Christmas in August

By on 8-26-2010 in Christmas Patterns, Embroidery, Vintage Patterns

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August is the month to start preparing gifts for Christmas. Jams and jellies from this year’s fruits and herbs would make great gifts. As gifts they need to be presented with frills and covers. Crafts Plus October 1995 magazine published some very pretty, but easy and quick covers to make during this busy month. Susan Bolton designed the apples in the basket which could be put on apple butter, apple sauce or apple jelly or anything else apples. Mary Driscoll designed the ‘cool mint’ stencil. Mint jelly was a favourite with my mother-in-law at all her turkey dinners. There is also a palm tree which would look great on a jar of jelly made from tropical fruits. A hardanger cover is also included which could go on any jar you give at Christmas.

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You can download all four patterns shown, plus the hardanger cover instructions here. It is a 222kb pdf document Jam Jar Covers, Crafts Plus Sept/Oct, 1995

Christmas in July

By on 7-14-2010 in Christmas Patterns, Embroidery, Original Pattern

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Summer is finally here to stay. It is hot, hot, hot. July is another snowman month. This time Freddy is wrapped up in a stocking cap. He is outlined in chain stitch and French knots give him his polka dots. Enjoy and feel free to use this pattern as well as the first Freddy pattern from March. A mention would be great and expected as a goodwill gesture.

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Christmas in June

By on 6-30-2010 in Christmas Patterns, Embroidery, Vintage Patterns

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A black work embroidered angel from McCall’s Needlework Magazine, July/August 1982 heralds Christmas morning in style. The stitch instructions are included with the pattern. She would look good as a door ornament or a little Christmas quilt to throw over a rocking chair. A matching tree skirt could round out the set as well.

angel

Christmas in May

By on 5-17-2010 in Christmas Patterns, Vintage Patterns

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Sunbonnet Sue, one of my favourite quilting figures. Who can resist her, especially as a little angel? These little angels from the Better Homes and Gardens Christmas Issue 1976 were done in colours used in that decade. She was stuffed and had two dimensional wings so she could hang on a tree or as a swag over a mantle. I prefer her done in real red and green Christmas colours. She would look great adorning a Christmas tree skirt or as a Christmas quilt for your favourite rocking chair.

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Christmas in April

By on 4-15-2010 in Christmas Patterns, Embroidery, Vintage Patterns

ornaments

The first time I saw these little ornaments in McCall’s Christmas Vol X magazine I loved them, but didn’t like the colours they chose at the time. No actual pattern was given. McCall’s instructions were to paste them onto cardboard and cut them out as ornaments. They would look great stitched in Christmas colours on a black or white background. You could also stitch them in one solid colour on a plain muslin backing as in Redwork. I have prepared a pattern page for you to use and posted the first four. The other six are included in a 514kb pdf file which you can download.

McCall’s Christmas Make It Ideas Volume X Cookie Cutter Ornaments

ornament pattern

ornaments

Christmas in March

By on 3-12-2010 in Christmas Patterns, Embroidery, Original Pattern

Happy Freddy Snowman

Freddy is a very cute snowman. His smile says “I’m happy and I feel like bursting out laughing”. I have completely embroidered him with a chain stitch except for his nose. I filled his nose with a few French knots. I chose a soft white diaper flanellette rather than a smooth muslin. I like my snowmen to be soft and fuzzy. I sketched him on Tuesday morning and finished the embroidery Tuesday evening. In this 3 inch square version he is free to use. I am drawing more of him with different hats. He sure is a pleasure to sketch as he makes me smile when I look at him. When I am finished all the different hats I will use a larger version to make a very happy Christmas wall quilt.

Freddy Snowman