This page offers the opportunity for those who have already received machines to give feedback on what they’ve been doing with their machines or perhaps personal stories about their experiences with sewing or Hurricane Katrina. You might want to tell about your experience with the Pay it Forward program or even just to say thank you.
If you would like to share your story please use the comment form below. Thank you!
My new machine is so high-tech I can hardly believe everything it does! I am about to start sewing children’s clothes- especially fancy dress clothes and heirloom style clothing that is much fancier than parents can find in stores. I will especially love making Christening dresses and French bonnets. I never had any beautiful babies, but I love making babies beautiful! It’s fun- and easy- to sew again thanks to the Sewing Machine Project! God Bless you all!
Your kindness is greatly appreciated. My new machine is actually a lot nicer that the one I had which was a hand-me-down from my Aunt. I was unable to pick up the machine from the church and Margaret was kind enough to bring the machine to the hotel where they were staying. She altered her schedule to meet me early that morning and I was off to work with my new machine in the car and the anticipation of checking it out at the end of my shift.
I use my machine to make personalized quilts for newborn babies. Some are never used but are simply keepsakes. Others are used for special portraits or hung on the walls in the babies’ bedrooms.
Thank you so much for your kindness. May the Lord continue to enlarge your territory so that you may bless others.
I am using the sewing machine from your kind heart to pay it forward. I make quilts for charity with my Stitch in Time Quilting Guild. We donate quilts, adult bibs, wheel chair bags, & pillowcases to CASA, battered Women’s shelters in New Orleans, Tulane Children’s Hospital, East Jefferson General Hospital, and Nursing homes. Also made quilts for my family members, my daughter had twins last July, along with two nephews’ wives had babies, and a niece. So I have been busy.
Thanks to you, all of this was possible. I had 10 feet of water at my home in Lakeview. We are finally rebuilding and should be in our new house in June. Many many thanks. You have helped heal peoples hearts, sewing does help mend in many ways. Thank You. Denise
Just a note to say how much I appreciate what you’re doing in our community with the gift of sewing machines to those in need. Some might think that this is a small thing, but such things do matter a lot when one has lost so much.
I received a sewing machine on Margaret’s second trip to New Orleans. When I tried to use it long after I received it I found that I could not adjust it to make it work. As it happened, there was an article in our local newspaper about Margaret coming back to New Orleans with yet more sewing machines. I called Grace Church and told them about my maching not working and they put me in touch with Margaret. Here is the best part– Margaret came to my apartment to adjust the machine and it is now working like new. I can’t tell you how much I appreciated her
doing that. Going way beyond. What a wonderful person and thing to do.
Keep up the good work and my God continue to bless you all and us as we try to continue to recover. We, in New Orleans, are blessed with people and groups like yours who help us in this recover effort. I often wonder, where would we be if it wasn’t for people like you.
Thanks a bunch!
I want to help our Vietnamese women on boats in Venice, Louisiana to learn skills as a job. Also, the Amish people from Indiana volunteered to rebuild my house and they brought their machine to make quilts and theirs was stolen. I will let them borrow mine if they ask. I plan to pay it forward by making baptismal bibs for my Catholic church and make alterations for the church thrift store.
This comment is sent with great regards for the sewing machine donated to us by you. My daughter Chelsi, and I are thankful for it because it’s better than the one we lost during Hurricane Katrina. Just to share a story with you, at the time Hurricane Katrina came, I was teaching Chelsi (14 years old) how to sew. She made a couple of items such as a jean two-piece pant suit, a pillow cover, a skirt with the matching scarf and her favorite patchwork handbag. Everyone complimented her on
the handbag and couldn’t believe she had made it. I was very proud of her even though it was made with my assistance. I had not sewn since high school (late 1970’s).
I thought that this handbag inspired her to continue to sew and maybe make a few things for her friends. Then Hurricane Katrina came and of course, we lost everything, including the sewing machine I had for a very long time but had hardly used. I promised Chelsi I would buy another sewing machine but it just wasn’t priority on my list. I needed to acquire many other things before it. When Carolyn asked if anyone needed a machine, I felt blessed to have her say to me, “I know someone who
is willing to donate it.”
With all this said, I would just like to personally thank you. We have been getting familiar with it and can’t begin to tell you how much we appreciate it. You have certainly made a difference. May God Bless You!
I plan to teach students how to sew.
By having a sewing machine and learning to sew, this machine will help me save money. I will pay it forward by sharing the machine with someone else.
I sew for my grandchildren. My mother gave me my sewing machine. I lost my mom and then I lost my sewing machine in Katrina. I will pay it forward by making lap covers for the elderly.
This machine can help me do lots of sewing for household and family needs. Thank you!
I want to teach my grandchildren to sew. I need to make curtains.
I need to help my family and help my wife make my family clothes.
I lost everything in the flood. Thank you very much for this machine. I will pay it forward by helping the elderly with their sewing needs.
I lost everything in Katrina. I sat on my roof for 4 days. I want to make simple clothes for myself. To pay someone is too expensive.
I will teach my granddaughter to sew. It gives me an activity to do with my granddaughter.
I will make clothes for my son. I will pay it forward by doing things for those less fortunate than myself.
I will make clothes for my family and for school functions and do repairs for family and neighbors.
My mother lost her machine in the storm. She sews more than I do so I will probably bless her to have it at her home.
Sewing relaxes me. Now I can make beautiful things for my home and family.
This machine will help me as far as altering my own clothes. I will pay it forward by letting friends and neighbors use my sewing machine.
This machine help me–so much.
Dear Margaret,
Thank you so much for the machine. I thought I would not get one and had been looking in Thrift Stores trying to find one to help my dtr.in law Sharon with her project to teach and help young ladies who have no idea of how rewarding and enjoyful sewing can be. Thank you for helping us move forward.
God bless and keep you.
To Margaret and all of the wonderful people who have donated to The Sewing Machine Project,
It was a day to remember.
Thank you for allowing me to help pass on all of the lovely machines, fabrics, and notions that were donated for this last round sent to New Orleans! I had the time of my life helping and seeing all of the happy faces as they looked over and chose a machine to take home. And the shop till you drop fabrics and notions were an added bonus for the ladies (and several gentlemen
Your generous donations not only helped make a bright day for the people of New Orleans it made one for me.
Tess
Teach Only Love
Be Only Love
Debbie recently made a donation in memory of a wonderful woman who loved sewing so much. When the woman’s family heard of this donation, they sent the following letter:
“Oh my goodness Debbie! I just can’t find the words to tell you how touched I am by what you have done in my momma’s memory. She loved sewing so much, and just thoroughly enjoyed working on the Nutcracker costumes. She was so proud of those costumes and I sometimes think my heart will burst when I look at them. I miss her so much, every single day. I never developed the “sewing talent” like you, your mom, or my mom – I have just admired the great ability that you all
have!
I am so glad to know about the Sewing Machine Project. What a wonderful organization! You’ll have to send me the address because I’d like to make a donation as well. My momma would have loved this!! What a perfect way to honor her!”
Please consider making a donation in memory of the “seamstress” in your life.