Several months ago Carolyn Hogue contacted us and asked if Quilted Twins could host the SouthEast chapter of Treadle On Meeting! It was in the middle of COVID.

All attention was on COVID - Masks - Illness - Survival.

Then Ken got it. Then I got it. Then, bam, MOM got it. Life changed forever for us during that period of time. Before we knew it, July was here and now the Treadle On - Gathering Academy (aka, TOGA) Convention has slipped up on us.

We failed pretty miserably in letting you all know it was coming, but it’s NOT TOO late to take part in this super cool gathering of Treadle and hand crank sewing machine enthusiasts.

You may have seen our advertisement in the Florida Register marked, “TOGA” meeting July 15-17. However, maybe you thought we were all going to make Greek robes and stand around holding our arms up in the air. Not at all. This TOGA conference is fun, educational and practical.

Due to COVID, the crowd will undoubtedly be small, but Carolyn wants you to know that all are invited to stop in, visit and see what’s going on.

Today, tomorrow and Saturday, the fun and games will be held at the Fellowship Hall of Temple Baptist Church, located at 37253 Clinton Avenue, Dade City, FL . (You can use Google Maps to locate it if you aren’t familiar with Dade City.) The activities will begin in the 9 a.m. range, and will include some demonstrations and sewing, and all the fun that goes with it.

These fans of treadle and hand crank machines will gather to stitch, laugh, talk, share and repair their machines.

Some of the machines were set up on Wednesday night. I thought I’d give you a small taste of what you can come and see in person.

Several treadles will be on display, along with featherweights and hand cranks.

This collection is owned by Jim, and he can tell you the make, year, model and history behind each of these machines.

In fact, Jim is quite talented in restoration and innovation. He devised a hand crank for a featherweight. He was the first to do so, and he tells us that others have liked it so much that they have modeled their hand cracks for featherweigths after his.

You are invited to pop in, study, look at, talk about and share in their love for all things vintage, treadle and hand crank sewing machines for the next 3 days.

There are local restaurants nearby, as well as a VERY close by Publix. The church fellowship hall has a refrigerator, handicapped accessible bathrooms as well as other amenities that will make this enjoyable by all who wish to come.

Jim, Carolyn, and the others hope to see you there!

Have a great day wherever you are reading this! Stay safe!

Be sure to check out what my sis has for you in the store here!

Here’s one of the beauties we have!