Category Archives: machine embroidery

Frog Ballet

Posted on April 20, 2010 | Leave a comment

Laurel, comparing sizes with her birthday

It’s nice to have a quick and easy little project in answer to the regularly scheduled question, “Will you make me something, Nana?”

This comfortable two-piece knit outfit is just the sort of thing that Laurel likes to wear in the summer.  The skirt features three froggy ballerinas from Sew Many Designs’ (www.sewmanydesigns.com) Feelin’ Froggy applique’ collection.  The shirt is embroidered with a pair of ballet slippers hanging from a floral swag.

Machine embroidered applique’  is especially suitable for knits because the designs are usually not as stitch intensive a filled motif.  Sew Many Designs is one of my favorite sites.   Their collections cover every subject,  are cute as can be and are reasonably priced.  And  they always stitch out beautifully.

 

It is so hard to find children’s wear like this, with no embroidery or screen printing.  I bought a set in blue and red, but wish I had bought one of each color available.  Then the next time she asks me to make her something, I can whip something up in a heartbeat.

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Posted in clothing, embroidery blanks, girls, machine embroidery

One More Pillowcase Monogram

Posted on April 19, 2010 | Leave a comment

Nicky pc

It’s no secret that pima cotton pillowcases are one of my favorite wedding and shower gifts. The king size pillowslip shown is one of a set of six made for a wedding shower gift.

There is nothing very remarkable about them, except that the bride-to-be is a rather tailored young lady whose personal taste does not gravitate to flowery designs or frilly housewares, which is exactly where my preferences lie.

So when I opened my BuzzXplore program and pulled up this monogram alphabet from Martha Pullen’s 2002 Embroidery Club, I was satisfied that it would fill the bill. Continue reading →

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Posted in home dec, machine embroidery

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“In the Pink of Life” Quilt

Posted on April 16, 2010 | 12 comments

NOTE: This post is from an article I wrote for Creative Needle magazine some time ago. Made for my daughter Rebecca, this is one of my favorite projects.

French ribbon, Swiss basket embroidery, Grannie-made tatting

Heirloom Sewing Goods and Techniques~~~Long identified as the preeminent tone of femininity, pink is often the color of the daygown, embroidery, hair ribbons and other loving embellishments in a girl’s life. The pieces used for the crazy patch squares in this quilt include pink remembrances of my daughter, Rebecca, as well as other gourmet leftovers from earlier projects.

Chinese tatted medallion, pink lace tape, silk rosebud, antique lace

The pink damask napkins represent adulthood–the pleasures and responsibilities of hospitality, graciousness and family celebrations.

antique lace, Swiss butterfly, drawn thread napkin lined with pink batiste

The quilt shows extensive lace-to-lace joining, tucks and other techniques long-practiced by heirloom stitchers. Bits of leftover handlooms and embroideries from baby dresses, lengths of tatting from Easter dresses, pieces of a fancyband of champagne laces and pink lace tape used in a pillow, and salvaged pieces from Grandmother’s cutwork tablecloth are joined in crazy patch harmony, much like crazy patches of memory. The resulting patchwork creation is of a very different genre than the countrified bed coverings shown in living color in quilt magazines.

Continue reading →

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Posted in antique textiles, Binche Lace, heirloom sewing, home dec, lace tape, machine embroidery, quilts, techniques

Treasure (Bug) Bag

Posted on April 15, 2010 | 1 comment

“A treasure to a little boy does not consist of money, gems or jewelry.  He will find far greater pleasure in the wonder of a rock, pebble, stick or beetle.”  Author Unknown

Robert, 5, with his first bug bag

Robert, 5, with his first bug bag

I’ve always referred to this as a bug bag, but after reading this statement, I am renaming it a treasure bag. Boys and bugs go together like peanut butter and jelly, and many a peanut butter jar has been called into service as a bug container. But this version is better.

Made of regular fiberglass screen from the hardware store, the basic teepee bag style makes a very unique and wonderful gift for any boy and most girls. My two older grandchildren, Robert and Laurel, each have at least two of these bags because, according to them, they needed them! When pressed for an explanation of why a child might need more than one bug bag, I was informed that bug hunting with a friend is much more fun and each would need a separate bag. And what if they caught so many bugs that the bag were filled to capacity? There were more reasons, some more logical than others, but of course, I made two for each child.

 

TreasureBugBagprofBrite

Of course, this bag could be a simple container made from screen but it is so much fun to embellish it with machine embroidery. The bag Robert holds is embroidered with several bugs, including a column of marching ants and a ladybug. Continue reading →

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Posted in bags, machine embroidery, uncategorized

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April Showers

Posted on April 13, 2010 | Leave a comment

 

UPDATE:  While perusing my antique needlework magazines, I came across an article about embroidered parasols.  Does anyone know of a pattern or source for the hardware?  See article below.

I think this is so neat.  Judy Day monogrammed this umbrella for her granddaughter.  Whether or not she is the first to do this I can’t say, but I have never heard of it.  Continue reading →

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Posted in machine embroidery, techniques

Strawberry Sundress

Posted on April 11, 2010 | Leave a comment

strawberrysundressBrite

With the sweet spring weather we have had these past few weeks, I have had sundresses on my mind.  I came across pictures of this little sundress that I made for Laurel the summer that she was two.

Many such sundresses had been made for my daughter Rebecca from that age on, from a pattern that my friend Mary Hale Hoffmann and I made up.  Smocking this garment brought back sweet memories of those days.

Our daughters were the same age and we smocked around the clock for them.  This pattern was so easy and economical that our girls wore them like school uniforms.

We used the armhole curve from Katina, a Children’s Corner sundress pattern with a narrow yoke.  We added the width of the yoke to the armhole curve and voila’ we were in business!

 

strawberrybloomersBrite

Continue reading →

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Posted in clothing, girls, machine embroidery, smocking, techniques

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Aunt Rheeta’s Communion Cloth

Posted on April 10, 2010 | 6 comments

The linen is white, but the lighting was so poor that I had to edit the picture to show details.

 

 

Very few sewing projects have given me as much pleasure and satisfaction as this one. Made 2 years ago, in collaboration with my dear aunt, Rheeta Booth, for her church, this set of liturgical linens includes an altar cloth (cover) and communion veil which covers the elements before communion is served.

 

 

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Aunt Rheeta was so excited about this project. The exquisite Swiss liturgical lace had been purchased several years before, from Farmhouse Fabrics.    At the time, I had no specific plan but felt certain this exceptional lace it would fill a very special need.

 

communionclothcenterfront1

 

Several years ago, when Aunt Rheeta returned from Russia, where she had served as a missionary, she brought with her a lovely hand embroidered cloth. She donated it to her very small church for use as a communion cloth, but through the years, it had become worn.

During her visit two years ago, we were plundering in the sewing room when I happened upon the lace. The light in her eyes told me it had found its purpose.

Continue reading →

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Posted in church projects, heirloom sewing, machine embroidery

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Even-Steven

Posted on April 9, 2010 | Leave a comment

Now this is a terrific modern project for an old fashioned Nana. Finding something to make for older boys is a real challenge, but these quick and easy, low maintenance pajamas are just the thing for any guys who no longer wear sleepers.  And that includes men.

Judy Day made this sleep set for her 8 year old grandson. His name is not Steven, but this was made to keep things even.  She loves heirloom sewing and smocking for his prissy little sister, but she always includes something special for Jackson. These were in his Easter package.

 

She simply purchased a pair of knit shorts and a tee shirt in colors to match the alma mater of Jackson’s maternal grandfather.  Since the boy already has more University of Tennessee Volunteers gear than most of the football team, he requested some Georgia Tech attire. I guess Judy didn’t want him going out in public in anything but UT duds.  Jackson loves them.

With our Robert now almost 5, I know it’s time for me to be looking ahead for masculine things to make. He, too, has a prissy sister and I don’t want him to feel slighted.  Of course, to his way of thinking, he’s got the better deal when he gets an embroidered Spiderman tee shirt and Laurel gets an heirloom sewn Swiss batiste dress. But the next time I make her a garment, I think he will get some Florida Gator pajamas, just to keep things even-steven.

Thanks for the inspiration, Judy!

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Posted in boys, embroidery blanks, machine embroidery, sporting gear

Cherries Jubilee

Posted on April 7, 2010 | 1 comment

We are still enjoying a little spring weather here in Central Florida. But with temperatures in the mid 80’s, summer clothes are now standard attire.

Laurel loves her new swing dress which twirls nicely to the great satisfaction of this almost 6 year old. Lydia from Bonnie Blue Designs is a delightful pattern, quick and easy, and even includes a view with smocking. This small area for the center front is suitable for a single picture smocking motif or a simple geometric pattern, all in keeping with the ease of construction.

It can be lined and turned, leaving no more than 3″ of handwork. However, given our sub-tropical climate, I prefer to line only the bodice and put in a shirttail hem. Continue reading →

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Posted in girls, machine embroidery, techniques

Joyous Easter 2010

Posted on April 5, 2010 | 5 comments

Alastair does not want to sit!

UPDATE:  Alastair just looks so serious and even unhappy in the photos from this wonderful day.  So I have decided to include this picture.  I managed to capture one of his happiest moments in this blurry photo.  While we were getting dinner on the table, he discovered that the easily opened old oak wash stand in the kitchen housed a box of garbage bags with unlimited fun potential.

Alastair, anticipating a LOT of garbage after Easter dinner.

He was allowed to enjoy himself but was never left unsupervised with the potentially dangerous bags. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alastair has places to go and eggs to hunt.

What a lovely, joyous celebration we had today!  We are so grateful that both of our children and their families live near enough that we can be together for holidays and often just to be together.

When Ryan’s family arrived, Robert was perfectly happy to swap out his huge shirt for this one, version 2, which is more fitted than version 1 but still too large.    Continue reading →

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Posted in boys, brother-sister, clothing, embroidery blanks, girls, heirloom sewing, Holiday Projects, infant clothing, machine embroidery, Nana fun