#sailmaker

[ltwilliammowett]

Sailor's needle case, mid 19th century

[estro-gem]

WWPM concept sketches: Twinkletoes

I only posted this, so it doesn't die with me.

She doesn't have a name yet, but her nickname is Twinkletoes, because she has a mutation/deformity of her feet. Her big toe is like... waaay far out of line with the rest of her toes.

Don't mind the tags.

Character info/me rambling about this story below cut:

She's a sailmaker and she mainly handles the the sails and the sheets and everything that comes with it.

She's 18 years old. The second oldest. She's the smallest crew member in terms of weight. She's SKINNY! (where's my skinny ladies at??)

She struggles to maintain or gain weight and is VERY insecure about it.

She's flexible and very good and keeping balance and climbing.

...

This falls part of my silly original story I never talk about, "We Were Powder Monkeys."

Evidence to this story have to exist SOMEWHERE, OK?? AND NO! I refuse to put more effort in the hands and feet - you all get to suffer with me.

Ugh... I'm just drunk, guys, and I finally have the lack of coherent thought to post about an original story I've been be fantasizing about for YEARS now, okay?!?!

DON'T LOOK AT ME!

[weirdstrangeandawful]

For your whumping pleasure: Before mechanical sewing (and after it too just less often), sailmakers would have to put their weight into pushing a sewing needle through canvas, only trusting a small disc of metal in a sailmaker's palm to stop the needle from impaling their hands with significant force. If the needle slipped however...

[im-extremely-scottish]

god i absolutely love doing sailmaker for national 5 english cause it is possibly one of the worst things ive ever read yet somehow im meant to believe that the broken mirror is a metaphor for their broken relationship

[benjhawkins]

Maryland sailmaker Curtis Downes, ca. 1950

[lazyjacks]

Sail plan drawn by Amos P. Lord, circa 1930 Maine Historical Society Maine Memory Network, Item 13935

[oledavyjones]

upper photo:Courtsy of Gambell and Hunter Sailmakers./ A roping palm from 1888.

The roping palm has an extra flap of leather so you can pull thread or seizing twine through without cutting your thumb. It is also much more heavily made than the seewing palm (lower photo / 19th century).

[mccalllib]

This 1914 view of Commerce Street shows an approaching train  and the business of Irwin Jackson - sail maker, opposite. Circuit Court Records, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of South Alabama.