SPOOLCRAFT

I recently found this fabulous children's book called Spoolcraft
by Arden Newsome.
Published in 1974, a hard cover book with 156 pages,
it is full of very interesting projects.

........Spool People......
...Dolls and Dolls Furniture...
.....Spool Toys.....
...Knitting and Printing with Spools...
.....Spool Games.....
.....Indian Novelties.....
...Gifts, Gadgets and Decorations...

Among these headings are of course - how to spool
knit, a spool knitter to make in the
simple form of a "giraffe", and a spool knitted Santa project.
As well as a rocking horse, spool handle jump rope,
clown puppet, bowling set, totem pole, jingle bell pin,
pincushion lady, Nativity, and many, many more projects.

In seeking out books with spool knitting, it is really worthwhile
taking a look at children's books.

******

In the course of looking at these projects, it came to mind
as to what other items could possibly be made into
spoolknitters apart from cotton reels/spools?

Skipping rope handles,
door handles,
skittles,
plastic tubes,
cardboard cylinders,
wooden ornaments,
table legs,
and large beads are
just some that I came up with.

Can you think of any others?

Back to Nancy!

As I keep saying, there are so many questions
regarding vintage spool knitters.
If you find them without a box, how are you to
know who, where and when the
spool knitter was made?
The spool knitters themselves give you very little
answers as to their maker or origin.
The knitting Nancies of Spears Games' are perhaps the
most recognisable spool knitters.
Then when you come across what look like later versions
of the "Nancy in the skirt", there are more
questions that arise.
Are they simply copying the style? Are they authorised
makes? Where were they made? And so it goes on......
If anyone has any of these later versions in their
original boxes, I would dearly love to hear from you.
If anyone has any definite information at all about these,
could you please let me know?

Above is a vintage Knitting Spool Outfit. We have a lot of
information here on the box BUT there is no date.
We can only take an estimated guess here and the
only thing to go by is the style of the illustration on
the top of the box.
The knitting "looms" to create the flat
"play-horse" reins are very simply made. Nothing to
suggest great style here. Sadly there are no
instructions with the box, so nothing there to give
you any clues. I would guess at 1920's for the approx.
date for this set according to the style of the children's clothes.
But it is hard to say if this illustration was following the fashion
of the day or if it was just a "comical decoration" (for want
of a better description), for the box.

I am open to suggestions here, any information, any
one willing to discuss this further. Hopefully, we can
learn something.

Below is the lid close -up.

SOLDIERS

Ah....Tennnnnnnn......Shun!!!!

A line-up of spool knitting Soldiers.

These are popular French (tricotins) spool knitting Soldiers.

Made in Germany?

These two spool knitters, I have been told,
were Made in Erzgebirge, Germany.
I would appreciate any information on these
spool knitters and if they originally
came in a box.
There are no markings on the bottom
of the spool knitter.

Side view

Back view

COMPARISONS

It is amazing that even in the spool knitting collecting world there

are so many questions as to why things are the way
they are. The more you get into it (collecting), the more there
are puzzling finds.

Below are two vintage Knitting Nancy boxes. Have you ever
wondered why the Knitting Nancy illustration is shown knitting
on four double pointers?

The first box shows a different "Nancy" (note the missing staples/nails)
on the lid compared to the second "Nancy" box.

Written on the lid is - Registered Spear's Games in Great Britain. Made at the Spear Works Bavaria. Designed in England Copyright.
I would take a guess and say that this one is the older of the two boxes.

Funnily enough, this was the "Nancy" found in this box.

This box has - Trademark Reg. Spear's Games Great Britain and Canada.
Made at the Spear Works Bavaria. Boxed in England. British Wool.
Also - "With improved Staples"

And again, this "Nancy" was found in the second box.

Above are the two "Knitting Nancies" shown together.
(Yes, they are more like "Nevilles").

And now we have a box dated 2003 from Rocket Toys & Games
with an address in England, an email address, and a website.
The Knitting Nancy found in this box is the same as
the later Knitting Nancy from Spears Games from
the 1990's before it (Spears Games) was sold
to Mattel. Even though the lid of this set shows
yet a different "Knitting Nancy",
the picture on the instructions found inside
show that this IS the original to this set.
See below........And now for a complete surprise ....... is this French Knitting Set
by Airlite Regd. - Product of G. Lawrence (Art Needlework) Ltd.
Petts Wood. Kent. - note how many nails? Three, and no,
there isn't one missing. This is the first VINTAGE spool knitter
I have found with just three nails. Take a look at the
picture on the box - three nails. There is no date or instructions
with the box.
I know that spool knitting is possible with different numbers of
nails - I have new spool knitters with two or more nails.
But this is the first VINTAGE product found with three nails.
I would guess it is possibly from around 1950's to 60's.

MORE PAINTED TRICOTINS

Finally, I have finished painting the next two
tricotins/spool knitters

cleverly turned for me by my
very generous friend.

The larger of the two, I have painted as a Spanish Rose.
She wears a lacy top and also has gold earrings.
I felt that this tricotin/spool knitter was able to be painted differently
rather than traditionally seeing that it
was unusually bigger than its original. (see post "New Tricotins")

The second one is somewhat of a mixture of
ideas. Not too sure about what I wanted, but I didn't
want the traditional style who all seem to be a
cheeky looking masculine figure.
I would have liked perhaps a Victorian style figure
but as the skirt would need to be longer, that would
have looked a little silly.
So I ended up trying a different colour combination,
making it a female, with a lacy skirt.
Quite a mixture, but I suppose it all adds
to her character!

Sorry about the glare!
So what do you think?
Please click on pictures to enlarge them, you can see
the detail of the flowery lace!

KNITTING NANCY

Spear's Games Vintage Knitting Nancy

Francis Spear, a family member of the Spear's Games empire, and myself have been corresponding over the past few months.

Francis has been wonderful in assisting me with my enquiries regarding how the Knitting Nancy came to be.
I was in particular, interested to find out about the painting of the Knitting Nancy.
The following is what Francis has told me, ... quote ...
"J. W. Spear & Sons was originally a German company and all items were manufactured in Nuremberg. In 1932, a factory was established in England which made and assembled English language boxes but obtained most of the components from Germany.
After the war, both branches were independent as far as product selection and design was concerned, but did not compete in each other's territory."
"... the English branch in particular sometimes took liberties with the designs, the important thing being - in the case of a handicraft item - that it worked, had good instructions, and was easy for the child to do.
As a secondary consideration, production cost was also important and often designs were changed to reduce this. Knitting Nancy figures were an example.
Originally, they were mostly hand-painted but some time in the 1970's or 80's, the process was mechanised, the solid colours being applied by dipping and for the face and hair, we used a special printing machine."
Thanks so much again Francis, your friendship is invaluable!

Because I love the Spear's vintage Knitting Nancy so much, I decided to paint my third blank spool knitter as a "Knitting Nancy", (see previous post), even though it is a little larger and slightly different in shape, I am rather pleased with the results. I would really love to find more (blanks) so that I can paint them in other colours, too! Do you like it?

Here it is with a vintage "Knitting Nancy" for comparison.


And here are the group of the rest of the "Knitting Nancies". The first one is
a very much loved Knitting Nancy!


For further reading about Spear's Games Knitting Nancy please see my other posts
on August 6, 2007 - Spool Knitter Evolution!
and September 21, 2007 - A Little More About Spear's Games Knitting Nancy ..........

HAPPY SPOOLING!