(snip about sewing birds and other clamp-type things)
I've seen those, and also wondered about the heavy/stiff pillows it looks like stitchers are using in some of the 17/18C paintings. A couple of examples: http://www.arthistory.cc/auth/velazquez/index.htm scroll down to 'The Needlewoman' "Interior with a Mother" by Willem van Mieris and "The Letter Writer Surprised" by Gabriel Metsu (both are on the http://www.wga.hu site ). Seems to be a very similar style of tall basket also used at this time for mending and/or sewing supplies. One of those pillows might work pretty well for me, it would be adjustable. When I try and pin what I am working on to the chair that is, naturally, the time the cat wants a lap :). Catherine
I've only had my clamps for about a year; before that, I used to pin my work to a chair arm, part of my clothing, etc. My greatgrandmother taught me to pin my work to the knee of my jeans when I was in high school, that worked pretty well. The advantage of a clamp or the pillows, is that you can get up for a cup of tea without your work being attached to you.
Melusine
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