This is a C1830 New England Sewing Roll Up with Brown Calico Fabric 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 has been handstitched with very tiny stitches, and has great naturally dyed red and brown calico fabrics that were used, and has the indigo and white homespun check fabric binding. The pocket/pouch at the end was for thimbles, threads etc. Three wool challis dye cut oval wool needle holders are on one end (the reason for wool was because there was still some lanolin from the sheep still in the wool which helped to keep metal items from rust and oxidation).

There is a long hand stitched 20" silk tie to wrap around the roll up when not in use. The size is also dynamic measuring 12 3/4" long and 4 1/4" wide.