The Common Work Basket

We learned from Jane Austen's Guide to Good Manners by Josephine Ross that it was typical in the Regency era to have a Common Work Basket available for visitors.  While sitting and conversing with guests, it was acceptable to sew, mend, embroider, etc. The Common Work Basket held mending, baby items, or things for the poor that any visitor could pick up and work on during the visit.

Here is our Common Work Basket:

I think that it needs some help.

Should we embrace the idea of the Common Work Basket again? :)