Product Description
This delightful book is a must-have for all who appreciate the nostalgic art and needlework of yesteryear. All 100 pages are jam-packed with dozens of vintage embroidery designs for household items: linens, pillows, doilies, potholders, kitchen towels, button bags, silverware holders, etc. The authentic needlework represents the 20’s through the 1950’s and reflects a time when housework was a major part of every woman’s routine. In fact, the title could be… More >>
#1 by Chris F. Willis on April 16, 2010 - 3:22 am
Here’s what I loved about this book:
The patterns are fun and a number of different retro styles and themes are included — quaint dancing dishes and vegetables and lots of humorous women (and men) doing housework. There are even a few “Mammie” images that I don’t think I would ever work up but it is interesting to note their place in history.
The images are versitile and can be used to do redwork (or other embroidery), applique, or fabric tinting, and basic instructions are given for tinting and embroidery. A couple clever quilt patterns are also given. Overall, there are tons of great patterns with ideas and inspirations for gift projects or personal use.
The ONLY downside to this book are that there are no patterns or fabric requirements given for the majority of the sample projects shown. Many of them you can figure out on your own, or patterns shouldn’t be too hard to come by elsewhere, but it would have been nice to have them at your fingertips.
Having said that, I would much rather have MORE stitchery designs with a few patterns as a bonus (as in this book) than have just a few designs with full pattens that I might not ever choose to do. This book will keep me busy with handwork projects for quite some time!
Rating: 4 / 5