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Housewife 1

Housewife 4

Housewife 3

Housewife inspiration

I found this page in an old book of mine the other day: 'Gifts to make', (published in 1974, Marshall Cavendish, London) and was intrigued by the idea of this 'sewing housewife' it featured. Well, not the idea of a long, fold-up case for keeping sewing supplies together, but rather the name of it. Why 'housewife'? Maybe because it's handy and useful and can hold it together in tough situations. And is a little bit old-fashioned, i suppose.
Anyway, I liked the idea of these housewives and so I made a couple myself. I like ot think of them as souped-up needlcases.
Like the book suggested, I used a length of vintage embroidered ribbon for the outside of the case. And then lined that, and included two pockets at either end of the roll. They're the perfect size for a small pair of scissors, a thimble and some embroidery threads. And there are some felt pages for needles and safety pins in the middle. Very handy. Especially if you like hand-sewing as much as I do.

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46 responses to “housewife”

  1. Margaret Oomen Avatar

    Melissa, I adore these so very much. I would love to purchase the top one will it be going into your shop sometime soon?

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  2. tinyhappy Avatar

    thank you, margie!
    yes, i will pop them into my etsy shop tomorrow. 🙂

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  3. daria Avatar

    ohh! what a great idea! i feel like i need one of these in my life!

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  4. Paisley Avatar

    I think the term “housewife” for a little sewing kit has its origins in the military (or navy). Soldiers or sailors carried their own “housewife” so they could do small repairs to their clothing when real-life wives were far away.
    My father had one when he was in the Merchant Navy – although not as pretty as your little ones!

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  5. hanna Avatar

    I love these, just gorgeous. They would make hand sewing even more enjoyable.

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  6. Megan Avatar

    Everybody needs a housewife. These are so adorable.

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  7. Mary Beth Avatar

    These are just lovely, Melissa. I love the vintage trims you found!

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  8. Tracy Avatar

    Such a good idea. So nice to think that now everyone can have a housewife to help them out of tricky spots!

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  9. SmitoniusAndSonata Avatar

    Very handy ! and the ribbon is very pretty !

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  10. Sarah Avatar
    Sarah

    These look beautiful. I can remember the term “huswife” popping up when I’ve been reading Jane Austen’s books. I always wondered exactly what they would look like – thanks for bringing them to life!

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  11. Daria Avatar

    cute and useful!
    I like also the old-fashioned bok…it reminds me to my mother’s 70’s Sewing Encyclopedia

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  12. caireen Avatar

    SEWWWW beautiful!! cx

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  13. tiffany Avatar

    we’re reading peter pan and just last night wendy pulled out her “housewife” to sew peter’s shadow back on. for some reason, i pictured little drawers but i am glad to know what it truly was.

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  14. isoinpapu Avatar

    Oh how wonderful housewifes! Really, so beautiful.
    I think i always use the word “beautiful” when i leave a comment here 🙂

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  15. kelly Avatar

    How clever, pretty and practical all at the same time.

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  16. heidi and allyson Avatar

    oh! i want to be a sewing housewife!!!!

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  17. Sarah Avatar

    These are simply beautiful.

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  18. Mazuin Avatar

    wow this is beautiful. very nice of u to share this. i’ve got a lot of old mags and books that i havent gone thru yet. got it at the book fair in wellington last year :p would u be making these housewives to sell? u shud, :p many people wud love it! ❤ 🙂

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  19. Andrea Avatar
    Andrea

    I’d love to make one of these for my self! what a great idea!

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  20. Liesl Avatar

    These are so clever and darling. 🙂

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  21. jessica Avatar
    jessica

    I love the idea of ‘souped-up’ anything…it’s like the hot-rod of needle cases! Very pretty Melissa!
    Oh and I have a pillow, kind of bulky, kid of upright with arms…it is called “the husband” I have not needed my husband to hold me up to read in bed yet so I am still trying to figure out why it has been named this!!

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  22. Margrethe Avatar
  23. june at noon (gretchen) Avatar

    I like the idea of a souped up needle case, since sometimes the needle cases just aren’t quite enough. I like your interpretation!

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  24. annri Avatar

    they are so beautiful! the ribbons are gorgeous treasure!
    i handsewed a “huswife” and wrote about it: http://woolnest.blogspot.com/2009/04/gift.html following t does wool’s example. it is such a useful item!

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  25. Yvette Avatar

    Very lovely and more so with the vintage ribbon.
    Seems I need something like that for my knitting – 9 times out of 10, I forget my scissors, stitch markers, and large needle to weave in ends. Hmmm, this is food for thought.

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  26. wild cherry jam Avatar

    Those are just gorgeous! Tried the fruitcake recipe and it was delicious. Thanks for sharing it!

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  27. Shin Ae Avatar

    Those are so pretty.
    I like your idea of a housewife…”holding together in tough situations.”
    Indeed.

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  28. tinyhappy Avatar

    thank you for explaining that, paisley! that makes sense. 🙂

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  29. tinyhappy Avatar

    aha! so housewives are in peter pan too? i bet your kids are enjoying listening to that.

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  30. tinyhappy Avatar

    thank you, isoinpapu- i used the ribbon you sent to me- do you recognise it?

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  31. tinyhappy Avatar

    ha! so that’s what a house-husband is…

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  32. melly thibault Avatar
    melly thibault

    what a sweet idea! how wide is that ribbon. I’ve had some beautiful brown for quite a while, this may be a great idea for it. I need my own housewife, to bad it couldn’t clean my house for me 🙂 lol

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  33. chez danisse Avatar

    I was intrigued by the name too. Thanks to Paisley for giving us a brief history lesson.

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  34. josie p Avatar

    I was just coming to say the same. They are also known as Hussifs. There’s some spectacular crazy quilted examples around. I’ve been meaning to make one for a while now.
    I love yours and marvel at the wonderful wide ribbon you get. I used to have some beautiful hair ribbons of a similar style but it seems so hard to find these days.

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  35. annri Avatar

    here’s a second try, something must’ve happened to the first comment i tried to leave…
    your items are beautiful! i made a huswif and wrote about it here: http://woolnest.blogspot.com/2009/04/gift.html
    it is such a useful item. i really like your use of the special ribbons. actually, i think i like all of your handmades! 😉

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  36. annri Avatar

    oh, bother! now, in looking back, the first comment is found! sorry – so silly. all sentiments remain!

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  37. Jessica Avatar

    these are gorgeous! I love the ribbon and just everything about them! 🙂

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  38. Monkey Lobster Avatar
  39. fiona Avatar

    i learnt something new today. and i also like your version of it being “souped-up”.
    beautiful ribbons, makes a great housewifey combo.

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  40. tinyhappy Avatar

    that’s okay annri- thank you for your nice comments! i love your version.

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  41. frances Avatar
    frances

    !!! these are lovely!- as always.
    I especially love the one with edelweiss and that wee blue Austrian flower I cant remember the name of. I think it is a mountain flower also. If you have any more of these, with the Austrian themed ribbon Id love to buy one for my Aunt, who is from Austria.- in her 80s and very sentimental about Austrian flavored stuff.

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  42. Garden Mama Avatar

    absolutely beautiful melissa!
    my children are really enjoying embroidery.
    i have bought them each supplies so that they may have their own sewing kits. i like this idea very much! thank you for sharing such beauty and inspiration : )

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  43. pretty dreamer Avatar

    beautiful, gorgeous , simple!! Thank you for sharing!

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  44. Bridget Avatar
    Bridget

    fab! i have some braid from Croatia which haven’t been able to use. Perfect idea.

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  45. Therese Avatar

    I read about this way over on Craftzine.com…and I thought to myself, “heeeey, wait a minute, I recognise that style of housewife sewing case.”
    It turns out that I have a copy of the same book, given to me only a few days ago!
    I love coincidences like that 🙂

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  46. Margo, Thrift at Home Avatar

    so sweet! I made a little needle case like an envelope, but I like this one even better.

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