Laura Wheeler, Genius of Needlecraft

I was wandering around in Newspapers.com searching out pattern notations, when I came across this interesting article from June 8, 1945.   The  article, titled 'Laura Wheeler, Genius of Needlecraft' was written by Helen Dudnick.    I'm reprinting the article as it was written.


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By HELEN DUDNICK
Knits and purls. chains and slip stitches, lazy dasies and french knots. They're all easy

when you know how.  An average of ten million women each year write to Laura Wheeler for 

instructions for knitting that baby bonnet they saw in yesterday's newspaper. She receives

more mail than some of our top-ranking Betty Grables or Lana Turners.

Recently Laura Wheeler received a letter from a grandmother who wanted her to know that 

within a comparatively short period of time she had ordered seventy-two patchwork quilt 

patterns—all created by Miss Wheeler. Grandma, as she signed herself, went on to say 

that she was making twelve quilts for each of her twelve granddaughters and that soon she 

could present the gifts to 'her girls' whom she knew would be delighted with them.

Laura Wheeler's name is known to millions of newspaper readers. She is discussed by 

countless women everyday—over back fences, notions counters and scores of other places 

where women and girls congregate. 

In 1933, Laura Wheeler decided to close her own art atudio and become the pioneer 

needlecraft designer in the field.  When she started with George Goldsmith, his Reader Mail organization was fast becoming 

America's leading newspaper dress pattern manufacturers.  One day she asked of Goldsmith, 

"Why should we produce only dress patterns? There are millions of women who like to knit, 

crochet and embroider. Why can't we manufacture needlecraft patterns for them?"
And so it was that Laura Wheeler gave birth to an idea which was to revolutionize the art

of needlework. She gathered a staff of skilled artists and designers who set to work under

her direction, creating original designs for transfer patterns to be embroidered on guest

towels, pillow cases and doilies—patterns for many kinds of knitted garments—crochet 

patterns for centerpieces, fascinators, slippers or bootees. She hired top-notch writers 

to describe step by step, clear and precise directions for each kind of stitch in a 

particular design. As many as ten artists work on a single pattern.
Says Laura Wheeler, "When a reader sees my release in her newspaper and sends 15 cents 

for my needlecraft pattern, it is my job to see that not only will she get it promptly, 

but when the pattern does reach her, she can be assured that there will be no need to stop 

and question the next step." Added Miss Wheeler, "Every one of my needlecraft patterns 

is foolproof so that even a novice will have no difficulty finishing the sweater, purse 

or rag dolls she started."  She stresses the practicability of  her feature. "I try to 

put myself in the position of a reader. She wants eye-appealing needlecraft, patterns 

which can be made as inexpensively as possible and that is what, I strive to give her."

Laura Wheeler is a typical American woman. She is of medium height with black hair 

streaked with gray, sparkling dark eyes and an effervescent personality. Laura feels 

she is amply repaid for her life's work of creating needlecraft patterns when those 

millions of letters come pouring into her once—letters from women all over the country 

asking for more patterns, letters from grateful readers telling of the joys her designs 

have brought them.

When the war is over, Laura Wheeler plans to make her needlecraft pattern feature available

not only in the United States, Canada and Australia but in other European countries as well.

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Anyone who has followed the Mail Order Pattern Syndicate will have heard that Laura Wheeler was a fictitious person created for marketing purposes. i.e., we'd be more prone to trust a 'real person' than  a 'mail-away' company.   But, does the article create any doubt? 

The picture shown is part of the article and leads us to believe this is a real person.   The article tells us that Laura was previously an artist, turned business woman, hiring designers and being involved in the 'pattern business.  It ends telling us that 'after the war (August, 1945) she plans on expanding the patterns to Australia and Europe.  (These patterns were available in Australia in 1938).

So, in answer to the question -- No, this wouldn't lead me towards thinking Laura Wheeler was a 'real person.   But one interesting point remains and that is the writer of the article -- Helen Dudnick.

Typically, anything written (patterns and promotions) were syndicated across the country, with the same article appearing in dozens of newspapers.   But this article ... No.   the article was printed in one newspaper only - The News Leader, Staunton, VA.   And, the writer, Helen Dudnick, was not only NOT a feature columnist, but appears to have no other writing history.  A freelancer, perhaps?

And, now that I've shared this, I can get back to the investigation I was on before getting sidetracked with us.    And, as always, if you know anything further about Laura Wheeler or any of the pattern syndicates, I'd appreciate your sharing.

Thanks for dropping by,