QUILT HISTORY STORIES
ELGIN, ILLINOIS
Collingbourne Mills and Virginia Snow Studios Story
Book 1 and Book 2
Susan Wildemuth, Atkinson, IL
Lists
Collingbourne Mills, Inc. Thread
Featured in
Virginia Snow Studios Catalogs
(Partial List of Collingbourne Thread)
“More than one hundred varieties of mercerized and plain cotton threads, artificial silk, and pure silk threads are produced by the company, while each of the 100 or more varieties of threads may be had in a range of from ten to 200 different shades, including every color in the rainbow and then some.” (4)
“Four Spools of Thread Turned Out Each Second at Collingbourne Mills.”
Daily Courier News (Elgin, Illinois). 21 June 1926.
Thread
Art. A.G.C. 1200 Yards Mercerized Thread
Purpose: Hand or Machine sewing thread
Art. A.L.P. American Lady Purse Twist
Purpose: Stringing beads and for making of bead chains, bead purses, etc.
Art. B & B Berkshire and Becket Spool Silk
Purpose: Sewing
Art. C51 American Maid
(Cordinette) Purpose: Unstated
Art. TR5 Collingbourne Aloha Tinsel
Purpose: Gift Ribbon Tie
Art. 1 Dexter Genuine Six-cord Spool Cotton
Purpose: General Machine and Hand Sewing
Art. 3 Collingbourne’s Pure Silk Darning Floss
Purpose: Darning
Art. 3C Collingbourne’s Mending and Darning Silk
Purpose: Mending and Darning Silk
Art. 4 Dexter “Sewinsill”
Purpose: General sewing
Art. 4* Dexter Emergency Sewing Kit
Purpose: Sewing travel kit
*Virginia Snow Studio Crochet Instruction Book: Fall and Winter Catalogue 1931-1932
Art. 5 Dexter All Wool Cashmere
Purpose: Mending and darning of hosiery and sweaters
Art. 6 Dexter Mercerized Twist Spool Cotton
Purpose: All purpose sewing
Art. 6S Dexter Twist Cord
Purpose: Not Stated
Art. 8 Dexter “Ah Silk” Rayon and Wool
Purpose: Tapestry, weaving, embroidery, knitting, and crocheting.
Art. 9 Dexter Germantown Four-fold Zephyr
Purpose: Multiple uses where wool is needed
Art. 10C Dexter Radiant Six-Strand
Purpose: Embroidering children’s dresses, rompers, etc.
Art. 11D Dexter Grandma’s Strand Cotton Floss
Purpose: Mending and Darning Children's Hosiery
Art. 12 Collingbourne’s Gold Medal Pure Silk Dental Floss
Purpose: Flossing Teeth
Art. 14 Dexter Gold Medal Bead Silk
Purpose: Stringing beads
Art. 25 Collingbourne’s Gold Medal Purse Silk
Purpose: Stinging beads and the making of bead chains, bead purses, etc.
Art. 30 Collingbourne’s Gold Medal Pure Darning Silk
Purpose: Suitable for Sheer Hosiery and silk mending
Art. 31 Dexter Gold Medal Pure Silk Dental Floss
Purpose: Dental floss
Art. 35 Collingbourne’s Gold Medal Purse Dye Mahince Twist Silk
Purpose: Silk thread for all general purposes requiring a standard
quality thread.
Art. 40 Collingbourne’s Gold Medal Pure Darning Silk
Purpose: Darning silk for sheer hosiery and for all silk mending.
Art. 40* Mercerisin “Silk Best Friend” Hosiery Kit
Purpose: Mending
* Virginia Snow Studios: Art Needlework Creations 1933-1934. Elgin, Illinois: Virginia Snow Studios and Collingbourne Mills, Inc., 1933-1934.
Art. 41 Really & Truly Pure Silk
Purpose: Mending and Darning – hosiery and lingerie
Art. 42 Collingbourne’s Pure silk Mending and Darning Assortment
Purpose: Mending and Darning
Art. 45 Collingbourne’s Soft Darning Floss
Purpose: Mending of Children’s Hosiery
Art. 46 Collingbourne’s Rayon Tinsel Gift Cord
Purpose: Gift Wrapping
Art. 47 Collingbourne’s Sparkling Gift Cord Christmas Kit
Purpose: Gift Wrapping
Art. 50 Collingbourne’s Gold Medal Knitting and Crochet Silk
Purpose: Pure silk thread of the proper twist for all crocheting
purposes, especially adapted to the edging of baby garments and all
garments made from wool or flannel.
Art. 60 Collingbourne’s Pure Silk Thread Emergency Sewing Kit
Purpose: Mending gloves, hosiery, lingerie.
Art. 68 Dexter Twist Cord
Purpose: Not Stated
Art. 85 Collingbourne’s Gold Medal Spool Silk Thread
100 Purpose Hand Sewing and Machine Sewing
Art. 90 Collingbourne’s Gold Medal Best Silk Twist
Purpose: Button-holing and for use whenever a heavy silk thread is required.
Art. 96 Berkshire and Becket Pure Silk Twist
Purpose: Sewing buttons, gloves, etc.
Art. 100 (See Art. 85)
Art. 200 Cashmere Darning Thread
Purpose: Darning
Art. 200D Dexter Gold Band Knitting Cotton
Purpose: Knitting
Art. 200W Collingbourne’s Cashmere Worsted Darning Wool
Purpose: Darning
Art. 205 Collingbourne’s Three-fold Wool Saxony
Purpose: Wool items
Art. 210 Collingbourne’s Germantown Four-fold Wool Yarn
Purpose: Handmade wool flowers
Art. 214 Collingbourne’s Radiant Rayon and Wool Rug Yarn (Two Ounce
Skein)
Purpose: Hooked Rugs and use with weaving frame
Art. 215 Collingbourne’s All Wool Germantown Zephyr
Purpose: Embroidery, crochet, knitting, and tapestry.
Art. 216 Dexter Rug-tex Yarn
Purpose: Making rugs
Art. 217 Collingbourne’s Radiant Rayon and Wool Rug Yarn
Purpose: Hooked Rugs
Art. 218 Lofty Art Chenille Rug Yarn
Purpose: Making rugs
Art. 219 Dexter Woolie-Wool Rug Yarn
Purpose: Hooked Rugs
Art. 221 Dexter Multi-fold Rayon Orienta Rug-tex Yarn
Purpose: Making rugs
Art. 229 Collingbourne’s Radiant Rayon and Wool Rug Yarn (1 ounce
Skein)
Purpose: Hooked Rugs and use with weaving frame
Art. 230 10 Quills Cashmere Mending Wool
Purpose: Mending and Darning hose, sweaters, bathing suits, etc.
Art 245 Collingbourne’s Artificial Rope Silk
Purpose: Embroidering pillows, scarves, centers, and for use with
all materials where a heavy artificial and Embroidery floss is
required.
Art. 280 Dexter Cable Cord
Purpose: Coarser sizes used for girdles and the fine sizes whenever
there is a hard twist cord required.
Art. 285 Dexter Candlewick Tufting Yarn
Purpose: Candlewick
Art. 300 Dexter Crochet Twist
Purpose: Hard twisted crochet cotton, suitable for the crocheting
of bedspreads
Art. 312 Dexter Crochet and Knitting Twist
Purpose: Crocheting fancywork
Art. 372 Dexter Pearl Crochet Cotton
475 Size 3 and 5
Purpose: Suitable for crocheting of slippers, towel ends, and all types of edgings. This thread is identical to Art. 1110 and 1111, but is put
up on a larger size ball.
Art. 380 Dexter Carpet Warp
Purpose: Carpet Warp
Art. 400 Dexter Embroidery Cotton Turkey Red or Indigo Blue
Purpose: High grade marking cotton.
Art. 420 Dexter Mending Cotton
Purpose: Mending and darning silk or hosiery, lingerie, etc.
Art. 425 American Maid Crochet and Knitting Cotton
Purpose: Crochet and Knitting.
Art. 475 (See Art 372)
Art. 500 Dexter 4 ply Knitting Cotton
Purpose: Darning, mending, and knitting purposes
Art. 542 Collingbourne’s Byssine Mercerized Thread
Purpose: Quilting
Art. 546 Mercerized Sewing Kit
Purpose: Hand or machine sewing
Art. 580 Dexter Darning Worsted
Purpose: Hosiery and Sweaters
Art. 585 Dexter Cashmere Mending Wool
Purpose: Mending Cashmere
Art. 622 Dromedary Yarn Camel-hair Wool Yarn
Purpose: Knitting
Art. 623 Dexter Scotch Knitting Yarn
Purpose: Knitting and crocheting
Art. 624 Dexter Wool Sweater yarn
Purpose: Knitting and crocheting
Art. 625 Collingbourne’s 4-Fold Germantown Zephyr
Purpose: Crocheting
Art. 626 Dexter Four-fold Germantown Zephyr
Purpose: Crocheting
Art. 626-H Dexter Heather Tweed Sports Apparel Yarn
Purpose: Sports apparel (for men)
Art. 627 Dexter Scotch Knitting
Purpose: Crocheting
Art. 628 Dexter Scotch Knitting
Purpose: Crocheting
Art. 629 Dexter Lustrous Rayon
Purpose: Crocheting
Art. 630 Collingbourne’s Lustrous Afghan I-Tex Rayon Wool
Purpose: Crocheting and hooked rugs
Art. 650 Wool Four-fold Crochet and Knitting Thread
Purpose: Knitting and Crochet
Art. 721 Radiant Oriental Rayon Rug Yarn
Purpose: Hooked rugs
Art. 729 Cameo Oriental Wool Rug Yarn
Purpose: Hooked Rugs
Art. 730 Dexter Lofty Shetland Floss
Purpose: Garments requiring a finer yarn
Art. 760 Virginia Snow Lady Royal Boucle
Purpose: Knitting or crocheting
Art. 775 Tex-Style Crepe Yarn
Purpose: Knitting
Art. 812 Virginia Snow Lofty Fibre Cotton Rug Yarn
Purpose: Hooked rugs
Art. 813 Dexter Bath Mat Yarn
Purpose: Crocheting bath mats, hot plate mats, etc.
Art. 842 Dexter Balmoral Mercerized Sewing Assortment
Purpose: Hand or machine sewing on all materials
Art. 851 Dexter Cordonnet
(Also known as “Silko”)
Purpose: Standard six-cord mercerized, hard twisted, crochet
cotton made from the highest grade Sea Island cotton.
Art. 1000 Collingbourne’s Handy Kit Floss
Purpose: Darning gloves, hosiery, etc.
Art. 1109 Collingbourne’s Floss
Purpose: Embroidery Thread. The sizes in white make this thread
especially desirable wherever white embroidery thread is required
and the colors are made in the size adapted to couching for use in
connection with bedspreads and wherever a couching stitch is
desired.
Art. 1110 Dexter Pearl
1111 Size 3 and 5
Purpose: Suitable for crocheting of slippers, towel ends, and all
types of edgings
Art. 1114 Perle Cotton
Size 3
Purpose: Not Stated
Art. 1115 Perle Cotton
Size 5
Purpose: Not Stated
Art. 1116 Collingbourne’s Danish Perle
Purpose: Outlining or where a thread with a greater twist than
six-strand is desired.
Art. 1117 Collingbourne’s Qualite Embroidery Floss
Purpose: Embroidery
Art. 1117A Collingbourne’s Embroidery Floss
(Also known as Mouline)
Purpose: All purpose Embroidery Thread
Art. 1118 Collingbourne’s Percyl Floss
Purpose: Embroidery
Art. 1119 Collingbourne’s Artificial Silk
Purpose: Embroidery Thread identical with mercerized
six-strand floss, but constructed of artificial silk, giving it unequaled lustre.
Art. 1119* Collingbourne’s A.B.C. Flochet Cotton
Purpose: Not Stated
*Needle Workers Bargain Book. Elgin, Illinois: Virginia Snow Studios and Collingbourne, 1917 (Color).
Art. 1120 Collingbourne’s “Luxura” Crochet Rayon
(Also known as Fibre Silk)
Purpose: Crochet. Identical thread to
Art. 1121, but 100 yards to the ball.
Art. 1121 Collingbourne’s “Luxura” Crochet Rayon
(also known as Fibre Silk)
Purpose: Crochet. Identical thread to
Art. 1120, but 30 yards to the ball.
Art. 1122 Collingbourne’s Artzilk
Purpose: Heavy artificial silk thread popular for all embroidery purposes.
Art. 1123 Collingbourne’s Artificial Tie Silk
Purpose: Crocheting ties and twisted into proper color combination.
Art. 1124 Collingbourne’s Artificial Sweater Silk
Purpose: Crocheting and knitting sweaters and other
hand-made wearing apparel.
Art. 1124* Collingbourne’s Elginette Embroidery Floss
Purpose: Embroidery and Padding
*Needle Workers Bargain Book. Elgin, Illinois: Virginia Snow Studios and Collingbourne, 1917 (Color).
Art. 1125 Collingbourne’s Rayon Floss
Purpose: All purpose embroidery
Art. 1125* Collingbourne’s Dixie Padding Cotton
Purpose: Embroidery and Padding Work
*Needle Workers Bargain Book. Elgin, Illinois: Virginia Snow Studios and Collingbourne, 1917 (Color).
Art. 1126 Dexter Four-strand Rayon
(Also known as Elgin Maid Perle)
Purpose: Embroidery
Art. 1127 Dexter Elgin Maid
(Also known as “Nusilk”)
Purpose: Crocheting and Embroidery
Art. 1128 Dexter Rayon Quilt Embroidery Twist
Purpose: Quilting
Art. 1130 Collingbourne’s Darning Cotton
Purpose: Darning
Art. 1131 Collingbourne’s Mending and Darning Floss
Purpose: Mending and Darning
Art. 1132 Collingbourne’s Mercerized Mending Floss
Purpose: Darning and mending
Art. 1133 Dexter “Lustrous” Mercerized Mending Floss
(Also known as “Silko”)
Purpose: Darning
Art. 1133* Collingbourne’s Dutchess
Purpose: Darning
*Needle Workers Bargain Book. Elgin, Illinois: Virginia Snow Studios and Collingbourne, 1917 (Color).
Art. 1134 Dexter Lustrous Mending Floss
(Also known as “Silko”)
Purpose: Darning
Art. 1134* Perlembrol
Purpose: Not Stated
*Needle Workers Bargain Book. Elgin, Illinois: Virginia Snow Studios and Collingbourne, n.d.. (Black and White)
Art. 1135 Collingbourne’s Lustex Mending and Darning
Floss
Purpose: Mending and Darning.
Art. 1135* Flochet
Purpose: Not Stated
*Needle Workers Bargain Book. Elgin, Illinois: Virginia Snow Studios and Collingbourne, n.d.. (Black and White)
Art. 1136 Collingbourne’s Mercerized “Lustrous”
Mending Floss (also known as “Silkron”)
Purpose: Mending
Art. 1136* Qualite
Purpose: Embroidery
*Needle Workers Bargain Book. Elgin, Illinois: Virginia Snow Studios and Collingbourne, n.d.. (Black and White)
Art. 1137 Collingbourne’s “Lustrous” Mending and Darning Cotton Purpose: Darning and Mending
Art. 1137* Collingbourne’s Percyline Floss
Purpose: Embroidery
*Needle Workers Bargain Book. Elgin, Illinois: Virginia Snow Studios and Collingbourne, 1917 (Color).
Art. 1137* Collingbourne’s Pickinniny Floss
Purpose: Embroidery
*Needle Workers Bargain Book. Elgin, Illinois: Virginia Snow Studios and Collingbourne, n.d.. (Black and White)
Art. 1138 Collingbourne’s Mouline Six Strand Silk Finish
Purpose: Embroidery
Art. 1138* Dexter Lustrous Mending and Darning Floss
Purpose: Mending and Darning
* Virginia Snow Studios: Crochet Instruction Book Fall and Winter Catalogue 1931-1932. Elgin, Illinois: Virginia Snow Studios and Collingbourne Mills, Inc., 1931-1932.
Art. 1139 Collingbourne’s Swiss Teldy
Purpose: Knitting cotton used for the crocheting of bedspreads or for the making of hot plate mats.
Art. 1142 Collingbourne’s Texasilk Tatting Cordoney
Purpose: Edging handkerchiefs or tatting.
Art. 1144 Gold Meal
Purpose: Knitting or Embroidery
Art. 1145 Collienett Crochet Twist
Purpose: Suited for macramé work, bedspreads, lace curtains.
Art. 1146 Dexter Tinsel Cord
Purpose: Gift cord for fancy wrapping and art needlework
Art. 1146* Darning Cotton Floss
Purpose: Darning
*Needle Workers Bargain Book. Elgin, Illinois: Virginia Snow Studios and Collingbourne, 1917 (Color).
*Needle Workers Bargain Book. Elgin, Illinois: Virginia Snow Studios and Collingbourne, n.d.. (Black and White)
Art. 1147 Collingbourne’s Sparkling Gift Cord
Purpose: Wrapping Packages
Art. 1148 Collingbourne’s Tinsel Sewing or Embroidery Thread
Purpose: Use on lamp shades, millinery, art needlework
Art. 1148* Collingbourne’s Pure Silk
Purpose: Tatting
*Needle Workers Bargain Book. Elgin, Illinois: Virginia Snow Studios and Collingbourne, 1917 (Color).
Art. 1149 Collingbourne’s Rayon Embroidery Thread
(Also known as Faerie Floss)
Purpose: Floral embroidery and for use where a finer thread than Art. 1122 is required.
Art. 1150 Collingbourne’s Sparkling Tinsel Cord
Purpose: Tying Gift packages
Art. 1151 Japsilk Cordoney
Purpose: Crocheting and Tatting
Art. 1152 Collingbourne’s 4-cord Parcel Post and
Air Mail Twist
Purpose: Tying up parcels and packages and for many other uses.
Art. 1154 Dexter Parcel Post Twine
Purpose: Utility Twine
Art. 1155 Collingbourne’s Perle
Purpose: Crocheting garments for day and evening wear
Art. 1158 Radiant All Purpose Crochet Twist
Purpose: String Dresses, crochet bedspreads, and home accessories
Art. 1180 Dexter “Waffoweave” Darning Cotton
Purpose: Darning
Art. 1183 Collingbourne’s Button Twist
Purpose: Stringing beads and general sewing.
Art. 1184 Collingbourne’s Byssine Mercerized Spool
Purpose: Mercerized Thread for all purpose Sewing
Art. 1186 Collingbourne’s Carpet and Button Thread
Purpose: Sewing on buttons and general sewing purposes requiring an extra strong thread.
Art. 1187 "Grandma” Dexter’s Quilting Twist
Purpose: Quilting
Art. 1188 Collingbourne’s Silk Finish Sewing Thread
Purpose: General Sewing
Art. 1199B Broder Special
Purpose: French eyeleting
Art. 1410 Collingbourne’s Artificial Couching Cord
Purpose: Couching embroidery
Art. 2100 Collingbourne’s Deluxe Darning Kit
Purpose: Darning and Mending
Art. 3900 Collingbourne’s Fancy Darning, Sewing, and Mending Kit
Purpose: Darning, Sewing, and Mending Kit
Art. 7452 Dexter Velvesheen
Purpose: Dresses, coats, berets
Sources
“Four Spools of Thread Turned Out Each Second at Collingbourne Mills.” Daily Courier News (Elgin, Illinois). 21 June 1926.
Needle Workers Bargain Book. Elgin, Illinois: Virginia Snow Studios and Collingbourne, 1917 (Color).
Needle Workers Bargain Book. Elgin, Illinois: Virginia Snow Studios and Collingbourne, n.d.. (Black and White)
New Ideas in Needlework. Elgin, Illinois: Virginia Snow Studios and Collingbourne, n.d..
Snow, Virginia. Early American Fingercraft: Book 37. Elgin, Illinois: Virginia Snow Studios and Collingbourne Mills, Inc., n.d..
Virginia Snow: Stamped Goods. Fall and Winter Catalogue 1927-1928. Elgin, Illinois: Virginia Snow Studios and Collingbourne Mills, Inc., 1927-1928.
Virginia Snow Studios Latest in Needlework Designs Fall and Winter Catalogue 1928-1929. Elgin, Illinois: Virginia Snow Studios and Collingbourne Mills, Inc., 1928-1929.
Virginia Snow: The Newest Ideas in Needlework Designs Fall and Winter 1929-1930. Elgin, Illinois: Virginia Snow Studios and Collingbourne
Virginia Snow Studios: Crochet Instruction Book Fall and Winter Catalogue 1931-1932. Elgin, Illinois: Virginia Snow Studios and Collingbourne Mills, Inc., 1931-1932.
Virginia Snow Studio: Art Needlework Creations 1932. Elgin, Illinois: Virginia Snow Studios and Collingbourne Mills, Inc., 1932.
Virginia Snow Studios: Art Needlework Creations 1933-1934. Elgin, Illinois: Virginia Snow Studios and Collingbourne Mills, Inc., 1933-1934.
Virginia Snow Needlecraft Catalog No. 21. Elgin, Illinois: Virginia Snow Studios and Collingbourne Mills, Inc., n.d..
