As a versatile and common material, it is no surprise that specialty objects have been made for the normal tasks of keeping house. Such as sewing and mending. In the past clothes were made in the home and mending any tears or holes was normal. Clothing was not thrown out until all there was was mends.
A woman’s sewing basket sat by her chair, so once the days kitchen and laundry work was done, she could sit an mend. One of the most common activities was mending socks. For this she used a darning egg, so called for its general shape and size. Inserted into the toe of the sock, the darning egg allowed easier access to the toe and helped keep the new material in round. Ofter made of wood, darning eggs were also made of glass. Some eggs are just that shape, and some have a handle added to keep the fingers further away from the needle action. Keep an eye out for these at auctions and antique stores.
Another essential piece of equipment for any serious sewer is a thimble. Made to fit the end of the first or second finger, a thimble helps push the needle through the material. Over thousands of stitches, even the small push required for thin or loose-woven material can produce a sore place on your finger if you do not use a thimble. Most thimbles for daily use are made of metal, and tailors use leather thimbles, but ornamental thimbles of glass are produced. Sometimes these are produced as gifts for an accomplished sewer, or to provide items for a thimble collector. Porcelain thimbles are often decorated and sold as souvenirs, being small and easy to pack and carry home. Glass thimbles are usually in this decorative class, and if the surface is smooth, would be hard to use. But that does not make them unattractive, in themselves or as a collectible. For people who are space challenged, thimbles are a great collectible. Some are decorated with flowers and birds, and some are carry advertising. Lamp workers and paperweight makers occasionally make thimbles just for a change of pace. Some have little figures added that make them twice as big and obviously not for use. Look around and see if there are any glass thimbles in your environment.
Some buttons (not necessarily glass).
The companies that make glass beads often make glass buttons as well. For better clothing manufacturers, this is an option beyond the plastic buttons available today. These are as plain or as fancy as plastic buttons and as colorful. Going into collecting glass buttons would require some additional research and developing a feel for the age of the buttons, for there are many decades of glass buttons out there, and no doubt valuable ones get reproduced. But glass buttons will take you into the world of style and design, and could be a very rewarding collectible.
To hold the pins.
Some pins have glass balls as heads, instead of the plastic heads we usually see today. Available new, they can also be found in old sewing baskets at estate sales. Local auction houses may have lots with many sewing items that include glass headed pins. There are even glass-headed pins from Roman times if you get serious about this glass collectible.
Sewing requires a pin cushion.
To hold the pins, a pin cushion. Any small hollow object can be made into a pin cushion by gluing in a small bag of emery. Therefore you will find most small glass collectibles that have been adapted as pin cushions by a second merchant if not by the manufacturer. Glass shoes, animals or other whimsies may be found with the added emery. Not as popular as they once were, you pretty much have to make your own these days. The sewing stores have the de riguer tomato and strawberry cushions, but little else. So, watch for old sewing baskets and lots. And if you end up with duplicate glass shoes or top hats, consider making them into pin cushions as gifts to other people. You may start someone else on a journey of collecting.
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