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Early Needlework Tools

By Marian Ann J. Montgomery, Ph.D.,
Curator of Clothing and Textiles, the Museum of Texas Tech University

Silver plated round pedestal with purple velvet cushion and 3 ½ inch silver figure of a girl atop. The upper section has an outdoor scene engraved into it including a building that looks like a castle. The piece has curled feet with a drawer in the lower section. The top comes off to reveal five posts for spools, 19^th century, TTU-H2017-076-081, gift of Pat Grappe.

What quilter hasn’t gone to a meeting or quilt retreat where we see our friends with a new gadget or notion for sewing. Do you remember the first time you saw a rotary cutter or a cute new pincushion?  It didn’t take long before you had to have one too, right?

Silver plated round pedestal with purple velvet cushion and 3 ½ inch silver figure of a girl atop. The upper section has an outdoor scene engraved into it including a building that looks like a castle. The piece has curled feet with a drawer in the lower section. The top comes off to reveal five posts for spools, 19^th century, TTU-H2017-076-081, gift of Pat Grappe.

Needleworkers before us were just the same. They shared their pretty new tools when visiting with each other. In some cases, it was gorgeous boxes for needlework accessories, and in other cases they were beautiful gold or silver pieces tools. So, while at first blush you might not think you are interested in the upcoming exhibit at the Museum of Texas Tech University, if you have ever held a needle in your hand, you’re sure to find something that will delight you.  

Although the exhibit of 750+ objects of needlework and needlework tools has been postponed until May 1, 2021 the catalog is available now. All the pieces featured in the exhibit are beautifully photographed in the full-color catalog. You can view a few inside pages here.

The book is available through Amazon or through the museum directly at (806) 834-5146 or here. Whether you purchase through Amazon or the museum, if you e-mail this address you can request an autographed copy. 

The Museum is fortunate to have received so many beautiful items from Pat Grappe and her daughter, Helen Grappe Graf. Both women were needleworkers, while Helen also quilted. Their keen eye for collecting was terrific. We can all enjoy these beautiful works, wishing we could purchase some of them to use today.

Learn more about the Museum of Texas Tech University Textile Collections.

Click here for related articles from the Museum of Texas Tech University Textile Collections.