I Can Still Sew Over Here!

We went shopping with Elder and Sister Richards, the Humanitarian couple, and Temple, a cute girl from here in Tana who is getting ready to go on a mission; while she is waiting to go she is helping with the humanitarian  ‘Girl’ project.  We went downtown to one of the shopping areas where they have a lot of fabric.  We needed about 120 meters of white flannel for the ‘girl project’.  We found the really nice thick, soft flannel but we needed more than the people in this one stall had, so he went out looking for some more for us.  It seems like kind of a coop down there, everyone helping everyone else to find what they need. 

While we were waiting … I had noticed several sewing machines around where we were, there was pretty much one in each little stall.  A lady sat down at her sewing machine, when she saw me looking at it wistfully, and started to sew.  I must have look like – ‘Oh, I want to do that!”  

Because pretty soon she let me have a turn.  I was in heaven!

A couple of days later the Richards were going to go buy four sewing machines to take down to this village for the ‘girl project’.  We had been talking around to people and had decided it would probably be best to buy a Singer sewing machine, because you could get parts and service for it if needed.  So, off we went to the Singer store.  

Dad helping the guy put the sewing machines together.

If four are good, then FIVE is much better – that means that I get one!

I’m still trying to get the hang of guiding the fabric with one hand and turning the handle with the other.  I also need to learn to ‘crank’ with the other hand so I don’t end up lopsided, one ‘tough’ arm from turning the handle, guess that would mean I would have to learn to sew in reverse!

There are machines that are both ‘turn by hand’ and/or electric, but what is the fun in that.  When the power goes out I can sew by candlelight or flashlight.  Besides, I have plenty of electric sewing machines at home.  The village where they are taking the sewing machines for the Humanitarian project doesn’t have electricity, so they need the hand powered machines.

Isn’t it Beautiful!