Embroidered dresser scarf with filet crochet border
<p>Dresser scarf embroidered and edged in filet crochet by Alice Eichelberger Cleland (1864-1938) in Middletown, Dauphin County, PA, USA. Probably made between 1890-1910.</p>
Alice Eichelberger Cleland (1864-1938)
ca. 1900
28" X 18"
2020.011
Wooden Romanian spindles
These two antique wooden Romanian spindles were purchased in an antique shop in Brasov, Romania in 2007.
ca. 1900 (?)
One spindle is 14 in. long and the other is 13 in. long
2018.005
Darning Eggs
<p><strong>Description: </strong></p>
<p><span>2 turned wood darning eggs, measuring 6" high and 11" high. Date and maker unknown. Condition: Fair to Good </span></p>
<p><span>I inherited these darning eggs from my paternal grandmother more than twenty years ago. She lived in Western Massachusetts most of her life, and was accomplished at all forms of needlework. She had a degree in Home Economics from Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts, and worked as a social worker during the Depression. I do not know whether she also inherited these tools, as I did, or bought them new in the 1920s or 1930s. </span><span>Darning eggs were used as supports for the tedious work of repairing holes in socks and sweaters. </span></p>
<p><span>Neither darning egg is marked with a maker’s name or date. The smaller one measures approximately 6” long; its quaint, turned handle is permanently affixed to the egg. The larger one is a multi-purpose, “Swiss Army”-styled, modular darning-tool-and-carry-case all in one. Fully assembled, it measures 11”, but the egg-shaped top can be removed and used alone, or attached to either the top or bottom section of the carry case to make two shorter darning tools measuring 5” and 7”. Originally, the pieces probably fitted and held together neatly and securely, but the wood has expanded and all the joins have loosened over time. </span></p>
<p><span>Inside the carry case was an assortment of 8.5” unmarked steel sock needles ranging from Size 0000 to Size 00 – very small by today’s standards – and a crochet hook marked “Milward 13”. I do not know whether the needles and hook came with the darning egg, or were added later by my grandmother.</span></p>
<p><span>I</span>n 2015, I used these darning eggs as originally intended to mend a pair of socks. <span> </span>In one of the images that accompanies this post, you can see that once I put the darning egg inside the sock, the support it provided made it easier to see and overstitch the threadbare areas. You can read more about my observations on the current interest in repairing and mending garments, and how to use a darning egg on the CKC Blog: <a href="https://centerforknitandcrochet.org/the-art-of-mending/">“The Art of Mending” published on June 26, 2015</a>. I am now very grateful to have these simple, specialized tools on hand.</p>
Unknown
ca. 1900-1930
6" High and 11" High
2019.016
Maria Antonia Ludovici Martinez's crochet hooks
<p>All the crochet hooks that were my grandmother's, that I inherited, along with the containers she kept them in, a plastic Polident Tablet container (the tablets were used to clean dentures) and a Robert Burns Black Watch cigar case (presumably my grandfather's, although he smoked White Owl cigars most often).</p>
ca. 1910-1979
Hooks ca. 12-13 cm with containers up to 16 cm
2021.015
Crochet baby shoe by Maria Antonia Ludovici Martinez, San Francisco, California, USA
<p>A single baby shoe (there is no other one), probably made by my grandmother Maria Antonia Ludovici Martinez (1905-1991). Source of design unknown, crocheted of thread that has yellowed and browned unevenly, found in a box containing her unfinished projects. The little open toe at the front of the shoe makes it like a sandal, and the side opening and tie are very interesting details to me.</p>
Martinez, Maria Antonia Ludovici
ca. 1915-1979
sole 8.5 x 4 cm, back 4 cm high
2021.002
Crochet apple potholders by Maria Antonia Ludovici Martinez, San Francisco, California, USA
<p>Potholders made by my grandmother Maria Antonia Ludovici Martinez (1905-1991). Source of design unknown, crocheted of thick thread that feels like cotton, with tight twist, with the thread used for the rings being thinner with a sheen; the rings have a stiff support under them, white, probably a hard plastic. My grandmother used these, and I inherited them after her death--her dishes were the Franciscan Apple pattern, and she had a lot of reds and whites in her kitchen. The apples (with their stems and leaves) are crocheted separately and appliqued/stitched onto the two-layers of white backgrounds,the red edging crocheting the two layers of the white backgrounds together.</p>
Martinez, Maria Antonia Ludovici
ca. 1915-1979
13 x 12 cm (one without green stem onto apple), 13.5 x 13.5 cm (one with green stem on apple)
2021.005
Crochet crab potholder by Maria Antonia Ludovici Martinez, San Francisco, California, USA
<p>Potholder made by my grandmother Maria Antonia Ludovici Martinez (1905-1991). Source of design unknown, crocheted of thick thread that feels like cotton, with tight twist, with the thread used for the rings being thinner with a sheen; the rings have a stiff support under them, white, probably a hard plastic. My grandmother used it, and I inherited it after her death--her dishes were the Franciscan Apple pattern, and she had a lot of reds and whites in her kitchen. The crab is crocheted separately and appliqued/stitched onto the two-layers of white backgrounds, the red edging crocheting the two layers of the white backgrounds together. The black stitching of the crab's joints, carapace, and eyes is a black, embroidery floss weight thread, in a stitch resembling stem stitch.</p>
Martinez, Maria Antonia Ludovici
ca. 1915-1979
15.5 x 16.5 cm
2021.006
Crochet strawberry potholder by Maria Antonia Ludovici Martinez, San Francisco, California, USA
<p>Potholder made by my grandmother Maria Antonia Ludovici Martinez (1905-1991). Source of design unknown, crocheted of thick thread that feel like cotton, with tight twist, with the thread used for the ring being thinner with a sheen; the rings have a stiff support under them, white, probably a hard plastic. My grandmother used this, and I inherited it after her death--her dishes were the Franciscan Apple pattern, and she had a lot of reds and whites in her kitchen. The strawberries (with their stems and leaves) are crocheted separately and appliqued/stitched onto the two-layers of white backgrounds, the red edging crocheting the two layers of the white backgrounds together. The white "seeds" are white thread crocheted along with the red thread of the strawberries.</p>
Martinez, Maria Antonia Ludovici
ca. 1915-1979
11 x 12.5 cm
2021.07
Crochet coverlet by Maria Antonia Ludovici Martinez, San Francisco, California, USA
<p>A coverlet made of motifs known as Venetian Squares made by my grandmother. I don't know her pattern source, but the pattern is known to be published in: Venetian Crochet: Patterns For 1915 Motif, Collar and Lace Edging, Needlecraft Publishing Co., Published 1915, and Figure 36 in the same publisher’s <a href="http://www.antiquepatternlibrary.org/pub/PDF/HandbookOfCrochet2.pdf">Handbook of Crochet No. 2</a>, available in PDF form from the Antique Pattern Library. It was also published earlier, in 1900, in Sophie Tatum LaCroix's <a href="https://archive.org/details/oldnewdesignsin00lacr/page/6/mode/2up">Old and New Designs in Crochet Work</a> as motif no. 201 on page 6, available in the Internet Archive, where it says, "This design originated in Bohemia." I don't know if my grandmother considered the coverlet finished--there is no added edging around the borders. I inherited this after her death in a box with other crochet projects of hers, and I don't know if it was ever used before I received it.</p>
Martinez, Maria Antonia Ludovici
ca. 1915-1979
ca. 2 m x 2 m
2021.008
Crochet apple shaped potholders by Maria Antonia Ludovici Martinez, San Francisco, California, USA
<p>Apple-shaped potholders made by my grandmother Maria Antonia Ludovici Martinez (1905-1991); source of pattern unknown, perhaps improvised, in what feels like cotton. My grandmother used these, and I inherited them after her death -- her dishes were the Franciscan Apple pattern, and she had a lot of reds and whites in her kitchen. It looks like the fronts and backs were crocheted separately, then crocheted together, with the green leaves and hangers crocheted last.</p>
Martinez, Maria Antonia Ludovici
ca. 1915-1979
Apple parts are ca. 12 cm x 12 cm
2021.009
Crochet blanket by Maria Antonia Ludovici Martinez, San Francisco, California, USA
<p>A blanket made by assembled "granny square" motifs, made by my grandmother Maria Antonia Ludovici Martinez (1905-1991). Source of design unknown, crocheted of unknown yarns that feel like an acrylic-wool blend. Some squares were added on later with a brighter green yarn.</p>
Martinez, Maria Antonia Ludovici
ca. 1915-1979
ca. 8' x 6' / ca. 2.5m x 2m
2021.018
Crocheted hanger cover by Maria Antonia Ludovici, San Francisco, California, USA
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:100%;"><span style="font-family:'Bookman Old Style', serif;">Standard wooden hanger covered in unknown pink crochet thread</span>.</p>
Martinez, Maria Antonia Ludovici
ca. 1915-1979
2022.008
Crocheted lingerie bag by Ilda Michi Bartolozzi, San Francisco, California, USA
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:100%;"><span style="font-family:'Bookman Old Style', serif;">Unknown thread, unknown crochet hook, pink flowers, green ribbon</span>.</p>
Bartolozzi, Ilda Michi
ca. 1920-1991
ca. 20 x 24 cm
2022.009
Crocheted Pineapple Doilies
<p>These two pineapple pattern doilies were likely to have been made by my great-grandmother, Alvina Billig in 1946 or after. The smaller one is slightly tan in color and measures 7 inches across. The larger doily is made in a thicker crochet thread and measures 8.5 inches across.</p>
<p>The pattern is in the book "Featuring 14 New Pineapple Designs" from Clark's O.N.T. J. & P. Coats, book no. 230 issued in 1946. Note the price printed on the book - 10 cents! The pattern is doily no. 7768-A and is on page 6 of the pattern book. The book is bent back to this page, for easy access while making the doilies.</p>
Alvina Billig
ca. 1930s - 1940s
7" across, 8.5" across
2020.002
Crocheted Pinwheel Doilies
<p>These two doilies made in a pinwheel design were likely made by my great-grandmother, Alvina Billig, and I'm guessing they date from the 1930s - 1940s. The smaller one is mainly tan with a white border and measures 6.5 inchess across. The larger doily is white, made with a thicker crochet thread, and measures 8.25" across.</p>
Alvina Billig
ca. 1930s - 1940s
6.5" across, 8.25" across
2020.003
Crocheted Bedspread
Double bed size bedspread was crocheted by my grandmother sometime in the 1940s to 1950s. It was made by my grandmother and given to me by my mother. I used it on a guest bed for many years and it is currently stored, since it's not practical for everyday use.
Lulu Billig Royston
ca. 1940s-50s
Double bed size, 184" x 76"
2018.010
Crocheted pansy doily by unknown maker
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:100%;"><span style="font-family:'Bookman Old Style', serif;">Pattern is </span><span style="font-family:'Bookman Old Style', serif;">Pansy Doily #5911 by American Thread Company</span>; Ravelry pattern page at <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pansy-doily-5911">https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pansy-doily-5911 </a> lists many sources for this pattern, published many times, under other different names as well, e.g., Pretty Pansies and Viola Pansy Doily.</p>
Maker Unknown
ca. 1948-1990
19.5 cm in diameter
2022.006
Crochet Afghan
This is a crochet afghan made by Mabel Jensen Forsgren. She was born in 1900 and deceased in the 1980's. It is unknown when she crocheted this piece, but in 2018 it remains in excellent condition.
Mabel Jensen Forsgren
ca. 1950
2018.007
Dishtowel depicting handwork basket by Constance Carol Martinez Bartolozzi, San Francisco, California, USA
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:100%;"><span style="font-family:'Bookman Old Style', serif;">Cotton toweling with bias tape sewn on to top and bottom, embroidered with design depicting a knitting and sewing basket on table next to lamp, one ball of yarn falling off of the table, the basket containing balls of yarn, spools of thread, knitting and sewing needles.</span></p>
Bartolozzi, Constance Carol Martinez
ca. 1950
15.5 x 22.5 inches
2022.004
Baby Layette
This layette set of cap, sweater and booties were made for Marilyn Huset by her mother, Marcelle Huset. The pattern came from the Jack Frost Baby Book Volume 47 published in 1946 with the price of 25¢ printed on the cover. The pattern number is 4701 and Marcelle’s faint handwriting can be seen in the margin.
Huset, Marcelle
ca. 1951
jpg
2018.002
Granny Square Christmas Stockings
These Christmas stockings were crocheted by my mother, Marcelle Huset, and have hung in the dining room windows of our home for many holiday seasons.
Huset, Marcelle
ca. 1960s
19"x5", 13"x3.5", 5"x2 for one
2018.015
Knit pullover by Sally Feigen, Brooklyn, New York, USA
<p>From Beverly Barton, "Made by Sally Feigen in Brooklyn, NY ca 1964-1965 of 100% Scottish mohair for me, Beverly Barton née Feigen. I think she designed it too. I wore it through college; it was huge on me."</p>
Feigen, Sally, 1924-2011
ca. 1964-1965
38" chest, 22" from cast on edge
2021.010
Knit baby blanket by Nina Zenade Soule Hawkins, San Francisco, California
<p>One of my baby blankets, knit with a crochet edging by my grandmother. The yarn feels like acrylic, and it doesn't show any wear--we still use it as a lap blanket.</p>
Hawkins, Nina Zenade Soule
ca. 1965
99 x 78 cm
2021.004
Women's Cardigan with Embroidered Flowers and Gathered Waist
<p>I made this cardigan in the late 1960s or early 1970s and cannot find the pattern source. The yarn is likely Red Heart or something similar from the period in a worsted weight. Small pink and green flowers are embroidered along the top of the gathered waist, the top of the three-inch ribbing on the puffed long sleeve, along the button band, and over the top of the ribbing going over the shoulders. </p>
<p></p>
Huset, Marilyn
Ca. 1970
2019.028
Crocheted rose doily by Ludmila Budaeva
<p>Unknown thread, unknown crochet hook, unknown pattern; a gift from the maker.</p>
Budaeva, Ludmila
ca. 1970-2000
26 cm in diameter
2022.007