American Women Are Turning Back To The Sewing Machine

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 14662, 4 May 1948, Page 5

American Women Are Turning Back To The Sewing Machine

Town And Country Women

(Special to The Times) Wellington, April 29. Ine American woman has • returned to the sewing machine. Not since before the second quarter o: ; me century, when apparel manufacturing was first set up as a major industry, has there been such a boom in the sale of piece goods, patterns, sewing machines, and other home sewing material". During the past 25 years, ths retail apparel industry has developed prodigiously, with the result that until the present time, home sewing declined proportionately. Today, however, according to news received by the New Zealand Wool ■Board, the womanly art of home sewing is back in the limelight, with millions of new devotees throughout the nation.

+ , Th e American Wool Council says £ tt e numbe r of home sewers in the United States at present has increased approximately 130 per cent over _ the number five years ago. Various reasons can be given for this increased interest in home sewing, but obviously foremost is that of today's high costs for retail apparel. With garment workers receiving the highest wages in the history of the nation, and "hew look" fashions demanding "an average of one-fourth more material for each outer-wear item, 1947 prices are up approximately 50 per cent as compared with those of 1946.

Another strong factor' influencing home sewing interest is the effect of high fashion on the number of new clothes that today's styleconscious woman must buy. "Left overs" from previous seasons will not fashionably intermingle with the year's new styles. If the fashionwise woman is to adequately meet the new style edicts, she must purchase a complete wardrobe. The natural reaction of those who decline to make such an expenditure is —back to the sewing machine. Seiving- Class Projects With modern mechanical devices, export advice, attachable finishes, and improvements all along the line, this is not the chore it was in earlier days. Sewing machine companies, pattern firms, large mills, schools and home demonstration officials are only a few of the groups combining today to make home sewing not only easy, but fun, for the modern woman.

Sewing class projects and home sewing contests are being promoted by scores of companies,, representing widely-differing branches of industry. Public . participation in such activities is increasing by the day. A large sewing machine company reports that enrollment in its sewing classes has risen 300 per cent, in the last four years. There are now more than 141,000 active

WOMEN'S GOLF IN ■ TAURANGA

DEAW FOR THIS WEEK'S COMPETITIONS

MAY L.G.U. MEDAL ROUND AND JUBILEE CUP

The draw for this week's competitions conducted bv the Tauranga Women's Golf May L.G.U. medal and first round of the Jubilee Cup, which is run in conjunction with the N.Z. Aotea Cup and Coronation Medal—is as follows:

No. 1 Tee: Mrs Maltby and Mrs N. P. Green; Miss Mark and Mrs Park; Mrs Bartlett and Mrs Steedman; Mrs Briggs and Mrs Stretton; Mrs Strang and Mrs Page; Mrs Short and Mrs Sinclair; Mrs Mayfield and another. No. 11 Tee: Mrs Fox and Mrs J. Ellis; Mrs Dunlop and Mrs Lever; Mrs Johnstone and Mrs Moorhead; Mrs Gordon and Mrs Scott; Mrs Nev/land and Mrs Newsham; Mrs L. Green and Mrs Gresham; Mrs Garland and Mrs Siison; Mrs Roscoe and Miss Baker; Mrs Woollams and Mrs Smith; Mrs Colwell and Mrs Hodgman; Mrs Topp and Mrs Gamman; Mrs White and Mrs Steele; Mrs Potter and another. No. 7 Tee: Mrs Munro and Mrs Wallace; Miss Ivory and Mrs Duncan; Mrs Craig Ellis and Miss P. Green; Mrs Davidson and Mrs Hay; Mrs Castell and Mrs Ward; Miss Ray and Mrs Hartman; Mrs Carew and Mrs Clemson; Miss N. Paterson and Mrs J. C. Ward.

Saturday players: Miss Bateman and Mrs Johnson; Mrs Carnachan and another; Miss McKenzie and Mrs Randal]; Miss Home and Miss Wratten.

The results of the L.G.U. medal competition played last week were as follows:—Seniors, Miss Mark 85-15-70; juniors, Mrs Potter 99-26-73, Mrs T. D. Johnson SB-24-74, Mrs Garland 110-35-75; -C grade, Mrs Carew, 110-36-74. GOLF a¥~MOUNT MAUNGANUI FIRST ROUND OF ROSE BOWLCOMPETITION (Times Correspondent) The following is the draw for the first round of the Rose Bowl competition to be played for under the match play on handicap conditions, tomorrow:— Mrs Rossiter v. Mrs Munro; Mrs Bates v. Mrs Handley; Mrs Midwinter v, Mrs Schmidt; Miss B. Ensor v. Miss Neil: Mrs Rowe v. Mrs Garrick, Mrs Meredith v. Mrs Olgilvie. Byes were drawn as follows: Mesdames Barney, Halcombe, Hamnton, Page, Courtenay, Marcroft, Wood, Mills, Miles and Miss E, Ensor. GIFT "EVENING AT OROFI NEWLY-MARRIED COUPLE HONOURED A very large gathering of friends and relations in the Oropi Hall on Saturday evening gave evidence of the popularity of the guests of honour, Mr and Mrs K. Carter. Mrs Cai'ter, who was wearing a gold woollen suit, has lived in New Zealand for only a few years, most of this time being scent in Orcpi. Mr and Mrs K. Forsyth of Te Puna; Mrs J. Forsyth; Misses Shirley, Gloria, Rose-Marie, Dorothy and Jean Forsyth and Mrs Norwood of Tauranga were also present. The master of ceremonies was Mr Scott and the music was sunplied by Mrs A. Shanks, Miss M. Dassler (piano) and Messrs Brockway and Brooks (piano-accordian) and B. Lewis (strings). Two songs with string accompaniment, were given by Mr Lewis.

Mr J. K. Hamilton, speaking on behalf of the Oropi settlers, wished Mr and Mrs Garter all the best for the future, and asked them to

VISITOR

BOOM IN SALE OF PIECE GOODS AND PATTERNS

ART TALK GIVEN BY

members registered in this one firm's sewing classes. Promoting home sewing in their own way, leading woollen mills have increased the amount, of fabric set aside to be sold in piece goods departments, and have prepared such fabrics for immediate home sewing use. One major woollen manufacturing company, which features fabrics ail sponged and shrunk and ready for the home sewer, has increased its sales of yard goods'l4oo per cent, since 1937. Such fabric slated for sale as piece goods is the same material that goes into expensive "high fashion" retail apparel. Today rich fleeces, suedes, garbadine and all other fine woollen or worsted fabric is as easily purchased in yard goods departments as in fashionable apparel by big-name designers. , Widespread Advice Given *

Simplified patterns, widespread advice, and informative articles in, fashion magazines and newspapers are further encouraging the back-to-the-sewing-machine trend. Periodicals are devoting expanded space to patterns and sewing instructions. With such help, the American woman's skill and selfassurance in home sewing is steadily increasing. Coupled with the pride and sense of accomplishment that she derives from turning out an expertly-tailored garment, is the fact that she is saving a considerable amount of money. The American Wool Council estimates that today a well-tailored, all-wool suit or coat can be made at home for an average of one-third the cost of the finished garment at retail prices. Not only women in the lower or middle income bracket, however, are turning to home sewing. The new styles are proving a challenge to many ingenious women who have a specific flair for adapting good' points in their personal appearance. By making their own clothes, they can concentrate on certain aspects of "high style" and tone down others. America's "best dressed" women have always been those who could strikp an effective balance between accepted style and their own originality. The present upsurge in sales of fabric at all prices, indicates that women today are sewing not only for economical reasons, but for pleasure and for fashion.

In 1939, only 457,000 new sewing machines were manufactured in the United States, but as far back as seven months ago sewing machine manufacturers were shipping out a yearly rate of 650,000. Before the war, the nation's pattern makers turned out an average of 60 million units a year. In 1946, 120 such units were sold. Today pattern sales on the basis of physical volume are running 40 per cent, above the 1946 figures.

WOMEN'S INSTITUTE ACTIVITIES

~ test monthly meeting of the Tauranga Women’s Institutework in connection with the Eisteddfod to be held later in th° year, was arranged. The Roll Calk My idea of a gentleman,” was well answered. Mrs R. T. Johnson reported cn the federation annual council meeting. A most interesting talk on “Plow to lo ?, k Pictures” was given by Mrs R. Jarman, and the members all visited the Art Society's Exhibition, with Mrs Jarman as commentator. The floral competiticn, an arrangement in a soup plate, was well contested, Mrs Johnston securing first place. .

SALES TABLES AT 0910E0R0A DEMONSTRATION ON HAT MAKING A well attended meeting of the Omokoroa Women’s Institute was held recently at the newly opened Beach Cottage. Mrs Ewart presided. Ine guest, speaker, Mrs Brady gave a very interesting demonstration on the making of hats from cellophane. Much interest was shown in thn reading of a letter from the Rev. Mr Barnes, a Methodist Minister of Norwich, England, to whom several food parcels had bean sent for distribution. “The good things were extremeiy appreciated by the lonely old folk to whom I took them. During the war this city was badly bombed and the old folk are still feeling the effects,” ' stated Mr Barnes in his letter. Another donation was made by Mrs T. Plummer tor further parcels to England. In addition to the usual sales table a very successful plant sales table was run by the Gardening Circle Competition results were as follows: belt, Mrs Hitchcock 1; Mrs JN. Gane 2; evening bag, Mrs C. Gammon; floral display in egg-cup Mrs Crapp; large bloom, Mrs Carlcon 1, Mrs Crapp 2, Mrs Thorne 3; medium bloom, Mrs Adams 1, Mrs W Franks 2, Mrs Carlson 3; small Woom Mrs Adams 1( M rs Crowe 2 JJ 1S kittle 3; cluster. Mrs Adams 1, Mrs W. Francis 2, Mrs Plummer 3 : i e /mHss biscuits, Mrs Lauder 1, Mis Little 2, Mrs Jack 3. CHURCH OF ■ CHRIST PRIZE-GIVING MISSION LECTURE AT 1 OMANAWA (Times Correspondent) Quite a large gathering of parents children and friends attended the annua! prize-giving of the Church ox Christ Mission held in Omanawa on Saturday afternoon. Miss Eadie congratulated Mary Jensen on her success in gaining the maximum of 100 marks in two of her examinations, and presented her t/tTi V ass with Honours seal. Molly Peterson, Rita Anderson, Dulcie Jensen and Jim Anderson received seals and certificates for successful entries.

Miss Barnes, of the World-wide Evangelisation Crusade, gave r lantern lecture showing the wonderful work done by the Crusade in Belgian Congo, West Indies and South America. The Crusade bps missionaries in sixteen countries, and Miss Barnes described most heartening results of their work.. Afternoon tea was served by the parents of the scholars.

accept the gifts. Mr Carter suitably replied. < A Monte Carlo waltz was won by Miss D. Dunn and Mr D. Rogers and a novelty Monte Carlo was won by Mr and Mrs Nix. Mr Scott welcomed to Oropi, .Mrs and Miss Brogden.