Sewing Machines Versus Sewing

Wow.

That's all I can really say about an encounter I had this week on one of the FB sewing groups I belong to. No need to go into details, although the person I encountered didn't hesitate to post a lengthy diatribe about it in a wholly separate post! Suffice to say, I'll  be very, very cautious about replying to any more posts in that group. And, I definitely won't mention rescuing sewing machines there. I was initially inclined to post a follow-up explanation to the group's page, but I ultimately decided that anyone who could make that much of an issue out of what I posted would misinterpret subsequent explanations just as badly. Frankly, I suspect the individual in question is a bit unstable. So, I blocked her. That should safely eliminate the possibility of any more misunderstandings.

But, wow. Seriously. I was taken aback at the response. Like stepping on a landmine while hiking through a state park. Just totally unexpected (and, IMO, unwarranted, but whatever). Kind of took the fun out of that group for me.

What a Waste! Look at all those machines. . . 

I've known since I got involved in sewing that I am at least as interested in sewing machines as I am in sewing. I'm not alone. There are several surprisingly large groups of us on FB with very specific interests in particular types of machines. Some are probably oriented mostly toward maintaining specific machines to keep them sewing, but others are clearly for those of us who truly appreciate the machines for their own sake. Fixing them. Restoring them. Saving even the most hopeless-appearing causes from the scrap yard - or worse, from being turned into cutesy tractor-shaped ornaments. I am definitely among the latter group (the restorers, *not* the people who turn sewing machines into ornaments - I dislike those people!).

Seems a little difficult to draw a bright line between sewing and sewing machines until you realize that you can sew without using a machine at all. Thus, it sort of seems like anyone who sews with a machine would naturally be interested in the machines. But, that's not really fair. I use a computer all the time and I could not possibly care less about its internal workings. As long as it works.

Yes. To be clear, I would go into a burned out factory to rescue sewing machines. But I'd never do this:

This is a criminal act! 

I even considered just dropping my sewing projects from this blog and going to a straight repair and restoration format. But, there are already several really excellent YouTube channels, websites, and other blogs which cover those topics much better than I can. So, you'll have to settle for a mixture of coverage here. A little sewing project coverage and a healthy dose of machine fixing, salvaging, and restoration. Again, no expertise claimed or implied on either subject. Just a chronicle of misadventures as I muddle my way through a new area of interest for which I seem to have only moderate aptitude.

Could be worse. I could have started a swimming blog. . .