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