Tuesday, December 20, 2016

A Gift

My sister-in-law kindly found this beautiful Victorian needlework set for me. Now, I know what a thimble is and I can identify the tweezers in the middle, seeing as I've been using my eyebrow tweezers recently to pull out threads in my Hardanger work. I think the top implement with mother-of-pearl handle is a crochet hook. But I don't know what the bigger hook at the bottom is for and I certainly don't know what the gold needle with a little ball on the end is. Any suggestions welcome!

The case has a lovely orange plush cover and a beautiful clasp:


13 comments:

  1. What a lovely set. I think that the top 'golden' item may be a bodkin needle. I expect you will really enjoy using the set to create more of your beautiful work.

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  2. How thoughtful & a delightfully useful gift! Waiting to see what those tools are used for .

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  3. The large hook at the bottom was for doing up button boots i think.

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  4. Ah a bodkin and a buttonhook, thanks!

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  5. Lucky you and pleased the set had gone to someone who appreciates it

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  6. I think the one with the larger hook is a button hook and the gold one is a bodkin for threading ribbons.
    Briony
    x

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  7. Yes, they are a button hook and a bodkin. I have my grandmother's button hook still, with a bone handle, dating from the 1880's! - she told me that all the little girls had to wear buttoned boots. Lots of buttons. My Velcro-shod grandchildren don't believe me when I tell them this.

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    1. :-) they don't know how lucky they are! I wonder what these handles are. I say mother-of-pearl, but I don't know if that's right.

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  8. Oh My this is a precious gift. I agree with the ribbon bodkin and the button hook assistant. Very lovely indeed.

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  9. A button hook, they look silver to me, certainly a lovely gift

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  10. What a precious gift, surely to be treasured. Lucky you.

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  11. Fantastic gift! Amazing to read Maureen's comment and that she had that conversation with her grandmother. It was a completely different world!

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