WWII Friendship Pillows
by Patricia L. Cummings
Part X of a comprehensive article about "Sweetheart Pillows"
During war, when friends are separated, it must be a very likely event to long for their company. As soldiers thought of home, they not only remembered "home and hearth" and the family they left behind, they also recalled good times with close friends. So, it is logical that "Friendship Pillows" would also be made or purchased. As we have seen in the other sections of this article, many of the commercially produced pillow tops feature nostalgic poems, and the following pillow top is no exception.
The words,"Greetings from U.S. Navy," as well as a poem appear on this brightly colored pillow top with a Friendship poem. Photo courtesy of Richella.
Friendship
Within the garden of my heart
Where flowers of friendship grow
There are blossoms of remembrance
Forget-me-nots so blue
And purple velvet pansies
To tell my thoughts of you:
And roses that will always bloom
Whatever be the weather
Whose fragrance is the memory
of days we spent together.
Friendship Pillow from Camp Davis, N.C.
The next U.S. Army pillow shown here has a very pleasing color combination or red roses on a white background and a blue eagle with an e pluribus unum banner carries the symbols of war and peace in its talons.
photo courtesy of Andi (eBay seller, andisbarn)
Friendship
No road is too long
If at the end
We find a welcome
From a friend.
A cheery handclasp
Warm and true
Is always good
From a pal like you.
Some People Made Their Own Friendship Pillows
Scan of 1942 Kresge ad for Friendship pillow kit, courtesy of Joan Kiplinger, vintage fabrics expert.
WWII Pillow Kits
According to Joan Kiplinger, author of Vintage Fabrics, dimestores like Kresge, F.W.Woolworth, and other stores, sold kits for making pillows during WWII. While many of the pillows were made from "very cheap, Halloween costume, rayon," she states that rayon was sometimes blended with linen, cotton, or silk.
The writing, in the Kresge ad shown above, says this:
Americans today are all over the world! Get his or her signature on the clever green Oak leaf; embroider it, then appliqué on this Friendship pillow! Mail leaf to your friend for his or her signature. Be ready for unlimited praises once you've finished this darling pillow. It's a unique idea! Your friends will compliment your taste. Stamped percale leaves sufficient for eight autographs.
While the kit seems to have been geared toward honoring those soldiers who were far away, one can imagine that an industrious soldier might have revived the 1812 tradition of making his own "Mother" pillow, as previously discussed. Indeed, we do see a soldier in this ad, although he is no doubt being featured to promote the product.
Additional Friendship Poem
An additional poem that appears on a WWII pillow cover marked U.S. Army, Camp Carson CO, says this:
Oh, the world is wide and the world is grand
And there's little or nothing new,
But the sweetest thing is the grip of the hand,
Of the Friend that's tried and true.
©Copyright 2007-2009. Patricia Cummings, Quilter's Muse Publications, Concord, New Hampshire. All rights reserved. pat@quiltersmuse.com