In the days of hoop-skirts and bustles, women were rarely found without a handbasket. They were taken to meetings, to the market; to carry food to the ill; to carry midwifery supplies, handiwork, picnic lunches, etc. Handbaskets were an important part of keeping their hands busy. Many young ladies were admonished by their mothers with the words: “Idle hands are the devil’s playground.”

Crocheting and sewing are two of my favorite past-times. My mother gave me a love for both. I love to curl up under a blanket with my crocheting in hand on a wintery day, or to sit at my sewing machine listening to the Bible or another book on tape (it is a wonderful way to go through the Bible in a year) while I work on a dress or quilt-top, etc.

“In the spirit of June brides becoming July wives: The average girl at marriage is well instructed in sewing. To take her place at the head of a family without fair knowledge of this useful household art would be to disgrace her mother and herself in the minds of all their acquaintances.”
~ from Godey’s Lady’s Book, August of 1886

Because there is not a great selection of modest clothing and patterns in stores today, it can sometimes be difficult to find a nice pattern to make dresses, jumpers, skirts, etc. We would love it if you would share with us some of your favorite patterns.

Do you have a favorite quilting pattern that you have really enjoyed, or maybe a pattern for a rag doll, or, other pattern? We would love it if you would share with us some of your favorite patterns.

“A girl looks ahead in her dreams and sees how she wishes to be a true wife, a good mother, and to fill the place honorably. She should look ahead to what she expects in life and endeavor to fit herself to fill the place as it should be filled. She never allows herself to dream of being other than a true woman, behaving in a womanly way.”
~ from “Beautiful Girlhood” by Mabel Hale

Submission Ideas

If you have a clothing pattern to share, please send: the pattern brand name, pattern name (if there is one), kind of garment it is, pattern number, sizes it comes in, a brief description of what it looks like, and the level of sewing difficulty (easy, moderate, average, challenging, difficult).

If you are sending a quilt pattern, please send: the name, the book’s title (if it is in one), and, if you know, where you can purchase the book.

If you are submitting a knitting or crocheting pattern, please include: the kind of article the pattern makes, the size measurements, list of materials needed, the gauge instructions (if there are any), the abbreviations used and their meanings for that pattern, what size hooks or needles to use, and the source of where the pattern came from.

If you have a pattern for a craft or project that doesn’t fit under the other catagories, please include: the name of the project, instructions on how to make it, a list of items needed to make the project, the source of where it came from, etc.