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.

Laura Wheeler, Pineapple Doilies, on Broadway

Laura Wheeler Pineapple Doilies on Broadway .... well yes. 

It happened back in 1942.   Junior Miss is a quite popular play on Broadway.   A comedy piece staring three young teenagers with frustrated parents learning to deal with them.

 It was a quite popular play, a bit of whimsy in rather bleak WWII times, staring 16 year old Patricia Peardon.    But, what does this have to do with Laura Wheeler Design patterns?   Well . . .

"Three little maids from Broadway they are!  Being Patricia Peardon, Joan Newton and Lenore Lonergan, who currently appear in Junior Miss, the seasons outstanding comedy hit about teenage girls and their baffled parents.  The camera caught this youthful trio on stage just before curtain time admiring a set of lacy doilies.  Patricia, who received considerable praise for her portrayal of 13 year old Judy Graves, hold up two of the prize winning pieces for the other girls to view.   The doilies were made from Pattern 230, a design by Laura Wheeler, whose exclusive with us pattern feature is followed by our many Junior Miss needlework fans as well as their elders.

And, that how Laura Wheeler made it to Broadway!

Oh ... and if you'd like just a bit more trivia .... the rumor has it the Junior Mints were also based on the Junior Miss series ... but in this case, the follow-up movie, not the play. 

Okay, I'm back to work now.    Thanks for dropping by.

Style Smiles by Gretchen, A Daily Fashion Column

Style Smiles by Gretchen first appeared in Newspaper columns in the Northeast (United States) at the end of the year -- December, 1936. 

A Daily Cartoon--Caper .... dressed up in a Paris Model!  

"Truly an amazing array of feminine fripperies mark with distinction this humorous highlight for the ladies.  Gorgeous creatures in gorgeous creations clown around for Gretchen, sensational humorist, remarkable artist and inspired creator of tomorrows styles!   This engrossing fun daily feature -- dressed up in a Paris model -- is but one of the brilliant features brought you daily in your Pittsburgh Post Gazette".      

And then .. on January 1st, the syndicated column began. ( It's was the first column for Esquire Features, Inc. who later expanded with other cartoon related cartoons and then merged with another syndication a couple years later).  

I came across Style Smiles while searching down a particular crochet phrase in the newspapers and was immediately enchanted.  So enchanted, in fact, that I'm not even sure where that original catch was, as I was then reading about Style Smiles.    This is exactly how I get sidetracked and, some days, get so little done!

It was the end of December, so I decided, for fun, I'd reprint the columns to coordinate with the date (day and month) of their original release.   The column appeared most days, however, I've found a couple gaps.   I've no way of knowing if these gaps represents date of no publication, or simply dates the newspaper did not get scanned into directories.   

Each cartoon has an endearing caption with a generous description of the fashions of the day.

I'm posting the cartoons on my Facebook page and then filing into a Style Smiles by Gretchen Photo Album if you'd care to follow along. 

Thanks for dropping by.

Aunt Lydia's Star Spun Yarn, American Thread

I've not been able to find much on this American Thread yarn -- Star Spun -- however, I'll share here what I know and/or guess, since it a) existed and two, I have at several patterns calling for it in the shop.   

This photo appeared in American Thread Star Book No 134 - Crocheted Rugs.  

Photo from Amazon seller 

According to the label, Star Spun is a blended yarn, 69% Rayon, 23% cotton and 8% Metallic Thread. There were 60 yards per skein.

From appearance, I'm going to suggest that this is a variation of Aunt Lydia's Heavy Rug Yarn.   In 1955, when Star Rug Book No 134 was issued, the blend on Aunt Lydia's Heavy Rug Yarn was 75% Nylon and 25% Cotton, a 4-ply yarn.   The design variations where I've seen this yarn used in patterns is the contrast color and the bit of sparkle added by the metallic thread.

So, I would say that should you wish to make a design (probably rug) that calls for this product, that any heavy rug yarn that meets the gauge will work.   You might even be able to find one with the sparkle.

Aunt Lydia's Heavy Rug Yarn, American Thread

Aunt Lydia's Heavy Rug Yarn was a favorite yarn of many.   It's primary use, of course, was rugs, but some used it for placemats, scrub cloths, bathroom sets and hats.   A few patterns were presented promoting the yarn sweaters, however, the yarn did not hold it's shape well enough for essential clothing.

 It was initially sold in 70 yard skeins.  It was a 50% Rayon, 50% Cotton, 4-ply blend.

American Thread brought the yarn to market in 1949 at the average price (for that time period), of 25 center per skein.

In the mid 1950's the fiber blend was changed to 75% Nylon and 50% Cotton. 

In 1978 another fiber change was made to the product; it is now 100% Kodel Polyster and is now referenced as a 3-ply yarn.   Shortly after, skeins sizes also expanded to include 60 and 180 yards. 

Over this long life-span, American Thread issued several pattern books, all termed "Star Rug Book", followed by the actual book numbers.   These books largely contain rug patterns .... a rather great assortment, I must say.  

And, of course, advertised in many of the needlecraft magazines.

Photo from Ebay Seller ksn3229.

Sales of this plugged along until it was discontinued on 1979.   It had, indeed, a long and successful life.

Now, if you have one of the patterns and are looking for a substitute, I'd suggest that about any brand of Heavy Rug Yarn, 3 or 4 ply, that meets the stated gauge, is going to do.    Or, should you be looking for a pattern, I have quite a few in the shop.

Thanks for dropping by,

Bernat Nylo Germantown Yarn

Bernat introduced their Nylo Germantown Yarn back in 1953.

Photo from Ebay Seller bemak1951

50% Virgin Wool; 50% Crimp Set Nylon  - Washable Color, Anti-Shrink - in 2-oz skeins.

4-ply

The label changed at least three times over the life span of the yarn.

Initially their marketing blitz was in the form of packaged sweater kits.  The bulky big-needle sweaters were becoming popular, for which Nylo Germantown was perfectly designed.

With this soft bulky yarn, afghans and rugs were also a popular choice.  

And, as usual, Bernat issued pattern books dedicated to the promotion of this specific yarn.  

The yarn proved popular.  It remained active in the marketplace until 1968, when newspapers sales promotions started to slow, and then had completely stopped by 1971.     And, that's all I know!

I do, of course, have a fair number of vintage patterns calling for Bernat Nylo Germantown in the shop that came from several pattern books as well as 1950 Needlecraft magazines.  

Thanks for dropping by.

National Sweater Week

As this story goes, I'm browsing through a 1932 newspaper looking for information on a vintage yarn, when from another column the words 'National Sweater Week' catch my attention.  And that was it .... I call it side tracked.   My search string was changed to 'National Sweater Week' and I was off on an hour or so journey.

It appears this 'special' week started back in 1926, but didn't really get into the swing of it until 1927, with the dates being September 24th to October 1st.  

In 1927, a variety of ads were displayed and the marketing increased to even more markets.

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The promotion just barely continued into 1928, with just one set of advertisements.

And then, it stopped.  I'm going to suggest the result of The Great Depression that was suffered through between 1929 and 1939.   And then, this was back-to-back with World War 2 that started in September 1939 and lasted until 1945.     Through these events, many people did not have the money or frivolity for events like ... National Sweater Week.

In 1946, National Sweater Week returns across the major markets.   The script is the same, but the promotion pictures vary by store.  (Obviously the individual stores were given license here).  Another note for 1946, the dates have changed to September 9th to the 14th. 

Other players took some advertising promotions to cap in on National Sweater Week as well.  In this 1949 case, the cleaners want to clean those sweaters you wore last week and encourage you to turn them over to 'your driver' and the one who collects the most wins $109.

In 1953, we were introduced to the concept of the Sweater Sweetheart with a bit of Hollywood flavor with the ever rising popularity of movies.  

Then, there were yearly window sweater display contests sponsored by the Lewel Mfg Co.  (Makers of fine sweaters, of course).  Mr Otto Swadner, of Schachnes won in 1961.  

By 1965, even the big name players were getting involved -- National Sweater week at Sear!.   Apparently cables were the rage in 1965.  

And this little clip tells us what "I'm sure" we've all figured out by now.  National Sweater week is a promotion to publicize sweaters and knitwear, sponsored by the Knitted Outerwear Foundation.   Of course, there may have been earlier sponsors as well.  

And National Sweater week dribbled on.   I say dribbled in that by 1972, the ads had almost stopped.  There were still a couple each year, but hardly any.   By 1979 it was all over ..... cutoff without a single advertisement going forward.

 Since the scripts were essentially the same particularly in the earlier years, I'd assume there was sponsor was kicking in some form of revenue.   I'd guess in the realm of advertising dollars, but really, I have no inside knowledge. 

Okay, back to work.   Thanks for dropping by.