It’s no secret that I have been keen on sewing related crafts since my Mum taught me to sew a long long time ago. As a result I have a major weakness for vintage fabric and all things sewing related. Left to my own devices at a recent auction, I took a punt at a large box of mixed vintage sewing things. I paid a bit more than I was comfortable with as I didn’t have a lot of time to delve deeply into the contents, but I’d spotted a few interesting looking things from (I reckoned) the fifties and so I gritted my teeth and raised my paddle……..

My Mixed Lot of Vintage Sewing Kit

So, when I got it home I had a fun time separating the good from the dross.

Digging deeper into the box

The woman who had originally owned it was obviously keen on all sorts of fibre based crafts. I found examples of hand woven fabrics:

The handwritten labels make me think they may have been entered in a show.

Tatting and rug making tools:

Tatting and Rugmaking Tools

I have never seen these rug wool measures before, they must pre date pre-cut packs of rug wool.

Rug Wool Measures

As far as I can tell, you wrap your rug wool around the measure and then cut, running your scissors down a groove on the long side to give lots of wool strands of the same length.

There were also half finished pieces of embroidery and unusual embroidery hoops:

Unusual Friction gripping Embroidery Hoops

These plastic/rexine embroidery hoops relied on friction to hold the fabric in place, rather than tightening a screw fitting to tension the fabric.

A part embroidered tea cosy:

Everything I need to make a Golliwog (from the time when this was an innocent toy):

Golly making instructions

Gollywog Transfer Pattern

Sock needles:

Sock Needles in Sewing Basket

Embroidery and crochet thread:

Novelty Knitting Needle Gauges. I love these as the numbers on my needles always wear off:

Novelty Knitting Needle Gauges

This cute pin tin looks like it dates from the Art Nouveau period:

Pin Tin

And; a crazy patchwork tea cosy!

Crazy Patchwork Tea Cosy

Now I just need to start finding a use for all of this!