Speed-Cro-Sheen by Coats & Clark's

In September, 1953, Coats and Clark's introduced their Speed-Cro-Sheen thread to the market.   This thread, a follow-up to their Knit-Cro-Sheen was a heavier weight and designed for crochet 

Full page advertisements were placed in magazines, and two separate pattern books were introduced with home goods patterns, bedspreads, rugs, mats, etc.  

"The new cotton crochet spread, Speed-Cro-Sheen, makes it fun to experiment with contemporary design"   In addition to the standard white and ecru (that was typical for the time period) this thread was available in an array of bright colors, as well as multi-colored.  

100% Mercerized Cotton, Size 3 - an 8-ply firmly twisted thread in 100 yard balls

Speed-Cro-Sheen was frequently advertised in newspapers -- the typical sales promotions.  This ad was from the 1953 introduction of the thread.   It entered the market with a selling price of 25 cents.

Full scale advertisements, in the form of newspaper articles (as in this 1960 example) also appeared, most likely coordinated and paid for by The Spool Cotton branch.  "The instructions leaflet for rug and bedspread also includes instructions for crocheting a vanity cushion bench cover.  For the leaflet, send a stamped SASE ....."   The Mail Order Pattern Number - PC-9117.

Here's another (1968) Speed-Cro-Sheen newspaper promotion.   In this case, the offering is being made by The National Needlecraft Bureau.   (I've not figured out the relationship between Spool Cotton and NNB.  Whether NNB paid a fee to use the patterns, or if the organizations were tied together.   Give me time!).

Speed-Cro-Sheen even made it's appearance in a number of Anne Cabot's Mail Order patterns.  (Typically, mail order designs did not specify any specific brand).  This pattern set, 5791 and 5901 are from 1982.

By 1986, the price has climbed to 89 cents a ball.   A big jump in price from the 1953 introduction?  Not really.

Advertisements and promotions began to decline in the late 1980's and completely disappeared in 1994.  Coats & Clark's Speed-Cro-Sheen enjoyed a 41 year life span ... And, that's pretty good.

There are a fair number of patterns in the shop that call for Speed Cro Sheen, should you be interested in browsing.

Thanks for dropping by.

Red Heart Knitting Worsted

Red Heart Knitting Worsted entered the U.S. market late 1936 under the Chadwicks label.

The Chadwick brand & label originated from James Chadwick & Brothers Ltd., that was Purchased
by J&P Coats in 1917.   Chadwick & Brothers continued in the business, all combined under the distribution of The Spool Cotton Co.

Red Heart Knitting Worsted:  100% Virgin Wool, 4 ply, 1-3/4 oz skeins in assorted colors. 

The yarn was quite popular in the market and used in many applications from clothing to afghans.
Skeins in different weights were introduced, along with a growing array of colors.  (1941 newspaper advertisement from Asheville, NC).

In 1952, the companies completed intergration (Coats, Clarks, Spool Cotton, Chadwicks and a few others) was completed and the various brands and marketing names began consolidation to Coats & Clark's.

(yarn photo from Etsy seller vintagevivvy)

By the late 1950's, the Chadwicks brand name has disappeared and all of the labeling is Coats & Clark's Red Heart Knitting Worsted.  Same great yarn, only the brand name has changed.

 There are many great vintage designs out there that call for the Red Heart Knitting Worsted.  Substitution should be no problem  ... a 4-ply worsted weight yarn, that meets the gauge of the specific pattern, will do it.   Do I have any of these patterns in the shop .... absolutely.

In the mid 1970's, Coats & Clarks discontinued production of this yarn and by the late 1970's, all the built up stock in warehouses and shops was depleted.   Why was this great yarn discontinued.   I really have no way of knowing that, but I'd think that with the many fiber changes going on that they moved on to new brands.

Okay, back to work now.   Thanks for dropping by.

PS - 1/21/21:   A reader, Bruce, just finished up a project using a vintage skein of Red Heart Knitting 

Worsted and was kind enough to share a photo of the original label.     Thanks Bruce! 

Womans Day Mail Order Crochet Patterns

A LOT OF CROCHET with a little thread  For this post, let's go all the way back to a 1945 issue of Woman's Day magazine. Tucked inside the magazine are four pages of pattern promotions that required the reader to send away for the patterns. Woman's Day did not charge for the Mail Order, other than the reader having to include a 3 cent stamp with the request. I've been lucky to find a couple of these sets in my sleuthing.

These patterns were offered as a Coats and Clark's thread promotion; all requiring Mercerized Crochet Cotton, or Tatting Cotton, etc.

This is the copy of the original magazine pages. I've included parts of the text for the patterns as their descriptions are quite delightful and I thought it may be easier to read than off the picture. Have fun looking at those 1945 "prices to make".

Pattern 1 is a jabot collar:  A white froth of a fish-net jabot with buttonholes in the center to button over your favorite blouse, or to wear as a ruff around the neck. The finer the thread, the prettier it is. Cost to make 20 cents

Pattern 2 offers up three attractive trims. Three lovely laces to add lighthearted touches to any frock. Use one as a prim collar on a tailored dress, or add a crisp touch to a pocket and a demure square neckline. Accentuate the shoulder lines of a summer cotton with a frosty ruffle. And nothing can look quite so romantic as, a spun-sugar frill cascading down the front of your special-occasions dress. This pattern is available in the shop as a Free Download.

Red and Black Bag: Plenty of room for everything in this large shoulder-strap bag with its extra saddle pocket on each side. Cost to make it in red and black rug yarn, $1.50

Red Bag:  We think big bags are the most useful kind. This one in bright red rug yarn with zipper closing adds a bright note to your costume. Cost to make, $1.25

6 - A chubby pink yarn sacque and matching bonnet for baby in an interesting new stitch. Cost to crochet in wool, about $1.25

7 - Crochet a little girl's skirt and give it firm anchorage with these practical, wide-shouldered suspenders. This one is in sturdy tan wool, with blue stripes, and the tam o'shanter is designed to match. Cost to make, $1.45

8 - Jaunty is the word for this cap, and a welcome change from those under-the-chin bows. Crochet it loosely in wool, 29 cents

Pattern 3 - Sweater:  We selected the smart, practical sweater shown on the opposite page, hoping that everyone would have yarn remnants on hand in several colors. This one is made in gray, brown and black wool. The style has many useful features—it is boxy and bulky enough to use as a jacket for cool summer weather, or with its drawstring waistline bloused, it is perfect over a wool skirt for fall. The close, interesting stitch resembles hand weaving. Cost to make in new wool, $3.50

9. Light and comfortable, a neat little hat made of spun straw. Cost to make. about 50 cents

10. Crochet a fuchsia hat of spun straw and perch shocking-pink flowers on the top to wear for dress-up occasions all summer. Cost to make, about $1.00

11. Filet Teacloth: You may not find enough thread to make the fillet corners of this sparkling tea cloth, but the rose-wreath pattern is one you will want to save for after the war. With a linen center it costs $5.20 to make.

12. Fillet insertion with ribbon design for household linens. Crochet enough for a pillowcase for only 20 cents

13. Plain insertion looks so expensive. Substitute it for worn hemstitching on a pillowcase. To do one, 20 cents.

14. White Doily: Clusters and lacy shells combine in the delicate pattern of this doily. Cost to make one, 10 cents

15. White Doily II: An assortment of stitches make this eight-pointed star design varied and interesting. Cost to make one 10 cents.

16. A formalized dahlia design enhances the center of this fillet doily. To crochet one costs 20 cents

17. Wide insertion in a wild-rose pat tern to keep in mind for our new post war sheets. Enough for one, 8o cent

18. A pointed fillet edging with bow knot design, to give old-fashioned luxury to a sheet. To make, 60 cents

19. Plain crochet mesh adds a dainty touch to a baby's pillowcase. Use a pastel lining. To crochet, 10 cents

And that's the entire pamphlet set. There's a number of nice designs here. I've entered a number of the patterns to the shop; as designated by the links. If you must have one of the others, let me know and I'll see what I can do. Some of the patterns had too poor picture quality to work with.

Thanks for dropping by,

Lorrie

Stitch in Time Leaflets, Vintage Coats & Clark's

Here we go .... it is Fall, 1953, and Coats and Clark's issue out (what I believe was a yearly) campaign aimed towards school girls ... The Stitch in Time Pamphlet. This pamphlet may have been distributed through Home Ec classes.

This is the Stitch in Time  - Fall 1953 - Volume 24, No 1, Called The New Look in Crochet.

The patterns featured are all beginner designs with a couple personal and home accessories worked in Speed-Cro-Sheen.  The two open page pamphlet that is wrapped in promotional material.

The pattern featured here is the 'Suit Yourself Hat and Bag, which is a cute half hat and matching drawstring bag.

The receiver gets the patterns and completes an easy survey and mails back to Coats and Clark's.

Can you see yourself, as a young teen, filling out the survey, mailing it in and waiting impatiently for your pattern book to arrive?

The Tweed Place Mat is an attractive beginners design with a solid contrast border that measures 12 x 18".

The leaflet finishes off with another two basic designs - The Candlelight Placemat and Gourmet Potholders.

The back page gives us promotional thread information for the Speed-Cro-Sheen.   It's here, I'm sure, the young girl starts thinking 'what color her hat will be?".

I've several of these 'Stitch In Time' Issues from the 1940's and the format has significantly changed.  The earlier publications were marketed as Spool Cotton Company, and these shows Spool Cotton as the Issuer with Coats & Clark's as the Copyright.   Apparently, 1953 was part of the company transition period.

Hope you enjoyed the pamphlet.
Thanks for dropping by,
Lorrie

Coats Clarks 1947 Thread Price Guide

Tucked in the 1947 issue of Womans Day Magazine is Coats and Clark's Leaflet HH-46.  On the last page of the insert, a materials guide was included which detailed the price of the interchangeable Coats and Clark's and Chadwicks Threads.  

Check out those prices !!!   Although nothing by todays' pricing, I'm sure they were consistent with 1947.  

That's it .... just wanted to share.    Thanks for dropping by.