140717✽
An interesting question came up at our stitching bee today. One lady said that in all "old ladies sewing boxes" she had seen there was an acorn and she wondered why. None of us knew and Google only came up with the fact that Jane Austen had one in hers.
Any ideas?
My sister thought it might be like a miniature darning mushroom for mending gloves.
Comments (11)
57675✽
I suspect after of a bit of searching that there is more to this and I wonder if any of the Cuties can figure it out -- or if they already know.
1821✽
by
CymbleneJones
14 Mar 2016
+6✽
I don't know the answer, but I do know that my mom had an acorn made of glass. I never thought to ask it's meaning.
7384✽
Yes, I know why but it won't let me post the reason - go figure.
1 comment
Oh, and it was not a darning mushroom or egg.
67271✽
I think it may of been a thimble case
4 comments
https://www.etsy.com/market/thimble_case
also google thimble case images
also google thimble case images
There is more... ;)
Yes there is, I just found it
wow-check the prices on some of them!
169064✽
I had never heard of an acorn in a sewing box. Now I'm curious.
1148✽
My Granny told me that many thimbles were silver and the acorn holder prevented them from tarnishing. That way the thimble did mark the cloth.
4 comments
This sounds like quite a plausible explanation.
That should read that the thimble did not mark the cloth.
LOL That was how I read it!
Me too!
6196✽
All these years I have been sewing and never heard of this. Never to late to learn. Good to know.
7384✽
Going to try to post my answer again - the acorns were sometimes used for buttons instead of regular buttons.
2 comments
They probably did use them for buttons, but the tradition is to only have one in the sewing box. This means there will be a reason!
They are supposed to bring good luck
140717✽
My own research has found a lot of examples of sewing related items made to look like acorns, but not a great deal of information about the real thing. The number of the former, lead me to believe that there must be an underlying tradition which I have yet to find.
There is a German saying “from little acorns, come mighty oaks” which shows the protective nature of a mother’s belief that when one provides a nurturing and care, one can anticipate great results. I suppose that is what we are doing when we are sewing!
There is a German saying “from little acorns, come mighty oaks” which shows the protective nature of a mother’s belief that when one provides a nurturing and care, one can anticipate great results. I suppose that is what we are doing when we are sewing!
7384✽
Got my information from family members who help found a museum and very into historical things and have dealing with many other historical museums.
3 comments
Which country is that in?
Virginia, USA - also a museum in New York among others. Also info from Civil War Re-enactors. My last input on this - guess folks just don't believe me. No problem - question was asked I knew the answer and answered. Please except my apologies!
No need to apologise. Your answer is based on US history and tradition, so it doesn't go back as far as ours. Sometimes traditions travelled over to the New World with the early settlers and changed a bit and sometimes they disappeared. You will find that we in Europe tend to be rather fond of our traditions which go back hundreds of years or more!
67271✽
I'm wondering how old is an "old lady"
1 comment
LOL! Obviously much older than any of us!