sewing frame
See
illustration A frame or press on which
books are sewn by hand. It consists of a flat
baseboard, two uprights threaded on both ends, a
crossbar and two supporting wooden nuts. Tapes,
cords, or bands are stretched from the slotted
baseboard, where they are secured by keys, to the
crossbar, where they are attached to loops
(laycords), or, in German models, to hooks.
The sewing frame was certainly in use in Northern
Europe by the 12th century, and probably as early
as the 11th, because in all likelihood the need
for some type of frame became apparent as soon as
flexible sewing was introduced. Also called
"sewing bench," 'sewing press," and "sewing rack."
(161 , 236 )