Tuesday 22 September 2009

Singer song of pictures

I feel like I haven't posted any of my picture posts for a while, everything has been all crazy and up in the air that I haven't really had chance to search yet alone post any pictures. So many ideas and so little time. Yet I found this post half started in draft form so maybe not is the time to finish it off and make it somewhat publishable.

I've been messing around making strip after strip of patchwork for my cushion covers made from all sorts of materials and colours, and since I'm keeping the 1934 Singer Machine alive and well in full working order, I might as well use this as the basis for completing this post.

When thinking of the Great War thoughts are often turned to the allied forces, in turn this image captures German ladies stood and sitting, working behind their sewing machines in the German Wittenburg Singer factor in 1917-18. The skills of these women were employed to produce uniforms and armaments. Singer machines often came to visually represent the strength and power of the war time effort, with images often showcasing British women sewing in the same frame as the armed forces, the sewer and the Singer the force behind the war.

This 1924 postcard from Belgium is one I truly adore, the framing and the atmosphere of capturing this young lady holding together her sewing. The room in which she stands is bare apart from her most important pieces - her sewing machine, a small wooden chair and dressers mannequin. Her lipstick and curls radiate from the image as she holds our gaze, her beauty equals the delicacy of the dress she appears to be holding in place with further material draping over the edge of the desk of her Singer.

The Wichita High School North home economics sewing class is captured in mid action. Surrounding the room are blackboards describing according to its accompanying captions sewing complementary colours and characteristics of bungalow architecture. Circa 1930 these young women sit eagerly working, leaning behind their desks, the treadle run singer sewing machines and sitting in their desks. 70 years later when I was at high school home economics was poorly taught, and to have a sewing machine for teach pupil was unknown, a few generations later the lost art of sewing and using a machine has more then sadly died especially in the throw-away society with the ease of replacing clothes and items so easily.

2 comments:

  1. What wonderful photos and captions, you are such a gifted writer. I always greatly enjoy your photos posts, thank you for putting them together.

    Have a splendid day,
    ♥ Jessica

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  2. Thank you my lovely! Your blog itself is always a delightful and enlightening read!

    ReplyDelete