Friday, October 21, 2011

Hilda



I learnt to sew on my mothers old Husqvarna that is as old as I am.  Apparently she was frightfully expensive in her day.  My mum sent her my way again when I was pregnant with my first.  I made a simple cot quilt and some tab curtains, but I was not so much into sewing as I am now, you see, so the Husqvarna languished in the cupboard.  For some reason she came with us to Sydney, and glad I was of this when one day I stumbled upon a shelf full of Amy Butler and knew I wanted to make something.

Back then I did not realise the value of old things.  I thought the Husqvarna was clunky and ugly.  I yearned for a new plastic model.  My mum sent me her old Janome when she upgraded again.  For two years the Janome and I tried to tango, but dance well together we did not.  The Crafty One bought me a new Janome, and while the old one did serve my mother well for a good 5 years or more, the new one died after about 12 months.  Search as I did for the receipt we could not find it.  The store it came from was understanding (I guess they must see this a bit) they offered to take the old one off our hands and sell us another for a (slightly) cheaper price...






However by now I had deemed my Janome days over and requested the Husqvarna be returned.  I researched, I bought service manuals, and by now I had learned that new was not better and that old, well, was something else all together good.

Upon her return I dusted her down, I found an overseas stockist of her missing bobin holder. I wedged her old power point into the socket, I put my foot down, and slowly she clunked over.  I did not desist as I knew she had some clever self oiling mechanism.  What I did not know was if said mechanism had lasted 36 years...Slowly the old girl started running faster and faster.  I played with her tension, I fiddled a little, and soon I had her humming and was running up stitches in no time.

I decided such an old, faithful girl needed a name.  Hilda came immediately to mind and though I have toyed with others, I keep coming back to that most Scandinavian of names.

Welcome back Hilda, you may be brown and metal and corroding, but girl, you can sew!

Trace xx


ps: She needed a cover, one to match her age, so some vintage sheet strips were sewn together and bound, you can see them in the corner.  I promise to post a picture of Hilda in her new coat very soon.


2 comments:

  1. Love that Hilda, she is one classy bird. And much more interesting to look at than my plasticky Brother number who is still unnamed. Funny, I had that exact same idea this week to sew her a vintage sheet cover, I was thinking maybe either stripes or just different coloured sides and ends. Anything will be an improvement on the nasty plastic one she came with, looking forward to see Hilda's. melx

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  2. I am so glad to see that you are giving old Hilda another chance. I have a lovely Singer (built in 1912) which still sews wonderfully.

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