I decided to keep a running list of books I have found useful on helping me figure out how things were done “back in the day”. So think of this as my bibliography page in a sense…. along with a lot of lessons from family, friends and people I have met along the way. I love to learn how people lived and worked prior to electric in every house and running water in every house… history and common every day survival. When in doubt I call my dad and ask him how to do something lol.
Many of these books are no longer in print, or are reprints, or available as scanned copies online etc. I will update them as I find and read new ones but here they are so far: happy reading! If you have any favorite antique or vintage “how to” books you find yourself using as an encyclopedia in your home library please let us know!
1. The very first book set to get and explore is always going to be the FOXFIRE series! Edited by Eliott Wigginton and written in the1970’s … I’ve been reading these over and over since they first came out lol and when someone asks for a good set of books to read I always recommend this set. Fortunately they have brought them back and reprints are easy to find! If you are looking for information on how things “used to be done” these are the ultimate go to books.
2. The second place I go to (either online, old paper issues or new issues) are Mother Earth News magazines. I was lucky enough to find a complete set 1970-1984 in the local junk store and everyone in the house is busy reading and re reading and making things from these old back issues as well as improving from what we have learned by reading them. I often go to their online site to try and figure out a method to my madness too lol. Or just browse for new ideas… or old ideas as the case may be lol. This magazine has always held my interest and is my go to rainy day reading 🙂 we get tons of ideas to spin off from in these magazines.
3. The next one is also a 1975 oldie but goodie book called: Country Women a handbook for the new farmer, by Jeanne Tetrault and Sherry Thomas. Such a plethora of knowledge! Ok so as a woman… I never knew why there were so many different types of hand saws and now I know! This is a good reference book especially for us ladies that didn’t get the mechanical classes our brothers got (like woodshop) back in the day when only boys got to take those types of classes lol. But also a bunch of good info if you want to raise some back yard chickens etc or just about anything else on a “homestead” you want to know about too! It goes into very detailed information on a variety of homesteading topics.
4. Homespun crafts is a fun book by E. Kenneth Baillie written in 1954 for people who work with kids (like Girl Scout and Boy Scout leaders etc). What fun ideas!!! It got my imagination going to create other things! Some things used for the crafts like wooden sewing spools and old (recycled) ladies felted hats might be hard to find now days lol but it gave me ideas for other creations! It also has patterns and very concise instructions for a lot of different crafts.
5. A high School text book (my copy was apparently checked out in 1925 from a local high school and never returned and somehow ended up in the local junk store in 2018 for me to buy lol) called: Foods preparation and Serving by Pearl L. Bailey written in 1924. Amazing the things I have learned from this book! How to measure without modern measuring spoons! Why has no one ever told me how to do that before?!?!?! Apparently this author wrote several “textbooks” from that time period, mostly “ladies finishing school” style topics. Which are very interesting and informative, so I plan to keep my eye out for more of her works.
6. How to know textiles by Cassie Paine Small written in 1925. As a fiber artist all I can say is WOW! This was a high school text book!?!?! Why didn’t I ever have classes like this in high school!?!?! I learned so much from reading this book! Like: people have been making machine knit stockings since the 1600’s!!! Say what?!?!?! Machine made lace in the civil war era!!! Say what?!?!?! If you are a fiber artist this is the ultimate history of fiber go to book!
7. Learning to weave by Deborah Chandler. I’m taking weaving lessons from a lady in the local weaving guild and her lessons are very close to following along with this book almost like a text book. There is a bit of math involved in weaving and it helps to have the conversion charts and math related chapters to rely on and go back to when trying to warp the loom and plan my projects. If you want to learn to weave this is the book to get.
Some random places to gain knowledge:
To learn to knit, crochet, or spin wool (either drop spindle or spinning wheel) there are a ton of YouTube videos to watch. I’m a visual learner and with the amount of how to videos on YouTube it’s super easy to teach yourself these skills with a bit of research online. You can also check around locally (Facebook is a good place to search) to see if there is a spinning guild, knitting group, crochet group, weaving guild etc and ask if someone is willing to give lessons.
Local sewing shops that sell sewing machines often give sewing lessons. Sometimes they are free if you buy your sewing machine from them. So before buying a sewing machine somewhere else go check out that small sewing shop. They can also help you pick out the right sewing machine and save you from buying a cheap piece of junk that you are probably gonna hate at another large popular superstore retailer that I won’t name here lol.
Museums. Lots and lots of history museums. Go to them. Especially the pioneer village and living history type museums that do demonstrations. Take the tours from the tour guides. I guarantee you will learn something new. Browse their book store before you leave 🙂 go back and talk to the demonstrators after the tour. Ask lots of questions including where you can learn to do what they do.
If you see someone doing something interesting… ask questions! Especially ask questions of the older folks in your family and friends list. They are a fount of knowledge! Always strive to learn at least one new thing a day for the rest of your life, even if it’s just a simple piece of trivia information.
Conestoga Chuck 