This is a minuscule illustration from my 1928 McCall’s Needlework Catalog which was scanned it at a very high resolution and traced in Photoshop. I had to take a few liberties with the lines where the quality was poor, but I hope the results are usable. Click images to enlarge.
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…
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…
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…
Okay . . . it’s actually Tuesday and I’m late, but these transfers were in bad shape and had to be redrawn in Photoshop, which takes way longer than the usual clean up. They’re pretty cute, though, and I hope you enjoy them. I made a quilt using these designs for a co-worker before I…
Click on the image to view, download or print the instruction sheet and patterns for these cute appliquéd animals with embroidered details.
McCall’s 1462 — Pattern contains 13 different designs from 4 to 8 1/2 inches high. May be stamped on heavy paper, then traced around on colored material. Delightful for nursery curtains, quilts, etc. Click to enlarge individual images below
Turn dish drying into a rollicking show with glassware, dishes, pots and pans staging a gay outline-stitch revue on your dish towels. Here are saucy dancing girls (plates and teacups), an urbane vaudevillian with high hat and cane (the pot), a boy and girl dance team (glasses), the scatter-brained comic pair (skillets), and the sure-fire…
These politically incorrect “squaw dresses” were a fad in the 50s, and my mother made elaborate versions for me and two of my sisters. This involved sewing yards of rick-rack on blouses and 3-tired skirts made with vibrantly colored wrinkly cottons marketed, of course, as “squaw cloth.” When I was growing up in Oklahoma, and…
McCall’s Kaumagraph Pattern 1287, DOW designs featuring Raggedy Ann.
Here are more quilting designs from my 1936 McCall’s Needlework catalog. I can’t believe they suggest using carbon paper to transfer the pattern to your quilt top. Do not do this! More McCall’s designs are available in an earlier post. Click images to enlarge. No. 1980. Printed Pattern for Quilting Motifs. Prics, 40 cents. Here are…
I’m sorry about the quality of these images, but the original illustrations in my 1936 McCall’s Designs for Needlework catalogue are only 1″. They are scanned at a fairly high resolution, so hopefully you will be able to print and trace the designs to fit blocks up to 12 inches. The first block has a nice matching border….
Even though it is not even mentioned in this catalog description from 1936, I think these feathers would also look wonderful on a quilt. I haven’t attempted trapunto quilting, but it’s on my bucket list. Click images to enlarge. No. 306 – Transfer Design for Quilting. Price 30 cents. With scatter motifs in this graceful feather…
No. 65 – Transfer Design for Cross-Stitch and Outline Motifs. Blue. Price, 25¢ Military motifs, outlined in brave colors, and prim little figures in cross-stitch are gay for nursery linens and children’s garments. Simplicity of line and color is the charm of these motifs. Pattern includes 2 or 4 each of the motifs illustrated from…