Bucilla was founded in 1867 by Bernhard Ulmann, a European emigrant who lived in Woodside, New York. Mr. Ulmann originally sold napkins, doilies and handkerchiefs printed with silk-screened embroidery designs from a pushcart on the streets of east New York. In 1870, he opened his first and only retail store; in 1875, he began to sell his products to other retailers.
The company was first known as Bernhard Ulmann Company, Incorporated (Lace, Linen, and Accessories). It was shortened to Bucilla, an acronym of the longer name. The company grew steadily and was well known for quality products and designs. It soon became the leader of a very small and fragmented industry.
In addition to providing high-quality yarns and supplies for knitting, needlepoint, and embroidery, Bucilla became a well-known publisher of books and patterns related to needlework. Instructional books on various needlework methods, knitting, and pattern books were enormously popular and helped Bucilla become a common household name.
In 1996, the company was purchased by the Dyson-Kissner-Moran Corporation and placed under the direction of Plaid Enterprises, where it remains today. Bucilla continues to meet the needs of consumers by providing quality products, trend-right designs, and the best possible customer service. As new consumers discover the joy of time spent creating handcrafted items, Bucilla will continue to "thread a tradition" of needlecrafting to a new generation-for decades to come.
