This is an Early 19thC Red + Blue Printed Wool Challis Sewing Roll Up that is the definition of a fabulous piece of 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.

With the exception of the center brown and red print cotton, the entire roll up is very finely woven printed wool challis. Even the wonderful blue indigo, green and ecru print binding is wool challis. The backing fabric is also striped wool challis in wonderful colors that have sustained some moth and age damage. The red printed wool challis has some thin areas to the fabric top and bottom. And all the colors were naturally dyed with Turkey red and indigo blue.

The pocket has some wool remnants in it. The size is also dynamic measuring 9" long and 4 3/4" wide.