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Posted 2 years ago
Esther110
(134 items)
I am the only one of Abuela Leo's descendants that sews, and have always admired what you are looking at.
It is my great-grandmother's sewing exersizes, from when she was a child.
Each picture has 4 ringbinder plastic -uh- binders...lol
I have more that I couldn't include in our 4 pics.
THE FIRST PIC shows different pieces of under clothing,
THE SECOND a bit of monogram embroidery (her name was Pilar) and different ornamental stitches. The square card in the middle is a piece of a business card that has been "mended".
THE THIRD has a bit of mending examples. If you look closely at the blue striped piece, under the flower embroidery, you will see a diagonal and a vertical cut. She added pieces to complete the square, in such a way you can hardly tell it's been mended. The gingham square has the whole center added to it.
THE FOURTH PIC has underarm reinforcement patches, eyelets and another mending exersize.
This is from a time when everything was mended, reused, recycled and custom sewn. I don't know the exact date, but she must have been between 8 and 10 when she did this, and I have her wedding band, with the year 1911 engraved inside. So this is turn-of-the-century Cuba, Santiago de Cuba, to be exact.
I look at this often, trying to imagine the little girl learning to sew. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do.
SewingVintage sewing items are highly collectible, showcasing the history of fash…
As a little added info, Abuela Leo told me she smuggled the pieces when she fled Cuba by stuffing them in her bra. That's how important these little bits of fabric were to her. How can I not love them?
Thanks Lisa!
Love those little dresses! So nice you have kept them from disappearing!
Thanks Vestaswind!! I wish I were a better photographer, so you could see the detail!
Thanks Kevin!