Crocheted Doilies Pattern Leaflet 208

In my stack of loose pattern leaflets is American Thread Leaflet 208.

Tucked away in the back cover is the only identifier - American Thread Company - Leaflet No 208.

Now, my first thought is ... I've seen this before.   I'm sure this is already in the shop.  So, off I went to look.   But no ... not actually.  There are certainly similar Pansy Doilies, but not this exact one.  In looking through them, American Thread had  the common theme of the marvelous three color pansy border and the eight section center, but each of the centers have a slight variation to them.

Frequently Leaflet Numbers will tie to the pattern book thee designs came out of.  Off to American Thread Book 208.

Yes, Book 208 has that lovely Pansy Doily, but, it carries a different center motif and the second leaflet doily -- Rose Irish is not in this book at all.

I spent awhile in Google Images trying to identify where this pattern originates and came to a dead in. There are many doily designs, of course, named Irish Rose, not 'Rose Irish' -- No.    It is a beauty, 12 inches in diameter, with those delicate roses all around.     As curiosity is always my cat, I'll have to continue the watch.   I've no doubt it will pop up somewhere.

I've listed these two in the shop, should you be interested.
Pansy Doily 
Rose Irish Crocheted Doily

Thanks for dropping by,
Lorrie

Tips on Tables, Vintage Crochet Book 167 from Spool Cotton

Okay, the title here gives us a great start.    In the evenings I like to rework these vintage (public domain) patterns while watching TV with my husband.   Well ... he's actually the one watching TV ... I'm just sitting on the couch with him !    This week, I've been working on my issue of ....

Spool Cotton Company Book No 167 - Tips on Tables.   This book was published in 1941 (yep, 76 years ago), in promotion of their current lines of threads.

No 7385 -  Dance of the Flowers - graces both the front and back cover.   This delightful large floral medallion with smaller fill-in work is worked in two colors.

The threads, well that would be "Clark's O.N.T. or J&P Coats Best Six Cord Mercerized Crochet Thread.   Remember, this is a time period before Coat's and Clark's were merged together into one brand.

No 7391 - Sorcery - Another medallions design (5 1/4 inches) with smaller fill-in motifs.  The finished cloth measures 53 x 73 inches. 

No 7363 - Richelieu - This (first) filet crochet selection carries a bold mosaic motif in the extra long size of 65 x 93 inches.

No 7444 - Peacock Tails - This four piece luncheon set was a quite popular design during the 1940's, appearing in five (that I know of) different Spool Cotton pattern books.

No 7414 - Snowfall - A delicate luncheon set with place mats and runners made up of small 2 1/8 motifs in a snowflake design.

No 7386 - Princess Charming - Dainty floral and leaf motif  in octagon motifs.  The finished cloth is the standard 60 x 80 inches.

No 7387 Forest Flowers - A larger motif at 5 inches, with fill-in, that resembles an opening flower bloom.

No 7416 - Family Affair - This Dogwood trimmed beauty, worked in Filet Crochet, measures 70 inches in diameter.

No 7185A - Spring Song - This exquisite lace mat is perfectly sized for trays.   The pattern includes the 'A", which means there is a corresponding piece out there.   I've not yet found it, but rest assured, I'll be on the watch.

No 7433 - Rusticana - A round Mat set densely crocheted using Knit-Cro-Sheen in three colors.
This pattern is offered as a free download in the shop.

No 7389 - Summer Sun - Another round medallion cloth; quite different but equally as lovely as the others.

No 7388 - A Square-A-Day - This third filet crochet selection is made of large 17 inch square blocks in a somewhat geometric flower motif.

No 7415 - True Love - Small Posy Flower motifs (a lot of them!) create this marvelous cloth - also 60 x 80 inches.

No 7408 - Rosy Posy - Our last filet crochet selection gives us a delightful luncheon set in rounded shape.

No 7328 - Brighter Star - The 5 1/2 inch round star motifs, with openwork joinings create a lovely cloth that is 65 x 90 inches.   A smaller version of this would almost make a lovely runner.

No 7392 - Gingerbread House - A tri-color mat set that has great potential; not only in browns but the colors of your dining room.

No 7390 - Flower Girl - This cloth is created in 4-1/2 inch medallions that are a 6-petal flower with small fill-in.   A grand design for your dining table.

No 7413 - Frolic - This sweet motif cloth starts with a linen center surrounded by a wide and whimsical squirrel and floral border.  Termed a tea cloth, is measures 44 inches square.

The book closes with a promotional advertisement for the other Spool Cotton pattern books of similar release dates.

And, there we go.  True to the title - Tips on Tables - all seventeen cloths or mats pattern are geared to the dining table.  I like that they put in five filet crocheted motifs; certainly more than the average vintage pattern book.

It took me almost a week to get through this one, but it's now listed in the shop for vintage historical value.  Time to move on to the next set ... perhaps a magazine this time.

Thanks for dropping by,
Lorrie

ABC Book of Crocheted Edges by Asmus Bradley

I'm slowly working my way through the The ABC Book of Crocheted Edges and Corners - No 2.   This book is one of 5 that was published by the Asmus Bradley Company during the 1920's.

Usually, the leaflet styled pattern books were published in promotion of a specific line of threads or yarns.   And, typically, the books were from the brand name itself.  You know, Spool Cotton, Botany Brands, Etc.    The makers of yarns and threads, at the store level would have pattern books.  The ladies would not only buy the pattern books, but their recommended materials as well.

In this line of thought, I started wondering ... Who was Asmus Bradley Co.?   This led me on a two and a half hour internet search project entitled ... how I spent my Sunday morning.   And, what did I learn?   Well, not much.  Apparently the Asmus Bradley Co. was ran by an individual named Charles E Bradley.   I could find no real estate ties to them, other than renting of the fifth floor of a building at 208 W Monroe, Chicago IL.  The business trade was listed as Art, Needlework Materials and Fancy Linens.   They had copyright notices for their pattern books, as well as some reference to tatting shuttles.  But, no manufacturing.   So, my current guess is Asmus Bradley was a retailer, selling art supplies to the ladies of the times and published books as self promotion.   Again, this is just a guess on my part.   To try and substantiate, I've sent an Email off to D.M.C. asking them if there was any other relationship between them.  (I've also asked for their recommended equivalent guide for the No 40 Six Cord Cotton).

All that aside, let me get back to this book -- The ABC book of Crocheted Edges and Corners.   It's a quite nice book with 18 pages; 16 of which are individual patterns for crochet edges and corners (just as you might suspect).  

 Okay, time for me to get back on track.
Thanks for dropping by.

Lorrie

P.S.   I'll update this post should I receive an answer from D.M.C.   (Not often, but once in awhile these companies do answer).

Ruffled Doilies Pattern Book No 306

I needed something light to work on for a couple days and selected a small doily leaflet from the awaiting stack.  The pattern book takes us back to 1954, post war-era, when life and economy were booming.    The leaflet, just 16 pages, is called Ruffled Doilies and is Coats & Clark's Book No 306.  The book was issued as a marketing promotion for their Mercerized Crochet Cottons - Best Six and Big Ball.

Gracing the front cover ....
S-582 Sunburst (top) - What a unique way the designed the rays for this Sunburst.  Small pineapples turn into ruffles, which lead to larger pineapple rays.
S-583 Whirlpool - This, unusually enough, is a knitted doily with not only a lovely whirlpool, but a
floral display and the final scalloped border of ruffles.

And, on the inside cover is this bit of prose.  I particularly like the 'in your hearts of lavender".

S-584 Bride's Doily (Top) is a lovely 20 inch crocheted design that has a center of small flower medallions that is bordered by wide ruffles --- yes; just like a brides bouquet!
S-585 Wedding Ring (Bottom) is a nice combination of crochet and hairpin lace in contrast colors.

S-588 Grape Doily (upper left), is a grand and colorful piece in 5 colors.  Don't let the picture fool you; this doily is 17-1/2 inches in diameter.
S-589 - Fruit Mats are a trio of choices.  Square, oblong or round.   Strawberry, lemon or cherry.

S-592 Rock Pool is an exquisite affair with a center wheel and celtic knot, all made whole with the lace ruffle.

S-586 Poinsettia is a larger design at 18 inches with the marvelous Poinsettia leaves and flowers followed by mesh and a smaller ruffled border.
S-587 Mosaic is a pretty filet crochet square doily that measures out to 16 inches

And, there you have it ... 11 patterns, which included one that is filet crochet.   Although the book is called "Ruffled Doilies", not all of these designs are ruffled.   The all do, however, have the commonality of a well defined border.   Rock Pool is by far my favorite of the group.

Well, this book is now finished; guess I'll have to open up the cabinet and decide what to work on next.

Thanks for dropping by,
Lorrie

Modern Needlecraft Magazine, Volume 15

I've just finished processing Modern Needlecraft Magazine for the shop and wanted to take a couple minutes to reminisce before filing away in the 'completed' cabinet.

This magazine is Volume 15 and is the Spring-Summer issue for 1952.   There are 47 patterns in the magazine.   I processed 33 for the shop.   I don't typically decide which are sellers or not; they all deserve to be preserved.  But, in the case of this magazine, there were a number that were incomplete (you know - cont. on page 89 and nothing there), as well as some that called for ordering of specific forms or parts that are no longer available.

These old magazines were really an extension of advertising.   The yarn/thread brands would place their advertisements, and the majority of the patterns listed were using these specific brands.    Being 1952, the majority of materials are discontinued.    Where possible, I've started putting in some links to cross-reference what the yarns were.  

As typical, the magazine is divided into categories ... the something for everyone approach.  Well, almost anyway -- afghans, cloths and bedspreads were excluded.   Here are a few of my favorites.

Ribbed Sleeveless Knit Pullover has summer fun written all over it. 

Knit Two Piece Set for Baby.   

Medallion Dress with stole.

Pinwheel Crochet Rug is 30 inches

Mans Basket Weave Cardigan for the classic look

Knot Stitch Crochet Stole for a romantic evening look

My copy of the magazine is quite fragile and I was pleased to work up fairly decent photos from the little clips given.  There are other patterns from the magazine scattered here and there in the shop as well.

Thanks for dropping by, 

Lorrie  

Two More Pansy Doilies

Each day I try to pull out two of the 'pending' Mail Order patterns and get them processed and listed to the shop.    This is typically a random draw, and as it just so happened, today I pulled out two crochet doilies patterns.   Now, that is not unusual, but in this particular case they were both Pansy Doilies.  Quite splendid doilies as well, if I don't say so myself.

Mail Order 2494 - Crocheted Pansy Doily -  This beauty is medium in size at 12 inches.  The Pansies are crocheted separately and then stitched to the doily.  

Anne Cabot's 5568 - Crocheted Chair-Back Set :  This crochet pattern has been termed a Chair-Back set, which I'd think was an apparent mistake (particularly since it ins't portrayed as such).  I'm officially calling it a doily.  This one has the small pansy center, followed by crochet that has been folded to resemble leaves, another large border of pansies with shells in between.   And, if that isn't enough, it has a gathering of three doilies at each of two sides transforming it to 'almost' an oval doily.  

These are both Mail Order Design Patterns.   I believe they are from Kate Marchbanks (which would lead back to Anne Cabot), but I'm not positive of that.   I do know that I welcome them to my collection.   

Can there ever be too many Pansy Doilies?  Well, probably not.   (I've more in the shop, in case wish to browse further). 

Thanks for dropping by,
Lorrie 

Vintage 1930's Crochet Collar Patterns in Tower Brand Gimp

A vintage 1930's leaflet from Tower Brand Yarn Corp came up in my stack for processing last that I just must share with you.   Now, I don't know anything about Tower Brand Yarn Corp.   I did quite a few Google searches, and all that definitely comes up is a list of their pattern publications.  On some of the searches I performed, Lion Brand Yarn came up, however, within those pages, I don't find references to Towers Brands, and so, I moved on.

What I do know is the models used in this promotion, which I'm dating to 1939, were a rather stern group of women.   (Definitely in contrast to the romantic photos on patterns during the 1940s).

 This is the Sun Ray Collar No 16 with interesting rounded points.

 This pattern was named only No 22.  It's a very flower petal type affair (at least in my thinking).  

Another pattern with only a number ... No 52.    The design could be construed as honeycomb, or perhaps cobweb. 

All three detachable collars are on the larger side ... as was the 1930's style to bring adornment to the rather plain dress of the average woman.    All three of the patterns call for Tower Brand Gimp, which was a 50/50 cotton and rayon blend.  Many patterns with Gimp variations arose during this time period due to the Mercerized Crochet Cotton shortage during WWII.  Gimp was a rather stiff thread.   For current Gimp substitute, I've read that the DMC Cebelia No 10 thread works well.

Okay, I've shared these photos ...  I can get back to work now !
Thanks for dropping by,
Lorrie