There's someone I would like you to meet!

I think it's time that I introduced you to my sewing machine and how we came together 15 years ago:

Kenmore Zig Zag Sewing Machine Model 385.81516

In 1996, I decided that I wanted to buy a sewing machine. I had never even used one before but it looked like something that I might like to do. So I headed off to Sears with a strict budget (money was tight back then) and no knowledge of what constitutes a good machine. Luckily there was a knowledgeable lady at the store who was hired simply to demonstrate the functions of various machines. She explained the basics to me and said that if I thought that I would use my machine a lot that I should buy a model that was a little more than just a starter machine; otherwise I would outgrow it quickly and regret not buying a better one. So I spent twice my intended budget and have never regretted it for a second.

Everything I learned to do with my machine I learned through trial and error. It was many years before I learned the ins and outs of my sewing machine.  Years before I knew about tension adjustment and that different needles and thread existed for different purposes!

I am still using that same machine today. And by today’s standards she is a very basic starter model but she does what I need her to do. She has helped me make pillows to decorate our first couch, sew bedding for my newborn babies, curtains to make our home feel cosier , and quilts to snuggle under while we watch TV on cold winter nights. She has helped me create gifts for my nieces and nephews who joyfully ask “what are you going to make for my birthday?”
And she has helped me to teach others the enduring craft of sewing.  Others whom I hope will bring some handmade goodness into their own lives and pass on to future generations.

Lance Armstrong once said: "I had learned what it means to ride the Tour de France. It's not about the bike. It's a metaphor for life…"

And while I dream about upgrading to a super deluxe machine with self-threading capacity, touch screen technology, built-in stitch regulator, and deep throat plate I know that it's not about the machine. My good ol’ Kennie has gotten me this far in my journey and I am confident that she will continue to get me to where I want to go.