Early 1900s Boy’s Outfit
When you have old-fashioned skills like spinning and weaving, people assume you know about all things historical, and ask you to speak about them, especially to kids. Because I think it’s so important… Continue reading
Category Archive: Historic Clothing
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Woolen Baby Belly Bands
My title today (say it three times fast!) is from the lovely 1914 book, Household Discoveries and Mrs. Curtis’s Cookbook. Published by the Success Company, this 1205-page compendium of housekeeping advice is printed… Continue reading
Sunbonnets and Feed Sacks
Posting pictures of my extensive cotton crop (4 plants) in Guess the Plant the other day, I remembered a couple of sunbonnets and a feed sack I had tucked away. The pale blue… Continue reading
1940s Child’s Summer Dress
This is one of my mom’s childhood dresses. She remembers that the first summer she got it, it was too big. She wore it the next summer and it fit just right. Then… Continue reading
Child’s Flour Sack Dress
I got this little dress at an antique shop about 15 years ago, and I’ve always loved it for the creative use of flour sacks. The seamstress didn’t have as much of the… Continue reading
Spinsters Gone Wild
Craftswomen are well known for working in groups – quilting bees, spinning retreats, knitting societies… the list goes on. For summer fun, you may be thinking of planning such a Girls’ Night Out,… Continue reading
Family Textiles: A Tale of Two Shawls
It was the best of textiles, it was the worst of textiles, it was the age of silk, it was the age of wool, it was the epoch of respectibility, it was the epoch… Continue reading
Bittersweet
In 1879 the American federal government began forcing many Native American children to attend boarding school. Upon arrival, their hair was cut, their familiar clothing was taken away, and they were forbidden to… Continue reading
April Fools
Here are a couple of pictures from my historic photo collection, that seem appropriate for April Fools’ Day. I love old photos where the people’s personalities shine through.
Properly Attired Servants, 1907-style
Now that we have sprung forward, I’m sure spring cleaning is on your mind. Which inevitably brings up questions, “How many servants should I have?” “How shall I occupy myself while they are working?” and… Continue reading