Any woman who sews or knits, or weaves, blends colors in a tapestry or creates a patchwork quilt, knows by the feel that a single thread is weak but the weaving, the blending, the intertwining with many others makes it strong.
* * * * *
Any woman alone
without friends
to sustain her,
to nurture and support,
to hold with loving arms,
like a single thread, is weak.
But the weaving,
the loving,
the nurturing of others,
the networks of friendship
makes her strong.
“Barbara” 1994
The Kindship of Women
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I loved this post! 🙂 beautiful!
Thanks! It is a very special poem. Thank you for being so kind and for taking the time to visit and comment!
why do some of the comments have a reply but not all; anyway think where I got confused; you have 2 machines, right? the one you’re calling the long-arm and the Tin Lizzie, which I thought was also a long-arm, so was thinking it was your longarm that rests on a table, but your other one doesn’t, right? the Jenny Lind – or whatever, has the 3 bars – so can be used for machine quilting, not sure if matters re long arm or not, know they talk about sliding the frame rather than the machine – and sorry, maybe didn’t make clear, the machine I ran across I think must sit on a frame – guess somewhat my confusion is the ones that sit on table don’t require a frame? but if they do, do you know if they have to come with them or do they always, since obviously this Jenny Lend thing doesn’t; it’s bought separately – need to do some more research, not sure if it can only be used with particular machines, like not sure if could be used with that machine, just know she had frame with it; that’s what I meant by trailer, if was going to have to have that frame and couldn’t get it down here – as I understand you don’t even buy the whole frame of the Jenny, at least online, maybe also need to check to see if can buy otherwise; you just buy the frame attachment pieces then buy the frame pieces locally – then would do me no good to buy just the machine, also best I remember they talked like pretty expensive to fix the stitch regulator, depending on what was wrong with it, if there was much at all; why they somewhat discouraged me from getting one that had problems with it, said that was typical of why they’d be being sold – like action on a piano – said probably would need to be done by a dealer and think there weren’t any any more; company’s gone out of business, again like a lot of the piano ones as well – found one aftermarket person dealing with them and refurbishing them – like something else hub and I have both run into, so….just not sure…
I have a Pfaff machine that I use for sewing and a Tin Lizzie long arm quilt machine. Those are the only machines I have. My tin Lizzie sits on 12 foot arms.
Some of your comments may only have a “like” with no replys
that’s fine; wasn’t expecting this one; just thought you had said the Tin Lizzie sat on a table; maybe you meant the arms; that’s the frame, right? at least that’s how long I understood that frame to be; don’t think be anyway to have gotten it without the trailer and not even really sure how long it is; gonna try to check when it gets back; just left to deliver a lawn mower 🙂
The frame comes apart so at least that makes it a little easier to transport.
and now I see this; I wonder if that one did; she never said anything about it and I think we talked about it needing a trailer for transport; do you know if they all do? know that the JL one I keep talking about definitely does – she brought it a little hatchback car – but then you put it together yourself to begin with
I know this too… I make the odd quilt, and I am male. I know the poem does not exclude me, and it is quite beautiful.
Indeed it does include you!
poem share worked perfect this time – thanks
Awesome! Anytime! Don’t hesitate to ask. That’s what I am here for. 😎
but, yes, if I could get just the poem, please
Any woman alone
without friends
to sustain her,
to nurture and support,
to hold with loving arms,
like a single thread, is weak.
But the weaving,
the loving,
the nurturing of others,
the networks of friendship
makes her strong.
“Barbara” 1994
The Kindship of Women
thanks, now let’s see if it will share where I want it to
Send me an email and I will reply with the words to the poem
sorry, forgot what I said – if there’s a way to delete that last comment that’s still awaiting moderation and this part, too, I’ll start over – have you ever heard of an Edmunds one? and, no, the other one I saw tonight, just wondered if you ever had
Sorry, no I have not
it’s an adjustable one, not just a simple lay across the chairs type thing; the Jenny one can be used for either hand or machine quilting – with PVC the lady said, which I’ve seen the ones made with just that – would that be what you have?
If you are referring to my long arm quilt machine, then no. I have a Tin Lizzie Ansley 26 which rests on a 12 foot table.
so you don’t use a frame? I think that’s the machine she says she has or at least that name sounds familiar but maybe I’m just thinking of a car? do you know why it’s called that?
Well there was a car called by that name eons ago. Long before I was born. You can read about the Tin Lizzie quilt machines here http://tinlizzie18.com/esp-long-arm-quilters/
but you don’t have to have a frame to put the quilt in – I ran across a long arm machine on one of the forums for sale by somebody up where I’m from that I’d thought about getting thinking at the time I’d be taking a trailer up there and getting some other things from my parents – like the vintage machine – but she said something about the stitch regulator needing some work, which at the time didn’t think too much about but think I’ve since learned pretty important part – yes? I did talk to a shop that said they could do the work on it
Well hopefully they can fix it for a reasonable price and it works just fine after that.
There are machines that sit on a table like a regular sewing machine but mine does not. It must sit on a frame. The quilt layers are rolled up on three separate rollers or bars. The machine glides over the quilt top.
Cindy, would it be ok to copy and share this poem? thanks
Be my guest!
but when I tried it copied way more than just the poem even though I only highlighted it; have any idea why? or should it take it to the commons for expert advice; btw, ever heard of a Jenny Lynn (assuming not the crib, not even sure spelling it right, don’t think that’s how you spell the bed anyway) quilt frame?
I don’t think it will let you copy a small portion. You could always try copying it to a word processing program and then editing out what you don’t want. Also, if you let me know exactly what you want I could copy and paste it into a comment or email.
I think I have heard of the name but don’t know anything about it. Sorry.
the name? of the poem? on your site, in your post?
The Kinship of Women