Over 100,000 copies sold 'A tapestry of strong characters and accomplished writing' Herald Scotland It is 1911, and Jean is about to join the mass strike at the Singer factory. For her, nothing will be the same again. Decades later, in Edinburgh, Connie sews coded moments of her life into a notebook, as her mother did before her. More than a hundred years after his grandmother’s sewing machine was made, Fred discovers a treasure trove of documents. His family history is laid out before him in a patchwork of unfamiliar handwriting and colourful seams. He starts to unpick the secrets of four generations, one stitch at a time.

Women, booze, illegitimate children, fraud, bigamy, 19th-century capitalism, and the emergence of an empire . . . . These words describe the life of Isaac Merritt Singer. Although widely regarded as the inventor of the sewing machine, Singer actually modified an existing machine and marketed it to an America eager for the new tools of the Machine Age. His genius was in the advertising, service with a smile, installment plans, and marketing gimmicks he used to get the sewing machine in homes and sweatshops all over the world. This fascinating and detailed biography provides an insightful and provocative look at the American entrepreneur, unraveling a complex web of personal ambition, fame, fortune, and the attainment of the American Dream. Illustrated.

A business history of the Singer Sewing Machine Company as seen from the company president's office. Overview of sewing machine history and development. Brief biography of Isaac M. Singer followed by biographical sketches of succeeding company presidents over 145 years to the present day. Biographies of company presidents: Edward S. Clark, George Ross McKenzie, F. G. Bourne, Sir Douglas Alexander, Milton C. Lightner, Donald P. Kircher, Joseph B. Flavin, Paul Bilzerian and James H. Ting.

This early work is fascinating read for sewing enthusiasts and contains much information that is useful and practical today. Its 240 pages are extensively illustrated with diagrams and photographs and 18 full page plates, forming a complete how-to guide to sewing. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

With updated photography and techniques, this is the definitive guide to all things sewing, whether you're working with garments or decor