Turn and Tuck
Can you tread the needle love, my eyes don’t see so well these days, white cotton dear. I will cut a piece off the tail, I need to make a new collar, the old one is past repair. If you unpick the cuffs we can turn them later, it will earn us a shilling.
When we have finished this shirt perhaps you find me some brown paper and string, so that we can wrap up Jimmy Soden’s trousers. I’ve reversed the turn ups to hide the wear and repaired the pockets. That’s two more shillings. Soon we will have a day off, perhaps go to Birmingham.
Foot Note
In Britain in the early 1950’s many things were still rationed, and for many people money was tight. Clothes were patched and repaired, socks darned, rugs made out of sacking, pegged with off-cuts of worn out clothes. Many sewing machines worked overtime.
This Post Has 38 Comments
A very distinctive voice to this one
Great voice. The art of mending and using the last patch of cloth is mostly forgotten these days.
Nice little scene.
Brilliance 🙂
In the 1950’s I sat under my gran’s busy Singer sewing machine.
My grandmother in law had one just like this 😉
Cherished memories.
The terminology in your peice makes the tale extra special. Well done.
Thank you, I take no credit though as I was sat under the machine
I have not really experienced this, but my mother taught me to sew so I can mend my own clothes… still do as a matter of fact… but here in Sweden you have to have Husqvarna not Singer.
Mending clothes and writing, I am impressed. I can still see my gran’s sewing machine at work.
Dear Michael,
Such a sweet voice in this piece. Thank you for the footnote as well, My mother used an old Singer that was probably just a little later model than the treadle. It was electric. I still have it and it still works quite well.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Excellent piece, Michael.
But please, keep the noise down…
Thank you ceayr. Noise? Mike
Sorry, Mike, a reference back to your comment on my post.
I am slow tonight,
I remember my Gran turning collars and cuffs. Nicely captured.
It’s good to know that someone else remembers, those were different the days. Mike
Nice piece. Very different to today’s throw-away society.
I have tried to not be part of the throw away society, but modern capitalism does not encourage that.
Ooo, very stand alone piece – great description of detail!
I really do appreciate your comment, thank you. It helped that I was there.
A nice slice of days gone by.
Thank you, that’s a kind comment, they were days that I remember with fondness.
Great description, Michael. A different era, for sure. They really had to make those clothes last.
Ah! Wonderful stuff, Mike. It’s funny, but it seems a lot of the stories I have read so far have reflected a working knowledge of sewing and stitchery. Now, I think this story might have explained it all.
Super-duper work!
Thank you for your kind comments, it’s strange when writing Turn and Tuck I could see each stitch taking place. Mike
Great scene remembering a very different time and hard circumstances
Thank you Michael, yes difficult times yet also a time of great love given freely.
Very nicely written, capturing a different time and way of life
Thank you, the photo prompt encouraged many pleasant memories, from the 1950s. I even still have my ration card. !!!
And if the economy tanks when we leave Europe you might need it again!
Economies do change, my sewing skills will not be enough if we tank!
LOL we may be relying on your needles 🙂
Sadly they have gone blunt.
I have a book I bought that shows how to sew on a patch. Patching clothes is an art. I was lazy and bought iron-on patches for my sons pants. Things weren’t as difficult in the U.S. after WWII. My mother was always economical, though. If she’d known how to mend by sewing she probably would have. My grandmother used to make some clothes for me when I was young. Interesting story, Mike. I took Home Ec in college and used to sew some of my own clothes. I love sewing. 🙂 — Suzanne
Thank you Suzanne, I think I would have also enjoyed home economics, instead I was expected to paint using water colours, and to play the tuba at school, sadly I was not suited to either art form.
This scene is still a reality for many – well narrated