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

Summer is Almost Over

By on 8-13-2010 in Embroidery, Vintage Patterns

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With autumn just around the corner I thought it was time for one last ‘sweet treat’ with these desserts from the Family Circle 1979 magazine. Family Circle created a mobile and I thought these desserts would make a ‘sweet’ little wall quilt or a summer table runner. A child’s bib could be adorned with the ice cream cone or sundae and the banana split would look great on a placemat. What ‘cool’ Christmas gifts they would make. These patterns would also look great as redwork embroidery, placed on cafe curtains for the summer months.

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Summer Always Means Berries

By on 7-29-2010 in Embroidery, Vintage Patterns

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Strawberries…….shortcake, jam, ice cream……… This strawberry pattern was published in the McCall’s Needlework Magazine, Summer, 1977. Wouldn’t these strawberries make a great summer table runner? Or maybe an embroidered border on a cafe curtain in the kitchen or on a cover for your home made strawberry jam.

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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

Kewpie Dolls…..remembering the little bisque dolls with blue wings

By on 6-24-2010 in Embroidery, Vintage Patterns

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Kewpie dolls are one of my favourite embroidery patterns. When I was a small child Kewpie dolls with their little blue wings were my companions during nap time. These days of the week Kewpie doll embroidery patterns come from McCall’s Needlework and Crafts September 1988 Collector’s Edition. They were first published during the 1930’s. They are so sweet and cuddly. They would make a great conversation piece embroidered onto a cafe curtain in your kitchen.

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This pattern is for Wednesday, a sewing day of course. The full seven days of the week are in a 824kb pdf document ready for download

Kewpie Doll Days of the Week, McCall’s Needlework and Crafts, September 1988 Collector’s Edition

A Hoot of an Owl

By on 5-23-2010 in art quilts, Embroidery, Vintage Patterns

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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.

hooty owl