Home Sewing, 1955

Cushing Memorial Library, Texas A & M University

These days many of us who sew have entire rooms dedicated to the process.  (In my house, I lay claim on parts of many rooms—just ask my husband his opinion of my expanding sewing empire).  But here we see that you don’t need a lot of space to sew.  Mrs. R. H. Franc of Texas makes do with a corner of her living room.

This photo comes from the wonderful Flikr site of the Cushing Library at Texas A & M University documenting the work of the Agricultural Extension Service. I’m guessing that the woman on the left worked for the service and was checking the work of the woman on the right.  Don’t you want to know the contents of those certificates on the wall?

Both women are wearing what look to be cotton dresses, although the one on the left has on a dressier version, with slanted pockets and contrasting buttons.  The woman on the right wears simple printed dress (are those polka dots?) with trim around the square neck and sleeves. Look at the very deep hem on her dress—designed to last through many fashion cycles.  And what is she making?  An organza apron?  A dressy over skirt? Judging by her precise hems, she really doesn’t need much help.

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5 Responses to Home Sewing, 1955

  1. Katrina B says:

    Maybe they are trying to answer that age-old question: what is happening with the #@&* bobbin thread? 😆

  2. Susan says:

    Katrina made me laugh! But these ladies are smiling…. What really takes up “sewing” room is a proper cutting table! I stopped sewing mostly because of the backaches I got from cutting at the kitchen table. A professional cutting table, the height of your kitchen countertops, is bliss — especially if it’s 4 feet by 8 feet. (Ah, those long ago days when I could lay out patterns on the floor — and get up off the floor when I was done!)

    • Lynn says:

      I cut out patterns on my dining room table, made higher with bed risers. Whenever I need the table for dinner, then the risers are easy to remove.

  3. Alyssa says:

    Maybe the older woman is from the extension and showing the younger woman how to do something? In theory she would have more experience, being older.

  4. Bob Moeller says:

    Or if you have a kitchen table that seats 4, you can leave the risers under the dining table and just make sure you don’t invite many people to dinner!

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