I’m not really a big fan of shopping and I would never trail around shops as a sort of hobby the way a lot of women do. It’s bad enough if I am looking for something specific to wear for a particular occasion, so shopping for kicks is just not for me.
I have to admit though to being a wee bit of a charity/thrift shop junkie. I don’t often buy anything mind you but as I always say to myself, you just never know what you might find in one of them, unlike the normal shops which seem to be the same, no matter even which country you’re in nowadays – that’s a form of globalisation I suppose!
Anyway, just before Christmas I was really chuffed to find these boxes of thread in a charity shop in St Andrews. At first I thought they were just empty boxes and I loved the old fashioned design of them, but looking inside I was thrilled to see the balls of thread inside and in pristine condition.
Aren’t the colours fabulous?
I think they must have been meant to be used as crochet thread, or maybe for doing very fine silky knitting, such as knickers! I have some old patterns from the 1930s that would use this sort of thread. In fact I think this is when these boxes date from, but they’re a bit of a puzzle. As you can see the manufacturer was Clark’s, a very well known Scottish make, and they are described as being artificial silk for knitting, crochet and art work. But I’m wondering why they are weighed in grams rather than the ounces of the Imperial measures that were used back then? Also the word Colors is spelled in the American way. The box also says Made in Great Britain. Coats/Clark was a company that started up in Paisley in the west of Scotland in 1755. Real Industrial Revolution stuff. In 1864 they expanded the business to Newark, New Jersey, USA as the Clark Thread Company.
I plan to use the threads, maybe in an embroidery project. They’ve obviously been in some woman’s thread stash for many decades, and no doubt she had great intentions of using them too, until she died and her house contents were ‘cleared’ to a charity shop in St Andrews, Fife.
What a beautiful find! I can’t wait to see what you do with it. I’m on the same page that you are when it comes to shopping. I only do what’s necessary, I am finding that shopping online can be a great alternative. There are so many things at home that I would rather be doing. That being said, I have always loved a good thrift shop , and for many years I would get up on Saturday mornings and go around the are to yard sales. I bought most of our furniture and lots of other things at those sales. I always say it’s the thrill of the hunt that makes it fun!
Paula
Paula,
I’m exactly the same, and it’s the way to find bargains and unique things too. I sometimes think I’m like that song Secondhand Rose!
I agree, those are beautiful threads and you were lucky to find them. And I would always go for thrift show shopping over any other kind… not that I do much of either. I did not know that Coats/ Clark started out in Scotland. How cool.
tracybham,
I have a friend who worked in the Clark’s offices in Paisley until she retired a few years ago. It’s a big part of the history of the place.
My mother was quite a seamstress and made all of our clothes when we were growing up, including coats and perfectly matched plaid kilts. The names Coats and Clark’s are very familiar to me because I used to see them all the time. What a beautiful box and thread.
Joan,
Your were lucky to have such a talented and loving mother! My sewing boxes are still full of Coats and Clark’s bobbins and spools of thread and wool.
How lucky you were to come across those silks. Reminds me of something very similar that had been my grandmother’s (she died in 1961) – I remember knitting a cape in pale blue and lilac silks for my doll. Patient work, because it was slippery to knit with. Memories!
Valerie,
That’s why I was thinking of using it for embroidery rather than knitting as I think that very fine needles would have to be used and so the work would grow very slowly!
What a find! the colors are great too. Especially love that dark golden one.
Stefanie,
I think that colour is my favourite too, it’s a sort of autumn leaves shade.