Talk:Aida cloth

which part of the article is "needing factual verification"? --Melaen 13:36, 1 September 2005 (UTC)

Someone who has a copy of the “Dictionary of Needlework” mentioned in the article needs to confirm that the definition actually comes from that book (and that edition, if there are others).

History
The history of this name is somewhat obscure, and has been discussed several times on the newsgroup rec.crafts.textiles.needlework. The general consensus there is that the cloth was originally named "Java Cloth", and the name was changed to "Aida Cloth" (possibly for marketing purposes) some time around the turn of the 20th century. One post to the newsgroup cites this early definition:

"'AIDA CANVAS--This material, introduced under the French name Toile Colbert, is a description of linen cloth. It is also called “Aida Cloth” and Java Canvas as well as “Fancy Oatmeal” ... A cotton cloth of the same make is known by different names, those most employed being Basket Cloth and Connaught.”" (from the “Dictionary of Needlework”, London 1887, possibly by Sophia Caulfield & Blanche Saward ISBN 0-907854-10-9)

Zweigart, a leading textile manufacturer in Germany and Switzerland, has claimed that they developed the first aida cloth in 1890.

Comment
Newsgroups are not acceptable citations and I was unable to locate any verification of the text claim on the Zweigart website. The remiaining citation is incomplete. Retaining this material on talk in case anyone wishes to verify it through reliable sources. Durova Charge! 00:36, 24 December 2007 (UTC)

The OED entry for Aida
A loosely woven linen cloth with an even mesh, traditionally used in cross-stitch embroidery. Freq. attrib., esp. in Aida cloth. Cf. Java canvas n. at Java n. 5.

1877  Englishwoman's Domest. Mag. Oct. 213/2  Antimacassar. Embroidery. Ground of Aida cloth. 1892  G. S. Cole Compl. Dict. Dry Goods (rev. ed.) (at Canvas),  Honeycomb, Java, Penelope, Aida, Railroad and Congress, are varieties of canvas, woven in small square meshes, used for working fancy embroidered toilet articles with the needle. 1916  Teacher's Jrnl. Jan. 353  The common sewing stitches worked out on Aida cloth. 1950  Hartford (Connecticut) Courant 2 Nov. 4/5 (advt.)    Needlepoint pin cushion on Aida Cloth. 1994  Pop. Crafts Dec. 23/1  Mark the centre of each piece of aida, lengthwise and widthwise with a line of basting stitches. 2001  M. Ferris Unraveled Sleeve vii. 96  She pulled her needle from its place on the border of the Aida cloth, consulted the Sue Lentz pattern, and took a couple of stitches.

The above is the full, current entry for Aida in the OED. It seems to me that it provides some of the historical sources that are being asked for, but also that it will need more work than I am willing to do at present to incorporate it seamlessly. I see they have a citation earlier that that claimed by Zweigart. MidlandLinda (talk) 15:45, 22 July 2013 (UTC)