Embroider my World Biskra
As well as having any number of delightful shades and colours, Dewhurst's Sylko have an equally wonderful range of names to accompany them. As I embarked on my "Embroider my World" project, I think I fell in love with the names of the Sylko colours as much as the colours themselves. This lovely shade of dusky pink is called "Biskara", named after Biskra, the capital city of Biskra Province in Algeria.
When it was my birthday last year, 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 my Dewhurst's Sylko Biskara reel of cotton which dates from between 1938 and 1954 sits atop some creamy ecru lace which has gained its colour after more than one and half centuries of life, as it is from the 1850s. The spool is accessorised by two Victorian glass bead tassels, sparking in the morning light, and an Art Deco pearl and rhinestone appliqué.
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.
Embroider my World Biskra
As well as having any number of delightful shades and colours, Dewhurst's Sylko have an equally wonderful range of names to accompany them. As I embarked on my "Embroider my World" project, I think I fell in love with the names of the Sylko colours as much as the colours themselves. This lovely shade of dusky pink is called "Biskara", named after Biskra, the capital city of Biskra Province in Algeria.
When it was my birthday last year, 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 my Dewhurst's Sylko Biskara reel of cotton which dates from between 1938 and 1954 sits atop some creamy ecru lace which has gained its colour after more than one and half centuries of life, as it is from the 1850s. The spool is accessorised by two Victorian glass bead tassels, sparking in the morning light, and an Art Deco pearl and rhinestone appliqué.
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.