Sunday 3 March 2013

Storytelling Sunday - Treasured tools

 "Mummy, is that a dress for my dolly?" I asked. She smiled at me, "yes" she replied "let me get my thimble to finish it off." "Why do you want your thimble mummy?" I said - puzzled, "Because I can't sew without my thimble," she answered.
" I can't sew without my thimble," - - - that baffled me - I just didn't understand what she could possibly mean? One uses a needle and thread - and pushes it through the fabric? How silly to say she can't sew without her thimble - - -

Do you sew? I don't very much anymore - but there was a time when I did - a lot - not only with my sewing machine but also by hand. Mum wasn't the only one to make clothes for my dolls - I made clothes for my dolls too as a child, I made and dressed dolls as an adult, I made quilts, I embroidered, I did cross stitch, I made clothes for myself and my eldest daughter - so yes - you could say I sewed, but mum's words "I can't sew without my thimble" still baffled me well into adulthood!
However, only a few years later - ( I was making a lot of quilts, and suffering from rather sore fingers and getting exasperated with twisting thread I think) mum gave me one of her thimbles and a small piece of beeswax. The thimble was a little too small for her at that time and she just said "Try it" and "pull your needle and thread through the wax, it will stop it knotting up" . I wasn't sure to be honest - - the thimble felt clumsy on my finger and I was quite convinced I wouldn't be able to sew with it. Ever!!! ( Daughters often think they know best!!)
I still have that thimble - over thirty years later, and I always have beeswax in my sewing box  - she is right about the wax too! A funny little object - and a little boring perhaps to seem precious - but it is an essential - and as Mum gave me that thimble, it is doubly precious - whenever I look back down memory lane and think of mum  - she was wearing a thimble - I think she might have worn it ALL the time! this is it.

These are tools I can't manage without. My treasured tailors' thimble, as my mum was a tailoress and a piece of beeswax. I have only ever seen the thimbles with a closed tops on them to buy and I don't like them as I have discovered I can't manage with them  - - I really hope I never lose my thimble - I wouldn't know where to go to replace it, and I would have to - because this little piece of Sheffield steel is very, very precious now  - - you see, I can't stitch without it ! These days I understand my mum when she said "I can't sew without my thimble" - - - I can't either !!!

This story is brought to you courtesy of Sian from High in the Sky - who hosts Storytelling Sunday on the first Sunday of the month. There a lots more stories around - you can find them all here.

Thanks for dropping in.
'til later

Bannaghtyn,  J xx

23 comments:

  1. What a lovely story and that you have all those memories associated with something so small and 'ordinary'.

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  2. I have a tailor's thimble that was my great grandma's, a round topped thimble that was my grandma's and is so tiny I can only just fit it onto my little finger and a quilting thimble that was a birthday gift from my daughter when she was quite small. All are so precious but until now I had forgotten they were so special because I use them every day. Thank you for reminding me!

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  3. What a lovely story this is! I'm a sewer who loves to make dolls clothes, so you pulled me right in with this one..I've never worn a thimble, maybe I should give it a go because I love the thought of having one to pass on as a treasure, having read this. I love it.

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  4. I love thimbles and yours is especially lovely with it's memories and the things it has helped you create. I have not heard of using beeswax and it sounds intriguing. I am just starting out on sewing and textiles having started with paper and I will definitely check this out.

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  5. My thimble is one of my precious objects and the topic of last month's story, and I've always worn it when I sew.

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  6. My Mum always had a thimble but the closed in type, I have seen the open ones but can't remember where now.
    I learnt to use a thimble by copying Mum.
    A lovely thing to treasure both practical and memorable.
    Thank you for sharing.

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  7. I've never really worked out what a thimble is for so thanks for shining a light on the mystery as you share your precious

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  8. Such a beautiful story about precious things and even more precious memories. Pictures of my grandmother sewing wearing her thimble came flooding back as I read on. I must hunt for it. It is here somewhere!

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  9. it is the little personal things that are so precious x

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  10. Nice precious story. I have one from my Grandma. I never used it (I don't sew), but it's definitely in my precious things to keep.
    Cheers from France

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  11. I'm with Sian! The moment I read about sewing doll clothes, I was hooked. I agree with your mother, I cannot sew without my thimble.

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  12. I loved the 'hook' of your first two lines. Didn't even know there were open topped thimbles - glad you still have it and am wondering if I can get beeswax to stop my thread knotting up now.

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  13. I've never heard of open topped thimbles I'll have to check them out as I find my nails are too long for the closed type!
    many thanks for sharing x

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  14. Oh the treasures used by our Moms are always quite precious. I'll have to go peek at the thimbles in Mom's old sewing box and see if any have open tops - I didn't know such a thing existed.

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  15. I can't even figure out how an open topped thimble works since I so often made use of the top. I am now wishing I had my great aunt's but can still someday have Mama's. Thanks for sharing and highlighting how precious an everyday item can be.

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  16. I have a thimble but rarely use it as it is closed top and I have long finger nails! I didn't know you could ever get open topped ones. That really is precious.

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  17. I can distinctly remember my maternal grandmother wearing a thimble often as she sewed all the time - she probably felt the same! I have enjoyed your story today and also had a giggle about daughters often thinking they know best .... my mum has three of them!

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  18. What a lovely keepsake and so useful too.

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  19. That is definitely a precious item & wonderful story!

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  20. A lovely story and a precious thimble indeed. I have to say that I cannot sew with a thimble on!

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  21. That is a lovely story about something so precious.

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  22. I have really enjoyed reading this, and marvel at how some of the most precious things are the small and seemingly humble ones, and connect us us with people we love. Very precious indeed that it now finds its home on our finger.

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  23. What a lovely story. I haven't mastered the art of sewing with a thimble but thinking I really need to. You've reminded me that I need to check out my Mum's sewing box again.

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Hi and welcome - thanks for taking the time to let me know you called.

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