I may not have a sample of my grandmother’s DNA, but I do know that Arline Kinsel and I both share the “sewing” gene. A 1919 letter from Arline to her mother in Excelsior Springs, Missouri, mentions that she’s earning a little cash sewing clothes for local women:
[Pueblo, Colorado] My dear Ma-
I got your 3rd letter today. I have made $4.00 sewing since you’ve been gone. Got $2.50 from Mrs. OB. for Camisole for Viola and $1.75 for Waist for the woman Mrs. OB. sent over.12
In other letters, Arline writes about sewing for herself or gives instructions for her sewing machine to be shipped to wherever she’s living at the time. Knowing that Arline was an able seamstress makes it likely that she sewed the white eyelet dress she probably wore for her second wedding. Fashion expert, Betty Schubert suggested that the dress was a personal adaptation of an outfit in the 1915 Sears catalog, and made as early as 1913.3
I also know that Arline’s ability to create something useful from fabric and thread wasn’t set aside as she grew older. Arline’s letter to her mother share that she was sewing in 1919, but a sewing machine contract dated 1955 show that she was still creating with needle and thread more than 35 years later. I like to think she enjoyed sewing as much as I do today, although my first sewing machine cost several times what she paid for a used Singer Model 66 in 1955.
Singer Sewing Machine Model 664
An original sales contract dated 21 March 1955 was among the old family photos, bank books, and letters stuffed into the large trunk I inherited in 2000, and tells much more than the buyer’s name and address, but that’s a good place to start.
It shows that:
- On 21 March 1955 Mrs. Frank A. Brown (Arline Kinsel Brown) was living at 12922 Pine Street in Garden Grove, California. I knew that the Browns lived in Santa Ana and neighboring cities after moving to Southern California in the 1930s, but I didn’t know they lived in Garden Grove, about six miles from the Singer sewing store. Today 305 W Fourth Street is home to Starbucks, not Singer.
- Arline signed a contract with the “Company” located at 305 W. Fourth, Santa Ana to purchase a Singer Sewing Machine Style 66-6 OLD 40 No. AA882269 priced at $49.50 plus tax by making a down payment of $7.99 and agreeing to pay 9 installments of $5.44 on the 21st day of each month.
- The contract was witnessed by L.A. Busch and signed Mrs. Frank A. Brown.5
After studying this worn receipt I thought it likely Arline could only afford to buy a thirty year old machine on the installment plan. I was only partially correct. Other records show that my grandparents didn’t have any extra cash, but Singer had been selling machines on the installment plan since the mid-19th century and people were used to buying on credit.
The fact that she bought an older model Singer doesn’t necessarily mean than Arline bought an inferior machine. The Model 66 is regarded as a workhorse domestic machine that remained popular from its introduction in 1902 until it was superseded by the new Model 221 about 1956.6 The popularity of the Model 66 Singer is obvious from the 50,000 allotted for manufacture on 26 January 1926 at the plant in Elizabethport, New Jersey.7
As someone who loves to sew and quilt, I can understand Arline’s attachment to an older model machine. Our first purchase as newlyweds wasn’t a car or washing machine. We bought a Bernina sewing machine on the installment plan. And after learning to finesse a seam on good machine, I didn’t upgrade to a newer model for many years.
I like to think that maybe I inherited the “sewing” gene in my maternal DNA. All the women in our family have enjoyed sewing, crafting, and handwork, a common thread between the generations. Isn’t it interesting what you can learn from a few scraps of paper ephemera? No DNA kit required!8
- A “camisole” is a sleeveless undergarment worn under a blouse or dress; a “waist” is a “shirtwaist” or button-down blouse or shirt.
- Arline Kinsel (Pueblo, Colorado) to “Ma,” [Minnie Kinsel], letter, postmarked 19 March 1919; privately held by Denise Levenick, Pasadena, California, 2017.
- “My Grandma Was a Fashion Maverick — Ancestral Fashion Review from Betty Shubert, Author of Out of Style for Treasure Chest Thursday,” The Family Curator, 3 October 2013 (http://thefamilycurator.com/my-grandma-was-a-fashion-maverick-ancestral-fashion-review-f/ : 12 June 2017).
- By Panjigally (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons.
- Singer Sewing Machine Contract, 1955 in Arline Allen Kinsel Papers; privately held by Denise Levenick, Pasadena, California, 2017. Contract between Singer Sewing Company 305 W. 4th Street, Santa Ana, California and Mrs. Frank A. Brown [Arline Kinsel] dated 21 March 1955.
- Alex I. Askaroff, “Singer 66 & Singer 99,” Sewalot Site, (http://www.sewalot.com/singer%2066.htm : 12 June 2017).
- “Singer Sewing Machine Serial Number Database,” International Sewing Machine Collectors’ Society, (http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/serial-numbers/singer-aa-series-serial-numbers.html : 12 June 2017).
- I’m a fan of using DNA for genealogy research, but I like the old-fashioned approach too.
I also got the sewing gene from all directions, mom, both grandmas, great grandmas, all my aunts… I can’t imagine not sewing or creating something every few days. My sister-in-law is not a sewer, and her daughter, my only niece doesn’t sew. But just last year I started teaching her daughters (my great nieces) 8 and 10, to sew.
One afternoon I was at the machine showing her how to navigate a pretty sharp curve and Riley was next to me watching. Suddenly she clapped her hands together and giggled, “This is so much fun!” I knew then she also had it. A couple of her cousins, my nephews, want me to teach them to sew something, every time I see them.
So there was a little glitch in the flow, but that sewing DNA is still strong in my family line.
It’s fun to hear how the same trait runs through other families.
Jan
Lucky you to have a sewing buddy. My sons haven’t shown much interest, but my husband has always been competent with needle and thread (or machine). When I met him in college he had just made himself a down vest! Thanks for dropping by! ~ Denise
What wonderful memories and a great connection stitched together over time. As an enthusiastic sewer and a collector of lots of sewing paraphernalia, I truly enjoyed this. My passion is for old Singers, and Janomes, one of the latter sitting happily beside my Bernina overlocker.
I have my grandmother’s treadle Singer, another in a wooden case, even a number of toy machines. My first machine of my own is still with me, a beautifully crafted metal Child’s Singer, with a winder to move the needle. It, along with the treadle, have travelled from state to state and numerous houses. My grandmother would perhaps be horrified to see her machine used as a computer desk for my husband now. Those side drawers come in very handy.
I love those old treadle cabinets. I had one too for many years, but alas, it moved along to a new home. Your grandmother might be happier than you think to see her machine cabinet still in good use.
She was Irish, I never knew her as she died when my Mum was just 11..However, I’ve always been told that she had a great sense of humour.. I feel she would have been pleased to know that all my children’s baby clothes were sewn on that, as were most of my clothes growing up… so many memories.
At least it’s still treasured and cared for.
I have included your blog in INTERESTING BLOGS in FRIDAY FOSSICKING at
http://thatmomentintime-crissouli.blogspot.com/2017/06/friday-fossicking-16th-june-2017.html
Thank you, Chris
And what a beautiful machine it is!
Yes it is! Wish it were mine!
My Bernina was one of my first major purchases as a married woman. I bought it to make baby clothes for my first daughter and it’s still going though doesn’t get much use these days. It has travelled a lot of miles too: Brisbane to Papua New Guinea, between three town ps there, back to Brisbane then another two interstate moves. I should have bought it a frequent flyer package 🙂
I loved this story and how you wove it together from personal knowledge and a “boring old invoice”.
Thanks, Pauleen. I’ve heard that when you buy a Bernina you don’t just buy a sewing machine, you join a loyal and devoted Bernina family. I remember sewing on my mom’s old White where the tension was NEVER right. I love my Bernina! This was a fun post to write!