By Jane Schuchardt
Special to the Elgin Review
In a northeast Elgin residence, needle, thread, shears, and pure passion stitch together in the persona of Karin Kinney, our town’s seamstress extraordinaire.
Maybe it’s skill for sewing, instilled through her mom and 4-H at a young age, that drives her. Maybe it’s passion, especially for transforming vintage garments into uses to make modern-day memories, helping others learn how to sew, and extending use of items for Elgin’s pool and schools. Maybe it’s magic to those who never learned how to sew on a button.
Sitting in the home where she grew up and now lives, previously occupied by her parents, Maynard and Joan Scholl (deceased), she described in detail how passion and skill combine to keep her seated at the machine for hours on end, or doing hand stitchery and ripping out seams while the television drones on in the background.
“If my sewing machine is broken, it’s like a farmer without a tractor,” Kinney explained as she positioned some fabric under the needle. “Even if I don’t use it every day, I have to have one.”
One is not exactly the whole story. Kinney owns six sewing machines. Yes, SIX. There’s her grandma’s old Singer treadle machine. The others all are Bernina’s. Though this newspaper doesn’t recommend one brand over another, Kinney definitely has a preference.
There’s the one on her kitchen table, which she takes to the basement, her main sewing center, when not teaching 4-H members how to sew. Then there’s a back-up one, in case the main one breaks down, plus a machine that can be used for quilting, a serger which binds seams, and a loaner for those learning how to sew who don’t have a machine at home.
Her first machine was a wedding gift from her parents when she married her Elgin High sweetheart, Mike (1957-2021) in 1975. Kinney chuckled as she recalled her mother’s reason for the gift selection – “Mike would get the patched pants.”
Kinney added, “Mike wore more patches than jeans!” They lived on a farm in the Park Center area, 10 miles west of Elgin, where Kinney said her main job as a homemaker and mother definitely included sewing. She made clothing for the Kinney sons, Josh and Matthew, her own dresses and shirts, and some craft fair items such as children’s clothing and stuffed animals.
She said that back then it was far cheaper to sew clothing than buy them. Today, given the cost of fabric and the fact that many homes don’t have sewing machines or residents with the skills, purchasing pre-made is preferred.
Kinney’s preference would be nothing pre-made for special occasions. She’s made six family wedding dresses from fabric yardage. Likely her most prized projects have been turning the old into a special garment for a contemporary occasion. “I just like old stuff, the lace, the look,” Kinney summarized. “Repurposing a garment gives it a new history while cherishing the old – it’s a very a sentimental thing.”
She showed two examples, both of which exhibit exquisite workmanship and accentuate precious memories. One was a granddaughter’s baptismal gown made from Elgin’s Michele Reicks’ wedding dress worn when she married Terry 43 years ago. Another was a grandma’s wedding dress. The contemporary bride wanted the high neck and sleeves removed and a train added.
Kinney said a recent trend is to use a family heirloom dress for the prenuptial dinner. Alteration often is needed. A lot of people want to pass on special garments to be used, not kept in a box, she said.
When she’s not repurposing garments, Kinney said she helps young people, both boys and girls who are members of the Way Out West 4-H Club where she is a volunteer leader, learn to sew to complete a county fair project. “It pleases me to teach kids,” she said. “A lot of them have moms who don’t sew.”
She generally works with two to four 4-H members each year with her most exciting memory being one of the members making it to the top at the Nebraska State Fair for garment construction, modeling, and an interview with judges. Kinney showed sadness when she said, “There used to be 60 kids modeling at the county fair. 4-H is fun. Kids really miss out if they’re not members.”
Her patience with youth transitioned to the Elgin Municipal Pool for the last five years where she was co-manager and taught private lessons. Sewing came in handy there, too. When the blue sunshade east of the pool ripped in high winds this summer, Kinney sewed it back to life at no charge to the City of Elgin. She also repairs band and sports uniforms for both of Elgin’s Pre-K through Grade 12 schools at no cost. Helping with Pope John’s musicals, especially with costumes, rounds out her local community service agenda.
Kinney’s strong faith and incentive to serve has her teaching Sunday School and summer Vacation Bible School at Calvary Bible Church, Neligh, where she is a member. She wasn’t asked about any sewing projects there though she would stand ready if a need arose.
Along with family gatherings, including spending time with her seven grandchildren, custom sewing for pay rounds out her time at the sewing machine. “I’m always up for a challenge,” she said, naming recent projects as a car seat, a boat cover, and remaking of a “dirty” canopy for an old John Deere tractor. She said she doesn’t do much clothing (from scratch) sewing for pay now since garments are “so cheap to buy.” She does do many, many alterations, however, and even sews on buttons for people on occasion.
“My life is pretty full,” Kinney summed up. “I’ll be sewing until I die or can’t see anymore.” Thank you, Karin, for bringing your sewing skill to our community.
