Double Quick Mercerized Crochet Cotton

Taking us back to 1953, Lily Mills entered their Double Quick Mercerized Crochet Cotton to the market.   This thread, most likely, was a follow-up to the heavier straw textured threads of the WWII era popular for hats, bags, mats, etc.

The Double Quick Crochet Cotton is a 8-ply cord, cable twist thread.  This advertisement promotion was issued in the 1953-54 issue of McCalls Needlecraft.  

It was sold in both rolls (as pictured from ebay seller Newthings61) and in skeins.  

  The price started at 29 cents but never went up much.  

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There were the typical promotions for the product.   Lily Mills supplied pattern pamphlets to the retailers to be given with the thread purchase, and Lily Design Book 74 - Wrought Iron Crochet was released.

The thread was apparently NOT a huge success in that it only made a four year market run, exiting in early 1958.    I've just two (at this time) patterns calling for Lily Double Quick. 

And, that's all I know.    Thanks for dropping by,
Lorrie

Lily's Album of Crocheted Designs, Book 1200

The year was 1944, WWII was in full force and women continued knitting and crocheting their home decor.  During this time period, chair sets gained popularity to extend the life of upholstery, and scarves and doilies, in addition to their individual beauty, covered scarred tables and added a 'new look' to the distressed home.    Wool Yarns because scarce and the majority of the pattern books were featuring Crochet Cottons, Strings or nylon materials. 

In this time period, Lily Mills published the Lily Album of Crocheted of Designs; a collection of home and personal accessories.  Again, with the scarcity of materials, hats, collars, etc., updated the woman's 'tired-out' wardrobe.

As was typical, Lily Mills also advertised the release of their Book 1200 with magazine advertisements.

This ad appeared in the 1944-45 issue of McCall Needlework.  "A variety of items that will be a pleasure to make.  And these finer Lily Yarns bring far greater pride in more beautiful results".   The advertisement directs the reader to send 10 cents to the Shelby address of Lily Mills.   And, to sweeten the pot, an additional five pattern leaflets were tossed in! 

I do not have this pattern book in my collection (yet).   But, who knows .... one day it just might 'show-up'. 

Thanks for dropping by. 

Lilly Rug Yarn, Art 241

Lily Mills introduced their 'famous' rug yarn in 1937.   This time period was nearing the end of the Great Depression and creating your own home essentials was still economically important.  

"A wonderfully soft, thick, fine quality 100% cotton rug yarn in rich, fast, colors.  This yarn is widely used for all types of crochet work such as hats and bags, bedroom slippers, pot holders, etc.  Also, it is widely used for making Fluff, Pompom, Hooked, Crocheted and Woven Rugs".   

The yarn was introduced in 4-oz skeins.   

(photo courtesy of Polly's Vintage Linens)

Into the early 1940's, Lily Mills promoted the different uses for their Rug Yarn.  As was the norm for this time period, department stores also set up instruction areas to teach you the techniques and giving free patterns with yarn purchase. Crocheting hats and bags was another popular instructions.  

During WWII cotton became scarce, creating a quite a boom for those stores that were able to obtain leftover stocks.   It was during this time period that the nylons and synthetics started gaining their popularity.   Of course, when the war ended and cotton again became available, their marketing (and sales) hit new time highs.   It has to be noted, of course, that they were not alone in this market ... the greatest competition being American Thread's Aunt Lydia's Heavy Rug Yarn.  

The product promotion began dwindling in the early 1970's, and by 1975 had entirely left the market.  Now, that's certainly not to say that rug yarns left the market.   Newer yarns were marketed employing additional fibers .... versus 100% cotton. 

During it's run, Lily Mills produced several pattern books that directly promoted this yarn, as well as offered patterns through leaflets distributed through shops and the popular Needlework magazines.  I've reviewed one of these books - Smart Little Toppers - in the Shoptalk Blog. 

There are, of course, a number of patterns calling for Lily Rug Yarn, Art 241, in the shop if you'd care to browse.  
Thanks for dropping by.