Sew Sister

Did you know that the white material on the outside of space shuttles was not metal or glass but actually fabric? Specialised 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 Jeans childhood passion for space and sewing and her fascinating work for NASAs shuttle program. Elise Matichs elegant prose and stunning, detailed artwork harmonise 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 doesnt go to college or excel at maths; instead, it is her excellence in a tradeone traditionally practised by womenthat allows her to achieve her dream. NASAs space shuttle fleet was retired in 2011.