AngeliaNR

I often think of this--how many women had to stop sewing/quilting because eyeglasses were rare and/or expensive?

LadyElisabeth

Oh yes, the memories. I didn't start quilting until the 60's but made my clothes before then.

Gramie bj

I remember all of that! I was taught to quilt by my Grandma Ruth, and her mother Grandma Grace, (My great grandmother) I even remember helping them make lye soap. Now that was nasty stuff LOL. I am so happy to have all the new fangled things to quilt with, and Dove soap!

Lori S

I do I remember cutting quilt pieces one at a time..... I can also remember when I got my first rotary cutter... I was so amazed at how much faster I could cut out a quilt. I now realize why so many quilts never made it all the way to the piecing ... as the cutting was so tedious. I still have friends that are finding partially cut out quilts in various stages.

running1

Me, too!!! I remember a lot of these things, but as a child. I, too, have an old iron being used for a door stop. I vividly remember the sound of the sprinkling water Momma would use getting ready to iron. And I, too, sometimes long for at least SOME aspects of the old days. I feel so rushed so much of the time, and yet, don't seem to accomplish much at all... sigh.... On the other hand, I'm really glad I learned to use a rotary cutter and the other wonderful tools we all have. Makes one wonder about the changes during the next 25, 50, 100 years!!!!

Tom W

Wringer washers, cardboard templates, irons on the stove and no water heater... threading needles for my great grandparents, stretching quilts on the frame in the living room, peeling apart cotton wadding to make the bats the right thickness, boiling starch and clothes in the icebox. The first time I was trusted to cut the templates out of cardboard and graduating to fabric, often made up from scraps left over from the clothes made for us all. If it was bigger than 3/4 inch it got pieced together to make a piece large enough to use. The wonderful memories!

Stitchit123

I do love my rotary -I've even mastered cutting out clothes patterns with it. The few templates I do use are cardboard. I mostly use a yardstick and rulers. I actually bought my very first mop 2 yrs ago. I'm still not sure if the floors are as clean as when I done them by hand but getting up is getting harder to do. I enjoy doing things the way my Gramma taught me. There's such a nice feeling of satisfaction when I'm done.

GailG

Cooked starch!! Oh, yeah! On Saturday mornings, we cooked a big batch of very thick starch. Used it to starch our bouffant slips (Are slips worn anymore?). Once soaked in the goop, we hung them on the line to dry or spread them out on a sheet laid out on the grass.

oklahomamom2

I'm glad I don't have to cut every piece out with scissors and that we have rotary cutters to cut out fabric. I am glad that things started out that way because my grandmother learned to sew with old fabric from dresses that were made and other families clothing. If she hadn't learn to sew I don't think I would today so I'm very lucky that we have come so far.

Reba'squilts

Oh yes....I remember it well!