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So, I recently found my paternal grandmother’s old sewing kit and if you’re someone who thinks “Why would this insane person set up a photo shoot of a sewing kit” feel free to move along, there’s nothing for you here. As for the rest of you, let us begin! 1/
I’ve mentioned before that I crazy quilt, something women on both sides of my family have done. I love this connection, the play on textiles/texts, the connection to “women’s work” and my own research. So I took some photos to read this collection like the text it is! 2/
My grandmother died when I was 8, but I actually remember this kit being in her house. My grandfather has had it since then, and doesn’t appear to have changed anything, just used it to reattach the occasional button, I suspect. He had a wide choice of needles…
Lipton’s Iced Tea! Jency (my grandmother) lived in Alabama/Georgia her whole life, so this is familiar! I didn’t know they did this sort of promotional packaging. @Lipton
I now know that she owned a @SINGERCO Portable Electric Sewing Machine No. 99 WITH Knee Control. Actually, this model was made in 1925, so I suspect her mother owned it first. They kept all the instruction manuals. Those models look so pleased with their purchases!
Why, what have we here?
Ta-da! If you think this isn’t going straight into MY kit, you’re out of your mind.
Here we have stamps with her children’s names on them. She’d stamp pieces of white trim, then sew them into their clothes. These were made by the Southern Stamp & Stencil Company of Atlanta, in operation since 1918. @southern_stamp
The metal tag has my father’s name on it; he remembers it being sewn into his school blazers.
I suspect the fumes from this find could still kill a few brain cells. This black dye was used to conceal scuffs/marks.
Jency kept little bits of hardware in this Helena Rubinstein package for blue waterproof mascara. Blue??? Jency, what were you thinking?? Rubinstein created the first waterproof mascara in 1957; I’d be interested to know more about this packaging! @HRcosmetics
And finally, I give you this magical item: the CPC Automatic Needle Threader! If you can’t discern how it works, have no fear…
Jency kept the instructions.
Thanks for joining me on this entirely random journey through the highlights of my grandmother's sewing kit!
Y'all, I'm super surprised and gratified by how many people are interested in this and have completely lost track of the comments! But thank you for all your kind words!
