I was gifted some overlock bobbins from the Button Factory at Leicester and later discovered that these overlock numbers were used to identify machinists as their textile work went down the line. Any garments that failed quality control could be returned to that specific machinist for alteration or repair.
Following my visit to the Shell Museum I felt inspired to use these delicate rolls of numbers to copy the rhythm and growth pattern of a seashell, coiling the overlock tabs from small to large and anchoring them down with cotton thread. Also included are 27 mother of pearl buttons made from the inner layer of certain shells.
