Needlework Puzzle

How To Solve A Needlework Puzzle

by Patricia L. Cummings

When it comes to solving a needlework puzzle, two heads are better than one. Whenever a whole group is involved, well, such as my outline stitch embroidery group on yahoo, let’s just say, it’s lots of fun.

Date of Curious Mickey Mouse Coverlet Was Unknown

One of the first things I did, when I started on online group for Outline Stitch embroidery, was to show the group a picture of a curious item in my collection, curious only because I knew nothing of its origins. All that seemed to be apparent is that a main figure, who appears similar to the “Mickey Mouse” I knew as a child, is the central design motif on this piece, and portions of him were executed with Outline Stitch embroidery.

When “Jim” looked at this piece, he asked if I thought it was “mass-produced.” Although I am not sure, the intricate appliqué work and fine embroidery detail, all done by hand, would have meant that whomever stitched this did not do so in a hurry. To me, the finished edge on the bottom (white) looks very similar to some vintage Chinese embroideries in my collection.

How Wide is the Fabric and Are There Selvedges Present?

That was our starting point. One list member asked how wide the piece is, and if selvages are visible. Yes, they are, and the piece measures 36" wide. Another member chimed in to say that fabric widths did not change to 42"- 44" wide until the 1950s/early 1960s.

What is the Thread Count of the Background Fabric?

I was asked to measure the threads per square inch, so I got out my trusty thread counter and came up with a number that would indicate muslin rather than percale.

The size of the piece, long and only a yard wide, to me, indicated that this one layer piece of cloth was intended as a lightweight summer covering for a baby or child. There are no stains or holes, but some of the appliqué work is in very slight disarray, indicating that the piece was either washed, or that the person doing the appliqué was not as skilled as she could have been, at turning “corners.”

Comparison of Other "Mickeys" Online

Members searched for other examples of Mickey online, and we compared the features of those images to the main figure on this coverlet.

Search For More Information About the Dog

Then, I mentioned the Dog. I was able to confirm that the big, yellow dog looks just like Mickey’s companion, “Pluto,” by finding an image on Wikipedia. Then, we discovered what year Pluto was first "on the scene."

A "No Tail" Mickey Points to a 1940s Date

In examining these clues and others, we concluded that this piece was made in the 1940s, the main deciding factor being that during that decade, Mickey’s tail was not visible, based on the oral testimony of a group member, and the images located online.

Sometimes clues to solving a puzzle are right under our noses. However, it is great to involve a group of people in little research projects of these kind because within a needlework group, there are people with lots of different kinds of exposure to needlework and with varying levels of involvement.

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