Scottish Mauchline Ware Darning Mushroom
This Victorian darning mushroom is adorned with a black transfer on its cap depicting a boat landing at Derwentwater - a famous lake in the English Lake District.
It was most likely made by the Smith family of Mauchline, Ayrshire in Scotland in the late 18th century who produced small, beautifully made wooden souvenirs decorated with scenes of tourist sites.
Suitable for:
- darning most items of clothing.
- mending holes, tears, thread bare areas and covering a stain.
- patching and embroidery.
It has a little 'character' - minor chips, surface scratches, dents, tiny holes and marks from it's previous life, but is still in usable conditon with an authentic vintage feel.
The cap is fixed i.e. the stem does not unscrew.
Measurements:
Height - approx 11cm/4.5"
Diameter of Cap - approx 7cm/2.75"
History of the Darning Mushroom
This darning tool was an essential item in 19th and early 20th century household as self-reliant women often had to make and repair all their clothing. They were commonly made using wood as it was widely availiable and not too expensive, but following the invention of early plastic many were made using Bakelite.
They made it much easier to stitch a repair: not too tight and not too slack. The top part of the mushroom was placed behind the hole to hold the darning area taut for working. Its 'stalk' with the rest of the fabric around it, was held in one hand and the darning needle was worked with the other hand.
There are various types besides the basic darning mushroom. A darning egg (for socks and tights), and a darning stick (for gloves). Some are made with detachable handles so you can store a few needles and a small amount of thread which is easily to hand an emergency!
