lovetosewstudio

On a recent trip to colonial Williamsburg, Virginia I took a step back in time when I entered a dress shop and all the ladies were in costume, sitting and chatting while hand sewing. I daydreamed of living just for one day in the colonial era, and took in sights around me. As I was looking, I noticed straight pins. Thinking I "caught" them using a modern tool, I questioned them about the pins. To my surprise I found out that pins are one of the oldest artifacts known to mankind. Throughout the years, human beings have invented methods of holding two pieces of cloth together: Pre-historic people used thorns and bones as pins. In ancient Egypt pins were made of bronze with beautifully decorated heads. In archeological digs throughout the world, there have been findings of pins made from bone, ivory, silver, gold, and brass. Colonial women also used pins to close or mend many of their clothing together, men too. They would hide the pins in the seams of their clothing. (I image it was uncomfortable working like that.) Evidence of this is found in James Town, Virginia where you can find a skeleton of a man and everything that was found with him, including a bullet in the leg and yes, five straight pins. I'm sure they were helping hold his clothing together. So the next time you're prepping your newest project with pins, think about the long history it carries, and the importance of how something so tiny can be so helpful.

Happy Sewing,
Judi

suzee

Fascinating! Thanks for sharing!

gigi10

Way back before my time, before the invention of the sewing machine, they hand sewed their clothes with needle and thread. Still I am with you......Very impressed. thank you for sharing.

luvstitches

That was great!
I found it very interesting and thank you.

nance-ell

Aaahhh, you just made me homesick. I used to live in Williamsburg. I miss it! Isn't it fascinating to hear all the history there? Thanks for sharing.

bjeriann

Very interesting.

lovetosewstudio

didn't mean to make you homesick. But I know what you mean, I love it there! I go every year. I'm going to do a page on turning flax plant into fiber soon!

0tis

Love history -so fascinating.

cmagee84

Thanks for the interesting history lesson!

nance-ell

No worries. We just have to make time to take a trip there soon! I haven't been in over 2 years. And to think I used to go once a month. Someday I want to move back.