In the early years of communist rule in China, a sewing machine was one of the so-called big items that indicated a high living standard.

VOA: standard.2009.09.28

Well, and sometimes that "O America" Meant the tinkerer, it meant the inventor, it meant the guy who invented a new kind of sewing machine and took it in for a patent.

有时候这个《啊,美国》,意味着工艺师,意味着发明者,意味着 发明新型缝纫机,并将它申请专利的人

耶鲁公开课 - 美国内战与重建课程节选

Working at her sewing machine, Jia says there is nothing left she wants to buy.

VOA: standard.2009.09.28