An embroidery needlecase or Huswif

No, this isn't a little purse...its a huswif. It's perfect for embroidery with two pockets, one for floss and the other is large enough for a 6" x 6" square ruler (perfect for helping center designs for transfer) plus a little scissor pocket and a needle holder-both from felt. The design of the case is from Kaaren at The Painted Quilt-you can find it out here. (BTW, she's having a Go Giveaway that just started today!)

I changed the embroidery designs inside...(and I made it an inch wider at 8")

I went for a vintage sewing theme...I do love this little kitty...
and how could I not use this little girl doing embroidery!!!
I finally have something a lot nicer than a zip lock bag to keep my embroidery floss in while I'm working! :) I've always wanted a huswuf-makes me feel like I'm linked to a long line of sewers!

I'm linking to Finished for Friday at Lit and Laundry. Stop by and see this week's wonderful finishes.

Vintage Thursday Thingie:Iron-on Embroidery Transfers

This is one of the most interesting and unusual iron-on transfers I have. It is for a baby quilt and includes the central embroidery pattern-a baby in its crib with a spray of flowers behind it, the feather quilting pattern, the scallop for the quilt's edge- all with written notes to tell you what part of the design you're looking at,the corner design for embroidery and a scale sketch of the quilt to help you place all the elements in the right spot! and
general directions that tell you the right size piece of fabric to cut and even where to draw guide lines on your fabric to help you place the elements....all printed in iron-on ink even though only the embroidery patterns will actually get transferred!

Did you know that iron-on transfers have been around since 1874? They were developed by Briggs and Co. in England and brought to the US two years later for the Philadelphia Centennial...and they were a big hit. Before that, perforated patterns were used with either a powder or a paste to mark the cloth and were pretty messy. Soon iron-on transfers were being offered by a lot of different companies...if the ad said "Warm Iron"- the Briggs Co. slogan-then you knew you were getting the real deal!

My transfers are from the 1930s-40s....wish I had some early Briggs transfers! You can see some scans of Briggs transfers here.

For more vintage treasures...hop right on over to Coloradolady-our hostess for all the fun!

Vintage Thursday Thingie: Vintage Fabrics from the 1960s

These are some fabrics I've collected from the 1960s. Check out the hot pink and lime green! Aren't they in style now?

Here's an art book from 1965. Even the colors used to decorate the cover, shout 1960s.

Two weeks ago, I showed some vintage embroidery transfers. Here are two potholders I made using the transfers.

On the back, I used one of the 60s fabrics, even though the transfer designs are earlier.



For more Vintage Treasures, visit Coloradolady-just click on the button!

.

This and that applique and embroidery

I finished the February and March blocks for the A Tisket A Tasket BOM. I'm having alot of fun doing these but for now, applique is on hold. Allergy season has struck and even with medication, my eyes tear so much that I can't applique, I sneeze so vigorously and unexpectedly that I'm afraid to rotary cut and sewing on the machine, between the tears and the sneezes just isn't a good idea. But don't feel too sorry for me, there is always embroidery!

Here are two of the vintage embroidery patterns I showed last week...the girl and the boy will become pot holders soon. I also decided to try my hand at punchneedle embroidery.

I had no idea what I was doing but I was having alot of fun and I love the way this has turned out. It will be made into a pillow. The design is from an antique quilt, the Wickersham Signature Quilt. I got the book of patterns while visiting York, PA two years ago. There are lots of these funky basket blocks with the baskets way too small for the flowers. I love them!

I just picked up the needlepunch and pearl cotton and started away on the design I'd traced on the muslin. As I went along, I thought that I really didn't know what I was doing... why were there those big loops popping up and did I really need to knot? I found this great tutorial at Ribbons and Lace Cottage and after that things went even quicker and more smoothly.

I'm thinking of doing another...I love chenille and this is kind of similiar!

Vintage Thursday Thingie: Springtime Embroidery Transfers

Often when I buy vintage embroidery patterns, there is an element of mystery: I never know what will actually be in the box or envelope...and sometimes the little bits are the true treasures!Here are two partial pages of springtime designs...two little bit treasures!

On this page, spring is truly in the air: there is a ladybug (the only ladybug transfer I've ever seen) a bee, a butterfly, a dragonfly (again a first for me) and a hummingbird! On this page, there are two birds (one's definitely a cardinal, not sure about the other) but the real treasures here are the boy and girl. I'm pretty sure that these are potholder designs, which is why they are both half designs and include no legs. I love the way the girl's face is drawn in profile-my Mom could draw girls like that (probably from doodling in class-remember those dogs with big ears all our kids could draw!)

Both of these partial pages are printed on very thin paper...most of my vintage 30's embroidery transfer collection is printed on heavier stock (think construction paper) . The paper is so thin that the ink has printed through to the back and there is a shadowy look to both sheets, especially the bottom one. I don't think this is from ironing because who would iron the whole sheet as it is? Click on the pictures for a better, bigger look.

While incomplete sheets, both are 8" wide-like a sheet of paper. All of this makes me wonder if these were free premiums...anyone have any ideas? I know free premiums were given out...could these be "freebies"?

For more Vintage Treasures, visit Coloradolady-just click on the button!

.