Grandmother's Sewing Basket Finds

[streeturchin]

I could be very wrong, but in picture two the tool is an exact match to the tool I have to go with a  spool knitting thing I got as a kid. I don't remember the exact name, but it's a cylinder and has four prongs at the top and you wind the yarn around them and then pull them over the next layer of loops. I'll try to find the name. It may not be that at all, especially if the spool wasn't in there. I hope you find out what all of those neat tools are and how to use them! They look like fun

[HSG]

streeturchin

Thank you so much! I would love to know what they are. Tried using one last night in tatting, definitely not its intended purpose. So please let me know if you could.

[Melladh]

Don't you actually need a hook for the cylinder thing if you're not just using your fingers for it? Like a normal crochet hook? I mean.. the thing in pic2 is without a hook, right?

[erikau]

I spent a little more time researching and I think the crochet hookless might really be a stylus for transfers.  I could find plenty of references to using them to transfer patterns, but could only find photos of the modern, two ended ones used for embossing paper.

Erika

[HSG]

I spent a little more time researching and I think the crochet hookless might really be a stylus for transfers.  I could find plenty of references to using them to transfer patterns, but could only find photos of the modern, two ended ones used for embossing paper.

Erika

Thank you Erika!

When I went to the store yesterday I looked in the craft section, and I did not see anything like the ones I was asking about. So that helps a great deal.

Don't you actually need a hook for the cylinder thing if you're not just using your fingers for it? Like a normal crochet hook? I mean.. the thing in pic2 is without a hook, right?

Yes, it has no hook, and I think must be used as Erika mentioned somehow.

[streeturchin]

You don't need a hook- you just slip it under the loop and push it over. It's actual name is spool knitting. And like I said, that might not be it at all- especially since there was no spool found with it, it just looks like what I have. It definitely sounds like it could be a stylus.

[vkeefreecupcakes]

lucky you! your grandomothers tattings are gorgeous!!   

[HSG]

Wow! Thank you. I'm still marveling at all the treasures I've got from her 3 sewing boxes.

I'm still trying to teach myself to tat, but I must be doing something wrong. When I try to close my ring it doesn't work.

[Melladh]

Basic problem for new tatters - make sure your knot FLIPS so the OTHER thread has the knot, not the one you're actually tying the knot WITH.

[TreeCactus]

Wow!! What a fun stash of stuff!

The two-eyed needle (already mentioned) is a netting needle, and the things that look like various-sized popsicle sticks are gauges for netting.

The fat roundish pointed sticks with the nobs on top in that same photo are awls. They're used for boring holes in fabrics and widening holes, for techniques like cutwork and whitework and so forth (they're what you use for making eyelets). You can also use them for laying tools, although I like thinner laying tools, personally. The stick at the bottom of that photo looks like a laying tool, and the long toothpick looking stick right above that (does it have an eye on the end, or no? - I bet not) could be a stiletto of sorts, but maybe not. It could be used for a hundred different things, like holding a stopping point in lace-making, or cording, or kumihimo. If it's fragile, it may not be a stiletto, but just a general purpose tool. If it has an eye, perhaps it is a needle for filet techniques (on large-gauge net).

Someone mentioned bobbins? I don't see any lace bobbins in any of the photos.

As for the hookless crochet hook - it looks to me like the blunt type of "needle" that might be used with spool knitting (like streeturchin said) or with a "knitting nancy." It would probably work great as a stylus, but I've never seen a stylus with that flattened central area. That flat space is good for leverage, which would make it perfect for spool knitting.

Have fun sorting!!

Beautiful lace, by the way - did your grandmother make the lace in the top photo? It looks like cluny lace, only crocheted - really nice!