A Good Housewife

"Housewife" or "hussif" is the name given to small sewing kits, often those used by soldiers, sailors, and adventures of the 19th century, and earlier. Military men on their own needed to do their own sewing, mending and replacing of buttons.

Here is a photo from the internet, of a housewife from the Civil War.

And, here is the one I made yesterday.

I have made many of these little housewife sewing kits, and they are actually fun to make. They fold up to a small size, which will fit in a uniform pocket, or ruck sack! I will show you, in case you want to make one. I used old fashioned Civil War era fabric, but you could make it in modern fabric, and it would be so cute.

First you need the outside fabric, and lining. Cut these 12 1/2" X 5"

Also cut to the same dimensions a piece of batting, or flannel.

Fit these together, and cut one end rounded.

Now to cut the pockets.

Cut three, 7 1/2 " X 5"

Fold in half, press and top stitch the folded edge.

Cut one piece of red wool 3" X 3"

Round one edge.

Place the pockets and the red wool on the lining fabric piece.

Stitch the wool, and the top 2 pockets at the bottom edges.

Now, place the lining with the stitched pockets (bottom one can remain loose) and place it with the outside fabric, right sides together. Place the batting or flannel on top, and stitch around the edge. I used about 1/2 inch seam allowance. Keep an inch or so open at the bottom for turning.

Turn right side out. Press.

Pin the bottom opening together, and top stitch all the way around. I used about 1/4 inch seam.

Fold in thirds, and add the ribbon to tie it closed.

I tacked the ribbon on by hand, in three places. At the points where the ribbon comes together, and also at the top of the housewife.

It is fun to figure out what to place inside. I have a wooden thimble, a wooden needle case with a needle, a few pins and a few buttons.

I also added two cardboard spools of thread. I made these from small cardboard pieces, with notches from a circle punch.

Then just wrap a little bit of thread on to the spools.

And now you have your very own housewife!