Miss Sandy's Sewing Bird...

"Every child who sews with a will should have a wee birdie to help with his bill."I have long been fascinated with some of the clever inventions of the past, the sewing bird being one of them. The sewing bird, also known as a sewing clamp, hemming clamp, or third hand, was used in the 18th and early 19th centuries to attach one end of a piece of cloth firmly to a table to enable the seamstress to hold her sewing taut with one hand while stitching with the other.(Image Source)

Commonly used in the Victorian home, this third hand clamps to a table while the beak holds the fabric to be sewn. Depressing the tail releases the beak enabling the fabric to be repositioned or removed. Before the invention of the sewing machine, clothing, sheets, and other household items were sewn by hand, this handy little clamp was often used for hemming.

(Reproduction Sewing Bird for sale at Victorian Trading Company)

Early clamps can be traced to the late 17th century. The "sewing bird" came into fashion early in the 18th century. Invented in the Georgian period in England, it was the first device that allowed the material to be moved without having to loosen the clamp. Many were made for the travel trade and were used for advertisements. Most were made of polished and turned wood or iron. Victorian clamps were made of brass, iron, steel and painted wood.

(Image Source)

In America the first sewing birds were called "grippers." Not used widely until mid-19th century, they became popular as a luxury item, which a young man would present to his intended bride months before the wedding. These were made in many varieties; birds with or without a pin cushion, on a spindle or not, deer, dogs, fish, frogs, snakes, dolphins, cherubs and people. Small thread winders, spool holders, netting hooks and rug braiders were also common.

(Antique Sewing Bird)

After the invention of the sewing machine the need for grippers was diminished but they were still manufactured as novelties. The Singer Sewing Machine Company produced a few as late as 1980. These original inexpensive novelties of yesteryear are expensive antique collectibles today.

(Reproduction Sewing Birds sold at My Secret Shelf)

I have seen these marvels in antique stores but don't actually own one, however, I had a need for making my own version of a "sewing bird". I found myself frustrated at always have to run to my sewing basket while crafting when I needed a handy pin, needle, or thread.

I began my solution with a faded pale blue feed sack, an old cork/metal bottle stopper, and a vintage iron receipt holder found at a flea market...

I sketched a little bird body, tail, and wings onto the feed sack with a Mark-B-Gone marker adding detail lines to the body, tail, and wings, which I then stitched over in brown embroidery floss...

After the pieces were stitched together and stuffed, I removed the marker lines with a damp cloth and then used Fabri-tac to attach the tail and wings...

I used a strong glue (E-6000) to glue the bottle stopper to the bottom of a small purchased twig and moss nest...

And then I glued the bird into the nest, tacking the wings to the sides of the nest...

I slipped spools of thread onto the receipt holder and pushed the cork bottle stopper down onto the sharp tip of the holder, then filling my sewing birds nest with needful supplies, like a mini scissor tucked under one wing (These were a gift from my sweet friend Pam and they are so sturdy and cut so well)...

A large needle and thimble under the other wing...

Pins and needles perch on the back of the bird...

A little surprise pocket in the tail conceals a needle threader (I hate to admit that my eyes are just not what they used to the and I actually need one of these now!)...

Here is my new sewing bird sitting on the worktable and all ready for service with no more running to the sewing basket!

(For more great sewing ideas visit http://topreveal.com/diy-sewing-craft-ideas)

They say that necessity is the mother of invention. I truly believe that and I am very happy with how my little version of a handy and helpful "sewing bird" turned out.

"Sew", if you could create a needful invention to solve one of your problems, what would it be?

""Blessings,

Miss Sandy