Fine birds make fine feathers

Fine feathers make fine birds! But a century ago the reverse: 'Fine birds (= the women) make fine feathers', was also very true; in addition to their numerous other household chores, making, mending, repairing and washing (by hand!) the family wardrobe were among their responsibilities.

That's why girls learned right from childhood how to sew, embroider, knit, darn, let out and take in different garments. All of them techniques used rarely by women nowadays, but for which there seems to be a growing interest again. The result of all this needlework – meticulously made and maintained clothing that people made last a long way – was and still is a feast for the eye.

Maintaining clothing

Find out what kinds of things used to enter into making and maintaining clothing, admire the beautiful and sometimes touching final results and at the same time try your hand at giving your own clothes a longer life!