Not probably from 'extinction' but certainly likely to be thrown away.
I found these two shuttles in a charity shop in Alcester just over a week ago. They simply HAD to be saved. Well, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!!!! The lower of the two is actually a lovely shade of yellow which seems to be lost in the photograph.
I'm already overrun with Milwards and have probably still got in the collection the ones I bought 60+ years ago with my pocket money!!! As I've tatted for so long and never been sidetracked I'm sure some of the originals have survived.
I now use mainly the Aero bobbin shuttles (or the new Clover bobbin ones) but when the Aeros first hit the shops and I tried them I couldn't get on with the design at all. Eventually (as Milwards were becoming hard to find) I decided it was the 'Aero bobbin shuttle or nothing'.
It always tickles me when I see people blogging or talking on Facebook about how you have to wind and hold the Aero to tat. Particularly which way the hook has to point (up, down etc). I once bought a French Aero which actually showed how the thread was loaded into the shuttle and which way the hook should 'point'. I adopted this method and have 'hooked' on Aero ever since.
I will add here that the way the shuttle is held is entirely up to the tatter but I would suggest just persisting at finding your comfort zone. There is no 'right' or 'wrong' way!!!
I will add here that the way the shuttle is held is entirely up to the tatter but I would suggest just persisting at finding your comfort zone. There is no 'right' or 'wrong' way!!!
I wonder where they come from, they probably have a story to tell. Glad you could rescue them anyway.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing find! I never manage to find shuttles in op shops, unlike my friend Roberta who has the Magic lucky touch. Did the Milward still have it's little hook?
ReplyDeleteWell you ought to go shopping with Roberta, Maureen!!!! The Milward didn't have it's little hook, sadly. I can't tell you how many of those I lost down the side of sofas and chairs when I was a kid!!!! If only they'd made them with the metal meeting and forming a proper ring then I'd have been able to attach them to something.
ReplyDeleteI am going to have to start frequenting the Goodwill. You seem to make a lot of great finds in that type place. They just opened a new one for us here, too.
ReplyDeleteGreat save, Jane! I guess I should take a look in a charity shop sometime, but I have to drive a good 30 minutes to get to one. I'm usually going to see my daughter or shopping for something specific, and I don't think of it. I can't find if I don't look!
ReplyDeleteGood deed, Jane! Saving tatting shuttles is a GREAT thing to do ; )
ReplyDeleteI love the truly old milward shuttles, but noticed a big difference of a new red one I bought and it was like the edges were sharp and hurt and was impossible to load! I even wondered if it was the same company.
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