• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Forum
  • Design Studio
  • Upholstery Jobs
  • Newsletter
  • Sponsors

The Hog Ring

Auto Upholstery Community

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

California Woman Repairs Sewing Machines for Refugees

September 29, 2024 By Nadeem Muaddi

The Hog Ring - California Woman Repairs Sewing Machines to Refugees

Pat Vandermolen is on a mission to repair old sewing machines and donate them to refugee and migrant families across the United States.

The 77-year old from Sunnyvale, California, has spent the last two years repairing more than 50 sewing machines, which she donates to immigrant families through the Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley’s Refugee Resettlement Program.

“I’m kind of retired, but now I’ve finally found what I want to do with my life: a sewing machine repair woman,” Vandermolen told NBC Bay Area.

According to the news report, she had no prior experience repairing sewing machines and learned almost entirely by watching videos on YouTube.

“If you stop learning, you stop growing. Then you stop,” Vandermolen said.

Why sewing machines? Because it’s a tool that needy families can use to pick up piecemeal work or launch businesses that will help support them. In fact, the portable sewing machine contributed a great deal to women’s liberty and financial independence here in the United States.

Vandermolen is a lifelong helper and healer, having served two tours as a nurse during the Vietnam War.

During the war, she experienced a lot of trauma that stays with her to this day. She says repairing old sewing machines and donating them to families in need has helped ease some of the pain she experienced.

“I really find a lot of joy in this,” Vandermolen said.

To see the full report, click here.

Related Stories:

  • She’s the ‘Dream Weaver’ of Discontinued Fabrics
  • This Auto Upholstery Business Makes $240K a Year
  • Milwaukee Sewing Machine to Close After Nearly 80 Years

Filed Under: Archive, Interesting Read Tagged With: Auto Trim, Auto Upholstery, Car Interior, Sewing Machine

Primary Sidebar

anal porno bangbros rus porno yaşlı porno konulu porno olgun porno porno izle sarışın porno bakire sex 69 porno

THR Sponsors

NC Sewing Machines
Miami Corporation - Right Rail Ad 3
  • OEM+ Banner Ad - The Hog Ring
  • Douglass Interior Products
  • Leather Craft
  • Albright's Supply
  • Hyde Leather
  • Keyston Bros
  • Big Z Fabric

THR Favorites

The Hog Ring - Convertible Top Restoration and Installation

Learn to Install Convertible Tops with this New Book

Installing convertible soft tops is one of … [more] about Learn to Install Convertible Tops with this New Book

10 Duct Tape DIY Upholstery Disasters

Though duct tape can fix a lot of things, … [more] about 10 Duct Tape DIY Upholstery Disasters

The Hog Ring - How to Sew a Double-Piped French Seam

How to Sew a Double-Piped French Seam

If you're as obsessed with decorative … [more] about How to Sew a Double-Piped French Seam

10 Questions for Trimmer Ron Mangus

We at The Hog Ring are excited to share with … [more] about 10 Questions for Trimmer Ron Mangus

The Hog Ring - How to Sew Aston Martin Rapide Diamonds A

How to Sew Aston Martin Rapide Diamonds

Traditional diamond pleats too easy? Try … [more] about How to Sew Aston Martin Rapide Diamonds

Auto Upholstery - The Hog Ring - M&M Hot Rod Interiors

Shop Profile: M&M Hot Rod Interiors

Since 1982, M&M Hot Rod Interiors in … [more] about Shop Profile: M&M Hot Rod Interiors

Categories

Footer

Recent Articles

  • Heated Headliners and Carpets are Coming
  • 10 Crazy Steering Wheels We Want to Wrap
  • Thread Month Is Underway at Keyston Bros — And It’s Sew Much Fun!
  • Trimmer Jesse Collier Dies at 57
  • The Genius Philosophy Behind Maserati’s Interior Design Choices

Recent Comments

  • Edward Munday on Hidden Mouse Nest? How to Charge for the Extra Dirty Work
  • Jack on Keyston Bros. Acquires DLT Corporation
  • Brodie Smith on Aston Martin Just Introduced a New Convertible DB12
  • THE CAPTAIN on 6 Tips for Turning Callers into Customers
  • Dmei on Star Wars Seat Covers are ‘So Wizard’

Advertise With Us!

We're always looking for companies to collaborate with. Watch this short video about the benefits of sponsorship and then email us to say hi.

Copyright © 2025 · Magazine Pro On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in