Museum Monday

1766 Block & Roller Printed Sewing Rollup 612.2011.82

  This week's Museum lucky number is 612~ a pretty mid 18th c Huswiff, or sewing roll. M'Ladye would use this to carry her sewing needfuls within, and carry with her in her pocket. 

It measures just 3 & half inches wide, and 13 & half inches fully rolled out lengthwise.

 I love these early sewing rolls~ they are really alot of fun to explore as usually they were made from tiny scraps and lovingly stitched by the Ladye who used it. This side view you can see the edges of the roll are whipped, and from photo above, you can see the worn spot where the linen lining is showing thru the outer fabric. Early printed fabrics are a passion of mine, and this block print is so colorful and full of motion!

 Many a time, the owner's initials were embroidered inside, as is the case here. Such tiny perfect little stitches throughout~ just look at the stitching by my thumbnail!  This roll up came to the Museum as part of an entire trunk of clothing, shoes and books that belonged to Mary Wistar. 

 As we start to unroll it, one gets a glimpse of that really great blue green polished calicoe~ the color is unique, its original hue being a combination of yellow printed over indigo to achieve a deep green~ but over the years the yellow has faded leaving patches of blue now.

 A flap that coves the opening of the thread channels can be seen partially covering Mary's initials. What's shown tho, is the bottom of the thread channels, the openings are at the other end, yet to be unrolled, so this flap covers a little pocket behind those.  These sewing rollups are a wealth of little hidden secret compartments!

 A little more unrolled and 6 little channels can clearly be seen, the microscopic stitches made in contrasting cream thread.

 Two rolls out now and some other interior compartments are beginning to show~

 Two flaps can be seen, each edged in tiny cream whip stitches~ as well,  the last little bit of the outer covering has been pieced in. Mary has done her best to match the designs up of the two pieces.

 A final roll out reveals a gathered pouch pocket and wool leaves for pins and needles

 A pretty cream silk bow covers the center drawstring of the little pouch pocket

 A bit moth eaten, but two taupe wool leaves edged in blue silk buttonhole stitching still hold pins and needles.

 Underneath the pouch pocket, is yet another pocket

  The pouch opens up to hold quite a bit...just think of how stuffed this little thing would have been when in use!  I can say, that for myself, if I was using it, there is no WAY it would roll up so nice and tight!

 I just had to include a close up of the stitches on the pocket edge~ so microscopically tiny, Mary was for sure blessed with good eyesight!