“The first two sets are in that bag. We’ll see how many more you need later. It isn’t really difficult to do with my Necchi.”

December 1981

Her new Necchi was one big joke with Lynn and Dave. It was a Christmas gift from them, at least Donna was sure it was but they would never tell her if it was or wasn’t from them no matter how she tried to trick them. The recession of 1981 was tough and Donna’s husband was laid off in early December. She was about to give birth to their second child. He applied for unemployment but bills came in faster than money. Several times Lynn and Dave gave money to Donna and George to help them and they were grateful. They didn’t like to accept handouts though and were trying to make it without help.

Donna was an excellent seamstress and could have made a lot of money to help in spite of her condition but her ancient used Singer gave up the ghost just about the time she started getting some work a week before Christmas. She had always wanted a new Necchi but there had never been the money for one.

That Christmas Eve she and George came home from church about nine. There was a large box under the tree. Someone had “broken in” to deliver it. It had “To George and Donna” on the tag. It contained Donna’s new Necchi. Donna cried as she looked at it. It wasn’t a cut down or stripped model. It was a free arm with all the attachments, just what she wanted and more important, what she needed to handle the work she had. The day after Christmas she called several customers she had to refuse a week ago and told them she was able to do work. The work started coming in. By the second week in January Donna had her sewing business going. In fact, there was too much work. Several times she had to refuse work she knew she could not complete as soon as the customer wanted it. Some told her to take it and get it done when she could because they wanted it done right. She was good at her work and her prices were reasonable. She took four days off in late January to have the baby. George was there to help during those weeks and did a lot of the care of the baby so she could sew. He was called back to work three weeks after the baby came but Donna’s sewing business continued. The sewing machine was a dream come true and even more significant because of the timing. Dave and Lynn had bought it, she was sure. On Christmas day when they visited their parents she said, “Thanks.” Although she had picked up another machine that did embroidery and a used backup Necchi nearly like it since, the Necchi was the core of the business.