A Stitch In Time

Needlework has always been a popular hobby and seems even more so in recent times. Whereas being able to sew was once a necessity, it is now almost an artistic medium with shows like “The Great British Sewing Bee” thrusting it into the spotlight. We were very lucky in Somerton to have had “The Red Dress” exhibited in our art centre. What a joyous and exquisite piece of art that is.

The Red Dress Project

These days computerised sewing machines take a lot of the graft out of sewing. The first workable sewing machine was actually invented in 1790 but it wasn’t until the mid nineteenth century that they started to be used in the home. The Patent was issued for the first SINGER® brand Sewing Machine on August 12, 1851 and in 1855 the SINGER® brand is awarded the first prize at the World's Fair in Paris, France. Prior to that, needlework was a very important skill for a lady to have. The rich society ladies using it to fill the mind numbing hours of spare time, the poor being trained from childhood to increase the chances of getting a good post when they went into service. A popular area of collecting is the humble sampler worked upon by young girls almost as a part of their future C.V.

Antique Sampler

Being able to sew once again came into its own during the war years with the “Make do and Mend” campaign launched in 1942 which encouraged civilians to repair, reuse, and recycle clothing and other items due to wartime rationing and scarcity. Roche Bridge Antiques has a Singer ®  201k Sewing Machine for sale for which we still have the original receipt. The sewing machine was bought from The Singer Shop on hire purchase for what was then an eye watering amount in 1940. Ironically that shop was bombed out in the Blitz on Bristol in September of the same year.

Circa 1940 Singer 201k Sewing Machine

Sewing accessories, boxes, Etui, samplers, vintage patterns and embroideries all seem to be extremely collectible and still command high prices particularly the French Palais Royal sewing boxes.

I myself am utterly incompetent when it comes to sewing. I can make curtains (just about and don’t look at the reverse) which is surprising really when you consider that I had the best teacher you could wish for in my mother. She was a seamstress and pattern maker extraordinaire. Her claim to fame being that she made a long black leather coat for Roy Wood of Wizard and also sewed some of Cameron Balloons most famous hot air balloons.

I think I could do better if I developed a bit more patience… but that’s not going to happen.

Tracy Skeates