Singer Sewing Library

In the '60s Singer put out a line of sewing reference books. They were 25 cents or 29 cents and were available at the local Singer Sewing Centers. The first was dated 1960 and the last one was dated 1962. They were available with a staple binding or comb bound:

I have been collecting them from yard sales and thrift stores and online. I just need one more to make my collection complete.

The series is pretty fun. I love to look through them. Part of the delight is the snapshot of the past that they give you about life then. Another part is that there are actually some pretty fun projects, techniques, and ideas in some of them.

Here is a full list of the series and their numbers:

101 - How to Make Curtains
102 - How to Make Draperies
103 - How to Make Valences
104 - How to Make Bedspreads
105 - How to Lay Out a Pattern and Cut
106 - How to Measure, Alter and Fit
107 - How to Make Seams and Finishes
108 - How to Make Sleeves
109 - How to Make Buttonholes and Pockets
110 - How to Make Collars, Finish Necklines
111 - How to Make Zipper Closures
112 - How to Make Belts and Hems
113 - How to Make Slip Covers
114 - How to Make Café Curtains
115 - Things for Little Girls to Make
116 - Creating Charm When Sewing for Girls
117 - How to Mend and Refit
118 - How to Do Dressmaker Tailoring
119 - How to Make Aprons
120 - How to Make Cushions, Pillows, and Bolsters
121 - How to Sew for Babies

Really it seems like some of these are essentially the same: Curtains, Draperies, Valences, Café Curtains. But some are super fun like the Aprons, Creating Charm When Sewing for Girls, and especially Things for Little Girls to Make. 

I will be trying some of the projects and techniques and I will let you know what I think. 

I do recommend the series though. It's a fun read if you are into sewing techniques and the past. 

Singer Sewing Reference and Kit

My mom found this treasure at the thrift store. It's the book from a series of sewing classes they did at the Singer Sewing Center. The book is dated 1954.

The book has some pretty useful information in it. It's got all the things you'd need to know about how to make your own clothes and clothes for your family. It also has some more advanced information in it. Some of the techniques are so advanced I don't even know what is going on. Seriously, some of it is pretty intense.

As an added treasure my mom also found the "Project Material Package" that went along with the classes!

It's pretty beat up but it is nearly complete! It's amazing. It's still got the practice sheets and the fabric swatches and some of them aren't even used! I'll show you the inside later. 

The Project Material Package was available only to people who signed up for the classes. From the description on the kit: "Singer Sewing Skills is a comprehensive course in effective sewing machine usage embracing the secrets of beautiful sewing."

And "Fabric for learning how best to handle the attachments that are part of every sewing machine, as well as those you may wish to add to your equipment."

It sounds like another part of their plan was to have you try out all the sewing accessories in the store during your class so you would fall in love with them all and end up buying them. I do have many of these accessories in my collection but some of them are super rare and I haven't found them yet (such as the underbraider and the flange foot). But honestly I probably won't have an occasion where I need to sew a bit of braiding on the underside of something. Still, I would love to have them all in my collection!

Some day.

Anyway, another fun Singer Sewing Reference that is worth checking out.