Crochet Star Medallion Pattern, Mail Order Design

Some time back I created spreadsheets to keep track of my mail order collection.  This step, although a bit time consuming, has been quite an eye opener.   I'll start posting some of these tidbits ... just in case anyone 'out there' should be interested. 

When a Mail Order pattern proved popular, it was published multiple years and/or under multiple numbers.  At each release, the pattern description would change. Lets take the example of the popular Crochet Star Medallion. 

It's an attractive hexagon medallion in star motif that will measure 3-1/2 or 5-1/2" depending upon thread. 

Laura Wheeler 2675:   

This Design was first released in October of 1940.  "Can't you picture a spread of this lovely crocheted medallion enhancing your bedroom. It's a beginner choice indeed for it's so easy and works up so effectively".  

And then again in March of 1941,  "Beginner's, here's crochet that will win you laurels. The easy medallion repeated makes a variety of accessories large and small, as you wish.Use string, it works up quickly.  

Laura Wheeler 753 

Design 2675, although billed as a Medallion, as portrayed as a bedspread in this picture.  Here, the same design is shown as a tablecloth. 
The pattern was released in July, 1947 - description:  "Star of all medallions! Easy to crochet, quick to memorize.  You'll love it's cobwebby beauty in a spread or cloth. Good pick-up work. The sky is the limit to the lovely accessories you can make".
Again in July, 1948, September 1948 and July 1949 - description:  "Don't wish on a star - just crochet this one instead! The accessories you long for are yours in no time with this easy medallion.  You can win prizes with this crochet at your fair".
And, one more time in 1950 - description: Star this medallion in your home. It rates applause any way you use it.  "You'll memorize it quickly, then it's pure fun to do. This is a wonderfully easy was to grace your home with heirloom luxuries"

Alice Brooks 7180

Here, the pattern has switched over to be marketed as Alice Brooks versus Laura Wheeler.  Also billed as a tablecloth, the table setting itself changed. 
This Design version was released in June 1956, March 1957 - description: "You'll win prizes with this quick crochet medallion.  It lends itself to both fine cotton and string.  Make small articles or plan a bedspread or tablecloth".
Again in December 1958, February 1959, February 1960 and May 1961 - Description: This prize medallion is especially good for large and small articles: scarves, mats, pillows, bedspreads.  A quick, thrift way to acquire lovely accessories",

Now, I've found one other occurrence of this exact pattern under the name of American Weekly.

American Weekly 3080

Patterns branded American Weekly appeared only in the Sunday weekly circular of the same name.  I do not (currently) know the relationship between The American Weekly and Needlecraft Services, but assume advertising space was purchased and the pattern was simply branded.    I (currently) have no way to date the publications of these patterns.  

Are their more occurrences where this pattern was marketed under different numbers and descriptions?  Possible.   These are simple the patterns that I've purchased, processed and am aware of.   Should I discover more, I'll update this post.  

It's obvious this was a popular, and well selling design.  And, for very apparent reasons - it's a quite lovely medallion.    Should you be interested in the pattern, it is available in my shop - links under pattern pictures.  I've been asked, if a pattern is the same, why do I list it multiple times.   That's a very easy answer.   Sometimes one might be searching for a pattern of a specific number.

Well, I imagine, if you've made it to here, you've read enough about this particular pattern and I'll move on to something else!

The American Weekly, Mail Order Patterns

The American Weekly was a weekly magazine insertion to the Sunday newspapers from the late 1896 until 1966.   The paper (from my recall as a young girl) was perhaps in the 16 x 22 size range, fold over design, with a glossy cover and a variety of rather meaningless (my opinion) articles, along with, of course, the prized Womens' Sections.

The American Weekly was exclusive to their pattern column, offering only patterns under the name of The American Weekly, of course.

And, just like the other mail order services, the reader sent a note with the pattern number and payment and a couple weeks later the pattern arrived in the mail.

The pattern service started in 1936.  The first couple years, the offerings were sewing patterns only.  Then, in 1938, the patterns began expanding into the usual sewing, crochet, knitting and embroidery.

The patterns were in the same 'known' mail order format - the large large 17 x 22 inch single sheet of paper, folded into sections.  The needlework patterns typically included large pattern stitch diagrams and blocking charts, when appropriate.

The pattern offered by The American Weekly were the same Designs of Laura Wheeler / Alice Brooks.   The same cover pictures, as well as directions and diagrams were the same.   Only difference - the pattern name displayed and the envelopes and the pattern numbers themselves.  The American Weekly patterns were in the 3000 through 3800 series, depending upon the pattern type.
Notes:  In the 3100 number series.

An August 28, 1949 newspaper reported that The American Weekly pattern sales were 260,000 for a month.   Now, it would be interesting to know if that was exclusive to The American Weekly, or that was the 'Readers Mail' syndicate.

There are very few newspaper references on The American Weekly papers.   The paper was published on very thin paper, which did not stand-up to time - i.e., being scanned into archives.  (What a real loss!).  There are a few references out there in Internet land as there were a couple newspapers - for example Cincinnati OH, that printed the Womens section in their newspaper page, not as a separate circular. 

The American Weekly Publication was discontinued in 1966.

If you'd care to look, I have a number of these patterns in the shop (and more waiting to be entered).  If you happen to know more information about The American Weekly Patterns, I'd appreciate your sharing!

Thanks for dropping by.