A Tiny History Lesson

During the Industrial Revolution of the 1800s textile workers spent shifts in the poorest conditions with poor ventilation and light. Machinery was loud, dangerous, and always in motion. Cotton fibers constantly floated through the muggy air and settled on absolutely everything. Although the situation seems dreary, employees of the factories did find one benefit to the poor air quality. Twelve hour shifts spent inhaling fibers led to a fuller stomach at the end of the day which meant more of the meager wages earned could be saved rather than spent on food!

Okay, so I know this little history lesson came out of the blue, but believe me it is completely relevant to my life today! I have become the designated "minkee kit cutter" at work. Now you might wonder what minkee is. It is one of the newest craze fabrics and absolutely a dream. Cutting it is like sliding a hot knife through butter, a swipe of the hand across it's smooth surface is like dipping into a pool of water (without that whole annoying wet part). Sewing with it can be a bit of a beezy since it is a knit and stretches like crazy, but the finished project is so worth it! How does this tie into factory life? Each cut leaves tiny fibers EVERYWHERE. I come home covered in it most every day. When minkee gets in the air and I start choking on the tiny fibers I think of the early textile factory workers and how their situation was much worse. I have to wonder though, how does polyester digest??

Check out some of the kits I've made here! Or just come into Porter's and I'll help you choose one!