Vigo County Historical Society

‘Hoosier Homemakers’ exhibit a hit at Historical Museum

The new exhibit, "Hoosier Homemakers," has been a hit with those who have come to the Vigo County Historical Museum to see it.

Many people walk into the exhibit room and exclaim, "Oh, I remember when Grandma used a stove like that" or "I remember using that." Three of the artifacts that sparked the best memories for me are the sewing baskets.

The smallest basket was hand-woven by Rebecca Sullivan Craig. It was donated to the museum by Mrs. Alfred Everson.

The medium-sized basket was owned by Anne Heustis and was donated by Mrs. Marguerite Debs Cooper.

The history of the larger one is not known.

A sewing basket is a household item not used by many people in today’s throw-away world.

Few people darn socks, sew on buttons or know now to repair a corner tear.

I heard one person say, "I don’t darn socks, I just throw them away and buy new ones.

A well-equipped sewing basket was a handy tool for a homemaker of the past.

Basic equipment usually included needles, pins, thread, scissors, a pin cushion and thimble. Most baskets had a few scraps of material in basic colors handy for patching holes, a darning egg and a measuring tape. Others also might have had a needle sharpener, a needle threader, a locking hem measuring ruler, special threads and a bit of bee’s wax.

It kept all sewing needs in one place for jobs ranging from basic sewing to a quick fix-up in times of emergencies such as a split seam or torn hem.

Both of my grandmothers used a sewing basket. The baskets fit neatly in their laps while they darned socks, worked on quilt pieces, or did their hand sewing while they listened to music, watched my sisters and me, talked with Grandpa or watched television.

When I joined 4-H, my Grandma Ballard made me a sewing "basket" out of a small wooden box she had. It has a pin cushion attached to the bottom and elastic tacked in loops on the side that holds spools of thread and my thimble. It also has a little needle sharpener (a little red pouch filled with sand and resembles a strawberry).

I don use it much anymore, but it holds great memories of my grandmother.

Come to the museum and see if something there brings wonderful memories of your favorite "Hoosier Homemaker."