Vintage patterns-digital images and art-art quilts-mixed media
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
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
Betsy Nyhan’s Valentine Delight Quilt
The February 1986 McCall’s Magazine carried this pretty pattern. Designed by Betsy Nyhan, it is an exquisite way to use antique hankies, laces, pillow case edgings etc. She used antique hankies. The quilted heart pattern shown below, which was included in the article could be used for other applications as well. I can see it on an album cover, using trapunto to fill out the hearts. It would also look great as the center medallion for a small whole cloth quilt.
Betsy Nyhan’s Valentine Delight quilt pattern. This pattern is a 715kg PDF document. The heart is 6 1/2 ” x 6 1/2 “. Just the right size for a sweet wall quilt.
McCall’s Needlework Feb 1986 Valentine Delight, Designed by Betsy Nyhan
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