Decipher 1871 census occupation

[Mike in Cumbria]

Is that an occupation abbreviation superimposed over the first word?

[Karen McDonald]

I'm going cross-eyed, too! But I have been up since 5 o'clock this morning...

I can't help but see something along the lines of:

() in the charge of wards (of her daughter)

...but I may well be wrong. 

Sleepy regards,
Karen

[Mike in Cumbria]

Or:

Sits in the charge and winds...

Some textile winding job?

[JenB]

In the 1861 census is she Maria Skinner aged 55 born Spitalfields, with husband Thomas in South Hackney? She is a 'needleworker'.

If its one and the same I'm going out on a limb with the suggestion that the occupation is
'sits in the change and mends old clothes'.

[Mike in Cumbria]

In the 1861 census is she Maria Skinner aged 55 born Spitalfields, with husband Thomas in South Hackney? She is a 'needleworker'.

It its one and the same I'm going out on a limb with the suggestion that the occupation is
'sits in the change and mends old clothes'.

That looks very good. Do you think the bottom line could be a scribbled-over "seamstress"?

[Tickettyboo]

It its one and the same I'm going out on a limb with the suggestion that the occupation is
'sits in the change and mends old clothes'.

That limb seems quite sturdy to me Jennifer :-)
 
I'm struggling to think what 'the change' may have been but there's definitely a 'ge' at the end of that word and now you have posted I believe mends old clothes is right.

(and its much more likely to be correct than my OH's guess at sits in the chair waits for the Undertaker,  lol !)

Boo

[JenB]

The change might perhaps be the ‘change, ie. preceded by an inverted comma, meaning ‘the exchange’.
Although why she should sit there to mend clothes is anyone’s guess.

[Tickettyboo]

everyone has to be somewhere :-)

Well done Jennifer!

Boo

[Suffolkgal]

Was she winding old cloth?  As in cheese cloth, perhaps.