Thank you!

Just 65 words, but they made my day. Those few words said my efforts had been worthwhile.
My efforts began after we met up with our Pennsylvania granddaughters in January. We spent a couple of days sewing on the machines I had packed in case we had time to sew. The girls took off running with ideas of what to do with the fabric and notions I had brought.
It is always fun to share a hobby. So when we scheduled a gathering again this summer with our granddaughters, I packed sewing machines and tools for teaching crochet. Not that I can do more than a simple crochet stitch, but I do collect yarn and crochet hooks in case I ever decide to do more. I took some hooks and books in case I decided to while away the miles on the road learning the craft.
Instead, I whiled away the miles looking for yard sales. Okay, I admit, I did not need another waffle iron, but I just could not resist such a new-looking waffle maker for a couple of dollars. Somebody somewhere would need it.
My first sewing session this summer was with the Indiana family. One of the girls had never sewn or done much ironing. One wanted to play Monopoly, but I had not thought to pack the game (I will next time). Instead, she agreed to work on making colorful rows of quilt blocks for her sister’s quilt. Both girls learned some sewing and ironing techniques. The oldest ended our eight-hour marathon with a quick, handkerchief quilt top that will make a colorful comforter.
The second needlework section, a couple of states away, included personal tutoring in crochet stitches and techniques. My sister used the hooks and books to add to my granddaughter’s self-taught skills. They spent a lot of time in their own corner talking crochet .
I focused on teaching the girls how to thread, use and clean a sewing machine I had found at a yard sale a while back. The 40-year-old machine caught my eye because my mother gave me a similar machine before I went off to college. I used her gift until some vital part broke a couple of years ago. Fortunately, by then I had a couple of other machines to replace it on the sewing table.
When both girls mentioned that their house machine had a problem that no one could resolve, I decided I could share my sewing fun with them. With their parents’ permission, I prepared for this trip by gathering up tools for a beginner’s sewing box: shears, scissors, thread, bobbins, bobbin holder, needles, sewing machine oil, the old sewing machine, fabric, lace, buttons, measuring devices and a rotary cutting set. The machine passed inspection as clean and oiled. The sewing notions fit into a plastic box.
During our brief visit I explained and demonstrated each tool and how to clean and oil the machine. A couple of  hours of sewing and the seventh-grader left with a small quilt and her own creation: a lacy fascinator.
She enjoyed the sewing, but assured me that what she really likes to do is cook. Ahh, a girl after my heart. When she said the house no longer had a waffle iron, I gave her my yard sale find. I didn’t need another one.
Since then I have received a couple of e-mails saying that the oldest had completed one crochet project and had several more in mind. The waffle iron proved to be quite popular. The freezer now has a stash of extra waffles to pop in the toaster for fast breakfasts.
Then this week I received the following e-mail from the high school sophomore: “Thank you very much for the sewing machine! As Mom puts it, we are ‘running it night and day.’ It’s very cool. Violet and I have been using it almost every day the past couple weeks. As for me, I’ve made some bags to put presents in that look pretty sweet. I’m not sure what Violet’s been doing so I’ll let her tell you herself. Thanks!! Love, Ginger.”
That made my day.
I do not live close enough to share the fun of sewing very often, but I could share a machine so they could sew if they wanted to do so. That they took the time to tell me how they used the items and thanked me – that made my day and all my efforts worth it.