by sewtired 18 May 2017

Some time back someone wrote about a sewing kit that they had recently acquired that had a strange little gizmo in it that looked like a tiny spoon. There was much puzzlement about what it was for and I believe someone mentioned that it was an "ear spoon" or some such thing and then the puzzlement was about why that would be in a sewing kit. I learned the answer today and I was going to share the post with you, but I've gone back through my browser history and I still can't find it. The purpose was apparently to collect wax in order to wax one's thread to make sewing easier. I suppose beeswax was not so easy to come by in the past? Anyway, mystery solved.

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by sewmom 28 May 2017

That was my post : )
Thanks for the interesting information. Good thing I have beeswax in a block now and don't have to get it from my ear!

1 comment
sewtired by sewtired 28 May 2017

Yes it was your post! You're welcome, just wish I could share the blog post that gave the answer. It was quite interesting.

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by asterixsew Moderator 28 May 2017

I have had a number of Japanese students who stayed with us. None of them brought sewing kits but they all had small bamboo ear cleaners

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by noah 28 May 2017

Lol my hearing aid gives me lots of wax in them lol thanks for telling us hugs

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by meganne 26 May 2017

I guess when you're desperate!!! LOL!

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by airyfairy 25 May 2017

Amazing, if not rather dangerous

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by gerryb 24 May 2017

Yuk!!!!!

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by jrob Moderator 24 May 2017

No. Just no. I can't.

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by cfidl 24 May 2017

Very Cool!

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by sdrise 19 May 2017

Neat!! Thanks for the update and the solved mystery implement ! Neat to see some history!...

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by dragonflyer 19 May 2017

Wow...I never would have guessed that...don't think I'll be trying it anytime soon either~

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by crafter2243 Moderator 18 May 2017

That is funny.

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by rescuer Moderator 18 May 2017

Do you mean this one?

1 comment
sewtired by sewtired 20 May 2017

Thanks rescuer, the revised post you have a link for is related to the original post that I saw that prompted the puzzlement, and I was unable to find it either, but that is not the post that I was hoping to share - the one that solved the mystery. It was a post on another site or blog about hand embroidery needles and how to care for them. It talked about past practices of using ear wax and of running needles through your hair as the oils in your hair would lubricate the needles. It was very interesting though a little gross.

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