The cost of hand embroidery supplies in 1930

I don't know about you but I find it fascinating to see how the cost of hand embroidery supplies have changed over the years. When I saw a list of equipment and supplies in Helen Whiteford's school exercise book from the 1930's I wanted to share it with you.

The prices are given in sterling: in pounds, shillings and pence, the form of money we used here in the UK before decimalization in 1971.

A pound was made up of 20 shillings in 240 pennies. A shilling consisted of 12 pennies. A penny consisted of two halfpennies or four farthings.

The symbols used for this kind of money were £ for pounds, s. or /- for shillings and d for pennies.

Let's start with the tools and equipment that she lists...

Tools and equipment Cost
Pins 2/10 a pound weight (almost 15 pence)
Needles 4 to a 1/- packet (5 pence)
Thimbles - plastic 1d
Thimbles - plated 3d
Tape measures 6d (about 2.5 pence)
Scissors - embroidery 4/- or 6/- (20 or 30 pence)
Scissors - cutting out 10/- (50 new pence)
Frame, round 3/-, 4/- (15 or 20 pence)
Frame, square 20" 13/4 (about 68 pence)
Pattern making paper, ruled 1/4" 5/4 (about 28 pence)
Tracing paper 5d a sheet (about 2.5 pence)
Indian ink 1/4 for 1oz bottle
Fabrics
Hessian 50" 5/- to 6/- a yard (25-30 pence a yard)
Oatmeal cloth 50"8/6 (42.5 pence a yard)
Cotton crash4/- (20 pence a yard)
Hardanger6/- to 14/- (30 - 70 pence a yard)
Linen 36 to 72", white7/6 to 17/6 (35 - 87 pence)
Linen, dyed 36"10/6 (52.5 pence)
Unbleached calico, 36"4/6 (22.5 pence)
Canvas(various)3/- to 7/- (15 - 35 pence)
Gingham3/2 (16 pence)
Felt14/6 (72.5 pence)
Net6/- (30 pence)
Threads
Clarks cotton, stranded4.5d a skein
Soft embroidery cotton4.5d a skein
Cotton a broder3d a skein
Embroidery wool, 4 ply3d a skein
Sewing cotton6d a reel
Tacking cotton2/2 a spool
Tape 36 yards1/5
Bias binding 1/5
Coloured cordfrom 2.5d a yard
Wooden beads 1/4 sq1/- each

To put the prices of the hand embroidery supplies above into perspective, a weekly wage at this time may have been about 30/- (30 shillings or 30 'bob') which would now be £1.50.


- - Hand embroidery supplies

 


New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.

Recent Articles

RSS

  1. Split decision? Choose how to work split stitch in your embroidery

    Oct 28, 19 05:33 AM

    Learn how to use Split stitch in multiple ways in your embroidery projects

    Read More

  2. Blackwork Christmas Designs that stitch up quickly

    Sep 21, 19 05:48 AM

    Simple blackwork Christmas designs to download and stitch for cards, coasters or decorations. Choose from star, bell, robin or blackwork angel patterns

    Read More

  3. An introduction to blackwork embroidery

    Sep 21, 19 05:32 AM

    Learn how to do blackwork embroidery? Find instructions, patterns and ideas for this, and lots of other types of needlework

    Read More