Beautiful everyday Ladybird things ‘Cotton reels’ Artist: Harry Wingfield (Picture Book, 1973)

Nov 3, 2024 · 7:43 PM UTC

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Replying to @LBFlyawayhome
Harry Wingfield seemed to employ these great isometric compositions in his work. I wonder if that was more for his work in Ladybird books or if it was a characteristic of many of his other paintings as well?
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To be honest, he spent most of his working life working for Ladybird. Before that, he worked on commercial catalogues.
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Replying to @LBFlyawayhome
These look as colourful and shiny in real life. My mum gave me a bag of them, too nice to use.
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That’s the problem
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Replying to @LBFlyawayhome
I think I have some cotton reels with those labels on! Would you like them to match the book?
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Well that’s very kind, but I have a few myself, as it happens 😊🙏
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Replying to @LBFlyawayhome
So not called spools in UK ?
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Not the domestic ones. By spool I would understand something larger and probably in manufacturing.
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more replies
Replying to @LBFlyawayhome
Just looked into the sewing box my mum made up for me when I got my own place.
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Replying to @LBFlyawayhome
When will Mum use up the cotton from one of them so I can make a tank?
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Replying to @LBFlyawayhome @These_Boots
Love the Ladybird covers that you tweet. Thank you. The designer @GailMyerscough has a lovely card with cotton reels/bobbins on it. I don’t know how to link to her website. Perhaps someone can pop on here and help. It’s a card I send to talented friends who enjoy sewing.
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Replying to @LBFlyawayhome
When they were empty you could use them for French knitting with some nails in the top!
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Replying to @LBFlyawayhome
I can smell these.... And the beeswax mum slid the thread through before sewing.
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Replying to @LBFlyawayhome
Brings back such memories, Helen; my mum used to sew when I was little, and I loved the cotton reels and their colours - still do.
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Replying to @LBFlyawayhome
We used to call these bobbins. Bobbin is a very satisfying word! But when I googled it just now, this is what the AI overview had to say:
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Replying to @LBFlyawayhome
I have just a few wooden spools (US term) of thread from long ago; I keep them like the precious objects they are.
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Replying to @LBFlyawayhome
Gorgeous. My grandma had a drawer of cotton reels (I have far more than she ever did, inheriting loads from other grandma!). I loved playing with them & reading the names of the colours.
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Replying to @LBFlyawayhome
This picture is very familiar from my childhood and is strangely soothing. These pictures are all like old friends.
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Replying to @LBFlyawayhome
The brand was Sylko. It was a fixture of my childhood watching my mum sew. Choosing the exact colour match for your fabric was always a thrill.
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Replying to @LBFlyawayhome
I’ve inherited a good few of the wooden cotton reels from my mother in law. Her sewing basket was full of them when she died.
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Replying to @LBFlyawayhome
They were things of beauty, not like the nasty plastic things you get now
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Replying to @LBFlyawayhome
I still have my gran's tin of cotton reels. Exactly like this ♥️
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Replying to @LBFlyawayhome
I have some early wooden ones of these...latterly they were plastic...as are these judging by the colour.
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Replying to @LBFlyawayhome
What book is that from?
Replying to @LBFlyawayhome
I love those old Sylko reels. I never waste a wooden reel - I buy them whenever I see them and use up the thread, then repurpose the reels to make Christmas ornaments, etc.
Replying to @LBFlyawayhome
Absolutely beautiful artwork. A joy to look at. 🙂📚📖
Replying to @LBFlyawayhome
Mine always have a needle sticking out of them with a bit of thread on as I always pull too much off the reel for what I need to do!
Replying to @LBFlyawayhome
Love this! ❤️
Replying to @LBFlyawayhome
Inherited a family friends sewing tin and it's still mostly full of reels like this.
Replying to @LBFlyawayhome
Awesome! What an eye - what brush skills, too!
Replying to @LBFlyawayhome
I loved popping the paper for it to go on the machine. Happy days.
Replying to @LBFlyawayhome
These bring back so many childhood memories of my mum's sewing box. Beautiful.
Replying to @LBFlyawayhome
Remind me of my mum who was a seamstress - loads of these always about
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