superstition {noun}

su·​per·​sti·​tion | \ ˌsü-pər-ˈsti-shən \

Definition of superstition:
1: a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation
2: a notion maintained despite evidence to the contrary

 

In our never ending search for all things fascinating in the world of textiles and the by-products they inspire, we travel around the world in search of ties that bind seamstresses far and wide, as well as the practices that are undeniably unique. On one such a journey, we discovered a realm of beliefs held as sewing superstitions by some, yet rules of thumb by others. From the quilter to the seamstress, from the novice to the seasoned, these findings were passed down generation to generation where they eventually took root as false conceptions of causation or basic unquestioned truths. Some of the notions held seemed rather comedic in nature, while others …deathly serious.

But whether  resulting from ignorance or chance, one thing was evident… superstition, like word of mouth, has had the power to spread like wild fire over land and sea, interweaving diverse cultures and creating uncommon commonality along the way. Decades later they still remain. Maybe some have even found their way into your own life as well and are here to stay. For the magic or nostalgic memories they may stir, enjoy!

Sewing On Specific Days …

• Never start a garment on Friday unless you can finish it the same day. [ Italy, Germany, Eastern Europe ]

• No sewing on Sunday unless you really have to, and even then you have to put a piece of wood in your mouth.

• While sewing on Sunday, hold a piece of thread in your mouth or your stitches will be crooked and whatever you cut on Sunday would be crooked and ravel.

•  If you begin a quilt on Friday, you will never live to finish it.

• Never quilt on Sunday. It is the day of rest.

• Whoever covers a quilt on Wednesday gets ill.

• Never sew on Sunday because you will have to rip out all of those stitches when you get to heaven.

• There is harm in sewing on Sunday if you do not use a thimble.

Sewing on New Years Day …

“Old German ways of doing things have remained for me, like the don’t sew on Sunday. On New Years Day, she always found time to sew a pillow case, this was to hold all your win falls that come during the new year, and you could not leave anything undone on the last day of the year as it would stay that way for the next year.”

• Always sew a pillow case on New Years Eve to hold all of your troubles.

• Never leave sewing undone on New Years or it will stay that way for the next year.

• Don’t sew clothes on New Year’s Day or someone in your family will pass away.

• You should never use scissors on New Year’s Day lest you cut off your own fortunes

Sewing the Garments You’re Wearing…

“I read once that it is bad luck to sew clothing while some one is wearing it. I mentioned this to a colleague who wanted me to replace a button for him, he said “I know…Unless the person in the clothes holds a thread in his mouth.” He broke a piece of thread off the spool and held it in his mouth until I finished sewing on his button! “

• If you mend your apron or dress while you are wearing it someone will lie about you.

• It is bad luck to sew clothing while some one is wearing it unless the person in the clothes holds a thread in their mouth.

• While sewing on a garment, should you sew it to your dress by mistake, as many stitches as you take so many lies will be told about you.

• Don’t sew a button or repair an item of clothing while a person was wearing it without chewing on a thread. [Eastern Europe / Jamaica ]

Superstitions Surrounding the Handling of Scissors …

• Scissors cannot be passed from hand to hand, because scissors are considered the enemy.

• Dropping a pair of scissors is said to warn that a love is unfaithful.

• If you break an individual blade on a pair of scissors, then a quarrel will happen.  If you break both, then a catastrophe will happen.

• Never give a present of scissors or the friendship will be cut. Scissors should always be sold, they should never be given.

Superstitions Regarding Needles & Pins …

• Before handing the needles over, the giver should remove one needle from the packet and prick the recipient to protect them from any further ill fortune.

• If you drop a needle, it has to be found right away or it would find it’s way from a foot into someones heart. [Cajun superstition ]

• Place a needle or pin into a piece of cloth when passing to someone, or your relationship could be ruined.

• If you break a needle, the next baby will be yours.

• To upset a box of pins foretells a surprise as long as some of them are left in the box.

• If you break your needle while making a dress you will live to wear it out.

The Threat of Thread…

“In Britain, knotted thread means an argument will happen. In the Mediterranean, if this happens when the garment is being mended, it means that the owner will have prosperity and wealth.”

•  If a thread breaks, it will bring misfortune.

• Using your teeth to cut thread will cause them rot and fall out.

• Breaking a quilting thread will cause bad luck, as will putting black in a quilt

• When you are sewing and your thread knots and tangles, someone is talking about you.

Miscellaneous sewing superstitions…

” When a wedding gown is being made there is a rush among the sewing girls to thread the first needle with a hair from their own head and pass it through the material. Whoever is first in this race will be the first to marry.”

• If you tear a hole in a new dress the first time wearing it you will have a new one before that one is worn out.

• A turned up hem meant that you were going to get married

Superstitions Surrounding Quilt Stitch Designs …

“The Lone Star pattern has its own category of superstitions and all of them are grim. One holds that if you make a Lone Star quilt, somebody in your family will die soon. Then there’s the one that says if you start a Lone Star, you won’t live to finish it. Another says that if a woman begins a Lone Star quilt, she will become a widow before she finishes it. Still another maintains that it is bad luck for an unmarried woman to make a Lone Star quilt, because doing so will cause her to be an old maid (at least she doesn’t die!).”

• Stitching a spider web design into a quilt will bring good luck

• Never make a quilt with 13 blocks

• The Wandering Foot pattern should never be made for a young man turning 21 because it would cause him to run away.

• If anyone starts a quilt in the form of a star, someone in the family will die before it is finished.

• Never make human figures on a quilt. It is believed the figures will walk and visit you at night.

Bridal Quilts & Marriage…

“Back in the day of making quilts for your hope chest, young ladies made a charm quilt made of 999 squares of fabric. The 1000th piece was supposed to come from the sleeve of the fella they were going to marry.”

• Design a bridal quilt with continuous borders of vines or ribbon-like patterns. A broken border is said to foretell a broken marriage.

• If an unmarried girl puts the last stitch in the quilt, she will become an old maid.

• Marriage quilts should be laid out fresh so that dreams on the first night will come true.

• A girl who begins piecing a quilt will not marry until it is finished.

• After finishing a quilt, the first one over whom it is thrown will be married first.

• If a young lady shakes a new quilt out the door, the first man who comes through the door will be her future husband. If two people shake a cat in the quilt, the one near where the cat runs out will marry first.

• When a quilt is first taken off the frame, wrap it around an unmarried woman to give her luck in finding a mate. Throw it at the first single man she sees to charm him into a relationship.

• If someone wraps you in a new quilt, you will get married within a year.

• A bride must sew a swan’s feather into her husbands pillow to ensure fidelity

• Prior to getting married, a girl must have 13 quilts, the last of which must be a bridal quilt to be used on the wedding night.

• If you make a quilt or spread, be sure to finish it or marriage will never come to you.

Sleeping With Your Quilt…

• After a quilt is completed, the quilter should sleep with the quilt one night and then give it to the special person it is made for.

• When a person is ill, it is said if they sleep with a quilt, all the love from the quilt will heal them.

• If you dream while sleeping under a quilt for the first time, the dream will come true

• You are supposed to sleep under your quilt when it is finished, even if it is going to be a gift.

Miscellaneous quilting superstitions…

” I always leave a ‘Humility’ block. One block or one square or triangle set “wrong”. I turn it then sew it in. I usually place this ERROR in the lower right corner. I read somewhere years ago that No One is perfect, so my quilt should not be.”

• It’s bad luck to give away your first quilt.

• If the quilt is perfect, the devil is in it.

• If you make a quilt or spread be sure to finish it or marriage will never come to you.