Finding an old style tool

[NightMist]

So I have this old bodkin that I have been using for sequins and beading
and the like.
Now that I have a dancing daughter I find I am getting a lot more call
for such things. I used to do them but seldom for there hasn't been
much call for such fancies these last couple of decades.
I should like to get another bodkin like the one I have as the current
one is rather ancient and I fear some bit of it will become damaged. To
give you an idea of how old it is, the handle is faux tortoise shell made
of celluloid, so at least a hundred years or thereabouts.

The problem I have encountered is I cannot find a new bodkin made like
the old one. The old one is just a handle with a screw mechanism very
much like you find at the needle of a sewing machine, so that you can
just clamp a needle into it. Not only is it very useful to be able to
change the size of your point at will, but what I have been doing is
clamping a machine needle in and using it for a fine stitching awl. It
is excellent for sequins and beading. It's faster than regular hand
stitching, and allows finer control than machine stitching (plus no
chance of hitting a bead, thus saving on needles).

I have come to the conclusion that if the thing is still available, it is
called something else.
If anyone has a clue as to what it might be called I will search for it.
Otherwise I am thinking very hard of making one. One made to purpose
could include features that would make it even easier to use, something
to hold the thread right on it like a leather stitching awl springs
immediately to mind...
I own two leather stitching awls, there is no way on earth you could put
a fine enough needle to do fancy work on light fabric in them. As an
experiment I tried a line of sequins and a double row of seed beads on
8mm habotai with the smallest needle. Yeah that was eight kinds of
disaster. It pretty much makes a small eyelet with every stitch, plus it
really dislikes silk thread, and isn't much more fond of lighter cotton.
Lets not even talk about the mess it made on a scrap of rayon with
monofiliment.

NightMist

[Kay Lancaster]

Post by NightMist
So I have this old bodkin that I have been using for sequins and beading
and the like.
Now that I have a dancing daughter I find I am getting a lot more call
for such things. I used to do them but seldom for there hasn't been
much call for such fancies these last couple of decades.
I should like to get another bodkin like the one I have as the current
one is rather ancient and I fear some bit of it will become damaged. To
give you an idea of how old it is, the handle is faux tortoise shell made
of celluloid, so at least a hundred years or thereabouts.

I don't recognize it by the name of bodkin (which to me, is something you use
to pull ribbon or elastic through a casing), but search "tambour" here:
http://lacis.com/catalog/

Or maybe a zardosi needle? http://www.aiacaonline.org/pdf/zardozi-embroidery-extended-documentation.pdf

[Roberta]

That Lacis is a cool site, lots of lovely knitting tools as well as
the embroidery stuff.
Roberta in D

Post by Kay Lancaster

Post by NightMist
So I have this old bodkin that I have been using for sequins and beading
and the like.
Now that I have a dancing daughter I find I am getting a lot more call
for such things. I used to do them but seldom for there hasn't been
much call for such fancies these last couple of decades.
I should like to get another bodkin like the one I have as the current
one is rather ancient and I fear some bit of it will become damaged. To
give you an idea of how old it is, the handle is faux tortoise shell made
of celluloid, so at least a hundred years or thereabouts.

I don't recognize it by the name of bodkin (which to me, is something you use
http://lacis.com/catalog/
Or maybe a zardosi needle? http://www.aiacaonline.org/pdf/zardozi-embroidery-extended-documentation.pdf

[Polly Esther]

I had to leave Lacis and walk away very quickly. Fine, special tools really
call to me. Polly

Post by Roberta
That Lacis is a cool site, lots of lovely knitting tools as well as
the embroidery stuff.
Roberta in D

Post by Kay Lancaster

Post by NightMist
So I have this old bodkin that I have been using for sequins and beading
and the like.
Now that I have a dancing daughter I find I am getting a lot more call
for such things. I used to do them but seldom for there hasn't been
much call for such fancies these last couple of decades.
I should like to get another bodkin like the one I have as the current
one is rather ancient and I fear some bit of it will become damaged. To
give you an idea of how old it is, the handle is faux tortoise shell made
of celluloid, so at least a hundred years or thereabouts.

I don't recognize it by the name of bodkin (which to me, is something you use
http://lacis.com/catalog/
Or maybe a zardosi needle?
http://www.aiacaonline.org/pdf/zardozi-embroidery-extended-documentation.pdf

[Kay Lancaster]

Post by Polly Esther
I had to leave Lacis and walk away very quickly. Fine, special tools really
call to me. Polly

You think the catalog's bad... my sister in law once took me to the store...
Smoked credit cards...

Kay

[NightMist]

Post by Kay Lancaster
I don't recognize it by the name of bodkin (which to me, is something
you use to pull ribbon or elastic through a casing), but search
"tambour" here: http://lacis.com/catalog/
Or maybe a zardosi needle?
http://www.aiacaonline.org/pdf/zardozi-embroidery-extended-

documentation.pdf

Well good morning!
It never once occurred to me to look at tambour needles, and actually
think!
I have done tambour, but It is not something I do often. My hooks are
old bone or steel stand alones that I more often use for fine sewings in
other laces. I've seen the changeable hooks though, and my brain still
says bodkin handle for the part you put them in.
Since I buy from Lacis I feel a bit foolish.

There were bodkins before elastic, they were a needle in a handle. When
you needed a pokey thing smaller than your stilletto, that is what you
used. In truth a fine tambour needle can do many of the same things if
you are careful, manipulating warp or weft threads in cut and drawn work,
pushing threads around in assorted techniques, making perforations in
fine fabrics when you need to be finicky, a lot of little things that it
just makes easier though you could do without.
And of course there are also the other sort that were used by
witchfinders.

In case you haven't noticed after all this time, a lot of my terminology
is a bit antique. Comes of learning from grammas and very old books I
think.

That zardozi article is actually something I have been looking for for a
while now, I just didn't know what it was called and hadn't sat down to
do a full on "gonna darned well find it" search. Plus it has the name of
other techniques to look up! Yay!

NightMist

[Kay Lancaster]

Post by Kay Lancaster

Post by Kay Lancaster
Or maybe a zardosi needle?
http://www.aiacaonline.org/pdf/zardozi-embroidery-extended-

documentation.pdf
Well good morning!
It never once occurred to me to look at tambour needles, and actually
think!

Found some ari hooks for sale:
<http://www.londonembroideryschool.com/collections/specialist-equipment/products/indian-ari-hook-3pcs>

Kay

[Polly Esther]

Oh my, how we could have enjoyed that back in our Mardi Gras days. Polly

Post by Kay Lancaster
<http://www.londonembroideryschool.com/collections/specialist-equipment/products/indian-ari-hook-3pcs>
Kay

[Janner]

OMG never heard of this before, dangerous, so much good stuff, things
that I've been looking for, for years. Thanks.

Janner
France

Post by Kay Lancaster

Post by NightMist
So I have this old bodkin that I have been using for sequins and beading
and the like.
Now that I have a dancing daughter I find I am getting a lot more call
for such things. I used to do them but seldom for there hasn't been
much call for such fancies these last couple of decades.
I should like to get another bodkin like the one I have as the current
one is rather ancient and I fear some bit of it will become damaged. To
give you an idea of how old it is, the handle is faux tortoise shell made
of celluloid, so at least a hundred years or thereabouts.

I don't recognize it by the name of bodkin (which to me, is something you use
http://lacis.com/catalog/
Or maybe a zardosi needle? http://www.aiacaonline.org/pdf/zardozi-embroidery-extended-documentation.pdf

[j***@gmail.com]

I just came across your post while I was searching for Ari/Arri hooks

Although the post is a few years old I thought I'd reply.

The hook is a tambour hook and you can get replacement hooks for the holder. The modern hooks are not so grand and the one you have is valuable.

I sell the modern hooks from my website www.tambourbeadembroidery.com

If you look on the section about buying a hook there is a video showing hooks and holders

Jan

[Night Mist]

Post by j***@gmail.com
I just came across your post while I was searching for Ari/Arri hooks
Although the post is a few years old I thought I'd reply.
The hook is a tambour hook and you can get replacement hooks for the holder. The modern hooks are not so grand and the one you have is valuable.
I sell the modern hooks from my website www.tambourbeadembroidery.com
If you look on the section about buying a hook there is a video showing hooks and holders
Jan

Not all such tools are for tambour.
My handle came to me in an old candy tin accompanied by several "eyeless needles", both bent and straight, that were probably intended for fine sewings in bobbin laces, and similar delicate constructions. It also included an awl, a tatting hook (may be a crochet hook, it is hard to tell) and a fine latch hook, all with matching (fixed) handles.
You certainly could use a fine tambour hook for minute lace sewings, I have no doubt that it was done.
I have seen some antique "kits" that included a handle, the needles, and tambour hooks all together. Generally along with other items such as netting shuttles, needles, and gauges, or other assorted lace making tools.

The eyeless needles have a flat side where they clamp in, which is what gave me the notion to try a sewing machine needle in the handle.

Having given it some thought I think I may have attached the name bodkin to my thing because one of my grandmas had a similar such a thing that she used for pricking patterns for transfer, and patterns for bobbin lace, and she called it a bodkin.

NightMist