Spinning, Sewing, and Mending | ClipArt ETC

The Spinning, Sewing, and Mending ClipArt gallery offers 59 illustrations of people engaged in these activities along with the necessary equipment and supplies. See also the Fabric Arts gallery in the Crafts section and the Textile Manufacturing gallery in the Business and Industry section.

"The house-wife plies her needle and her thread, / Long after idle people are in bed; / The rent is small, but she full well doth know, / That little rents to larger ones will grow."—Barber, 1857

A Stitch in Time, Saves Nine

"The house-wife plies her needle and her thread, / Long after idle people are in bed; / The rent is…

A single thread formed into a chain of crochet work

Crochet Work

A single thread formed into a chain of crochet work

A basic pattern used in cross-stitching.

Cross-Stitch

A basic pattern used in cross-stitching.

A life-size full or partial representation of the human body, used for the fitting or displaying of clothes; a dummy.

Dress Form

A life-size full or partial representation of the human body, used for the fitting or displaying of…

This frame was used to design and create different lady dresses.

Frame for Ladies Dresses

This frame was used to design and create different lady dresses.

A mother or grandmother and young girl playing with dolls. They appear to be making or mending doll clothes. a small sewing basket sits on a table next to them.

Girl and Mother with Dolls

A mother or grandmother and young girl playing with dolls. They appear to be making or mending doll…

An illustration of a young girl sitting in in a ornately carved chair needle pointing.

Young Girl Needle Pointing

An illustration of a young girl sitting in in a ornately carved chair needle pointing.

Girl sewing in silhouette.

Girl Sewing

Girl sewing in silhouette.

A young girl smiles as she sews a dress for her doll. A kitten is playing with sewing notions on the floor.

Girl Sewing Doll Clothing

A young girl smiles as she sews a dress for her doll. A kitten is playing with sewing notions on the…

"In the year 1589 the stocking-frame, the machine which mechanically produces the looped stitch in hosiery, was invented by the Rev. William Lee, a graduate of Cambridge, and native of Woodborough, near Nottingham. The fundamental principle of the apparatus consists in the substitution of a seperate hooked or barbed needle for the support and working of each loop, in place of the system whereby an indefinate number of loops are skewered on one or more wires or needles. At R is seen a thread of yarn passed over the needle stalks and within the terminal hooks. The yarn, it will be observed, is waved or depressed between each pair of needles, whereby sufficient yarn is secured to form the seperate loops of uniform size, and thus produce a regular equal fabric." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Hosiery

"In the year 1589 the stocking-frame, the machine which mechanically produces the looped stitch in hosiery,…

A girl knitting.

Knitting

A girl knitting.

The stitch or loop structure of plain knitting.

Knitting Stitch

The stitch or loop structure of plain knitting.

Illustration of Lois (Timothy's grandmother) holding a distaff. A distaff holds fibers which are spun into yarn on a spindle held in the opposite hand.

Lois Holding the Distaff

Illustration of Lois (Timothy's grandmother) holding a distaff. A distaff holds fibers which are spun…

This sewing machine is a textile machine used to stitch fabric to other material together with thread.

Sewing Machine

This sewing machine is a textile machine used to stitch fabric to other material together with thread.

Elias Howe's original model of the sewing machine.

Sewing Machine

Elias Howe's original model of the sewing machine.

A basic knot used in lace-work.

Modern Crochet

A basic knot used in lace-work.

Sewing Needle

A needle used in sewing to pull thread through cloth

The plaiting or braiding of a sennit, a flat cordage used in crafts.

Plaiting of Sennit

The plaiting or braiding of a sennit, a flat cordage used in crafts.

A piece of embroidery or needlework produced as a demonstration or test of skill. This sampler includes the alphabet, as well as the student's name and age. These pieces often include figures, motifs, and decorative borders.

American Sampler

A piece of embroidery or needlework produced as a demonstration or test of skill. This sampler includes…

Hands sewing with thread and needle.

Sewing

Hands sewing with thread and needle.

An illustration of a group of women in a sewing circle.

Sewing Circle

An illustration of a group of women in a sewing circle.

A sewing machine, 1903.

Sewing Machine

A sewing machine, 1903.

A machine for sewing or stitching fabrics, leather, paper, and other materials.

Sewing Machine

A machine for sewing or stitching fabrics, leather, paper, and other materials.

"a is the bobbin case; c, bobbin; b, thread wound on bobbin; d, projection from bobbin-case which keeps it from turning; e, thread leading out." —Whitney, 1889

Bobbin Detail of Wheeler and Wilson Sewing Machine

"a is the bobbin case; c, bobbin; b, thread wound on bobbin; d, projection from bobbin-case which keeps…

"a is the bobbin holder, partly opened to show hook b, and bobbin-case c; d, feed-points; e, presser-foot." —
Whitney, 1889

Bobbin Detail of Wheeler and Wilson Sewing Machine

"a is the bobbin holder, partly opened to show hook b, and bobbin-case c; d, feed-points; e, presser-foot."…

Detail of Wheeler and Wilson Sewing Machine

A detail of the Wheeler and Wilson Sewing Machine. "s, thread-leader; t, face-plate covering...; v,…

A detail of a Singer sewing machine.

Details of a sewing machine

A detail of a Singer sewing machine.

This early model sewing machine featured a chain stitch, the basic stitch of a modern sewing machine consists of two threads and is known as a lock stitch.

Early Model Sewing Machine

This early model sewing machine featured a chain stitch, the basic stitch of a modern sewing machine…

"Singer sewing-machine. a is the frame and cloth-plate or bed-plate; b, arm; c, treadle; e, pitman; d, main driving-wheel; f, band; g, small driving-wheel attached to shaft ... j, take-up lever with roller and stud; k, presser-bar carrying presser-foot; l, needle-bar; m, spool-pin; ... t, drawers." -Whitney, 1911

Singer Sewing Machine

"Singer sewing-machine. a is the frame and cloth-plate or bed-plate; b, arm; c, treadle; e, pitman;…

"Singer sewing-machine. a is the frame and cloth-plate or bed-plate; b, arm; ... g, small driving-wheel attached to shaft h; i, take-up cam with set-screw; j, take-up lever with roller and stud; ... m, spool-pin; n, shuttle-pitman taking motion from crank o; p, shuttle bell-crank; q, shuttle-carrier and shuttle; r, thread-guide; s, tension-disk ..." -Whitney, 1911

Singer Sewing Machine

"Singer sewing-machine. a is the frame and cloth-plate or bed-plate; b, arm; ... g, small driving-wheel…

"a, is the frame; b, shaft-crank which rocks the hook-shaft; e, receiving its motion from the double crank on the upper shaft e in the arm g through the shaft-connection c; d, band-wheel turned by a band (not shown) from a wheel on treadle-shaft below the table; f, feed-cam; h, feed-bar; i, bobbin-case; j, rotating hook which is attached to e and oscillates with it; k, bobbin-holder; l, presser; m, presser-spring; n, needle-bar link; o, needle-bar; p, take-up lever; q, take-up cam; r, spool-holder...." —Whitney, 1889

Wheeler and Wilson Sewing Machine

"a, is the frame; b, shaft-crank which rocks the hook-shaft; e, receiving its motion from the double…

A detailed illustration of one of the most collected sewing machines of all time. Today, many of these machines, over a century old, are still in use.

Willcox and Gibbs Sewing Machine

A detailed illustration of one of the most collected sewing machines of all time. Today, many of these…

A pair of scissors along with a needle, thread, and thimble.

Sewing Supplies

A pair of scissors along with a needle, thread, and thimble.

Something sewn or to be sewn.

Machine Sewing

Something sewn or to be sewn.

A machine to sew on, of which there are many different makes.

Sewing-machine

A machine to sew on, of which there are many different makes.

A spindle is a cone shaped weigh that hooked the thread to one end and would allow the person to spin the wool to create thread. The distaff is a tool to keep the thread untangled in the spinning process.

Distaff and spindle

A spindle is a cone shaped weigh that hooked the thread to one end and would allow the person to spin…

A woman spinning.

Spinning

A woman spinning.

A woman spinning cotton on a spinning jenny.

Spinning Jenny

A woman spinning cotton on a spinning jenny.

An illustration of a woman using a spinning wheel. A spinning wheel is a device for spinning thread or yarn from natural or synthetic fibers.

Spinning Wheel

An illustration of a woman using a spinning wheel. A spinning wheel is a device for spinning thread…

A spinning wheel

Spinning Wheel

A spinning wheel

Flax spinning wheel.

Spinning Wheel

Flax spinning wheel.

A spinning wheel used for cotton.

Spinning Wheel

A spinning wheel used for cotton.

"The spinning-wheel shall buzz and whirr." -Beard, 1906

Spinning Wheel

"The spinning-wheel shall buzz and whirr." -Beard, 1906

"A machine for spinning flax into threads by hand. It consists of a wheel, band, and spindle, and is driven by foot or by hand...a, bench or stool; b, standards; c, driving band wheel grooved in its perimeter; d, treadle; e, rod which connects treadle with crank; f, cord-band which drives the flier-spindle; g, flier; h, distaff upon which the flax to be spun is placed, and which in use is held in the left hand of the operator." —Whitney, 1889

Spinning Wheel for Flax

"A machine for spinning flax into threads by hand. It consists of a wheel, band, and spindle, and is…

"A machine for spinning flax into threads by hand. It consists of a wheel, band, and spindle, and is driven by foot or by hand...a, bench; b, b1, standards; c, driving band-wheel with flat rim, turned by the peg k held in the right hand of the spinner; d, cord-band, crossed at e and driving the speed-pulley f; g, cord-band imparting motion to the spindle h; i, thread in process of spinning." —Whitney, 1889

Spinning Wheel for Wool

"A machine for spinning flax into threads by hand. It consists of a wheel, band, and spindle, and is…

"The spinning-wheel." - Beard, 1906

Diagram of a Spinning-wheel

"The spinning-wheel." - Beard, 1906

A kind of metallic cap or cover, or sometimes a ring, for the finger, used in sewing to protect the finger from the needle.

Thimble

A kind of metallic cap or cover, or sometimes a ring, for the finger, used in sewing to protect the…

To pass a thread through the eye of a needle.

Thread

To pass a thread through the eye of a needle.

An illustration of a bobbin of thread.

Bobbin of Thread

An illustration of a bobbin of thread.

An illustration of a spool of thread.

Spool of Thread

An illustration of a spool of thread.

An old spinning wheel used to spin cotton into yard.

Spinning Wheel

An old spinning wheel used to spin cotton into yard.

Spinning Wheel used to make thread.

Spinning Wheel

Spinning Wheel used to make thread.

A man seated on a stool holds a skein of yarn as a standing woman winds it. In the background is a large table and chair.

Winding a Skein of Yarn

A man seated on a stool holds a skein of yarn as a standing woman winds it. In the background is a large…

A shadow of a woman sitting in a chair knitting a sock.

Shadow of a Woman Knitting

A shadow of a woman sitting in a chair knitting a sock.

An illustration of a woman mending clothing while sitting in a chair with a kitten playing underneath.

Woman Mending Clothing While Sitting in a Chair

An illustration of a woman mending clothing while sitting in a chair with a kitten playing underneath.

An illustration of a woman sewing.

Woman Sewing

An illustration of a woman sewing.

An illustration of a woman spinning thread.

Woman Spinning Thread

An illustration of a woman spinning thread.

An illustration of a woman standing next to a spinning wheel.

Woman with Spinning Wheel

An illustration of a woman standing next to a spinning wheel.

A young woman sitting on a chair reading a book as she spins

Young Woman Reading and Spinning

A young woman sitting on a chair reading a book as she spins