 |  | | | Anniversary of the sewing machine | Thursday 9 August 2001 | | |
Mahatma Gandhi called it 'one of the few useful things ever invented', and Mrs Beeton urged all women to get one.
They were talking about the Singer sewing machine, which was patented 150 years ago this Sunday (12th August).
But did this pioneering invention really set women free from hours of drudgery or was it merely a middle-class status symbol?
Martha is joined by Madeline Ginsberg, former curator of costume at the V&A Museum and Joan Perkins, retired Professor of Women's History at the Northwestern University near Chicago, Illinois.
Disclaimer
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites. | |
| | Retired? Downsizing? Moving home to be nearer the kids?We'd like to hear your stories about moving house |
|
