Brass Sewing Bird

I snagged a very limited number of these cute brass sewing birds. They are a reproduction item manufactured by Laci's. 

Sewing birds were a big deal in the 19th century and early 20th century when people were more likely to be hand sewing their own clothes. Obviously with the advent of machine-made and store-bought fashion, handy little devices like this went to the wayside.

A sewing bird helps your hand sewing by giving you, essentially, a third hand. You clamp it to a table and clip the end of your sewing project - such as the hem on a skirt - in the bird's beak. Then you can apply tension to the seam with one hand, while you sew with the other.

If you've ever struggled with inconsistent stitches or a wonky seam when you are hand sewing over a lengthy stretch of fabric, a sewing bird could be just the thing you need!

This little guy is also a cute addition to a sewing notions collection. 

It comes packaged in a dark blue velvet-covered box and includes a little paper brochure that would have been included with the original sewing bird.