Apron Money Pouch with Frugal Note Flour Sack Fabric with Frugal Message Sewing Folk Art

Miniature Apron sewn from flour sack cloth with a note inside about saving money. Folk Art circa 1930 - 1940 Collection Jim Linderman

Schoolgirl Handmade Sewing Instruction Book Antique Vintage Old

I haven't quite figured out the date on this remarkable handmade sewing instruction book, but she received a 95.  What was the teacher looking for?  The cover alone is a 100.  You women out there could date the work inside by the fashions...there are tons of designs, color wheels, mini-pattern projects and all done with beautiful folky precision.  I'll post more one day.  Yes, the cover is 3-D!  The little pattern book on the table has pages!  A great reminder of what a school student was required to do before computers.

Mid-20th Century Sewing handmade sewing class book.  Mixed-media.  Collection Jim Linderman

Sunbonnet Sue Sews AND Sings! Folk Art Sunbonnet Sue and the Doughboys.

The history of Sunbonnet Sue begins, I believe, with Illustrator Kate Greenaway, but as she was a Brit,  I prefer to give credit to homegrown Bertha Corbett Melcher, who not only created the Sunbonnet BABIES but also came from the great American West.  Here is a panel drawn by Ms. Melcher depicting the young sunbonnets swiping a baby! 

However, left out of most Sunbonnet Sue stories is my favorite version of the tale, by the Fort Worth Doughboys, who at the time I believe had the magnificent Bob Wills in the group.  That would be Mr. Wills in an unusual photograph in which he appears to be standing straight upright and sober! 


The Sunbonnet Sue above is a needle holder, and has the unusual distinction of having several layers of petticoats to hold needles.

Sunbonnet Sue was later a lousy movie, which lost every bit of cowboy fun and when sung by the "Golden Voiced" Phil Regan?  Shudder.  Show tunes.


Play the Doughboy's version again.  I promise you will be singing it all day long.

Sunbonnet Sue Needle Holder Handmade circa 1930 Collection Jim Linderman

Books and ebooks by Jim Linderman available HERE

Etui Etui ??? Homemade Folk Art Needle Case

Etui   ???   Edui is another name for a needle case.  Well, sorta.  So let's just use needle case.  A handmade one, with felt, feedsack printed cotton, some trim...and a nice little tab of paper above from where this little lady once lived in a scrapbook but was torn out.  She has had a few lives.

An odd thing, as printed needle cases and needle books were literally given out free.  
SEE HERE  
Still, someone took the time to make it, the least I can do is scan it.

 

Depression Era handmade Needle Case  Collection Jim Linderman

The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together

The unfamiliar jargon and sheer multitude of options is overwhelming. Ombre, cordet, guimpe, organdy? Velvanna, nubby, sport fingering, wool-o-nyl? I can't tell where a trademark meets a technique.

Peter Pan Yarn Sample Card c.1955 Collection Jim Linderman

Leaf Sewing Cards

Same thing as the post following, but secular and much more fun! Milton Bradley invented the paper cutter (!) but his endearing quality was quality toys. I can't date this set, but each represents a different leaf, thus teaching the child understanding of the world around them rather than the one only available to those who follow. These splendid cards would easily date to the late 1800's, but the company continued producing them in various versions, such as farm animals, well into the 1950's.

Leaf Sewing Cards and box c. 1880 Hand-Stitched Collection Jim Linderman

The Law of Love Temperance Lesson Sewing Card

A "stitch by hand" religious card. Most commonly known as "sewing cards" these were primitive pre-printed versions of 18th century samplers. Their function was to encourage a young woman to learn a proper home skill with a bonus moral lesson. "For God and Home and Native Land" was a slogan of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and the white ribbons printed on the thread frame represent purity. The Reverend W. F. Crafts had a long career arguing for censorship, "blue laws" and such, his wife advocated Sunday School and wholesome pursuits as this card. Dated April 1903, one could subscribe and receive four cards a year. Publishers Ward & Drummond printed Mormon books among other religious material.

The Law of Love Temperance Lesson Hand-Stitched 1903 Collection Jim Linderman

Needle Books

The point here? Anything is collectible and everyone should collect something. Even an object as mundane as a book of sewing needles has some merit, and these usually cost less than a hamburger.
Group of Early 20th Century Sewing Books Collection Jim Linderman