Sewing Treasures

A couple of weeks ago I was wandering around my neighborhood during our semi-annual yard sale event and saw a box with what looked like sewing supplies in it.  I stopped to look and the owner immediately said I could have that and another box for $1. The owner seemed not too sure about what was in the boxes, but I love buried treasure so how could I resist?  I took the boxes home and unearthed a very special trove of sewing treasures.  This is the sort of find that only true sewing enthusiasts will understand as nothing had much intrinsic value and much of it will be given to the thrift store.  But there were a few gems in the mix.

Here is a PARTIAL list of some of the things I found:

Old patterns, project instruction leaflets, 5 pairs of scissors (2 pinking), dozens of UFOs, trim, ribbon, old lace, fabric, doll glasses, metallic doilies, florist wire, huge assortment of Christmas picks, leaves, stamens, bells, etc., 3 different types of elastic, tapestry needles, pearl roping, cording, Battenberg lace tea towels, evenweave fabric, Dritz See-Thru ruler, Chinese knot buttons, 3 embroidery hoops, latch hook, knitting needles, snaps, loads of nylon flag fabric and two completed flags.

Some of the items really spoke of the previous owner, especially the two Bowl America Queen of the Week bowling awards, the partially completed projects, the handwritten notes and old receipts.  I paused over the Clearbrook Woolen Shop Needle Pack and remembered the time I visited this shop which is no longer in business.  I was glad that I had ended up with these possessions as I could understand about this woman’s life, what these things must have meant to her.  It made me wonder who will go through my sewing treasures after I am gone and what image they will have of me based on my stuff.

I ran into the previous owner of these boxes this week and stopped to tell her who I was and how much I enjoyed going through these items.  She told me the boxes’ contents had been her mother’s.  We talked a bit about the dying art of sewing, how our mothers made our clothes when we were growing up and about the Singer sewing machine she used to use but no longer.  I tried to reassure her that there are those of us out there who still love this art form and will one day pass along our prized possessions to other sewing enthusiasts like us.  At least I hope that is what happens to my things one day.