Palm and Needle.

[Les Woodard]

Who recalls cutting the legs of our dungaree's to make shorts then using the legs to make denim hats. Cut out two circles the size of dinner plates then trace the outline of a small plate to cut a hole in one of them. Stitch together using palm and needle invert this to stitch a strip around the hole then make a peak to stitch to the hat. Where greatly in demand from the girls in Oz and K1W1 at that time. Another one was repairing flip flops when the bloody botton would pop out all the time. I think I ended up with a pair with more sailing thread than rubber at one stage and could tell if a sixpence was head or tails through the sole of them.

[Keith Tindell]

Remember making those hats well, using the dinner plates describes. I still sometimes use a palm and needle today on sailing boat, mainly to whip the ends of mooring lines, halyards etc. Sail twine still available at good yacht chandlers. KT

[Ivan Cloherty]

Still have mine, used recently to repair a leather handle on a travel bag, fortunately the wife knows what it is and it (the palm, not the wife) hasn't ended up in the "What the hells this box" ready for dumping when she is on a garage clean out mission.

[Captain Kong]

I still have my palm and half a dozen needles, did all the jobs mentioned here, including a few stiffs, Those canvas hats we made used to be called "Steaming Revvies". anyone remember that name?.
I still have and use a canvas bag and a guitar case I made on the GOOD HOPE CASTLE on the way to the breakers in Hong Kong in 1959.
Try making a pair of dungies with canvas and was a bit rough around the gooly area. but having nothibng else had to wear them wear two pairs of underkeks on.
Cheers
Brian.

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi shipmates, I have Two palms hand made one stamp embossed with ships name and design very old from sailing ship but cant make the name the letters have got smaller or my eyes not good, the other is much lighter no marks hand made very well light and dark leather too small for my hand, I have over 2 dozen needles from small ones to ones for serious canvas work , could make a full set of sails with some help ? one of the needles was used on Cardiff dock in the Irish potatoe famine, also have a few reels of barbours linen thread 3 cord no 35 2 oz made in the days of the empire, in britain can hold any canvas together in any gale . Over the years I have used my palm and needles to do countless jobs from fixing buckles to making covers for the garden , Proper canvas is not easy to come by today but it is very expensive if you can find some, At sea made a steaming jacket and hats. cut down jean jacket and sew up all the seems sold it in pub / disco for beer money.

[Peter Trodden]

I Still have all my canvas-work gear, palms,needles,serving board,sail twine and a lump of beeswax. I've done most of the jobs mentioned including revvies for your top,and boscoes for your bottom ends. I've used my gear a few times since coming ashore,but its surprising how many people will renew instead of repair thier stuff.
ttfn Peter.

[Capt Bill Davies]

I too have similar kit, Peter. Presented to me in a 'ditty' bag by the Bosun of the 'Peleus' on completion of my last trip as AB in 60 with a polite reminder from that legendary man ' Never forget where you started Son'!


Brgds

Bill

[Calvin Kent]

Strangely enough I've been sewing all afternoon making bags for tent and poles. Only needle I could find was a No.10 so being as it was the first time the palm had been used in anger in nearly forty years you can imagine the blisters!

[Les Woodard]

As a few have mentioned here the main thing was to use the bees wax to get longer life out of the job. Only ever had one type of stiff and would never have used a Palm and Needle on it.

[Peter Trodden]

........Never forget where you started Son'!

Sound advice Bill. I went "round the land" in Peleus,16.8.56. JOS. Joe Martin,Bosun. One of 4 brothers in Blueys.