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Although principally a producer of yarn, the Patons company also produced knitting patterns and booklets, as well as needles and tools and accessories of all sorts. A small selection is given in this exhibit.

Tools

Plastic Beehive knitting needles

Plastic needles in various sizes and lengths under the Beehive brand, probably from the 1960s. In imperial sizes and unused.

Metal Queen Bee knitting needles

Straight aluminium knitting needles in pairs, in imperial (old UK) sizes with original paper wrappers. Lengths varied. Unused.

Knitting needle gauge and stitch holder

These two tools are shown against their illustrations in the Patons & Baldwins Red Book, 1935. The stitch holder is formed from a length of plastic and described as ‘The Beehive Stitch Holder: holds spare stitches while the rest of the work proceeds’. The needle gauge is described: ‘The Beehive Needle Gauge will accurately size any of your needles which are not marked with numbers (reduced illustration)’.

Beehive Wool Holder

Intended to hold yarn in balls, protecting from dirt and damage, these yarn holders in the shape of old fashioned beehives were available in several colours. In view B the base can be seen which unscrews to allow the ball of yarn to be put in and has a needle gauge.

Promotional material

These display boards came with the Patons Achive. They were for use in shops that stocked Patons & Baldwins yarns.

Yarn

Shade card

A shade card for Patons yarns dated September 1962. The very wide range of yarns offered can be seen, mostly wools, but with some containing nylon, the Patons Nylox Knitting 3 and 4 ply. This card would have been provided for the company’s salesforce.

Shade cards - Samples of Patons Yarns

These shade cards are for yarns that are specified in the Coats-Patons donation. They date from the 1960s.

Purple Heather yarn

Balls of Patons yarn in the Purple Heather Range. This was a pure wool 4-ply yarn produced over a long period of time, as shown by the changing style of ball bands.

Patterns

Shawl Pattern

Patons published the same shawl pattern multiple times. The colour version is from the 1980s.

Jacket Pattern

The Cowichan Jacket pattern was first shown in this Moorland Hand-Knits for the Family booklet. The images show the reindeer jumper and the front cover of the booklet.

Shetland Bonnet and Mitts, for 3 to 6 year olds

Colourwork Hat and mittens for a child. The Coats Patons donation includes patterns as well as physical items.

Universal Knitting Book

This is the Universal Knitting Book which features two patterns from the Coats Patons Donation.

Beehive Booklet 23

This pattern booklet from the Knitting & Crochet Guild collection features many hat patterns. One of the tams from the Coats Patons donation inspired a pattern in this booklet.

Fairisle Tams Patterns

The Coats Patons Donation has 4 fairisle tams which inspired these patterns. The patterns in SC104 (colour images) don't exactly match the tams, they are different colours and the 5 pointed star pattern has a plain centre instead of fairisle, but they are similar. This pattern uses the wool Fiona made by Patons.

Ancillary Items in the Coats-Patons Donation