I've just had a more detailed look into my needlework stuff. The needlecase that I found the curved needle in last night has three different smooth semi-circular curved needles - a fine one an inch in diameter (which was the one I tried last night holding it in forceps) , a thicker one one and three quarter inches diameter, and one which isn't quite a semi-circle - it's not been bent enough to make a semi-cricle - and that's 2 inches between point and eye. I've stuck a label in the needle book "upholstery and mattress needles" which must have been copied from the original packet.
On the previous leaf of the needle book are needles from another packet - two labelled packing needles, and missing are a leather needle and an awl. In their original packet, a bookbinders needle and fine curved needle are missing, but a packing needle, carpet needle and sailmakers needle (the last two both being thickish smooth semi-circular curved needles) are still there. The outside of the packet has printed on it 'Tootal S563 Heavy Duty Needles for repairing carpets, upholstery etc.', and the price label of 64p means I bought it after 1972 (when we went decimal), but I would only have been able to visit the shop the label belongs to between 1971 and 1974. I think it probably proves that people did a lot more in the way of crafts, mending etc. 30 years ago than they do now because a small wool shop was regularly stocking this kind of thing, as well as manufacturers making them. They all still in good condition because I've always been in the habit of keeping a sachet of silica gel in with my metal needlecraft items, and changing it for a new one when I thought of it. Jean in Poole - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED]
