VINTAGE SEWING CENTER & MUSEUM in Tulsa, Oklahoma
If you love vintage sewing machines, and sewing, and want a vacation that includes both sewing, sewing machines, and history, you need to visit the Tulsa, Oklahoma VINTAGE SEWING CENTER & MUSEUM!
One of my online sewing friends, Wk Binger (Wayne) is the curator, the individual who was inspired to create this fabulous history repository, where you can actually SEW on the sewing machines, even RENT a sewing machine! He wanted a HANDS ON SEWING CENTER & MUSEUM, where you actually really can FEEL the history, and use these same tools that previous generations used!
We often think that grandma's machine must be obsolete, but that is far from the truth; in fact, these antique and vintage sewing machines are incredible technology, which still works today, just as well as it did when it was NEW! The majority of sewing is still done on straight stitch sewing machines, even though we now have zigzag machines, coverstitch, blind hemmers, sergers, and overlock machines (in the sewing industry, there is a difference between an overlock and a serger, a serger actually has to be able a 5 thread safety stitch to be considered a serger, which is a 2 thread chainstitch, and a 3 thread overlock stitch).
Most of the 100 year old sewing machines (in 2020) can be oiled, and go right back to work, unless someone totally damaged them, removed parts, or left them to rust so badly, that metal pieces are gone. I've been AMAZED at the incredibly smooth, quiet, beautiful stitching that treadles can do, while giving you a chance to destress, with the rythmic rocking of the treadle pedal!
The Museum doesn't just have treadles, and hand crank machines, there is a computer operated embroidery machine, and machines from every generation, they even have a long arm quilting machine, industrial sewing machines, miniature sewing machines, children's sewing machines, sewing machine presser feet, accessories, and information manuals! The sewing machine from the US Batfish Submarine, is now a part of the Vintage Sewing Center and Museum!
I am writing this during the Covid-19 crisis (June 6, 2020), during which, the Museum has had to be closed, but has still been sewing masks for first responders, and for sale to the public, to try to keep the Museum supported. Currently, only private donations, and the hard work of Wk Binger, are supporting the Museum, we desperately need more people to helps support the Museum, by making it a part of their vacations, sharing your experience, when you do go, and letting your friends on social media know how much you enjoy your visit with the Museum.
Many of us are unable to travel to Oklahoma, but you can be a long distance friend of the Museum, join the M-Bassadors Facebook group here-
https://www.facebook.com/groups/407787369596207/
You can find sewing information and sewing machine information, and other tutorials and sewing related information files in the group files at the top of the M-Bassadors page.
One of my online sewing friends, Wk Binger (Wayne) is the curator, the individual who was inspired to create this fabulous history repository, where you can actually SEW on the sewing machines, even RENT a sewing machine! He wanted a HANDS ON SEWING CENTER & MUSEUM, where you actually really can FEEL the history, and use these same tools that previous generations used!
We often think that grandma's machine must be obsolete, but that is far from the truth; in fact, these antique and vintage sewing machines are incredible technology, which still works today, just as well as it did when it was NEW! The majority of sewing is still done on straight stitch sewing machines, even though we now have zigzag machines, coverstitch, blind hemmers, sergers, and overlock machines (in the sewing industry, there is a difference between an overlock and a serger, a serger actually has to be able a 5 thread safety stitch to be considered a serger, which is a 2 thread chainstitch, and a 3 thread overlock stitch).
Most of the 100 year old sewing machines (in 2020) can be oiled, and go right back to work, unless someone totally damaged them, removed parts, or left them to rust so badly, that metal pieces are gone. I've been AMAZED at the incredibly smooth, quiet, beautiful stitching that treadles can do, while giving you a chance to destress, with the rythmic rocking of the treadle pedal!
The Museum doesn't just have treadles, and hand crank machines, there is a computer operated embroidery machine, and machines from every generation, they even have a long arm quilting machine, industrial sewing machines, miniature sewing machines, children's sewing machines, sewing machine presser feet, accessories, and information manuals! The sewing machine from the US Batfish Submarine, is now a part of the Vintage Sewing Center and Museum!
I am writing this during the Covid-19 crisis (June 6, 2020), during which, the Museum has had to be closed, but has still been sewing masks for first responders, and for sale to the public, to try to keep the Museum supported. Currently, only private donations, and the hard work of Wk Binger, are supporting the Museum, we desperately need more people to helps support the Museum, by making it a part of their vacations, sharing your experience, when you do go, and letting your friends on social media know how much you enjoy your visit with the Museum.
Many of us are unable to travel to Oklahoma, but you can be a long distance friend of the Museum, join the M-Bassadors Facebook group here-
https://www.facebook.com/groups/407787369596207/
You can find sewing information and sewing machine information, and other tutorials and sewing related information files in the group files at the top of the M-Bassadors page.
In the past, sewing machine Museums would have been supported by the sewing industry in the United States, but because most of that began moving to other countries, especially in the 1990's through 2010, there are not big enough sewing related businesses to support sewing museums, so currently, the few sewing museums in the U.S.A., are privately owned, and very limited in size. You can help preserve this history for future generations, and help share sewing, and sewing machine knowledge and information, helping it remain available, by sharing information about the museum, you can donate sewn items, like the face masks, to learn more, join the M-bassadors Facebook group,
or visit the business page here-
https://www.facebook.com/VintageSewingCenterandMuseum/
Here are links to visit the Museum virtually, through YouTube videos!
or visit the business page here-
https://www.facebook.com/VintageSewingCenterandMuseum/
Here are links to visit the Museum virtually, through YouTube videos!
