The world's foremost authority on the history of thimbles tells all, outlining the little tool's long history, from ancient Egypt to today. The thimbles' history is interwoven with that of women, giving glimpses of a private, domestic world that history books often overlook. Meet the poor little Victorian seamstresses with their everyday brass thimbles and the tiny children's thimbles worn by early straw workers. Glance at gold and gem-set thimbles worn by the courtesans of Paris and, on the other hand, learn why the thimble was the perfect romantic gift a proper gentleman could give to a...

Long taken for granted as ordinary household objects, needlework tools are enjoying a new and richly deserved interest among collectors of all ages and both genders. Covering the simple to the sumptuous, this delightful book chronicles the history and diversity of needlework tools dating from ancient Egypt through the twentieth century. Nearly 500 color and black/white photographs beautifully illustrate tools such as needles, bodkins, pin cushions, thimbles, bobbins, clamps, hooks, shuttles, measuring tapes, waxers, winders, and more. In addition to the tools themselves, you will find the...