For all their wonderful range of bright colours, Dewhurt's also put our a fantastic array of more subtle shades too. Now, if you know me well, you will know that I am no great fan of the colour brown, however with the most delightful name of "Mid Seal Brown", this rather rare bobbin's shade is far more palatable.
When it was last my birthday, a very dear friend who enjoys photography as much as I do, and knows that I collect beautiful and vintage pieces, gave me a wonderful selection of antique ribbons, buttons, buckles, lace and other fine notions. She also gave me three follow up tins of similar delightful gifts for Christmas.
Those wonderful gifts are what has inspired me to create this series of "Embroider my World" images featuring my vintage bobbin collection. Being no great fan of brown as a colour, I find when paired with other shades, it can look more appealing. In this case in have offset the brown with a delicate shade of green by way of a vintage embroidered ribbon from India that I bought. It comes from my own collection of antique notions along with the two wonderful Edwardian brown leather buttons and the smaller 1930s brown Bakelite one. In their midst sits a rare and unpierced Dewhurst's Sylko "Mid Seal Brown" reel of cotton which dates from between 1938 and 1954.
Belle Vue Mill, commonly known as Dewhurst’s, was built by Thomas Dewhurst in 1828. It opened in 1829 as John Dewhurst & Sons and was one of Skipton’s largest spinning and weaving mills. The mill’s position next to the Leeds Liverpool Canal meant that raw cotton could be shipped in by boats from Liverpool. Finished goods would then be sent back the same way ready for distribution. Coal to power the machine’s steam engines was also delivered by barge. In 1897 Dewhurst’s was bought by the English Sewing Cotton Co. It continued to produce Sylko, one of the mill’s most famous products. It was produced in over 500 colours and sold throughout the world. Sylko cottons are still available at haberdashers today.
