By: Elizabeth King
Coming up in the next few
weeks, the Lang Quilting Club is getting together to start a fun new project – quilted
chicken pincushions. While these little fella’s aren’t exactly “pioneer”, they are
a fun, easy project that allows us to practice our quilting skills, and use up some
scraps in the spirit of re-using and recycling (something that is EXACTLY
“pioneer”).
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| Example of what we are making! |
Our little project got me
thinking though, where did this handy little tool come from?
First off - before pincushions
we had pin cases, boxes and baskets. Metal and bone needles were expensive and precious.
They were kept in “safer” containers, and treasured. But as times changed,
these containers became less popular and a new item came on the scene…the
pincushion!
Definition: A pincushion is a
small cushion into which pins are stuck for convenient storage.
The
most recognizable pin cushion in the sewing world has got to be the stuffed
tomato – still available to purchase today. From what I have read, it is also
one of the first pin cushion designs. This little gem came out of the Tudor
era…when tomatoes were thought to symbolize prosperity and ward off evil
spirits. Originally, ripe tomatoes were displayed on tables or mantles, but
when ripe tomatoes were not available (and everyone realized they had a shelf
life) they were crafted out of fabric and stuffed with sawdust, sand or other
scraps of fabric. These replica tomatoes ended up serving another purpose in
the home as well…they were perfect for holding pins.
Pincushions evolved quite a
bit as the years passed - but it is safe to say they really had the royal
treatment in the late 1800’s – when they got fancied up by the Victorians.
Jewel encrusted, hand embroidered, doll-shaped and clamp-able … they were both
lovely and useful.
While I know I am going to
treasure my little quilted chicken pin-cushion, and the memories of the fun I will
have making it with the Lang Quilting Club, here are a selection of photographs
of some admirable examples of this sewing essential. Maybe some future Lang
reproduction projects…?
Elizabeth King is the Acting Assistant Manager at Lang Pioneer Village Museum. She has been working at the Village since May of 2009. Elizabeth is passionate about history, costuming, reading, vegan culinary crusades and environmental pursuits. When she isn’t in the middle of a project at Lang, she is often found with her head in the clouds.