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Vintage Fabrics  - IN SEARCH OF WARP ENDS By Joan Kiplinger Join Joan's Vintage Fabric Discussion List! printer friendly version July/August, 2001: Wood Spools Containing Crochet, Knitting and Tatting Thread (updated 3/25/02) (Click on the pictures for a larger view) Note: these threads will not be listed on thread chart which is limited to machine and hand sewing threads. These threads are shown due to interesting shapes of wood spools and as an extension of thread companies' products. Captions will contain descriptions. American Thread Co., side, top and bottom views. Notice unusual purple logo and the addition of word Manufacturers to name. Sansilk [silk-finish cotton]crochet and knitting thread. 1-3/8 D x 1-5/8. Bow tie, convex spool. Est. 1930s. The familiar white star of American Thread Co. manufactured Willamantic CN. Side, top and bottom views. Mercerized cotton crochet silk-finish thread is pushed back to reveal paper label which lists various sizes spools came in. This spool is 100-yd. coarse #70, standard size. 1-3/8" D x 1-5/8". Bow tie convex spool. Est. 1940s. Clark's ONT, top, bottom and side views. Lustre crochet thread. 1-1/4"D x 1-5/8"; bow tie, convex spool. Est. 1930s-early 40s. Clark's Mile End crochet cotton, made in East Newark NJ. All views; notice elephant logo and lovely grain on this and other spools. Same size as Clark's ONT; bow tie, convex spool. Est. 1930s- 40s. Capitol pure dye, fast-color crochet and knitting silk. Labels read same at both ends; side view. 1-1/8" D x 1-1/2". Convex spool. Est 1930s. Top, bottom and side views of M. Hemingway and Sons Silk Co. Texto silk crochet thread, Watertown CN, convex spool, 1-1/4" D x 1-5/8", est. 1930s; Belding Bros & Co. warranted silk embroidery twist size EE, 3/4" D x 1-1/4, standard spool size; and Beldings supreme knitting and crochet wash color pure silk thread, labels same at both ends, bow tie convex brown spool, 1-1/4 D x 1-3/4". All estimated 1930s -early 40s. Victoria -- knitting and crochet silk by Brainerd & Armstrong. Note different labels at either end. Thread wound crosswise on bowtie spool of thick wood. Date unknown but appears to be in WWI-1920s range. - Courtesy Sharon Stark

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.