Big Sewing Machines in Action!
Good Morning, Quilters!
My husband and I recently took a jaunt along the Great River Road from our hometown, Stillwater, to Red Wing, Minnesota. (The Great River Road follows the Mississippi River through ten states from Minnesota to Louisiana.)
Red Wing is the home to the famous Red Wing Shoe and Boot Factory. Red Wing began making work boots in 1905 and became the primary supplier of boots to American soldiers during WWI. They currently produce 2500 pairs of shoes and boots and have become fashionable around the world due to their craftsmanship and sustainability.
To stitch through the layers of heavy leather, the company uses Puritan stitching machines. The machines are huge and powerful! Check out the triple needle!
And the chain drive and hand wheel!
The most impressive sight was the scissor pocket in the table! At first glance it looked like a conveniently placed knot in the wood…
In fact, the wood was carved out over the years by setting the scissors down in the same place hundreds of times per day!!!
That’s what I call-well-loved and well-worn!
If you like factory videos, you will love this Red Wing video of how four generations of workers have been lovingly making these boots for more than 100 years!
And for more on the Puritan Stitch Machine, this 3 minute video is fascinating!
What about YOU?
Have YOU ever been to Red Wing or traveled the Great River Byway?
Do YOU have a pair of Red Wing boots or shoes?
Do YOU have a well-loved or well-worn favorite notion?
We’d LOVE to hear!
Your Jaunty Quilter!
Lori
PS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of Lori Kennedy at The Inbox Jaunt and are intended for personal use. Feel free to re-blog, pin or share with attribution to The Inbox Jaunt. For all other purposes, please contact me at lckennedy@hotmail.com. Thanks!PS…If you like these motifs and tips, be sure to check out my book, Free Motion Machine Quilting 1-2-3 .
Very Cool!! We visited the SAS (San Antonio Shoes) factory, in San Antonio (well, where else, with a name like that!?) a few years back – they used machines that looked just like this, but the name brand escapes me today. Perhaps it was the same kind?
Also, a few years back, I was making a tote for a new Realtor out of some fabric-vinyl and got to the very top, where I had several layers of fabric & stabilizer to go through. My Babylock just couldn’t hold the stitches properly, even with the largest needle I could purchase from the shop in town. I took it down the road to an awning manufacturer, and there I was privileged to actually USE the very same machines that had been in used during WWII, making parachutes for the military. They didn’t have a needle guard, and they only went forward. I was so very humbled and honored to be permitted into the shop, then to actually use the machines to sew my little tote bag!
I fully expected them to do the sewing for me, thinking insurance regulations would prevent me from getting too close, but they apparently saw my interest and let me do it myself. It was an experience I treasure to this day!
We visit Red Wing often. They have a great downtown art festival every fall. Since my family came down Canada through Minnesota the city is a small part of my history. I have owned their shoes but my favorite is their slippers. I recently had to replace mine, new puppy decide he like to eat leather, and was able to find a ReWing store in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Although it is a beautiful trip up there in the fall we just weren’t able to make it this year.
I’ve never been to Minnesota but I’d love to visit the state and check this out. My dad wore Red Wings in the winter and I think they were the only boots he had as we were growing up – he just had them resoled periodically! As for a well-loved/favorite notion – I have a pair of Gingher scissors I purchased in Lancaster 30 years ago – my first “good” scissors! While they are “notions” – I primarily use my Mom’s 2 Featherweights for most of my sewing. They are now over 90 years old! Loved the photo of the scissors on the table! I printed it out to frame for my sewing room.
Wow! Fascinating!
We lived near Minneapolis for 12 years and loved to visit Stillwater for a paddlewheel ride, Red Wing and Winona to watch eagles and New Ulm (not on the Missippi) for its German heritage. Did I mention shopping? And we visited as many “lock and dams” as we could drive to – even went through a lock in a small fishing boat. I always enjoy your local color stories.
Fresh Air Art Festivals are a great way to see the scenery of that area of Minnesota! Lovely vacation spots, Hawks View Cottages a great place to stay
Great story Lori. Would love to take a trip your way someday My dad lives in Northern Minnesota but I travel there on the fastest route I 29 I’m in South Dakota … need to get on the beaten track and see more of Minnesota. I grew up in Grand Forks and went to college in Fargo & Wahpeton. Love your blogs!
I was in Red Wing last summer. Beautiful city! I toured the Red Wing Crock factory during my brief stay (also very interesting with an interesting history). There wasn’t enough time to go to the shoe factory- it that’s on my to-do list. The shears slot worn into the wood is amazing.
I moved to Red Wing about 2 days after my high school graduation with my best friend to attend the vo-tech school.Red Wing has changed a lot since those days, it was quite a while ago! Loved the town. My husband and I came through a few years back and spent some time looking around.
Yes, we meet our friends there often and eat at Libertys for lunch. We have toured the pottery, but have missed the shoe factory somehow. That will be on our list of things to do there this summer. Of course Stillwater is a favorite of ours and we go there often. So much to see here in our state! My favorite tool is my featherweight from 1947. A grand machine!
I did not tour the factory. This machine is set up in the retail store.
We’ve been to Red Wing once, many years ago. DH was on a mission to see the Red Wing Pottery museum, so we didn’t see the shoe factory. Also, at that time, I didn’t yet have an appreciation for these old sewing machines and all their variations for specific jobs. Today, I’d be kicking him in the shins if he suggested missing it.
Wow!!! There’s nothing better than a company that takes pride in their craftsmanship. My Dad was a mechanic for Goodyear Tire for over 30 years. I remember he always wore Red Wing boots. He said they were the only boot that held up under all the wear and tear.
I lived in St. Cloud and Sauk Rapids for a few years, a whole lifetime ago. Back then touring the state had less appeal than planning a trip someplace warm. I have driven several lengths of the Great River Road in Illinois, Mississippi, and Louisiana. The river and the industry that grew along it are amazing. My first sewing machine was an old Singer that was a gift from a neighbor, to encourage a young seamstress. It was probably an early featherweight. It had a wooden base and a wooden carrying case making it “portable”. That machine could sew through anything! Many years later, I gave it to a young friend who was learning to sew. While I often wish I still had it, I think passing on the gift of sewing was more important.
Very cool! Thanks for sharing, Lori! I’ve never been to Red Wing and I don’t own their shoes, but I love factory videos! Many (many!) years ago I worked for Jantzen Swimwear and I loved going into the factory and watch all the steps. This was before it was all moved overseas.
I love factory videos too! Mesmerizing to see how things are made!
Cool it beautiful machine
So interesting. My job required I wear very good boots. I got Red Wing and they were the most comfortable foot wear I have ever worn. I worked 24 years and purchased 3 pair of boots, in all that time. My co workers bought cheap boots every 3 months. I loved them.
Great videos Lori.
In our younger days dh and I did an extensive amount of backpacking throughout California, Oregon and here in Montana, and our favorite hiking books were Redwings. We still have them. Steel shank throughout the sole bottom. On one occasion when hiking by myself, I put my snow-soaked boots too near the campfire and the soles peeled up. Redwing replaced them free of charge. Love the company!
My Dad poured concrete for 40 years and always wore Red Wing boots. He wore them every day and wouldn’t even look at another brand. That says a lot about the brand.
My favorite brand is Singer. I learned to sew on my Mom’s Singer (she bought it in 1952) and it still sews beautifully. My first buy when I moved out was a Singer for myself in 1973. It was computerized but I still love it. I have a collection of antique Singers from the little 6″ hand cranks to my newest 1930’s model that is so quiet you can’t tell it’s turned on unless you press on the knee pedal.
We were in Red Wing this morning on the way to Winona. In the past we have visited Red Wing Shoe and Boot Factory. By far our favorite Place to see in Red Wing is Hannisch Bakery. The baked goods taste scrumptious and the breakfast sandwiches are beyond description. It’s totally worth trying. If you go on to Lake City there are two great quilt shops. My favorite is Pumpkinberry Stitches. I recommend stopping if you go that way again!
I love the bee. I am learning free motion. Getting better after 3 years. Practice practice. Enjoyed article on Red Wing a close friend of mine was born there. I will try making the cute little ???? bee. Thank you.
We have been to Stillwater only twice and never to Red Wing. But dh favors their shoes and boots. He has a long, narrow shoe size and RW is one company still making narrow sizes. However they discontinued one dress shoe style he liked and now they are discontinuing the replacement style he chose … Seems all sizing is shifting to wide, xtra wide, etc. So he put in an order for a pair even though he doesn’t need new shoes yet. The store mgr. found 3 pairs in that size in the whole USA – our pkg came from Florida! Always great service at our (local) stores in Rapid City and Bismarck … each about 160 miles from the ranch. We strive to buy “Made in the USA”my and would find it a most interesting business center to visit.
I truly enjoyed seeing all these old( and still working!) machines. What would we do without all our sewing machines! Loved the scissor “holder”! What a priceless picture!
Had not heard of Red Wing before. I need to get to Minnesota one day –
I live on the opposite end of the Mississippi River in southern Louisiana. One of my daughters lives on River Road in Baton Rouge so I made her youngest a Mississippi River quilt when he was born, complete with a tugboat, frog, and a pelican.
My mother had a Kenmore machine made in the 50’s. (I still have it.) When I googled it I saw it was known for it’s powerful motor. That must have been the selling point for her as she never sewed garments but she repaired my 4 brothers blue jeans many, many times.
I passed thru Red Wing, on my way to Lake City, several years ago. I was headed to an event for vintage sewing machine lovers. It’s held every September.
Oh my, this subject touches my heart. My in-laws lived in Wisconsin for many years before their demise. We would visit annually in every season. They loved local travel. We drove together to Fountain City to watch the snow geese. We crossed over the river, drove up and down to Red Wing and all points inbetween. Enjoyed Winona ! Enjoyed the shoes, pottery, glass dishes (in my cabinet right now). Eventually Mom decided to give up driving and gave her car to us. For the first time, we drove the Great River Road all the way South to return home. We took a side trip to Decorah and to visit the Church in the Wildwood. It is the one trip I would love to do again before I die !!! We like to watch the movies re Grouchy Old Men for the humor but also to enjoy Winona and our nostalgia. I really love that area of the USA! Sewing machines? I have my grandmother’s Singer circa 1914. We had it refurbished and the old treadle machine works !
My brother got married in that church.
I’ve been to Red Wing a few times. They have the most beautiful hanging baskets during the summer. I have some lovely pieces of pottery from Red Wing Pottery. (Are they still open?) The St James Hotel has a very good restaurant and some very nice shops.
Yes! Red Wing Pottery is still open!