This is a topic I have received questions about since almost the beginning of my blog, and for the most part I answered via email rather than addressing it on my blog because, well, because it's underwear!
Everyone knows the Amish make their own clothes, and it makes a lot of people curious, what type of underwear do they wear.
The answer isn't weird or exciting. They buy it.
Another question I get is, do they wear underwear and if they do, do they wash it because they have never seen any on Amish clotheslines.
As you can guess, yes, they do wear it, and yes, they do wash it regularly, there are ways to hide it from passersby by pinning it behind towels or other larger items.
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I know lots of folks who hide their underwear when it is on the clothesline. When my grandmother lived in the city, she would pin her "dribs" to the line inside her pillowcases. When they bought a farm, nobody could see, so it didn't matter.
ReplyDeleteInside pillowcases sounds like a great way to hide them!
DeleteThanks...I have always wondered if brassieres were allowed or whether some sort of binding was used instead.
ReplyDeleteYep, they're allowed.
DeleteI do the same. Towels and pillowcases can hide things beautifully!
ReplyDeleteThey really do hide things beautifully.
DeleteHahahahaha ........ this was sooo cute, and, well, yes, the curiosity of us all ...... underwear, underwear, underwear ......... we all have it and it has to be washed ....... loved this :):) another lesson learned today Mary Ann, how to hang our undies respectively .... never would of dreamed ....... have a happy day sweet one :):)
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it. Hope you have a very happy day as well!
DeleteReally - do people actually ask whether the Amish was their undies? How bizarre! I always think of them as very clean and organized people.
ReplyDeleteWe are not Amish but my mother would die of embarrassment if her under garments were seen by neighbours, they are discreetly hung behind a high hedge and I am in BIG trouble if I forget to tell her someone is going to go into the garden on the underwear side whilst they hang there. She is 91 now but, boy, can she skedaddle at speed to grab her undies to avoid others viewing them by accident! Comes of being raised by Victorian parents, I suppose.
I have received that question.
DeleteI suppose I'll be just like your mother when I'm 91. No one needs ever see those pieces of laundry.
Ha ha! Most of Mum's underwear is far prettier than mine..... not that anybody needed to know that.... sorry!
DeleteJenni
My first reaction was, "These poor people, they have to hide their underwear because people will take pictures of it". But I always hide my underwear when I hang my clothes out and it's not because anyone's taking pictures of it! I guess they're just hiding their underwear because everyone does!
ReplyDeleteI don't think anyone wants those articles of clothing on display for everyone to see.
DeleteI do the same thing. Hide my undies when they're on the clothesline. Isn't it funny. We all wear them, but we all hide them. A form of modesty in and of itself I suppose.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Betsy
I don't mind not having to see underwear on clotheslines. It really does seem as if most try to hide it.
DeleteI live in a rural part of Lancaster County and have Amish neighbors. I have seen undies hanging from the clothesline but not very often. I think what surprised me the most (and put a smile on my face) was seeing an Amish woman picking out and buying underwear at Victoria's Secret!! I think it's safe to say that she will not be hanging those undies from her clothesline!! :)
ReplyDeleteShe probably won't be allowing others to have a chance to see it, especially if it's extra nice. :)
DeleteAs a child my undies hung out on the clothesline for all the world to see. Never gave it a thought but thinking about it now I don't recall ever seeing my Moms or my sisters.
ReplyDeleteMaybe they assumed you wouldn't mind?
DeleteI hang the undergotchies on the lines in the middle, with larger items on the lines both behind them and in front of them, so they're well hidden. I went on Google Earth, the reality map thingy, and looked at our house, and you can actually see our laundry on the lines!
ReplyDeleteWe have a "clothes tree" dryer, and I put things on the line in such a way that the first things taken off are the last things put away. So, the kitchen things go on the inside, undies in the middle, then our clothes, the bath towels, and the sheets around the outside. When I take things down and fold them, the sheets are on the bottom of the basket, then the towels, etc. I go in the kitchen door, put away the dish clothes, go upstairs and put away our clothes, and the sheets and towels go in the linen closet, and the laundry basket is empty.
DeleteThe one place we lived I used the middle line as an easy way to hide our clothes. Most days that worked fine unless it got really windy and towels started wrapping themselves around the line and didn't do the greatest job of hiding.
DeleteInteresting that google earth got your clothesline.
It's in the "street view." You can also see one of my daughters in the doorway letting a cat out, and my step-daughter walking across the lawn. Interesting, but a little creepy, too. ;)
DeleteLady Anne, I love how systematic you are
DeleteI've enjoyed reading your A-Z series on Amish life. An Amish community has moved near us and it's good to have some insight into their lives.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you are enjoying the series.
DeleteNever having ever really been around Amish people, I never had those questions in mind, but I do find it interesting that others do wonder abut underwear. Oh my!
ReplyDeleteThere are a lot of curious people. :)
DeleteI have seen our amish neighbors undies on the line (and bras!). I just looked away then walked to the front door. hehe. Our other amish neighbor came over wearing just socks, which had holes in them - it was really weird to see that someone would walk around (at least 1/5 mile) to our house in just socks! Everyone is different I guess. I also saw that they 'stitch' up their sock holes... so interesting!
ReplyDeleteI had to chuckle about this because I can remember my Mom hanging out clothes on the line. She always tucked the underwear between other things on the line. Our undies were well worn and though they were clean it was hard to remove all the stains and wear. She always thought they looked dirty, so she'd hide them away between some nice white shirts or something. Mom was the best. We weren't Amish. I still love the smell of sheets and towels hung out in the sunshine.
ReplyDeleteLady Anne, I love how systematic you are!
ReplyDelete