This is a C1820-30 New England Calico Sewing Roll Up Blue Calico 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.

This sewing roll up is all hand stitched with tiny stitches, has wonderful blue calico fabric with a brown calico backing and is bound in a wonderful blue calico fabric as well. The early cotton fabrics used are a nice documentation of fabrics available to people at that time. The red pocket at the end has three layers/sections to it and is red wool challis with some small moth holes to the outside layer. there are five pockets including the very top one.

All the calico printed cotton fabrics are in wonderful condition and are naturally dyed. The size is also dynamic measuring 15" long and 4" wide.