God used the very first needle.
The very first needles known were made of bone. Many didn't have an eye; a split in one end held "thread" (animal tendons were dried, pounded, separated, and soaked to become thread.)
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GLOBE:
Yup. In Genesis, it says He sewed animal skins into clothing for Adam and Eve!
After that, sewing took a dive.
The very first needles known were made of bone. Many didn't have an eye; a split in one end held "thread" (animal tendons were dried, pounded, separated, and soaked to become thread.)
Copper, silver, and bronze needles were used in Ancient Egypt and Armenia
300 BC oldest known iron needle (found in present-day Germany)
30AD Jesus talks about the eye of a needle
30AD Jesus talks about the eye of a needle
60 AD Phrygier is credited with discovering embroidery
Middle Ages Hog bristles are waxed, twisted, and used as needles and thread by shoemakers and bookbinders
(Soooo-ie! Pig pigpig. This won't hurt...)
1000AD Spanish Muslims perfect metal needle making and used them for sewing and surgery (I'll take a tent, not a tonsillectomy.)
1200 AD Needles are advertised in China
(These are sewing needles. I don't know when they came up with accupuncture ones.)
1400s Muslims driven from Spain to Arabia, Arabian traders take needles to Europe
1496 Leonardo da Vinci constructs a machine to make sharp ends on needles
(is there anything that man didn't dabble with?)
1500-160o Blacksmiths make needles--very crude
yet Englamd starts using the same technology for making high-quality fish hooks.
(Hmmm. I know a few men who still think fishing is more important than clothes)
(Hmmm. I know a few men who still think fishing is more important than clothes)
(FYI--Those are boar bristles on this!)
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GLOBE:
Native Americans use porcupine needles (as sewing needles and other tools)
BACK ACROSS THE ATLANTIC:
1615 Fine steel needs manufactured in Aachen, Germany
the needle making process: cut wire, sharpen both ends. Flatten the
middle, punch out the eyes, then separate the wire to create two needles. (This is still the way they're made, but machines do all the work.) Pins are much cheaper--but needles are so labor-intensive, bone, ivory, and even wood are still used.
the needle making process: cut wire, sharpen both ends. Flatten the
middle, punch out the eyes, then separate the wire to create two needles. (This is still the way they're made, but machines do all the work.) Pins are much cheaper--but needles are so labor-intensive, bone, ivory, and even wood are still used.Remember the old "like finding a needle in a haystack" saying? Impossible as that feat might be, I'm starting to see why someone might try. It would be cheaper to search for days than to buy a new needle!
1730 First needle factory in Aachen, Germany
1755 First patent ever awarded for a needle with an eye (WOW, no one did it until now. Wasn't anyone reading the Bible? Jesus gave them a great idea. Wonder if the patent made the "inventor" rich....)
1800 Crochet is invented by adding a hook to the end of a needle to make tambour lace. Crochet is a rich woman's leisure activity until the Irish Potato Famine. Poor Irish women fashion hooks of metal with cork handles and make lace to support their families. (Neccesity may be the mother of invention, but mothers invent in the face of necessity.)
1811 Machine to press eyes in needle invented by Abel & Michael Morall
1845 Elias Howe invents Singer sewing machine (they won't be available to housewives or awhile yet)
1850s Needle making machines begin to turn cottage industry into a major business
Needles were prized possessions. Because of their value--both in cost and in 
need--special holders called etui were made. Viking, Egyptian, and Chinese needle holders have been excavated. Victorian women often wore their etui.
need--special holders called etui were made. Viking, Egyptian, and Chinese needle holders have been excavated. Victorian women often wore their etui. BTW-- Jesus said it was easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into the kingdom of God.
Some scholars say "camel" is a mistranslation of "Rope".
Others point out that the thin, artistic doorways built into ancient walls were nicknamed "needles."
All three images are vivid, though.
And no matter which needle you use, unless you don't have eyes to see, the point doesn't matter.
And no matter which needle you use, unless you don't have eyes to see, the point doesn't matter.
Cathy, ...preparing for puns...
5 comments:
Cathy! I read with great interest your post this evening and thought I would make a comment about the acupuncture needles.
As a recipient of acupuncture(and I had my first session of acupuncture with great trepidation I can assure you!) I was curious to find out when this treatment originated,so did a little research.
The first needles made of stone that have been found, are believed to be at least 8000 years old . The dates given are 206 BC-220 AD.
There were also copper,iron and silver, but the oldest known gold needle, was discovered 113 BC in the tomb of Liu Sheng.
I am so glad that I was not experiencing acupuncture in those days!!
I can't think of any puns off hand(I'll leave that to PJ and Catherine :0) but I CAN remember a saying "What the eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve over." Too true!
WOW, Cathy! Great post---and you are so SHARP! You've made some excellent POINTS today (seriously!). And I love the way you THREAD all these fascinating facts into your post. ~ Okay,okay...I'm stopping now---EYE get carried away sometimes *wink*. ~ Honestly, though---this is a fascinating post, because I had no idea needles had such an interesting history. Thanks for sharing--I won't NEEDLE you any more with my ridiculous puns! Hugs, Patti Jo ;)
p.s. Waving at sweet Rosie - - I didn't realize you're also a lefty, my Aussie friend! Yep, this world doesn't seem to be made for lefties, at times. LOL
Hugs, PJ :)
Very interesting, Cathy! This morning, I was reading the story about the "camel, the eye of the needle, and the rich man"
I think Patti Jo sewed up all those needling puns :)
Hello, Rosie! Did the acupuncture help?
One of my first jobs that I had was working for veterinarians. I would often help them in surgery. One of the "threads" used for sewing them up after surgery was called (Kim S & Patti Jo, cover your ears) "cat gut" threaded on a curved needle. It may have been a term left over from years gone by, but that is what it was called.
We once helped move a relative out of her 1700's home. We found old wooden "etui" in her home and furniture that was stuffed with boar's hair (leave that for another day's discussion).
Rosie, you get the award for bravery! Accupuncture? WOW!
PJ, when it comes to puns, you stitched it al together and buttoned it up!
Miriam? did you keep the etui and furniture? A lot of furniture used to be stuffed with horsehair or boarbristles. It's amazing what they recycled.
You can all relax.. sort of. "Cat gut" sutures are normally made of specially treated sheep intestine.
I'm thinking this "going green" thing can be taken too far....
Cathy
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