For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for May 15, 2023

Dumb something

This brings back memories of all the cloth I wasted (along with my poor Mom’s money) in our required ‘Home Ec’ classes in 7th grade. Some of us just don’t have that skill. I did like the cooking part of the classes, except they made us learn now to iron clothe napkins. Imagine that — do people even use those anymore?

When I was a little kid, we all had to learn how to sew. Mom said it was something we all needed to learn because she wouldn’t always be there. So we learned on Grandma’s old treadle-powered sewing machine. Now as a sailboat sailor, I have to hand stitch any patches on sails. Also hand stitch any clothing patches that need doing to.

I agree with Elizabeth. Sewing machines are a real pain-in-the-@$$!!

My mother was a very good seamstress so I learnt a lot at her knee – how to choose fabric, cut it so the pattern matches, set a sleeve, insert a zip, do buttonholes. I was taught to use a treadle machine at primary school, then an electric machine at secondary school. I still make clothes etc for myself and family.

Aw, it is just a simple machine, Liz. I used this kind of sewing machine. Made some costumes for my boys. Mom was the seamstress – she made a wool blazer – and my wedding dress. On this kind of machine.

I hope this sewing story line sojourn doesn’t take sew long. I think it’s a perfect time for me to take time off and go fishing for a week.

Elly Jr.

A poor artist blames her paintbrush.

Nobody has yet discovered April and her explorations with the scissors—maybe tomorrow ! ! !

I love it.

When you use your noggin (or put it in) properly it will work fine, too.

This is my machine ever since I had it worked on, can’t sew worth a darn, I guess it’s entitled after 40 years!

It’s always the machine, never the operator…….

Yes, of course it’s the machines fault.

I started making all my clothes when I was 12 and Mom said she wouldn’t do it any more. At 13, a friend said she would pay me to make her a few dresses. I charged her $2 in 1963. Didn’t know it was the start of my career.

I’ve felt that way about computers, Liz. Many times.

Oh, threading a sewing machine can be so frustrating! They run like a dream if everything is working right — but if one thing is slightly wrong, it’s a tangled mess.

“Garbage in, garbage out”.

The machines made in the last 30+ years have directional arrows about how to thread the machine, the bobbin, and load the bobbin with thread. It’s much more user-friendly. My mother’s Singer, on which I learned, did not. You had to KNOW. It was like being part of a club to know the particulars.

And on the machine I have now, you load the bobbin the exact opposite way from that Singer of my childhood.

Sounds like my wife, it’s never operator error.

Yup. Never blame yourself when you can blame a machine. A machine doesn’t have feelings.

When I was in Home Ec, the school was on strike so I finished my sewing project at home. The teacher was not amused. I don’t know why, along with the required vest and pants, I made the skirt and blazer. I was also good at cooking, which also put her nose out of joint.

I think this is why I, a guy, don’t have a sewing machine myself: it seems too complicated to operate. Thus using needle and thread manually.

Sounds like a lost art

I would like to know how many people who have left snarky comments about how to operate a sewing machine have actually used one, even in middle-school home ec?

I have recently inherited my mother’s overlock sewing machine. I’ve always wanted to try using one, because there’s stuff you can do with those that you can’t do with a regular sewing machine. But dang, I am very nervous about threading that beast up with all of those spools!

It’s a poor workman that blames her tools for her mistakes, unless her tools are dull.

Heck, I STILL do this on my own machine, and I’m 66.

Machines hate us. If they ever develop opposable thumbs, we’re screwed.

While you’re at it,Liz,make a skating dress for Peppermint Patty

We used to iron pillowcases! YES, my grandmother and mother, sister also.

I would loved to have permission to use the sewing machine and have help from my mom in a way that isn’t traumatizing. It’s getting better though. I sew on my own machine and figure stuff out on my own with the help of people on the internet.

Oh boo-hoo Liz, at least you will never be expected to darn socks.

Nothing’s changed, now we hear dumb computer/phone…

Yeah, right….

re: cloth napkins. sure, in fact I have a stack waiting to be ironed after washing. better than using throw away paper

I agree with Elizabeth – I hate sewing machines. I actually sewed through my thumb using my grandmother’s treadle machine. only hand-sewing now.

I was taught to darn socks, make almost all my own clothes since I am small and was too skinny for anything to fit. I did all the laundry for a family of 4 and then ironed everything. My mom wanted every single thing ironed – even PJs. I use only cloth napkins and do not use paper towels, napkins, or plates. I don’t even have any in the house. I can knit, crochet, and tat, although I haven’t done any of those in a long time. I can finally buy clothes to fit – some stores realize that petite departments are helpful, even if they only carry about 5% of what regular sizes have. I was forced to help with canning but refuse to do it in my home. I am not killing any chickens, either. Or spending hours removing pin feathers from chickens. My family was quite old school. I remember using my grandma’s wringer washer and all I ever wanted of hers was her treadle sewing machine, but an aunt took it. I still want one, but the old ones in good shape are hard to find now, with all the necessary parts. I can replace zippers; they are actually pretty easy in most cases. In today’s comic, the bobbin tension was possibly off too.

They really should bring back home ec in school for all students. It is basic life skills – the first semester was cooking that also taught nutrition, safe food handling & how to shop on a budget. 2nd semester sewing wasn’t just about learning to sew on a sewing machine, but how to read a pattern, different fabric types & their care and how to do basic mending & altering of clothes.

I began using a sewing machine about age 12 and sewed most of my clothes through high school. Then I sewed for my children and made things for the house. I’ve quilted for over 30 years, and now I refurbish old sewing machines. I can’t imagine not being able to create with fabric.

I had to figure it out by myself…my Mom didn’t know how to use a sewing machine. We had a semester of “Home Ec” in which we got to use a machine for a short time, but when it came to actually making something, I asked friends and figured the rest out myself.

10% rule – you have to be 10% smarter than the machine you are operating…