Mud House Year

Everything Old...

...Is New Again.
Let me begin by saying I am not artistic or particularly crafty.  I do like to try certain projects but they must meet four very important criteria:

1.  They must be meaningful
2.  They must be colorful
3.  They must be quick.  In other words, instantly gratifying (I'm not in it for the long haul).
4.  They must be relatively easy to learn.

I mentioned in an earlier post that I love old stuff and I find it inspiring.   A few years ago, I embroidered some pillowcases for one of my daughters.  They were inspired by some delicate old pillowcases that once belonged to my great-grandmother.  One of my daughter's pillowcases was lost, so I decided to use the remaining case as a pattern for a new embroidery project.  

I put the pillowcase in a copy machine and made a copy of the design.  I then enlarged it by 20%.

I used a permanent, black marker to draw over the design then used double-sided tape to attach it to a sunny window. 

I measured the center-point of both the pillowcase and the pattern and marked them both with a water soluble pencil.

Using double-sided tape, I taped the pillowcase onto the window, over the pattern, aligning the center points.  I traced the pattern with my water soluble pencil.

If you would like to try this, you can copy any design you like, or you may download my design Download IMG 3 or Download IMG 4.  Please keep in mind, this is a hand-drawn pattern, and far from precise. You may copy it and enlarge it as needed for your own project.  

Use computer fonts to add monograms.  Use double-sided tape to attach the letter to the middle of the pattern.

Be sure to use a straight edge paper-cutter to cut the pattern before taping it to the window.  This will make centering and aligning the pillowcase much easier.

Note:  Since moving to the Mud House, the nearest fabric/sewing store that carries embroidery items is over 10 miles away from me.  I often order my supplies from Amazon.  I've included links to some of the items below.

What you will need:

1.  Access to a copy machine
2.  Pillowcases (I try to find good quality cases at discount home goods stores)
3.  Permanent marker
4.  Water-soluble pencil
5.  Pencil sharpener 
6.  Double-sided tape
5 . Measuring tape
6.  Ruler 
7.  Embroidery hoop 
8.  Embroidery needles
9.  Embroidery floss
10. Scissors
11. Maybe a thimble (I don't use one)
12. Maybe a seam ripper (I do use one)

13. MOST IMPORTANT: A good quality needle threader.   When I first started this project, I went through several needle threaders in the first few days.  I highly recommend the Clover Threader on the left.   You can see I have attempted to repair the one on the right.  The wire came out of the blue plastic after about 6 uses.

If you look closely at my finished work you will see that I am not a perfectionist (actually you don't need to look that closely).   I'm still learning and I have a particularly hard time with the leaves.  I just tell myself that my whimsical, free-style approach just adds to the overall charm!  That's my philosophy and I am sticking with it.  I am such an amateur when it comes to embroidery so please, please, please visit Mary Corbet at Needle 'n Thread for everything you could ever need to know.  She has wonderful how-to videos for all of the stitches along with so much information for becoming an accomplished and gifted embroiderer. 

For this project I used six strand embroidery floss, separated into two strands for all stitches except for the satin stitch on the "A."  On the "A," I used just one strand to give a smoother finish to the satin stitch.  The stitches I used are as follows:

A - Satin stitch
Flowers - Daisy stitch
Leaves- Fish-bone stitch
Dots and flower centers - French knots   - 3 French knots for the centers on the larger daisies and 1 French knot for the smaller daisies.

Tips 
Separate the six strands of thread by pulling individual strands straight-up.
Use your computer fonts to create monogram letters
Be sure to place monograms facing the right direction when tracing pattern.  On  my first attempt, I placed it the wrong way.  The bottom of the letter should align with the edge of the pillow case. See below.The monogram on the left is upside-down. 

I love hand-embroidered linens and they are equally at home in vintage and contemporary settings.

If you enjoy simple, hand embroidered and crocheted projects, please stay tuned for more patterns and ideas.   I will share other patterns I have created.  I found the rose pattern below on Needle 'n Thread and added the "S" monogram.

 

 

 

 

Old Stuff

 

My grandmother taught me at an early age to love and appreciate anything handed-down from generation to generation in our family.   My grandmother’s name was Jane, we called her Mema, and she lived for a very long time.  Her influence on my life, including the many, many things I value and love to this day, is immeasurable. 

Beautiful old glass, rose bowls, gently worn quilts and hand embroidered linens are just a few of the things Mema gave to me as I grew-up.  As a child, I just called it “old stuff.”  As an adult, I suppose “vintage” is probably a better term, but I am going to stick with “old stuff.”   

Please stay tuned for a "how-to" on gifts I am creating for my daughters inspired by lovely old hand-embroidered handkerchiefs and pillowcases that once belonged to my great-grandmother.  I think these will be great holiday gifts and, who knows,  maybe someday they will be handed-down to a new generation!