For all their wonderful range of bright and subtle colours, Dewhurt's also have a fantastic array of delightful names, like this reel of cotton which is called "Mid Gobelin". Gobelin blue is a dark, grey, orchid blue with a violet undertone.
When it was my birthday six months ago, 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. In this case, the wonderfully creamy vintage lace from the 1930s and the 1950s lace threded with Gobelin Blue come from my own collection of antique notions. As the name reminded me of goblins (little manikins of faerie lore), I decided to pair the reel of Gobelin Blue cotton with two treasures worthy of a goblin's collection, a buckle and a brooch studded with pretty paste diamonds that sparkle and wink in the light. The Dewhurst's Sylko Mid Gobelin Blue reel of cotton 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.