Look at what I did!! I'm all Springy looking :0)
I was in my LQS yesterday and the owner was all excited cause the new edition of Austrailian Homespun had arrived. So I got all excited too and started looking through it and there was neat stuff so I bought it. Then I got home and realized what I really was waiting for was Country Threads. *LOL* I'm so silly. But now I've looked at it and I love this magazine.
There are all kinds of pattern instructions included. One that caught my eye was for making pincushions and needlebooks. Ya, I know I have enough pincushions, but I just love them decoratively and these are so bright and so cute and made with wool!
So I start reading the article that goes along with this pattern and WOW.. food for thought! A woman came to our guild one night and was telling us how important it is to change our needle after each project. Well, yes, she did happen to sell needles and brought her store with her *LOL* She's probably right anyway, but when you're brought up as fugally as I was it's a hard rule to follow. Even though sewing machine needles don't cost that much, why waste?
I've never really thought about what pins and needles meant to our foremothers. They had to be made individually. The end of wires were ground to a fine point and then they had to either create eyes for needles or coil the top to make pins. They were an expensive investment and most women had only a few pins and one or two needles. They were considered a luxury. On top of that they had a habit of rusting.
Many women made special boxes for their pins and needles to be stored in. Some made needlebooks and decorated them. That's what this article and patterns are all about.
I get all excited when I see antique quilts.... now to think that these women were not only talented but had to work with limited resources... WOW.. again.
5 comments:
I like these thoughts! It's one of those things that you already know.....but don't really take the time to think it through. The story of a needle is really something to give us pause....we take them for granted, don't we. Thanks for the thought food! Becky
Glad to see you post here. Very interesting about the needles. I never thought about women in the old days and their needles My husband used to work on industrial sewing machines and I know how important it is to change a needle. A good sharp needle is better for the fabric and your machine....Love your background
I had heard that about needles, but kind of thought of it as more of a selling-tactic than truth. Although when I am doing a customer project (like all those baskets) I do try to change the needle more often... :o)
Aahhh... More tempting magazines! :o)))
I love your Spring-y background! I am glad you are here!
I've heard so much about this magazine I'll have to look for it today while I'm out .
I know I should change my needle more often, but it seems so wasteful to me to throw away a functioning needle. I guess I can relate better to the ladies of yesterday who had so little than the women of today who have more than they need.
Erin (vesuviusmama)
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