Homespun

These are certainly haunting times we're living through. I say haunting, because as a history geek, I see shades of the Civil War. Shortages of supplies was a consistent challenge for those on the southern homefront. The Richmond Bread Riot of 1863 comes to mind. We're fortunate that to date, our experience doesn't touch what they suffered through over 150 years ago. Yes, acquiring toilet paper became a national sport and some stores required law enforcement to oversee peaceable commerce, but overall, we really do have it a lot easier. We may be limited in terms of comfort and convenience, but we're not lacking in goods to the degree they were in the 1860's. So, shades, but by no means deja vu.

During the Civil War, homespun dresses became a symbol of patriotism. Previously, southern cotton was sent to northern textile factories, and then resold to the southern people. Well, it wasn't practical or ethical to buy from the opposition, so homespun became the socially fashionable choice. (Don't get me wrong, if a gal could get her hands on some good stuff from somewhere local, she would. But instead of being snubbed as dowdy, a homespun dress meant you were doing your part in the war effort.) Spinning fabric yourself had gone out of style, so many young woman had to learn and many older women had to resurrect their looms.

The 2020 version of this is the homemade surgical mask. Clearly, I didn't spin my own fabric, but this is what I've had on hand for years. I hadn't busted out my sewing machine in quite some time. Getting your hands on fabric and elastic was a little tricky at first, but more options have opened up since the need for making homemade masks arose. The name of the game in this pandemic is improvisation. Some folks are making their masks with bandanas, old t-shirts, sheets. They're emulating that bit of southern resourcefulness. (During the war, it wasn't just food, fabric, and goods that weren't easy to come by. There was a great deal of making your own medicine- even in the army! In 1863, the Confederate Army published a pamphlet of what plants they could forage on the march and gave instructions of their medicinal usage. But anyway, I digress.)

The funny thing for me, is it's the Civil War that got me into sewing in the first place. I am, at best, a novice, but I was goaded into trying by my lineage. (No, not a drop of southern heritage in my actual blood as far as I know, but instead, an ambitious German immigrant.)

It began with my great-grandfather, Otto. He came to America in the 1920s and started a women's hosiery business. His son, my grandfather, took over the business and launched his own line of girls' dresses- Daddy's Girl by Charmose. It was with him in mind I told myself I could produce something serviceable. So with only a 7th grade education in the art of being a seamstress, I embarked on making my own dresses so I could participate in Civil War reenactments. "Stitch nazis" (those in the hobby with superior sewing skills and knowledge) could easily rip my dresses apart, but I was clothed and I knew my history, so it was good enough for me.

Fast forward ten years and two kids, and I find myself thrust into the necessity of making masks for those who need them. Thank Christ they're a good deal easier than cobbling together bodices. My mama-in-law (now she can claim that rich southern plasma in her veins) sent me some elastic to make things easier. (When your fortay was period dresses, elastic tends not to be in your arsenal!) Prior to the gift from Ma, I was sewing fabric ties. Which honestly, I prefer because they're so customizable, but man, do they tack on time to the process!

We may not have the Aunt Pollys of yesteryear to show us what to do, but huzzah for YouTube! This was the tutorial I used in order to make masks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FB--BOyTiU
Since virtual contact is the only acceptable contact, it's super convenient to have internet mentors!

But the real pattern here, is American resiliency. When the chips are down, historically, we step up. And over the last 35 days, we modern gals have been getting a taste of our predecessors. For myself, I feel like an old school housewife. I'm sewing, ironing, cooking more meals, and cleaning because I'm forced to make the time. I say forced to make the time because with two kids, homeschooling, working remotely, exercising, playing with the kids, getting my Victory garden started, and sewing- I have to squeeze cleaning in for sanity's sake. (I couldn't take nor justify the clutter anymore!) Quarantine is for sure a recipe for If You Give A Mouse A Cookie, because I'll start one project and snowball into another, and another. That's why my second blog post took so long to come around!

We're lucky. Unlike the last few major wars, this won't last several years. (Okay, so they said the Civil War wouldn't last a week and boy howdy, was that figure off, but we're already seeing some light at the end of the tunnel.) The last thing we should do, is invalidate this lesson. Americans haven't lived through an experience like this in over 100 years. That's the other thing about Americans. We're complacent as all get-up. Don't waste this opportunity for growth. Struggle, is growth. Failure, is growth. Breaking, is growth. So no matter what your quarantine experience, emerge like a glorious, technicolor, mother flapping butterfly.