Halloween Cats are Holiday “Purrfect”

By on 9-24-2010 in Embroidery, Vintage Patterns

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These cats from McCall’s Fall/Winter 1965-66 magazine are ready to “strut their stuff” under the moon on the spooky night. They were appliqued on a black pillow and would look just as good on a wall quilt along with ghosts and goblins. Created in less spooky colours and smaller eyes they would look great in a child’s room. One little cat would make a pin cushion stand out from all the others.

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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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