If only I could live another 250 years, then I just might get all of my sewing, quilting, embroidery, knitting, crochet, beading, and other crafting projects done! Great piece Cale.
This concept is new to me. Very interesting. I think sewing and quilting will stand the test of time as resources get scarcer and a throwaway society becomes less and less sustainable.
We will always need clothes and always need a way to stay warm, so I think sewing machines will be Lindy...should a world catastrophe occur and we don't have the power we are used to, then the old treadle machines and hand crank machines that we have lovingly taken care of or restored will become priceless...but then so will fabric and thread. So hobby?? Maybe/Maybe not. Necessity?? Always.
It's an interesting question. The technology of sewing is Lindy, more than 500 years old. The art of sewing is at least 20,000 years old. Ancient peoples joined pieces of material using bone and horn needles and animal sinew for thread. Around the 14th century iron needles were invented, and by the 15th century there were eyed needles. Later sewing needles were made of steel, as they still are today.
So… as long as we need to join pieces of things together, we will use sewing in the absence of another technology.
Our sewing machines are simply the latest instantiation of sewing technology and highly likely to be around for a long, long time to come. This is of course predicated on textiles as we know them today.
If however, someone invented robots that could create fully formed, woven, custom clothing suited to any body type, then there would be , little need for sewing.
I disagree, Ian, many of us sew as a creative outlet (fun). Most sewists I know are older like myself, and don't have the ability to hand sew. I have treadle machines and current models, insuring that I can sew whether the grid is up or not. :-)
I'm 72 and love the possibilities of what I can do with a sewing machine. However… many, many creative outlets of the past are disappearing, some are stamp collecting, model railroads and others. Home sewing is only enabled by the mass of hand sewing (on sewing machines) for garment production. If garments could be produced without sewing to assemble them, sewing machines would very quickly disappear only to be a curiosity of the past.
Sewing as a hobby is largely performed by older women. Younger generations don't want to take the time to learn when they have the alternative of affordable RTW. Sewing as a hobby and creative outlet will die out except for a small number of creatives.
What will people NEED to sew, 200+ years from now? Clothes? Coverings for warmth/ Cold?
What else? Coverings from the sun, atmosphere, privacy, dwellings? Read George Orwell's 1984 to have a glimpse into the future as to what he thought would happen 50 years from his actual time frame. I hope our crafts will dissuade any government intervention.
I think that certain hobbies/crafts increase or decrease in popularity over the years and come back into 'fashion' especially handmade items. Handmade items such as quilts and knitting will never loose popularity as people love owning an 'original one off' item that no one else will have and the people who make them get pleasure from the activity. For example, a lady at my daughter's workplace is starting a 'learn to knit' class during lunch time as several people have expressed an interest in learning how to knit. AND there is always new and exciting fabrics, yarns etc. being produced, it's more than just sewing. I know that in China, they are working hard to continue the knowledge of old traditional skills (certain styles of embroidery, dying of fabric etc.) to avoid them from disappearing.
On one hand I desperately want sewing to be Lindy. On the other hand clothing and blankets (animal skins?) are Lindy and they have to be created somehow.
If only I could live another 250 years, then I just might get all of my sewing, quilting, embroidery, knitting, crochet, beading, and other crafting projects done! Great piece Cale.
This concept is new to me. Very interesting. I think sewing and quilting will stand the test of time as resources get scarcer and a throwaway society becomes less and less sustainable.
When I see or hear the word Libdy, I think of the Lindy Hop class I took years ago! I would definitely say dance is Lindy.
And sewing is Lindy. I think it will always be around, and sewing machines as well.
We will always need clothes and always need a way to stay warm, so I think sewing machines will be Lindy...should a world catastrophe occur and we don't have the power we are used to, then the old treadle machines and hand crank machines that we have lovingly taken care of or restored will become priceless...but then so will fabric and thread. So hobby?? Maybe/Maybe not. Necessity?? Always.
It's an interesting question. The technology of sewing is Lindy, more than 500 years old. The art of sewing is at least 20,000 years old. Ancient peoples joined pieces of material using bone and horn needles and animal sinew for thread. Around the 14th century iron needles were invented, and by the 15th century there were eyed needles. Later sewing needles were made of steel, as they still are today.
So… as long as we need to join pieces of things together, we will use sewing in the absence of another technology.
Our sewing machines are simply the latest instantiation of sewing technology and highly likely to be around for a long, long time to come. This is of course predicated on textiles as we know them today.
If however, someone invented robots that could create fully formed, woven, custom clothing suited to any body type, then there would be , little need for sewing.
I disagree, Ian, many of us sew as a creative outlet (fun). Most sewists I know are older like myself, and don't have the ability to hand sew. I have treadle machines and current models, insuring that I can sew whether the grid is up or not. :-)
I'm 72 and love the possibilities of what I can do with a sewing machine. However… many, many creative outlets of the past are disappearing, some are stamp collecting, model railroads and others. Home sewing is only enabled by the mass of hand sewing (on sewing machines) for garment production. If garments could be produced without sewing to assemble them, sewing machines would very quickly disappear only to be a curiosity of the past.
Sewing as a hobby is largely performed by older women. Younger generations don't want to take the time to learn when they have the alternative of affordable RTW. Sewing as a hobby and creative outlet will die out except for a small number of creatives.
What will people NEED to sew, 200+ years from now? Clothes? Coverings for warmth/ Cold?
What else? Coverings from the sun, atmosphere, privacy, dwellings? Read George Orwell's 1984 to have a glimpse into the future as to what he thought would happen 50 years from his actual time frame. I hope our crafts will dissuade any government intervention.
I think that certain hobbies/crafts increase or decrease in popularity over the years and come back into 'fashion' especially handmade items. Handmade items such as quilts and knitting will never loose popularity as people love owning an 'original one off' item that no one else will have and the people who make them get pleasure from the activity. For example, a lady at my daughter's workplace is starting a 'learn to knit' class during lunch time as several people have expressed an interest in learning how to knit. AND there is always new and exciting fabrics, yarns etc. being produced, it's more than just sewing. I know that in China, they are working hard to continue the knowledge of old traditional skills (certain styles of embroidery, dying of fabric etc.) to avoid them from disappearing.
On one hand I desperately want sewing to be Lindy. On the other hand clothing and blankets (animal skins?) are Lindy and they have to be created somehow.
Like many hobbies, there is a back & forth of “popularity “
Quilts are being made as wall decor now, not sure that can endure.