Sometimes when I sew I go at it with hammer and tongs. Literally. Recently, my sewing tools included a ball-peen hammer, wire snips, needle nose pliers, the shears I use for pruning roses and an awl. Plus a paper clip and a narrow strip of duct tape. The reason for all this hardware is simple – I often sew on a New Home treadle machine originally patented in 1875. My version of the machine was patented in 1887.

The New Home Sewing Machine Co. had its heyday in the 1880s when it manufactured approximately 500 sewing machines a day in Orange, Mass. By 1937, it was estimated that more than 7 million New Home sewing machines were in use.

I bought my New Home sewing machine in the 1980s in Brewer for my mother to use at camp where there was no electricity. Later, when she no longer wished to sew, she gave the machine to me.

The machine works just fine, mechanically. But the round leather belt that powers it, tends to stretch and slip. That was the dilemma I was remedying with my pile of tools. The pruners were for snipping the end of the leather belt, the awl was for making new holes in the belt, the hammer was for beating on the awl, and the wire snips were for cutting the excess off a paper clip I bent to join the two ends of the belt. The duct tape was for wrapping around the paper clip join.

I love the machine because it’s housed in an ornate oak cabinetry and has five drawers. Its black metal sewing machine head is beautifully decorated with painted lily-of-the-valley with gold and green accents. It has its original oil can, its original instruction booklet, its original key for locking the middle drawer, and original boxes of attachments.

Unfortunately, the instruction booklet does not include much information about how to use the attachments. I have never figured out what they do, or why. The booklet does, however, tell how to shorten the belt when it slips, although it doesn’t mention rose pruners and paper clips. It also states that when the machine left the factory in Orange, Mass., it was threaded and ready for use, the oil can was filled, its six extra bobbins were wound with thread and a package of Greyhound sewing machine needles manufactured by New Home were included.

Why, you may ask, would anyone in this day and age of computerized sewing machines equipped with laser cutters want to use an antique machine? Mostly because it’s fun, requires nothing but my own two feet to power it, it’s so beautiful to look at and sews like a dream.

I have no idea to whom the sewing machine belonged when I bought it, or what wonderments of dressmaking were performed with it. I have made quilts, dolls, dresses and pillows with it. I have used it to mend torn seams and to hem jeans. The machine is so hardy it will stitch through the bulkiest of three-layer denim hems.

I like to think that the machine’s previous owner mended clothing and made quilts, too. I wish, though, she’d thought to leave instructions in one of the drawers so I’d know how to use that attachment shaped like a lobster claw.

Hill’s Sewing Machine Repair, 945-6069, Bangor, and Williamson Sewing Machine Repair, 825-3126, Orrington, are knowledgeable about vintage sewing machines and how to keep them in good running repair.

Snippets

Visit www.interweave.com to find knitting patterns for a rug, a cotton tank top and a wedding gown. From the same Web site, access Piecework Magazine, which posts patterns for a crocheted doily and edging, and a silk ribbon guest book.