Mitzi the Daschaund - Sew Cute

We have the cutest little sewing pattern.... Introducing Mitzi the Daschaund. She's a cute little thing designed to be made of felt.

For our project I made Mitzi out of muslin. We made her for my fourth-grader's teacher. She was retiring and I wanted to make her a cute little something that we could personalize from the class. We had the class sign the dog and gave Mitzi to her on the last day of school. I wish I had taken a picture of Mitzi full of names. She was so cute.

You might be wondering why Mitzi has big green button eyes. My little guy wanted Mitzi to be wearing sunglasses, so he found those fun buttons in my button stash and decided those were her glasses.

For her collar (which shows up a little bit in the pics on the left side of the collage) I used some double fold bias tape through which I hand sewed a decorative stitch with metallic silver thread. My little guy got his sunglasses, and I got my sparkle on Mitzi.

Happy Sewing!

Our New Needle Conversion Chart

Alison worked her butt off tracking down all of the different sizes of needles (knitting & crochet) over the last few months. She put all of this information together to make life a little easier when we are posting patterns and trying to figure out the modern needle/hook equivalents.

This chart (in pdf format) can be downloaded by clicking this link, or by visiting the Vintage Needle Sizing Charts page.

As we were going over the list, we realized that there is no info listed from the 1940s. That means Alison has a lot more digging to do.

Free Pattern Download for May 2014

Alison has a pattern booklet featuring super cool patterns using Nomotta Ruban D'Art yarns....This is one of the patterns from the booklet. Click on our Free Monthly Pattern Downloads page to download this sweater.

This month's pattern download is a blouse pattern with a full scoop neckline and rosette detailing. The pattern download features pages from the booklet showing how to work with ribbon yarn.

While the yarn is no longer available, it can be occasionally found on Etsy or eBay. In fact, Alison just purchased 9 balls of black Ruban d'Art ribbon yarn from eBay. We have info on the yarn specs available on our yarn wiki page. Click here to visit the Vintage Yarn Wiki page.

Happy knitting!

February Free Pattern Posted

Click on over to the Free Monthly Pattern Downloads page to download this little cutie. We have a Shell Stitch Vest/Blouse pattern for you to crochet. This is a great beginner pattern.

Try one of our patterns for free!

Happy Crocheting!

It's a Bodice!

I've been trying to work on the Crocheted Party Dress as much as possible. After a couple of days of working on an event for the little one's school, I'm back to crocheting.

The bodice of the Crocheted Party Dress. 35 rows completed.

Clean Dishes in the New Year

One of Alison's friends does embroidery. She was kind enough to make the tea towels from the 1940's Victory Garden Transfer pattern.

Sam's thoughts for working with the transfers....

"I got that iron-on pen and used tracing paper. Place the tracing paper (ink side down) over the image and trace your design. Then turn the tracing face down and iron it on to the towel...."

"It's easy to get the lines a little too thick so be aware of that as you are tracing the design. You want the thread to cover your lines as you embroider the design."

Two of the towels were purchased at Michael's, the rest of the towels were flour sack tea towels purchased on eBay.

Towel back.

Happy stitching!

Free Monthly Pattern Download for October (crochet)

We have been on a crochet roll lately....

We are offering a circle hat and bag pattern this month. Based on the granny square design, these should be fun projects to make your own.

Information on the yarn is a little scarce. It looks like this may have been a rug yarn. According to a conversion chart I was looking at here, the sizes 5 and 6 crochet hooks would be equivalent to a modern H and I (US). Other patterns found online required a size J hook when working with this yarn. It would make sense to have the stitches a little smaller and tighter for a purse, as compared to a rug. It's hard to look cool and put together if there are items spilling out of your purse as you walk down the street.

Click on the pattern link or check out the "Free Monthly Pattern Downloads" page to be taken to the free pattern compliments of eStitched.

Happy crocheting!

Free Monthly Pattern Download for September (crochet)

Alison was going through her vast, enormous, gargantuan vintage pattern collection and found these two Edwardian era aprons. If you are looking for a challenging crochet project, these may be it.

Pattern Info/Materials:
The apron pictured on top takes 4 balls of size 30 Cordichet, and a size 11 steel crochet hook
The apron on the bottom takes 2 balls of size 15 Cordichet, and a size 12 steel crochet hook.

Vintage Yarn Info:
Cordichet, size 30: 100% cotton, 6-ply, mercerized crochet thread. Small balls were put up in 80 yds, Large balls were 400 yds.

Click on the pattern link or check out the "Free Monthly Pattern Downloads" page to be taken to the free pattern compliments of eStitched.

Needle Sizings

If you have looked at any vintage pattern, especially those from the turn of the century (last one, not this one), you know what a pain it can be to determine what needle size the pattern is asking for.

We have had conversations with people asking about needle sizes required by some of our patterns and often comes down to determining when the pattern was written and the researching the type of yarn called for in the pattern. Generally, the yarn is pretty small and the needle sizes are a blindingly small size as well.

Alison ran across these cool charts from the early 1900's that show needle sizes called for in some of our really old patterns. We have put them in pdf file so you can download these little nuggets of vintage-ness.

Click here to download the pdf.

From a Patons & Baldwin's pattern book, early 1900s.

Taken from a Fleisher's pattern book. circa 1917. 

Taken from a Fleisher's pattern book. circa 1917. 

Bestway Hats - New hat finished (knit)

So it's been awhile since we posted anything to the blog.... School ended, summer started and things went crazy from there.

I recently had a small chunk of time to make a hat. I was going a little crazy not knitting. I'm pretty sure my family would have encouraged me to knit more often if they knew how much I like doing it and how much it helps focus & relax me.

From the Bestway hat Three Hats pattern is The Cossack Hat. It is knit in bulky weight yarn, so it goes pretty fast. The vintage English needle sizes work out to a modern 10.5US (6.5mm). This was a quick project, small enough that I could throw it in my purse and work on it when I had to take the boys to some sports practice or another.

The pattern called for a vintage yarn: Sirdar Supreme, a bulky weight wool yarn. After hours and hours of searching, we couldn't find any info on this yarn online. I had a bright orange (safety orange) acrylic yarn that was re-purposed from an unfinished project that I had been given. While I think that the hat would work better in a wool or wool blend yarn, I didn't have to go out and buy any more yarn. That was exactly what I needed - no new yarn.

The first two pics show the color closest to what it actually is - though it probably doesn't matter since we aren't selling the old, re-purposed yarn.

As soon as I visit Alison and take some pics, we will post pics of the hat on a real, live person. My sad little styrofoam hat head doesn't do this cute little hat justice. Stay tuned!

Happy knitting!

The Bonham Fascinator

We have a completed project to show off. . . the Bonham Fascinator from the 1940s Fascinators Mantilla Head Coverings Scarf - 4 Knit and Crochet patterns.

This is a knit lace project. When Alison sent me the pattern, I immediately fell in love with it and had to make it.  I saw the black sparkly yarn and knew immediately that I was going to use it for the fascinator. I wasn't really thinking about how well the yarn would photograph. Turns out, black is really difficult to take a great picture of. That's why we have included a picture of the lace made in a dusty rose yarn.

Finished size: 55 x 22 inches (not including fringe).
I made slightly smaller than pattern called for.

Materials used:Vanna's Glamour Yarn
     - Yarn weight: Category 2 - Fine
     - Content: 96% polyester, 4% metallic
Circular knitting needles, size 10 1/2

The bobble sample:

Sample was knit with two different needle sizes. 

The top section was knit on size 8 needles. The lace is tighter and the bobbles are smaller. 

The bottom section was knit on size 10 1/2 needles. The bobbles are bigger and the lace is more open. The sample was not blocked.

Close-up of the bobbles.

 Blocking the fascinator:

On the blocking mats. It is neat to see the yarn relax and the lace pattern come to life.

I steam blocked the poly/metallic yarn. I started by inserting the blocking wires into the edges of the fascinator. Once I had the blocking wires placed how I wanted them, I pinned the wires to the mat (pins went in front of the wires to keep them from moving back and forth on the mat). Once everything was pinned down, I covered the edging with towels to keep them from flattening out with the steam. I made an edging sample to see if I liked the blocked or unblocked look. The blocked edging looked flat and lifeless to me.

Steam blocking the fascinator.
The iron does not touch the yarn. It is held above the yarn.

I held the iron several inches above the fascinator for several seconds and steamed it like crazy. This was the second time I had steam blocked a synthetic fiber, and I really like this method. It makes the shawl lay flat, and really makes the lace pattern open up. All in a relatively quick manner. I don't really have the space to wet block items, and even if I did our cats would have a heyday picking at the project.

Once I finished steaming the fascinator, I let it lay on the mat until it was completely dry. 

I purchased anti-fatigue mats from a tool company for blocking my projects. I join them together to make a blocking area that fits my project.

The pattern can be found in our Etsy store.

Bag Socks (Knit Project)

From the Footlets Shoe Socks and Carry and Fold Socks or Slippers - Knit pattern:
Carry a pair in your purse to change with your snow boots or wear for bed socks or traveling slippers. This useful accessory takes only 1 (2 oz) skein of Canadiana, the Shrink Resistant and Mothproofed pure wool, two No. 8 Beehive Knitting Needles, and 1-No.G Plastic Crochet Hook (American Gauge).

These Bag Socks were a quick and easy project. The yarn is worsted weight, and the needles are big. Each sock took about 45 minutes to knit - and I'm not a super fast knitter. The crocheted edging works up quick as well.

The pattern calls for the sock and edging to be knit from the same yarn. I wanted the edging to show up on the sock so I used a contrasting color.

I used an acrylic yarn, because I have a lot of it. These little guys would be great to throw in your bag when visiting others. Quite a few people we know have a "shoes off at the door" policy. I always have cold feet, so these little bag slipper socks would provide a bit of warmth. The slippers would be nice in bed to keep feet toasty warm. But made in wool, they would be fantastic - so warm and cozy. If they were made from superwash wool, they could be thrown in the washer and dryer for easy cleaning without the worry of felting or shrinking.

We have been really busy with sports and school and I haven't had time to corral my son to have him take pics. So, I had to take these pics myself.  I have to say, the little guy is so much better at taking these shots than I am.

Free Monthly Pattern Download for March

We have a truly vintage item for this month's free pattern download.... A Fern Strip Chair Set with Fringe. It is a knitting pattern from 1944.

Click on the pattern link or check out the "Free Pattern Downloads" page to be taken to the free pattern compliments of eStitched.

Pattern Info
Measurements:
Chair Back 13 1/2" x 15"
Arm Pieces: 7" x 10" including fringe
Materials Required:
J&P Coats or Clark's ONT Pearl Cotton, Size 5 (8 balls)
Knitting pins, size 1

Free Monthly Pattern Download for February

This month's free pattern is a halter top. Start one now to have it completed in time for summer wearing. Click on the pattern link or check out the "Free Monthly Pattern Downloads" page to be taken to the free pattern compliments of eStitched.