I use a lot of vintage and antique items in my sewing room! Here are 8 of my favorite vintage sewing tools, plus one vintage item I NEVER use. What's your favorite vintage sewing notion?
The Wiss scissors are what I've had since 7th grade Home Economics class. My mother, may she rest in peace, left me her Wiss scissors and her pinking shears, too. They are most prescious to me, as she made our play clothes when we were little, 60-odd years ago.
This was a great video. I'm now 80, and recently started sewing again after not having time for years due to 40+ career in finance. Since I was brought up with the mantras of "Use it up, wear it out, ,make it do ",, and "Waste not, want not.", I still had my sewing basket from when I bought my supplies as a young married woman. Amazingly, I have most of those items you treasure in that basket. The tailor's chalk holder with sharpener, a darning egg, several books of needles, Wiss scissors and pinking shears., and even the tailors ham and sleeve roll -- all look like new. What made me particularly nostalgic was my Aunt Mae's button box, which was a metal Ponds Cold cream tin from the 1920s or 30s. When I was a little girl, I would spend hours sorting the buttons and drawing pictures of dresses that I would make "someday" using some of the more unusual ones. I never knew that these sewing items had disappeared. Perhaps demand just wasn't enough to make it worthwhile to keep manufacturing them. A lot of people gave up sewing for many years because it became necessary to have a two earner family to make ends meet, and there just simply were not enough hours in the day. Now they don't have the skill or the tools to do it right. I will say that my granddaughter can design and produce fabulous things on a 3D printer.
I love that you now have time to sew again! It's such a valuable skill to have. I save a lot of money for my family by being able to alter and mend our clothing as needed. I too have a soft spot for buttons and have fond memories of sorting my grandma's buttons as a kid. Her tin was the butter cookie tin that lots of people used. My boys (now young adults) both know how to sew, but I don't think they'll ever do more than mend clothes. But at least they know! And my son is a whiz with the 3D printer too. :-)
If you're 80 and started to sew again, then I should, I'm turning 68 soon, but thought I'm getting too old. No idea why I thought that. I remember being happy when I sew ...as soon as I get my sewing room cleared out and set up, I'll sew again.
@@ColleenMarble Oh yes, I also want to mention I have several of those vintage items. didn't realize they are vintage. Didn't realize my giant scissors might could be sharpened
That's great! I've heard from many people that the new Ginghers aren't the same as the older ones, which is probably why some places won't sharpen them. That said, if a pair of scissors work for you and can be serviced, then the brand doesn't matter!
I’m 75 yrs old. Learned to sew on my grandmother Singer treadle machine. I still have it, ALL extras, her hemming tool, dress makers mannequin, button hole attachment, leather thimbles, tailors beeswax….many cards of needles given away as premiums from businesses, at least e-thimbles of all sizes, colors, materials. My favorite are her button boxes……she saved everything ….old zippers, empty spools, buttons, bib overall clasps…..everything. They are on display in my craft room when I am not using them. Wouldn’t part with any of it.🧵🪡
This comment and the one from @dr.rosilynovertoncfpmrfc5911 show that the workaday tools our antecedents relied upon are true heirlooms. They are a direct legacy from and connection to our moms, grandmothers, great-grandmothers, and truly, all sewists.
Weiss is very understated and they are clearly the best on the market today. I am 76 and have the Weiss scissor I got with S&H green stamps when I was in the 7th grade home ec-and still use them despite all my ginger and others.
Vintage thread that's not good enough for construction is usually still great for hand basting, thread-marking etc so no need to waste it. And I have some old stuff that is in lovely condition - especially some thicker linen threads. I've even got some older cotton thread that, once I've "gone down a couple of layers" is good and strong. It probably depends on the original quality of the thread and the conditions it's been stored in over the years. Edited to add: Oops - I didn't see JoJo Sewist's comment before I posted mine. So this is like a thumbs-up for what she said. :-)
Yes, I think I said something about using it for handwork, but anything that needs to have strong seams, like pants or a shirt, should be made with new thread. And yes, I think storage conditions make a huge difference!
When you held up the packet of needles I got a rush of nostalgia. That was the very same and very familiar packet of needles from my grandmother's sewing basket. I'll be 62 in a few weeks, but those memories are still just as fresh as when she pulled her sewing kit out one rainy afternoon and taught me how to thread a needle, knot my thread and sew my very first quilt block from a box of surplus scraps. I think I was nine or ten. Thanks for the walk down memory lane.
Dear. Colleen: Just found your channel and must say how I enjoyed this topic. I recently went through my thread stash and eliminated the wooden spools that I brought home to Toronto from New York City where I lived from 1960 to 1965. These threads were used to make my young children's clothes and it was certainly a trip down memory land to try to recall which items I had used them for. I still have the needle sets, the hook and eye fasteners and buttons and zippers from clothing that were to be discarded or recycled, s we never tossed anything out that could someday be used again. lol These children are now retiring from their careers -- so that tells you what hoarders we become. In 1965 a friend gifted me a wonderful pair of scissors for Christmas. Every year they go for a tune-up at the sharpener's store. You've absolutely right about the scissors. So I thank you. For giving me a heads up on what to be on the lookout for as well as remembering the sewing I did for my young children.
Thank you so much for sharing your story! I love to hear stuff like that. And I adore vintage sewing stuff. It can last forever and be so useful for so many years.
I worked at a theatrical costume company here in NYC called Barbara Matera Ltd for 12 years before they closed their doors for good in 2010. Even though I graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology with a fashion degree and a second degree in Accessories design I was very shocked to see the method of marking and cutting that they trained all their workers to do when I first got my job there in 1997. This method was so good that to this day I still swear by it and refuse to do it any other way ever again. What we did at Matera's was on a cutting table with a homasote top we laid several giant sheets of tracing paper side by side. Then on top of that we laid the two layers of fabric with the wrong sides out. On top of the fabrics we laid another layer of tracing paper with the wax side laying on top of the fabric. Then on top of the top tracing paper we laid the pattern and we pinned all the layers down to the table with push pins. We always made sure to put the pins on the seam allowance side of the pattern so not to have any holes on the garment showing. After everything is pinned down to the table and secured then we would mark/trace out every single line on the pattern with a tracing wheel and ruler. And I do mean everything. When we made custom patterns we always added the seam lines as well as seam allowance lines and darts and notches. This is so the stitchers could be even more exact in their sewing. After we were absolutely sure we had traced everything then we removed the pattern and top layer of tracing paper. We would then pin the fabric patterns together right on the seam allowance along the bias of the fabric so not to have puckers. After all the pinning is done we would finally begin to cut along the seam allowance line. All of this seems like a lot of work but it does guarantees that nothing will move when marking lines and the fabric doesn't move until after it has been cut. Everything comes out exactly they way it's supposed to. It has to. Some of the Broadway costumes we use to make use to cost up to $7,000 or more. So it better be an exact fit. LOL! Why my fashion college didn't teach us this method is beyond me. Like I said, I still use it and swear by it. 📏📐✂️👍💖
Another TH-camr, Angela Clayton, uses a homasote board on top of her work table. It's so practical! But I haven't seen anyone mark and cut patterns like you do. That's really smart! I'll have to try that some time!
@@ColleenMarble You should try it. It's good. Right now due to lack of room in my NYC apartment I use one of those folding cardboard with a measurement grid on it. I lay it on the floor when I am cutting anything long. Then I pin the bottom layer of the large 39"x26" inches sheets of tracing paper to it in order to keep it secured. I do miss the homasote table top that I use to work on at my old job. But for now the folding cardboard cutting surface has worked fine and has lasted years for me. It has held up well. 📏📐✂️👍
My Tailor/Dressmaker instructor from Italy taught us the same method and I too still do the same way. Only I use a 2" thick 4' X 8' sheet of (Home Depot) high density styrofoam with T-pins in selvedges to hold the layers, then slide around a small cutting mat (beneath all the layers) to use the tracing wheel. This same styro-foam board I also use to sandwich my quilt tops anchored with T-pins, then hand baste. Two folding plastic sawhorses ($25) support the board while I'm using, then it all folds/stores away till needed again. I can quickly set it up alone. I also ran a centered (permanent marker) line vertical & horizontal for aligning my quilts.
As a thrift store addict who's gotten so many batches of "Grandma's sewing basket" supplies, this was super helpful for IDing what some of those things were. I had no idea what on Earth the tack chalk was or how to use it, and I think I have at least 2 set of them now! And agreed on all the trims. I can get packets of bias tape at the thrift store at 5 for $1, including blanket binding, some completely unused/unopened! It's so nice...
@@ColleenMarble That'd be wonderful. There certainly are plenty of mystery items I've wound up with that I'm sure would be useful if I could figure out what they were designed for.
Hello, I am Lyn from South Africa.i am 091, still sewing. 70 years ago I bought a pair of Wiss shears from a dear Jewish man who had a small shop. Still using them, but I'd like them serviced, but don't know where. Also had a hem marker exactly like yours. My late husband would sit on a chair, while I climbed on a sturdy chest,and he marked my hem line Thank you for an informative clip I found on utube Regards and best wishes,Lyn
I found it interesting that you said Ginger scissors were not good. I have both Wiss and Ginger shears/scissors and I actually prefer my Ginger scissors. My sharpener definitely sharpens and adjust Gingher scissors
Yes, that comment seemed to ignite some debate here in the comments! I didn't mean to imply that all Gingher are bad. I mean that not everyone will sharpen them. And I've heard that older Ginghers are much better than the newer ones. If you have someone who will service them, then that's great!
I agree! Ginger makes beautiful cutting tools. And there is no need to hunt for someone to sharpen them... if they are dull or damaged Gingher will sharpen them for a nominal fee. Very handy for anyone who can't find someone local to sharpen their Ginghers. I treated myself to a new pair of Gingher dressmaker shears to make my daughter's wedding dress 27 years ago. Someone dropped them tips down on a concrete floor and they were done for. I returned them to Gingher for repair and I swear the pair they returned to me was brand new. They certainly cut as if they are new. I also have their embroidery scissors -- the stork scissors are classics. Please don't put them in the same category as cheap scissors (although Gingher was acquitted by Fiskars in 2005.). I also have my MIL's pinking shears. They must be over 50 years old. Still fine but today I only quilt and have no use for them.
I learned to sew in Home Economics (HomeEc) class in 9th (I think) grade, when it was a science requirement for graduation. Subsequently, I sewed my way through the rest of High School, College, and beyond. I made my first wedding dress in the late 1960s. Much later in life, when my sons were courting, I made both of my future Daughters-In-Law's wedding dresses as well as one son's Middle Ages-themed wedding costumes for the bridal party and in-laws. However, all things must come to an end. It was a very sad day for me when I found my body could no longer take the strain of larger machine sewing projects. In the interest of not letting stuff go to waste, the notions, material and patterns I had went to the local community theater's seamstress for costumes. The treadle Singer sewing machine went to Sierra Leone, Africa, to help the women there for their needs. My more modern electric sewing machine went to my best friend, whose old machine had finally died after serving her needs for decades. I kept the newer sewing machine for patching and made masks for the family during the height of the latest pandemic, but bigger projects are out. Now, at 76 I have picked up knitting again.
I'm so sorry to hear you had to stop sewing big projects. I can identify a bit - I had a car accident that left me with neck issues, and I can't sew for too long without having to stop and take breaks. I also injured my wrist and that makes it hard to do a lot of hand sewing without having to stop. It's part of why I made this TH-cam channel. It helps me get something more out of my hobby now that I've had to change the volume and type of sewing I do. But it sounds like you changed a lot of lives with your sewing and with your donations! Good for you!
What fun! I guess I’m vintage too because I have all those goodies bought new when I was a teen. I grab a handful of girls each summer from church and we learn to sew from a pattern. I am so sad home ec is no longer taught in junior high. Cooking and sewing are great examples of practical application of science and math. Love your video
I love that you teach young people how to sew! But don't despair! My boys (now 18 and 20) both took home ec (they call it 'family and consumer sciences' these days) in junior high, and my older son continued with culinary classes all through high school. His school also had fashion classes where the students designed and made the costumes for the school plays. My guys can both cook and sew! :-)
@@ColleenMarble Hello Colleen! What a fantastic video! I too cherish vintage items & sewing item’s in particular!! They all bring back so many of my childhood memories!! All the women in my family knew how to sew incredibly well, my mom made my wedding dress! My grandmother was a private professional seamstress for a very wealthy woman. She had 2 full time seamstresses sewing for her for over 30 years full time; that also meant they designed, sewed, beaded & embroidered everything they made, usually with expensive fabrics, silks, & threads from around the world(including read gold & silver threads). I’m glad to discover your channel; I just subscribed 👍🏻🤗👍🏻🤗!! Looking forward to more of your videos!! Thank you!! 16:54
@@soniatriana9091 thanks for watching, commenting and subscribing! Your grandmother and mother sound like amazingly skilled women! The best part of having a TH-cam channel is hearing people's stories in the comments and finding like-minded people to share a love of sewing.
I’m 71 years old and have my mother’s waxed tracing paper that she used when I was a little girl. It still works very well even though it’s been used over and over again. Tracing wheels are something else that may be hard to find. Part of the problem with poor quality sewing tools may be that few people sew any more.
Yes, people don't sew like they used to, and they also don't want to spend the money on items that are well made and meant to last. The companies have figured out that people will buy more at the cheaper price point and replace everything when the items wear out. The same is true with sewing machines. They are made with cheap parts and aren't worth repairing when something goes wrong. "Planned obsolescence" is the name of the game.
I wonder if you could use a pizza cutter in place of a teaching wheel. Is try it but the most I do now is crochet. My son, a trucker, sews so much better than I ever did and prefers to create his own patterns. Once he stops driving, I expect him to start playing with 3D printers too.
@@loisruthstrom8143 As one who doesn't sew but does have an unusual imagination, perhaps it would be helpful to explain your response to people like me who have no idea why you are so upset. Educating me with your obvious knowledge would perhaps be a better use of time for both of us.
I've been sewing for many years. I watch a lot of youtube sewing channels, but yours is the first one I've seen that encourages buying vintage tools and notions. After watching this, I'll look for sewing supplies in thrift and antique stores. Thank you for sharing!
Oh isn't that interesting? I figured others would encourage it as well. It's a great way to save money on a hobby that can be quite expensive. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Thanks so much for endorsing vintage buttons, hooks and snaps. I am a huge fan of these, which usually come to me via people saying, "my great aunt died, do you want this stuff?" You betcha. I get sad when I use up a set and have to recycle the packaging, but there's only so much space.
The rule amongst sewists is to never say no if someone offers vintage stuff! You can always sort it later and donate what you can't use, but I never pass up the chance to pick through a pile for some goodies!
I am having a big ugh moment right now, I just got home from a big box store where I spent $4 on 2 large snaps for my new winter coat. There are 3 plastic snaps on it that do not work and since I am in Maine and it is snowing RIGHT NOW, I have to do something now. I have been grumbling about it, I am hoping that 2 will be enough, because I am NOT paying for another package. I remember playing with some of the items you mentioned, when I was a child. I remember buying my mom a NICE pair of scissors for her birthday with my babysitting money when I was like 13 years old. She still has them and they are now being used by me. (they are almost 50 years old now) Your video brought back some wonderful memories, thank you.
@@ColleenMarble Thank you! If it hadn't been snowing, my 16 year old daughter and I would have gone to Goodwill to see what they have. I never know what we are going to find and I am lucky that I have a kid that LOVES thrift stores.
I recently inherited a long sleeved, floor length, champagne colored Lillie Rubin gown. Every square inch is literally covered in glass tubular beads. It must weigh 3 pounds. It is not in perfect shape but could be salvaged . Size 8 made in Hongkong. When I die my sons will throw it in the garbage. What can I do with it?
Loving this episode!! I'm a sewer from the 1960s, and was gratefully schooled in HomeEc. To this day I still only use vintage (1920-1960s) sewing machines and tools/notions. I absolutely agree there are tons of vintage tools/notions discontinued for whatever reasons, that should be re-made for today but Co's won't because of our throw away culture(s). I went from seamstress to quilter to doll maker and my creative passion (happy place) revolves around everything sewing related. Hint(s): old thread(s) is good for temporary basting(s), wad & stuff inside handmade pin cushions. When I make miniature dollhouse dolls, I use old spooled threads 1) slice vertically down the whole spool length with an Exacto knife or single-edge razorblade 2) uncurl it gently 3) drape it all across onto a 1/2" strip of (one's choice of) foundation or a strip of cooking wax paper and machine sew across twice 3) one can also "warm iron" press the paper & thread wig (is) easier to tear away warmed paper, wahlah you have a wig to now trim/ style! Use a vintage alabaster egg (for kids/tots small sock mending), a small empty "thick glass" mayonnaise/jelly jar, etc is better for mending/daring because the needle easily glides off the glass and the needle gets sharpened and lasts longer. I always darned kneehigh socks with an empty glass green olive (longer) jar :)Thanks so much for these uploads I truly enjoy! Ye Olde Quilt Lady :)
I love the way the hem marker holds the cloth so that the pin goes in perfectly, but my problem with it is I don't have a helper and you cant use it by yourself.
That is true! I often do minor alterations for friends and family, so it comes in handy for that. For myself, I just pin, look in a mirror, adjust, repeat until I get it right. It's tedious for sure.
I inherited my mom’s button collection from pre1990. Probably many from the 50s and 60s. Just recently went through them to refresh my memory as to what is in my stash. Nice video. I will not rule out buying vintage anymore, especially scissors.
I really love old buttons! I have quite a collection and did a video about sorting them that you might like. And yes, buy vintage stuff! It's a great way to save money and find quality items that will last forever.
After many years of making costumes for theater, I've become a old clothes hoarder. I'll check the clearance section of my thrift store for items that have good notions on them. Take out the buttons, hooks, zippers for reuse and sometimes even reuse the material depending on how it looks. We were doing the show Mulan and I needed costumes for that...we bought several cheap PJs and used that material... I even used some PJ pants material to recover a red & black hat to make it blue for the show.
I've done a little theatrical costuming too and it makes you get really creative when you have a small budget! Thrift store clothing is a great base for a lot of cool costumes.
I have many of the things you showed, but my favorite is my 1950's Vintage Singer 401a Slant needle sewing machine. I'm 69, (still teaching in the classroom) and have used that machine since I was in grade school and my dad rigged a crank out of a coat hanger and a large spool so I could sew when I was too young to plug it in and use the electric. Besides it's durability and flexibility I love that I can repair it myself when it does occasionally need some help. Love the better vintage stuff. I guess I better quit telling my students I'm old and just tell them I'm vintage.
The old machines are really superior to the new ones. You can't go wrong with a 1950s Singer. It will outlast any modern Singer for sure, and yes, it's great to be able to repair them. I've enjoyed bringing some vintage machines back to life.
This just popped up in my feed. I’m so pleased to find someone who thinks very much like I do! I’ve found so many sewing items while thrifting. Yes it takes time but there’s also a thrill when you find something you’ve been looking for for ages!
Some of these take me back 60 or so years. Some are still available today in original form. Never see a pleat maker though and would love one. As for the thread though, you can still use it. It just needs the moisture to be put back. I damp paper towel in a zip lock bag and into the freezer will restore it. I still have threads that my mother still had when she was young. She passed away at 96 6 years ago. I have used them in my dressmaking business, doing bridal and tailoring etc. Never had a complaint. Try it. You'll be surprised.
I saw a few other comments that mention this about moisture, and I will definitely try it! I heard steaming or freezing like you shared. I see an experiment in my future!
Really enjoyed this, thank you for sharing! One additional reason the old tailors ham is better: the wood inside the old ones performs better. They used old growth hardwood that simply isn't available anymore! It pull the heat more effectively. And again, thank you for sharing this I enjoy your presentation and opinions.
I have a great deal of thread both from my mother and my grandmother. Like old fabrics, old thread will remain strong if properly stored. I'm glad that you mentioned the tug test. Some of it lasts, some of it doesn't, and you never know the history of something you buy.
I love the vintage thread jar! I have a pack of various vintage threads and just keep them in a drawer. I really need to put them in a jar or make a garland of them! I could stack them end to end and make faux supports for my shelves... Look what you've done! Now the ideas won't stop!
I inherited a lot of stuff from my husband's grandmother and the bulk of it was vintage fabrics, buttons, thread (already pitched out; I learned that lesson from trying to use my mom's old thread years ago) and notions. I have a set of the marking chalks, the ones with the holes and had no idea what they were for and now I know! I must have enough needles to supply everyone in my state, though, and no fewer than six or seven pair of pinking shears as well as many other scissors. I'm thinking of donating some of what I have to a local high school that has a very popular fashion design course because of a certain alumna of theirs here on the 'Tube (coolirpa, if you want to check her out). I used to work at a fabric/craft chain that you may have mentioned, so I had a lot of sewing supplies and fabric already! I do have to say that I still love my Ginger lightweight shears because I have carpal tunnel and lighter tools are key to allowing me to be able to sew and craft. I'd never be able to use your enormous shears for more than a few minutes, wonderful as they are!
I love the idea of donating to a local school (and yes, I love coolirpa's videos!!). I did that with patterns when I did a big purge when I first started my channel. It feels good knowing someone else can benefit from those things I can no longer use!
omg, that pleater!! I agree entirely about using vintage tools. I have an adorable little tracing wheel with a red wooden handle, and a very handy brass thumb rest. It's quite short, and I find it really easy to use. I also buy vintage needles and pins when I can find clean ones. Modern ones suck so badly! The vintage hooks and eyes are also vastly superior to what's being made today.
Let's disregard the fact that the old Mercerie (notions) items are still useful; the packaging alone is worth buying them. Wow, I hope I'll find this Tailor Tacker for both sides of the fabric one day too! ♥It's so annoying to mark the other side 😀I've never seen them before here in Switzerland, so fingers crossed. Best wishes from Switzerland, yours truly Katrin
I remember all too well my mom using the hem marking tool on me as a fidgety little girl... She was so delighted when the one came out with powdered chalk and a little ball to puff it on in place. Much faster for both of us! When the little puffer ball wore out, she'd put the tube in her mouth and puff it that way.
Well, I've found out that we both have some of the same antique items. I've been sewing for over 57 years and my Mom sewed before that. A few of my precious gifts are one that I bought in the early 70's and others were Mom's or I got a sale. Some I use and some; I just like to see them on a shelf in a container. I especially like the tracing paper and wheel that I learned to use in Home-Ec class and still have quite a bit. Thanks for a very good video with lots of useful info.
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I recently bought a vintage copy of the Lutterloh patterning system that's as old as I am, so I'm going to do a video on that soon. I just love vintage stuff.
old cotton thread is sadly weakened by time. I found that old silk thread is still alright. Also I mostly use it for decor. Also inheriting a button collection through generations is really fun. I have some from my mum and grandma and even sewing machines from my great grandma from around 1910-1920. Still working fabulous.
The thread comments have been really intriguing on this video. I heard there are ways to save old, weak thread and I may try it on an upcoming video. I agree about old silk thread - I recently found two spools of very old silk thread and it's so strong! I won't have to worry about using it. And I just love old buttons!!
I enjoyed your video. I have a couple of vintage tools given to me by a friend. One of them happened to be your hem marker. I wasn't sure how to use it, but thanks to you, I now know. The other thing I have that my friend doesn't remember what she used it for. It looks like a clothes hanger bent in half with a loop at one end and the other ends are separated with a hook on the end. There is a yellow piece of something, I want to say plastic, maybe it's not, but it moves up and down on the wires. I'll keep watching your videos and maybe you might have one. Thanks for your video...I'll start looking for vintage tools in the local thrift stores. :)
Boy, I sure don't know what that could be. The only thing I've seen that comes close is used for making fringe or other decorations out of yarn - you loop it around the wires and slip it off the ends as you go. I can see it in my head but I don't recall the name nor can I find anything like it online. But I remember seeing it at a thrift/antique store. If I think of it I'll come back here and update you. :-)
I'm really happy I found your channel! I had never seen some of those notions-- I come from a sewing family and married into one as well, so I have a stash of things to start with, but the hem marking stand was new to me. I promptly went on ebay and found one like yours. $20 later it's on its way to my house. I think it will be worth every penny. I liked and subscribed. In my town (Nashville) there is a wonderful second hand craft store that benefits adults with intellectual challenges called SmartArt. I go through all my stuff, donate things that no longer interest me, and shop for things that are interesting to me now. I love it when things work out that way!
I love that you found a hem marker online! I hope you enjoy it. I love stores that do good. The place I go distributes a lot of stuff free to schools, churches and nonprofits that need fabric, and sells the excess to the public. It's all based on donations, and the sales pay for the overhead. I donate a lot but buy a lot more! They also teach classes. It's just a wonderful organization.
My grandmother was a tailor. She had all these tools. I bought a very vintage White sewing machine in a beautiful stand. With the bonus all the drawers were filled with gorgeous notions…and an extra sharp pair of scissors. All for $9.99. The matching stool which I found years later I paid $30 for.
What a find! Patience really pays off with vintage sewing machines and supplies. I buy when the price is right and when the universe puts something special in my path. If I try to look for something, I won't find it. LOL
Professional scissor sharpener here. Gingher scissors are fine. You are incorrect about the quality of the steel. I don't know who your scissor sharpener is, but if they're turning their nose up at Ginghers, they need to fix their pricing structure. It takes me 5 minutes to sharpen Ginghers and I charge $10-$15 for most pairs. If you live to throw things away, yeah, you can pitch out your Ginghers when they get dull. Or you can have someone who knows what they're doing fix them.
Thank you for your input. My Gingher comment sure stirred up a lot of discussion. :-) I have had various brands of scissors turned down by sharpening services in the past, but I've never had my WISS shears turned away and now use WISS almost exclusively. I currently use a sharpening service with 100+ years of history ($5/pair!), and I'm pretty sure THEY would sharpen Gingher shears. But I've also heard many people who've been turned away with Ginghers from their sharpeners, and also that modern Ginghers aren't the same quality as vintage ones. My comment was really just to say that vintage shears are more likely to be serviceable than modern ones or cheap ones. If people can get their Ginghers serviced, then I'm happy for them!
I love antique sewing anything! They are little treasures and most people don't have a clue what they are. Your pleater was very interesting, I have never seen that, thank you
Yes they are small treasures!! The pleater is the BOMB, and I've since come across a second one. If you ever find one, grab it. I use mine all the time! Sorry for my delayed response, by the way. I had an unexpected absence from this channel, but I'm back now!
I started sewing 50 years ago in home ec class and I have a number of things You just demonstrated but the thing I still use when I’m sewing is my chalk holder with the sharpener lid they are awesome And my wax transfer papers there isn’t anything that works as well anymore. But the funniest part of watching this was me not realizing they were vintage. I guess I’m vintage.
I started sewing in home ec too (38 years ago), but didn't sew again until after I got married. Since then, I'm entirely self taught, which has been a fun journey! I guess we all become vintage eventually. I turn 50 this year, so I can't deny it anymore.
Hello Colleen, You have a gift for presenting with a nice voice and pace throughout. It was nice also to hear of someone else who appreciates sewing and vintage tools. I happened to inherit a small eight drawer chest handed down from a great aunt who had a sewing shop in Ellensburg, Washington. It is mostly full of buttons and some other notions like the tracing paper. I love it! I have been sewing more years than I can say without giving away my age! Thank you for your inspiration!
I had and used faithfully the “tailor tacker”. I have looked for because it was probably the best tool I ever bought. I agree, the waxed papers was the best. I still have the tailor. Chalk with the sharpener
I really enjoyed your video. I scour the secondhand shops for sewing supplies. I started sewing doll clothes in the 50s and have also inherited sewing notions from my grandmother. I am always on the lookout for vintage items in thrift stores and estate sales. I wish we had stores that sell dead stock and supplies by the pound. I am always looking for lace and other trims that are from natural fibers. I want to make pretty things that will last for my great-granddaughters before my arthritis gets too bad.
Secondhand shops are the best for sewing supplies! I can't remember the last time I shopped at a place like Joann. I love that you want to make beautiful things for your family. I know they will treasure them!
Excellent video! As a housekeeper, I often repaired/ darned sweater holes, having learned hand sewing at my grandmother’s knee when I was 3. Of course I have a darning egg at home, but at the place I worked, I ended up grabbing an Architectural Digest (La-di-Dah!) and making that into a cylinder, selecting a light cover or a dark, to contrast with the knits. Great in a pinch, perfect for sleeves. Thanks for a trip down memory lane, via my mother’s button (etc) box!
@@buslady3705 I have my great grandmother's black enamel darning egg. She called it a sock darner, so I never knew it was called anything else, until years later. 🧦🧵🥚
I think it's a separate hobby of mine to thrift/collect vintage sewing items. My mom just gave me a darning egg from my great grandmother, which is well used and I love it. I particularly love to thrift vintage patterns. And I have become obsessed with vintage sewing machines lately. Those buttons you found are amazing! I'm going to be looking for some Wiss scissors and pinking shears now! As well as a tailor tacker! New subscriber here :).
Oh I agree - it's a whole separate hobby! I have as much fun collecting the notions and machines as I do actually sewing. It's the perfect intersection of history and craft, for me.
I really loved this video, love seeing all the things people forgot about. I hang on to my old sewing products, so glad I did since now I use them all. Thanks for sharing.
I have been finding wonderful vintage/antique sewing supplies at yard sales and estate sales. Loved seeing what you have. I have some displayed in my sewing area with other antiques but most I still can use. Love them. (my kids loved my "chicken leg" when I would use it.)
What in the world is a chicken leg?? LOL! Maybe a pressing ham? I really do love using vintage and antique notions. It just makes my heart happy to have a bit of history in each project.
True about the thread, with one exception: when doing repairs on old fragile textiles, conservators need the repair to be weaker than the original being repaired. Otherwise the repair itself will cause the old textile to further decompose and tear. Thread that breaks easily but will function well enough to allow for hand stitched repairs is perfect for conservation work. I keep a tin of all colors for this specialized work. Great video!
Oh that's fascinating! I would love to shadow a textile conservator for a day (or more) because I think I'd really enjoy that type of work. How neat that you get to to do that!
I will definitely be keeping my eye out for those scissors! Years ago I was lucky enough to find a pressing ham and what I believe is a sleeve ham (?) at a yard sale. Both looked like they'd never been used! I've purchased lots of snaps, hook and eye sets from garage sales and thrift stores. I haven't been to many lately, but I think I will be checking them out again, especially since I'm now retired and have more time on my hands! Thank you for the video!
What a lovely video! I still have my Wiss shears, both right-handed and left handed. I have my ham, and shoulder roll, and so many of the items you have shared. I love the Tailors Chalk. It was a game changer over other marking tools, even the waxed transfer paper and tracing wheel. I remember so well when we used to pin up the hems in our sewing class. We would hop up on the big table and and help each other out. Thanks for good memories. I now need to go down and peek in my old sewing box to see if I still have my chalk. Good points about the old thread too. I can't part with the wooden spools, nor the gold plastic ones from when Coats and Clarks introduced the Dual Duty thread in the early '70's. Keep sharing your hints and tips.
What a great video, as a sewer of many decades I have inherited many sewing boxes from relatives and friends parents who have passed away, and it is such a private gift, to look through another sewists box, like you I use lots of items from these boxes daily as I sew. I also inherited a stash of buttons from an aunt, many people used to recycle buttons from one worn out garment and some of them are just so beautiful. Thank you for taking the time to share.
Since my HS creative Stitchery class, I knew more than the teacher and I helped finish several projects my disinterested friends were working on, so they let me have all of the leftover threads, yarn, and notions. That's when my hoard/sewing/crafting supplies started coming in. I have a few things of my mom's, a great grandma-in-law, an aunt-in-law, and friend's who are downsizing their relatives things! I have my limits and keep a few things and find homes for the rest. Before we moved, 20yrs ago, I went through fabric, towels and blankets and posted them on a local site to give away to people, charities or places that could give me an idea why they needed my stash. Had a cancer unit needing fleece for 'coughing pillows', animal shelters for towels and blankets, cottons for an elderly quilting group! I answered their inquiries and bagged them up on my porch and labeled them for where they were going. Only had one person asking if I had a few yards of Navy Blue something... No response to her as I was not a fabric store-just downsizing to move bulk usable goods.
I have both my grandmother's and my mother's button boxes! I use the vintage buttons sparingly. Most recently I found enough metal domed buttons to use on a Victorian-era jacket made for a play.
It's for people recovering from heart surgery. They can hold the pillow to their chest when they cough to lessen the pain of coughing. It's a really thoughtful gift to someone recovering from surgery!
I love to hear all of the stories about people's vintage finds, particularly those from family members. I love what you said about it being a 'private' gift - yes, it feels that way, like you are rifling through someone's secret stash. But in a really good way. :-)
I love old buttons and have quite a collection! I posted a video about sorting mine, if you are interested in that sort of thing. The needle books are super easy to find and really inexpensive, so check your local antique malls!
I inherited her scissors from my grandmother. She was a master tailor and of course had professional tools. I am happy with my scissors and the perceived disadvantage of being heavy has turned out to be an advantage.
Thank you! I have a pair of Wiss just like the silver ones. They were my husband’s’ Norwegian Grandmother’s. He is 77 and I have had them since about 1976. They are still incredible. No knowing how old they really are.
That's wonderful! The pair I have from my MIL probably are 60 years old. She was married 60 years when my FIL passed and I think she had them before or just as they got married.
Agreed! I feel all rubber/elastic should be stamped with a production/expiration date! No one can't tell if it's any good in the sealed packaging! Calling my Congressman tomorrow :)
I am so happy that your video appeared to me somehow! I am familiar with your items and agree about collecting buttons and wood spools, with or without thread, they are fun to have! I sorted out my jars of buttons about ten years ago, matching up sets of all sorts, using nylon carpet thread to tie the sets up, so now the jars are by color or material, wood or brass, etc. what a long project that was! I collect darning eggs, although I hardly ever find one that I don’t have now. My favorites are two black ones with silver-plated handles. I was told that they were made to match silverware. I am a new subscriber, and glad to have found you!
I have quite a few Wiss scissors-both shears and 2 sizes pinking shears, too. I have 2 different shaped hams and I never did figure out how to use them, BUT I have them! The tailor chalk in the case, tracing wheel, the wrist pin cushion, the wheel case of needles, tape measure, and a few more goodies were parts of a sewing kit we were asked to buy for our 7th grade home ec class in the late 60's. I have so much fabric, and notions starting from the 70's and I do collect antique notions, too. Needle books are a favorite collection of mine. I have vintage threads on wood spools. I should display them as you have in that cute birdie jar. I appreciate all the goodies you showed! I learned to sew on my grandma's treadle Singer when I was 8 and I haven't stopped yet at 66. I have had a home crafting and sewing business since I was 18 and made a fake fur teddy bear for a friend having a baby shower. I had so many people making orders and that was my beginning!
I love everything to do with sewing and textile art. It's just so satisfying to make something from scratch, and I really appreciate the skill and artistry of others who do such beautiful work. I have had a business to raise money for charity, but now I prefer to sew for myself, although I will help friends and family with alterations at times.
This is the first of your videos I’ve seen, and I am super impressed by the quality of editing and overall video. I thought your channel would have had a lot more subscribers than you do! I can definitely see your channel blowing up soon, good job! 😄
Ha! It's blowing up now! My subscriber count has doubled in the past two weeks from this video, which suddenly hit the TH-cam algorithm! It's kind of shocking! But thank you for watching and for the kind words!
I’ve all those you shared with us, except the plastic pleater & the hemming stand. I’m pushing 70 here & still have & use all of these. My mom used to sew for my older sisters as well as me. She taught me when I was about ten years old. When my kids were little mom gave me all her vintage & antique treasures that added to my own . I’ve some things that you hadn’t mentioned & use all the time. At one point in time, when my kids were little I’d ventured out to see about replacing my needle board & to my shock found out they were going for over a hundred bucks, (I don’t think they even make them anymore), I’d only spent $10 for it, way back when. I still have my old velvet tomato & strawberry. Mom left me her wonderful antique metal pleating board & a fabulous antique pincushion half doll. I had to turn it upside down to clean her up, the silk satin dress, antique lace & beadwork are still just as beautiful as when I was little. She’s in my antique cabinet now. I remember mom using it when I was little, it always set out on her old treadle machine. Mom used to dress antique dolls & she’d hunt down all kinds of antique period fabrics & trims. Because I was the only one of us girls that sew, I inherited it all. Even some fabulous antique millinery silk velvet flowers. I use antique & vintage hankies to dress miniature antique dolls, most are 6” or under. It takes me awhile as my hands get numb easily & the patterns I draw up from pictures of antique period costume making books. I’ll have to see where I can get my Weiss shears, scallops & pinking shears sharpened. I’ve Gingers, but still prefer my Weiss. Being left handed & mom being right handed, I learned to improvise on using the Weiss. Lol Now that I’m retired, I’ve found real enjoyment in dressing antique dolls. Mom had left this beautiful antique pale peach silk I used to dress an old 12” bisque doll in. When I took it to one of the doll shows in San Diego, a friend of my mom’s helped me identify her & was surprised I’d dressed her. Then she proceeded to undress her to check it all out. Can’t thank you enough for sharing with us. It really is delightful to have others that sew & that appreciate the treasures we’ve gotten from family, friends & adventures we go on.
Thank you for sharing your story-same journey as me! In my era too a woman had to have these essential skills sewing/cooking & canning/food preservation skills to keep a family going. LOL: At 8 y/o one of my punishments was cutting 2 X 2 squares of (cereal box's/cardboard containers) to make all Moms embroidery floss bobbins. I NEVER touched her Gingher scissors "again" to make my Patty Playpal dresses. A 2nd punishment was sorting millions of buttons in cookie tins, they ALL to be (color coded/sized/matched/threaded). I would plead & beg to iron sheets & pillowcases instead, hahaha great disciplined days!!
I have the chalk and wondered how to use it with the hole and pin. Now I know. Thank you. I also use the tailors with the sharpener , although I lost the top with the sharpener. I have learned my lesson about the thread so I do pass it up. The thrift stores around me don't have a lot of sewing like most of the ones seen further up north. I'm in Fl. My guess is that when people retire and move down here they get rid of their stuff up there. LOL
You are probably right about that. I used to live in Florida as a teen and I don't remember seeing much sewing stuff. I shopped at thrift stores exclusively because I didn't have money for new clothes, and I would have noticed sewing stuff because I was into crocheting at that time.
This is brilliant, I've been sewing for a while, and also love yard sales, estate sales and random places like that. Learning about all these vintage tools is really cool!
I used to buy Butterick marking paper. It came in the same size envelope than the paper patterns. It had two sheets of orange, white and blue/black papers. I used it a lot for marking darts. I probably still have some in my stash… if I was to look! ❣️🌹
@@rangelady4362 sometimes you can also find darning mushrooms. I have kept my mother’s sewing box. Because we are Swiss, it is decorated with carved edelweiss. When I was a child. It reminded me of an accordeon… because of the way it opens into all those compartments! 🤣😁🌹❣
I love that old tracing paper! And the darning eggs. Also I have one of the accordion style boxes (it's shown in my sewing machine collection video) and I adore it.
I was so happy to come across this video. Thank you. I have one of each of the items you demonstrated and I acquired them in the way you have. 😊 I love my vintage Gingher shears. They rival my Wiss shears in every way. I'd like to suggest in your treasure hunt, look for Solingen steel scissors. They are German steel and hold an edge for long time. My hams (I have 2 sizes) have a wool side for heavy fabrics and a muslin side for light weight. I have thousands of buttons, I have been gifted most of them from estates from family members. Keep up the good work in exposing beginners and casual sewers to helpful, time saving and easier ways to enjoy sewing.
From the comments on this video, I gather the vintage Ginghers are much better than the modern Ginghers. I'm glad you love yours! And I will keep an eye out for the Solingen scissors! I've never heard of that brand before. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Thank you for a BUNCH of great advice. I recently picked up gallon bags of thread at a thrift store for really cheap, but I just am too afraid to use it. Now I know why. That was a great help. And the scissors!! WOW!! Great tutorial.
Oooh I would have bought the thread too, though. Just for the fun of going through it! Even if you only find a few spools worth keeping, it can still be a great deal. Thanks for watching!
I just found this video and I couldn't help but think we are such kindred spirits lol I love finding vintage anything but especially sewing items! I learned how to sew on a treadle, and old White Rotary lol. And I use my darning egg for my socks lol. I have two or three. Thanks for putting up ur videos!
Kindred spirits! Yes, I think many people who sew are happy to find 'their people' when they learn others enjoy the same things. Thanks for watching and commenting! I really appreciate it.
I love old sewing items. Grandma would let me use her way old one. No electricity, just ran when you moved your foot up and down on the metal grate.Such cool old stuff she had. Don't miss the outhouse though! jajaja ☺✌🖖
Thank you so much! I have been very blessed to receive my husband's grandmother's antique thread cabinet, it is full of old buttons and tools, zippers, tracing paper, scissors.... and thread. I knew not to use the thread, but it is so pretty filling all the display windows in the front of the cabinet. Thank you for all your information, I hadn't thought to use the fabric marking tool, tracing paper, or scissors. I have just enjoyed going through all the wonderful tools and notions. One day soon, I'll need to empty it so we can re-secure many of the joints (I want to hand this treasure down to one of my children or grandchildren). My mother-in-law was thrilled I wanted it when they were moving to a smaller home!
I love that you received that gift! My Grandmeir was a sewer all her life, in WWII she sewed Army tents for the war at Industrial sewing factory, sewed hollywood costumes in Los Angeles, and sewed/upholsteried everything on her home industrial Singer model 31. When she left with the angels in 1989 I inherited all her sewing articles. Every day I use many of Her sewing tools/notions doll making, and it so heals my missing her. Some of her fragile antique sewing items I arranged collages into 2-3 inch deep glass front shadow boxes with her photo(s) to hang on my walls. Write a "detailed historical heritage story" to go along with your gift when it comes time to pass along! :)
Why they don't make tools like those anymore? The question is its own answer. To clarify, those tools lasts forever, they can only sell to you once, those companies have gone out of business because there is no more to sell, or they smartened up and made tools with built in obsolescence. That is the only way for any company to stay in business, it is to build tools that do not last so they can sell you over and over.
Awesome video!!! I recognized many if the items you highlighted and am glad to say that I still Own some of them. You’ve inspired me to go antiquing to look for more vintage sewing tools for my collection.
Old thread is not useless if you can get it cheap. I hand baste quite a bit. The older thread is perfect for temporary basting because it doesn't knot and tangle as easily as modern thread. I wax all modern thread for alloermanent hand sewn work because it tangles so much, but who wants to waste time waxing temporary basting thread? Plus weird colors are easy to pick and pull out. Also I do still use my thread from the 80's and have found none of it to be problematic. But I agree that the cotton thread on wooden spools is only for temporary usage. That stuff is a minimum of 50 years old if not 70 or more.
Oh yes, the stuff from the 80s/90s isn't too bad, depending on how good the quality was to begin with. I went through my grandma's thread and kept about half of it for things like basting. The other half went straight to the trash or into my wooden spool jar. But I don't bother using anything on a wooden spool, not even for basting, since I have so much other stuff for that. I just keep it in my jar for decoration. My collection has spilled over into another box, but don't tell anyone. :-) Thanks for watching!
@@ColleenMarble I’ve done fork pleating, and it works great, but you have to be happy with the size of the fork. I do it on kid’s clothes. It’s fast but not fancy. Your pleater is superior.
I’m 74 and have been sewing since I was 12. I still have so many of my Wiss shears, and pinkers, and many other tools from when I started. I even have my original, heavy ironing board. I have everything on this video. 💝💖💜
I loved this video, my mom , which sadly we no longer have relations, had a fabric shop when I was just 5 years old , that 2 years later she was pregnant for my brother and she closed her shop. She kept all of the stock from the shop and til today some of that remains in the attic of a house I just moved across country from, they haven't lived in that house for over 15 years. Knowing she would never do anything with any of that stuff, that I consider treasures, I decided to pack a good bit of it up and take it with me. Buttons, binding, bias, silk thread on wooden spoils( you refuse to use, but I have used it to make dresses for myself, it was surprisingly just fine, no breakage) but I do get what you're saying I have experienced exactly that with cotton & polyester threads. Also rolls and rolls of belt making starter, buckles, appliques, tons of string sequins, rick rack, hooks, needles, omg I can go on and on with all the stuff oh! And really old , vintage patterns! All of this still in the packaging, prices printed from .15 - 2. ! It's so ridiculously insane the cost difference between now and then. I wish I were 5 again, I miss those good old days. I'm now 54, I think I'm going to cry. Anyway that ham, I couldn't find it but I wanted that too. Her singer machine is that retro green, I love it but I left it. Watching your video brought back memories of when times were great. Thank you for that. I love thrift stores exactly for the reasons you mentioned . Now I'm in north Dakota in a city( not like any city I have ever known to be called a city) where there are more deer than people! So it's sort of depressing since the closest sign of life is at least an hour away. I haven't ventured out much yet but I better before I can't due to the treacherous weather up and coming. It will be a nightmare I'm sure. So I took the time to paint a Caribbean beach wall mural with the ceiling being clear blue skies and full sun with the sand flowing on the floor and the shallow waves flowing over that. This way it will perhaps help keep me from falling into a deep depression. I just purchased 9" guggenhein tailor shears. Not sure what kind of quality they are, guess I will find out soon enough but I trust you on those wiss and I will be on the hunt for some . Thank you so much for your time, if you even happen to see this. Many people that have videos no longer tend to their channels so anyway seeing all of your vintage findings was uplifting for me which I greatly needed. This place is nothing like I've ever experienced before in my entire life and I'm worried I made a huge mistake. I also just subscribed but this video was a year ago so hopefully you are still making videos if not I will come back to this one , it was enlightening and comforting to the mind and soul .
Sounds like a treasure trove in the attic! I'm glad you saved some of it. I'd love to crawl through an attic full of sewing stuff. :-) I've since had my first experience with old silk thread, and I will admit that silk is the exception to the rule. I found a GIANT spool of silk buttonhole twist and it's easily 100 years old. That stuff is STRONG. Impossible to break. So I'll have to make a new video some day saying I was wrong. :-)
My husband and I stocked up when a sewing place had a smoke sale after a fire. Most things were unscathed. One odd thing was a whole bolt of purple, green and white openwork knit fabric. We used that to cover a berm, pre-seeding with grass, after some nearby utility work affected our property. It was perfect and broke down nicely in the soil over the years. We paid less than $1 a yard for it, and it was not even smelling of smoke! We also bought trim and thread at very low prices.
I really enjoyed this “chat”! I have my grandmother’s Wiss pinking shears, still in their original box with a 1959 post stamp on it. And thanks for telling me it’s OK to throw out my 40 year old thread. 🤭
I don't know why I was recommended this video, but I'm glad I was. I've been wanting to get back into sewing. I've recently been diagnosed with a chronic illness. I've been struggling for years, but now with treatment I can actually get back into hobbies. My 3 year old daughter has been begging me to sew her more dresses in particular, and her birthday is coming up in a couple months. We have a family tradition of sewing Laura wheeler dolls for the girls in the family too. My great grandma got the patterns years and years ago, and I've already digitized the pattern so I can easily transfer it. I last used the pattern when I was 13 and the doll turned out a little overstuffed, so hopefully I can do better now 20 years later 😆
How wonderful! I'm glad you are doing well enough to get back into sewing, and sewing for your little girl will be so much fun. I'll have to look up Laura Wheeler dolls. I've never heard of them, but that tradition sounds so lovely. Happy sewing!
Thanks for sharing the vintage sewing tools. I have been sewing since the seventh grade, and I own many of the tools that you shared. I don’t sew garments much at this time because I am an avid quilter. The information on the Wiss shears is especially useful. I have a pair that belonged ❤to my mother, so I will have them sharpened.
Thanks for watching and commenting! I love using items that belonged to my relatives. I wish I had my other grandmother's sewing things, but she stopped sewing years before she passed, which was years before I started sewing. I'm sure she got rid of everything when her eyesight started failing.
Its so nice to see this! I have a leather pinky shear ( very heavy) one of the first from America, and other antic shoe making tools from 1900 and buttons, shoe buckles. I collect also old buttons from my grandmother , and use still the thread and needles from 1920! I bought old packages of needles from 1930, there are 20 inside and very thin. I can not find this needles in the shop. Crochet needles i bought from the market. Second hand is nice! Thank you for this, i need a darning tool so i am looking for it. Greetings from Holland!
Greetings! My family heritage is Dutch (my maiden name is VanWinkle, from VanWinkel). I've only ever been to the airport in Amsterdam. I was just telling my husband a couple days ago how much I'd like to learn more about that part of my family and then visit Holland to see where they came from. Someday!
Threads was the reason I nearly gave up machine sewing: they always broke and I assumed that I was just useless as I spent all of my time threading the machine up again. I asked person after person what I was doing wrong and no one had an answer until one lady told me to do the snap test on the thread: it was all useless for machine sewing! I wish we had thrift shops near us like you have near you: ours are all so expensive!
90 percent of machine sewing problems have to do with thread - how the machine is threaded, whether the thread is right for the fabric, or the quality of the thread itself. Also, I've found thrift stores have gotten more expensive, and Goodwill is kind of a joke these days. I do better with smaller, independent thrift stores. But we live in a large city, so there are lots to choose from. I'm sorry your shops are expensive. That's frustrating.
I agree. The older steel used in hooks and eyes will not pull apart or break like the newer, sourced out of country will. I used to sew a lot of clothing, but now mostly repair, and look for decent tools. All my scissors are vintage, as are my pins, buttons, and zippers. I detest the modern plastic zippers. They may work for awhile, but anywhere there is tension or a lot of use, like a jacket, they will break, and I replace them with metal. I do check any cloth type notions like lace or seam binding with a bit of a pull, too. I've found more than a few that the fabric just won't hold up anymore, probably due to horrible storage with heat and/or moisture. Thanks for your video- it was a great way to learn something new
I have been sewing since I was 12 years old and am now almost 74. I actually have most of the vintage tools you are showing and some how I feel very old! If you can’t find the pleat maker you can use a fork with long tines.
Thank you for the video. I first learned how to sew back in junior high in my home economics class. Flash forward 40 years and I started sewing last year. I looked at new sewing machines but they were pricey and I didn't need all of the fancy stitches, bells and whistles. I now have several vintage sewing machines that I use. There is just something special and zen like when using vintage machines. And all of my machines in total were less than one new (good quality) sewing machine. It is so true when people say, "they don't make em like they used to."
Highly Agree! All my sewing is done on vintage sewing machines only, I'm up to 39 machines now, most were rescued from curb dumps and tag sales at $5-10. My SMM told me in 1980 to NEVER buy a sewing machine with anything with plastic guts (interior). "Best advise", because starting in the 1970s all machines made in general were made as "disposables" after 5 years. Sewing machines prior to 1970 had 25 year warranties!! Plus I could never afford a Bernina on a soldier's paycheck, haha :)
Thank you for sharing your wonderful knowledge. My late Sister was a fantastic seamstress and like you, she loved the Vintage products too. You have a lot collection.
Wow. This was Awesome. I’m so Thankful I found you. I don’t see much just some every day stuff and I just love all the vintage sewing stuff I have purchased sew items from garage sales and thrift stores because I just love them.
New subscriber here - this is the first and only (so far) video of yours I've watched. Several of the items you show I have from my mother's sewing stock, and even some of my own from when I started sewing in high school nearly 50 years ago. I appreciate your straight-forward, clear and concise narrative and presentation. Thank you.
hi, I really love your channel! I started as a Millinery machinist at 15 years old ( my first job) ! I'm 68 now and I've retired but through-out the years I worked making everything from babies bonnets ,babywear, ladies dresses, mens trousers and coats( I loved working at the tailors)! then curtains and upholstery. A sewing machinist could move about in the 60s, 70s and 80s ( before the clothing manufactures took the industry abroad)! I finished my sewing career has a leather cutter and machinist making leather suites, I still make clothing for my grandaughters and I do alterations for friends. I love sewing and like you, all the gadgets that go with it. even the vintage sewing machines. (Oh! by the way, I live in the United Kingdom)! Love your videos💕
Thank you so much for watching my videos and taking time to comment! I'd love to sew for a living, but physically I can't sew for many hours at a time. My grandmother worked in a drapery shop for many years but never really loved the work. Sounds like you did love it, and you did it all!
Wonderful video. Have you ever seen the little caps we (I'm 71) used to stick into the top of thread? You slipped the thread under, to keep it from unraveling. I don't think anyone still makes them.
I don't think I have! I'd love to find some. I know they have some other gadgets that clip to the top of the spool to hold the matching bobbin, but I haven't seen what you describe.
Hi. It is so neat you answered me, thanks 😊. I really wish I could remember what they were called, maybe someone still makes them somewhere. They were plastic, but the rubbery kind, usually in pastel colors. I bet the ladies who make their clothes for the period Channels (I don't know what else to call it) would love some of your findings. It's all the things they use on their dresses. I'll keep following you.
LOL, here at 62 I'm still using those wee pastel thread popper/stoppers (bought them back in the early 90s). Then they came out with the plastic bobbie pin style for thread & bobbin combo, now that cling wrap plastic. I'm so Old School I slap on a tab of Scotch tape, haha.
I use a lot of vintage and antique items in my sewing room! Here are 8 of my favorite vintage sewing tools, plus one vintage item I NEVER use. What's your favorite vintage sewing notion?
My Scissors. I thrift some so I am still looking. I love your channel.
@@pennyskelton1851 thank you!
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The Wiss scissors are what I've had since 7th grade Home Economics class. My mother, may she rest in peace, left me her Wiss scissors and her pinking shears, too. They are most prescious to me, as she made our play clothes when we were little, 60-odd years ago.
My greatgrandmother’s ivory awl. And my relatively modern Lucet - great for strings for anyting, even stays!
This was a great video. I'm now 80, and recently started sewing again after not having time for years due to 40+ career in finance. Since I was brought up with the mantras of "Use it up, wear it out, ,make it do ",, and "Waste not, want not.", I still had my sewing basket from when I bought my supplies as a young married woman. Amazingly, I have most of those items you treasure in that basket. The tailor's chalk holder with sharpener, a darning egg, several books of needles, Wiss scissors and pinking shears., and even the tailors ham and sleeve roll -- all look like new. What made me particularly nostalgic was my Aunt Mae's button box, which was a metal Ponds Cold cream tin from the 1920s or 30s. When I was a little girl, I would spend hours sorting the buttons and drawing pictures of dresses that I would make "someday" using some of the more unusual ones. I never knew that these sewing items had disappeared. Perhaps demand just wasn't enough to make it worthwhile to keep manufacturing them. A lot of people gave up sewing for many years because it became necessary to have a two earner family to make ends meet, and there just simply were not enough hours in the day. Now they don't have the skill or the tools to do it right. I will say that my granddaughter can design and produce fabulous things on a 3D printer.
I love that you now have time to sew again! It's such a valuable skill to have. I save a lot of money for my family by being able to alter and mend our clothing as needed. I too have a soft spot for buttons and have fond memories of sorting my grandma's buttons as a kid. Her tin was the butter cookie tin that lots of people used. My boys (now young adults) both know how to sew, but I don't think they'll ever do more than mend clothes. But at least they know! And my son is a whiz with the 3D printer too. :-)
If you're 80 and started to sew again, then I should, I'm turning 68 soon, but thought I'm getting too old. No idea why I thought that. I remember being happy when I sew ...as soon as I get my sewing room cleared out and set up, I'll sew again.
@@joysoul4089 Oh I hope you do! Sewing is such a wonderful hobby.
@@ColleenMarble Oh yes, I also want to mention I have several of those vintage items. didn't realize they are vintage. Didn't realize my giant scissors might could be sharpened
Where have you been? Come back real soon. Vintage patterns Where can I find them?
I have had my Gingher scissors for 30 years and they have been sharpened several times. They are still great shears!
That's great! I've heard from many people that the new Ginghers aren't the same as the older ones, which is probably why some places won't sharpen them. That said, if a pair of scissors work for you and can be serviced, then the brand doesn't matter!
I’m 75 yrs old. Learned to sew on my grandmother Singer treadle machine. I still have it, ALL extras, her hemming tool, dress makers mannequin, button hole attachment, leather thimbles, tailors beeswax….many cards of needles given away as premiums from businesses, at least e-thimbles of all sizes, colors, materials. My favorite are her button boxes……she saved everything ….old zippers, empty spools, buttons, bib overall clasps…..everything. They are on display in my craft room when I am not using them. Wouldn’t part with any of it.🧵🪡
What a treasure!
This comment and the one from @dr.rosilynovertoncfpmrfc5911 show that the workaday tools our antecedents relied upon are true heirlooms. They are a direct legacy from and connection to our moms, grandmothers, great-grandmothers, and truly, all sewists.
@@jangerston So true! I'd rather collect and inherit this kind of stuff than fine art or jewelry.
Weiss is very understated and they are clearly the best on the market today. I am 76 and have the Weiss scissor I got with S&H green stamps when I was in the 7th grade home ec-and still use them despite all my ginger and others.
They really are superior!
Vintage thread that's not good enough for construction is usually still great for hand basting, thread-marking etc so no need to waste it. And I have some old stuff that is in lovely condition - especially some thicker linen threads. I've even got some older cotton thread that, once I've "gone down a couple of layers" is good and strong. It probably depends on the original quality of the thread and the conditions it's been stored in over the years.
Edited to add: Oops - I didn't see JoJo Sewist's comment before I posted mine. So this is like a thumbs-up for what she said. :-)
Agreed. "vintage" thread is usually degraded enough that it will break in a machine. Ok for basting by hand.
Yes, I think I said something about using it for handwork, but anything that needs to have strong seams, like pants or a shirt, should be made with new thread. And yes, I think storage conditions make a huge difference!
When you held up the packet of needles I got a rush of nostalgia. That was the very same and very familiar packet of needles from my grandmother's sewing basket. I'll be 62 in a few weeks, but those memories are still just as fresh as when she pulled her sewing kit out one rainy afternoon and taught me how to thread a needle, knot my thread and sew my very first quilt block from a box of surplus scraps. I think I was nine or ten. Thanks for the walk down memory lane.
@@ml1049 What a wonderful story! Thank you so much for sharing!
@@ml1049I am 71 and I have just made a needle pouch…all hand sewing with blanket stitch and some bead work.
Not perfect But I like it.
I bought a industrial treadle sewing machine and it came with a leather bound box with multiple Wiss shears and pinking shears. They are amazing!
That's awesome!!
I'm flying my 'green' flag! That sounds awesome
Dear. Colleen: Just found your channel and must say how I enjoyed this topic. I recently went through my thread stash and eliminated the wooden spools that I brought home to Toronto from New York City where I lived from 1960 to 1965. These threads were used to make my young children's clothes and it was certainly a trip down memory land to try to recall which items I had used them for. I still have the needle sets, the hook and eye fasteners and buttons and zippers from clothing that were to be discarded or recycled, s we never tossed anything out that could someday be used again. lol These children are now retiring from their careers -- so that tells you what hoarders we become. In 1965 a friend gifted me a wonderful pair of scissors for Christmas. Every year they go for a tune-up at the sharpener's store. You've absolutely right about the scissors. So I thank you. For giving me a heads up on what to be on the lookout for as well as remembering the sewing I did for my young children.
Thank you so much for sharing your story! I love to hear stuff like that. And I adore vintage sewing stuff. It can last forever and be so useful for so many years.
Threw away wooden spools. (Sighs and shakes head.)
I worked at a theatrical costume company here in NYC called Barbara Matera Ltd for 12 years before they closed their doors for good in 2010. Even though I graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology with a fashion degree and a second degree in Accessories design I was very shocked to see the method of marking and cutting that they trained all their workers to do when I first got my job there in 1997. This method was so good that to this day I still swear by it and refuse to do it any other way ever again.
What we did at Matera's was on a cutting table with a homasote top we laid several giant sheets of tracing paper side by side. Then on top of that we laid the two layers of fabric with the wrong sides out. On top of the fabrics we laid another layer of tracing paper with the wax side laying on top of the fabric. Then on top of the top tracing paper we laid the pattern and we pinned all the layers down to the table with push pins. We always made sure to put the pins on the seam allowance side of the pattern so not to have any holes on the garment showing. After everything is pinned down to the table and secured then we would mark/trace out every single line on the pattern with a tracing wheel and ruler. And I do mean everything. When we made custom patterns we always added the seam lines as well as seam allowance lines and darts and notches. This is so the stitchers could be even more exact in their sewing. After we were absolutely sure we had traced everything then we removed the pattern and top layer of tracing paper. We would then pin the fabric patterns together right on the seam allowance along the bias of the fabric so not to have puckers. After all the pinning is done we would finally begin to cut along the seam allowance line.
All of this seems like a lot of work but it does guarantees that nothing will move when marking lines and the fabric doesn't move until after it has been cut. Everything comes out exactly they way it's supposed to. It has to. Some of the Broadway costumes we use to make use to cost up to $7,000 or more. So it better be an exact fit. LOL! Why my fashion college didn't teach us this method is beyond me. Like I said, I still use it and swear by it.
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Another TH-camr, Angela Clayton, uses a homasote board on top of her work table. It's so practical! But I haven't seen anyone mark and cut patterns like you do. That's really smart! I'll have to try that some time!
@@ColleenMarble You should try it. It's good. Right now due to lack of room in my NYC apartment I use one of those folding cardboard with a measurement grid on it. I lay it on the floor when I am cutting anything long. Then I pin the bottom layer of the large 39"x26" inches sheets of tracing paper to it in order to keep it secured. I do miss the homasote table top that I use to work on at my old job. But for now the folding cardboard cutting surface has worked fine and has lasted years for me. It has held up well.
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My Tailor/Dressmaker instructor from Italy taught us the same method and I too still do the same way. Only I use a 2" thick 4' X 8' sheet of (Home Depot) high density styrofoam with T-pins in selvedges to hold the layers, then slide around a small cutting mat (beneath all the layers) to use the tracing wheel. This same styro-foam board I also use to sandwich my quilt tops anchored with T-pins, then hand baste. Two folding plastic sawhorses ($25) support the board while I'm using, then it all folds/stores away till needed again. I can quickly set it up alone. I also ran a centered (permanent marker) line vertical & horizontal for aligning my quilts.
Love comments, very valuable.
As a thrift store addict who's gotten so many batches of "Grandma's sewing basket" supplies, this was super helpful for IDing what some of those things were. I had no idea what on Earth the tack chalk was or how to use it, and I think I have at least 2 set of them now! And agreed on all the trims. I can get packets of bias tape at the thrift store at 5 for $1, including blanket binding, some completely unused/unopened! It's so nice...
I'm glad my video was helpful to you! I may do another video on some other less-common items in my sewing room.
@@ColleenMarble That'd be wonderful. There certainly are plenty of mystery items I've wound up with that I'm sure would be useful if I could figure out what they were designed for.
Hello, I am Lyn from South Africa.i am 091, still sewing.
70 years ago I bought a pair of Wiss shears from a dear Jewish man who had a small shop. Still using them, but I'd like them serviced, but don't know where.
Also had a hem marker exactly like yours. My late husband would sit on a chair, while I climbed on a sturdy chest,and he marked my hem line
Thank you for an informative clip I found on utube
Regards and best wishes,Lyn
What is a tailors ham? I've never heard of such a thing
I found it interesting that you said Ginger scissors were not good. I have both Wiss and Ginger shears/scissors and I actually prefer my Ginger scissors. My sharpener definitely sharpens and adjust Gingher scissors
Yes, that comment seemed to ignite some debate here in the comments! I didn't mean to imply that all Gingher are bad. I mean that not everyone will sharpen them. And I've heard that older Ginghers are much better than the newer ones. If you have someone who will service them, then that's great!
Absolutely. 40+ years of professional sewing and I still refer my Ginghers. I’m still using my first pair.
I agree! Ginger makes beautiful cutting tools. And there is no need to hunt for someone to sharpen them... if they are dull or damaged Gingher will sharpen them for a nominal fee. Very handy for anyone who can't find someone local to sharpen their Ginghers. I treated myself to a new pair of Gingher dressmaker shears to make my daughter's wedding dress 27 years ago. Someone dropped them tips down on a concrete floor and they were done for. I returned them to Gingher for repair and I swear the pair they returned to me was brand new. They certainly cut as if they are new. I also have their embroidery scissors -- the stork scissors are classics. Please don't put them in the same category as cheap scissors (although Gingher was acquitted by Fiskars in 2005.). I also have my MIL's pinking shears. They must be over 50 years old. Still fine but today I only quilt and have no use for them.
Yes, my Gingher scissors are fabulous! And every scissors-sharpener I've seen has no problem sharpening a pair of Ginghers.
I learned to sew in Home Economics (HomeEc) class in 9th (I think) grade, when it was a science requirement for graduation. Subsequently, I sewed my way through the rest of High School, College, and beyond. I made my first wedding dress in the late 1960s. Much later in life, when my sons were courting, I made both of my future Daughters-In-Law's wedding dresses as well as one son's Middle Ages-themed wedding costumes for the bridal party and in-laws. However, all things must come to an end. It was a very sad day for me when I found my body could no longer take the strain of larger machine sewing projects. In the interest of not letting stuff go to waste, the notions, material and patterns I had went to the local community theater's seamstress for costumes. The treadle Singer sewing machine went to Sierra Leone, Africa, to help the women there for their needs. My more modern electric sewing machine went to my best friend, whose old machine had finally died after serving her needs for decades. I kept the newer sewing machine for patching and made masks for the family during the height of the latest pandemic, but bigger projects are out. Now, at 76 I have picked up knitting again.
I'm so sorry to hear you had to stop sewing big projects. I can identify a bit - I had a car accident that left me with neck issues, and I can't sew for too long without having to stop and take breaks. I also injured my wrist and that makes it hard to do a lot of hand sewing without having to stop. It's part of why I made this TH-cam channel. It helps me get something more out of my hobby now that I've had to change the volume and type of sewing I do. But it sounds like you changed a lot of lives with your sewing and with your donations! Good for you!
What fun! I guess I’m vintage too because I have all those goodies bought new when I was a teen. I grab a handful of girls each summer from church and we learn to sew from a pattern. I am so sad home ec is no longer taught in junior high. Cooking and sewing are great examples of practical application of science and math. Love your video
I love that you teach young people how to sew! But don't despair! My boys (now 18 and 20) both took home ec (they call it 'family and consumer sciences' these days) in junior high, and my older son continued with culinary classes all through high school. His school also had fashion classes where the students designed and made the costumes for the school plays. My guys can both cook and sew! :-)
@@ColleenMarble Hello Colleen! What a fantastic video! I too cherish vintage items & sewing item’s in particular!! They all bring back so many of my childhood memories!! All the women in my family knew how to sew incredibly well, my mom made my wedding dress! My grandmother was a private professional seamstress for a very wealthy woman. She had 2 full time seamstresses sewing for her for over 30 years full time; that also meant they designed, sewed, beaded & embroidered everything they made, usually with expensive fabrics, silks, & threads from around the world(including read gold & silver threads).
I’m glad to discover your channel; I just subscribed 👍🏻🤗👍🏻🤗!! Looking forward to more of your videos!! Thank you!! 16:54
@@soniatriana9091 thanks for watching, commenting and subscribing! Your grandmother and mother sound like amazingly skilled women! The best part of having a TH-cam channel is hearing people's stories in the comments and finding like-minded people to share a love of sewing.
I’m 71 years old and have my mother’s waxed tracing paper that she used when I was a little girl. It still works very well even though it’s been used over and over again. Tracing wheels are something else that may be hard to find. Part of the problem with poor quality sewing tools may be that few people sew any more.
Yes, people don't sew like they used to, and they also don't want to spend the money on items that are well made and meant to last. The companies have figured out that people will buy more at the cheaper price point and replace everything when the items wear out. The same is true with sewing machines. They are made with cheap parts and aren't worth repairing when something goes wrong. "Planned obsolescence" is the name of the game.
I wonder if you could use a pizza cutter in place of a teaching wheel. Is try it but the most I do now is crochet. My son, a trucker, sews so much better than I ever did and prefers to create his own patterns. Once he stops driving, I expect him to start playing with 3D printers too.
@@cherylhopton2060 No, a pizza cutter cannot be used as a tracing wheel!! 😮❗
@@loisruthstrom8143 As one who doesn't sew but does have an unusual imagination, perhaps it would be helpful to explain your response to people like me who have no idea why you are so upset. Educating me with your obvious knowledge would perhaps be a better use of time for both of us.
I've been sewing for many years. I watch a lot of youtube sewing channels, but yours is the first one I've seen that encourages buying vintage tools and notions. After watching this, I'll look for sewing supplies in thrift and antique stores. Thank you for sharing!
Oh isn't that interesting? I figured others would encourage it as well. It's a great way to save money on a hobby that can be quite expensive. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Thanks so much for endorsing vintage buttons, hooks and snaps. I am a huge fan of these, which usually come to me via people saying, "my great aunt died, do you want this stuff?" You betcha. I get sad when I use up a set and have to recycle the packaging, but there's only so much space.
The rule amongst sewists is to never say no if someone offers vintage stuff! You can always sort it later and donate what you can't use, but I never pass up the chance to pick through a pile for some goodies!
I am having a big ugh moment right now, I just got home from a big box store where I spent $4 on 2 large snaps for my new winter coat. There are 3 plastic snaps on it that do not work and since I am in Maine and it is snowing RIGHT NOW, I have to do something now. I have been grumbling about it, I am hoping that 2 will be enough, because I am NOT paying for another package. I remember playing with some of the items you mentioned, when I was a child. I remember buying my mom a NICE pair of scissors for her birthday with my babysitting money when I was like 13 years old. She still has them and they are now being used by me. (they are almost 50 years old now) Your video brought back some wonderful memories, thank you.
@@debrasedgwick4697 Those do sound like great memories! Sorry you had to pay full price for snaps but sounds like you really needed them! Stay warm!
@@ColleenMarble Thank you! If it hadn't been snowing, my 16 year old daughter and I would have gone to Goodwill to see what they have. I never know what we are going to find and I am lucky that I have a kid that LOVES thrift stores.
I recently inherited a long sleeved, floor length, champagne colored Lillie Rubin gown. Every square inch is literally covered in glass tubular beads. It must weigh 3 pounds. It is not in perfect shape but could be salvaged . Size 8 made in Hongkong. When I die my sons will throw it in the garbage. What can I do with it?
Loving this episode!! I'm a sewer from the 1960s, and was gratefully schooled in HomeEc. To this day I still only use vintage (1920-1960s) sewing machines and tools/notions. I absolutely agree there are tons of vintage tools/notions discontinued for whatever reasons, that should be re-made for today but Co's won't because of our throw away culture(s). I went from seamstress to quilter to doll maker and my creative passion (happy place) revolves around everything sewing related. Hint(s): old thread(s) is good for temporary basting(s), wad & stuff inside handmade pin cushions. When I make miniature dollhouse dolls, I use old spooled threads 1) slice vertically down the whole spool length with an Exacto knife or single-edge razorblade 2) uncurl it gently 3) drape it all across onto a 1/2" strip of (one's choice of) foundation or a strip of cooking wax paper and machine sew across twice 3) one can also "warm iron" press the paper & thread wig (is) easier to tear away warmed paper, wahlah you have a wig to now trim/ style! Use a vintage alabaster egg (for kids/tots small sock mending), a small empty "thick glass" mayonnaise/jelly jar, etc is better for mending/daring because the needle easily glides off the glass and the needle gets sharpened and lasts longer. I always darned kneehigh socks with an empty glass green olive (longer) jar :)Thanks so much for these uploads I truly enjoy! Ye Olde Quilt Lady :)
Thanks for watching and commenting! I love the idea of making little wigs from old thread! Brilliant!
I love the way the hem marker holds the cloth so that the pin goes in perfectly, but my problem with it is I don't have a helper and you cant use it by yourself.
That is true! I often do minor alterations for friends and family, so it comes in handy for that. For myself, I just pin, look in a mirror, adjust, repeat until I get it right. It's tedious for sure.
I inherited my mom’s button collection from pre1990. Probably many from the 50s and 60s. Just recently went through them to refresh my memory as to what is in my stash. Nice video. I will not rule out buying vintage anymore, especially scissors.
I really love old buttons! I have quite a collection and did a video about sorting them that you might like. And yes, buy vintage stuff! It's a great way to save money and find quality items that will last forever.
After many years of making costumes for theater, I've become a old clothes hoarder. I'll check the clearance section of my thrift store for items that have good notions on them. Take out the buttons, hooks, zippers for reuse and sometimes even reuse the material depending on how it looks. We were doing the show Mulan and I needed costumes for that...we bought several cheap PJs and used that material... I even used some PJ pants material to recover a red & black hat to make it blue for the show.
I've done a little theatrical costuming too and it makes you get really creative when you have a small budget! Thrift store clothing is a great base for a lot of cool costumes.
I have many of the things you showed, but my favorite is my 1950's Vintage Singer 401a Slant needle sewing machine. I'm 69, (still teaching in the classroom) and have used that machine since I was in grade school and my dad rigged a crank out of a coat hanger and a large spool so I could sew when I was too young to plug it in and use the electric. Besides it's durability and flexibility I love that I can repair it myself when it does occasionally need some help. Love the better vintage stuff. I guess I better quit telling my students I'm old and just tell them I'm vintage.
The old machines are really superior to the new ones. You can't go wrong with a 1950s Singer. It will outlast any modern Singer for sure, and yes, it's great to be able to repair them. I've enjoyed bringing some vintage machines back to life.
This just popped up in my feed. I’m so pleased to find someone who thinks very much like I do! I’ve found so many sewing items while thrifting. Yes it takes time but there’s also a thrill when you find something you’ve been looking for for ages!
Yes, the thrill! My husband teases me about it, but I can get more excited about a $2 sewing find than just about anything else.
Know the sleeve "ham" as a sleeve roll. Bourht it & the pressing ham decades ago new.
Some of these take me back 60 or so years. Some are still available today in original form. Never see a pleat maker though and would love one. As for the thread though, you can still use it. It just needs the moisture to be put back. I damp paper towel in a zip lock bag and into the freezer will restore it. I still have threads that my mother still had when she was young. She passed away at 96 6 years ago. I have used them in my dressmaking business, doing bridal and tailoring etc. Never had a complaint. Try it. You'll be surprised.
I saw a few other comments that mention this about moisture, and I will definitely try it! I heard steaming or freezing like you shared. I see an experiment in my future!
ty! good to know!
Really enjoyed this, thank you for sharing! One additional reason the old tailors ham is better: the wood inside the old ones performs better. They used old growth hardwood that simply isn't available anymore! It pull the heat more effectively. And again, thank you for sharing this I enjoy your presentation and opinions.
That is so true. I also don't think a handmade one could measure up to the old ones. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I have a great deal of thread both from my mother and my grandmother. Like old fabrics, old thread will remain strong if properly stored. I'm glad that you mentioned the tug test. Some of it lasts, some of it doesn't, and you never know the history of something you buy.
Exactly. You just can't know for sure. If a project is really important, I will always choose new thread.
@@ColleenMarbleyou can know for sure just test it. Keep it in a zip lock and occasionally add a few drops of warer
I love the vintage thread jar! I have a pack of various vintage threads and just keep them in a drawer. I really need to put them in a jar or make a garland of them! I could stack them end to end and make faux supports for my shelves...
Look what you've done! Now the ideas won't stop!
I love using old stuff for decor! I think anything that lets those beautiful items be seen is a great idea!
I inherited a lot of stuff from my husband's grandmother and the bulk of it was vintage fabrics, buttons, thread (already pitched out; I learned that lesson from trying to use my mom's old thread years ago) and notions. I have a set of the marking chalks, the ones with the holes and had no idea what they were for and now I know! I must have enough needles to supply everyone in my state, though, and no fewer than six or seven pair of pinking shears as well as many other scissors. I'm thinking of donating some of what I have to a local high school that has a very popular fashion design course because of a certain alumna of theirs here on the 'Tube (coolirpa, if you want to check her out).
I used to work at a fabric/craft chain that you may have mentioned, so I had a lot of sewing supplies and fabric already! I do have to say that I still love my Ginger lightweight shears because I have carpal tunnel and lighter tools are key to allowing me to be able to sew and craft. I'd never be able to use your enormous shears for more than a few minutes, wonderful as they are!
I love the idea of donating to a local school (and yes, I love coolirpa's videos!!). I did that with patterns when I did a big purge when I first started my channel. It feels good knowing someone else can benefit from those things I can no longer use!
omg, that pleater!! I agree entirely about using vintage tools. I have an adorable little tracing wheel with a red wooden handle, and a very handy brass thumb rest. It's quite short, and I find it really easy to use. I also buy vintage needles and pins when I can find clean ones. Modern ones suck so badly! The vintage hooks and eyes are also vastly superior to what's being made today.
That pleater is a star! LOL! I love it and I'm so glad one wandered into my life (literally - it was in a box of stuff given to me by a friend).
Let's disregard the fact that the old Mercerie (notions) items are still useful; the packaging alone is worth buying them. Wow, I hope I'll find this Tailor Tacker for both sides of the fabric one day too! ♥It's so annoying to mark the other side 😀I've never seen them before here in Switzerland, so fingers crossed. Best wishes from Switzerland, yours truly Katrin
Thanks for watching from Switzerland! :-) I hope you can find a Tailor Tacker too. It's just so useful, and I'm sad they quit making them.
I remember all too well my mom using the hem marking tool on me as a fidgety little girl... She was so delighted when the one came out with powdered chalk and a little ball to puff it on in place. Much faster for both of us! When the little puffer ball wore out, she'd put the tube in her mouth and puff it that way.
Hey that was thinking! I never would have thought to do that. Of course, I'd probably inhale it, with my luck. LOL
Well, I've found out that we both have some of the same antique items. I've been sewing for over 57 years and my Mom sewed before that. A few of my precious gifts are one that I bought in the early 70's and others were Mom's or I got a sale. Some I use and some; I just like to see them on a shelf in a container. I especially like the tracing paper and wheel that I learned to use in Home-Ec class and still have quite a bit. Thanks for a very good video with lots of useful info.
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I recently bought a vintage copy of the Lutterloh patterning system that's as old as I am, so I'm going to do a video on that soon. I just love vintage stuff.
old cotton thread is sadly weakened by time. I found that old silk thread is still alright. Also I mostly use it for decor. Also inheriting a button collection through generations is really fun. I have some from my mum and grandma and even sewing machines from my great grandma from around 1910-1920. Still working fabulous.
The thread comments have been really intriguing on this video. I heard there are ways to save old, weak thread and I may try it on an upcoming video. I agree about old silk thread - I recently found two spools of very old silk thread and it's so strong! I won't have to worry about using it. And I just love old buttons!!
I have also been gifted older spools that were still useful, especially the silk. It can really depend.
I enjoyed your video. I have a couple of vintage tools given to me by a friend. One of them happened to be your hem marker. I wasn't sure how to use it, but thanks to you, I now know. The other thing I have that my friend doesn't remember what she used it for. It looks like a clothes hanger bent in half with a loop at one end and the other ends are separated with a hook on the end. There is a yellow piece of something, I want to say plastic, maybe it's not, but it moves up and down on the wires. I'll keep watching your videos and maybe you might have one. Thanks for your video...I'll start looking for vintage tools in the local thrift stores. :)
Boy, I sure don't know what that could be. The only thing I've seen that comes close is used for making fringe or other decorations out of yarn - you loop it around the wires and slip it off the ends as you go. I can see it in my head but I don't recall the name nor can I find anything like it online. But I remember seeing it at a thrift/antique store. If I think of it I'll come back here and update you. :-)
id love a pic or drawing of this. cant quite picture it..
I'm really happy I found your channel! I had never seen some of those notions-- I come from a sewing family and married into one as well, so I have a stash of things to start with, but the hem marking stand was new to me. I promptly went on ebay and found one like yours. $20 later it's on its way to my house. I think it will be worth every penny. I liked and subscribed.
In my town (Nashville) there is a wonderful second hand craft store that benefits adults with intellectual challenges called SmartArt. I go through all my stuff, donate things that no longer interest me, and shop for things that are interesting to me now. I love it when things work out that way!
I love that you found a hem marker online! I hope you enjoy it. I love stores that do good. The place I go distributes a lot of stuff free to schools, churches and nonprofits that need fabric, and sells the excess to the public. It's all based on donations, and the sales pay for the overhead. I donate a lot but buy a lot more! They also teach classes. It's just a wonderful organization.
My grandmother was a tailor. She had all these tools. I bought a very vintage White sewing machine in a beautiful stand. With the bonus all the drawers were filled with gorgeous notions…and an extra sharp pair of scissors. All for $9.99. The matching stool which I found years later I paid $30 for.
What a find! Patience really pays off with vintage sewing machines and supplies. I buy when the price is right and when the universe puts something special in my path. If I try to look for something, I won't find it. LOL
@@ColleenMarble I had to disconnect the door to get the darn thing into my backseat….I knew it would fit and it did.
Professional scissor sharpener here. Gingher scissors are fine. You are incorrect about the quality of the steel. I don't know who your scissor sharpener is, but if they're turning their nose up at Ginghers, they need to fix their pricing structure. It takes me 5 minutes to sharpen Ginghers and I charge $10-$15 for most pairs.
If you live to throw things away, yeah, you can pitch out your Ginghers when they get dull. Or you can have someone who knows what they're doing fix them.
Thank you for your input. My Gingher comment sure stirred up a lot of discussion. :-) I have had various brands of scissors turned down by sharpening services in the past, but I've never had my WISS shears turned away and now use WISS almost exclusively. I currently use a sharpening service with 100+ years of history ($5/pair!), and I'm pretty sure THEY would sharpen Gingher shears. But I've also heard many people who've been turned away with Ginghers from their sharpeners, and also that modern Ginghers aren't the same quality as vintage ones. My comment was really just to say that vintage shears are more likely to be serviceable than modern ones or cheap ones. If people can get their Ginghers serviced, then I'm happy for them!
I love antique sewing anything! They are little treasures and most people don't have a clue what they are. Your pleater was very interesting, I have never seen that, thank you
Yes they are small treasures!! The pleater is the BOMB, and I've since come across a second one. If you ever find one, grab it. I use mine all the time! Sorry for my delayed response, by the way. I had an unexpected absence from this channel, but I'm back now!
I started sewing 50 years ago in home ec class and I have a number of things You just demonstrated but the thing I still use when I’m sewing is my chalk holder with the sharpener lid they are awesome And my wax transfer papers there isn’t anything that works as well anymore. But the funniest part of watching this was me not realizing they were vintage. I guess I’m vintage.
I started sewing in home ec too (38 years ago), but didn't sew again until after I got married. Since then, I'm entirely self taught, which has been a fun journey! I guess we all become vintage eventually. I turn 50 this year, so I can't deny it anymore.
I didn’t know what the double chalk thing was. Thanks!
It's such a nifty gadget!
The vintage thread is great for hand basting.
Yes it is! Or mockups if it will go through your machine without breaking.
Hello Colleen,
You have a gift for presenting with a nice voice and pace throughout. It was nice also to hear of someone else who appreciates sewing and vintage tools. I happened to inherit a small eight drawer chest handed down from a great aunt who had a sewing shop in Ellensburg, Washington. It is mostly full of buttons and some other notions like the tracing paper. I love it! I have been sewing more years than I can say without giving away my age! Thank you for your inspiration!
Thank you! That's a kind thing to say! I agree that it's nice to find others who have similar interests! Thank you for watching and commenting.
I had and used faithfully the “tailor tacker”. I have looked for because it was probably the best tool I ever bought. I agree, the waxed papers was the best. I still have the tailor. Chalk with the sharpener
Those old marking methods are the best!
I really enjoyed your video. I scour the secondhand shops for sewing supplies. I started sewing doll clothes in the 50s and have also inherited sewing notions from my grandmother. I am always on the lookout for vintage items in thrift stores and estate sales. I wish we had stores that sell dead stock and supplies by the pound. I am always looking for lace and other trims that are from natural fibers. I want to make pretty things that will last for my great-granddaughters before my arthritis gets too bad.
Secondhand shops are the best for sewing supplies! I can't remember the last time I shopped at a place like Joann. I love that you want to make beautiful things for your family. I know they will treasure them!
Excellent video! As a housekeeper, I often repaired/ darned sweater holes, having learned hand sewing at my grandmother’s knee when I was 3. Of course I have a darning egg at home, but at the place I worked, I ended up grabbing an Architectural Digest (La-di-Dah!) and making that into a cylinder, selecting a light cover or a dark, to contrast with the knits. Great in a pinch, perfect for sleeves. Thanks for a trip down memory lane, via my mother’s button (etc) box!
Hey, Architectural Digest works! LOL and brilliant to use it for a sleeve!
The darning egg would be great for repairing socks as well.
@@buslady3705 I have my great grandmother's black enamel darning egg. She called it a sock darner, so I never knew it was called anything else, until years later. 🧦🧵🥚
I enjoy the vintage tools !!! They are so cool !!! The pleat maker is especially unique!!!
That pleat maker is the BOMB. I love it and use it all the time!
I think it's a separate hobby of mine to thrift/collect vintage sewing items. My mom just gave me a darning egg from my great grandmother, which is well used and I love it. I particularly love to thrift vintage patterns. And I have become obsessed with vintage sewing machines lately. Those buttons you found are amazing! I'm going to be looking for some Wiss scissors and pinking shears now! As well as a tailor tacker! New subscriber here :).
Darning eggs👏👏👏
Oh I agree - it's a whole separate hobby! I have as much fun collecting the notions and machines as I do actually sewing. It's the perfect intersection of history and craft, for me.
Lots of pinking shears in need of sharpening on eBay at the moment. I went there looking for tailor’s shears and found so many pinkers!
I really loved this video, love seeing all the things people forgot about. I hang on to my old sewing products, so glad I did since now I use them all. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
I have been finding wonderful vintage/antique sewing supplies at yard sales and estate sales. Loved seeing what you have. I have some displayed in my sewing area with other antiques but most I still can use. Love them. (my kids loved my "chicken leg" when I would use it.)
What in the world is a chicken leg?? LOL! Maybe a pressing ham? I really do love using vintage and antique notions. It just makes my heart happy to have a bit of history in each project.
@@ColleenMarble It's a darning egg. It looks like a chicken leg.
@@shannabauer Oh it's obvious now that you said it. LOL! How fun!
True about the thread, with one exception: when doing repairs on old fragile textiles, conservators need the repair to be weaker than the original being repaired. Otherwise the repair itself will cause the old textile to further decompose and tear. Thread that breaks easily but will function well enough to allow for hand stitched repairs is perfect for conservation work. I keep a tin of all colors for this specialized work. Great video!
Oh that's fascinating! I would love to shadow a textile conservator for a day (or more) because I think I'd really enjoy that type of work. How neat that you get to to do that!
I will definitely be keeping my eye out for those scissors!
Years ago I was lucky enough to find a pressing ham and what I believe is a sleeve ham (?) at a yard sale. Both looked like they'd never been used! I've purchased lots of snaps, hook and eye sets from garage sales and thrift stores. I haven't been to many lately, but I think I will be checking them out again, especially since I'm now retired and have more time on my hands!
Thank you for the video!
I found a sleeve ham (from the 70s, made of wool and sawdust) at a thrift store still new in the package! I forgot to show it in this video.
What a lovely video! I still have my Wiss shears, both right-handed and left handed. I have my ham, and shoulder roll, and so many of the items you have shared. I love the Tailors Chalk. It was a game changer over other marking tools, even the waxed transfer paper and tracing wheel. I remember so well when we used to pin up the hems in our sewing class. We would hop up on the big table and and help each other out. Thanks for good memories. I now need to go down and peek in my old sewing box to see if I still have my chalk. Good points about the old thread too. I can't part with the wooden spools, nor the gold plastic ones from when Coats and Clarks introduced the Dual Duty thread in the early '70's. Keep sharing your hints and tips.
Thanks for sharing your story! I have really enjoyed hearing everyone talk about their sewing history.
What a great video, as a sewer of many decades I have inherited many sewing boxes from relatives and friends parents who have passed away, and it is such a private gift, to look through another sewists box, like you I use lots of items from these boxes daily as I sew. I also inherited a stash of buttons from an aunt, many people used to recycle buttons from one worn out garment and some of them are just so beautiful. Thank you for taking the time to share.
Since my HS creative Stitchery class, I knew more than the teacher and I helped finish several projects my disinterested friends were working on, so they let me have all of the leftover threads, yarn, and notions. That's when my hoard/sewing/crafting supplies started coming in. I have a few things of my mom's, a great grandma-in-law, an aunt-in-law, and friend's who are downsizing their relatives things! I have my limits and keep a few things and find homes for the rest. Before we moved, 20yrs ago, I went through fabric, towels and blankets and posted them on a local site to give away to people, charities or places that could give me an idea why they needed my stash. Had a cancer unit needing fleece for 'coughing pillows', animal shelters for towels and blankets, cottons for an elderly quilting group! I answered their inquiries and bagged them up on my porch and labeled them for where they were going. Only had one person asking if I had a few yards of Navy Blue something... No response to her as I was not a fabric store-just downsizing to move bulk usable goods.
I have both my grandmother's and my mother's button boxes! I use the vintage buttons sparingly. Most recently I found enough metal domed buttons to use on a Victorian-era jacket made for a play.
@@nancyhinds3821 what is a “coughing” pillow? I would love to know how to use fleece.
It's for people recovering from heart surgery. They can hold the pillow to their chest when they cough to lessen the pain of coughing. It's a really thoughtful gift to someone recovering from surgery!
I love to hear all of the stories about people's vintage finds, particularly those from family members. I love what you said about it being a 'private' gift - yes, it feels that way, like you are rifling through someone's secret stash. But in a really good way. :-)
Oh my gosh!! Those buttons!!
And I remember the vintage needle books. I wish I had mine still.
I love old buttons and have quite a collection! I posted a video about sorting mine, if you are interested in that sort of thing. The needle books are super easy to find and really inexpensive, so check your local antique malls!
I have now, have had, or have used, every item in your list. Great to see you teaching others what these things are and where to get them. :)
Thanks! Sewing has become kind of a lost art and I do hope people start returning to it. It's a useful skill to have, and a lot of fun to boot!
I inherited her scissors from my grandmother. She was a master tailor and of course had professional tools. I am happy with my scissors and the perceived disadvantage of being heavy has turned out to be an advantage.
Exactly! Heavy is an advantage, especially with heavy fabrics. It gives you more control.
Thank you! I have a pair of Wiss just like the silver ones. They were my husband’s’ Norwegian Grandmother’s. He is 77 and I have had them since about 1976. They are still incredible. No knowing how old they really are.
That's wonderful! The pair I have from my MIL probably are 60 years old. She was married 60 years when my FIL passed and I think she had them before or just as they got married.
Great video, another thing not to buy vintage is elastic. Thanks for sharing.
So true! Always test elastic!
Agreed! I feel all rubber/elastic should be stamped with a production/expiration date! No one can't tell if it's any good in the sealed packaging! Calling my Congressman tomorrow :)
I am so happy that your video appeared to me somehow! I am familiar with your items and agree about collecting buttons and wood spools, with or without thread, they are fun to have!
I sorted out my jars of buttons about ten years ago, matching up sets of all sorts, using nylon carpet thread to tie the sets up, so now the jars are by color or material, wood or brass, etc. what a long project that was!
I collect darning eggs, although I hardly ever find one that I don’t have now. My favorites are two black ones with silver-plated handles. I was told that they were made to match silverware.
I am a new subscriber, and glad to have found you!
I did the same thing to organize my buttons! Check out my button-sorting video. Thanks for subscribing!
Wow!!! How lucky to have found a silver handled darning egg!!! 😀
I have quite a few Wiss scissors-both shears and 2 sizes pinking shears, too. I have 2 different shaped hams and I never did figure out how to use them, BUT I have them! The tailor chalk in the case, tracing wheel, the wrist pin cushion, the wheel case of needles, tape measure, and a few more goodies were parts of a sewing kit we were asked to buy for our 7th grade home ec class in the late 60's. I have so much fabric, and notions starting from the 70's and I do collect antique notions, too. Needle books are a favorite collection of mine. I have vintage threads on wood spools. I should display them as you have in that cute birdie jar. I appreciate all the goodies you showed! I learned to sew on my grandma's treadle Singer when I was 8 and I haven't stopped yet at 66. I have had a home crafting and sewing business since I was 18 and made a fake fur teddy bear for a friend having a baby shower. I had so many people making orders and that was my beginning!
I love everything to do with sewing and textile art. It's just so satisfying to make something from scratch, and I really appreciate the skill and artistry of others who do such beautiful work. I have had a business to raise money for charity, but now I prefer to sew for myself, although I will help friends and family with alterations at times.
This is the first of your videos I’ve seen, and I am super impressed by the quality of editing and overall video. I thought your channel would have had a lot more subscribers than you do! I can definitely see your channel blowing up soon, good job! 😄
Ha! It's blowing up now! My subscriber count has doubled in the past two weeks from this video, which suddenly hit the TH-cam algorithm! It's kind of shocking! But thank you for watching and for the kind words!
I’ve all those you shared with us, except the plastic pleater & the hemming stand. I’m pushing 70 here & still have & use all of these. My mom used to sew for my older sisters as well as me. She taught me when I was about ten years old. When my kids were little mom gave me all her vintage & antique treasures that added to my own . I’ve some things that you hadn’t mentioned & use all the time. At one point in time, when my kids were little I’d ventured out to see about replacing my needle board & to my shock found out they were going for over a hundred bucks, (I don’t think they even make them anymore), I’d only spent $10 for it, way back when. I still have my old velvet tomato & strawberry. Mom left me her wonderful antique metal pleating board & a fabulous antique pincushion half doll. I had to turn it upside down to clean her up, the silk satin dress, antique lace & beadwork are still just as beautiful as when I was little. She’s in my antique cabinet now. I remember mom using it when I was little, it always set out on her old treadle machine. Mom used to dress antique dolls & she’d hunt down all kinds of antique period fabrics & trims. Because I was the only one of us girls that sew, I inherited it all. Even some fabulous antique millinery silk velvet flowers. I use antique & vintage hankies to dress miniature antique dolls, most are 6” or under. It takes me awhile as my hands get numb easily & the patterns I draw up from pictures of antique period costume making books. I’ll have to see where I can get my Weiss shears, scallops & pinking shears sharpened. I’ve Gingers, but still prefer my Weiss. Being left handed & mom being right handed, I learned to improvise on using the Weiss. Lol Now that I’m retired, I’ve found real enjoyment in dressing antique dolls. Mom had left this beautiful antique pale peach silk I used to dress an old 12” bisque doll in. When I took it to one of the doll shows in San Diego, a friend of my mom’s helped me identify her & was surprised I’d dressed her. Then she proceeded to undress her to check it all out.
Can’t thank you enough for sharing with us. It really is delightful to have others that sew & that appreciate the treasures we’ve gotten from family, friends & adventures we go on.
Sounds like you have some great family mementos! I would love to have an antique pleating board!
Thank you for sharing your story-same journey as me! In my era too a woman had to have these essential skills sewing/cooking & canning/food preservation skills to keep a family going. LOL: At 8 y/o one of my punishments was cutting 2 X 2 squares of (cereal box's/cardboard containers) to make all Moms embroidery floss bobbins. I NEVER touched her Gingher scissors "again" to make my Patty Playpal dresses. A 2nd punishment was sorting millions of buttons in cookie tins, they ALL to be (color coded/sized/matched/threaded). I would plead & beg to iron sheets & pillowcases instead, hahaha great disciplined days!!
I have the chalk and wondered how to use it with the hole and pin. Now I know. Thank you. I also use the tailors with the sharpener , although I lost the top with the sharpener. I have learned my lesson about the thread so I do pass it up. The thrift stores around me don't have a lot of sewing like most of the ones seen further up north. I'm in Fl. My guess is that when people retire and move down here they get rid of their stuff up there. LOL
You are probably right about that. I used to live in Florida as a teen and I don't remember seeing much sewing stuff. I shopped at thrift stores exclusively because I didn't have money for new clothes, and I would have noticed sewing stuff because I was into crocheting at that time.
This is brilliant, I've been sewing for a while, and also love yard sales, estate sales and random places like that. Learning about all these vintage tools is really cool!
It's so fun to hunt for vintage supplies! Glad you enjoyed the video.
I used to buy Butterick marking paper. It came in the same size envelope than the paper patterns. It had two sheets of orange, white and blue/black papers. I used it a lot for marking darts. I probably still have some in my stash… if I was to look! ❣️🌹
I have my grandmother's darnining egg. I treasure it
@@rangelady4362 sometimes you can also find darning mushrooms. I have kept my mother’s sewing box. Because we are Swiss, it is decorated with carved edelweiss. When I was a child. It reminded me of an accordeon… because of the way it opens into all those compartments! 🤣😁🌹❣
I love that old tracing paper! And the darning eggs. Also I have one of the accordion style boxes (it's shown in my sewing machine collection video) and I adore it.
I was so happy to come across this video. Thank you. I have one of each of the items you demonstrated and I acquired them in the way you have. 😊
I love my vintage Gingher shears. They rival my Wiss shears in every way. I'd like to suggest in your treasure hunt, look for Solingen steel scissors. They are German steel and hold an edge for long time. My hams (I have 2 sizes) have a wool side for heavy fabrics and a muslin side for light weight. I have thousands of buttons, I have been gifted most of them from estates from family members. Keep up the good work in exposing beginners and casual sewers to helpful, time saving and easier ways to enjoy sewing.
From the comments on this video, I gather the vintage Ginghers are much better than the modern Ginghers. I'm glad you love yours! And I will keep an eye out for the Solingen scissors! I've never heard of that brand before. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Thank you for a BUNCH of great advice. I recently picked up gallon bags of thread at a thrift store for really cheap, but I just am too afraid to use it. Now I know why. That was a great help. And the scissors!! WOW!! Great tutorial.
Oooh I would have bought the thread too, though. Just for the fun of going through it! Even if you only find a few spools worth keeping, it can still be a great deal. Thanks for watching!
I agree! I use my pin chalk tool except one side is lost-yes I visit thrift stores! Love old buttons & put them on my new clothes. Thank you
I hope you can locate a full set of the pin chalk thing some day! And the old buttons are just so fun to collect and use.
I just found this video and I couldn't help but think we are such kindred spirits lol
I love finding vintage anything but especially sewing items! I learned how to sew on a treadle, and old White Rotary lol. And I use my darning egg for my socks lol. I have two or three. Thanks for putting up ur videos!
Kindred spirits! Yes, I think many people who sew are happy to find 'their people' when they learn others enjoy the same things. Thanks for watching and commenting! I really appreciate it.
@@ColleenMarble Your very welcome ❣️
I love old sewing items. Grandma would let me use her way old one. No electricity, just ran when you moved your foot up and down on the metal grate.Such cool old stuff she had. Don't miss the outhouse though! jajaja ☺✌🖖
I love treadle machines, but agree on the outhouse!
Hi Colleen, this was certainly a trip down memory lane. I recognized a lot of items you showed from my mom's sewing room. Thanks for the video.
I love these old sewing items. It's like holding hands with people from the past, especially when they were owned by a loved one, like my grandma. :-)
Thank you so much! I have been very blessed to receive my husband's grandmother's antique thread cabinet, it is full of old buttons and tools, zippers, tracing paper, scissors.... and thread. I knew not to use the thread, but it is so pretty filling all the display windows in the front of the cabinet. Thank you for all your information, I hadn't thought to use the fabric marking tool, tracing paper, or scissors. I have just enjoyed going through all the wonderful tools and notions. One day soon, I'll need to empty it so we can re-secure many of the joints (I want to hand this treasure down to one of my children or grandchildren). My mother-in-law was thrilled I wanted it when they were moving to a smaller home!
Oh yes, that's an amazing treasure indeed! I'm so glad you have it!
I love that you received that gift! My Grandmeir was a sewer all her life, in WWII she sewed Army tents for the war at Industrial sewing factory, sewed hollywood costumes in Los Angeles, and sewed/upholsteried everything on her home industrial Singer model 31. When she left with the angels in 1989 I inherited all her sewing articles. Every day I use many of Her sewing tools/notions doll making, and it so heals my missing her. Some of her fragile antique sewing items I arranged collages into 2-3 inch deep glass front shadow boxes with her photo(s) to hang on my walls. Write a "detailed historical heritage story" to go along with your gift when it comes time to pass along! :)
I don't sew at all, but I still enjoyed watching this video.
Great quality and interesting even to a non- sewer.
Thank you!
Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it even if you don't sew. You made my day! :-)
I have my Nana's egg, for darning holes closed. Now, using Sashiko stitching, they are just not a darned hole!!!
That's great! I would like to learn Sashiko.
I love to find the vintage hand sewing needles. The needles are much better than the needles produced today. I have that exact needle package.
I totally agree! Those needles are far superior!
Why they don't make tools like those anymore? The question is its own answer.
To clarify, those tools lasts forever, they can only sell to you once, those companies have gone out of business because there is no more to sell, or they smartened up and made tools with built in obsolescence. That is the only way for any company to stay in business, it is to build tools that do not last so they can sell you over and over.
So true. It's sad how disposable everything has become.
Awesome video!!! I recognized many if the items you highlighted and am glad to say that I still Own some of them. You’ve inspired me to go antiquing to look for more vintage sewing tools for my collection.
Happy hunting!
Old thread is not useless if you can get it cheap. I hand baste quite a bit. The older thread is perfect for temporary basting because it doesn't knot and tangle as easily as modern thread. I wax all modern thread for alloermanent hand sewn work because it tangles so much, but who wants to waste time waxing temporary basting thread? Plus weird colors are easy to pick and pull out. Also I do still use my thread from the 80's and have found none of it to be problematic. But I agree that the cotton thread on wooden spools is only for temporary usage. That stuff is a minimum of 50 years old if not 70 or more.
Oh yes, the stuff from the 80s/90s isn't too bad, depending on how good the quality was to begin with. I went through my grandma's thread and kept about half of it for things like basting. The other half went straight to the trash or into my wooden spool jar. But I don't bother using anything on a wooden spool, not even for basting, since I have so much other stuff for that. I just keep it in my jar for decoration. My collection has spilled over into another box, but don't tell anyone. :-) Thanks for watching!
This was so informative and I dearly love vintage . Thank you .
Thanks for watching and commenting! Vintage stuff just makes my heart happy, and it's nice to know other people love it too.
I saw a video today of a lady using a fork to make pleats!
I've heard of that trick but haven't ever tried it! It's pretty clever!
@@ColleenMarble I’ve done fork pleating, and it works great, but you have to be happy with the size of the fork. I do it on kid’s clothes. It’s fast but not fancy. Your pleater is superior.
Yes, you're limited to what your fork can do. I do like having one tool that can do multiple sizes.
I’m 74 and have been sewing since I was 12. I still have so many of my Wiss shears, and pinkers, and many other tools from when I started. I even have my original, heavy ironing board. I have everything on this video. 💝💖💜
That's great! There's no reason to replace those items. They'll outlast us all!
I loved this video, my mom , which sadly we no longer have relations, had a fabric shop when I was just 5 years old , that 2 years later she was pregnant for my brother and she closed her shop. She kept all of the stock from the shop and til today some of that remains in the attic of a house I just moved across country from, they haven't lived in that house for over 15 years. Knowing she would never do anything with any of that stuff, that I consider treasures, I decided to pack a good bit of it up and take it with me. Buttons, binding, bias, silk thread on wooden spoils( you refuse to use, but I have used it to make dresses for myself, it was surprisingly just fine, no breakage) but I do get what you're saying I have experienced exactly that with cotton & polyester threads. Also rolls and rolls of belt making starter, buckles, appliques, tons of string sequins, rick rack, hooks, needles, omg I can go on and on with all the stuff oh! And really old , vintage patterns! All of this still in the packaging, prices printed from .15 - 2. ! It's so ridiculously insane the cost difference between now and then. I wish I were 5 again, I miss those good old days. I'm now 54, I think I'm going to cry. Anyway that ham, I couldn't find it but I wanted that too. Her singer machine is that retro green, I love it but I left it. Watching your video brought back memories of when times were great. Thank you for that. I love thrift stores exactly for the reasons you mentioned . Now I'm in north Dakota in a city( not like any city I have ever known to be called a city) where there are more deer than people! So it's sort of depressing since the closest sign of life is at least an hour away. I haven't ventured out much yet but I better before I can't due to the treacherous weather up and coming. It will be a nightmare I'm sure. So I took the time to paint a Caribbean beach wall mural with the ceiling being clear blue skies and full sun with the sand flowing on the floor and the shallow waves flowing over that. This way it will perhaps help keep me from falling into a deep depression. I just purchased 9" guggenhein tailor shears. Not sure what kind of quality they are, guess I will find out soon enough but I trust you on those wiss and I will be on the hunt for some . Thank you so much for your time, if you even happen to see this. Many people that have videos no longer tend to their channels so anyway seeing all of your vintage findings was uplifting for me which I greatly needed. This place is nothing like I've ever experienced before in my entire life and I'm worried I made a huge mistake. I also just subscribed but this video was a year ago so hopefully you are still making videos if not I will come back to this one , it was enlightening and comforting to the mind and soul .
Sounds like a treasure trove in the attic! I'm glad you saved some of it. I'd love to crawl through an attic full of sewing stuff. :-) I've since had my first experience with old silk thread, and I will admit that silk is the exception to the rule. I found a GIANT spool of silk buttonhole twist and it's easily 100 years old. That stuff is STRONG. Impossible to break. So I'll have to make a new video some day saying I was wrong. :-)
My husband and I stocked up when a sewing place had a smoke sale after a fire. Most things were unscathed. One odd thing was a whole bolt of purple, green and white openwork knit fabric. We used that to cover a berm, pre-seeding with grass, after some nearby utility work affected our property. It was perfect and broke down nicely in the soil over the years. We paid less than $1 a yard for it, and it was not even smelling of smoke! We also bought trim and thread at very low prices.
That's a smart use for that fabric!
I really enjoyed this “chat”! I have my grandmother’s Wiss pinking shears, still in their original box with a 1959 post stamp on it. And thanks for telling me it’s OK to throw out my 40 year old thread. 🤭
Wiss is the best! It's wonderful that you have your grandma's pair. Happy sewing!
I don't know why I was recommended this video, but I'm glad I was. I've been wanting to get back into sewing. I've recently been diagnosed with a chronic illness. I've been struggling for years, but now with treatment I can actually get back into hobbies. My 3 year old daughter has been begging me to sew her more dresses in particular, and her birthday is coming up in a couple months. We have a family tradition of sewing Laura wheeler dolls for the girls in the family too. My great grandma got the patterns years and years ago, and I've already digitized the pattern so I can easily transfer it. I last used the pattern when I was 13 and the doll turned out a little overstuffed, so hopefully I can do better now 20 years later 😆
How wonderful! I'm glad you are doing well enough to get back into sewing, and sewing for your little girl will be so much fun. I'll have to look up Laura Wheeler dolls. I've never heard of them, but that tradition sounds so lovely. Happy sewing!
I still have a pair of Wiss shears that I had in college about 40 years ago.
They're the best!
@@ColleenMarble I just found someone to sharpen them for me. I live in a small town and was having trouble finding a service.
Thanks for sharing the vintage sewing tools. I have been sewing since the seventh grade, and I own many of the tools that you shared. I don’t sew garments much at this time because I am an avid quilter. The information on the Wiss shears is especially useful. I have a pair that belonged ❤to my mother, so I will have them sharpened.
Thanks for watching and commenting! I love using items that belonged to my relatives. I wish I had my other grandmother's sewing things, but she stopped sewing years before she passed, which was years before I started sewing. I'm sure she got rid of everything when her eyesight started failing.
Its so nice to see this! I have a leather pinky shear ( very heavy) one of the first from America, and other antic shoe making tools from 1900 and buttons, shoe buckles. I collect also old buttons from my grandmother , and use still the thread and needles from 1920! I bought old packages of needles from 1930, there are 20 inside and very thin. I can not find this needles in the shop. Crochet needles i bought from the market. Second hand is nice! Thank you for this, i need a darning tool so i am looking for it. Greetings from Holland!
Greetings! My family heritage is Dutch (my maiden name is VanWinkle, from VanWinkel). I've only ever been to the airport in Amsterdam. I was just telling my husband a couple days ago how much I'd like to learn more about that part of my family and then visit Holland to see where they came from. Someday!
Threads was the reason I nearly gave up machine sewing: they always broke and I assumed that I was just useless as I spent all of my time threading the machine up again. I asked person after person what I was doing wrong and no one had an answer until one lady told me to do the snap test on the thread: it was all useless for machine sewing! I wish we had thrift shops near us like you have near you: ours are all so expensive!
90 percent of machine sewing problems have to do with thread - how the machine is threaded, whether the thread is right for the fabric, or the quality of the thread itself. Also, I've found thrift stores have gotten more expensive, and Goodwill is kind of a joke these days. I do better with smaller, independent thrift stores. But we live in a large city, so there are lots to choose from. I'm sorry your shops are expensive. That's frustrating.
Such fun to see theses things. I have Wiss pinking sheers that were my mom’s. They were recently sharpened and still work fine.
I really do love my Wiss shears. :-)
I agree. The older steel used in hooks and eyes will not pull apart or break like the newer, sourced out of country will. I used to sew a lot of clothing, but now mostly repair, and look for decent tools. All my scissors are vintage, as are my pins, buttons, and zippers. I detest the modern plastic zippers. They may work for awhile, but anywhere there is tension or a lot of use, like a jacket, they will break, and I replace them with metal. I do check any cloth type notions like lace or seam binding with a bit of a pull, too. I've found more than a few that the fabric just won't hold up anymore, probably due to horrible storage with heat and/or moisture. Thanks for your video- it was a great way to learn something new
I'm glad you enjoyed the video! I haven't bought new notions in years. It's just too easy to find inexpensive vintage items that are made to last.
I have been sewing since I was 12 years old and am now almost 74. I actually have most of the vintage tools you are showing and some how I feel very old! If you can’t find the pleat maker you can use a fork with long tines.
Yes, using a fork is a great solution!
What a joy to watch. 😄 Your enthusiasm is very inspiring. Thank you for sharing your insights and experience. Greetings from Hannover, Germany
Thank you so much for watching and commenting! It's fun to know people are watching in other countries! I'd love to visit your country some day.
Thank you for the video. I first learned how to sew back in junior high in my home economics class. Flash forward 40 years and I started sewing last year. I looked at new sewing machines but they were pricey and I didn't need all of the fancy stitches, bells and whistles. I now have several vintage sewing machines that I use. There is just something special and zen like when using vintage machines. And all of my machines in total were less than one new (good quality) sewing machine. It is so true when people say, "they don't make em like they used to."
Yes, so true! I love my vintage machines. They are a delight to use.
Highly Agree! All my sewing is done on vintage sewing machines only, I'm up to 39 machines now, most were rescued from curb dumps and tag sales at $5-10. My SMM told me in 1980 to NEVER buy a sewing machine with anything with plastic guts (interior). "Best advise", because starting in the 1970s all machines made in general were made as "disposables" after 5 years. Sewing machines prior to 1970 had 25 year warranties!! Plus I could never afford a Bernina on a soldier's paycheck, haha :)
Thank you for sharing your wonderful knowledge. My late Sister was a fantastic seamstress and like you, she loved the Vintage products too. You have a lot collection.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Wow. This was Awesome. I’m so Thankful I found you. I don’t see much just some every day stuff and I just love all the vintage sewing stuff I have purchased sew items from garage sales and thrift stores because I just love them.
I'm glad you enjoyed the video! Secondhand sewing stuff is just so fun to find.
What a great video!
Thank you!
New subscriber here - this is the first and only (so far) video of yours I've watched. Several of the items you show I have from my mother's sewing stock, and even some of my own from when I started sewing in high school nearly 50 years ago.
I appreciate your straight-forward, clear and concise narrative and presentation. Thank you.
Thanks so much for watching, subscribing and commenting! I'm glad you enjoyed the video!
hi, I really love your channel! I started as a Millinery machinist at 15 years old ( my first job) ! I'm 68 now and I've retired but through-out the years I worked making everything from babies bonnets ,babywear, ladies dresses, mens trousers and coats( I loved working at the tailors)! then curtains and upholstery. A sewing machinist could move about in the 60s, 70s and 80s ( before the clothing manufactures took the industry abroad)! I finished my sewing career has a leather cutter and machinist making leather suites, I still make clothing for my grandaughters and I do alterations for friends. I love sewing and like you, all the gadgets that go with it. even the vintage sewing machines.
(Oh! by the way, I live in the United Kingdom)! Love your videos💕
Thank you so much for watching my videos and taking time to comment! I'd love to sew for a living, but physically I can't sew for many hours at a time. My grandmother worked in a drapery shop for many years but never really loved the work. Sounds like you did love it, and you did it all!
i loved this. i always purchaese old sewing notions when i see them at the thrift store or garage sales.
Me too! I love finding small treasures.
Wonderful video. Have you ever seen the little caps we (I'm 71) used to stick into the top of thread? You slipped the thread under, to keep it from unraveling. I don't think anyone still makes them.
I don't think I have! I'd love to find some. I know they have some other gadgets that clip to the top of the spool to hold the matching bobbin, but I haven't seen what you describe.
Hi. It is so neat you answered me, thanks 😊. I really wish I could remember what they were called, maybe someone still makes them somewhere. They were plastic, but the rubbery kind, usually in pastel colors.
I bet the ladies who make their clothes for the period Channels (I don't know what else to call it) would love some of your findings. It's all the things they use on their dresses. I'll keep following you.
LOL, here at 62 I'm still using those wee pastel thread popper/stoppers (bought them back in the early 90s). Then they came out with the plastic bobbie pin style for thread & bobbin combo, now that cling wrap plastic. I'm so Old School I slap on a tab of Scotch tape, haha.