Vintage Fabric - Threads

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
Projects
Overwhelmed? Site Map
Site Search
Site Info
Advertising
Tools for Sources

Columns

Vintage Fabrics
November 20 - A Celebration of Joan Kiplinger 1933 - 2009
February 20 - Is There a Silver Moon in Your Quilt?
January 20 - Part III: Any Powder Puffs or DayLee in Your Quilts?
December 20 - PART II: Any E&W Prints in Your Quilt?
November 20 - PART I: Any Rondo Prints in Your Quilt?
May 20 - Wrights - Memories of an American Institution
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 Memorabilia (updated 3/18/04)
(Click on the pictures for a larger view)

Clark's thread box held 20 #50 spools. Appears to be a promotional item
from 1920s- early 30s.

A Clark's promotional for ONT thread. The clever and appealing sales line reads "Nothing stronger can there be than mother's love and ONT." ONT was George Clark's acronym for Our New Thread. Card probably dates from early 1900s to post-WWI judging from printing and reference to fast black which were very tempermental; fast black was a guarantee color would remain black after washing.

- Courtesy Susan Axel Bedsaul

Charming trading cards from 1881 for Merrick, Corticelli and Willimantic thread companies.
- Courtesy Shirley McElderry

Corticell Thread -- Front and insider cover of a promotional folder featuring the Corticelli kitten, 1908.
- Courtesy Sharon Stark


Every woman carried at least one in her purse. Matchbook kits were a popular advertising means by businesses, particularly banks and hosiery companies. Each kit contained silk or cotton thread for emergency repairs and matchsticks called arrestor rods or stop-run sticks which were moistened and applied to hosiery runs to prevent further action. Bank kit is 1960s. Real Silk Hosiery Mills dates around mid-1930s through WWII and would have been used on rayon hose as well as silk.
		Belding Corticelli [see closeup] dressmaker shears, est. 1970s, possibly earlier. No other information available at this time regarding manufacturer or length of time BC produced scissors under its name. - Courtesy Sharon Flatbush
		How a young girl in the 1890s occupied part of her time. This lovely belgian linen sewing back with its beautiful embroidery is missing its silk ribbon but is in perfect condition otherwise. It was to hold larger sewing supplies while a hussif [old eng. from housewife], a small roll-type bag, held smaller sewing tools as shown. - Courtesy of Pamela Keating
back view of hussif showing silk ribbon ties and owner's initials.		side view of unrolled hussif, showing tiny stitching which holds wrapper to padded ends and silk ribbon ties..
inside view of hussif. which contains an ivory awl for making eyelet holes, silk thread from Germany and an attached needle cushion. Embroidery or small scissors would have been inserted in holder shown on the upper flap.