Monday, May 12, 2008

Needlework...

"No one can rejoice more than I do over the change that has taken place in the treatment of girls as regards their education. Under the old-fashioned system of what can only be called "smattering" their individuality was ignored; their powers, if any, were disregarded; one monotonous "table of lessons" hung in every schoolroom-one code of rules sufficed for all. Ear or no ear, a girl must learn music; eye or no eye, drawing was to be taught her; two or three languages were to be a sine qua non, whether she has the aptitude for them or not. What was the consequence? The mind was left perfectly untrained and uncultured. The system gave a sort of shallow smartness to those quick at apprehending-a most useless quality when it is all a girl possesses. In fact, to all intents and purposes, woman was considered to have no mind worth thinking of; to be incapable of reasoning; her powers were surface powers, requiring only surface treatment."

That, ladies and gentleman, was the first paragraph to the introduction in a textbook for student teachers, for needlework, in 1914. I wonder how many men got a look at what was being taught in those needlework schools?? :p



That is the coolest book, full of lesson plans, and illustrations, and tests, for teaching needlework of all sorts...this was for the pros, not for dabblers. I got it at a book sale ages ago, and I just LOVE it. Anyway, long way around to it, I picked it up yesterday to have a look for embroidery stitches (of which there turned out to be few...this is more for proper dressmaking, etc, than embroidery), because I had been browsing in Borders, and picked up Caroline Zoob's Childhood Treasures:

Apparently it's been around for a bit, but I've never seen it before. Anyway, it is a GORGEOUS book, loaded with eye candy, and I love the fact that it manages to look old fashioned and very sweet, with nary a pastel in sight. :p So, I was looking through it, and saw these little fabric covered buttons made from linen, with little embroidery on them...SO cute. I had to try them. Except my embroidery skills are moderately rusty, lol. Hence trying to dig through the first book and refresh my memory, which turned out to be a bust, but was so much more interesting just to leaf through. But I perservered, and came out with a couple:

I had a lot of blue and pink threaded on my needles, so I ended up doing a bunch of them....which I regret, cause I love the blue and red ones SO much more..


And yeah...my embroidery skills definitely need some practice, lol...I am capable of WAY better than these sad little examples.


While I am on the subject, this is a birthday card I made for a little girl ages ago....it's hard to see, but it's embroidered on butter yellow linen, and then applied it to the card with spray adhesive. Good stuff, that spray adhesive. :p


My kids have gotten in on the act, and have started their own projects....which, since I only have the one hoop, is kind of frustrating, lol.



11 comments:

Patty said...

I love all of your buttons but the blue and red are my favorite.

Jodie said...

I love those buttons and your skills look great to me!!!

Tonya said...

I *heart* those buttons, especially the red and blue ones!!!!! I think your embroidery skills are fantastic!!!!

I love the first paragraph to that book, it always makes me kind of angry when I am reminded how women were thought of back then and still are today by some stupid men!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing a bit from that book. I was a tour guide years ago for a plantation home near my house. Back then young girls would start a needlepoint picture called a samplier. Upon completion they would know all the stitches and lifes lessons... They would then be married off. Age... 13 or so. 15 would be an old maid... Whewww. Thanks again , enjoyed your blog.. Susie H

sharleen.2cupsofcoffee said...

They look good to me!!

Liz said...

I had a lovely little package arrive from NSW the other day...you wouldn't know anything about that, would you???

My three year-old son took one look at it and immediately decided it has to go on the Christmas tree... I love the turtle bead! You were right - it is SO me. Thank you!!!

muralimanohar said...

Yay, it arrived?? Now I can post it! :D (Which I need to do...seeing as this is day three of no posts yet in my Post a Day thing...whoops! I've been busy! :p )

Leah said...

Yes, I LOVE those sweet little buttons. And the excerpt from the book--wow. So incredibly subversive!

blah said...

M, you are one talented lady and that 1st book sounds like a fab resource for needlework - my needle point skills are VERY rusty to say the least

Bonus Mom said...

They are beautiful! And your embroidery skills are great!

Nikki said...

hmmm... yes... You really must read THe SUbversive Stitch.

Love the buttons!

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