Tatting Newsletter Archive

tatting Newsletter

August 28 2012 Tatting Newsletter

I seem to have left a thread hanging in the summer of 2011 when I shared some historical details about the early pattern and thread companies. I could not find a precise date for the founding of Richardson's Silk Co. but it seems to have been around 1902. The well-known Belding Brothers Silk Company (newsletter July 26, 2011: http://www.bellaonline.com/newsdtl.asp?name=tatting&date=7/26/2011%2012:05:34%20PM) merged with Heminway Silk (newsletter Aug. 02, 2011: http://www.bellaonline.com/newsdtl.asp?name=tatting&date=8/2/2011%2012:05:28%20PM) 1925, sometimes called Belding-Heminway, sold to Corticelli Silk Co. (newsletter Aug. 09, 2012: http://www.bellaonline.com/newsdtl.asp?name=tatting&date=8/9/2011%2012:05:46%20PM) then also known as Belding-Heminway-Corticelli.

Belding Bros built their fourth mill in 1886 but put Richardson's Silk Mill name on it and sold it out of fear it would not prove a success. The Richardson Silk Co. mill was bought back in 1907 and continued in use until it was later converted to an apartment building in the '80's. By 1933 The Richardson's Silk Co. name disappears from advertising materials in the pattern and needlework booklets. Of course, it could well have merged again! These publications have tatting in them:

Richardson’s Silk Co. "Complete Instruction Book on Crocheting, Tatting and Smocking: Original Designs with Directions for Working." Chicago, Richardson's Silk Company, [c. 1915], 32 pgs. Free download http://www.antiquepatternlibrary.org/pub/PDF/Richardson's1Complete.pdf

Richardson’s Silk Co. "Complete Crochet Book, Book No. 2" Illustrations and Instructions on General Crochet, Filet Crochet and Tatting. Subjects Covered Are Edges, Insertions, Yokes, Bed Spread Strips, Center Pieces, Towels, Luncheon Set, Chair Back Cover, and many other useful and practical ideas. Chicago, Richardson's Silk Company, [c. 1916], 34 pgs. Free download http://www.antiquepatternlibrary.org/pub/PDF/Richardsons2CompleteCrochet.pdf

Richardson’s Silk Co. "Tatting Book, Book No. 7" Has traditional collars, caps and doilies. Chicago, Richardson Silk Co., [c. 1916] 20 pgs. Free download http://www.antiquepatternlibrary.org/pub/PDF/Richardson's7Tatting.pdf

Richardson’s Silk Co. "32 Prize Yokes, New Designs, Book No. 10" Complete Detailed Instructions for Beginner or Expert. Chicago, Richardson Silk Company, [c.1917] 36 pgs. Free download http://www.antiquepatternlibrary.org/pub/PDF/Richardson's10-32PrizeYokes.pdf

This book does not have tatting in it, however, many of the patterns could well be converted to tatting designs.

Richardson's #18 – Lady Duff-Gordon Book of Irish and Cluny Crochet [c.1917] Richardson's Silk Company no tat 16 pgs. Free download http://www.antiquepatternlibrary.org/pub/PDF/DuffIrish.pdf
Here's the latest article from the Tatting site at BellaOnline.com.

Russian Tatting Books A short list of both paperback and hardback book of tatting patterns in the Russian language. Lots of black and white illustrations but many full color plates, too! The patterns run from traditional collars and doilies to antique reproductions and evena bit of jewelry and floral work.

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art16416.asp

Please visit tatting.bellaonline.com for even more great content about Tatting. To participate in free, fun online discussions, this site has a community forum all about Tatting located here - http://forums.bellaonline.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=39

I hope to hear from you sometime soon, either in the forum or in response to this email message. I thrive on your feedback! Have fun passing this message along to family and friends, because we all love free knowledge!

Georgia Seitz, Tatting Editor
http://tatting.bellaonline.com

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