Needle Threaders

 

In my family, we joke that my mother is the queen of gadgets.  There doesn't seem to be any kind of newfangled thing that she isn't willing to try out...and the proof is littered throughout her basement and garage!

Still gadgets and tools can make our lives easier.  I was wondering what you think is the most useful tool you use for sewing.  Mine is fairly simple:  the needle threader.

Now I've written about this wonderful gadget before.  The actual tool is believed to go back centuries.  If you recall, I wrote about a Depression era craze of folks competing over threading a needle in record time...or even using two threads.  But today I wondered, who is the woman on the needle threader?  We are all so used to seeing this gadget that I bet you didn't wonder either.  Or maybe you did...

Many sources suggest that the woman on the threader is Ariadne, a character in an old Greek myth.  Ariadne was a Greek princess who apparently helped another Greek figure Theseus slay the Minotaur who was half man, half bull.

Now depending on which version you read, the Minotaur required sacrifices of young men and maidens in order to abate a plague or as retribution for a loss battle.  They had to travel into a labyrinth to the Minotaur and meet their fate.  The third sacrifice was to be Theseus, a prince who swore to slay the Minotaur.  

So how does our heroine Ariadne fit into the story?  Well, she had fallen madly in love with Theseus and offered him a ball of thread or yarn so that he could make his way out of the labyrinth.  Theseus did slay the Minotaur and made his way out of the labyrinth.  He took Ariadne with him but then abandoned her on an island (dirty rascal).  

Fortunately for Ariadne, Dionysus, the God of the Grape Harvest (hence wine), saw her sleeping on the island.  He fell in love with her and married her.

It is said he threw her crown into the heavens and it became the Corona Borealis constellation in the sky.

And out of this there is common needle threader because ultimately, thread or yarn was thought to symbolize saving one's life.

Other women are sometimes featured on older needle threaders like Minerva, the Roman goddess of handicrafts:

But if you know your ancient mythology, most of the stories that became Roman mythology originated in Greece.  I like Ariadne's story best.

Tomorrow is Flower Friday and please share your garden news by emailing me at allentownquilter@gmail.com!

Have a safe and happy day!