What Are You Stitching?

‘Recently my friend Ronda showed me dozens of amazing samples stitched by her 11-year-old sister through correspondence school over 70 years ago. I asked her to write a story about them as I thought it might be of interest to share.

I have included a few of the samples, some of Ronda’s memories recounting their love for sewing, and a photo of her sister aged 11.’

‘Ronda remembers…

My younger sister Glenda Zippel (nee Dunn) was born in Ceduna Hospital in 1939. My sister and I grew up with our parents on an isolated farm in Chinbingina, Australia, about 75 kilometres east of Ceduna, South Australia. As well as growing oats and wheat on this mixed farm, we had sheep, poultry and cows – mine and Glenda’s job was to do the milking. It was a good but isolated life for children.’

‘The nearest school, a small one-teacher school with 13 children, was at Nunjikompita, eight kilometres from home. Glenda and I rode our bikes along a very corrugated, pot-holed dirt road through farmland and scrub. Only two or three cars each day travelled this road that ran parallel to the Thevenard/Port Lincoln railway line.

When I reached Grade 7 my schooling was over, as there were no secondary schools close enough for me to attend and live at home. Little Glenda, only 11, would now have to ride her bike along the isolated track twice a day, alone. Railway workmen who periodically worked along the track, doing repairs, seemed a risk to our prudent mother, who feared the chance of assault.’

‘The solution was correspondence schooling for Years 6 and 7 for Glenda, beginning at age 11, when her school education came to an end. But when she was nine, three years younger than me, we both started what was to become a lifelong interest: sewing, first with embroidering duchess sets and doyleys.

Choice of school subjects was easy for Glenda, for she absolutely loved sewing.

With equal eagerness she would wait for the return of the previous lesson, to see the comments and marks her teacher had given – always top marks and enthusiastic praise.’

‘A letter from the teacher offering Glenda the chance to relocate to Adelaide to study needlework was sadly refused, as our parents could not afford to set her up away from home. The thought of her taking up this offer was not acceptable. But it did not stop my sister pursuing her passion all though her life, even crocheting a full-length wedding gown for a CWA exhibition. However, this was only one of her many talents, for she taught herself piano, saxophone and guitar, as well as doing beautiful cake decorating and leatherwork. Naturally she made most of her own and her children’s clothing.

After Glenda’s death in 2021, her daughter Nola Watson found a box stowed away.

Each of the 46 sample pieces still has the attached slip of paper with the teacher’s glowing comments: Best sample I have ever seen … Excellent work Glenda … This is the best specimen for this set I have seen … This is perfect. It is a pity that we don’t have the teacher’s instructions that would have accompanied these samples, but every single one is marked 20/20.’

‘I will never forget my talented sister, whom I loved and admired so much. Now I can marvel at the work she has left behind as part of the history of sewing.’

This is a remarkable story Kathy, we’re so grateful you have taken the time to share with us Ronda’s memories and her talented sister’s samples. The collection of samples is wonderful to see, they have been so well stitched and we’re grateful that Glenda’s achievements have been safely stored and preserved for us to appreciate all these years later. Thank you!

‘A delightful 91-year-old lady received my latest smocking effort. She wanted it for her 2-year-old great granddaughter’s birthday. I find many of the people who want smocked dresses for their granddaughters have fond memories of wearing a smocked dress of their own.’

‘When I attended the primary grades in elementary school, one of my classmates regularly wore smocked dresses. Her Mother, a British war bride, taught her skills to her and taught many others to smock.’

‘My mother, a Scottish lass, came alone to Canada in 1931 at the age of 21. I think she was a very brave young woman. She crocheted, smocked, knit and sewed. The above photo is of my older sister and me wearing satin smocked blouses.’

‘This dress and jacket, with a matching dolls outfit, is similar to several others I have made for friends’ grandchildren. One was sent to Norway, but these were for my 91-year-old friend.’

Anne, we love that you are passionate about smocking and are making such beautiful garments for the grandchildren of your friends. These smocked pieces truly are a treasured gift for anyone who receives them, and the matching doll outfits are amazing. We only wish someone made matching outfits for us and our dolls back when we were children!

‘I was asked to make a romper for a little girl’s 1st birthday party. The brief was: The theme is daisies, their nickname for her is ladybug, and she looks good in blue.’

‘The rest evolved as I made it. The sweetest part is the little black beads for the ladybugs’ eyes, which came out my grandmothers sewing box.’

Sue, your romper is so cute! The motifs are perfect, and your smocking is just lovely. 

Has your friend got a stitching story they should share with us? Have you made smocked dolls clothes? Or have you received a brief like Sue for projects for family members?!

Whatever you are stitching, we’d love to see it! Email photos of what you’ve created with needle and thread along with a few details about your stitching journey to news@inspirationsstudios.com