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Columns

Vintage Fabrics
  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

 

 

fabrics.net

Vintage Fabrics  - IN SEARCH OF WARP ENDS
By Joan Kiplinger
Join Joan's Vintage Fabric Discussion List!


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July/August, 2001:

Vintage Thread Chart & Photo Gallery
Thread Labels
(updated 7/09/05)
(Click on the pictures for a larger view)

Three A.H. Rice Co. tops 1950s; John D. Cutter top 1920s; Cutter Mfg. Co. top with Champion Silk/Gudenbrod Bros. on bottom 1950s-60s.

A.H. Rice waxed size F pure dye silk handsewing thread precut in yard lengths. Packet measures 3" W x 14-1/2". Packet made of heavy manilla and has grommet for hanging. Est. 1930s.

Stiles Waxt Thread Co. 1930s, Fruit of Loom Sparta 1950s-60s and unknown British thread top and bottom est. 1950s-60s.

Clover Thread Co., small Brooks top, larger Brooks top and bottom and Harmony. Est. 1940s-50s.

Brainerd & Armstrong top and bottom engraved labels claiming Best in the Wrod for silk thread. Est. 1950s-60s.
- Courtesy Sharon Stark

Brainerd & Armstrong Co. -- top reads aviation and crochet thread; est.
1920s-30s.

Conso thread on crosswound on coarse wood cylinder. Top rim reads Conso with manufacturer's code numbers. Bottom rim: boilfast. Est. 1960s.

Small and large Conso thread, Barbour's Linen Thread, Lindsay Thompson Erin's Pride linen thread and High Test. Est. 1940s-60s.

Conso's Bestso Twist, mercerized cotton thread which company claims [on the box] that it is the perfect substitute for silk. Est. 950s to mid 1960s. - Courtesy Melody Mulanax

Heminway, Trusew, Ivory Brand wood and Ivory Brand foam top and bottom. Est. 1940s-60s.

Penimaid top and bottom 1930s; Necchi/Elna top and bottom and Nelco, both est. 1950s-60s.

Assortment of brands -- Hall's Reyal top and bottom and top of larger spool size, Heminway & Bartlett, Bird of Paradise and Melrose top and bottom. All are between 1940s-60s.

Berkshire & Becket Silk Co. -- top and bottom labels. Est 1940s-50s.
- Courtesy Sharon Stark

Dyno, made in Italy. Label same at both ends. Est. 1960s.
- Courtesy Sharon Stark

Brooks basting thread on cardboard cylinder, crosswound; bottom reads mercerized thread. Est. 1950s.

Sturdy linen carpet thread -- Conso states its Irelin Brand Linen heavily waxed carpet thread is made of finest quality imported linen; est. 1960s-70s. York Street Threads Ltd of Belfast, North Ireland, manufactured its thread in that that country; est. 1950s-60s. - Courtesy Robin Meathenia




W.Warren Thread Works with engraved blue and red top and bottom containing 9 yds [l] and W [r] which is thought to be same as Warren and contains 12 yds mercerized cotton. Est.1940s-60s.

- Courtesy Sharon Stark

Iruha, made in occupied Japan, top and bottom paper labels. Est. 1946-50 following WWII.
- Courtesy Sharon Stark

Rival Sea Island Sewing Thread, top and bottom. Est. 1950s-60s.
- Courtesy Sharon Stark

Barbour's Thread, all views. Est. 1940s-60s.
- Courtesy Sharon Stark

Roxy, manufacturer unknown; possibly designed for sewing in commercial shop. Cardboard cylinder, 3-cord cotton. Use for quilting by contributor. Est. 1960s-70s. - Courtesy Donald Brokate

Keswick Silk Thread --top and bottom labels; pure dye silk, size A; est. 1930s. - Courtesy Sheila Ramsey

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.

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