"Lady in crochet"

I just snapped this pic with my camera from a magazine that was sitting on my desk - McCall Needlework, Winter 1948-9.

Show and tell

Just a quick show and tell of something I stitched up recently, a HIS pillowcase, featuring the bird and violin from Beetastic's Vogart 707 and I used the "his" transfer from one of my old mystery sheets. I added the music notes for a touch of kitsch.

Bonnets and baking (Workbasket 2-910)

In direct contrast to my previous post, today's pattern is a totally clothed woman from the Workbasket magazine, dating from November 1944. The sheet has 7 Colonial lady motifs for DOW tea towels, and patterns for an "Animal Collection" of little stuffed toys, including a chick, duck, giraffe, zebra, camel, elephant and rabbit all around 5 inches high.

The lady with the bonnet (and cap) is doing your usual things, Monday washing etc, although on Wednesday she's sitting in a rocking chair knitting. I picked Saturday's baking pic to show you, as I thought it might go nicely with Vogart's "Bake on Saturday" design. Plus, baking is the only household chore I have any interest in! Let me know if you'd like to see any of the others.

PS. I might have to re-scan this one, as the quality is lacking.

Stitchy Facelift!

I'm always playing with the blog template, I was about to say "no prizes for guessing the inspiration", but well... If you leave a comment and tell me which pattern company inflenced the latest header design, I'll pick one of the comments at random and send you a transfer by that same company. Just to say thanks for reading, and to encourage de-lurking!

xx Drewzel

NB. I can't guarantee which transfer, if it's complete or uncut, etc etc, but it will be stitchable and nice.

By request : for the birds

A veritable deluge of stitching delights here for you this week on the Stitchy Britches! Mostly because my carpal tunnel is giving me grief, so no stitching for me. (The operation is looking more appealing every day.) As birdie love is strong out there, here's some extra birdie designs for you. I'm always happy to check the collection for motifs you'd like to see, but make sure you let me know and show me if you stitch it up!

First one, from the aforeblogged Vogart 703, especially for Claire:

And here are a couple of modern ones that I found at the op-shop on Monday - scanned for Steph:

A little wee bird:
If you drop by, be sure to vote in my sidebar poll - so far "people" are leading! It also lets me know what you'd like to see more of. I seem to be the only punter who voted for "kitties" ...and I didn't dare put "chickens" as an option!

Workbasket 82 : DOW tea towel girls

I think this one is a Workbasket transfer, although it has no markings, only the number 82. The instructions, paper and colour of the sheet are the same as the Workbasket sheets, and this one features morning glories, pansy pillowcase, and these little girls. One thing I like about the Workbasket sheets is how the artists seem to fill in the gaps with random flowers, scrolls and anything that takes their fancy. This one has a smiling kitty for no apparent reason:

Although now that I think about it, maybe you're supposed to put him with the little girls, he's the right scale for that.
There's no word lettering on this one, so for a change, you can choose what day you do which chore (except for maybe church on Sunday, the little girl is there with a hymnbook singing away. ) Anyway, I picked baking and ironing to share...I love her frilly bloomers!

Hola! It's Workbasket 2-943

This sheet is the usual panoply of designs and projects, there's a luncheon cloth, pillowslip, scarf, and child's garment motifs. I found out here that it dates to August 1947.

As I was extracting the morning glories from this Workbasket transfer, I thought I'd show you the "Mexican designs for luncheon cloths and napkins." The instructions recommend using "bright fiesta colours - red, green, blue, orange and turquoise". The girl is rather pretty:

I'm not sure if she's got her eyes shut in a coquettish flutter, or she's about to pass out from the weight of the fruit on her head! I've never been to Mexico, but from my impressions of the country from Stitchy World, every woman walks around with a fruit basket on her head, and every man will sing to you:

This mariachi fellow looks a bit cheesy to me!

And of course, there's always a donkey:

Alas, no chickens.
Ole!