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

Different Sizes and Variation Combinations

There are only a handful of Flat-Names style needle cases with a variation in size and these are always combined with several other variations: different exterior decoration, different company names, different needle cases names, different metals or different sepia prints.  Four of the seven needle cases you see on this page are basically the same design; each being a single packet needle case usually with flowers in an urn on the reverse side.  The large, medium and small variations are only a few centimeters or millimeters different in size and the exterior pattern on the front depends on the company name on the needle case.  One can only assume the difference in size was to accommodate different sized needles.  A diamond shape with an intricate shield inscribed “Betweens” usually was marked W. Avery & Son whereas a bent arm with wreath was for Cook-Son & Co.  Another version with a fountain on the front and a cross with the words “Headless Cross” on the reverse side was also assigned to W. Avery & Son.  Frequently these needle cases came in nickel-silver versions hence the words “golden” or “silver” in their names.

Photographs of the size 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.


Diana (All marked W. Avery & Son)

  1. Large version 3.0 x 4.6 - with sepia print of young child in a field (per Horowitz and Mann)
  2. Medium version 2.4 x 4.7 - with sepia print of woman holding small girl, sewing or making lace - version 2
  3. Small version 2.3 x 4.3 - with sepia print of woman holding small girl, sewing or making lace - version 1

Florence (All marked W. Avery & Son)

  1. Large version 4.5 x 2.2 x .2 - Oval center stamped Wheeler and Wilson's with W. Avery & Son Redditch stamped below the oval center
  2. Medium version 4.2 x 2.1 x 0.25 - Circular center stamped W. Avery & Son Reddicth

Golden Casket (All marked W. Avery & Son)

  1. Large version 4.8 x 2.3 - fountain on front and flowers in urn on reverse side
  2. Small version 4.1 x 2.1 - fountain on front and flowers in urn on reverse side
  3. Small version 3.5 x 2.5 - with diamond and intricate raised shield on front and flowers in urn on reverse side (per Horowitz and Mann)

Golden Needle Case

  1. Large version 6.0 x 2.5 - bent arm with wreath on front and flowers in urn on reverse side marked Cook-Son & Co
  2. Small version 4.1 x 2.1 (or 4.2 x 2.1) - bent arm with wreath on front and flowers in urn on reverse side marked Cook-Son & Co
  3. Medium version 4.4 x 3 - with unknown decoration marked W. Avery & Son (per Horowitz and Mann)
  4. Medium version 4.4 x 3 - with unknown decoration marked Cook-Son & Co (per Horowitz and Mann)

Abel Morrall

  1. Large version 5.0 x 2.7
  2. Medium version 4.5 x 2.3

Silver Casket (All marked W. Avery & Son)

  1. Large version 4.7 x 2.2 (or 4.8 x 2.3) - with fountain on front and Headless Cross on reverse side (per Horowitz and Mann)
  2. Medium version 4.2 x 2 (or 4.2 x 2.3) - with fountain on front and Headless Cross on reverse side (per Horowitz and Mann)
  3. Large version 4.3 x 3.2 - with diamond shape and intricate shield on front and flowers in urn on the reverse side
  4. Medium version 3.8 x 2.7 - with diamond shape and intricate shield on front and flowers in urn on the reverse side
  5. Small version 3.8 x 1.8 - with fountain on front and flowers in urn on the reverse side
  6. Unknown size relative to others with fountain on front marked W. Avery & Son with geometric pattern and F. E & Co Toronto on the reverse side

Silver Needle Case

  1. Large version 4.5 x 2.3 - bent arm with wreath on front and flowers in urn on the reverse side marked Cook-Son & Co
  2. Medium version 4.2 x 2 - bent arm with wreath on front and flowers in urn on the reverse side marked Cook-Son & Co
  3. Small version 3.7 x 1.8 - bent arm with wreath on front and flowers in urn on the reverse side marked Cook-Son & Co
  4. Unknown size relative to others with unknown decoration marked W. Avery & Son (per Horowitz and Mann)

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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