LILY MILLS COMPANY, Shelby, NC
John Schenck founded this mill in 1903 as Lily Mill and Power Company. It took advantage of its proximity to the local cotton growers and produced a huge range of threads and yarns. Like all the other thread mills, they developed their own line of instruction books for weaving, crochet, knitting, tatting, rug hooking - any fiber art that would help sell their yarns. In the late 1940's, Lily Mills built a relationship with the Penland School of Crafts by cofounding the Lily Loom House. Weavers still attend classes there. The Penland School of Crafts was founded in 1929 and is known as both the largest and the oldest professional crafts school in the USA. They are best known for their pottery and weaving courses.
I'm still trying to find a news article on when Lily Mills Company finally shut its doors. I know there was a massive slow down in the textile industry in the mid-seventies.
The few instruction books that I have by Lily Mills were published in the 1940's and '50's. I have only a small handful of them, but will eventually make a more concerted effort to find more. When I do, I'll have this page set up and ready to receive them. I've got the ones I do have reviewed below.
Becky Clark has helped fill in a lot of catalog stubs(entries without a review page yet) so that we have a better idea of what all they published. I've been slowly filling in booklets as I find them. One thing has become clear. The jewel in their crochet pattern design crown was one Mrs. Esther Parnell Hewlett and her husband photographer Frank. Lily Mills produced some really exquisite crochet books, most of which were the credited designs of Mrs. Hewlett. Sophisticated refinements like shadow filet, embossed filet, crochet that imitated tatting, wrought iron, milk glass - all products of Mrs. Hewlett's genius. Coats & Clark and American Thread Company went for broadest appeal and were often bland in their offerings as a result. Lily Mills and their star designer always reached for the moon and explored territory that no one had explored before. Annie's Attic appears to have been heavily influenced by this mill's book line more than any other.
Pix
LILY MILLS COMPANY CATALOG OF PATTERN BOOKS
Crocheted Bedspreads: Lily Direction Book No. 5-B,
by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1935)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Cotton Sportswear for Spring and Summer: Crocheted and Knitted: Lily Book No. 6A,
by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1935)
Notes: ?? pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Crocheted Bedspreads &Novelties: Lily Direction Book No. 6B, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1937)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Hand Knit &Crochet Fashions for Fall and Winter: Lily Book No. 7A, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1935?)
Notes: ?? pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Crocheted Bedspreads: Lily Book No. 7-B, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1937)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
This is 100% crochet...
Crocheted and Knit Sportswear for Spring and Summer: Advance Fashions: Lily Book No. 8A,
by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1936)
Notes: ?? pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Crocheted Bedspreads: Lily Direction Book No. 8-B,
by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1937?)
Notes: 18 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Hand Knits for All Occasions: Lily Book No. 10-A,
by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1937?)
Notes: ?? pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Edgings: Crocheted, Knitted, Tatted: Lily Design Book No. 21,
by Esther Parnell Hewlett (TPB:1949)
Notes: 27 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Primarily crochet, but with a handful of tatting and knitting patterns...
Sweaters: Socks, Gloves and Other Designs in Lily Knitting Worsted and Lily Sportswear Yarn: Lily Design Book No. 22,
by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1949)
Notes: 23 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Gifts, Novelties & Toys: Lily Design Book No. 23,
by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1949)
Notes: 27 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
This is mostly crochet with some knitting patterns...
Crocheted Bedspreads: Lily Direction Book No. 45B,
by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1937?)
Notes: 18 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Crochet 'County Fair': Lily Design Book No. 51, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1950)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
100% crochet...
Flower Garden Doilies: Lily Design Book No. 52, by Esther Parnell Hewlett (TPB:1950)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
100% crochet...
Crocheted & Knitted Kitchen Craft: Design Book No. 53, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1950)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Mostly crochet with a few knitting patterns...
Rugs: Needlepoint, Crocheted, Hooked, Fluff: Lily Design Book No. 54,
by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1950)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Lily's Hooked Rug Album: Lily Design Book No. 55,
by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1950)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Sunbonnet Lil: Lily Crochet Design Book No. 56,
by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1950)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Tablecloths for the Seasons: Lily Crochet Design Book No. 57, by Esther Parnell Hewlett (TPB:1951)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
100% crochet...
Edgings: Crocheted, Tatted: Lily Design Book No. 58,
by Esther Parnell Hewlett (TPB:1951ish)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Only three(3) token tatting patterns in this booklet - it's mostly crochet...
Pot Holders and Oven Mitts: Lily Design Book No. 59, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1951)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Table Doilies: Lily Crochet Design Book No. 60,
by Esther Parnell Hewlett (TPB:1951)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
There's a Table Doily Set called "Crocheted Tatting" that mimics the look of tatting pretty well...
Knitting with Nylkara: Lily Design Book No. 61,
by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1951)
Notes: ?? pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Sugar 'N Cream Crochet Favorites: Lily Crochet Design book No. 62,
by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1952)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Fair, Bazaar and Gift Crocheting: Lily Design Book No. 63,
by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1952)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Let's Dress the Baby: Lily Crochet Design Book No. 64,
by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1952)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Calla Lily Crochet Designs: Lily Design Book No. 65, by Esther Parnell Hewlett (TPB:1952)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
This book is 100% crochet...
Filet Crochet: Lily Design Book No. 66, by Esther Parnell Hewlett (TPB:1952)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
This book is 100% crochet...
Doilies: Lily Design Book No. 67, by Esther Parnell Hewlett (TPB:1953)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
This book is 100% crochet...
Lily Motifs in Crochet: Design Book No. 68, by Esther Parnell Hewlett (TPB:1953)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
This book is 100% crochet...
Knitting Favorites: Lily Design Book No. 69, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1953)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Lily Doilies & Edgings to Tat & Crochet: Design Book No. 70,
by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1953)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
This book is mostly tatting with a couple of token crochet patterns...
Roses in Crochet: Lily Crochet Design Book No. 71, by Esther Parnell Hewlett (TPB:1953)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
There is a crochet doily that mimics the look of tatting in this one that could probably be translated into actual tatting without a lot of difficulty...
A New Look in Crochet: Fair and Bazaar Winners: Design Book No. 72, by Esther Parnell Hewlett (TPB:1954)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
This is all crochet with some token Swedish weaving...
Old Favorites in Crocheted Bedspreads: Lily Design Book No. 73, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1954)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Wrought Iron Crochet: Lily Design Book No. 74,
by Esther Parnell Hewlett (TPB:1954)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
This booklet is crochet only...
Modern Crochet with Lily Double Quick: Household Items and Fashion Accessories: Lily Design Book No. 75,
by Esther Parnell Hewlett, Emma L. Shields (TPB:1954)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
This booklet is crochet only...
Doilies: Lily Design Book No. 76, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1955)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Lily Edgings and Laces: Design Book No. 77,
by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1955)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
It has 5 "Crochet Tatting" patterns that are not "Cro-Tatting" but faux tatting, and one of
the altar cloth edgings uses a shadow filet technique that makes you look twice...
Milk Glass Crochet: Lily Design Book No. 78, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1956)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Doilies: Lily Design Book No. 79, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1956)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Crochet Goes Modern with Lily Jute-tone: Design Book No. 80, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1957)
Notes: ?? pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Cutwork Crochet: Lily Design Book No. 81, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1957)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Embossed Filet Crochet: Lily Design Book No. 82, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1958)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
This book is 100% filet crochet with yet another cool looking effect they call embossing...
Doilies for That Extra Touch: Place Mats, Chair Sets, Centerpieces, Buffet Scarf, Vanity Set: Lily Design Book No. 83, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1958)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
A Booklet of Unique Novelty Designs Created Exclusively for Daisy Crochet and Lily Mercrochet Cotton: Lily Booklet No. 100, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1936)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Crocheted Novelties and Bedspreads: Lily Book No. 101, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1937)
Notes: 19 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Crocheted Bedspreads, Tablecloth and Novelties, Lily Daisy Book No. 102, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1939?)
Notes: 19 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
This book is 100% crochet patterns...
Tablecloths and Bedspreads: Lily Design Book No. 200, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1959)
Notes: 19 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Crocheted Bedspreads & Novelties Featuring Daisy Cotton: Lily Book No. 203, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1937-48)
Notes: 19 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
This book is 100% crochet...
Popular Crochet: Doilies, Edgings, Chair Sets, Lily Design Book No. 204, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1937-48)
Notes: 35 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
This book is 100% crochet...
Lily Conservation Book: Book No. 250, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:19??)
Notes: ?? pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Easy to Crochet Table Cloths, Luncheon Sets, Runners: Lily Design Book No. 400, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1940ish)
Notes: 23 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
New Ideas in Rug Yarn for the Home: Lily Direction Book No. 400, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1940?)
Notes: 19 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Fluff Rugs Made with Lily Rug Yarn: Lily Book No. 600, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1941ish)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Rugs to Live With: Crochet and Fluff Rugs Easy to Make with Lily Rug Yarn: Lily Direction Book No. 601, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1949)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Craft Co., NJ; ISBN: None;
Crochet &Tatted Edgings: Lily Design Book No. 700-E,
by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1941ish)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
This book is mostly crochet with a few tatting patterns tacked on to the end...
Pom-Pon and Fluff Rugs Made with Lily Rug Yarn: Lily Book No. 800, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1941)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Craft Co., NJ; ISBN: None;
Crocheted Bedspreads Made With Lily Crochet Cotton: Book No. 900, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1941-42?)
Notes: 23 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
This book is 100% crochet...
Crochet House: Useful Articles for Every Room - Every Gift Occasion: Lily Design Book No. 1000, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1942)
Notes: 23 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Portraits in Crochet: Lily Design Book No. 1100, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1943?)
Notes: 23 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
This book is 100% crochet...
Lily's Album of Crocheted Designs for You and Your Home: Lovely Gift Items, Too: Book No. 1200, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1944)
Notes: 27 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
This book is 100% crochet...
Crochet: Baby Clothes, Table Doilies, Trimmings: Lily Book No. 1300, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1945)
Notes: 28 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Craft Co., NJ; ISBN: None;
Crocheted Rugs: Lily Book No. 1400, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1946?)
Notes: 18 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
How To Make Slip Covers and Draperies: Also Curtains and Other Fabric Accessories: Lily Book No. 1500, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1946)
Notes: 23 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Doilies to Treasure: Lily Book No. 1600, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1946-47?)
Notes: 23 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Crochet for Today, Tomorrow and Always: Lily Direction Book No. 1700, by Esther Parnell Hewlett (TPB:1947)
Notes: 27 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Decorating With Crochet: Designs with Daisy Crochet Cottons, Lily Six Cord and Lily Skytone: Lily Direction Book No. 1800, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1948)
Notes: 27 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
This book has 7 narrow tatted edging patterns hidden in it, as well as 5 nice knitted doilies, otherwise it's crochet as advertised...
Baby Book of Hand Knit and Crocheted Originals: Lily Direction Book No. 1900, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1948)
Notes: 27 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Craft Co., NJ; ISBN: None;
Crocheted Bedspreads: Lily Direction Book No. 2000, by Esther Parnell Hewlett (TPB:1948)
Notes: 27 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Craft Co., NJ; ISBN: None;
Pix
LILY MILLS' DIGEST SERIES
Coats & Clark and The American Thread Company did it, so Lily Mills Company felt they had to too...
Doilies: Lily Design Book No. 201, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1960)
Notes: 35 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
This book is 100% crochet. It's also a half-sized book
Crocheting with Lily Cotton Rug Yarn: Lily Design Book No. 202, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1961)
Notes: 35 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
It's a digest-sized book
Popular Crochet: Doilies, Centerpieces, Vanity Sets, Luncheon Sets, Buffet Sets: Lily Design Book No. 203, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1961ish)
Notes: 35 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Popular Crochet: Doilies, Edgings, Chair Sets: Lily Design Book No. 204, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1961)
Notes: 35 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
This was the first of the digests I've come across that had a copyright date in it
Edgings: Crocheted, Knitted, Tatted: Lily Design Book No. 205, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1961-62)
Notes: 35 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
It's a digest-sized book with (5)token knitting and (4)token tatting patterns - the rest is crochet...
Learn How to Crochet, Knit, Embroider, Tat, Swedish Weave: Learn How Book, a Self-teacher for Beginning and Fancy Stitches: Lily Design Book No. 206,
by Susanne Jackson Hedrick (TPB:1962)
Notes: 67 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Tablecloths and Bedspreads: Lily Design Book No. 207, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1963)
Notes: 35 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
The copyright date on this one isn't approximate - it's one the few that gave the year it was published...
Doilies: Place Mats, Vanity Set, Centerpieces: Lily Design Book No. 208, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1981)
Notes: 35 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Belding Lily Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
This book is 100% crochet and the company name change along with the copyright date makes me believe this is a much later reprint...
Doilies to Treasure: Lily Design Book No. 209, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1966)
Notes: 35 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
...and we're back to Lily Mills Company. This booklet is 100% crochet...
Old Favorites in Crocheted Bedpsreads: Lily Design Book No. 210, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1964-69)
Notes: 35 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Knit & Crochet with Lily Rug Yarn: Lily Design Book No. 211, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1976)
Notes: 35 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Mostly crochet with a few knitting patterns scattered throughout..
Macramé &Crochet with Lily Jute-Tone: Lily Design Book No. 212, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1975)
Notes: 35 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Fashion Pretty Macramé: Lily Design Book No. 213, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1975)
Notes: 35 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Fashions &Furnishings with Lily Yarns: Lily Design Book No. 214, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1975-76)
Notes: 35 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Lily Mills Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
Lily Pot Holders and Oven Mitts: Lily Design Book No. 215, by Lily Mills Co. (TPB:1979)
Notes: 23 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Belding Lily Co., Shelby, NC; ISBN: None;
This book is 100% crochet...
