John Scott interviews Mandy Shaw about her Housewife Sewing Roll patterns.

The greatest double act in sewing, John Scott and Mandy Shaw are together again when John talks to Mandy about her Housewife Sewing Rolls the design of which were inspired by her father's army hussif. There is never a dull moment when these two are together and Mandy goes through all her patterns and designs that evolved over the years.

[@marcialockhart890]

The hussif/housewife you found was also a standard issue in the 1st and 2nd world wars (at least in the US), women made these when their husbands went out to fight for the US independence also! The flat one you made IS an example of the modern a hussif, and the only version I will use! Also, when full it rolls more than folds! I'm no expert at research but find this little bit of history fascinating from many years sewing, the history is so interesting. Sehryns comment is a good representation of this history.

[@jo-anne8111]

Lovely to see you both together again and enjoy you chatting but loving all the information thank you both, nice that mandy is saying what's beginner friendly and isn't everything you do and all your kits are beautiful and fantastic quality 😊 ♥

[@bernadetteloughlan6687]

Love John and Mandy Shaw together. Great shows. Love the sewing and banter. Love be xoxox

[@aliampb6949]

Lovely to have chatting in my home. Such fun xx

[@pamgreen1898]

Dream team back together, fantastic

[@eileenfb1948]

In 1749 the term Housewife was in print for the first time. You are not old enough to have "changed the name" as you claim. Many sources are saying it later changed to Hussif. They were made from a flat strip of fabric where items were kept for mending and it all rolled up. It would have at least one pocket at the bottom (turning the fabric over gives a pocket). Stored rolled up. No zips, buttons or any type of hardware.

[@sehryn]

Your guest did not coin the term ‘Housewife’ as an alternative to “Hussif/Huswife” regarding a cloth sewing roll.
The word ‘housewife’ has been used to refer to a sewing roll, rather than the old English ‘hussif/huswife’, since the 19th century. However she might have invented the term “French roll” as applied to a sewing kit. A ‘French roll’ is a hairstyle, and a google search finds no historical reference to a sewing accouterment.
A ‘hussif’ or ‘huswife’ were the common terms that literally meant ‘housewife’ in old English . The term was first recorded as applying to a sewing roll in Lancaster 1749.
Hussifs/housewives were handmade from cloth scraps, and often embroidered, by women for their menfolk going to war. The sewing roll given to men was their helpful pocket ‘housewife’ to make running repairs on the field. Thus a hussif/housewife refers to a roll of fabric tied with a ribbon with pocket inserts for basic sewing tools and notions. The addition of zippers and more complex construction etc are very modern applications.
The term ‘hussif’ meaning both a sewing roll AND a housewife, evolved into the more modern term ‘housewife’. Since the 19th century a utilitarian ‘housewife sewing roll up’ has become standard inclusion in a service person’s kit to make repairs on the field.
Language evolves. While ‘hussif’, ‘huswife’, ‘housewife’ and the shortened version ‘hussy’ all originally referred to a wife who’s work was in the home - currently, we are unlikely to refer to women as ‘housewives’. However, the shortened version ‘hussy’ has continued into modern vernacular, but with a negative connotation toward women who eschew restrictive social roles. Hussy now means a woman of low morals.
Maybe with the rise of interest in the ‘hussif/housewife sewing rolls we might also see the term ‘hussy’ again become a benign term as shorthand for a sewing roll

[@josieber8032]

I notice that too

[@marthacrock8180]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed that n yes a housewife has been around for ages now. It's a shame she didn't look into the history before trying to claim she made up the term. Her rolls are cute

[@loist0607]

I just came across this video. I made my first 'sewing roll', the one with the roll on the end, based on a very tattered much smaller version used by an uncle in WWI. I worked on recreating it by myself based on having 2 basic sewing classes in a home economics class in school. It included the roll and the zipper and a covered pocket that was all part of the original. it was one of my first independent sewing projects. I was 9 years old, and I certainly won't pretend it was perfect. I was a little disappointed to hear your guest's frequent referrals to how difficult this roll is to make. If you want to make one, go for it and don't feel intimidated or discouraged. I am also happy to see the well-researched comment by @sehryn.