Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Vintage Home Crafts - A Clothespin Bag from 1940


 Another sewing project from Ruth Wyeth Spears, Home Decorating with Fabric and Thread. Available at Open Library on a one-hour basis.

6 comments:

Lady Anne said...

I'm probably the only woman on the East Coast who still hangs out her laundry. I use empty milk bottles for my clothes pins. I cut a hole in the front of the jug, opposite the handle, and split the handle where it meets the body of the jug. Pop the handle over the line, and away you go. Cheap, and recyclable.

Shay said...

We can't do it from Oct-March, but there's nothing like the smell of sheets fresh off the line.

Nic said...

I've been making these ever since I can remember. I though I invented them, but I must have seen one first, I suppose. Children s coathangers work best, adult ones are a bit too big.

Sam said...

My sister modified this pattern to make a Ditty Bag for actors - a place to put prop jewelry or makeup.

lady Anne - my sister & I use the milk jugs as thread catchers by the sewing machine. Made my Costume Crew use them too.

Anonymous said...

Back in the 1960s, my mom had one of these and left it on the closeline. That is until the day she reached in the bag and pullled out a bat. My mom's hand was perfectly wrapped about the upside down bat. She squealed "OH!" and the bat squeaked at her, and then she put the bat BACK INTO the bag! I saw the whole event, because I was standing beside her about to grab a handful of pins. After bat removal, my mom sewed up another clothespin bag, which then traveled with the basket.

May said...

I've been trying to get bats to live in my backyard and eat mosquitos. Hadn't though of using a clothespin bag.