Handkerchiefs (H1 to H9)

1. Handkerchief, 18-20” square. Heavy daisies, leaf embroidered edge. From Mrs Dorothy Sim of Alloway near Ayr, a notable of the Embroiderers’ Guild, Scotland, who also was the source of ii below.
2. Sleeve, bias cut, interesting fish-shape motif, rose motif with sprigs

1. 12” square, made by Mrs Marjorie Thomson (Berwick-on-Tweed, cf Mats). Counted pulled threads, rolled hem, small corner leaf in free design; 1950.
2. Made by Mrs Margaret Bryson, nee Craig, Mrs Bryson’s mother-in-law; fine cream silk, 11” square, perle cotton daisy sprig in all corners.

H4
12-14” square with lace edge, perhaps school piece because name L Brown written in indelible ink. Among belongings of a Mrs Dawson stored by Jenner’s in Edinburgh after her return from Canada, and came to Mrs Bryson when neighbour advised legatee (nephew) of Mrs Bryson’s interest after Mrs Dawson’s death in 1970s.

H5
From Mrs Thomson of Berwick as H2 above. Possibly Ayrshire work but perhaps Italian. Initialled M. E. W. in heavily worked letters; fine needlelace fillings, with very fine darned lace edging and much detail, rose border in squared pulled thread divisions, rounded corners. Possibly for hair or head covering rather than for use as handkerchief.

H6
White cotton lawn, heavy thread, bobbles/berries outlined, motifs in corners, scalloping on edge; possibly of foreign origin.

The remaining pieces in this section (H7-H9) are all Mrs Bryson’s own work, and are permanently in family possession :

H7

1. 1963, square; from Columbia via merchant seaman Barkly Linklater, who later went to Australia. Recorded in Ayr Advertiser, 9 June 1963; won a tazza (fruit dish), cf Mrs Bryson’s scrapbook. Fine motif in one corner, sprig, a few fillings, eyelet edge, initial O for Oonagh.
2. Initial A for Anne pulled thread medallion, three scalloped edges, sprigging and fillings, similar edging to H7 i above. See Ayrshire Needlework, p 99, Fig 93 left.
3. Initial A for Agnes in inverted heart, pulled work surrounded by sprigging, edging similar to both above. For Young Farmers’ Handkerchief Design class at Royal Highland Show.

1. SWRI (Scottish Women’s Rural Institute) badge as corner motif with flowers instead of motto Home and Country, and needlepoint fillings instead of letters SWRI. Old badge, pre 1992. See Ayrshire Needlework p 102 for description and p 99, Fig 93.
2. 1992 75th anniversary (founded 1917); similar edging, larger motif, seeding, sprigs, pulled threads; more borders with holes, scallops, dots.