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  • Sew Sister: The Untold Story of Jean Wright and Nasa's Seamstresses by Elise Matich book cover
  • Sew Sister: The Untold Story of Jean Wright and Nasa's Seamstresses by Elise Matich book cover
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Sew Sister: The Untold Story of Jean Wright and Nasa's Seamstresses

by Elise Matich

A craft behind spaceflight

$17.07 USD
$28.46 USD $17.07 USD
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AlbakiReads Editorial

A craft behind spaceflight

Jean Wright’s story connects the scale of NASA’s shuttle program with the precise, hands-on work that helped protect its astronauts. As one of the “Sew Sisters,” Wright helped make thick thermal blankets from fabric, bringing sewing and skilled trade into a history of space exploration. The book also traces her childhood interests in both sewing and space, highlighting how practical expertise can contribute to STEM fields such as aeronautics. Its focus on a woman’s work in a traditionally female trade adds a distinct perspective to stories of scientific and technological achievement.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Children ages 9–12 interested in space exploration and NASA history
  • Readers curious about sewing, skilled trades, and how hands-on craft connects with STEM
  • Young readers seeking biographies of women in science and technology

Themes

Space explorationSewing and skilled tradesWomen in STEMCraft and technical precision

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

Did you know that the white material on the outside of space shuttles was not metal or glass but actually fabric? Specialized quilts, two inches thick, covered the space shuttles and protected the astronauts from deadly heat and radiation. Jean Wright was one of the eighteen "Sew Sisters" who crafted these thermal blankets, mostly by hand, with incredible precision and skill. Capturing both the grandeur of space flight and the intimacy of a needle and thread, Sew Sister tells the story of Jean's childhood passion for space and sewing, and her fascinating work for NASA's shuttle program.Elise Matich's elegant prose and stunning, detailed artwork harmonize with the STEAM concept at the heart of this story: the role of skilled hands and artistry in STEM fields like aeronautics. Sew Sister offers a heroine in the context of space exploration who doesn't go to college or excel at math; instead, it is her excellence in a trade--one traditionally practiced by women--that allows her to achieve her dream. NASA's space shuttle fleet was retired in 2011.
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