Lancashire cotton mills used bobbins from the mechanisation of weaving and spinning in the mid 19th century. Many had coloured ends to distinguish between departments or the ply of the yarns that were to be wrapped round the bobbins. These coloured ends now have a wonderful worn patina.

Jute is a long, soft, shiny vegetable fibre that can be spun into coarse, strong threads often called hessian. It grows best in warm and humid climates. Almost 85% of the world's jute cultivation is concentrated in the Ganges delta shared by Bangladesh and India.