Stitch along with Mike's!

I'm a bad britches, stitchy friends, I know I am. But good stitchy fun is currently happening on the Meet me at Mike's blog. They've got a nice list of links to free Christmassy patterns, and they're having their own Christmas stocking stitch along, with two of their own designs. Pip's also put up some embroidery basics tutorials and they're all rather splendid. So if you haven't already, check it out! That should keep you out of mischief for a while!

Here's one that's been stitched, by a lovely gal at Brown Owls last Monday:

walkers 705

walkers 705, originally uploaded by drewzel.

Hi Stitchy friends,
I scanned this one ages ago and promptly forgot about it...hopeless aren't I? I found it in my Flickr just now. I don't have many Walker's transfers but I do like their style, they are more "realistic" than the stylised animals of Vogart and Aunt Martha's (which I also adore.) It depends what you're looking for. I'm guessing these date from around the 1940's and I can't even remember where I got them now! Another good thing about Walker's is that they always appear to give you double copies of the transfer sheet, which is a nice bonus, so usually the ones I've found, even if one sheet is used, the other will usually be intact. Hurrah!

And because our kitty friend on rollerskates is a popular motif...here you are:

scottie kittie1, originally uploaded by drewzel.

Click on the picture to go to Flickr and get sizes for printing.

Sailor girl and Sailor boy

sailor girl, originally uploaded by 'Playingwithbrushes'.

Given the fact that I've been neglecting my scanning lately, when I find something cute and stitchy in my Interweb travels I have to share with you. Two cuties to stitch, from a vintage colouring book, courtesy of Playing with Brushes' Flickr.

I know it's not vintage...

but I've just fell in love with these:

Go forth and make!

Iron On Transfer Pencil tutorial

If you're a newcomer to the stitching thing and are a bit stumped by the phrase: "Just print off a copy, transfer to your fabric and off you go!" (I'm sure I've used those words before.) ...Sparkly Green Knickers has put up a iron on pencil tutorial here. And I think it's fabulous! [Check out her cute scooter design too.]

Stitching Fun

Coloring Fun - Cake 1, originally uploaded by Glen Mullaly.

I came across these on Flickr today and thought "tea towels!"
The caption from the Flickr owner reads: "Illustration from the "Coloring Fun" feature "Let's Bake a Cake", Humpty Dumpty's magazine January 1958. Illustrated by Dave Lyons.
Print these on plain white stock and Crayola your brains out!"

...so I think he wouldn't mind us stitching them either?

An idea

70's invitation, originally uploaded by Vintage LOVE.

From the same photostream as the last pic, how cute would this one look embroidered up? Circa 1970's.

Vintage embroidery - Mexico

Vintage embroidery- Mexico, originally uploaded by Vintage LOVE.

How wonderful is this? I found this pic on Vintage Love's Flickr.

I must apologise for the lack of posts of late, having to take down all the Vogart ones knocked the wind out of my sails, so to speak, but I'll be back soon with some cute patterns!

Regarding Vogart

Ditto to Doe-c-doe's post here. If you're a Hoop Love member you can read the discussion in the group. I'm so sad. Hopefully things will become clearer soon.

Inspiration Pic

The Everything Bag, originally uploaded by bianca.cristina.

I love everything about this bag, the colours, the embroidery, the design choice.
Hooray!

Fun on Rollerskates!

By popular demand, here's the kitty from the set I blogged a few weeks back.

Aunt Martha's vegie melodrama

aunt marthas vegies, originally uploaded by drewzel.

I scanned this one, because I saw it blogged the other week with a different cover, I'll find the link and add it in here. Update : - it was Claudia's blog, the patterns are here.

Crochet time: a "shoulderette" to make

shoulderette, originally uploaded by drewzel.

I might have to re-scan the picture as it hasn't come out very well, it's a rather lovely crocheted shrug. If you click on "original" on the Flickr page, the instructions are clear and easy to read.

Stitchy Stitchy

Stitchy Stitchy, originally uploaded by painter girl.

I just loved this pic!

Stitch-a-long #3

summer SAL, originally uploaded by stitchinwitch3.

So much stitching goodness! Click on the photo for a closer look. And I shamefully admit I haven't even started yet.

Stitch-along #2

Mid-Year SAL Pillow Case - In progress, originally uploaded by littlewarrior.

Another example of Stitch-along beauty! I know this might sound silly, but this one looks so "juicy", it's making me drool!

Mid-Year 2008 Stitch-along #1

Mid-Year 2008 SAL, originally uploaded by rufffledfeathers.

Look at one of the beautiful pieces I found on flickr today for the Embroidery group stitch-along. Blogged at www.ruffledfeathers.typepad.com.

Remember Hobbytex?

Today's transfers are a recent op-shop (aka thrift store) find. A pack of Hobbytex iron-on transfers, simply marked "No. 302 children designs". They were wrapped up in a plastic bag when I bought them, so I couldn't check what was in there until I got it home, and lo and behold:

More Vogart - a sheet of "Jolly Farmyard Scenes" (aka Vogart 705) and a mixture of kitty and doggy patterns from Vogart 102 and the days of the week kitties. Does anyone know how Vogart patterns ended up being licensed to Hobbytex and Made in Australia*? I know Vogart used to make fabric paint at one stage too... I might have to go a-Google-ing Hobbytex.

I think there's a sheet missing from the pack as the other sheets are marked B, C and D. The third sheet I have I'm guessing is a Hobbytex original, as I've never seen it before, and the designs defintely seem to be geared towards fabric painting rather than embroidery. I like the designs though, they're good and "boyish": sailboats, racing cars, a rodeo rider and an assortment of old aeroplanes.

So if the wee boys in your life don't want a kitteh or a doggie, then I think this Spitfire-like fighter plane is the way to go!

*(..as the patterns proclaim. I like seeing "Made in Australia" on things.)

PS. Yes, I realise that the flags and the winning cup are still upside down on the first car pic, but I know my stitchy friends have the technology to overcome this.

Hello!

Just a quick update, sorry for the lack of stitchy goodness lately, I've been on holidays:

But now I'm back and stitchiness will resume shortly. Thanking!

Mid-year stitch along 2008

I'm a bit behind the 8-ball at the moment, but I just found this in the Flickr embroidery group. I'm very flattered that they're using a design from my Stitchybritches Vogart stash, so of course I'm playing along. And you should too! I can't can't can't wait to see what everyone makes! Yay!

Superior 140 : 7 kitten motifs

It's time for some DOW tea towels. I love to stitch a kitteh, and these ones are so sweet they will give you the proverbial toothache! Little kittys doing household tasks, we can never get enough of them. Neither it seems could Superior brand transfers, for I have a lot of transfers from that particular company that feature cats.

Kitty is ironing, hanging out the washing (wearing roller skates no less), singing at church, sweeping the floor, mending clothes, having a tea party, and on a tricycle doing the shopping. All the time she has a little friend doggy or a stuffed toy to help her. The relationship between cats and dogs in transfer-land always amuses me, as it has little relation to real life cat-dog interaction. Unless of course, in this transfer below, the doggy is about to come and nip her on her posterior. That would be like my animals - Lola can't see a cat bottom go past without chasing it.

Of course, like all good homemakers, she's providing tea for all (that's one of my founding principles, "tea for all") and little stuffed teddy, kitty and bunny are happy to play along. As the pattern says, these are meant to be for days-of-the-week towels, but they'd look cute on children's quilts or bed linen as well. Whilst I don't want to muscle in on the Vogart hyperbole, in my opinion:

These darling designs are quick and easy to sew, and a choice of gay, bright colours will make your towels come alive and add fun to your modern kitchen. Children will love their own towels stitched with Miss Kitten and her friends, and a set will make washing hands no longer a chore! Just stitch these designs and instantly you will become more attractive, and they will bring good fortune and friends into your life. Your home will be beautiful, your children, beaming with health, rosy cheeked and perfectly scrubbed and well behaved, and your husband will cherish the perfect homemaker that he married.

Ooops, think I'm getting carried away now.... help me!......argh....

Not technically vintage

...but I've been enjoying this site for more stitch inspiration and patterns. Very cute!

Was just looking...

at this lovely blog, and this post has a pic of some of these Vogart patterns, stitched and original. Just gorgeous!

1930s German Magazine Cover Art

1930s German Magazine Cover Art, originally uploaded by nyctreeman.

Inspiration...I'd like to do something stitchy with this image.

Super cute

Have you clicked on the link in my sidebar and looked at Sarah's site? Lots of crafty goodness, shared for your enjoyment. I was just clicking away and have decided that I gotta stitch up this one asap...as penny squares for a little kid's quilt I think. Chickens! And other cute kid's things, circa 1940.

And the winner is...

Stacy! Please email me : podbobbins[at]gmail{dot}com with your mailing address.

Here's the pictures to show you it was a fair, out of the hat - well cardboard box - draw.

I'll put a photo of the prize up when I make it all look pretty...but it's a calico tote bag to stitch, stitching transfers, vintage floss, and vintage hankie. And lollies. Hoooray!!

Too many watched cooks never sing for their supper

Here's a rather delightful transfer from Superior, simply titled "6 Towel Appliques" which is a bit of a shame, given that the transfers are rather fun. The marketing team at Superior could have taken a leaf out of Vogart's book and claimed that "these designs will put some sparkle and fun back into the kitchen!" or told us that "your kitchen will rise and shine with our cheerful appliques." But no, the envelope back only has stitch descriptions and colour suggestions. So we have: a watched pot never boils, sing for your supper, too many cooks, time to shine, a penny saved, and sugar and spice. The packet also contains the shape transfers for you to add fabric as well. (I think I might give one of these a go actually, they've rather charmed me.)

This pattern combines applique, embroidery and cross stitch, so it's definitely worth giving a go, if you're not a cross stitcher, as the "zany" placement of the text is very forgiving for a beginning stitcher. I'll add "sing for your supper" later, as I think that's the sweetest, but in the meantime, here's "too many cooks". I can relate to this one, as Mr Stitchy is the chef of our household, so much so that when I'm cooking, he can't help himself from pottering around next to me and keeping an eye on what I'm doing. And yes, if you're curious, my stitching is much better than my cooking!

Bluebird and roses

...but not whiskers on kittens. Soon it will be Winter in Australia, stitchy friends, and I'm starting to feel it...I'm bolstering myself with lashings of craft books, cups of tea and the comfort of the couch. So my apologies for my absence of late. But you know what always cheers me up? Wee birdies! So here's some more.
These little birds originally came from a mail order advertisement in a newspaper, and happily, whoever originally ordered the pattern kept the newspaper clipping:

" Simple embroidery" from "our new and exciting Needlework book for 1956!"
"So simple, a child could do these embroidery stitches!" "Dozens of other designs to order, all easy, fascinating hand-work!"
You know, I'm willing to part with my 25 cents for my copy of "this wonderful book" right now!

Alas, I think I'd get a "Dear Crazy Person" reply to my letter, if indeed The Daily Review is still at that address in New York. In the meantime, let's enjoy the birdies and rosies and whiskers on kittens...

[click on the picture for a printable size]

What cheers you up, by the way? Leave me a comment on this post by the end of the week (Friday that is), and I'll pick someone at random for a stitchy pressie suprise!

For wee ones

Today I was tidying up my craft room (it's an endless task) and I thought I'd scan these baby bib designs for you. They're from the same Workbasket sheet as the non-scary clowns and they have the days of the week plus a few little pictures to add with them. So if you've got little ones to make pressies for, some of these would look very sweet on little singlets, onesies or the bibs.


I think the vintage-style toys are charming, do kids still play with wooden elephants on strings, tin tops and have piggy banks?

Animal potholders : the return

Hello Stitchy Friends, I know I've been conspicuous by my absence this week, so I thought I'd pop in with the rest of the disturbed animal potholders for your stitching fun.

Here's the bad kitty about to eat a birdie, "duck dinner" and attack of the bees:

And "first prize" piggy to complete your set:

Sunday : odds and ends

This isn't today's pattern, but I found these this morning, so I thought I'd share. These little designs, Stitchy friends, come from loose odds and ends in my pattern collection.
Weldon's spring flowers:

A rose is a rose is a rose:

And a butterfly and stylised flower design:

Sorry the quality isn't very good, they're all quite old and crusty, and the Weldon's one was yellow ink, so the scanner wasn't happy. I think someone else has shared the same or similar flowers from Weldon's too, let me have a look and get back to you.

Saturday : things for kidlets

Today's designs come from a sheet that is green ink on coarse cream paper, and again, I don't know the maker. It's a set of designs for baby bibs or children's clothes, including scottie dogs, cutesy things, and some nursery rhyme characters.

There's the Old Woman who lived in the Shoe:



The cross stitch Express:

And the three bears (Goldilocks is nowhere to be seen!) looking rather despondent, yet sinister:

Again I'm only guessing, but I'd say 1930's for this one. I'd recommend stitching the shoe lady for maximum cuteness, as those bears are creeping me out!

Friday: little birdies

This one is a detail from a larger picture that won't fit on my scanner, so until I sort that, enjoy some wee birdie cuteness! [I don't know the maker, it looks like single use blue ink on tissue paper and I'd guess from the 30's.]

PS. Yes Claire, this one's for you!