Wishbone Thimble Holder

My sister’s birthday was a few weeks ago. My present to her was a turkey wishbone thimble holder that she had requested to replace the one I had given to her years ago which had broken recently. I mentioned in a previous post that I had started it but run into a bit of a problem. I started again and had another problem.

I can’t blame the dog this time. I sat on it. I had been sooooo careful and then I lost track of it for just a minute! That’s all it took. So I had to start over.

Even after having to start it three times, I got it done in time for her birthday! My sister loved it! I was thinking of making another change that morning but talked myself out of it. I can make those changes on the next one! This is done in Lizbeth size 20 # 663 Bright Turquoise Dark and # 632 Purple Medium. I’m disappointed that I didn’t get a better picture, this one does not show the true colors, it’s washed out.

I got the idea of doing this from a thimble holder I received from my husband’s grandmother a long time ago. I understood her sister made it.

You can see that the basket is crocheted with the tatting on the outside. The ribbon was already this threadbare when I got it.

The wishbone is much smaller than the ones I’ve been getting. Looking at it I thought it might be a chicken wishbone, but I think it was from a much smaller turkey. It looks like the tatting was done separately, then added to the crochet that was done around the bone. The thread is at least a size 10. I’m not sure if this is the original color or it has been discolored with age. I’m not about to try washing it, I’m worried it might start coming apart. It has been hanging in one of the bedrooms in our house for years.

I had never seen or heard of something like this before being given this one. Since then I saw one in an antique store. I should have bought it when I saw it, but I didn’t. I’m sure I make these a bit differently than my husband’s great aunt did, as I spray mine with a sealer before adding the thread. I’ve made a few of them over the years, but this is the first time I’ve broken the bone in the process. I’ll have to be more careful next time!

“To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone.” Reba McEntire