Grandma says - A stitch in time saves nine
As is true for many, as a young child and even a teenager. my sense of promptness in tackling a task often did not match the expectation of my grandmother (or my parents for that matter). She obviously thought that if she imparted the wisdom of “a stitch in time saves nine” often enough it would eventually slither past the mush of my brain and eventually take root and grow to a habit in all areas of my life.
This is one of those oft repeated proverbs which has been sown or cross stitched into countless wall hanging. It means exactly what it says. When I was growing up new clothes were a rarity. With any luck families living close to each other could pass along clothes to each other as children (and sometimes adults) grew and changed sizes. The only items which might be purchased new were socks and underwear. Even socks sometimes survived the countless darnings and could be passed along. If and when a new item was absolutely necessary, very often the feed sacks or flour sacks provided the material. Of course there were items which had to be store bought if there was no one of comparable size who was no longer wearing a needed item. The most difficult items to attain were frequently suits and shoes. A man might have one suit which was his “Sunday suit”, funeral suit, and going to meetin suit. Shoes were often worn until even the most talented of cobblers (usually a parent who kept an iron shoe fixing stand and repair nails and other materials handy) could not restore them. If one happened to “forget” to change out of funeral or “meetin” clothes and got them dirty or tore them, one prayed for patience and mercy – patience to appear to be paying attention to the hour long – so it seemed – lecture about one’s lack of appreciation for the sacrifice it took to purchase a garment. Mercy that one be spared the 100 lashes. Reminders included, “money does not grow on trees” and “Do I look like a Rockefeller?” Obviously no Rockefeller beat their child for a smudge or a rent which just happens.
Darning or otherwise repairing garments was, it seemed” a nightly chore usually performed in the rocking chair by grandmother, mother or later an older female sibling. In those days only men were tailors. Women were the seamstress who did not earn real money as did tailors.
At any rate, a stick in time saves nine, was applied not only to the darning or repair of a garments it was called into duty for all manner of tasks including homework, wood chopping, or any other chore which had the potential of being postponed or avoided. It is true, of course, that “time was of the essence” in that there were many chores which, if postponed, affected the ability to cook, heat, bathe or otherwise survive.
These days, of course, for some of us, sock darning and stitching repairs on a garment is very foreign. Even passing along clothes other than perhaps baby clothes, is reserved for the truly poor. Even then it is more common to shop at a thrift store such as the Salvation Army or a consignment shop. It is less common to have a relationship which includes the intimacy of sharing “hand me downs”. Busy schedules and more availability of cheaper clothing may mean that one is less likely to patch, repair or alter a garment. Even finding a seamstress who alters or repairs garments is not an easy tass and may, at times, cost more than purchasing a new garment.
Still, one may hear the phrase “a stitch in time saves nine” amongst the old folks. To be honest, I seem to have taken this advice to heart. I may be found darning a sock or getting out my little portable sewing machine to make a repair. To the frustration of my son or others with whom I have a close relationship I am “Johnny on the spot” when it comes to performing needed tasks. Whether it is ironing as soon as I take clothes out of dryer or from the drying rack, making the bed as soon as I am dressed, washing the dishes immediately after a meal, doing paperwork as soon as I receive it, or responding daily to correspondence, I can drive friend’s crazy with my audible and silent “A stitch in time saves nine.” reminders.
Grandmother, would, however, be very pleased that I had taken her advice or was it a warning to heart. My son, on the other hand, might be less thrilled with my insistence on the wisdom of this proverb.
Written November 3, 2016
For more information on the origin of this and other proverbs google “phrases.org.uk”
As is true for many, as a young child and even a teenager. my sense of promptness in tackling a task often did not match the expectation of my grandmother (or my parents for that matter). She obviously thought that if she imparted the wisdom of “a stitch in time saves nine” often enough it would eventually slither past the mush of my brain and eventually take root and grow to a habit in all areas of my life.
This is one of those oft repeated proverbs which has been sown or cross stitched into countless wall hanging. It means exactly what it says. When I was growing up new clothes were a rarity. With any luck families living close to each other could pass along clothes to each other as children (and sometimes adults) grew and changed sizes. The only items which might be purchased new were socks and underwear. Even socks sometimes survived the countless darnings and could be passed along. If and when a new item was absolutely necessary, very often the feed sacks or flour sacks provided the material. Of course there were items which had to be store bought if there was no one of comparable size who was no longer wearing a needed item. The most difficult items to attain were frequently suits and shoes. A man might have one suit which was his “Sunday suit”, funeral suit, and going to meetin suit. Shoes were often worn until even the most talented of cobblers (usually a parent who kept an iron shoe fixing stand and repair nails and other materials handy) could not restore them. If one happened to “forget” to change out of funeral or “meetin” clothes and got them dirty or tore them, one prayed for patience and mercy – patience to appear to be paying attention to the hour long – so it seemed – lecture about one’s lack of appreciation for the sacrifice it took to purchase a garment. Mercy that one be spared the 100 lashes. Reminders included, “money does not grow on trees” and “Do I look like a Rockefeller?” Obviously no Rockefeller beat their child for a smudge or a rent which just happens.
Darning or otherwise repairing garments was, it seemed” a nightly chore usually performed in the rocking chair by grandmother, mother or later an older female sibling. In those days only men were tailors. Women were the seamstress who did not earn real money as did tailors.
At any rate, a stick in time saves nine, was applied not only to the darning or repair of a garments it was called into duty for all manner of tasks including homework, wood chopping, or any other chore which had the potential of being postponed or avoided. It is true, of course, that “time was of the essence” in that there were many chores which, if postponed, affected the ability to cook, heat, bathe or otherwise survive.
These days, of course, for some of us, sock darning and stitching repairs on a garment is very foreign. Even passing along clothes other than perhaps baby clothes, is reserved for the truly poor. Even then it is more common to shop at a thrift store such as the Salvation Army or a consignment shop. It is less common to have a relationship which includes the intimacy of sharing “hand me downs”. Busy schedules and more availability of cheaper clothing may mean that one is less likely to patch, repair or alter a garment. Even finding a seamstress who alters or repairs garments is not an easy tass and may, at times, cost more than purchasing a new garment.
Still, one may hear the phrase “a stitch in time saves nine” amongst the old folks. To be honest, I seem to have taken this advice to heart. I may be found darning a sock or getting out my little portable sewing machine to make a repair. To the frustration of my son or others with whom I have a close relationship I am “Johnny on the spot” when it comes to performing needed tasks. Whether it is ironing as soon as I take clothes out of dryer or from the drying rack, making the bed as soon as I am dressed, washing the dishes immediately after a meal, doing paperwork as soon as I receive it, or responding daily to correspondence, I can drive friend’s crazy with my audible and silent “A stitch in time saves nine.” reminders.
Grandmother, would, however, be very pleased that I had taken her advice or was it a warning to heart. My son, on the other hand, might be less thrilled with my insistence on the wisdom of this proverb.
Written November 3, 2016
For more information on the origin of this and other proverbs google “phrases.org.uk”
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