This is the place to come to learn about Avery style needle cases.

Different Interior Decoration

Only 5 Avery style needle cases have been uncovered so far with interior design variation; however prior to corresponding with other Avery collectors we were unaware of most of these.  When you see the varieties of interior decoration listed below, you’ll understand why we hardly noticed them before.  Most of these variations involve the engraving or stamping one only sees after carefully comparing the needle cases in ones collection to those same items in other collections.  This leads us to believe there are other needle cases out there that have some type of interior decoration variation.  Please help us find them!

Photographs of the interior variations listed below can be found on our individual Avery needle case web pages.  To see these photographs, select the Master List option from the menu bar at the top of this page.   Then select the appropriate needle case type which will provide you with links to the individual needle case pages.  However we may not have photos of all of these which is why we need your help.  If you have a needle case with one of these variations that doesn’t include a photo, or know of someone who has it, or have a new variation, please contact us so we can work with you to obtain a photograph.


American Eagle


  1. Interior paper card that holds needle packets - white with orange strip
  2. Interior paper card that holds needle packets - white with light green strip

Beatrice/Gem


  1. 4 Sections - internal panels with acorn/pineapple decoration on both sides
  2. 4 Sections - internal panels with long-stem bouquets on both sides
  3. 4 Sections - internal panels with long-stem bouquets on one side and bouquets without stems on the other side marked Arthur James
  4. 4 Sections - internal panels marked H. Milward & Sons with their bent arm and sword motif on both sides
  5. 6 Sections - internal panels with acorn/pineapple decoration on both sides
  6. 6 Sections - internal panels with long-stem bouquets on both sides

Louise - Square


  1. With patterned interior
  2. With plain interior

Valentine


  1. Flat back with interior diamond frame and engraved cupid
  2. Easel back with interior diamond frame and engraved cupid
  3. Easel back with interior oval frame

Scallop Shell


  1. With cut-out needle packet interior
  2. Without cut-out needle packet interior
  3. With interior engraved pattern #1
  4. With interior engraved pattern #2

Master List

To date 227 Avery style needle cases have been discovered.  Visit these pages to see photographs of each design as well as the original design registration or patent and gain knowledge about variations within each design.

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Avery Survey

In 2013 an Avery Survey was created in order to gather as much information as possible about Avery style needle cases from collectors and interested parties around the world.  The Avery Survey is easy to complete and gives you a chance to contribute to this important research.  Be sure and stop here to see the survey results.

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About Us

Learn how the author turned a hobby cross stitching antique sampler reproductions into a passion for collecting Avery needle cases resulting in a published book, a Wikipedia article, a TCI Bulletin article and conference presentation and this website.

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