Sewing History

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Sewing has played a huge role over the past few thousand years. The history of sewing is not well known so I would like to make it a point to share with you about the history of sewing. Here are some facts that may interest you:

-       Sewing needles started off as small fragments of bone and were used to latch animal hides together. There have been such pieces found and dated to over 25000 years. That is an incredible amount of time when you think about it.

-       In ancient Egypt they used needles made out of copper, silver, and bronze metals.

-       In the Middle Ages boar hairs were used to help sew together books and shoes.

-       The Native Americans used porcupine quills and certain types of plant leaf tips to sew with. Those same plants were also able to peel off in threads for sewing.

-       Around the 11^th century, Muslims in Spain were performing surgical procedures and of course needed needles to sew their patients back together.

-       Europeans learned about needle making in the 17^th century but their needles were very disappointing compared to their Arab counterparts.

-       Before the 17^th century needles were hand made using long wires, however today machine make the majority of needles. By 1866 needles over 100 million needles were being produce in factories.

-       Later in the 19^th century in Redditch England, the needle makers there became the world’s best. They had such fine needles that they even created the hypodermic needle. Interestingly enough, these needles were so fine that they were able to fit through the eyes of foreign needles.

-       Even today needle makers are still highly regarded in Redditch.

Now you know a bit more about sewing and sewing needles you can share these interesting facts with your friends or at your local club.