Thursday, November 8, 2018

Silver Threads and Golden Needles

    Do you know how to sew? Perhaps you don't make your own clothes but at least do you sew on buttons or crochet or knit? I read recently on the BBC that it has been found that surgeons who have gone through their medical training are having trouble sewing up their patients because they never learned to sew! (Of course, I am paraphrasing this but you understand the point I am trying to make.) Could this be from years of playing computer games? Maybe so.  (Manual dexterity- the ability to use your hands in a skillful, coordinated way to grasp and manipulate objects and demonstrate small, precise movements.)  I don't know about you but this makes me want to teach children to thread a needle and to sew on a button! Also, I learned to crochet as a teenager and while I have always enjoyed it, I have never been...well, an expert at it, but that doesn't stop me! (I knitted a scarf in 1985 and...let's just say, that was enough knitting for me. It is crochet I love. It is such a wonderful feeling to create something out of a skein of yarn!) 

Our time changed this past weekend.  I spent the extra hour...sewing on buttons!   Years ago, my mother-in-law gave me a pack of sewing needles from England.  Such a good design! They are silver but the top of them are gold and since that is a different color, it makes it easier to thread.  I love something well designed, don't you?  Now, of course, that reminded me of a song! "Silver Thread and Golden Needles".  

How about you?  Are you a fine example of a person with great manual dexterity?  Work on it! You might be asked to perform surgery one day if our surgeons aren't able to do so! (Just kidding, doctors, I promise.)





30 comments:

  1. I learned to crochet and to sew from one of my grandmothers and have done a lot of both over the years, but with age I'm not quite as good at threading those needles as I used to be. Now I get the kind with large heads on them. Ha! They say though, that if you don't use it, you lose it, so it's best to keep developing your dexterity.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Use it or lose it, I need to remember that myself!

      Delete
  2. I used to sew but not well which is why I buy my clothes and tablecloths.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wish I could be better with my sewing skills!

      Delete
  3. OK, I get what you're saying, but I've never learned to sew. My husband sews on the buttons. I have very little dexterity. Well, I can type up a blue streak, but you know what I mean. I used to do cross stitch and enjoyed it because of the precise patterns (I think that's why I liked it). I began to find it harder to see those little squares, but I've been thinking about doing it again or seeing if I can do it again. Sadly, I wasn't able to learn to knit or crochet or quilt. I do read about them though. LOL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Guess what, when I lived at home, my sister did all the sewing. My husband had to show me how to sew on a button! I have never wanted to do cross stitch, once again, something my sister loved. For me, it is crochet that I love! My grandmother, my Dad's mother made beautiful quilts but it is also something else that I don't know how to do!

      Delete
  4. Hi Kay - I'm hopeless with anything crafty - can manage buttons and the odd bit of mending, which I do do ... but love the image and your note on the needles - had never thought of that ... and it's one thing I need now is a needle threader - cheers Hilary

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was thrilled for my mother-in-law to give me those needles! They are even more special to me now since she is no longer with us.

      Delete
  5. My sewing skills are terrible. I know how but I am no good at it. I can crochet a bit, do needlepoint, knit, hook rugs, and macrame. I don't have the patience for it and it stresses me rather than relaxing. I have always loved this version of Silver Threads and Golden Needles.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Happy you like the song too! I find that my crochet does relax me, just as much as writing my blog! :-)

      Delete
  6. About doctors having trouble stitching, I wouldn't know. For both my recent surgeries I was closed using surgical staples. Its sounds worse than it is. Furthermore todays robots have a lot more dexterity.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Robots! I know that they are used but doesn't that sound like something out of a science fiction movie? Hope you are doing well these days, Ed!

      Delete
  7. While i cannot sew beyong a button or hem, i used to crochet and knit and do cross stitch. Grandpa can't sew a lick, but as a doctor he was very good at sewing you up, his professor in medical school insisted they all be able to tie 18 sutures per minute!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 18 sutures per minute. THAT is manual dexterity! Perhaps he didn't want to sew in his spare time after that!

      Delete
  8. I know they have robotic surgery now. I wonder if the robot hand can sew or do they do that manually?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just hope if I ever have surgery it is done properly, no matter whose hand is involved!

      Delete
  9. Oh dear, my handcrafting skills are almost non-existent... I enjoyed crocheting and a bit of stitching as a girl but never mastered the art of knitting, in spite of my Mum being (as you know) a sock-knitting maniac :-D
    Sewing on buttons is something I can do if pressed, but it is more likely I discard a blouse or shirt and buy a new one before I take the "trouble" of sewing on a missing button... I know, it's awful and does not really go along with my usual view of making do with what I have.
    My bad eye sight has something to answer for, too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your beautiful clothes...please don't discard them for loss of a button! Promise me!
      Yes! Your mother's knitting skills are AMAZING. I dearly love the socks that I have that she knitted.
      If your eyesight is not quite up to sewing on buttons, then I will excuse you for not doing that! :-)

      Delete
  10. Once upon a time....many moons ago, I used to make my own clothes...but no longer.

    When I was a kid my mother and grandmother made all my clothes...and their own.

    Nana used to crochet. I did a bit of knitting, but that also went by the wayside...the way dressmaking went.

    Love the song, though! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh! I bet you are a wonderful seamstress! (How often do you hear that word?)
      I am glad you love the song.

      Delete
  11. I hook rugs and I can knit a bit (a little bit) I do sew some but nothing exciting
    Cathy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nothing exciting?! My dear, if you CREATE something from yarn or thread, that is something to celebrate in excitement!

      Delete
  12. I can knit, but don't find it relaxing! I always feel as if someone is holding a gun to my head, saying, "faster, faster". Isn't that ridiculous. As for crochet, I've never mastered it. Maybe I should look at some videos. It's turning to begin the next row that seems to go wrong and things either get narrower and narrower or wider and wider! Isn't that ridiculous!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Knitting, I just cannot enjoy. Look at videos from YouTube, I would love if you fell in love with it!
      Now, even after crocheting for all these years, I sometimes also do the "increasing and decreasing", as it is called. Just have to keep careful count, that is all. xx

      Delete
  13. I can sew on a button and that's the extent of my talent! My sister and my Mom (in her younger days) are fabulous at sewing (Mom made my wedding dress and all the brides maid's dresses) and Mom used to crochet. She crocheted my sister's wedding dress! I will tell you that I can sew a wound closed. Go figure! One of our surgeons also can sew and knit like crazy! Your needle with the gold end reminded me that our scissors and needle holders in surgery have gold ends..it is easy to see them in a hurry! Have a good weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your wonderful mother made your wedding dress and all the bridesmaids' dresses- that is simply the most beautiful thing to know.
      AND you tell me that in surgery your scissors and needle holders have golden ends in order to see them in a hurry? That is an awesome fact!

      Delete
  14. I can sew on buttons, mend holes in pockets and stitch my tents and rucksacks together again when they rip but that's about it. Having stabbed my fingers more than once I do know the value of a good thimble. Threading needles gets harder as your eyesight fades.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My son was in Boy Scouts and I sewed all of his patches on his uniform by hand. They might not have been perfect but they were done with love!
      And those needles with the golden ends are very helpful! You should look out for them!

      Delete
  15. I learned to knit a few years ago. I confess, I do not like it as much as many people do. My D-I-L loves the knit hats and scarves I have made for her. And my little granddaughter will not sleep without the blankie her Grammy made for her. That is a great stimulus to keep at it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You just might be someone like me...I really don't like knitting at all but I love to crochet. You should try it! :-)

      Delete