Victorian Sewing Bird - 160 Year Old Sewing Tool Restored & Researched
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- Опубліковано 8 лип 2021
- Utilitarian sewing tool of decades past, or romantic token of affection for the Victorians? We'll take a look at the history behind this unique and super cute little sewing tool in today's video (and, surprise surprise, it's a bit of both), while we give this antique bird a light restoration/mild glam-up.
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Oh you've got a hummingbird? No, a hemmingbird!
It's so cute 😍
LOL love the word play! I've gotten a few suggestions along the lines of Ernest/ Ernest Hemmingbird, but I saw it here first!
I love it haha *chef's kiss*
“Toss a coin to your stitcher” 😂 Pls help, I can’t find the other like button to give this video a second thumbs up for this punnery
LOL I'm glad you appreciate it. My channel comes with an automatic subscription to Bad Puns Monthly. Compliments of the corgi 🐾
Your corgi is so cute. I love when their tale wags, causing their whole back end to wiggle, and the happy pitter patter of their front legs. Gorgeous happy dog
Thank you! She is truly a gem, and if you like sewing and crafting and corgis, I've got a few videos on the channel in which I make things for her, and she's the star of the show in those! I'd most highly recommend my miniature corgi fainting couch: ua-cam.com/video/6lYADTqBHqo/v-deo.html
@Shannon Makes I do indeed like sewing. I make my own clothes. I have been binging on your videos, and love how resourceful you are.
I'm so jealous! I've been wanting one of these for foreeeeever!
Edited to add: Ernest Hemmingbird?
...and here I had no idea they existed, and stumbled onto one! I like Ernest Hemmingbird (although I know you'll appreciate the suggestion of Pinson, to play both on "finch" as well as "pincer"!!)
I made my own out of a "Clip and Twist Scotch tape dispenser" a little piece of corrugated cardboard and some scraps of flannel and muslin, all in all it costed $3.45 and about 2 feet of thread. All my favorite sewing tools I made myself. I kept the roll of tape for a bobbin for table weaving for cord and tape.
You wrap the skinny piece of cardboard around the teeth. And then take a thin scrap of muslin and sew it down as an anchor point. You then make a little pillow big enough for one pin but small enough to fit on the underside of the dispenser, I made my pillow out of a square scrap of muslin and stuffed it with chopped up threads from the flannel. I then made a pillowcase with a little tail out of the flannel (as lacemakers recommend flannel or brushed herringbone or velvet for there lace making pillow covers, as it's a self-healing fabric and less likely to tear out. And you know, Pins.) I covered the muslin anchor tape with the flannel tail and secure down the pin pillow.
I will later secure to the clamp a rather small binder clip that I will line with adhesive backed velvet for gently gripping fabric without using pins and the velvet is so it's less likely to tear if it slips and catches, and also acting like soft little teeth.
And finally a little piece of wood to the hole in the middle much like the tuners knob on a violin, this I will use for weaving fancy trims, I think it's called tabletop weaving, or card weaving. (So that I don't have to use a lot of room, and so that I can keep even tension.)
In other news, I'm going to make one of those little bracelet pin cushions and turn it into a Chatelaine. Like those fancy Bohemian jewelry things with lots of chains and dangly bits. except a bracelet with useful tools. Even if that one's not useful, I'll have fun.
One year late to reply, but I really love this! I also make my own versions of most of the stuff I need, since I am VERY particular about how I want stuff to work for me, and since I am wholly against buying something if I have junk, scrap or odds and ends that can be made into something else.
Name suggestion: Lilo
(As in "& Stitch")
Such a cute bird!
Oooh, I like that! I *do* love Lilo & Stitch!
Such a cute little fellow and very handy! Great job restoring it!
Thank you! 🐥
I also have wanted one of these forever! Thank you for sprucing it up In front of us, as well as the history of the tool. Thank you Thank you!!
You bet! So glad you enjoyed this hidden (and underrated) gem of a video!! I love my little sewing bird SO much (and if you have a keen eye, you can catch a little glimpse of it in my sewing room renovation)! 🦜
I managed to buy a reproduction one in the 2000s, it's an adorable little tool ! Your restoration is *chef's kiss*
You're too sweet (comme toujours ❤️)!
Ooh, I've never seen one of these before; how pretty! And useful. Great job on the restoration, he's looking very fancy!
Why thank you! I'm looking forward to getting lots of use out of him!
You are so delightful! Thank you for sharing your adventures and craftiness with us all!
Aww why thank you for the kind words, it always makes my day so much brighter :-D You are very welcome, glad you enjoyed it!!
What a great find! I just got one two days ago - same as yours except missing the emery bit, the entire pincushion plate, and the little padded plate that sits on top of the screw part of the clamp. You did an awesome job researching and impressive job with the restoration. Very helpful and interesting, thank you!
You're welcome, so glad you enjoyed this oldie-but-goodie! I hope you stick around and check out some of the other videos on the channel, there are some fun makes in the archives!
Fasinating
And now I need one! Definitely Ernest - love the association with the author but it was also my Grandpa's first name ❤
One of my father's favorite authors too - he just finished reading some of his (translated) short stories in Spanish! I like it!
In Japanese tradition, we use what is called Haribako (it has the same thread holding technique and cushion for hand sewists but it sits on the ground or a small table generally. For kimono sewing there's an invisible running stitch technique that you have to use your TOES for to create tension (I prefer the bird, I THINK lol). But if you ever got creative with appendages this is technically historically accurate even if it is a different culture lol.
I need me a bird now.
Ooooh, that's so interesting! Thank you for that tidbit 🫶🦜
And here I have just a boring sewing clamp you find regular in Japanese craft stores….
Then again, it was a present from my student, so I shall not complain XD
OK, first of all, I think it's fantastic that they sell these in craft stores in Japan - I've never seen any such thing (plain or fancy) in all my travels! And secondly, a personal touch makes up for all the gilded finery in the world
Since the velvet faded to a creamy-yellow, I suspect the original was probably a deep red (you're fabric choice is beautiful). I also suspect that the top emery ball doubled as a rest for the thimble - it's just so cone-shaped, there's a design choice going on. That is an amazing find - I maaay have spent some time looking at them on the ebay. Mazel tov, use it in good health.
- Cathy (&, accidently, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown/Pimisi
Yes, I definitely use my emery ball as a thimble rest too, although I only use the bird itself sparingly, as I know someone that has snapped theirs in half using it (but then again, theirs was one of the cheaper replications, so that might have something to do with it too... either way, I'm cautious and careful with mine)
@@ShannonMakes If your friend bought the cheep-o version from the amazon, well, let's just say I'm not surprised it snapped. Although I honestly thought the bird clasp hinge would be the one to break off first.
Ok, I have a theory of antique and vintage tools - use them. Seriously, the Victorians especially built things like they thought they'd rule the world forever. And they used cast steal/iron/brass for all the structural bits. A tank shell would dent it, basically. I type as someone with a 1915 hand-crank Singer - my baby is an absolute beast. So far I'm her fourth known owner in just over a century.
Just... keep inspecting the piece so that it is keeping to the right angles, no bending, no twisting, no hairline cracks. If the hinge gets squeaky, try some sewing machine oil. Every time before you attach it to the table check it's level of wear. Anything starts to look wonky and you will end up with a lovely, partially functioning, pin cushion.
I think of these things as the equivalent to a Stradivarius. If you don't regularly use the machinery that was specifically built to create sound... it will splinter away. Use it and give it a new life. You get to be one of the many hands it's worked with. And how cool is that...
Green! 💚
He turned out so good that I halfway expected him to sing a little!
I admire your patience... there is no way I could have made it through that project without at least one bout of profanity. I usually blame my poor eyesight but honestly, I developed a colorful aversion to velvet whilst it was attempting a comeback in my younger years and it has only evolved since then, so I probably would have been agitated before I even started 😖
On an unrelated note, the lack of corgi is felt. 😜
Bold of you to assume there was no profanity... you forget, I control the editing process 🤣 Honestly, the velvet being slightly stretchy helped to make for the clean finish, and the fact that I had to hand-stitch it meant that the nap didn't really get in the way! Cannelle says hi, and that she's on strike for better conditions (#allfetchallday) :-D
@@ShannonMakes💙 toss her a few pinecones for me!
Sounds like my girl... except mine doesn't go on strike, she starts yelling and throwing stuff at me 😅
That's adorable! Your re-covering job looks fantastic! I vote in favor of Finchley as a name possibility.
Thank you!! It was *incredibly* fiddly work, so I'm pleased it turned out as well as it did! I like Finchley! 🐦
what a lucky find for you. thanks for your research.
Thank you, it was a pleasure!
damn... now i want a sewing bird...
Damn now I really need one, they are really cute!!
Aren't they though?! It was love at first sight :-D
Miss. MacGuffin.
Love this video, but wish you had shown it in use!
Oh this bird is beautiful! Thank you for making this video.
You are very welcome, and I am much in love with Ernest Hemmingbird 🐦🪡
Off I go to find a sewing bird for myself. ☺
This was fascinating! Thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Another great video!
Thank youuuu , 😍
Großartig 👍🏻👍🏻🌸
Vielen danke! (sorry, my German is a bit rusty)❤️
I was going to say Jem or Scout, but I think Ernest Hemmingbird should have it.
Scout was my first dog, and Mr. Atticus was my first bird (followed by Bilbo the rabbit, and Gandalf the parrot)
@@ShannonMakes 😁
Wow! I think I need one of these because my sewing posture is…less than ideal
Sewing birds for all of Costubeeeee! (Cuz honestly, which one of us *does* have good sewing posture?! )
These are great for putting in a rolled hem.
Oh yessss!
Je ne savais même pas que cet objet existait.....passionnante recherche.!je propose le Pinson qui est le nom français pour finch je crois en anglais ( les pinsons de Darwin ) en français la sonorité est la même que pincer ( to pinch) ce que fait l'oiseau avec le tissu, et en anglais cela évoquerait pins on (haut les épingles ?)....
Oh c'est vraiment genial ça! J'aime bcp le jeux de mots (et c'est le nom de famille d'un de mes amis)! 🐦🪡
@@ShannonMakes je me suis bien amusée à chercher....merci pour cette vidéo très inspirante!
@@amauryy4417 toujours un plaisir!
Three days after watching this video I was walking through Walmart back-to-school section and I found a "clip and twist Scotch tape dispenser" that I immediately bought and then turned into a third hand. I have used it extensively in the last several days since I got it. All my favorite sewing tools I made myself.
Ask me about the chatelaine bracelet I'm going to make next.
I took the tape bobbing out and am saving for later. Covered the teeth in corrugated cardboard. Used a scrap of cotton muslin to hold the cardboard in place and for an anchor point for the cushion.
Made the cushion out of another scrap of cotton muslin, (just big enough to hold one pin) stuffed it with chopped up loose threads of flannel (my favorite cushioning of all).
Made a case out of flannel with a little tail to wrap around the anchor point and attached it stitched that down nice and pretty, (this is the point where you decide if you want to embroider it or not.) the reason for this choice of flannel is because lace makers suggest "flannel" or "velvet" or "brushed herringbone cotton" for their pillows as it is a "self-healing" fabric and it will take longer to ware out.
I'm still trying to figure out how to attach a clamp. But the tape bobbin can be used in the making of table tapes or finger chords and keep a nice tension and you can wind it up as you go so it doesn't take an excessive amount of room. Likewise a piece of wood resembling a tuners knob on a violin can be put in the little hole in the middle, (for the same purpose.) It's insanely useful and you can get all kinds of odd ankles. and the clamping foot is very versatile (I have yet to find a surface I can't attach it to, you can attach it to the door if you have to). Every sewer should have one.
OK, I admit I had to google the "clip and twist" because I hadn't heard of it before, but it seems incredibly practical, and I love how you've upgraded it to make it even more suited to your needs! I'm in fact quite curious to see it... If you're on Instagram, would you mind sending me a photo of it (or tagging me, as you prefer)?
@@ShannonMakes no Instagram I'm afraid, do you have a Pinterest account? I actually have never seen this tape dispenser before so I wrote it's full name for anyone who wants to make their own. It's nothing fancy just practical, Imagine when you have to do something flat you instead loosely baist/tack it together and sew it vertically, still perfectly flat but you can get your hand behind it.
Very late to this party, but if I had one, I'd name him Hemmingway!
Better late than never 😊
Oh, a hemming bird! I dream of acquiring one for myself one day)
Also does that thimble have a beaded band? 😍
It was a very lucky find, I am beyond thrilled to be it's next caretaker! And it's a tiny little band of cross-stitch I believe!
This is so awesome! Thanks again for pointing me to this video, Shannon. What a great concept. I'd never heard of sewing birds before, and it'll definitely be something I look out for to add to my tool set from now on, especially as I mostly sew by hand. Huh, and there I was thinking it was just a particularly ornate c clamp when I spotted it in your sewing room remodel video. Learn something new everyday :) (Edit: out of curiosity, what did you end up naming it?)
I'm glad you enjoyed the video, I wish more people knew about sewing birds... they're such a cute and practical tool! And in the end, the people voted to name it "Ernest Hemingbird" XD
@@ShannonMakes Indeed! I would have loved to know about them sooner! Haha, I love it. Great name :)
So cute!!! I love this! Do you still use the little bird? What did you name it? 🙂
I don't use it so much now because my current table (see my self-built IKEA sewing table video) is too thick for the clamp, unfortunately. BUT she lives on the shelf in my room, you can see her in the background of most of my videos - lower shelf on the left-hand side, clamped to the shelf and sticking off a bit into the middle!
❤❤❤
What's an emery ball? (Or did I mishear?)
Its purpose is to sharpen your pins and needles (Google for more details ;-) )
AHH that makes sense 😃
Name it Robin. Duh. 😁
...you wouldn't, by chance, be biased....? ;-) :-D 🐦
Toss a coin to your stitcher :D