Those of you in the know know that I have long lusted after a new sewing machine. Currently, I stitch with this, but it isn’t mine, and it isn’t reliable. I’ve hoped for one of these, or these, or even these. However, money doesn’t grow on trees, and I’ve struggled to save even a few dollars ahead, forget about enough for one of these babies.
Last summer we stopped at a neighbor’s yard sale, and she was selling a Singer 99k in lovely condition. Though we were friendly with these neighbors, when I asked about the machine, she seemed to shut down. “I’ve decided to keep it,” she said. A week later other neighbors mentioned the great yard sale, and the beautiful sewing machine. Hurt, I assumed that our neighbor didn’t want to sell her machine to me, specifically.
The other day, the phone rang, and it was the yard sale neighbor, now moving intown to a smaller apartment (they are in their 80s). Did I have a machine, she asked? No. Did I want one? Yes, very much. Would I like hers, the one I’d looked at? Well, I’d love it. Well then, her husband would bring it right over.
Wha-wha- huh?!?!
But I didn’t have any money to pay her right then, and didn’t know when I would.
Well, that was fine. She was giving it to me. The woman who was going to buy it didn’t. And she’d heard I had a new house that needed fixing. So, if I wanted it, he’d bring it right down.
A few minutes later, I was gazing in wonder at this beauty.
I have no idea how to use it, and I think it probably needs a tune-up. But I’ve read that these last forever and sew through anything. And I’m so excited to find out.