Let us sew, let us sew, let us sewHome decor and renovating shows are beingcredited for revived interest in a very old craft.
Home & Design — Part 2Television, E10-11; Comics & Puzzles, E12-13
By Lynn RosenFOR THE INQUIRER
A button fell off one of myhusband’s shirts the firsttime he wore it. “I’m going
to return this shirt,” he an-nounced.
“That’s ridiculous,” I replied.“I’ll sew the button back on foryou.”
They were words I wouldsoon regret.
Back in the eighth grade, Iwas herded into home-econom-ics class with the other girls,and we were taught the basicsof bobbins and other essentialsewing wisdom. All of which Iabsorbed only temporarily.
A later-in-life attempt to actu-ally cut fabric to fit a patternwas a total disaster. But button-sewing? Surely that I could do?
Probably, yet my husband’sshirt hung buttonless, tauntingme. I resolved to mend my waysand booked a sewing lessonwith Dotty Richey at ModernVac & Sew in Dresher.
Turns out, I’m not the onlyone interested in such thingsthese days.
Nancy Jewell of VSM SewingInc., manufacturer of Husqvar-na Viking sewing machines,said people are sewing “whohave never touched a machinebefore.”
Credit home-decorating andrenovation programs on TV forsewing’s revival.
“There are sewing machineson all those shows,” said Karen
Koza of the Home Sewing Asso-ciation. “This creates the mes-sage that if you are able to sew,you are able to create.”
According to Koza, there areabout 35 million home sewers,both women and men. Sewing’snewfound popularity, she said,is also attributable to improvedtechnology and the allure of pos-sessing what the associationcalls “the know-to-sew.”
Basically, that’s the sense ofempowerment sewing skills fos-ter: You can make your ownclothing, or curtains, or pillows,or bedding, and personalize ev-ery last piece of it if you want.
You lose a button, you sew itback on. Now, we’re talking!
When I first asked aboutlearning basic techniques forclothing repairs, Richey told mehand-sewing is done “as little aspossible” these days. Why both-er, she said, when machines cando so much, so efficiently?
On the day of my first lesson,Richey greeted me and usheredme into a cozy back room filledwith sewing machines and ahost of other tools that lookedutterly foreign to me. I told herwhy I was there.
“We get lots of horror storiesabout home ec,” she said.
For more than a century —from the 1850s, when Isaac Sing-er first popularized it, until asrecently as a few decades ago— the sewing machine was aubiquitous home appliance.Then came the women’s move-
ment and a distaste for girls-only home-ec classes. (The solu-tion in some schools: Boys takehome ec, too.)
But now, more and more peo-ple are dragging out their moth-ers’ old sewing machines andtaking courses to acquire theskills that skipped much of ageneration. (Good new ma-chines can cost $300 and up —an expense not recommended ifyou’re just starting out.)
Sewing lessons are offered lo-cally by chains such as Jo-AnnStores Inc. and shops like Gran-ny’s Sewing Den in Glenside.
Carolyn Rich, education coor-dinator at the Springfield, Dela-ware County, Jo-Ann Super-store, says enrollment in sew-ing classes there has increasedat least 75 percent since lastfall. Students range from kidsas young as 7 to seniors whowant to alter clothes for theirchanging bodies.
For the most part, though,people aren’t making their ownclothes. Instead, they’re person-alizing their wardrobes with ma-chine embellishments and em-broidery, as well as doing thosehome-decor projects.
¢Class #1 at Modern Vac &
Sew. Fearfully, I scanned therow of machines and their seem-ingly unknowable knobs, but-tons, levers, dials, and controls.
“All right,” I said, shoving myshoulders back in mock brava-do, “show me how to work oneof these things.”
And slowly, Richey did. Howto choose the right thread. Howto wind a bobbin, the spool that
holds the thread. How to insertthe bobbin into the bobbin case,and the case into the machine.How to thread the machine, ad-just the tension, and thread theneedle. And then, how to insertthe fabric, press the foot pedal,and create a line of perfectlybeautiful stitches.
It was fun. But could I reallylearn to alter my own clothes?And those bare window seats athome, could I make cushionsfor them?
Richey assured me I could.“Go home and measure the
window seats. Bring me themeasurements, and I’ll adviseyou on how much fabric to buy.”
So I signed up for a secondlesson. I measured, consulted,and was given my yardage as-signment. But as the class ap-proached, I panicked: Who wasI to think I could sew a window-seat cover?
Instead, I showed up withclothes in need of minor re-pairs, the sort of thing that gotme there in the first place: but-tonless shirts (there were twonow) and a jacket of mine, alsobuttonless, unworn for months.
Richey promised she’d helpme find my sewing confidence.She relented and suggested wetry some hand-sewing. Weturned to a shirt with a brokenbutton, not a missing one.
This shirt, as many men’sshirts do, had two extra buttonssewn onto the bottom. I neededto remove both the broken but-ton and the extra one that wasto take its place. Richey handedme a seam ripper.
Luckily, the old button left an
imprint, and I could see rightwhere to place the new one, andwhere to place my stitches sothe holes lined up correctly.Three loops through one pair ofholes, three loops through a sec-ond set, and all wrapped upwith a neat little trick Richeyshowed me of slipping the nee-dle through a loop of thread un-derneath to tighten the stitch.
I quickly finished both shirtsand moved on to the jacket,which had a self-shank that add-ed a step. But I mastered that,too, with a nifty tool called abutton reed that opened a spacebetween button and cloth wherewe created the shank by wrap-ping thread around and around.
Back at the sewing machine,we reviewed threading tech-niques, and Richey showed mehow to sew a button with it. Ifyou’re making a garment with arow of buttons, the machine isthe tool of choice, she said.
My final assignment for theday: sewing a straight line. Us-
ing a basic stitch, I was shownhow to line up the fabric withthe edge of the presser foot.
Alone with the machine, thefoot pedal mine to control, I de-pressed it gently, then a bitharder. Soon, I finished sewinga seam down the side of thefabric scrap I’d been given.
Richey grabbed a new scrapand a pencil and threw me acurve. I started to sew, gentlymanipulating the fabric so thatthe stitches followed the lineshe drew.
Another curve, and a series ofright angles. I pressed the pedaland guided the fabric over herpattern. I even changed the set-ting on the machine so that itstopped with the needle down,in the fabric, placement usefulfor the pivoting required onright angles.
I found myself relaxing intothe task, my very own momentof sewing Zen.
Next lesson, window-seatcushions, for sure.
PHILADELPHIA SHOWROOMSANDORRA 8500 Henry St. (Andorra Ctr Next to Cold Stone Creamery) 215-482-0497ARAMINGO 3664 Aramingo Avenue (Next to Boston Market) 215-289-5691COTTMAN 2548 Cottman Avenue (Opposite Roosevelt Mall) 215-333-6016 ★OREGON FRONT 2715 South Front Street (Near Wendy’s) 215-334-1294ROOSEVELT BLVD 9906 Roosevelt Blvd (In Red Lion Shop Center) 215-676-2707PHILADELPHIA SUBURBS SHOWROOMSBALA CYNWYD 111 City Line Avenue (Next to IHOP) 610-664-5802BENSALEM 1906 Street Road (Rt 132) (Next to McDonalds) 215-633-0368BRISTOL 2664 Route 13 (Opposite Walmart Center) 215-781-5905 ★BROOKHAVEN 4950 Edgemont Ave (Opp K-Mart & Pathmark) 610-874-4950DOWNINGTOWN 50 Quarry Road & Route 30 (Brandy Wine Square) 610-873-3739DOYLESTOWN/WARRINGTON 1661 Easton Rd (Rt 611) Nr Sear’s 215-918-0874★EAST NORRITON 55 West Germantown Pike (Next to Walmart) 610-277-9051★EXTON 334 Pottstown Pike (Near Just Tires Across from Target ) 610-524-6162EXTON 201 West Lincoln Highway (Next to Marshall’s) 610-594-9497 ★FEASTERVILLE 178 E St. Rd (Lwr Southampton Shop. Village) 215-322-7959HUNTINGDON VALLEY 2068 County Line Road The Market Place (Huntingdon ValleyShopping Center Near Super Fresh) 215-322-3049JENKINTOWN 109 Old York Road (Across from Fox Pavilion) 215-887-3181KING OF PRUSSIA 150 West Dekalb Pike (Next to Starbucks) 610-337-1185KING OF PRUSSIA 371 W. Dekalb Pike Rt #202 (Nr Red Lobster) 610-878-9092LANGHORNE 2270 Lincoln Hwy (213N & Rt. 1 Opp. Target Center) 215-741-0708LANGHORNE 109 Lincoln Hwy (Oxford Valley/Next to Pepboys) 215-945-1609MONTGOMERYVILLE 758 Bethlehem Pike (Near Verizon) 215-362-3851 ★MORGANTOWN Route 23 Heritage Drive (Crossing Center Near Walmart) 610-286-0071NEWTOWN SQUARE 3531-3575 Westchester Pike (Nr Casey’s Opp. Acme) 610-353-4427NEWTOWN 18 Swamp Road 2nd Fl. (Above LaStalla Restaurant) 215-860-3690PAOLI 62 East Lancaster Avenue (Near Paoli Shopping Center) 610-644-0369PARKESBURG West Sadsbury Commons (Next to Radio Shack) 610-857-1732PHOENIXVILLE/E. PIKELAND 226 Schuylkill Rd (Shops at Valley Forge Nr Payless) 610-917-0289
POTTSTOWN 1134 Town Sq. Rd. (Town Sq. Plaza) 610-323-2941POTTSTOWN 204 Shoemaker Rd Off Rt 100 (Tri County Plaza Opp Pottstown Ctr) 610-718-9825PLYMOUTH MEETING 465-69 W. Germantown Pike (Opp Mall) 610-941-9722QUAKERTOWN Route 309 & Route 663 (Opposite Wendy’s) 215-529-1965READING 3400 N. 5TH Street (Nxt. To CVS) 610-939-8319SPRINGFIELD 101 Baltimore Pike (Next to Blockbuster Video) 610-328-5741SOUDERTON/TELFORD 4028 Bethlehem Pike (Near Staples) 215-723-3110WARMINSTER 620 West Streed Rd. (Next To Rite Aid) 215-672-6164WARRINGTON 1205 Main Street (Valley Square Near Michael’s) 215-918-1987WILKES BARRE 409 Arena Hub Plaza (Opposite Lowes Home Center) 570-822-1764WILLOW GROVE 45 North York Road (Next to Enterprise Rent-A-Car) 215-658-1055WILLOW GROVE 3638A Welsh Rd. (Upper Dublin Shopping Ctr) 215-657-3713WYOMISSING 2791 Papermill Rd (Broadcasting Sq. Ctr -Next to Babies R Us) 610-478-7541LEHIGH VALLEY SHOWROOMSALLENTOWN 1932 Catasauqua Rd. (Next to Yocco The Hot Dog King) 610-266-1077TREXLERTOWN/ALLENTOWN Rt 222 (W. Valley Market Place Nr Walmart Ctr) 610-530-1875BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP 4403 Freemansburg Ave. (Southmont Shopping Ctr) 610-923-7220EASTON 2501 William Penn Highway (Next to Walgreen’s) 610-253-6608PHILLIPSBURG 1205 New Brunswick Ave. (Nr. Pier 1 Imports) 908-859-1956STROUDSBURG 1061 North 9th Street (Next to CVS Store) 570-420-9481WHITEHALL 2501 MacArthur Road (Near Papa John’s Past Staples) 610-770-3487WHITEHALL (Sleepy’s Direct) 2321 MacArthur Rd (Nr Sally’s Beauty Supply) 610-435-8887 ★SEA SHORE SHOWROOMSCAPE MAY COURT HOUSE 6 Courthouse Rd/So. Dennis Rd (Opp Acme Supermarket) 609-463-5912EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP 6732 Black Horse Pike (Opp Shore Mall Nr Crazy Ned’s) 609-641-3624MAY’S LANDING 4215 Black Horse Pike (Unit #220, Hamilton Commons Across fromSports Authority) 609-272-7989NEW JERSEY SHOWROOMSAUDUBON 600 Black Horse Pike (Next to Rexy’s Opp Acme) 856-456-6133 ★CHERRY HILL 216 Haddonfield Road (Next to Big & Tall) 856-910-9346CHERRY HILL 1615 N. Kings Hwy (Opp Ellisburg Circle Center) 856-428-1246
DEPTFORD 397 Almonesson Rd (Near Dick’s Sporting Goods) 856-845-8849EDGEWATER PARK Route 130/ Woodlane Rd (Opp Willingboro Plaza) 609-871-3853GLASSBORO 618 Delsea Dr. N Rt 47 (Near Sear’s Hardware) 856-881-9001HAMMONTON 80 South White Horse Pike (Peachtree Plaza) 609-561-3746MAPLE SHADE 482 Route #38 (Opposite Ethan Allen) 856-667-6100MARLTON 120 Route #70 (Next to Olga’s Diner) 856-424-1438MILLVILLE 2285 North 2nd St (Cumberland Crossing Nr Staples) 856-327-4930 ■MOUNT HOLLY 1623 Rt 38 W. (Next to Sherwin Williams Paint) 609-518-0507MOUNT LAUREL 44 Centerton Road (Centerton Sq. Near Target) 856-428-1246PENNSVILLE 255 North Broadway (Pennsville Shop. Ctr., Near Acme) 856-678-5849TURNERSVILLE 5301 Rt 42 Black Horse Pike (Next to Meineke) 856-228-7720VINELAND 559 Delsea Drive N. (Next to Brodys Furniture) 856-507-1642■WENONAH 1086 Mantua Pike (Radio Shack Ctr Opp Shoprite Supermkt) 856-468-6700WEST BERLIN 116 Walker Avenue (Berlin Circle Plaza/Home Depot& Shop Rite) 856-753-9071TRENTON/PRINCETON SHOWROOMSEAST WINDSOR 557 Rt 130 E. (Between Nissan & Dairy Queen) 609-371-1711HAMILTON/MERCERVILLE Century Plaza, Route 33 (Opposite AcmeSupermarket) 609-587-6401HAMILTON TWP Hamilton Marketplace Rt 195/Rt 130 (Near Kohl’s) 609-581-8288LAWRENCEVILLE 2801 Business Rt #1 S. (Nr Swiss Bakery Deli) 609-771-0157PENNINGTON 800 E. Denow Road (Hopewell Crossing-Near Starbucks) 609-737-8901PRINCETON West Windsor Square (Near Lowe’s Home Center) 609-919-0924DELAWARE SHOWROOMSBEAR 1102 Pulaski Highway (Next to Wawa) Bear 302-834-7362BEAR 1803 Pulaski Hwy (Rt 40 & Scotland Dr-Sunset Station Ctr) 302-832-1100DOVER 284 South Dupont Highway (DoverMart) 302-735-4576 ★MIDDLETOWN 486-488 Middletown/Warwick Road (Food Lion Ctr-Rt301/299) 302-378-9700WILMINGTON 2310 Concord Pike (Near 7-Eleven & KFC) 302-661-0933WILMINGTON 3737 Kirkwood Highway (Route 2 Opposite Dunkin Donutsand 7 Eleven) 302-993-0774 ■ =3 1/2% Zone
36MonthsMonths
0% Interest-Free FinancingUntil Sept. 2009No Money Down
UPTO
Subject to credit approval by GE Money Bank.Applies to purchases made on Sleepy’s con-sumer credit card account. No finance chargeswill be assessed on promotional purchase amt.until 36th month ("promo period"). Fixed min.monthly payments equal to 1/36th of purchaseamount are required during promo period in addi-tion to any other required min. payment. 36 mos.avail. with min. purchase of $2999, 24 mos.avail. with min. purchase of $1999, 12 mos. avail.with min. purchase of $999. 6 mos. avail. on min.purchases of $300. No finance charges willaccrue on promotional purchase amt. if you paythis amt. in full by due date as shown on(6th)(12th) billing statement. If not, financecharges will accrue on promotional purchase amt.from purchase date. Min. monthly paymentsrequired. If min. monthly payment is not paidwhen due, all special promotional terms may beterminated. Variable APR is 23.99% as of 4/04.Fixed APR of 24.75% applies if payment is morethan 30 days past due. Min. finance charge is $1.
For more information CALL1(800) SLEEPYS®
(753-3797) or on the web at www.sleepys.comShowroom Hrs: Mon thru Fri 10am to 9pm, Sat 10am to 8pm, Sun 11am to 7pm ★Clearance Merchandise Avail. ©2006 SINT, INC.
Owned & Operated by the Acker Family for 4 Generations - Louis 1925, Harry 1950, David 1975, AJ 1980, Stuart 1995, Rick 2000 & Julian 2005
SLEEPY’S®
The Mattress Professionals®
Next Day DeliveryEverywhere Every Day!Same day delivery arranged. Excludingholidays and store pick-ups. Delivery toPA, DE, NJ, NY, Westchester,MA, CT,
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NOWTHRUSUN.
Sale Ends 9/10/06
Photos are for illustration purposes only. All models available for purchase and may not be on display. Sleepy’s reserves the right to limit quantities-1 per customer. Not responsible for typographical errors.
MICHAEL PEREZ / Inquirer Staff PhotographerDotty Richey (right) helps Nancy Shier learn to make curtains atModern Vac & Sew in Dresher.
Want to learn to sew? Classesare offered throughout the region,frequently as part of local commu-nity programs such as Main LineSchool Night and CheltenhamTownship Adult School. Checkwith your school district or munic-ipality to see what’s available; reg-istration for some programs mayhave already begun.
Fabric, craft and sewing-ma-chine stores also offer lessons.Among the possibilities are:8 Modern Vac & Sew, with threePhiladelphia area locations (seewww.modernvacandsew.com fordetails). The store in Dresher-town Plaza offers a two-hour classfor $20, $60 for four classes.8 Jo-Ann Superstores in MountLaurel and Springfield, Dela-ware County, offer sewing class-es for kids, beginners, and be-yond, as well as folks with spe-cific projects in mind (pillows,fleece blankets, etc.). Price willvary depending on the class,but $10 to $25 an hour is typical.Information: www.joann.com.8 Granny’s Sewing Den, 243Keswick Ave. in Glenside, offers arange of courses in sewing, quilt-ing and crafts. A one-session ma-chine-refresher course costs $20;a beginning sewing class runs sixsessions and costs $60. Informa-tion: 215-885-4959.
¢Every hobby has its tools, and
sewing is no exception. Here’swhat a good starter sewing bas-ket should contain:8 Scissors. Dotty Richey, whoteaches sewing at Modern Vac& Sew in Dresher, favors thosemade by Gingher, which cancost upward of $36. But shesays hers have never neededsharpening in 25 years of use.8 Pins. Richey and and co-teach-er Lenore Plotkin recommend“good, long, sharp pins with ahead that doesn’t melt underthe iron,” not the inexpensivedollar-store kind.8 A tape measure.8 A seam ripper, because we allmake mistakes.8 A pin cushion.8 Needles for hand sewing, inan assortment of sizes.8 A thimble.8 Thread in at least some basiccolors (such as black, brown,beige, white). Choose othersbased on hues used in yourhome decor and clothing.
¢A new book by fabric and
home-accessories designerAmy Butler, In Stitches (Chroni-cle Books, $24.95), promisesless complicated patterns (andless baffling sewing jargon) foreverything from patchworkthrows to beaded aprons to akimono-style bathrobe.
Though some of Butler’sprojects may require intermedi-ate sewing skills, others (the place-mats, napkins and potholders)seem just right for newbie sew-ers.
— Lynn Rosenand Joanne McLaughlin
How to learn,what to buy
www.philly.com B E9THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRERFriday, September 8, 2006
