For the past few weeks I’ve been working on Emily’s latest Halloween costume. This year she asked me to make the Cyndi Lauper outfit from the “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” video, which was, appropriately, a lot of fun to make. It’s a coincidence, since I recently posted a squaw apron pattern, and the skirt Cyndi wears…
Author: Martha
Free Pattern Friday – Lily of the Valley Embroidery Designs
Sarah Hale Hunter, 1913 There are more lily of the valley designs in an earlier post.
Free Pattern Friday — Embroidery Design for Monogramed Cushion
This pattern was published in the San Antonio Light in 1916.
Liberated Basket Quilt-a-Long — Fishy Border
I live on the Pacific Northwest coast, so of course I’m going to make salmon for my fish border. Still, even though I came up with an idea right away, it took me forever to stitch them, and I just barely finished in time. Also, I ran into the same problem I had with the log…
McCall’s Monday — Sunbonnet Sue DOW – Part 2
Here are the last 3 patterns in this McCall’s version of Sunbonnet Sue. The Sunday – Wednesday patterns can be found in last Monday’s post.
Free Pattern Friday — Jane Alan’s Basket Quilt with Appliquéd Flowers
These clippings have no identifying newspaper or date, but I was able to find some information about Jane Alan and her patterns on the Quilt History Tidbits website. A new quilt pattern was published each week during the early 1930s, and templates were provided. This series of four baskets were constructed on point with checked gingham for…
McCall’s Monday — Sunbonnet Sue DOW
Every one of these patterns needed to be completely redrawn. I enjoy the process but it’s slow — each design takes 30-45 minutes. Unfortunately, I only managed to get four done for this post, but the other three will appear next week. There are many other Sunbonnet patterns in earlier posts: Laura Wheeler 1509 and 1558 — Laura Wheeler 897 — Vogart 105…
Free Pattern Friday — Heirloom Quilts Booklet
Click image to view, download or print the pdf file.
McCall’s Monday — Design for Children’s Outline Motifs
These catalog illustrations are tiny, but hopefully they are simple enough, and I’ve scanned them at a high enough resolution, that you will be able to trace them. Simple and attractive are the little picture motifs shown above for working in colored strand cottons. Flower girl in center is 3 1/8″ x 3 1/4 inches, 2…
Free Pattern Friday — Jungle Picture Embroidery Pattern, 1923
Tiny Fingers Can Turn This Jungle Picture Into a Beautiful Cushion Top “Here is a gift that the tiny seamstress can make for Grandmother or Aunty. The entire pattern should be worked in simple stitches and when finished it will make a nice cover for a pillow. Use white or colored lines and transfer the…
McCall’s Monday — Child’s Picture Patch Quilt, #1633
I’ve always loved this pattern, which appears in my May, 1929 catalog, McCall’s Designs for Needlework and Decorative Arts. People often refer to it as a circus quilt, and I can understand that, but there’s no circus reference in the catalog description. My scaled drawings are copied from the catalog illustration. The illustrator eliminated some of…
Tops From the Trunk — Unknown Diamond Pattern
I love this unusual pattern, but I have not been able to find a name or photo anywhere. If you have any information about the pattern, I would love to hear from you. The diamond shaped pieces appear to be from the 1950s, with bright solids and small novelty and floral prints. Although it must have…
Free Pattern Friday — Dogs and Cats Embroidery Transfers
Stitchcraft Magazine, 1956 More cat transfers are available in an earlier post.
Free Pattern Friday — Laura Wheeler #918, Birds and Polkadot Dishes
Liberated Basket Medallion Quilt-a-Long — Star Border
Once again, I spent about a week thinking about this border before I finally settled on a design. I had hoped to do an appliquéd border this time to balance all the pieces in the log cabin blocks, but I’m not that great at appliqué, and a star shape seemed too challenging. To make the stars…