This is a C1820-30 New England Child Calico Sewing Roll Up in Browns and Blue 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, and judging from the blanket embroidery stitch and other stitching, appears to have been made by a child. There are great blue calico and brown calico fabrics used. A needle holder embroidered with the letter W is made of very fine natural white wool challis in three layers with blanket stitch edges.

So this roll up is a combination of cotton and fine wool challis fabrics, and is bound in blue cotton and printed blue wool challis. Some areas are thin to the wool challis fabrics. The pockets and interior are lined with handwoven cotton for stability and is very nicely made. All the fabrics are naturally dyed. The size is also dynamic measuring 10" long and 3 1/8" wide.