Vintage patterns-digital images and art-art quilts-mixed media
This cute little round owl sitting in his tree was published in the McCall’s Fall and Winter 1973-1974 Needlework Magazine. Every time I see an owl I think of my mother-in-law who collected them. This whimsical fellow would look great on a pillow or tote or as a center panel on a quilt top. He could be done in a monochromatic colour scheme as well as standing out in bright colours on his own tree branch for a child’s room.
What a great way to practice your free motion stitching. This fire pattern is from the McCall’s Needle Thread Art Magazine Volume IV 1977.The colours are rich and depict the components of a fire well. This fire would look great on a postcard or in a nighttime waterfront landscape as a foreground focus.
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
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.
I love this rooster from two McCall’s Needlework & Craft Magazines. The pattern is from the Fall-Winter 1970-71 magazine. They used it for two mosaics, one made with beans and seeds and the other from nails and brads. I chose to use it as a quilt pattern. The edges of each of his feathers were left raw to give him a better “feathery” feel and a mother -of-pearl button turned to the back was used for his eye. My little rooster is hanging at the back door entry wall and greets everyone who enters through my door. He would also make a great cook book cover, or maybe painted onto a bread box or planter. It’s time to redo him and this time I think I will try different patterned fabrics for his feathers.
A 316kb pdf rooster pattern is here : McCall’s Magazine Rooster Pattern
These little vintage embroidered ornaments are in the McCall’s Christmas Make-it Ideas, Volume X, 1967 magazine. Embroidered on felt they lend themselves well to updated stitches and fabrics. I chose a muslin backing and red floss to do the little piglet. It hasn’t been put together into an actual ornament yet, but it will have a red backing along with a fringed, muslin border. Rather than using satin stitch for fill and a back stitch for lines I chose chain stitch with two strands of floss. The chain stitch fills easily without puckering on a project without a hoop. I back my muslin with a piece of flannelette to give strength to the piece as well as hiding any cross stitching on the back.
Isn’t this little piglet sweet? He would certainly stand out on any Christmas Tree. He could also be used throughout the year for a package ornament.
Patterns for all 5 ornaments, a 610kb PDF file, can be downloaded here: McCall’s Christmas Make It Ideas, Volume X, Embroidered Ornaments
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