This is an 18thC New England cotton Block Print Fabric Sewing Roll Up that is the definition of a fabulous piece of late 18thC to early 19thC textiles. Sewing Roll Ups, or sometimes referred to as "Housewifs", were usually a person's hand sewn sewing accessory that would have housed a lady's sewing supplies such as needles, pins, thread, bobbins, thimble etc.

All could be contained within and rolled up to be placed in a pocket or sewing basket. This sewing roll up is from a local estate (Montague City, Massachusetts) and is completely handsewn with very tiny stitches. It is lined with handwoven cotton muslin, all the fabrics are naturally dyed, there is some staining as you would expect,. There is both wear and small holes to the fabric from age. This sewing roll up is good and early. The size is also dynamic measuring 11 1/2" long and 3 1/2" wide.