>> she still owns a
>> sewing machine that's fully capable of sewing through leather - or
>> human, flesh, for that matter. 
> 
> My mom's got at least 3 that she uses for different purposes.  She does a 
> fair amount of quilt making, but also does an awful lot of custom work - 
> from upholstery to wedding dresses.  She's also started teaching others 
> her craft, through her part-time job (working - where else - in a fabric 
> store).
> 
>> That's happened once or twice before
>> now...
> 
> I think anyone who's sewed for any length of time has managed that.  I 
> even managed it back in middle school (when it was a required course at 
> the school I went to).

Well, my mum has a normal domestic sewing machine. (I say "normal" - it 
was a wedding present, so it's now about 35 years old...) Anything 
thicker that cordroy and it just can't handle it. The mechanics just 
aren't man enough for the job.

My grandmother's machine is an industrial sewing machine. It's even 
older, as evidenced by the leather drive belt, but it will sew through 
leather. It's specifically designed to cope with leather. (What? How did 
you *think* they make car interiors?)

She and my grandad ran their own business doing custom interior work - 
mostly curtains, but also bed-heads, cushions, etc. Even worked in 
several other countries. Back then, they were loaded. Went on several 
world cruises, could afford the best and most expensive clothes, cars, 
and so forth.

Of course, that was before some dodgy pension scheme ate their money. 
Now they're poor broke pensioners...

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

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