This
is a pincushion “in the shape of a Brobdingnagian carrot” which should be
“stock(ed) well with hat pins of various sizes and makes.”
The
original pattern calls for “single Berlin wool” in “pale scarlet…deep
orange…dark yellow” and “pale yellow,” knit on “four steel knitting needles,
No. 15” (modern equivalent 1.75mm / US 00.) Stuffing and “streamers of narrow
pale green satin ribbon about half an inch wide” are needed to finish the
cushion.
I
first tried to make this in Paternayan crewel wool but it required too much
wool for the main part of the carrot so I switched, successfully, to Palette
fingering weight wool in Sweet Potato, Semolina, Custard, and Peony, knitting
both times on the suggested needle size. The pincushion is stuffed with carded
and washed fleece – any remaining lanolin would act as a deterrent for rust on
the pins. The pale green ribbons, with “a good long loop of some of the same
material to serve as a means of suspending the cushion” was added last.
The
pincushion measures 12 ¼” long and 8 ¼” wide around at the top.
The
text of the pattern also suggests that this object could serve as an ornament
for a Christmas tree where “It could scarcely fail to cause comment, and a
little amusement.”
All quotations are from Weldon’s Practical Needlework, Volume
Eleven, Interweave Press, 2004
3 comments:
It would definitely cause amusement among my friends and family.
You don't know me, but I've nominated you for a blog award over at my site. :)
Thank you, Katie, very much! I am very flattered! It will take me a day or so to follow through but you were very kind to select my blog and say those nice things about it on your blog.
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