Sew What’s Up Presents
The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
quilting message board “Sew What’s New,” which was
retired in August 2007. It is being provided by
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From: JustSewCrafty
Date: 05-25-2007, 10:58 PM (1 of 17)
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Made from her husbands parachute that saved his life. (http://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/costume/object.cfm?recordnumber=834994)
May your bobbin always be full-
Stephanie www.chasingthreads.blogspot.com "Sewing is the new black" |
User: JustSewCrafty
Member since: 10-04-2006 Total posts: 168 |
From: MartySews2
Date: 05-25-2007, 11:41 PM (2 of 17)
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That indeed is a cool dress. Thanks for sharing the link. Marty 
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User: MartySews2
Member since: 05-03-2007 Total posts: 293 
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From: IsabelleB
Date: 05-26-2007, 04:41 AM (3 of 17)
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That is amazing! What a meaningful dress.
Isabelle
Sewing blog: Kitty Couture |
User: IsabelleB
Member since: 10-25-2006 Total posts: 265 |
From: cshortsew
Date: 05-26-2007, 06:54 AM (4 of 17)
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That is great story and a beautiful dress.
cshortsew
Projects Completed in 2007: Sewing: biscuit quilt, 7 baby dress sets, piggy pillow, 7 baby pants, eyeglass holder, purse, 5 baby outfits, toddler dress set Crocheting: red purse, piggy slippers, sweater shawl, 5 pr. sock trims, 89 squares, baby sweater, 2 afghans, toddler harness, baby poncho, baby dress Other: 14 Autism pins Works in progress: Sewing: toddler overalls & shirt Crocheting: vertical stripes afghan |
User: cshortsew
Member since: 06-28-2006 Total posts: 380 |
From: lendube
Date: 05-26-2007, 12:47 PM (5 of 17)
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Thanks for sharing that. What a wonderful story. Were parachutes made of silk then?? Lennie |
User: lendube
Member since: 08-06-2006 Total posts: 1548 |
From: sewwhite
Date: 05-26-2007, 01:46 PM (6 of 17)
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WOW, about describes the dress and story. After WWll (1945-46) my late father invented the seatbelt as first used as standard in cars, using parachute strapping from the war. (Not sewing related, but had to share). |
User: sewwhite
Member since: 05-26-2007 Total posts: 5 |
From: mamagoose
Date: 05-27-2007, 08:42 AM (7 of 17)
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Some dress! I would have never guessed it was a parachute in a previous form. It would indeed be special. Sewwhite, thank you for your father's contribution to society! Seatbelts just make sense. Part of me actually fell out of a car when I was a little tyke riding in the back seat against the door in a relative's car. The door came open as the driver was making a turn. I never hit the pavement because my cousin grabbed onto me, but they tell me it was close. They did not have a seatbelt on me and they were invented by then! |
User: mamagoose
Member since: 01-26-2002 Total posts: 168 |
From: paroper
Date: 05-27-2007, 06:32 PM (8 of 17)
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Years ago when our hometown school was still quite small, a parachute was found near the town. It was give to the home ec. department. The teacher used it for her sewing classes and required the group to make a garment from the parachute for their first sewing project of the year. There were a lot of interesting garments made from the fabric and there is a LOT of fabric in a parachute!
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: bridesmom
Date: 05-30-2007, 07:02 PM (9 of 17)
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That is really amazing, and how creative! Sewwhite, what a great thing your father did, seatbelts save lives, period
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: Bama
Date: 05-30-2007, 09:36 PM (10 of 17)
I love stories like that. 
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User: Bama
Member since: 03-21-2000 Total posts: 2116 
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From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 05-31-2007, 05:53 PM (11 of 17)
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Lennie, History time.. ... LOL.... Parachutes were made from Nylon.. That is why stockings were so hard to get during WW 2... All the nylon made parachutes.. That was how leg make-up came into being.. Case of necessity.. No woman wanted her pale legs showing and she would not wear cotton stockings except in case of have to for warmth.. I was still a child so I was wearing socks, but I remember My Mom and her friends practicing how to apply the leg make-up to get the best effects.. I remember when the war was over and the army-navy stores would get a shipment of parachutes in, the ladies who could sew would mob the stores to get the parachutes.. Made great lingirie, wedding dresses (like that one above) all kinds of underwear, and if you could master how to dye it, all kinds of accessories.. Scarves etc.. Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: lendube
Date: 06-01-2007, 11:25 PM (12 of 17)
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Thanks so much for that explanation. My knowledge of life in the States during the war is limited since my folks are Dutch and were teenagers in an occupied country during that time. I don't know why I thought silk. That would have been incredibly expensive and fragile. Didn't know nylon was so common back then. Lennie |
User: lendube
Member since: 08-06-2006 Total posts: 1548 |
From: paroper
Date: 06-02-2007, 09:16 AM (13 of 17)
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I know that when I was little, hose were often referred to as Nylons.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: multicraftymom
Date: 06-02-2007, 09:58 AM (14 of 17)
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I think that that is the most romantic thing I've ever saw. Thanks for sharing that link!
Angie
My Crafty Blog |
User: multicraftymom
Member since: 06-01-2007 Total posts: 7 |
From: vickki
Date: 06-02-2007, 12:38 PM (15 of 17)
| That is such a beautiful dress,and such a romantic man to give it to his girlfriend for a wedding dress....WOW |
User: vickki
Member since: 08-21-2005 Total posts: 374 |
From: Longblades
Date: 06-18-2007, 04:36 PM (16 of 17)
| What a great story. I've flipped it to my DH to share with all his Classic Aircraft Foundation volunteer friends. They restore old WW11 planes. |
User: Longblades
Member since: 07-14-2005 Total posts: 182 |
From: paroper
Date: 06-18-2007, 04:48 PM (17 of 17)
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I still have my dad's WWII vintage training manuals for working on aircraft. He had gone down to San Antonio to learn how to work on aircraft before he was to enlist for the Air Corp. He had been promised an officer's commission if he did that (weren't they all?) Anyway, he was drafted before he could enlist...end of commission! He was stationed in England. I wonder how many of his aircraft you have worked on (wonder how many survived the war).
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
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