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001, Chicken as Warm Plate Holder, 19th C.
This odd and wonderful item comes from our family home and has been in the dining room hanging by the fireplace as long as I can remember. Several years ago I picked it up just to look at it and fell in love with its simplicity and use of all parts of a piece of fabric; especially loved the selvage being used as its cox comb. As I looked at it I noticed the backless plate warmer was near to the chicken. I figured that the chicken had been used to pull the warmed plates from the cabinet and place them on the table. There may have been other uses for it but if it were a kitchen item I would imagine that it would have been left there and not in the dining room. There are no food stains either.
Great opportunity to use scrap fabrics or quilted pieces. Easy project to sew by machine or hand.
This pattern is the first in a series of patterns called HOUSEHOLD ITEMS which include sewing projects for the home.
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002, Housewifes, Confederate and 19th C
These two types of housewifes belong to individual private collectors. The Confederate Housewife was made for a young soldier by his sister before he died in 1864. The other is a typical roll-up style found during the 19th century and beyond.
FABRIC SUGGESTIONS
The Conferederate Housewife is made of red, white, and blue light weight silks for the pockets and lining. The exterior is a diamond pattern black silk with silk ribbon. Wool interfacing. Wool diamond pattern fabric needle holder.
19th Century Housewife is made of brown watered silk ribbon with a picote trim covered by a red silk ribbon. Wool pincushion. Plain wool fabric needle holder.
Either one can be made of silks, wools, or cottons. Needleholder should be made of wool. Lining and stuffing for pin cushion should be of wool.
SKILL LEVEL
Both housewives were sewn by hand but can just as easily be done by machine. Beginner Level.
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003: Schoolboy Bookbag c. 1890s
This schoolbag belonged to William Harrison Saunders (1893-1919) who was the first pilot observer for the Army Air Corp during WWI. He went to school in Sumter County, South Carolina. His bag could have easily been made by his mother or aunt for him to carry his things to school.
With two pockets, It works well today as a quick tote for laptop or iPad along with other items you need to carry.
Easy sew.