The butterfly is part of the Linda Ford Wallace collection, which also has cat-themed notions. The last three photos show cat-shaped pin cushions. cc: @catsofyore.bsky.social IG tatterbluelibrary and elliotrockart
Replies
What are fabulous collection! I find antique sewing tools fascinating.
aug 31, 2025, 10:51 am • 1 0 • view
Oh they are so pleasing. I have a small collection of vintage cat pin cushions but nothing as charming as those.
aug 31, 2025, 5:37 am • 303 10 • view
My mom would have loved that. She loved cats but got to an age where she knew she wouldn't be able to take care of things like the litter box so after her last kitty crossed the rainbow bridge she started collecting cat items, mostly cookie jars.
aug 31, 2025, 8:20 am • 5 0 • view
love that
aug 31, 2025, 5:40 am • 50 1 • view
I don't know, this is pretty darn charming.
aug 31, 2025, 5:48 am • 2 0 • view
THE LITTLE EYES
aug 31, 2025, 5:43 am • 2 0 • view
I love this one!
aug 31, 2025, 5:55 am • 1 0 • view
Now I want one!
aug 31, 2025, 3:12 pm • 0 0 • view
The butterfly is amazing.
aug 31, 2025, 1:37 pm • 0 0 • view
If you like these, look up W. Avery & Son. Their little cases, known as Averies, were popular with Victorian stitchers and have since become collectors items. They came in all sorts of fanciful designs. Each designed to store sewing needles. Can find them on eBay, Etsy, and auction sites.
aug 31, 2025, 5:44 am • 1,179 81 • view
My granny had the one that looks like a wishing well. I didn't know what it was supposed to be used for, but I just loved playing with it as a child. I wonder what ever happened to it?
aug 31, 2025, 2:00 pm • 4 0 • view
OOH! My grandmother had one just like that Elephant! I don't think it was that old - a friend's husband made it for here before she left Italy! Now I know it had a history! TY, Derek!
aug 31, 2025, 5:48 am • 5 0 • view
All of those items are so cool!
aug 31, 2025, 12:11 pm • 0 0 • view
The hedgehog is incredible
aug 31, 2025, 11:35 pm • 0 0 • view
📌
aug 31, 2025, 3:51 pm • 0 0 • view
Those are adorable!
aug 31, 2025, 11:48 am • 1 0 • view
Yes, yes, for "sewing" needles... ... ...so a secret society of D&D rogues and assassins, posing as stitchers and tailors, unsing fancy cases and cute pincushions to store their poison darts and blades as they....
aug 31, 2025, 6:11 am • 8 0 • view
Omg, the hedgehog!! These are wonderful.
aug 31, 2025, 5:56 am • 6 0 • view
I finally got one open and now chains with hooks on them are shooting out of the wall and a pin cushion guy is talking about suffering??
aug 31, 2025, 5:53 am • 9 0 • view
Sewing needles are incredible objects! Hundreds of types, every one perfect and almost free! Today I bought a pack of 5 Schmetz sewing machine needles, made in Germany, for $6.61, including tax.
aug 31, 2025, 6:16 am • 1 0 • view
My wee magnet looks humble in comparison haha
aug 31, 2025, 5:49 am • 0 0 • view
What I find really charming about this is that when the butterfly is upside-down it looks like a polyphemus moth. I don't know if that's intentional or not but it's really striking.
aug 31, 2025, 2:31 pm • 0 0 • view
What adorable bits of Victoriana. I'm sure a bit of whimsy made sewing more fun.
aug 31, 2025, 5:48 am • 3 0 • view
That still is very much the case! I'd even go so far as saying that fancy notions and doing needlework are separate hobbies (but often encountered in the same people), much like, say, collecting rule books and actually playing tabletop roleplaying games.
aug 31, 2025, 8:06 am • 4 0 • view
Definitely the case! A little pair of scissors with fancy handles? Sign me up, they will make me smile each time I use them. My favourite sewing accessory is a needlecase that used to be my mum's, and that (probably) she made at infant school many decades ago.
aug 31, 2025, 8:17 am • 4 0 • view
Bloody gorgeous 🤩
aug 31, 2025, 9:10 am • 0 0 • view
Needle Nerd. 😜
aug 31, 2025, 6:12 am • 0 0 • view
ebay.us/m/diKCnB So many listings, but there is one butterfly one which still has some colour on the wings!
aug 31, 2025, 6:41 am • 10 0 • view
Absolutely lovely and as a seamstress I can see how useful such beautiful needle case can be, but way beyond my budget. I will just keep using my 9th century ‘viking’ needle case instead.
aug 31, 2025, 7:34 am • 6 0 • view
Oh that sounds awesome!
aug 31, 2025, 8:41 am • 1 0 • view
They’re all wonderful, Derek!
aug 31, 2025, 6:37 am • 0 0 • view
📌
aug 31, 2025, 6:37 pm • 0 0 • view
I love these! I collect those little magnetic needle minders, to use while stitching. They’re cute and inexpensive 😬
aug 31, 2025, 6:36 pm • 0 0 • view
Delightful!
aug 31, 2025, 12:38 pm • 0 0 • view
📌
aug 31, 2025, 6:39 am • 0 0 • view
Thank you! I love beautiful tools for my needlework. These are exquisite.
aug 31, 2025, 10:58 am • 1 0 • view
Avery was based in Redditch my home town. At one point Redditch manufactured 90% of the world's needles. Needless to say no needles are made in Redditch any more. 😕https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forge_Mill_Needle_Museum
aug 31, 2025, 6:16 am • 19 0 • view
So neat. Thank u.
aug 31, 2025, 9:20 am • 0 0 • view
I can’t decide whether those are for cat lovers or cat haters—they seem like voodoo kitties to me.
aug 31, 2025, 5:43 am • 7 0 • view
I do not sew, but I need those pin cushions 🐈
aug 31, 2025, 2:10 pm • 0 0 • view
Oh, wow. I remember exactly what that orange cat's fabric feels like. Wild.
aug 31, 2025, 5:32 am • 3 0 • view
Felt like... (insomnia 🤷♀️)
aug 31, 2025, 5:32 am • 3 0 • view
Oh, I love novelty pin cushions! I don't really sew but I do have lots of pins.
aug 31, 2025, 12:37 pm • 3 0 • view
Someone send inkwrat many, many more pins please.
aug 31, 2025, 1:41 pm • 1 0 • view
So neat! Thank u for sharing!
aug 31, 2025, 9:18 am • 1 0 • view
Not sure if you’re a Broadway fan, but you mention notions and all I think is, “Credit is no good to a notion salesman.”
aug 31, 2025, 11:04 am • 0 0 • view
I love things like this! My mom got me a sewing bird about 10 years ago & I love it bc it's incredibly helpful while I'm sewing but also pretty & elegant
aug 31, 2025, 5:32 am • 3 0 • view