For Treasure Chest Thursday, here's a mystery item which apparently belonged to my Na. I've been meaning to ask about it, so here's my chance.
The case is about 16cm long with the top on. It appears to have been simply decorated by scoring out part of the wood in strips by hand after staining it. It holds these 5 pins - there's no room for many more - maybe one or two extra would fit.
Can't be hairpins, surely there aren't enough? I thought these might be for some kind of needlework as Na was very handy with a needle, but any ideas ??? Don't worry, I'll laugh if the answer is really obvious.
9 comments:
for holding stitches in knitting when doing fingers and thumbs, I believe.
Safety pins or similar? I have no idea, really. Just guessing...
Thank you for the prompt answer to my mystery! I'm sure you're right. (And you've guessed I'm not handy like my Na.)
She did indeed knit. But, one funny thing is that I never remember seeing her knit although I knew her from the 1940s when she was in her 60s to the 1980s. I didn't know she did until I read something my grandpa wrote - he mentions her knitting in the evenings.
I wonder if they are stitch markers? In crochet and knitting stitch markers are placed as you work through the pattern to make it easier to see where the next color or pattern begins. They look a little large for stitch markers, though. I've used plastic rings and different colored yarn tied in a circle to mark stitches...but you never know. It's definately something to look into! Goog luck - cool treasure! :)
Another idea is a stitch holder. When you are knitting cables you use a stitch holder to slide the stitches off the needles until you need them again. The "clip" at the end made me think of this. Google modern day stitch holders...they look kinda similar. Do you have any cable knit blankets or sweaters laying around? :)
I have no idea but it is interesting.Good luck and let us know if you find out.
Well, the pins may well be stitch markers or holders (I'm not much of a knitter!) but the mystery object itself sure looks like a needle case to me. 16 cm would be long enough for darners, but shorter needles would fit as well. Needle cases come in all shapes and sizes and decorations, but the ones I've seen (or have) all have hollow cores, and little lids, as this one appears to have. So that's my guess!
--PaperQuilter
These all seem like good guesses. I haven't a clue! I do alot of antiqueing and have never seen anything like your mystery items.
My grandmother used these. They are stitch markers for knitting. My grandfather twisted the markers for her out of wire that had first been used for something else (waste not want not). Grandmother did not have the attractive holder. What a treasure.
Post a Comment