Karen's Doula Services

How I Found My Machines

I started my search for a hemstitching machine not knowing what it looked like or anything else except that it was made by Singer, it was old, and I wanted one.

First, I tried antique stores. No one even knew what I was talking about. They kept telling me that what I wanted was a blind hem machine. I called everyone in the Phoenix phone book and had no luck.

Then I went on the Internet. I e-mailed hundreds of people. I posted on every craft bulletin board that I could find. I came up with nothing.

Back to the phone book.

I called sewing machine companies. I found that every sewing machine company claimed their machine could do a hemstitch with a wing needle attachment. My mother and I drove to each place and asked them to show us.

Not even close. One disappointment after another. They could make a beautifully decorated hole in the fabric, but not one large enough to get a crochet hook through.

After a week of searching, I gathered the information I had and started calling the sewing manufacturing companies. Knowing what I was talking about now helped a little. My search sent me all over the world: New York, Japan, Europe, Germany, and to all corners of the United States.

I finally found a machine for sale in Florida. The owner wanted $3500 for it. I considered driving over to look at the machine since I was going to be in Florida for a Doula Convention anyway.

Time to take a break, I decided. Put it aside and ponder, "How much do I really want this?"

But, I couldn't let it go. I became more determined than ever.

I went back to the phone book and started again. I called antique stores and asked for the owner. For the most part, no one knew what I was talking about, but I kept trying.

Finally, one owner told me that a woman from Mesa had sold him a machine a few months before, but he had already sold it. He also said that she had claimed to have another one.

I asked if he knew her name or number. He said it was "something Handley".

After thanking him, I started calling every Handley in the Phoenix area. No luck!

I called the store owner again.

He was surprised by my determination. He said he had her number somewhere and he would call me right back.

I told him I would hold.

He promptly found her name and number and gave them to me.

I remember my hand shaking as I dialed the number. When the woman answered the phone I felt like I was at the end of a long treasure hunt.

Elaine Handley had worked for the original Singer Sewing Machine Store in downtown Mesa, AZ. When they closed, she had bought all their machines and started working out of her home. Yes, she still had her Hemstitching machine and would be glad to show it to me, she said.

I learned that she lived only a few miles from my home, and her home sat back-to-back to my father-in-law's house. Elaine and I became good friends over the next few years. To earn a little extra money, she hemstitched blankets for me.

I kept her plenty busy. One day I called and found out that she had moved into an assisted living apartment. She let me pick her up and take her to her new home where she showed me how to use her machine. Then she asked me when I would like to buy it!

She wanted $500 for it. I paid her $1000.

We both knew the machine was worth a lot more, but we were both happy with the price. Now I could do my own hemstitching! It didn't take long for people to started finding me and wanting me to do their work. I could see I needed a second back-up machine.

So the hunt began again.

The second hemstitcher was much easier to find. I was tooling around Ebay and there it was. It didn't look quite like mine, but I was determined to have it. In retrospect, I don't think I would do that again. I paid $800 for the machine. It cost an additional $100 to have it mailed, and then I spent another $1000 having it refurbished and put in a cabinet for me.

Luckily, after calling several repair shops, I found someone who knew what a hemstitching machine was and how to work on the old thing. Chuck's business was named Arizona Industrial Sewing Machine.

Chuck has been very great to have around. He now fixes my machines after I give up on them. My new machine is an older hemstitcher. It works fine, but is even more temperamental that the first one. I only use it when I have to, and wish I had done some more checking before buying it.

I love my machines. It may sound silly, but I am honored to have them in my home. My children have lovingly named them, Hemry and Hemrietta.

I love when people find me and say, "You wouldn't believe how long or how hard I have been looking to find someone to do this."

I can honestly say, "Yes, I can believe it, and I'm glad you found me!"