Canvas work knitting needle holder of floral design. Long narrow rectangle with lower end pointed. Face is cross stitched in wool yarns with a band of flowers on a beige ground. Typical of Berlin wool work, which is a style of embroidery similar to today's needlepoint.
This sewing album/scrapbook was created by Cordelia Hobbs in 1900-1902, when she was in the sixth grade. Handwritten on a label on the front cover of the book is her name, the date, her grade, her location—Medford, Massachusetts—and the text “John Hobbs’ sister.” The words appear to have been first written in pencil and then copied over in pen, perhaps an attempt by Cordelia to keep the label as neat as possible. The scrapbook contains over a dozen sewing samples attached to the pages with small needles, including a red and white checked square and circular black pieces of fabric. Each sample has a handwritten date of creation on its page. Cordelia created the scrapbook, probably as a school assignment, to practice her sewing techniques, a common practice for girls in the late 19th and early 20th century. Cordelia was born in 1889 in Massachusetts to a German mother. Census records show that she remained unmarried into her 40s, working in various positions at a gold leaf manufacturing company.
Thai yarn spinning or winding device. Original catalog card calls this a spinning wheel. Part of an acquisition in 1905 by the US National Museum, from the St. Louis World's Fair of 1904, of Thai (Siamese) textile-working tools and equipment from the Royal Siamese Commission.
Fragment of red, white and blue Jacquard double-woven plain weave coverlet, with one selvage present. The white yarns are 2 ply z twist cotton and the blue and red yarns are single ply z twist wool. the yarn count is 34 x 36. The pattern is known as "Hemfield Railroad," as seen in Heirlooms from Old Looms, page 156. Also see the object with the Cat. No. T 7317 and Neg# 46928. The object has a 5/8 inch hem stitched with white 3/2 ply silk thread. The self-fringe is as much as 2 1/2" long.