I am so happy that I found this Pfaff channel and Nancy. I loved seeing her shows on the local public TV years ago. Words cannot describe her vast knowledge, teaching skill, kindness, etc. I felt she was my friend. RIP dear Nancy.
Thirty six years ago, come the 30th of October, our daughter was born 10 weeks preemie, and preemie size clothing was hard to come by - especially because we were poor (only financially) and the new clothing that was available was very expensive. I was blessed to have learned to sew when I was in junior high school - so I went about sewing for our daughter. Cabbage Patch doll patterns was my beginning point, and most of her wardrobe consisted of sleepers because as a preemie back then we were instructed not to take her out and about except to large open places like shopping malls. Exposing her to other people in small areas was considered too much of a risk. Diapers were impossible to get to fit that little bottom that was under 5 lb when she came home from the hospital. I bought the long, flat diapers, cut them in half, did some folding, pleating, and stitching to make 2 dozen padded diapers that look like little Pampers. Since we had a small washer and dryer I was washing diapers everyday and it worked out great. I bought second-hand plastic pants in the largest size they had that were still soft with elastic that was still good. I deconstructed them and made rubber pants to fit. The newborn nursery was in a corner of our bedroom because we were living on the first floor of a small two floor fixer upper home, and the upper floor had not yet been finished off. The changing table was an old gray metal dresser that I padded with a mat from a discarded playpen and covered with an elasticized cover that was made with fabric that was given to us. The remainder of the fabric was used to make a diaper stacker that hung on the wall, and a panel with multiple pockets that hung on the wall for organizing needs like baby powder, diaper cream ointment, and more. The borrowed cradle needed bedding so I took a used blanket and a Bambi themed bedspread that I bought in a thrift store and just sandwiched the two pieces together and bound them and tied it off at various places to make her blanket. The leftover fabric once again was used to make the bumper pads to go around the inside of the cradle. Nothing went to waste and I could step back and say I made it all myself. I was so proud of the fact that my little girl did not have to go without even though we were experiencing hard financial times. I owned one pair of slacks that I made for myself with some fabric that was given to us, and I would wash them about every other day before going to bed, throw them into the dryer, and they were ready to put back on in the morning. My depression era grandmother taught me a lot about frugality, but I learned how to sew in school. The public education system today is really robbing our youth of the life skills they need to survive tough times. I am so grateful to have been raised during the era I was. The education in the state of New York was a godsend for me. Sometimes I yearn for those good old days. I am 67 years old now and the memories of the hard times that my husband and I went through in the early years of our marriage are some of the fondest memories I have to look back upon. I have always used sewing as a means of bartering for the things that we've needed over the years and I still tell my husband that I can catch more fish with my sewing machine than he ever did with his fishing rod. My husband was born and raised in Alaska and that is where we met in 1982. We lived there until late 2012 when we headed south for my health. I have upholstered snow machines, made draperies for our home, whipped up simple curtains for windows and to hide the busy items on open shelving, upholstered cushions for boats, and whipped up an entire wardrobe for myself in about two and a half days straight. I often tell people that if I did not make my own clothes I would have to go naked because, as a very large curvy girl, the plus plus size shops were beyond affordability even when I was working full-time. Everyone, in my humble opinion, should develop the ability to sew even if it's just simple mending. My daughter got it right. When she married a couple of years ago at age 34 the love of her life brought with him his own sewing machine! And one of the blessings of the pandemic that we are experiencing right now has been that my daughter's urge to sew has been kindled and making masks became a great date night activity for them . I could go on and on but I won't. I've already said enough. Nancy Zieman is most definitely missed by me, but I was very fortunate to have been able to collect many of her videos and books when a dear friend passed. I used to love watching the show on our PBS channel and I learned so much from Nancy. I'm really glad to see that many of her videos are now available on RUclips because the quality of the VHS tapes has deteriorated over time. I am also broken hearted over Nancy's Notions as it is today. It used to be a booming and robust place for me to shop for much-needed sewing notions since I keep a well-stocked sewing area in my craft room. Unless I have missed something the online store has shrunk seriously since we lost Nancy. She will forever be one of my favorite instructors of all time.
Susan Dickson: I so enjoyed your story, I wish you had written more. We are about the same age. I too lessened to sew in junior high. I can make about anything as long as I have good instructions included. I find most of today's pattetns do not have well written directions. They seen to leave learning how to sew a technique to the sewer. My hat off to those people who have taught self to sew. Too bad you don't live next door. We could have coffee, share our memories, and sew. From your experiences sounds like you could teach me alot. My wish at this time is to find a sewing partner and someone to pass my knowledge on to. Alas my daughter doesn't have the time, and my young granddaughter would rather text and watch videos. I also miss Nancy Z. and Nancy's Notions. One reason her PBS program was so popular, she wasn't afraid of showing and telling measurements needed to make an item at home without a viewer having to purchase the pattern or the complete instructions. She truly had a Christian heart. Be happy and safe and keep sewing.
My first sewing machine of my own was a Pfaff. It was 1974. I was 17 and my husband was an MP in the Army in Berlin. I picked out the machine I wanted at the PX that had a free arm on it but by the time we had the money (probably a week or two) they had raised the price by $20. This made me mad so I got the one without the free arm for the original price. I remember paying about $220 but it's been a long time ago. I never realized I had a high quality machine but things were a lot cheaper at the PX especially since I was in Germany already. I used to wish I hadn't been so stubborn and paid the extra $20 but I was able to sew just fine on mine. Anyway, the machine was the exact same one I had my eye on. The only thing different was the price tag and you know how teenagers are. I still have that machine and it runs fine. If a 1983 Pfaff is historical and vintage mine must be an antique.
I am so happy that I found this Pfaff channel and Nancy. I loved seeing her shows on the local public TV years ago. Words cannot describe her vast knowledge, teaching skill, kindness, etc. I felt she was my friend. RIP dear Nancy.
thank you for this video, Nancy was a talented lady, so inspiring, she is missed very much
Thirty six years ago, come the 30th of October, our daughter was born 10 weeks preemie, and preemie size clothing was hard to come by - especially because we were poor (only financially) and the new clothing that was available was very expensive. I was blessed to have learned to sew when I was in junior high school - so I went about sewing for our daughter. Cabbage Patch doll patterns was my beginning point, and most of her wardrobe consisted of sleepers because as a preemie back then we were instructed not to take her out and about except to large open places like shopping malls. Exposing her to other people in small areas was considered too much of a risk. Diapers were impossible to get to fit that little bottom that was under 5 lb when she came home from the hospital. I bought the long, flat diapers, cut them in half, did some folding, pleating, and stitching to make 2 dozen padded diapers that look like little Pampers. Since we had a small washer and dryer I was washing diapers everyday and it worked out great. I bought second-hand plastic pants in the largest size they had that were still soft with elastic that was still good. I deconstructed them and made rubber pants to fit. The newborn nursery was in a corner of our bedroom because we were living on the first floor of a small two floor fixer upper home, and the upper floor had not yet been finished off. The changing table was an old gray metal dresser that I padded with a mat from a discarded playpen and covered with an elasticized cover that was made with fabric that was given to us. The remainder of the fabric was used to make a diaper stacker that hung on the wall, and a panel with multiple pockets that hung on the wall for organizing needs like baby powder, diaper cream ointment, and more. The borrowed cradle needed bedding so I took a used blanket and a Bambi themed bedspread that I bought in a thrift store and just sandwiched the two pieces together and bound them and tied it off at various places to make her blanket. The leftover fabric once again was used to make the bumper pads to go around the inside of the cradle. Nothing went to waste and I could step back and say I made it all myself. I was so proud of the fact that my little girl did not have to go without even though we were experiencing hard financial times. I owned one pair of slacks that I made for myself with some fabric that was given to us, and I would wash them about every other day before going to bed, throw them into the dryer, and they were ready to put back on in the morning. My depression era grandmother taught me a lot about frugality, but I learned how to sew in school. The public education system today is really robbing our youth of the life skills they need to survive tough times. I am so grateful to have been raised during the era I was. The education in the state of New York was a godsend for me. Sometimes I yearn for those good old days. I am 67 years old now and the memories of the hard times that my husband and I went through in the early years of our marriage are some of the fondest memories I have to look back upon. I have always used sewing as a means of bartering for the things that we've needed over the years and I still tell my husband that I can catch more fish with my sewing machine than he ever did with his fishing rod. My husband was born and raised in Alaska and that is where we met in 1982. We lived there until late 2012 when we headed south for my health. I have upholstered snow machines, made draperies for our home, whipped up simple curtains for windows and to hide the busy items on open shelving, upholstered cushions for boats, and whipped up an entire wardrobe for myself in about two and a half days straight. I often tell people that if I did not make my own clothes I would have to go naked because, as a very large curvy girl, the plus plus size shops were beyond affordability even when I was working full-time. Everyone, in my humble opinion, should develop the ability to sew even if it's just simple mending. My daughter got it right. When she married a couple of years ago at age 34 the love of her life brought with him his own sewing machine! And one of the blessings of the pandemic that we are experiencing right now has been that my daughter's urge to sew has been kindled and making masks became a great date night activity for them . I could go on and on but I won't. I've already said enough. Nancy Zieman is most definitely missed by me, but I was very fortunate to have been able to collect many of her videos and books when a dear friend passed. I used to love watching the show on our PBS channel and I learned so much from Nancy. I'm really glad to see that many of her videos are now available on RUclips because the quality of the VHS tapes has deteriorated over time. I am also broken hearted over Nancy's Notions as it is today. It used to be a booming and robust place for me to shop for much-needed sewing notions since I keep a well-stocked sewing area in my craft room. Unless I have missed something the online store has shrunk seriously since we lost Nancy. She will forever be one of my favorite instructors of all time.
Susan Dickson: I so enjoyed your story, I wish you had written more. We are about the same age. I too lessened to sew in junior high. I can make about anything as long as I have good instructions included. I find most of today's pattetns do not have well written directions. They seen to leave learning how to sew a technique to the sewer. My hat off to those people who have taught self to sew. Too bad you don't live next door. We could have coffee, share our memories, and sew. From your experiences sounds like you could teach me alot. My wish at this time is to find a sewing partner and someone to pass my knowledge on to. Alas my daughter doesn't have the time, and my young granddaughter would rather text and watch videos.
I also miss Nancy Z. and Nancy's Notions. One reason her PBS program was so popular, she wasn't afraid of showing and telling measurements needed to make an item at home without a viewer having to purchase the pattern or the complete instructions. She truly had a Christian heart. Be happy and safe and keep sewing.
Thanks
My first sewing machine of my own was a Pfaff. It was 1974. I was 17 and my husband was an MP in the Army in Berlin. I picked out the machine I wanted at the PX that had a free arm on it but by the time we had the money (probably a week or two) they had raised the price by $20. This made me mad so I got the one without the free arm for the original price. I remember paying about $220 but it's been a long time ago. I never realized I had a high quality machine but things were a lot cheaper at the PX especially since I was in Germany already. I used to wish I hadn't been so stubborn and paid the extra $20 but I was able to sew just fine on mine. Anyway, the machine was the exact same one I had my eye on. The only thing different was the price tag and you know how teenagers are. I still have that machine and it runs fine. If a 1983 Pfaff is historical and vintage mine must be an antique.