Fiber Arts
Today’s sewing tools are often made of colorfully embroidered silk.
Today sewing boxes have become nearly obsolete by ready-made clothing that is often discarded when it is outgrown or becomes worn. Sadly, golmu and her friends no longer live a long and useful life together in a beautiful box as they did for much of Korean history. But, collected and admired for their beauty and creative potential, one hundred thimbles will surely still bring blessed longevity.
Along with thimbles, needles were an essential tool in the sewing box. Shorter and weaker than modern needles, they were kept in a needle bag for protection. Filled with human hair that was believed to absorb moisture and keep the needles from rusting, the bags varied in size but, like thimbles, were often embroidered. Travelers of both sexes carried a needle bag and thread with them in case they needed to make repairs to clothing en route. Thread was wrapped on rectangular or round spools made of wood or paper and often carved or decorated. Itself a symbol of longevity, thread was never wasted and was reused whenever possible. Sewing scissors were large and long and made of iron. A ruler, made of two bamboo strips that were hinged together and notched to indicate standard intervals of approximately one inch, was also included in the banjitgori, as were two long-handled irons, a round one to smooth the fabric and a small pointed one for reaching into the tightest of places. Beautiful contemporary thimbles by Youngmin Lee
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