Every Little Bit Helps!

When it comes to the history of

spool knitters, what
little information or scrap of paper
or even dilapidated piece of
cardboard box - no matter how
insignificant it may seem to some -
can be very important.

I found a box top which luckily
someone thought might be needed.
I am amazed that it wasn't tossed out.
Then again some would be amazed that
someone else would pay money for
something like this! .....
badly stained,
extremely old,
and very little to it but
surprisingly it would have
been quite a large boxed set.



Kindergarten Gems for the Little Tots -
by Milton Bradley Co. Springfield, Mass.
Number 4244.
This is a set which involved sewing cards as
well as a "toy knitter".

A little while ago I posted about a trade card from
Milton Bradley dated 1879
which had a similar illustration to the
one pictured here on the underneath of
the box top.


Look closely at each diagram of
the spool knitter and you
will see they differ slightly in shape.
Even though there is no date, I would
say that this set would have been from around
the same time as the trade card at 1879.
(Sorry it is not the best of photos.)

I would love to hear from anyone who
knows anything about this set - they
may have seen one or might have one
themselves.
But really it is a wonder that this
had survived at all.

>>--oOOo--<<

Strick - Barbel

Strick - Barbel

Isn't this a lovely sweet box top?
And she is actually spool knitting, not
knitting on needles.
Strick Barbel is German
for knitting Barbara.


This is the spool knitter found in this particular
set.

I am sure that there are also different
spool knitters that would come in this
set.

Another side of the box.

The directions for "Knit Racer". Do they
belong in this set?

In the world of spool knitting I find
more and more that you have to accept
what you get in these box sets.
It really gets like a mix and match
game which is a little frustrating -
don't you think?


?

Thought you might like to see my
little mosaic made through Flickr.


---oooOOOooo---

We Have Moved!

We Have Moved!

Hi everyone! I trust that you have all enjoyed
a Happy Christmas with your family and
friends.

I am now in my "new" house and it is taking
a little longer to get everything organized and
in its place.

I had some "new" spool knitters added to the
collection since the last post, however, the collection
is still in storage at present.



Stay tuned........ I will have something
to feed the spool knitting bug soon!

******************

The Next Generation

Sometimes in this world, if you are
patient enough, good things will come
to you.
Was it the novel endearing character of these
particular strickliesel (spool knitter)?
OR ..... Was it the current popular
revival of the craft of spool knitting that
brought back these lovely spool knitters?
Either way, we have the arrival of the
next generation
of the "yellow hat brigade" with
a twist!!
At this stage (due to moving house and
all of my collection being packed and not
being able to access them),
I cannot go into more detail
regarding the original versions of
this spool knitter. I will have to post
more about that at a later time.
But these were new arrivals in
the post today and
I had to show them to you now.
So without further ado -
I present the next generation......


Okay now ...... as I have found with so many
spool knitters in their boxes, the one
pictured on the top of the box varies
to the one in the box.
I purchased three of these and all three
have red hats, the same colour stripes,
and the same number of stripes.
For those who are practically regular
readers of my blog, you will remember the
vintage originals with their yellow hats
and the many colours and stripes and
designs that they are found in.
I have almost fifty vintage spool knitters
of this style and none of them
are exactly the same!
So here we have the updated spool knitter
and due to production costs they are
all exactly the same colours/design.
(But I wonder where the one on the
top of the box is?)

This is the back of the box (sorry about glare)
which is all in German.
No - Made in China or Taiwan - here.

And for a little nostalgic look .......
here are the vintage
spool knitters.


This is the last post for a few weeks
but I hope to be back in time for
Christmas! See you then!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Added December 4th

I am so glad that some things have been
cleared up for me concerning these new
strickliesel/spool knitters.
Which is why I would encourage anyone
who knows otherwise to contact me regarding
anything that I have posted about on
my spoolknitter blog.
The "next generation" strickliesel does come
in a variety of stripes and colours!
It just so happened that my order must have
been of the same batch.
And what's more - they also come with different
coloured hats!
The directions are on the bottom of the box (in
German) although somewhat not too clear according
to my dear German friend.

See you soon!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Transogram Knobby Knitter

This set has just arrived and I

quickly photographed it
before it was packed away!

I love the graphics on the box top -
cleverly taking the older style
cotton reel and nails into the
modern era!

"Mrs. Oldtime Knittingspool's new bright
little child".

Illustrated by Isabelle Magor below.
Photo taken in the 1930's.

The set is dated 1938
(MCMXXXVIII)
by Transogram N.Y.


Originally there would have been two
spool knitters but unfortunately as happens
with so many like this, they get separated
and lost. The blue spool knitter here is
a great little character although still a little plain.
The tool is very much like the "Spears Games
loop lifter".


Here are some more of the fantastic
graphics on the box top.



Knobby Knitter - a very clever little gadget
to make ...... Hat-bands, Skipping Ropes, Baskets,
Belts, Purses, Mats, Pillow Tops, Horse-reins!
Also, the instructions are missing.
The set is numbered 68.


**************

Guess Who?

Guess Who?

These are spool knitters turned by Hubby and
newly painted. I know the blue hat is a little large
for the character on the right, but these are
practice spool knitters and maybe there will
be more made that would suit the look
better. The woods for both are different and
as you can see, the character on the left
has a few "ridges" in the wood.
But I am pleased with the result just
the same. Of course
they still require their
nails to be official, but I have to
wait for Hubby to do that for me.
Let me know what you think of
these!


Still just managing to quickly do another
spool knitter or so before the move - so keep
a watch out for the next new "arrivals" to
the collection.

Update..............

There wont be a lot of content in this
post - all of my spool knitter
collection is now in
storage!

So I hope you will forgive me if I
show you a picture you
may have already seen.

But here is the complete "Kokeshi"
spool knitter - see ....... it now has
its nails and is fully functional!


Luckily the paints have not yet
been packed and I can squeeze in
some more painting before the
move.

Stay tuned!