Filet crochet in the White House

[magiccrochetfan]

http://www.afanews.com/articles/articles/something-of-splendor-decorative-arts-from-the-white-house

Just came across this via a link on the Crochet Today blog. Scroll down to see a filet coverlet made by First Lady Grace Coolidge. It says she worked on it over a two year period. What a big project! I wonder how she made up the design, lots of graph paper maybe.. And she left it to become part of the permanent collection there.

[Katchkan]

That was just fabulous. What patience we used to have.

[HomekeepingGran]

Did you notice it says "Crocheted with shoe thread"? I'm not sure what that means but she did a splendid job, didn't she? Thanks so much for the link, Kathy!

[Tampa Doll]

oh man I am impressed. Now that is one beautiful coverlet.

[Granny Square]

That's wonderful, thanks for sharing this! I wonder if 'shoe thread' is sturdier than the usual bedspread cotton. It must have looked lovely over a blue coverlet.

[magiccrochetfan]

Oh, i missed the "shoe thread" info, very interesting!

 

So true about the lack of patience now. I can't even contemplate making something like that:(

[grannyannie]

So beautiful! I was wondering about the shoe thread myself?

[HomekeepingGran]

I attempted to look up "shoe thread" and while the info is probably there somewhere, I don't think I'm going to spend my day researching it. I don't think it's what I call shoe string which would lace into my shoes to tie them with, but rather it may be the heavy threads used to sew the shoe together. There may be different sizes in this but since I failed cobbling class in school...

[wheat]

Did you notice it says "Crocheted with shoe thread"? I'm not sure what that means

 

Shoe thread is the thread used in the sewing machines or hand equipment used to sew the various parts of shoes together. It is about the weight/grist of a No 12 Perle Cotton

 

Then it was mostly linen or less often cotton, today it is mostly some form of poly.

 

There are also shoe threads that are more like a Floss, in fact, Nymo, a floss like thread favored by many bead workers, was originally (and is still today) used in shoe construction

 

Probably more info than you wanted,

 

HTH

 

Wheat

[MrsForest]

That is truly stunning!

[HomekeepingGran]

Shoe thread is the thread used in the sewing machines or hand equipment used to sew the various parts of shoes together. It is about the weight/grist of a No 12 Perle Cotton

 

Then it was mostly linen or less often cotton, today it is mostly some form of poly.

 

There are also shoe threads that are more like a Floss, in fact, Nymo, a floss like thread favored by many bead workers, was originally (and is still today) used in shoe construction

 

Probably more info than you wanted,

 

HTH

 

Wheat

Not a bit more! Thanks! I'm so glad you know about it, Wheat, and can help us out!

[pineapplequeen]

So pretty!!!

[magiccrochetfan]

I'm guessing shoe thread was used because it came on cones and so there were fewer ends to deal with.....?

[DesertCrocheter]

I saw that, too, and yes, isn't it gorgeous! Two years--it would probably take me 5, and I'd mess up the different sections over such a long period, that's for sure.

[mamarose22]

I have some thick thread I inherited from my mother. I think it's called buttonhole or carpeting thread. I'm pretty sure that it might be similar. Also perhaps upholsterers might use a similar thread. The coverlet seems to have been exceptionally well maintained to have lasted all these years.