SEWING IN MY MOTHER'S HOME

Sewing in my Mother’s family home
Late 1930’s & 1940’s

The sewing machine was a treasured item in the family home. Dorothy (my maternal grandmother) had purchased the Singer sewing machine which was in the house for as long as her children can remember. This was a ‘treadle’; operated by a foot pedal as opposed to those of a previous era that were operated by hand.

The machine was housed within an ornately carved wooden frame, with small drawers down each side. The treadle was a metal pedal which racked forward and back- wards. A leather belt ran from the mechanism attached to the pedal to a metal wheel attached to the right side of the machine which drove the sewing machine.

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Dorothy was an excellent dressmaker, and made most of the clothes that she and her family wore. Making and exchanging dresses with her family in England or local friends was quite common, as was re-cutting and re-sewing to create a new garment. ‘Aunty Edie Livingstone’ (Nana’s sister) sent out parcels of clothing that could be altered. Edie also sent knitted items were often unraveled and submitted up again in a new form!

In an exchange typical of the letters sent between family members, Dorothy wrote to her sister Edie while resting in hospital following my Mother’s birth: “I shall probably send you a dress for your birthday...I have only worn it a few times, A says it is too short for a married woman.

It really is pretty & seems such a pity to cut it up for Nancy (her eldest daughter) when I think it will fit you a treat.

They are worn shorter in England than they are here so I don’t think it will be too short for you. It’s a green fugi silk & washes beautifully”.

Dorothy would stay up late at night to make items of clothing for the family, and always made new dresses for the girls to wear to the Gnowangerup Show, which ‘did them for best’ the year round – to go into town or for church.

The children did not have permission to use the machine, however my Mother, Joy Stewart (nee White)loved sewing from an early age and when her parents went into town, she would use the machine ensuring it was packed away before her parents returned!

Mum’s older sister, Nancy, wrote:

“Joy was always very clever at sewing. She made her first dress at 10 years old. When Mum and Dad went to town on Thursdays, she would get on Mum’s machine and sew, and would treadle away.

I used to tell her she would be in trouble as we were always told not to touch it as the tension could be spoilt. We never told on one another over things, I was supposed to keep the younger ones in order, very difficult sometimes as you can imagine.”

By the time Joy was ‘permitted’ to use the machine she was already a proficient dressmaker! It was no surprise when Mum and her close friend, Nancy Atwell, set up a dressmaking shop in the same premises that Smith’s Grocery Store was housed.

Joy’s father had worked for Mr Smith as a grocery assistant in the early 1900’s.

Every endeavour has been made to accurately record the details however if you would like to provide additional images and/or newer information we are pleased to update the details on this site. Please use CONTACT at the top of this page to email us. We appreciate your involvement in recording the history of our area.

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Copyright : Gordon Freegard 2023