I’m tempted to buy seven new pairs of knickers and decorate them accordingly
Posted by Kerry
July 8, 2008
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I dabbled with embroidery when I was a child, and then got really into it last year courtesy of Sublime Stitching. After the initial excitement of embroidering everything in sight, I put it away for a little while – the last and most ambitious project I did, embroidering an illustrated Dorothy Parker quotation on to a handbag, rather took it out of me and I felt I’d earned a rest.
I don’t know whether it’s a summer thing or maybe just that I’ve finally got bored of my Nintendo DS (say it ain’t so!), but over the past couple of weeks I’ve found myself itching to start embroidering again. Having lent Joelle my Sublime Stitching book, I was forced to improvise. I looked up old botanical images of poppies online to find the perfect image for a pillowcase, and copied the outline of an Egyptian-style scarab beetle on to a handkerchief for my boyfriend. I doodled, and encouraged others to doodle so that I could do something interesting with their designs. It was all very bold and experimental, and I felt pleased with it (heck, I might even take some pictures sometime).
And yet in spite of all my exciting modern designs, I still felt a hankering. There’s something about those kitschy old embroidery patterns, isn’t there? And it’s sadly something that I can’t capture in my own drawings, however cutesy I try to make them. This, dear reader, is where Needlecrafter.com comes in. I got put on to their excellent collection of vintage needlepoint patterns by a poster on craftster, and I’m delighted with what I found – a collection beautiful early 20th century embroidery patterns, all free to download and print out for your own use.
That’s certainly scratched the kitsch itch for now – however, I suspect that my limited research has revealed only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to free patterns online. Do any of you have your own favourites that you’d like to share?
5 comments Categories: craft
July 9th, 2008 at 3:30 am
I got a huge embroidering itch on Sunday and was thoroughly annoyed to realise I had no suitable fabric. I still have iron on patterns from that kit you gave me last year, and I LOVE them. DO embroider your knickers – you’ll be my hero forever!
July 9th, 2008 at 7:32 am
I too have got the embrodering urge – knickers are a fab idea! I have been flitting between the idea of buying a sublime stitching book or a lot of the individual pattern themes! Which book do you use? Hurrah for free internet patterns – will let you know if I find any good ones!
July 9th, 2008 at 8:50 am
Hi Lara! I really recommend getting one of the Sublime Stitching books – they’re a real bargain. You get excellent instructions (the only thing I had to look up online afterwards was the French knot, but I honestly can’t think how anyone could describe that one in words!) and TONS of gorgeous patterns. When you add to that the fact that the patterns are a) easily customisable (lots of blank bits for you to embellish) and b) reusable several times over, you can see why I’m such a sucker for them.
The book I used was the original Sublime Stitching, as I’d already scrounged all my equipment from my mum’s old sewing box. If you’re literally just starting out, I’d recommend the The Stitch It Kit, as it comes with everything you need to get started (and Vanessa says it’s dead good).
July 9th, 2008 at 8:51 am
PS: Am now seriously thinking about the knickers thing. May head up to Marks and Spencer in my lunch break, if it ever stops raining…
July 9th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Lara – the kit Kerry mentioned is great. It comes with lots of embroidery thread, really good iron on patterns to embroider, and a few blank tea towels to start with. Even if you’re not a beginner, I think the patterns it comes with are excellent.