Advertisement for Mary Card's Crochet Book No. 1, from a 1921 publication.
In 1903 deafness forced Mary to sell the school she had begun in 1889 with her mother and sisters. She tried writing short stories for The Australasian newspaper (later Australasian Post) but because she could not earn a living in this way decided to become ‘a professional designer and teacher of needlework through the press’. She gained experience by refurbishing Irish crochet lace when it returned to fashion in the early 1900s. Her first designs were published, anonymously, in the prestigious American Ladies Home Journal. Then in 1910, patterns bearing her name were featured in the Melbourne magazine, New Idea, later renamed Everylady's Journal and in a series of books. An excellent interview by her mentor W.A. Somerset Shum was published in Everylady's Journal[4] and later appeared as Who is Mary Card? A Chat in which the author supplies some Interesting Personalities.[5] Her fresh new designs with clear, detailed, well-illustrated instructions were very popular and she soon became a celebrity. The Australian plants and animals she included in some designs were a welcome change from the English ones.[6] Her publishers generously promoted her magazine articles, many books and Giant Charts, sometimes in full-page advertisements in New Idea and Everylady's Journal. Her Charts were revolutionary, with easy-to-follow graphs and working instructions for her ‘big picture’ designs. The first in the series, the Wild Rose & Pigeon Supper cloth was released to great acclaim around the world in 1917.[7] She was an astute business woman and during this time sold crochet hooks, thread and the transfers for some of her designs directly to the public.[8][9]
America, England and Australiaedit
In 1918 at the age of 57, Mary moved to New York to broaden her horizons.[10] Needlecraft magazine issued more than 100 of her designs, including the Statue of Liberty and the American flag.[11] Another magazine, Modern Priscilla, showed illustrations of two of her most beautiful Grapevine & Silvereye designs[12][13] and supplied the charts by mail order. The book of crochet patterns in fine thread she self-published was later re-issued by Needlecraft. She prepared a book of jackets and jumpers in coarse thread for the Dexter Yarn Company.[14] She felt restricted in her small apartment in the centre of New York so moved to England in about the mid-1920s and built a home in rural Berkshire. The English countryside and gardens inspired many of her later designs.[15][16] She began a new series of English Charts, continued with Needlecraft in America until 1935 and issued 29 designs from 1931 to 1939 in Australian Home Beautiful which was more suitable for her later work than New Idea. The later charts carried endorsements for Coats Mercer Crochet® cotton and Old Bleach Linen®. Some of her previously published work was included in the Semco Crochet Book issued by a progressive needlework supply company in Melbourne in about 1933.[17] Australian friends who visited Mary in England told her first biographer, Barbara Jefferis, that she also designed for the London firm Weldon and Co who issued the popular Weldon's Practical Needlework and other fashion and needlework publications.[18] Weldon, along with the other English needlework magazines, did not disclose the names of the designers. However, a few of the Weldon designs with features of her work are in a recent book which brings together all her afternoon tea cloths.[19] She spent most of the last years of her life in England, occasionally returning to Australia. She was with her sister Harriet at Olinda, Victoria when she died on 13 October 1940.[20]
Achievementsedit
Mary was a particularly prolific and versatile designer. The series of spreadsheets describing her more than 400 designs show the broad scope of her work and assist in finding particular patterns.[21] Her best work was in filet or picture crochet. Her large flowing ‘big picture’ afternoon teacloths, with living creatures enhanced by lacet backgrounds have few if any rivals.[22] She was an excellent teacher of many good techniques.[23][24] Mary enriched the lives of women across the world with her delightful crochet lace designs from the early 1900s until the late 1930s. At a time when women were full-time homemakers, making crochet lace was an important part of many women's lives in a way that may be hard to understand today. Needlework was an enjoyable, fashionable and socially correct pastime. Women were proud to wear and decorate their homes with the finished items.[25] Mary was more than a remarkable designer. She was also a hard-working, warm-hearted, clever, spirited, enterprising and resilient woman. She was an active Secretary of her district's Patriotic League during World War I.[26] She also helped people with speech and hearing difficulties before she closed her school.[27]
Patternsedit
An extensive collection of her patterns is available online.[28] Mary's ten books, more than 30 of her charts, selected magazine articles and as series of spreadsheets are in a high resolution Digital Collection which may be downloaded without charge. Many other designs are in six books on her life and work.[29][30][31][32][33][34] Further details including generous illustrations and descriptions of crochet lace techniques accompany some of the rewritten patterns in these books. A few early patterns not available online are in Everylady's Journal and New Idea held by the State Library Victoria. Details, including page numbers are in the spreadsheets.[35] Many of her patterns were published in at least two of the three countries in which she worked.
Recognition of her Contribution to the Social Life of the Nationedit
Mary has been acknowledged in various ways: Obituaries in three Melbourne daily papers, The Age, The Argus and The Herald (Sun), the Australian Home Beautiful magazine and the New York Times. She is listed in the Australian Dictionary of Biography.[36] The home she built at Olinda on the outskirts of Melbourne is heritage listed.[37] A street has been named after her in Gungahlin, a suburb of Canberra.[38] She was included along with 40 other needlewomen and designers in a comprehensive work on 500 Australian women artists.[39]
^John McPhee, in Joan Kerr (ed.),”Heritage: The National Women’s Art Book–500 works by 500 Australian Women from Colonial Times to 1955” (1995) 31, 325
mary, card, irish, based, british, poet, abolitionist, feminist, mary, birkett, card, september, 1861, october, 1940, australian, designer, educator, doyley, designed, belgian, relief, fund, from, 1915, publication, contents, early, life, career, america, engl. For the Irish based British poet abolitionist and feminist see Mary Birkett Card Mary Card 24 September 1861 13 October 1940 was an Australian designer and educator A doyley designed by Mary Card for the Belgian Relief Fund from a 1915 publication Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 America England and Australia 4 Achievements 5 Patterns 6 Recognition of her Contribution to the Social Life of the Nation 7 References 8 External linksEarly life editMary Card born in Castlemaine Victoria was the eldest of twelve children born to David Card a jeweller and watchmaker and Harriet Card nee Watson Wooldridge a beautiful and talented actress Mary s secondary education at The Ladies College of the Presbyterian Church in Melbourne now called Presbyterian Ladies College Melbourne was followed by a year at the National Gallery of Victoria Art School in Melbourne 1 2 3 Career edit nbsp Advertisement for Mary Card s Crochet Book No 1 from a 1921 publication In 1903 deafness forced Mary to sell the school she had begun in 1889 with her mother and sisters She tried writing short stories for The Australasian newspaper later Australasian Post but because she could not earn a living in this way decided to become a professional designer and teacher of needlework through the press She gained experience by refurbishing Irish crochet lace when it returned to fashion in the early 1900s Her first designs were published anonymously in the prestigious American Ladies Home Journal Then in 1910 patterns bearing her name were featured in the Melbourne magazine New Idea later renamed Everylady s Journal and in a series of books An excellent interview by her mentor W A Somerset Shum was published in Everylady s Journal 4 and later appeared as Who is Mary Card A Chat in which the author supplies some Interesting Personalities 5 Her fresh new designs with clear detailed well illustrated instructions were very popular and she soon became a celebrity The Australian plants and animals she included in some designs were a welcome change from the English ones 6 Her publishers generously promoted her magazine articles many books and Giant Charts sometimes in full page advertisements in New Idea and Everylady s Journal Her Charts were revolutionary with easy to follow graphs and working instructions for her big picture designs The first in the series the Wild Rose amp Pigeon Supper cloth was released to great acclaim around the world in 1917 7 She was an astute business woman and during this time sold crochet hooks thread and the transfers for some of her designs directly to the public 8 9 America England and Australia editIn 1918 at the age of 57 Mary moved to New York to broaden her horizons 10 Needlecraft magazine issued more than 100 of her designs including the Statue of Liberty and the American flag 11 Another magazine Modern Priscilla showed illustrations of two of her most beautiful Grapevine amp Silvereye designs 12 13 and supplied the charts by mail order The book of crochet patterns in fine thread she self published was later re issued by Needlecraft She prepared a book of jackets and jumpers in coarse thread for the Dexter Yarn Company 14 She felt restricted in her small apartment in the centre of New York so moved to England in about the mid 1920s and built a home in rural Berkshire The English countryside and gardens inspired many of her later designs 15 16 She began a new series of English Charts continued with Needlecraft in America until 1935 and issued 29 designs from 1931 to 1939 in Australian Home Beautiful which was more suitable for her later work than New Idea The later charts carried endorsements for Coats Mercer Crochet cotton and Old Bleach Linen Some of her previously published work was included in the Semco Crochet Book issued by a progressive needlework supply company in Melbourne in about 1933 17 Australian friends who visited Mary in England told her first biographer Barbara Jefferis that she also designed for the London firm Weldon and Co who issued the popular Weldon s Practical Needlework and other fashion and needlework publications 18 Weldon along with the other English needlework magazines did not disclose the names of the designers However a few of the Weldon designs with features of her work are in a recent book which brings together all her afternoon tea cloths 19 She spent most of the last years of her life in England occasionally returning to Australia She was with her sister Harriet at Olinda Victoria when she died on 13 October 1940 20 Achievements editMary was a particularly prolific and versatile designer The series of spreadsheets describing her more than 400 designs show the broad scope of her work and assist in finding particular patterns 21 Her best work was in filet or picture crochet Her large flowing big picture afternoon teacloths with living creatures enhanced by lacet backgrounds have few if any rivals 22 She was an excellent teacher of many good techniques 23 24 Mary enriched the lives of women across the world with her delightful crochet lace designs from the early 1900s until the late 1930s At a time when women were full time homemakers making crochet lace was an important part of many women s lives in a way that may be hard to understand today Needlework was an enjoyable fashionable and socially correct pastime Women were proud to wear and decorate their homes with the finished items 25 Mary was more than a remarkable designer She was also a hard working warm hearted clever spirited enterprising and resilient woman She was an active Secretary of her district s Patriotic League during World War I 26 She also helped people with speech and hearing difficulties before she closed her school 27 Patterns editAn extensive collection of her patterns is available online 28 Mary s ten books more than 30 of her charts selected magazine articles and as series of spreadsheets are in a high resolution Digital Collection which may be downloaded without charge Many other designs are in six books on her life and work 29 30 31 32 33 34 Further details including generous illustrations and descriptions of crochet lace techniques accompany some of the rewritten patterns in these books A few early patterns not available online are in Everylady s Journal and New Idea held by the State Library Victoria Details including page numbers are in the spreadsheets 35 Many of her patterns were published in at least two of the three countries in which she worked Recognition of her Contribution to the Social Life of the Nation editMary has been acknowledged in various ways Obituaries in three Melbourne daily papers The Age The Argus and The Herald Sun the Australian Home Beautiful magazine and the New York Times She is listed in the Australian Dictionary of Biography 36 The home she built at Olinda on the outskirts of Melbourne is heritage listed 37 A street has been named after her in Gungahlin a suburb of Canberra 38 She was included along with 40 other needlewomen and designers in a comprehensive work on 500 Australian women artists 39 References edit Barbara Jefferis Three of a Kind 1982 57 97 Sally O Neill Mary Card Australian Dictionary of Biography 7 1979 Barbara Ballantyne Mary Card Australian Crochet Lace Designer 2002 117 Rafters and Firewood a Chat with Mary Card about her Work 1917 W A Somerset Shum Mary Card s Crochet Book No 4 1917 4 5 Mary Card New Crochet for Australasian Fancyworkers 1914 4 48 62 W A Somerset Shum Mary Card s Crochet Book No 4 1917 4 5 Everylady s Journal June 6 1914 374 Everylady s Journal August 6 1914 462 Everylady s Journal August 1918 467 Barbara Ballantyne Mary Card Australian Crochet Lace Designer 2002 95 6 Modern Priscilla October 1924 3 Modern Priscilla August 1925 8 39 Mary Card Dexter Filet Crochet Slip ons Book No 6 c 1920 Barbara Ballantyne Mary Card Australian Crochet Lace Designer 2002 30 1 Mary Card My Two Huts Australian Home Beautiful 1931 31 2 37 Barbara Ballantyne amp Bruce Welch Mary Card s Legacy of Crochet Lace 2022b 12 3 Barbara Jefferis Three of a Kind 1982 5 165 8 Barbara Ballantyne amp Bruce Welch Mary Card s Legacy of Crochet Lace 2022 45 9 A Remarkable Australian Australian Home Beautiful November 1940 5 https www crochethistory com Spreadsheets a not for profit website accessed 20 07 22 Barbara Ballantyne amp Bruce Welch Mary Card s Legacy of Crochet Lace 2022b 23 41 67 70 Mary Card Mary Card s New Book of Filet Crochet Designs Homecrafts no 31 1936 3 8 Barbara Ballantyne amp Bruce Welch Mary Card s Legacy of Crochet Lace 2022b 57 60 has additional techniques Barbara Ballantyne Mary Card Australian Crochet Lace Designer 57 74 Everylady s Journal July 1917 398 Barbara Jefferis Three of a Kind 1982 127 https www crochethistory com accessed 20 07 2022 Barbara Ballantyne Mary Card Australian Crochet Lace Designer 2002 Barbara Ballantyne The Technique of Filet Crochet with Mary Card s Designs and Methods 2004 Barbara Ballantyne Mary Card s Crochet Lace Bird Designs 2009a Barbara Ballantyne Mary Card s Crochet Lace Flower Designs 2009b Barbara Ballantyne Mary Card s Crochet Lace Later Designs 2022a Barbara Ballantyne amp Bruce Welch Mary Card s Legacy of Crochet Lace 2022b 59 60 Spreadsheets Barbara Ballantyne Sally O Neill Mary Card https adb anu edu au biography card mary 5500 Australian Dictionary of Biography 7 1979 VHD https www legislation act gov au current PDF 2003 331 John McPhee in Joan Kerr ed Heritage The National Women s Art Book 500 works by 500 Australian Women from Colonial Times to 1955 1995 31 325External links editMary Card s Crochet Book No 4 1917 online via Trove National Library of Australia About Mary Card Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mary Card amp oldid 1189280379, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
