This sewing machine serves as both a reminder of a painful moment and a point of pride in Suzanne’s. Suzanne taught herself to use this Singer sewing machine, without the aid of modern instruction or resources such as social media or YouTube. While the painful reality of Suzanne’s body’s transformation has taken a toll on her mentally, she still found a way to master her craft. She is now credited with not only production of her own clothing, but clothing for others as well as items such as blankets and curtains. When asked how she feels about her confidence utilizing the sewing machine today compared to when her transformation started, she simply stated “it’s sewed up!”
Listen to Suzanne’s story in her own words:
This object is part of the “Personal Growth” section of the Artifacts of Experience exhibition designed by University of Cincinnati students in the “Introduction to Public History” course in 2023.
We encourage you to explore the other objects in our collection.