Fabric Information and Facts     Fabric Identification     Fabric Care     Natural Fibers       Wool       Cotton       Silk       Linen       Hemp, Ramie, and Jute     Man made or Manufactured Fibers     Weaves     Q&A     Wisdom Looking for Fabric Looking for Sources Projects Overwhelmed? Site Map Site Search Site Info Advertising Tools for Sources Columns Vintage Fabrics   May 20 - Underground Railroad Quilt Code   October 20 - Up Close and Personal with Vintage Aprons   November 20 - Colorful Vintage Tablecloths and Towels   September 20 - The Legacy of Warren Featherbone   May 20 - Some Costumes for Elderly Ladies   March 20 - And That's a Wrap - Oh to be in my ki-moni-yo   February 20 - Life Was a Breeze with Fans   January 20 - Please Don't Ridicule My Reticule!   April 20 - More Mill Connections   February 20 - One Woman's Failed Struggle to Quit the Fabric Habit   January 20 - The Indian Head Connection 3   October 20 - The Indian Head Connection 2   September 20 - The Indian Head Connection 1   August 20 - Recycling Vintage Fabrics   July 20 - Sanforized: Fabric's Best Friend   June 20 - History of the Printed Tablecloth   May 20 - Decorative Relief Carving in Wooden Spools   April 20 - Vintage Hankies - More Than Sneeze Catchers   March 20 - Indian Head Remembered - Revisiting An American Institution   February 20 - Doll Couture Vintage Style   January 20 - Meet the Azlons from A to Z: Regenerated & Rejuvenated   December 20 - Osnaburg the Great Part 2 Home Beautiful with Cretonne, Chintz, Barkcloth & Crash   November 20 - Osnaburg the Great Part I -- Feedsacks on Our Backs   October 20 - WWII Fashions Part 2 --All Dolled up   September 20 - Cotton Dyeing in the 18th & 19th Century   August 20 - Hooked on Buttons   July 20 - Pillow Talk   June 20 - WWII Fashions   May 20 - A Going-Away Dress   April 20 - Harriet Quimby   January 20 - Capes   December 20 - Umbrellas   November 20 - Weaveprints   October 20 - Grenadine   September 20 - Bias Tape   August 20 - Dolls   July 20 - Thread Chart   June 20 - Vintage Costuming   April 20 - Building A Textile Reference Library   March 20 - Profile of Collector   February 20 - Feedbags   January 20 - Cambric   December 20 - Gizmos   November 20 - Trims   October 20 - Stores 1920-59   September 20 - 1880-1919   August 20 - Sweatshops   July 20 - Label Scandal   June 20 - Bias Tape   Extra: Bias Tape Chart   May 20 - Miracle Fibers   April 20, 2000   March 20, 2000   February 20, 2000   January 20, 2000   December 20, 1999

Vintage Fabrics  - IN SEARCH OF WARP ENDS By Joan Kiplinger Join Joan's Vintage Fabric Discussion List! printer friendly version July/August, 2001: Vintage Thread Chart & Photo Gallery Thread Cabinets / Furniture (updated 3/25/02) (Click on the pictures for a larger view) Commercial thread cabinet, floor model, for Corticelli thread. 37" h x 19" d x 22" w. Shown as found in an out building on property inherited by family member. Difficult to determine type of wood but owner promises to send photo when it is restored. Shown here are cabinet front and side views and closeup of the Corticelli trademark. Note drawers for twist and knitting twist. Est. late 1880s-1919. - Courtesty of Peggie Longwell   Small oak Brainerd & Armstrong Thread 3-drawer cabinet, 16-1/8" W x 8-3/8" H x 14-1/4" D. Each drawer is divided into 10 rows with low divider at front to hold spool up to glass for easy viewing. c 1910-20 in the mission style. Cabinet is used to display a jewelry collection. - Courtesy Sharon Stark B&A has been around since before 1883, producing many spool cabinets from small 2 drawer to 3, 7 and 9 and even 13-drawer models. Most are oak with glass drawer fronts so that colors of thread can be seen. This is an interesting excerpt from Woodstock N.B Press newspaper Aug.26, 1883: "Saunders Bros. have just placed in their store one of the finest cabinets for sewing silks and twists we have ever seen. It is built of walnut lumber, highly polished and has two banks of twelve drawers each, with glass fronts. Between these banks of drawers is a very commobdious [sic] recess, nicely fitted up with shelving and enclosed in front with a mirrored glass panneled door. Below the drawers with glass fronts are four other drawers with walnut fronts, two of which extend the whole width of the cabinet. The drawers pulls are nickelplated. It is a very convenient and highly ornamental article and is stocked with a full assortment of the celebrated Brainerd & Armstrong Co.'s silk and twist." This handsome Willimantic floor model has to be the envy of every thread cabinet collector. Thought to be walnut; paint is original. Drawers were converted from 6 to 3 for more storage room before the current owner bought it. And look at the colorful side view -- same on either side! Measures 24" h x 26" w by 19-1/2" d. c1890s. - Courtesy Sharon Stark Eastern Connecticut was a great silk thread producing region.Willimantic is one its historic textile towns. Willimantic is Algonquin for land of the swift running waters.

Thread Chart | Spool Sizes and Shapes | Labels - Misc. | Labels 2 - Misc. | Labels - Belding Corticelli Richardson | Labels - American Thread Co., Globe Silkworks, Gudenbrod Bros., Paragon Thread Co., Sears, Talons, Cutter Silk Mfg. Co. | Labels - Coats & Clark | Ads | Ads Page 2 | Thread Memorabilia | Printed Literature | Cabinets / Furniture | Thread Column First Page | Crochet, Knitting and Tatting on Wood Spools

The arbitrary cut-off date for this Vintage Fabric column is 1960. To stay within the scope of this timeframe, reference materials published up to that date are the prime source of information to more accurately capture actual thoughts of the time.

If you are interested in vintage fabrics and textile production, email Joan@fabrics.net . Your topic or query could be of interest to collectors and professionals whose hobbies or research require knowledge and use of old fabrics and their contemporary counterparts.

Joan Kiplinger is an antique doll costumer and vintage fabric addict who learned to sew on her grandmother's treadle and has been peddling fabrications ever since.