
My Family Photos:
Above is a photo of my great-grandmother and my mother that was sent to me by a cousin I grew up with. I somehow arrived at adulthood with no photos of these people. My people; my mother and father. I believe this photo was taken on my mother and father’s wedding day.
In the photo, there appears to be no animosity that my great-grandmother had toward my mother. But later, and especially after I was born, my great-grandmother would not utter my mother’s name. Her name was Martha Colleen.
Where I Grew Up:
As many of you know, my mother was raised by my great-grandmother. My maternal grandmother was what many used to refer to as “tetched in the head.” She was childlike.
As an adult, I realized this might also have meant she had brain damage from birth or beyond. But there was apparently no diagnosis, or I was never to hear about it. Back then, doctors were not summoned unless there was an emergency, if then. And I suppose it could also have been that her childlike ways were the result of mental illness.
My mother and father went on to have my sister, and then me. But for whatever reason, I was “sold” at six weeks of age to the landlady. And my parents took off with my sister.
When my great-grandmother learned what had happened, she sent two of her sons to find me and bring me back to her. She would once again raise, with the time she had left, one more child from yet another generation.
After that, my great-grandmother wanted nothing to do with my mother. I have no recollection of my mother’s name ever being mentioned as I grew up. When I was a little girl I found a photo of her when she was a child in an old trunk outside, and brought it to my great-grandmother.
The sight of the photo and the look on her face made clear how she felt about my mother. She wouldn’t tell me who the little girl was and was angry that I had been going through the old photos. I was told to take it back and put it where I found it.
My great-grandmother died in 1970, just a few months after I turned 13.
Fading Memories & The Old Photo:
And so the mystery of who I was and where I came from and how I came to be in my great-grandmother’s house both captivated and frightened me. Who was the little girl and why was her photo in the trunk? And why did my great-grandmother feel such animosity toward her.
At the time, it seemed strange to me that someone could be angry with a little girl. But then, I did not realize that that little girl was grown and her actions had brought shame to the family.
Anyway, back to treadle sewing machines. Did my great-grandmother also sew dresses for my mother when she was a little girl? She must have. But I was never to learn much more about my mother or father. And it remains mostly a mystery to this day.
But I cherish the memories I do have, of that treadle sewing machine gleaming under the light as my great-grandmother sewed garments for us to wear.
Bernadette now has two beautiful Victorian sewing machines, so logically she will hand sew geometry lite practically everything
I learned how to sew in what was then called “junior high school” (7th-9th grades) in Home Economics, which girls were required to take when I was 14 in 8th grade. All of the sewing machines in the classroom were foot pedaled, no electric machines. That was in 1965. At the end of the class year we were each required to sew an apron and have it graded by our teacher. My, times certainly have changed, but the skill I’d learn stayed with me. I sewed lots of curtains (out of sheets, because they cost way less back in the day than buying yards of material at a fabric store), table cloths, skirts, blazers, jumpers, slip-over chair covers, throw pillow covers and slip covers for ottomans for at least 20 years. Several apartments were decorated with my sewn “works of art” and my first suits were sewn on a Sears portable electric sewing machine, until I made enough money to start buying them at Boston store, woo woo!
What a lovely post. As soon as I saw the treadle sewing machine i had tears in my eyes. They were very happy tears because they evoked memories of my dear maternal grandmother. She was a very talented seamstress. She’d draw her patterns on brown butcher paper. She taught me how to sew and hand embroider – oh the memories. She also hand quilted but sadly I never took the time to learn. A definite regret. Big Sigh! When I was sewing with her one day I asked her if I could have her treadle sewing machine. She said she couldn’t think of anyone else she’d want to have it. Unfortunately, my mother held it hostage for 25 years after my grandmother passed. Anyway, i have it now and use it as a night stand next to my bed. That machine is over 100 years old – we’ll see who gets to own it next. Probably my daughter! Pushing that foot pedal took a little practice but talk about a beautiful stitch – oh goodness it was amazing. Wish I could find someone to repair it but it’s not meant to be. Thank you for letting me share something that makes me so happy.
Thanks for the memories!
My Mother sewed on a treadle sewing machine (I’m talking eighty plus years ago), making clothes for me and my sister, until she got her electric Singer sewing machines.
I thought you said you had talked to your sister years ago, just not on a regular basis. I could be remembering it wrong. I think the dna kit might be a good idea. If you could locate some long lost relatives, then maybe you’ll get some answers, or perhaps acquire a few tokens from your past. A few more pictures might be nice too. I also thought the cute little girl was you, but then realized she must be your mother.
You might consider joining either 23AndMe or Ancestry. If you purchase the DNA option (spit saliva in a tube), you might be surprised at the family members who appear. You might even locate your sister.
I should have been given my Grandmother’s treadle sewing machine. Eventually I was…but by then it had sat in an old shed that leaked and ruined it. I kept it for awhile, but eventually gave it away during a move when we wanted to pare down more. Before I was given it, one day Hubby and I saw a new treadle machine that was made in China (of course, where does everything come from). It cost $300 then…but you know that machine sewed marvelously!! Nothing I have ever sewn on (including Berninas which were my favorite electric machine) ever sewed seams so fine and perfect!! I also gave that one away during a move. Well, we live much smaller now…but I hope to find an old Bernina again eventually to get into sewing again.
As to parents…well, all kin really…we do the best we can with what we are handed. Sounds to me like your Great Grandma had an awful lot on her plate for older age. This life is so far from perfect…we have to appreciate those days that have some good enjoyable parts in them. And as we age…good days in my view, are those when we do not have a lot of physical pain!!
I have my grandma’s treadle sewing machine and will never get rid of it. Sometimes I wonder if those who do any type of sewing will have to return to a treadle machine because of all the craziness in our world.
Brenda, I thought the little girl was you. It looks just like you to me. My mom, who was from your mother’s generation also had a treadle sewing machine that she made all our clothes on. We too thought store bought clothes were special, but later on I learned that we probably had the best clothes of anyone at school. Mama and I both got electric sewing machines later on (she hated me using the treadle, said my “rhythm” wasn’t right and I stretched out the belt) so I learned to make my own clothes and made everything I wore for years. Turns out my clothing was the envy of everyone in my office. I had a dress form and everything fit perfectly and was always “my color”. Wish I still had the ambition to make my clothes, but since I wear jeans and tee shirts most of the time, there’s no need for that. Thanks for the memories!
I have my mother’s Singer treadle machine. She was the second owner. Such a treasure. I don’t use it, but it is a fabulous part of my guest bedroom.
I have my grandmother’s treadle sewing machine. My son bought a belt for it and fixed a part that had broken and it works very well. I also have the cradle that my grandmother used when she was a baby. It has to be over 200 yrs old. I keep my house plants in it. I cherish both the sewing machine and the cradle.
I was never given anything from my childhood home. Not even photos.
You will meet them in Heaven if they have accepted Jesus as their Savior.
I don’t have anything from my childhood. That’s why I love secondhand stores. I just pretend they are hand-me-downs. lol