So, what really goes into making a quilt for a Veteran? You would probably guess that it's fabric, batting, time. It has become more than that.
Recently I learned that Singer, as a company, only now manufactures their machines in China or Brazil. China backs North Korea, and North Korea, who we are still at war with on the books in Congress, is refusing to return our war dead. There are over 7800 soldiers MIA Korean War .
The other sewing machine companies that originally would have made my machines are White and Brother. White Sewing Machine Company made my White treadle, but the name is now owned by a holding company, and not used to make machines. In 1986, White Sewing Machine Co. was part of Electrolux of Sweden. Brother is a company founded in Japan, and my Brother machine is made in China. So, for the past week or so, I, yes, have been freaking out, because all my machines, even though made many years ago in America or in an allied country, other than the Brother, are, in name, connected to backing China's economy, which supports North Korea, which is still the enemy.
I spent several days asking other sewing machine "people" what they thought, I spent more days trying to tell myself "once they come through customs as available on the US market, sewing machines become American", right? It's been a very bad week. My father loved and collected antique machines. I had made him at least 3 quilts. It's all connected, and now it's connected to backing China as opposed to the U.S.A.
So, I now am going to hand sew and hand quilt the quilts. But, yes, where are hand sewing needles made? (At this point I am sure my mother would be telling me to just accept the fact that we do not make these things in America any more). And I'm crying. There hasn't been a sewing machine made in the U.S since the 1980s, according to sewing people. Hand sewing needles are mostly made in other countries.
So, does "no soldier left behind" count as a truth or not? If we have 7800 MIA Korean War, and using any commonly available sewing machines or needles mean we are backing the enemy - where exactly does that leave us? If China decides to stop exporting, we are going to have some problems. In addition to the large funds our government borrows from China, why isn't anyone changing this?
Yes, it's been a bad week. I am not sure if it is because I had a seizure or if it's because I read the list of names of the 188 soldiers MIA Korean War from Massachusetts. My father was sent to occupied Berlin during the Korean War, but had his orders been different, he could be on that list. In war, every soldier is a son or daughter of America, we cannot accept that they are left behind.
As of this writing, I am selling most of my sewing machines, and am going back to hand quilting, which I had done exclusively 27 years ago. I told my grandmother I would never sell her machine - it's 1934 Singer 99-13 that I had converted to a handcrank. Until I fully decide what I am doing, I have a motor on it again, preserving it as her machine more than mine.
I looked for hand sewing needles made in America - $5.50 for ONE NEEDLE, while similar needles from Singer made in China or Brazil are $4.54 for 15. That is America's economy problem. I have quilting needles from the John James Company, some of them made in England, and leaning on my grandmother's heritage, who was English and Welsh (James/Cook) will "allow" me to use those.
Is it worth $5.50 for one needle for each quilt? Yes, and I will be changing to Spiral Eye Needles at some point in the near future.
Think about it, please, and encourage your Senators and Congressmen to bring our soldiers home.
Made in America, Spiral Eye Needles
South Korea has started the creation of walking trails in the DMZ - tourists will be walking over our War Dead.
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