19-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Tuesday, March 24, 1914: Finished my waist today. Got a birthday present. It came a couple of days behind time, but really doesn’t make much difference.
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
We now know that Grandma was making a waist when she wrote the previous day:
Got a streak of sewing today. . .
Waists is an old-fashioned term for tailored blouses or shirts. They were also called shirtwaists.
I wonder why the late Birthday present didn’t make much of a difference? Did the Birthday not mean much, or was it a gift that she really didn’t like or want?
My comment was going to be similar to the previous reader’s thoughts….
Those blouses are beautiful. I can’t imagine being able to sew that well.
I love seeing the vintage clothing!!!
I thought she meant it didn’t make much difference that it was late! I need to set up my sewing machine and do some sewing. I remember when I was growing up wearing shirtwaist dresses but none so glamorous as those! I love how billowy they are. If they were hip length, they would be perfect for my billowy figure these days. I guess these were inbetween corsets and bras.
I read somewhere that longer shirts are the latest style this spring. I agree that it’s a style that is flattering for those of us who are no longer young.
I’m with you guys. I think the lateness didn’t matter. See how important grammar can be.
I sense a bit of excitement in Helena’s nonchalant diary entry.
I love the old blouse (waist) photos you found Sheryl! I think that Helena meant she didn’t mind the gift being late too.
Your Grandma must have been a very accomplished seamstress, these ‘Shirt Waists’ are very pretty and detailed. Did she have a sewing machine?