Let's talk needlebooks. Little books with felt on the inside to hold needles and pins. There are so many extant ones, and they really didn't change too much.
 |
| Winthur Museum showing the felt bits. |
First, you'll find the basic rectangular ones made of perforated paper. Sometimes just embroidered, sometimes beaded and embroidered, sometimes embroidered and cut out, sometimes just cut designs. Lots of options! These I have seen from 1820-1900, and probably longer-I just stopped searching there!
 |
| Embroidered |
 |
| Back of the case on the right |
 |
| Embroidered, 1899 |
 |
| Embroidered and cut designs |
 |
| Embroidered and painted |
 |
| Embroidered and cut designs |
 |
| Embroidered, 1830's |
 |
| Both left and right embroidered |
 |
| Embroidered and beaded |
 |
| Front to case on left |
 |
| Godey's Lady's Book |
 |
| Embroidery, left and right |
 |
| Embroidered and bead |
 |
| Embroidered |
One also comes across bone, ivory, painted, and shell needle-books.
Silk circles are also seen.
And other shapes:
 |
| Godey's 1861 |
 |
| Godey's, 1861 |
 |
| Something similar is described in "Girl's Own Book" in 1838 and 1853. |
After seeing so many beautiful needle-books, I made several patterns of my own. Using the originals for borders, I modified some modern motifs for the centers. Please feel free to use any of the designs for your own needle-books.
Construction notes: I have cut the squares on the patterns where you should cut the perforated paper when making it up. Some were meant to be cut in chevron, and that has been notated on the pattern. Others could be chevroned if desired.
 |
| Back of 'Flower Basket' |
 |
| Front of 'Flower Basket' |
 |
| Back of 'Resting from Flight' |
 |
| Front of 'Resting from Flight' |
 |
| Back of 'Kitty Love' |
 |
| Front of 'Kitty Love' |
 |
| Back of 'Hungry Hens'. |
 |
| Front of 'Hungry Hens' |
 |
| Back of 'Treats, Please!' This one is not cut right. Please put 2 extra squares around ALL sides. |
 |
| Front of 'Treats, Please!' This one is not cut right. Please put 2 extra squares around ALL sides. |
 |
| Back of 'Galloping Horse'. Please note that because the design is white, the background is colored. |
 |
| Front of 'Galloping Horse'. Please note that because the design is white, the background is colored. |
 |
| Back of 'Bunny Rabbit' |
 |
| Front of 'Bunny Rabbit' |
 |
| Back of 'Rose Garden' |
 |
| Front of 'Rose Garden' |
 |
| Back of 'Rose Bouquet' |
 |
| 'Front of Rose Bouquet' |
 |
| Back of 'Curious Squirrel' |
 |
| Front of 'Curious Squirrel' |
 |
| Back of 'Shining Sunflowers' |
 |
| Front of 'Shining Sunflowers' |
 |
| Back of 'Courting Swans' |
 |
| Front of 'Courting Swans' |
 |
| Back of 'Violet Bouquet' |
 |
| Front of 'Violet Bouquet' |
I will also be making a few more designs, some letters for initials/names for backs, as well as pictures of my own needle-book for next week's post. Stay tuned!
Enjoy!
