vintage transfer finds

Can't stop the cat cleaning

2010-05-21T06:30:00.003-05:00

free pattern - click to get larger size and print!

So, you want a cat that does your cleaning? Good luck with that. I share an apartment with two cats and I've yet to bust them with a handkerchief and mop. But I have busted them doing.... other things. Like ralphing on my door jamb and dragging their rear across the freshly mopped floor. Maybe I just need a little more brandy? Then I suppose I'll be seeing all kinds of stuff!

I've stitched two of these "lucky" kittens - the Monday and Tuesday designs. There are 7 large kitten patterns for each day of the week - their bodies are comprised of big cross-stitches. There are two smaller patterns that work well as potholders, and another rectangular image with two kittens that says good luck that would be cute as a framed sampler. My set is 1 complete, uncut sheet.

All the popular girls have tomato escorts

2010-04-07T06:02:00.001-05:00

free pattern - click to get larger size and print!

Yeah, I know my titles are getting weirder and weirder. Maybe it's the heat? Out of nowhere, it is 89 degrees in Manhattan. To give you a clue of how this feels, I haven't moved in about 20 minutes, I am drinking an iced drink and I am still sweating. In places that don't seem like they should sweat.

In any case, back to the transfers!

This gem was donated to me by the lovely Robin - it's a set that is cut but looks complete - 4 motifs for tea towels say "Breakfast", "Lunchtime", "Teatime", and "Dinnertime." Also a "Glasses" towel and a chubby-cheeked tot with an immense dinner knife that says "Silver."

And finally, my favorite, which I've included above - a horrified girl being escorted by a carrot with a cane and a jaunty tomato who tips his hat at her. (I removed the carrot to conserve space and somewhat lessen her psychological damage.) Two smaller potholder designs - a cross-stitch teacup and a big, sweetly smiling tomato. Thanks Robin!

New on the FAQ

2010-04-07T06:00:00.005-05:00

Hey all! I received a comment the other day regarding what uses I do and do not allow for the patterns here. I didn't save it, but it was something along the lines of "Since the patterns are in the Public Domain, how can you possibly put conditions on how it will be used?"

So, I responded by adding to the FAQ under "Selling", since the question is fair enough:

Wait - if the patterns are in the Public Domain - you can't tell me what I can and can't do with them, anyway, can you?
I am offering these free patterns under the following Creative Commons license, please take a look at the details of that license. I would like your use of the patterns to be in keeping with the free, share and share alike spirit in which they were offered. I pay to host this content, I have purchased the patterns, (or they have been donated by generous people), I scanned, edited, and uploaded everything myself. If you turned around and sold the content I gave to you for free, I probably wouldn't be able to stop you, but I'm thinking that if you read this far, you'd care to respect my wishes. And you'd care that it would make me sad and want to stop sharing cute patterns. Keep the cuteness free!

Basically, I attach the Creative Commons License on Flickr so that people will know my wishes. I know that 99.9% of you would never consider selling something you obtained for free, but since .1% of you asked, I just put it up there. Hope this makes sense! Back to the patterns!

Can you handle the cute? Can you?

2010-03-04T05:45:00.007-05:00

free pattern - click to get larger size and print!

It's a cat in a shoe, peeps. Do I really need to say more? Okay, maybe I do. The cat is fluffy, and it's kitten-sized. It's wearing a ribbon, rather elegantly tied around its fluffy neck. It's curled up in a high-heeled pump. With daisies on it. If that didn't just hit you with cute like an 18 wheeler full of Peeps, I don't know what will.

This reminds me of a fascinating conversation that went down on Feeling Stitchy last week, in which I realized I am guilty of a double standard. If this kitty were cross-stitched, I would have no use for her. I would find her tawdry and silly and excessively sweet. Like, I'm wearing pink lace and I've got-you-in-a-chokehold, sweet. But, as an embroidery pattern, I find her kitschy and retro and silly and cute. Her cute is pretty powerful, but I can handle her cute. Am I alone here? Crazy? Feel free to chime in on this... :)

Also on this sheet are two large floral patterns for pillowcases, neither of which are as seriously, crazily cute as this kitten, however. My sheet is unused and uncut. The owner wrote, in ballpoint pen on the front of the envelope, "Jan 11-62".

This pup does underpants

2010-03-01T06:48:00.002-05:00

free pattern - click to get larger size and print!

flipped

I really like the idea of your pets doing household chores for you. Take, for instance, my handwashing last evening. How helpful it would have been if I had had an adorable puppy to hang my underpants on a clothesline. Not that I can fit a clothesline in my 7 X 10 room... well, unless I want wet underpants dripping on my head. And early this morning, when it came time to blow dry my underpants (they had not dried overnight, due, no doubt, to the lack of a clothesline, and a pup to hang them up properly) I'm sure pups would have cheerfully sprung to my aid. And, he could have even changed the fuse when my blow drier shorted out my ancient outlet. Again.

Puppy dreams aside... on my sheet are 7 helpful pups designs. Also a cute pup in a window, for an apron, and 4 small motifs for potholders. This is the oldest looking of a large batch of transfers I bought on Ebay. The envelope is very tattered, and torn along one side. My sheet is cut and partially used.

Have you stitched one of these pups? Or, better yet, do you have a pup that can help with my household chores? Preference will be given to pups that know how to launder underpants. Thank you.

Go take a bath

2010-02-22T06:06:00.003-05:00

free pattern - click to get larger size and print!

flipped

I'm not a huge fan of baths myself, but I am fond of telling others to take a bath. Why not let this poodle assist? This set originally had 6 poodle days of the week designs for kitchen or tea towels (some days of the week sets don't include Sunday, it seems, since it was a day of rest.) There are two smaller designs for potholders - one with the poodle saying "Don't Burn Your Paws"! :) Also a design for a Mixer and Toaster cover. I can't get over the poodle in a turban, mopping and scrubbing, or sporting cute glasses to do her sewing.

My set is cut and incomplete - I'm missing the Mixer and Toaster cover and the Saturday design. Anyone stitched the poodle? We really need to see that, you know.

Ain't love grand... when you're a bird

2010-02-11T06:28:00.005-05:00

free pattern - click to get larger size and print!

flipped version (for transfer pencil)

It occurs to me that some of you might not be printing out these transfers to trace with a transfer pencil - instead, you put your fabric over the monitor and trace directly. In which case, from now on I'll offer 2 versions - right way and flipped, for transfer pencil. Will I go back and flip all the other ones? Not unless I become a robot. Sorry, but when a girl's got 3 blogs, 2 twitters, and 2 facebooks, she must distribute her time wisely. :)

Here are the birds in love again. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I get it birds. Ain't life grand when you're in love. When you're a bird. You don't have to be so smug about it. Perfect size for a pillowcase (maybe you might want to enlarge your pattern to cover more area.) Or maybe you want to tell these happy birds to stuff it. I won't judge you. We can't all be happy birds in love, you know.

Anybody stitched this? Always wanted to stitch it, but never have...

Can't stop the veggie dancing

2010-02-04T06:01:00.000-05:00

free pattern - click to get larger size and print!

Yet another homage to romance, to let you know my heart is not shriveled and withered... yet. I don't know, but there's nothing like the delightful spectacle of two veggies dancing to give me that loving feeling. You can keep your romantic comedies, Hollywood! Dancing veggies is where it's at.

On my sheet are 3 large dancing vegetable designs: "Vegetable Polka", "Garden Waltz," and the "Vitamin Ballet." Also three dancing crockery motifs - a spoon, teacup, and wineglass all bear polka-dotted skirts and happy grins, representing "Silver," "China", and "Glass." There are 3 large cross-stitch motifs that also say "Silver," "China", and "Glass." Finally, there's a small singing tomato motif that says "Hot Pots", a posing green bean and 6 tiny dancing veggies that would make an adorable border for a table runner.

Two motifs are cut out but appear unused - the rest of the sheet is intact and unused. I may be missing one of the tiny dancing veggie designs, it's hard to tell.

Any of you stitched these veggies before? Show and tell, please! :)

Bird Romance

2010-02-03T06:28:00.002-05:00

free pattern - click to get larger size and print!

Now, let me just get something out of the way here - I am not a very romantic person. I mean - I believe in true love and all that, but my skin really crawls when people get all schmoopy on each other. In public. But with birds, a little schmoopiness, you know - it's totally acceptable. So, in honor of that totally overblown, give-me-a-reason-to-fight-with-you holiday we refer to as Valentine's Day, let me lay some cute PDA on you. You just tell these birds to get a room. They ain't listenin.

Also on this sheet are 3 large designs meant for pillowcases - a cute cat peeping out of a rose or poppy as if it grew there, Cabbage-Patch-like. Also 2 lambs jumping a fence with their little pink tongues hanging out, as if to say "Geez, it's hard work getting you guys to sleep!" And, the lovebirds. Also a few small rose motifs and cross-stitch lettering for Mr, Mrs, Mine and Yours. Wouldn't it be funny, by the way, to decorate your bathroom in a really selfish way by labeling all the towels "Mine" and none "Yours?" Hee hee. Visitors would be baffled. :)

You can tell my pattern has seen better days - tattered, lots of age spots and that telltale "old smell" is so strong it makes me sneeze. (Thank God for plastic sleeves.) Also, my sheet is incomplete - I'm missing the kitty peeping out of the rose.

Here's the big old version of those birdies, suitable for a nice pillowcase:

free pattern - click to get larger size and print!

I stitched this baby for my sister a couple of years back:

By the way, I dunno why I put a big old copyright floresita on there. It was a brief craze of mine. I thought it looked stupid so I stopped.

Here are the birdies up close:

Anybody else stitch this? Leave a link, we'd love to see it!

Really, this won't hurt a bit!

2010-01-22T06:53:00.015-05:00

free pattern - click to get larger size and print!

Ah, those sneaky saucepans, luring shy, innocent veggies to their saucy deaths!

I, for one, was so shocked by this saucepan's behavior that I added a stern message below:

free pattern - click to get larger size and print!

In addition to the "death by saucepan" motif, there's a cute cooking boy as well:

free pattern - click to get larger size and print!

If you were around for the first time I shared this pattern, you may have been privy to our comments on the baker's generously-sized derriere. The baker pattern was hereby christened, "Baker got back." See, I don't even have to come up with this stuff. I rely on you guys for the really good ones. :) Also on my sheet, there's a teacup-headed baseball player "stepping up to the plate" (har, har), a smiling flour canister making eyes at a scoop, cross stitch borders and veggies, salt and pepper shakers and salad dressing, smiling milk and mixing bowl, and moustachioed frying pan brandishing a faceless frankfurter while a horrified egg looks on, (whoa, violence galore on this one!) a baking girl that says "Bake on Saturday", and a mammy-looking pattern with a cake. By the way, thank you to my stitching friend Drewzel, for sending me the rest of this pattern!

Birds in the Brandy

2010-01-21T06:03:00.002-05:00

free pattern - click to get larger size and print!

This bird had a bit too much to drink. This sheet has 6 large designs for kitchen towels. 3 feature the antics of these cute little birds - a mama bird with a baby in a teacup for "China", a bird admiring its reflection in a silver pot for "Silver", and this one, with the bird sleeping one off, for "Glass." 3 other designs show a puppy with a teacup on its head (for China), a bear holding a champagne flute (for Glass), and a kitten holding cutlery (for Silver). What's oddest about these 3 cute designs is that not only are they cute animals... they're cute animal puppets. On hands. Can it get any stranger or cuter? Now, jog my memory, people - did someone embroider one of these weird hand puppets awhile back? I think someone did, but I can't remember who or where I saw it. Have you embroidered this? Any links would be appreciated!

Also 3 adorable potholder motifs of critters holding signs: the kitten's sign says "Don't Burn Your Paws", the bear's sign says "Careful Hot Pots" and the puppy's sign says "Watch Out It's Hot." One more small design of the adorable bird burning its feet on a hot pan. My envelope is in perfect shape, and my transfer sheet is complete and uncut.

Be an Angel

2010-01-14T06:05:00.002-05:00

free pattern - click to get larger size and print!

My envelope is in perfect shape, except for a little fading in the corner and I have one complete, uncut sheet, numbered 668. Here is the Thursday design - shopping for Angel Food and Star Dust! This reminds me of the time I tagged along to a parole meeting when I was 7 or 8, and the parole officer had written an enchanting list of substances on a chalk board, one of which was Angel Dust. I seriously thought they were all discussing pastries. Ah, youth. :)

Bear in Mind, It's Wednesday

2010-01-13T06:02:00.001-05:00

free pattern - click to get larger size and print!

There are 7 cuddly bear motifs on this sheet numbered 662, featuring the bear washing, sitting astride a giant iron, sitting on a wooden spool mending, dusting and cleaning, wearing a hat and purse while shopping, baking cookies, and on Sunday, relaxing with a book and a butterfly. Each day of the week design says "Bear in mind" on the top - beary cute, eh? Three smaller designs show the bear with a steaming kettle, a smoking pot, and a cooking spoon that would be cute for potholders. Also cross-stitched lettering that says "Hot Pots", "Hot Pans," "Holder," and a cross-stitched border with tea kettles and daisies.

My transfer sheet is almost complete and unused - 1 small potholder motif has been cut and used, but it's still in the envelope. I've never stitched these little guys - have you? :)

Goldilocks and post-porridge madness

2010-01-11T06:30:00.002-05:00

free pattern - click to get larger size and print!

This sheet tells the story of Goldilocks and the three bears - so there's a lot of porridge-eating and running from bears. Additionally, Goldilocks appears to get confused and as you see above, does a bit of bear-chasing, herself. Baby Bear steals the show with some cute antics although what he's doing in that tree - eh, let's not go there. :) There are also beautiful cross-stitch border designs. My envelope is in good condition but the transfers are partially cut, used, and incomplete. I'm missing the cute motifs of Papa, Mama and Baby Bear taking a walk.

I've never stitched this pattern before - have you? I did stitch another of the Goldilocks images, though, and it's looking pretty cute:

Maybe I'll scan that one someday if you're good. Or, maybe I'll get really lazy and not do it. Please don't judge me. :)

Gay Kittens and Puppies For Every Use

2010-01-08T06:42:00.004-05:00

free pattern - click to get larger size and print!

Oh, I think you'll recognize these shocked pets. Truly cuteness overload on this sheet - never have I seen so many cute dogs and cats doing such unbelievably impractical things! There's a kitty in a sombrero, a stern-looking puppy in a sarape, Russian clad puppy and cat doing a dance, a stately looking dog and cat playing cards, cross-stitched scotties, a stargazing pup in pajamas, and numerous sweet dog and cat heads. They are all adorable, but most hilarious, for me, has to be the kitten and puppy caught unawares in their skivvies - pets in underpants?! And they're all very gay, as the envelope declares.

Some motifs on my sheet have been cut and used, and the sheet has (age?) spots. Nevertheless, they're adorable.

Gay "South of the Border" Motifs

2010-01-07T06:03:00.003-05:00

free pattern - click to get larger size and print!

So, it's been quite some time since I shared patterns with you. I decided to re-post some old patterns I had removed. A lot of these are patterns you downloaded in the past and have asked me about, so I'm happy to share them again. These are all vintage patterns that are in the public domain. Some of you may remember the name of the defunct company associated with these patterns - I won't use the company name since it is trademarked and owned by someone else. Hope you enjoy them! :)

I found these inside another envelope, but I could tell by the number at the bottom (133) that this was from another set. My piece has the two cute boy and girl dancers, a couple of cactus and a cross-stitch border. I've wanted this set for a long time, so this was a great "teaser"... :) Oh, and I didn't call her gay. The envelope did. I swear.

My stitched-up version of this senorita is my all-time most popular Flickr pic. Funny huh? It is probably my favorite project, though. Have you stitched up the senorita? Please leave a link so we can have a look see! :)

Beautiful, and long overdue

2009-09-02T20:29:00.007-05:00

Isn't it amazing how quickly time passes when you get old? Because I can hardly believe that I waited 2 long years to share these with you. But there it is, the postmark on the envelope proving me wrong (or old). :) In any case, these two lovely floral patterns come from the generous Jane who maintains two beautiful sites dedicated to Japanese embroidery: www.nuido.org.uk and www.japanese-embroidery.blogspot.com. 2 years ago she sent me a package of loose transfers from assorted English magazines with dates ranging from the 40's to the 60's - these 2 were unidentified and undated, but my faves.

Don't you love that complicated, textured pattern above? It's delicious, even in black and white. I can just imagine my crafty friend Carina picking the perfect colors to make this piece come alive (and by the way she's hosting a giveaway featuring her amazing embroidery and a new book on her blog.)

Just as much as I love the complexity of the first pattern, I love the simplicity of the second:

I can totally see this pattern stitched beautifully using white or light-colored floss on natural linen...

Thank you so much Jane, for your generosity, and I hope you'll forgive me for how long I waited to share these, they are treasures!

Giveaway on Feeling Stitchy!

2009-04-04T22:21:00.003-05:00

Hi all! I'm giving away one copy of The Kitchen Linens book over on Feeling Stitchy.

If you love vintage transfers or collecting vintage embroidery, this book is right up your alley, so go checkout the giveaway!

Frouffy Pillowcases

2009-04-01T06:04:00.003-05:00

Because one always needs frouffier pillowcases. This was in a pile of scraps I had, no label, no manufacturer - it is green-lined. I even tried ironing one of them (there were 2) and it worked!

And yes, that's an actual new scan you see up there! It's fairly impressive considering I scanned it using an almost-dead hard drive. In fact, the sheer effort it took my sad, wheezing, clicking hard drive, sent it to the grave. That's right, people, I worked my computer to death. For you. Enjoy! :)

By the way, I've been getting a few repeated questions that I haven't been able to answer due to time constraints (and no computer). Please read the FAQ on the right hand side and that should answer any questions you have about transfers that have gone away.

Patterns from other peeps...

2009-03-06T06:27:00.001-05:00

I know, it's been awhile since I've shared anything of my own. What with my personal life and my trusty Mac being on the fritz, I haven't been able to scan anything new.

So I thought I'd share some links to patterns from other generous people:
from doe-c-doe:
2 Spring flowers
3 cute teacups and kettle

from wee wonderfuls:
Spring cleaning Stitchette

from Badbird:
Hearts and birds (January free pattern)
Folk rabbit (March free pattern)
Bird and Flower sampler (November free pattern)

from Annie Oakleaves:
Buggy
Eenies
Cute animals

from Polka dot bunny:
Forest animals

Angel heads

2008-11-19T07:39:00.004-05:00

Pattern here!

I've been itching to stitch this kitschy little angel head for awhile now, so I was tickled to see Julie's awesome version. Read more about her project on her blog.

Creepy cute, glassy-eyed animals

2008-09-18T21:49:00.004-05:00

You want this acorn? You just try and take this acorn from me.

Ok, I know the intention was not to make these animals look creepy by leaving their eyes blank. The manufacturers just figured you'd fill that in with a satin stitch, so why waste ink. I love however, the unintentionally creepy, "Village of the Damned" effect it creates, and what with Halloween approaching, maybe some of you could work your creepy magic on these? Something along the lines of Zombie Jitterbug Girl? Just an idea....

Thanks again to Erin, for allowing me to share these from her collection! And creepy or not creepy, let me know if you stitched these! :) Also, thank you to Jessica from How About Orange for featuring this blog! Her blog is amazing and it's an honor to be featured. Welcome, everyone who is visiting thanks to her, and be sure to come back soon! :)

free patterns - click to get larger size and print!

Design 648 - Olden Days

2008-09-13T11:32:00.008-05:00

free patterns - click to get larger size and print!

The summer is almost over! I don't know about you, but I still call it "summer" until the end of September, which is fast upon us. Here's some nice "Olden days" transfers from Erin to help you celebrate the last of it, "olden style". :)

I love the charming drawing style on these transfers, and the sleigh ride is probably my favorite... a nice cozy scene in anticipation of chillier times!

Thank you Erin!

About the sudden disappearance of Vogart transfers...

2008-09-02T16:10:00.008-05:00

I, like a quite a few collectors out here in blogland, was under the impression that Vogart was no longer in business. Since the transfers had no copyright symbol on them and were printed at an early enough time to have passed into Public Domain, we were confident that it was okay to share them online.

However, one of my blogging friends recently had 2 of her Vogart pattern images removed from her Flickr stream with a note from Flickr saying it was an infringment of copyright to post them. After doing a trademark search we found out that the Vogart trademark is owned by Plaid industries. Regardless of whether or not the pattern images themselves are in the Public Domain, I decided to remove all my Vogart pattern envelopes and free patterns. I'd love to be able to show examples of my Vogart collection, but I wouldn't want my Flickr account or images to be deleted in the process. (Or, of course, to violate copyright) :(

My aim in sharing Vogart images was never to make money but for educational purposes: I wanted to catalogue my collection and share this knowledge with other collectors. I also wanted to share one free pattern as an example of the envelope contents, again as an aid to collectors and historians.

The good news is this might mean Plaid is considering re-issuing the Vogart patterns, which would be something to look forward to. For now, though, it is a bit of a bummer not to be able to share with you, but the last thing I'd want to do is violate copyright law. Because if the trademark is owned by a company still in business it is entirely possible that the old pattern images were copyrighted at some point.

So, farewell for now to Vogart, and I hope to see you again soon! I'll leave you with an excellent guide to all the Vogart patterns for your reference: http://www.sewingpalette.com/supplies/vogart.html

I'll continue to post pattern images for other companies no longer in business, and again, only when I am sure I am not infringing on copyright.

Design 1854: Mexican Man DOW

2008-08-18T08:15:00.004-05:00

Allow me to introduce you to the little-known hardships of the unmarried Mexican male. Lest you believe all that machismo crap and think every Mexican man has a sancha to do his housework, allow me to present you with this industrious single male, all by himself every single day, doing all the chores that have to be done, even cooking. The only thing missing is his phone number. Enjoy!

These cute designs were kindly scanned and contributed by Mary Ellen - thank you!

Superior 114 - 6 Attractive Parakeets

2008-06-18T19:39:00.001-05:00

It was tough for parakeets back in the day - not anything like the cush setup they've got nowadays where all they have to do is sit in their cage, tweet, and generally mess up the corner you've got them in with all those feathers. No, back then, there were standards for housepets. They had to be attractive, for starters. And then there were the household chores - Polly better be keeping the house in tip-top shape if he didn't want to become a hot wing at the next family picnic...

These 6 adorable parakeets are brought to you by the generosity of Mary Ellen, who kindly scanned them for me. And the next time you feel like you've got it rough, try rolling out the dough with no hands!

free patterns - click to get larger size and print!

Laura Wheeler 524 - Bird DOW

2008-06-09T21:43:00.002-05:00

free pattern - click to get larger size and print!

Hey all! Here's my second post featuring free patterns scanned by Erin (or rectangel). By the way, there's a great interview with her on Feeling Stitchy - check it out!

This is a Laura Wheeler days of the week design with some rather cutesy birds. We know it is Laura Wheeler because of the newspaper clipping Erin had in her envelope. There are 6 cute designs, including the one pictured above, featuring an adorable bird peering inquisitively at cutlery, tableware, and cookware. Enjoy! And thanks again, Erin!

free patterns - click to get larger size and print!

Design 7060 - Dog DOW Antics

2008-05-11T18:20:00.004-05:00

This is the first in a series of transfers I'll be featuring from the lovely Erin (or rectangel). If you've seen transfers like these before, you'll notice they say "Design" and are numbered - they were mass-produced mail-order transfers. They advertised in local newspapers with a brief description of the transfer, and an address to write to.

These transfers feature a cute dog going about his weekly chores which include eyeing some fresh-baked buns, gnawing on towels, emptying a bowl of mending supplies, carrying doggie bones home from market, wrestling with a mop, drooling over pancakes, and getting all dressed up and spiffy (above).

Better yet, Erin's scanned them all - and here they are:

Thanks Erin! :)

Ebay Tips and Erin's Embroidery Transfers

2008-05-11T18:15:00.005-05:00

Hey there guys! It's been tough bidding on transfers on Ebay lately, although I must say I only have myself to blame. This blog has inspired many to do what I do, which is great! But not so great when bidding for transfers on Ebay. :(

I thought I'd give you a few tips about buying transfers on Ebay:

Don't believe descriptions that say "rare" or assume that if a transfer has a high price it must be worth that much - embroidery transfers were mass-produced, so if you're looking for a specific transfer, just keep checking back instead of paying tons of money.

Some vendors sell photocopies or downloadable PDFs, not the originals, so read their descriptions very carefully.

About Erin's Embroidery Transfers

Since my collecting has slowed down, I'll be sharing bits from Erin's collection (or rectangel, on Flickr and Craftster).

Not only is she a super-rad embroiderer, she's scanned and added some real gems in the Hoop Love Vintage Transfers group, and has agreed to let me feature them here! Thanks Erin!

Old-Timey Motifs

2008-04-18T19:25:00.005-05:00

free pattern - click to get larger size and print!

I'm fascinated with old cars of all kinds so I lit up when I saw these. This is from a small sheet with many old-timey motifs. To tell the truth I've misplaced the sheet since I scanned this in my thoroughly messy craft space (crafts + income taxes = chaos). As soon as I find it I'll describe the rest of the sheet - all I can remember right now is a gas lamp, old-fashioned telephone, and the cute little pram below... Enjoy!

free pattern - click to get larger size and print!

Sweet birdies

2008-03-08T15:15:00.004-05:00

I love how these sweet tiny birdies seem to be giving each other the eye. I enlarged them about 50% - they are tiny on the original sheet. My sheet is cut and incomplete but there are tons of other designs - swans for pillow cases, 2 applique pan holders, fuzzy bunny with a lawnmower, fuzzy bear, kitten, and dog, tiny elephant, rose, floral alphabet, and baby bib design.

Cross-stitch alphabet

2008-03-02T20:00:00.005-05:00

These cross-stitch letters can add a little zip to any of your embroidery projects (I think I've overdosed on Vogart envelopes because I'm beginning to sound like one!) :) In any case, seriously, these are fun. Take for example last week's pattern which was cute but... somehow lacking something.

Let's say you want to say something cheeky on your tea towel like:

Just throw these cross-stitch letters in Photoshop and let your imagination be your guide!

My sheet is cut and incomplete - also on the sheet are 2 patterns for crosses, an "ihs" surrounded by grapes and grape leaves, a larger script alphabet, a basket of flowers, and a cutwork pattern.

#66 - Dating Dishware

2008-02-16T22:04:00.011-05:00

"Gimme some sugar!" says Mr. Creamer... And you thought kitchen crockery wasn't capable of romance, didn't you? But I've got a whole sheet that proves otherwise, with cavorting dishes, saucers, and silverware for each day of the week. My favorite thing about this pattern is... Mr. Creamer is wearing penny loafers! Oh, how I love penny loafers.

Unfortunately my sheet is cut and incomplete, so I only have Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday of these "gay animated tea towel designs." On the same sheet (numbered 66) is also a pattern for homemade slippers, a large, lazy-daisy stitch alphabet, and a small cross-stich pattern for a bookmark that says "Give Us This Day".

Thanks Hannita, for pointing out these are in the Hoop Love group! Here is Thursday (you can see a tiny image of Friday in the upper left) and Sunday.

Asian motifs

2008-02-07T20:15:00.002-05:00

Okay guys, help me out on this one... does anyone know what that character on the upper left is? Being a pretty clueless westerner I'm calling these "Asian motifs" (although I do know the difference between Japanese and Chinese when it's spoken, thank you very much).

This is an uncut sheet, 8 by 19 in. Also on the sheet is a dragon that looks like he's sneezing up a fireball, pagoda, bamboo, spiky tree, and kooky-eyed lion-creature with its tongue hanging out.

this pattern donated by

Mailorder 2-947 - Kindly Lady

2008-02-02T15:17:00.003-05:00

I like this lady - there's something of the kindly syrup-bottle matron about her. It also reminds me of the tender times of yore when older ladies actually looked older instead of today's times where 50 year olds look younger and hotter than 30 year olds... :) This sheet calls her a "colonial girl" and suggests using "turquoise, yellow, rose, green, or black."

This is a large sheet, uncut, 30 by 44 inches and numbered 2-947. Also on the sheet are patterns for a "cart pocket" for an apron, apple blossoms, fruits and veggies, scary clown, flying ducks, and a tiny ducky border.

this pattern donated by

Holly Hobby-esque

2008-01-26T14:14:00.003-05:00

Do you remember Holly Hobby? Back in the day I was a huge Holly Hobby fan and I remember my Holly Hobby lunchbox with special tenderness. I treasured my lunchbox and matching plastic thermos with all the love in my first grade soul, that is, until I lost it and found it... with a half-finished drink in the thermos and rotting cheese sandwich locked in its horrifically smelly depths. But now, Holly and I are reunited again! And this time with no accompanying bad odors.

This is an uncut, 8 by 19 in. red-lined sheet. Also on the sheet is a disturbingly faceless scarecrow, large poppies, and crazy-eyed Raggedy Ann.

this pattern donated by

Four fuzzballs for a quilt

2008-01-20T19:21:00.003-05:00

Okay, I've been away for awhile, so I sat myself down and did some serious scanning. Here are 4 cute fuzzballs ready to be embroidered on a baby quilt (check out the baby bear pattern for the skinny on making it). They're mostly harmless sorts, but what's up with the dog / timberwolf? Am I the only one that finds him a wee bit creepy? And isn't bunny a bit too excited with the shovel? Is it just me or could bunny be burying the evidence?

My sheet is complete, uncut, 20 by 22 inches and numbered 85. Also on the sheet are patterns for a hunting dog eyeing up a tasty pheasant, cross stitch flowers, two tiny birds, butterfly, puppy, and a good old basket of flowers.

this pattern donated by

Happy New Year!

2008-01-16T10:22:00.001-05:00

from the Flickr Hoop Love group

You may have noticed I've been pretty pokey about uploading new transfers. Don't get me wrong, I have tons - so what have I been up to instead? I've been learning how to paint and making monkeys for one, but mostly I've been enjoying all the new vintage transfer resources out there!

Sewing Palette Transfer Guides
I got an email recently from the cool peeps that put this together - they've collected a huge amount of transfers from different manufacturers and have put all their knowledge on the web:
About Vintage Embroidery Transfers
Vogart Facts and Trivia
Vogart Master Guide

New Vintage Transfer Blogs
There are wonderful new people blogging their patterns out there! Give these folks a visit, you won't be disappointed!
Stitchy Britches
doe-c-doe (embroidery and/or patterns on Thursdays)

Vintage Transfer Groups on Flickr
Hoop Love Group
Add your vintage transfers and share the love!

Vintage Embroidery Patterns Group
Add scans of your vintage embroidery pattern envelopes. (again that's the envelopes, not the patterns)

Now can you see why I've been so busy? :) Still, I promise, more patterns soon!

It's almost Christmas time!

2007-12-18T09:53:00.002-05:00

And what better way to celebrate than to feature all the stuff you guys made with the Holiday patterns? I could hardly keep up with all the Holiday goodness!

Look at this bundle of ornaments Melissa made:

free pattern #1 and free pattern #2

And look at this festive Eskimo and boy on a scooter by Rebekah

free pattern here

The spirit of French knots reigns here!

Also take a look at:
Chrisi's ornament
Loulee's festive holiday doggie
Claudia's scooter onesie

Geez, you guys are warming the heart big time this Christmas! I'll be leaving soon to visit family for the holidays, but leave a comment if you've stitched anything, too! Happy Holidays to you all!!!!

Vogart Samplers - Interview with Nancy

2007-11-09T11:35:00.001-05:00

I'd like to introduce you to Nancy - she collects Vogart stamped samplers, which I knew very little about, so I interviewed her about her collection and what inspires her to collect. You can also find her on Flickr as nancy'svintagesamplers. Enjoy!

1. How long have you collected Vogart samplers, and how did you get started?

I started about 20 years ago when I went to a flea market in the Lancaster PA area with some friends, one of whom had collected a couple and piqued my interest as we were looking at some.

2. I'm familiar with Vogart transfers, which were printed from the 40's to the 70's – but what time period are Vogart samplers from?

I have not been able to get any information about the Vogart Company, much less their samplers. I have been able to determine that the late 20's through the early 40's were the most popular time for this craft. As one older woman told me, with the Depression there was little money for extras and embroidering samplers provided both recreation and the potential for utilitarian use as home decor or gift. Vogart is only one of at least 8 companies I've been able to identify. In general, their patterns are consistently the best - great balance of design and color.

3. What do you know about the history of these samplers?

These samplers - manufactured with a preprinted design - reference the older tradition of young girls learning their needlecraft skills and creating pictures and words that exhibited a sample (hence sampler) of their expertise with needle and thread.

4. What makes these samplers special to you – why do you collect them?

My mother is French (she came to this country as a war bride) and started me on my trousseau when I was in 5th grade. I hemstitched 6 linen hand towels and ironed on a transfer design which I then embroidered with cross stitch. I did a lot of embroidery up until my late teens, often buying my linens in France when we went to visit family. Nostalgia, therefore, is the biggest attraction for me - not only for my own personal experiences, but also for the simplicity of time and design that these samplers represent.

5. If anyone wanted to begin collecting vintage samplers, what advice would you give them?

Pick designs that grab your heart. Avoid those that appear very stained, particularly if they appear to have water damage. The fabric was usually linen and the threads cotton. Rot is a real issue and you should try to reback them with acid-free matte boards and tape.

6. Do you have any favorite samplers? Tell us about them…

I have several favorites. One is a pair with half the expression on one and the rest of the expression on the other. They are in their original frames and probably date from 1909. The other is unique because of its exaggerated oblong shape - one of only two I have ever found among more than 400 in my collection. It is also beautifully done in pastels and is in its original frame.

7. Do you collect other antique samplers too, or just Vogart?

My collection includes manufactured samplers from Vogart as well as other companies. Often, it is impossible to know who the manufacturer is if there is no identification stamped at the bottom of the sampler.

8. Are you a stitcher? Do you do any cross-stitch, embroidery, or other craft?

Occasionally I find samplers that were never embroidered. I have done some of them, being careful to use colors and floss strand amounts appropriate to the design.

9. About how many samplers do you own? How do you store them?

There are more than 400 in my collection. I store my samplers by stacking them in shelving consisting of large cubicles. In addition, I have many of them hanging on walls and a few propped up on easels.

10. Lately there's been a resurgence of interest in embroidery, knitting and other domestic crafts – how do you feel about that and has it had any impact on the price and availability of vintage samplers?

I think its terrific to see the resurgence of interest in needlecraft. I also knit, crochet and sew - anything that offers the simultaneous experience of relaxation and invigoration, creativity and predictability. Knowing that others are going back to this handicraft creates a warm feeling for me. Although samplers are rising in price, they are still reasonable if you realize the amount of time and thought that went into their creation. It is my hope that this interest will get stronger over time.

Thank you Nancy, for this informative interview on Vogart samplers! If any of you know more on the history of Vogart samplers, are collectors, or have stitched some yourself, we'd love to hear from you! Leave a comment here, or email Nancy through her Flickr account.

Want to see more?

Nancy's Vogart samplers
Museum of Samplers group (Flickr)

Holiday cuties

2007-11-04T19:57:00.003-05:00

I have returned, with some Holiday goodies for you! Everyone knows that the second Halloween is over, it's time to eagerly plan and scheme what your Christmas gifts will be... why not try some cute holiday kids?

Here's one of 3 ornaments I made last year:

I trimmed out a few motifs that were not as cute as the rest, like a rather plain stocking and stout scary Santa. This comes from a smaller, rectangular sheet - mine is uncut and unused.

Tiny motifs

2007-09-29T14:01:00.005-05:00

I nearly died from the cuteness of these tiny motifs. Best of all is, they're tiny! Think of how quickly you can finish stitching these - they'd look great on a corner of a napkin, a covered button, or a shirt collar. Maybe I've read too many backs of envelopes, but I can think of tons of sweet uses for these! :) This is a smaller rectangular sheet that also has two birdies nuzzling in a nest, two owls cuddling, a rose design, lotus design, and toadstools.

this pattern donated by

Fuzzy Cat

2007-09-29T13:56:00.002-05:00

Isn't this tiny cat adorable?! Best of all, this pattern magically captures that tense moment all of us cat lovers experience when kitty, intent on licking it's own chest actually seems to get stuck like that. Oh no, we all think to ourselves - will kitty be okay? Or will kitty freeze like that and never be able to eat again... OH NO! Then suddenly, kitty shakes its head and starts licking its nether regions instead. Thankfully, kitty is okay again. :) I think a Halloween version of this little cat would be sweet, maybe wearing a hat or next to a Jack-o-lantern? My sheet is cut and incomplete - also on it are a lotus design, some roses, tulips, and what looks like a snail shell drying on a clothesline.

Mailorder - back to school kiddos

2007-09-16T16:15:00.002-05:00

free pattern - click to get larger size and print!

I like to refer to these patterns as "the perils of public schooling..." :) Just check out cute little Susie - pert, groomed, and ready for learning. Contrast that with her backwoods cousin, who looks more like a character from the Dukes of Hazzard:

free pattern - click to get larger size and print!

Without even a shoe or chalkboard to his name, he manages to get himself to school, bandaged big toe and all... the boy and girl pattern are cut. I also have a schoolhouse pattern that seems to match their "Back to School" theme. They look like they'd be cute on a napkin or tablecloth corner.

this pattern donated by

Walker's 33 - Towels for Every Occasion

2007-09-16T15:26:00.001-05:00

read the back

I bet you thought I was gone for good, huh? Well, here I am again, after a very busy few weeks. My posts may slow down as I do actual work, but I'm still here! Here's an old Walker's transfer for tea towels and pillowcases. My set is cut and partly used but I have all the patterns you see on the front of the envelope and a few more: there are scallop borders , butterflies, birds and flowers, baskets, His and Hers monograms, floral wreaths, and a daisy pattern. Oddly, the basket design I have isn't the same as the one on the envelope, but it's similar.

I really liked these almost military-looking monograms and the dainty butterfly. Hope you do, too!

free pattern - click to get larger size and print!

free pattern - click to get larger size and print!

sailor boy and hula girl

2007-08-26T20:39:00.001-05:00

free pattern - click to get larger size and print!

Isn't this adorable? I know I've seen this image somewhere before but I'm not sure where - help me out and leave a comment if you know.... In any case, this was on a large, white tissue-like sheet. Instead of being a normal transfer, there were tiny holes that marked the lines (I had to trace over them to make this image). Also on the sheet were adorable 40-s looking housewife days of the week patterns. It was really hard to make out the lines on those, so I traced this larger image instead. Enjoy!

Winners!

2007-08-12T21:24:00.000-05:00

I picked 2 names out of the hat, so soon a little package of transfers will be going out to Michelle and Stefanie!

Thank you so much to everyone who commented on the giveaway post, and for all the kind things you said. I'm so glad so many of you have been inspired to re-discover embroidery or start embroidering for the first time!

I heart you guys - giveaway

2007-08-07T22:33:00.001-05:00

puppy love, courtesy of Jacque's blog

Nothing warms the cockels of my heart like seeing finished items made from the freebies I've posted! Seriously, people, I feel so happy that you enjoy these kitschy patterns as much as I do, and enjoy them enough to stitch them! And, because I've been dying to do this for some time now, here are all your projects (that I've found) so far:

Claudia's apron

Keri's pillowcase

and Keri's "love chickens"

Heather's baking girl

and the VTF signature spices, immortalized by Julie!

Believe it or not, this is also my 99th post! Sheesh these posts added up quickly - I'm amazed my collection grew so quickly. In keeping with the giveaway theme I started on my embroidery blog, I'll do a giveaway here, too!

Want some vintage transfers?
Up for grabs: a few duplicate, cut or used Vogarts, duplicate Workbasket transfers, newer Aunt Martha's, a few crochet, sewing, and apron patterns. I promise to hand-pick the cutest stuff and mail it to the "winner."

How to win the drawing:
Leave a comment here with your name and preference for free patterns - example - "only Vogart", only "Aunt Martha's" or "gimme anything you got..." etc. Tell me a little about yourself, if I haven't met you yet, and what your favorite pattern is that I've posted!

Update 8/11/07, 7:00 PM:
We have... 2 winners! As soon as I get in contact with them, I'll post the winners here! :) So, check your email, everybody who commented!

Ma and Pa, on the farm

2007-07-26T01:21:00.002-05:00

free patterns - click to get larger size and print!

It's hard to tell what these are since they are cut (but unused). I have a few more farm-related transfers that could have come from the same sheet, but I'm not 100% certain. It's definitely clear these 2 are a couple - I love the whiskers on Pa and the unflinching look Ma is giving as she feeds her chickens. I absolutely love the drawing style on these!

this pattern donated by

Rose Monograms for Mr and Mrs

2007-07-22T20:19:00.001-05:00

free pattern - click to get larger size and print!

These green-line transfers were in a pile of unmarked stuff found on Ebay- they are cut but unused. I can already imagine how beautiful these look stitched... I don't know the brand but they look a lot like the Superior rose motifs I blogged some time ago. Enjoy!

Puppy tea towels

2007-07-22T20:10:00.001-05:00

free pattern - click to get larger size and print!

Let's face it: housework stinks, and this little puppy is having none of it! These puppy motifs were in a pile of unidentified stuff I scored on Ebay months ago. I have 5 cut, unused motifs which are blue-line transfers - my best guess is Superior or some other mail-order brand. I love the cute, sketchy style of these puppies - in addition to this cute puppy barking at an iron (exactly how I feel about ironing) are these 4 patterns:

puppy chewing on an embroidered cat in a hoop

puppy tearing down a clothesline, with socks and underpants

puppy soaked by a pail of wash water

puppy getting into a cookie jar

Mailorder 2-920 - Bib motifs

2007-07-22T19:45:00.001-05:00

Make your own baby bib with these embroidered motifs and the bib pattern below! Instruct your drooling kiddos to "Be Kind", "Be Happy", and "Be Good" with these little bibs they're too young to read. Maybe it'll soak in subliminally... with the peas and whatnot... :) I have one complete, uncut sheet with tons of other patterns for:

3 stuffed animals: bear (looks more like a mouse), cat and dog

cutwork patterns for chairback, chair arm, luncheon cloth, and napkins

2 panholder patterns: cat(?) and chicken

fruit embroidery motifs

Mexican burro motif for luncheon cloth

2 apron patterns: basket and flowers

patchwork quilt pattern

this pattern donated by

Mailorder 2-932 - Good Morning, Good Night

2007-07-15T21:10:00.002-05:00

I love these 2 "bib designs"... but in my opinion they're a bit too grown-up for a bib. I think they'd be charming as a wall hanging or on a tea towel. I love the retro lettering and the smiling sun which makes me feel I've fallen into Roger Rabbit's "toon town." Also, look at those pudgy owl legs - is it just me or does he look like a roast chicken from the waist down? Either way, they're adorable.

This sheet also has patterns for a handbag, apron, glasses case, a cat bean bag, tomato panholder, a button embroidery design contributed "by a reader", His and Hers hearts, and 7 funky bowlegged veggies for tea towels or napkin holders.

this pattern donated by

Crazy lambkin

2007-07-15T20:55:00.002-05:00

This lamb is clearly over-caffeinated. Go ahead, drink that extra iced mocha latte with the double shot, and you'll look like that, too! And yet, our pattern producers would have us embroider him on a crib quilt, blanket, or child's garment. Maybe it is best to educate the "small fry" early on of the perils of overcaffeination....

This sheet includes patterns for a floral pillowcase, floral design for a blouse, a cutwork table runner, and a bathroom rug and toilet cover (yep, you heard that, toilet cover).

this pattern donated by

Kid cuties

2007-07-15T20:41:00.003-05:00

Of the 6 cute kid designs on this sheet, this friendly Eskimo is certainly cutest. I love the way he/she holds his/her little arms out as if to say "hot-cha-cha!" Okay, there is a cute little girl design that is a close second - she has Shirley Temple ringlet curls and stands under an umbrella in the rain... Also a cutesy bride (who is maybe not supposed to be a kid - that would be disturbing), a girl ballerina with a heart tiara, a "leprechaun"-themed kid and a boy with baskets of flowers who are equally glassy-eyed.

This sheet is smaller and rectangular in size, about 8" x 20" and uncut.

this pattern donated by

Jitterbug dancers

2007-07-15T20:16:00.001-05:00

First of all, allow me to begin by saying I don't use the label "scary cute" lightly. But these jitterbug dancers are most certainly scary cute, right down to this teenage girl's laugh lines. But even more endearing and unsettling are the duo of one-eyed dancers. These teens shimmy, stomp and twirl with the best of them, and all this, with only one eye apiece. I'm sure these dancers would look equally cute with 2 eyes. Just maybe not so scary cute... :)

This sheet also has a palm tree design, pineapple designs for placemats and coasters, a circle floral design, 5 small designs for "felt lapel pins" (girl's head, scottie dog, owl, leaf, flowers), and a few other floral designs. My sheet is cut, not numbered, and is missing one small motif.

Mr. Clothespin

2007-07-09T22:22:00.001-05:00

Check out Mr. Clothespin - ain't he cute? There he is, doing his clothespin thing... on a bar of soap... like the clothespins do. Ok, I don't know what Mr. Clothespin is doing on the soap, even with those motion lines to guide me. Truth is, I have no clue. But he's pretty happy, and he's pretty darned cute. This sheet includes a pattern to put Mr. Clothespin on a bag - check out Carol's wonderful clothespin bag.

I have 1 uncut sheet which also has a large butterfly and lotus design for an apron.

this pattern donated by

Workbasket 2-921 - Cherub tea towels

2007-07-09T21:59:00.000-05:00

free pattern - click to get larger size and print!

This workbasket sheet follows a miniature cherub on his myriad adventures through the kitchen - there are 8 designs in all, including 1 for an apron. Little cherub wreaks havoc with a salt shaker, fishes from a sugar pot, reclines on a spatula, takes a dive into a creamer, bench presses a spoon, frolics with fork and unidentified liquid, and in this free pattern, goes rowing in a teacup, using matchsticks as oars.

I have 1 uncut sheet which also has tulip designs for an apron and panholder, and a pattern for making a rather cute felt hen and rooster. The rooster even wears a tie and shirt collar!

this pattern donated by

Happy Peasants

2007-07-09T21:47:00.001-05:00

Being a peasant must not be all bad. I mean, if you're female you get to wear peasant blouses. And if you're male you get to enhance your rustic masculinity with embroidered suspenders, shiny shoes, and lederhosen. A lucky few were even immortalized on 1940's embroidered luncheon cloths, like this enthusiastic duo. I have one complete, uncut sheet, with a pattern for a peasant apron and hearts and floral embroidery motifs. Also a big bonneted girl stencil to make a big ol' trellis that just might keep doggies from doing #1 on your lawn...

this pattern donated by

Mexican luncheon

2007-07-09T21:34:00.002-05:00

I love this shocked-looking senorita - perhaps she's astounded at the sheer volume of fruit one can balance on one's head? Or maybe senor is singing something a bit risque to her, somewhere along the lines of "Aya en el Rancho Grande?" In any case, they make a cute couple, and according to this sheet, are a "corner motif". The center motif is cut out of my sheet and missing. The rest of the sheet has patterns for heart-shaped mother and daughter aprons and bonnets- cute, eh? Also a couple of kissing doves, smooching bunnies, and two shocked-looking fuzzy kitties, and cursive lettering that says "Big sis", "Little sis", and "mom."

this pattern donated by

Mexican tea towels

2007-06-18T21:07:00.001-05:00

Love... and a burro. Can it get any cuter than this?! Here are some Mexican cuties on an unnumbered sheet. I have 5 of the 7 tea towel designs - my sheet is cut and incomplete. Also on this sheet are some Mexican-style borders for guest towels, a cute panholder design, a pattern to make felt baby shoes, a bib pattern, and small floral designs for baby clothes.

this pattern donated by

Little Girl DOW

2007-06-17T16:04:00.001-05:00

Okay, I'll admit I squealed with delight when I saw these sweet little girl days of the week patterns. It's quite embarrassing for me to squeal with delight, so I'm glad there was no one around... :) There are 7 girl designs with the words: Cleaning, Baking, Washing, Ironing, Shopping, Mending, and Resting. I love the 40's-style drawing - it reminds me of old Blondie funnies. Also a cute winter hats border to use on clothes, some nautical designs (which give me terrible 80's flashbacks - ugh), a floral motif for a tablecloth, and 3 cute baby designs, one of which has a baby with a crown and scepter as if to say "I'm the man..." :)

I have one complete, uncut sheet from Eydie.

this pattern donated by

Mailorder 2-937 - Kitten DOW

2007-06-17T15:52:00.001-05:00

This is a large, red-lined sheet with tons of different projects. The cute kitten days of the week towels are 1 project, with this cute fuzzy kitten doing various tasks with the words: Cook, Wash, Shop, Sew, Iron, Clean, and (for Sunday, I presume) Worship. Lots of lazy daisy designs in flowerpots for kitchen curtains and a panholder, and a big amazon parrot design for a luncheon cloth or "yard ornament" saying (as all parrots do, I suppose) "Keep off the Grass." :)

I have one complete, uncut sheet from Eydie.

this pattern donated by

About Workbasket patterns

2007-06-17T15:40:00.001-05:00

The Workbasket was a mailorder magazine that began publication in 1935. It was filled with project ideas, lace and needlework patterns, and iron-on embroidery transfers.

Unfortunately the embroidery transfer sheets don't say "Workbasket" on them anywhere! But they're usually very large, red-lined sheets with many different project ideas and stitching directions. Also most are numbered, somewhere on the page, with these numbers or these numbers.

More about the Workbasket:

A very special present!!!

2007-06-13T22:01:00.000-05:00

So, it's time for me to tell you about a very generous blogging friend of mine, Eydie! Not only does she make some of the sweetest embroidery pieces I've seen, she recently surprised me by mailing me some vintage transfers she wasn't using. I went to the mail expecting to find one or 2, but there were so many I could hardly count them! A modest count of this motherload is over 50 transfer sheets!

I'll be sharing what she shared with me over the next few months.

Every time you see this little icon (embroidered by her) you'll know you're seeing a transfer donated by the generous Eydie.

Chicken romance

2007-05-22T19:14:00.000-05:00

Yes, chickens do have romances. This is in addition to cats, birds, and puppies, whose romances you are already aware of... So, long ago, 2 chickens fell in love, and that love was immortalized the way most things were in the 50's... with awkwardly rhymed phrases on tea towels! The chickens didn't seem to be an ideal pair at first - he being of an "old batch" and she being a trifle proud looking (albeit cute) catch...

The romance was turbulent at first, and one might say that there was "plenty scratch"... but within time it was clear they were a "perfect match." (By the way, if you're not inwardly groaning yet, you should really get that checked out... your inner groan mechanism may be faulty or nonexistent) :)

The two chickens settled down in a "cozy thatch" and before 3 shakes of a lamb's tail had 4 lively chicks and had settled down into smug married-hood. (They are SO smug marrieds - just look at them!) :) Extra points to anyone who can explain to me the meaning of "natch"...

Polly put the kettle on

2007-05-13T15:23:00.000-05:00

Polly's kinda cute, eh? I found this pattern wedged in with some other finds recently - she'd been cut out and traced over unflatteringly with black, red, and blue crayons. I took out a little tracing paper and did my best to find and re-create her original lines. This is a red-line transfer, maybe Workbasket, but it's not identified in any way. And, is it just me or does it look like Polly's got a pet boa coiled around her neck?

McCall 1166 - Topsy Turvy

2007-05-13T15:09:00.000-05:00

"Here the tables are turned in earnest with the chef getting the worst of it..."

Here is my most disturbing recent acquisition - "Topsy Turvy" in which we see a diminutive chef being tortured by a series of scary food items. He alternately prays for his life to a hungry pig, has a narrow miss with a pitchfork-wielding hare, or struggles in the clutches of a giant lobster seconds before being boiled alive. Just look at that evil glance he's getting from the goose with the cleaver... good luck little chef guy, but just between you and me - I think you're toast!

Superior 160 - 6 Floral Motifs

2007-04-17T19:58:00.000-05:00

read the back

Another set of transfers I received from the wonderful, generous Robin. There are 3 each of a large basket and rose motif for pillowcases. The envelope is in great condition and two basket motifs have been cut out but are still in the envelope. I trimmed a little off the side of this image so it can print better:

Thanks again Robin!

Scotty Dog and Crazy-eyed Kitty

2007-03-18T16:12:00.000-05:00

I found these unmarked green-lined transfers in a pile of transfers I got on Ebay. My best guess on the manufacturer is Superior or some other lesser-known company... I also have a cute bunny motif, cute ducks, and lazy daisy floral motifs. Then there's the cute Scotty dog you see above and its evil arch-nemesis, Crazy-eyed Kitty! :) Just look into those scary eyes daring you to satin stitch them... go ahead, try it - kitty will look even scarier then.

Let me know if you know the manufacturer of these - I'd love to find out!

Mailorder 86 - Cross-Stitch China; Bizarre Animals

2007-03-18T15:46:00.001-05:00

7 days of the week designs for tea towels like this one featuring a cross-stitched plate and other kitchen china. Also a large waterlily motif that would be nice for a pillowcase, floral borders, baskets and corner motifs. There are also 3 bizarre and adorable animals: a prancing lamb, fuzzy duck and this thing:

Is it a squirrel? A cat? Or maybe a skunk (check out that big stripe down its back)? Drunken chipmunk? And is its hind leg broken? Really, there are so many weird possibilities for this animal, which my sheet claims is a kitten... :) My sheet is almost complete - 1 small motif is cut out of the edge.

Mailorder 64 - Cutesy Angel Heads

2007-03-18T15:05:00.001-05:00

How do you like these "cherubic angels' heads"? They appear on an uncut, unused sheet marked "64" with TONS of different motifs. There are His and Hers floral pillowcase designs, rose baskets, roses and ribbons, cherubs holding ribbons, herbs with names, a bee and ladybug border, a tiny script alphabet and large butterfly potholder motifs. Honestly, there are so many designs crammed together it's easy to miss them!

Monarch 206 - Pussy-Cat Tea Towels You'll Adore

2007-02-25T15:50:00.000-05:00

read the back

Seven kitten days of the week designs featuring a disturbingly glassy-eyed cat... :) What I find funniest about this envelope is just how unappealing it makes the designs look! :) I especially like the cute lettering on these.

My envelope is sadly empty, but the manufacturers were nice enough to include a reduced sized image of all the transfers on the back - which is how I produced the freebie for this one. The actual outlines are cuter than the illustrations on the front of the envelope. Here's the Sunday design:

Dutch Girl Days of the Week

2007-02-25T15:29:00.000-05:00

7 days of the week Dutch girl motifs - this is a blue-line transfer I got in a batch of other patterns on Ebay. The motifs are all cut apart but not used - with all the exploring I've done online I still haven't found the source but I'm pretty sure they're not Aunt Martha's or Vogart. Each design features a Dutch girl with tulips doing various chores and singing a hymn on Sunday.

Mailorder 90 - Little Juan

2007-02-15T20:17:00.001-05:00

This red-line transfer sheet has 4 cute Mexican motifs: Juan astride a smiling burro, asleep under his sombrero with a smiling sun and yawning cactus, singing with a happy cactus, and a cute burro smiling at a cactus. There's also one tiny century plant motif, two tiny smiling cactus motifs, and a simple, large cross-stitch border. On the same sheet are two large, detailed landscape scenes with large trees, lakes, and cottages.

My sheet is a little yellowed and has one tear in a cottage scene. Aside from saying "Made in the U.S.A." there is no other information identifying the maker or the year of publication.

American Weekly 3123 - Sunbonnet Girl

2007-02-03T18:12:00.000-05:00

6 sweet Sunbonnet girl designs, in most of which she is accompanied by a tiny, mopsy dog. The patterns on her dresses are all really lovely and probably look beautiful when they're stitched. My sheet is almost complete - 3 small motifs have been cut out, and judging from their position they were probably the cute puppy. All the Sunbonnet girls are there, however.

McCall 1558 - Sun Bonnet Charmers - Six Applique Designs for Tea Towels

2007-02-03T18:07:00.000-05:00

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6 tiny Sunbonnet designs for applique tea towels - the drawings are so charming - especially the tiny chihuahua-looking dog on a leash and doves. Unfortunately, my envelope is empty - one of a large batch I received on Ebay that were partly empty.

Superior 137 - 22 Motifs for Pillowcases, Towels - Linens

2007-02-03T17:59:00.000-05:00

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3 designs for pillowcases or towels (you could only call them 22 if you split every single design up, I suppose). :) One large cross-stitch design, floral sprays, and a flower basket.

My envelope is clumsily creased in places - my transfer sheet is not complete. There are motifs missing from the top and bottom, but I'm not sure if they just repeat what is already there.

Laura Wheeler 778 - Kittens

2007-02-02T19:05:00.000-05:00

Six cute kitty romance motifs that show the cats in each stage of love (yes, cats in love, you read right). :) The motifs look like they'd fit well on tea towels and say "Boy", "Coy", "Joy", "Kiss", "Bliss", and "This."

My set is complete - only the "Coy" motif has been cut out but not used, and is still in the envelope. These are my first Laura Wheeler transfers - they appear to be mail order transfers, and the design on the mailing envelope is very dainty and beautiful.

McCall 1556 - Kitten Capers

2007-02-02T18:57:00.000-05:00

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There are 10 cute, tiny cat motifs that seem to be meant for applique (although I can't imagine how hard it would be to work so tiny!) Each design measures no bigger than how you see it on the envelope.

My envelope is in decent shape, but there are only 3 designs left inside - the cat playing tennis, the cat eating ice cream, and the cat in a kerchief, reading a book.

Walker's 720 - Colorful Fruit Designs to Brighten Your Home

2007-02-02T18:46:00.000-05:00

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A variety of straightforward looking fruit designs for embroidery or applique - there are grapes, peaches, cherries, lemons, apples, pears, plums, and strawberries. It looks like the applique with contrasting fabrics could look cute...

My envelope is pretty tattered and torn - inside is one complete, uncut sheet and another almost complete sheet - only a small cherry motif is missing.

Superior 169 - 6 Motifs for Kitchen Towels or Linens

2007-01-21T16:44:00.000-05:00

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6 cute puppy designs, featuring puppies getting into all kinds of scrapes, including playing with cutlery, spilling water, sitting under an umbrella, playing with cookware, breaking a dish, and fighting over a dish towel. My envelope is torn in spots, has "FREE" written in blue marker on the front, and a J.C. Penney sticker.

My transfers are unused but I am missing one pattern - the puppies fighting over a dish towel.

Superior 146 - Six Easy-To-Do Kitchen Towels

2007-01-21T16:34:00.000-05:00

read the back

There are 6 designs, intended for kitchen towels, featuring cross-stitch Scotty dogs with floral and checkered backgrounds. I love the artwork on the envelope - just check out that upper left hand corner! Your eyes are not fooling you - that is the Mrs. tying an apron on her hubby while he cheerily dries the dishes, while smoking a pipe. Is Superior trying to turn traditional female roles on their head? We can only guess...

My envelope is a bit tattered and torn - the transfers have been cut apart but don't appear used. I have all 6 designs pictured on the envelope. A price sticker on the back says "Strain Bros."

Superior 180 - Kitten Motifs

2007-01-18T18:59:00.000-05:00

read the back

These have to be some of the cutest transfers I have ever seen. There's something about seeing a cat in a tuxedo or wedding dress that just gets me - I am such a sucker for weird cuteness! There are 6 designs that are a perfect size for tea towels that feature the cats (get this) in every stage of courtship. First there's "Boy", then "Joy", then "Kiss", then "This", then "Vow", and finally "Now", featuring the happily married cats with kitty triplets in a stroller.

My set is 1 complete, unused and uncut sheet of transfers - what a lucky find! The envelope is also in great shape.

Superior 120 - Mexicana

2007-01-07T22:11:00.000-05:00

As you can probably tell, I am interested in all things Mexican - I'm fascinated with the way cultures were represented in different time periods. So far all the Mexican designs I've seen are pretty consistent with each other - burros, women with water pitchers or chickens on their heads (now there's something I've never seen in real life) and fruit trucks. This set is unusual in that it is a green line transfer (all the others I've seen are red or black).

A few motifs have been cut out, but since each one is represented twice, they are all there. There are 3 large designs, 3 medium-sized designs, and 6 cute mini designs which would be cute on table runners or tablecloth corners. And a few cute small chickens.

McCall's 930 - 4 designs for towels or pillowcases

2007-01-07T21:53:00.000-05:00

The color art on the front of this envelope is very dainty and detailed. I'm not sure what "Kaumagraph" transfer means, but that's what's emblazoned across the top. Another floral design for pillowcases - my set is cut, awkwardly folded, and may not be complete.

Walker's 702 - Gay Mexican Motifs for Kitchen and Tea Towels

2007-01-07T17:38:00.000-05:00

These are the first embroidery transfers I bought online, and they really bit me with the embroidery transfer bug. :) My set is complete and unused, blue lines printed on very thin, tracing-like paper. There are two large sheets that are identical.

The drawing style is unique and very different from Aunt Martha's and Vogart transfers - using sketch-like strokes. There are 7 large images, probably intended for tea towels, and 4 smaller images maybe intended for potholders or placemats. They include beautiful dancing girls (one looking more like she's doing the can-can than any Spanish dance), Indian men in a market, sleeping under trees, and shaking their maracas, and other more suave-looking men in bolero outfits.

Here's a freebie I offered on my embroidery blog earlier last year:

Aunt Martha's 9475 - Down Mexico Way

2007-01-07T17:26:00.000-05:00

I'm guessing that the "Down Mexico Way" patterns are the oldest Aunt Martha's transfers I own. I got them in the same batch with the Mermaid tea towel transfers.

My set is cut and may not be complete. There are 7 images of sombrero-sporting Mexican men doing constructive activities like sleeping, serenading a cactus, and dragging their stubborn burro behind them, as well as two lovely women, one with a chicken (or chicken shaped pot) on her head, and another woman carrying water pitchers across her shoulders. There is also a pattern for a square panholder, and stitching instructions.

Aunt Martha's 3623 - Mermaid Tea Towel

2007-01-07T17:03:00.000-05:00

The mermaids were in a batch of transfers I scored on Ebay, and these, along with a Mexican themed pattern, seem to be the oldest of the lot. I'm not big on mermaids myself, but these are adorable, especially the cute, cartoony way they're rendered. :)

There are 7 patterns of the mermaid doing cutesy things like baiting a hook, frolicking with a seagull, and looking really pissed off when she's caught in a fishing net. In addition, there's a pattern for a fish-shaped potholder and the days of the week in cursive lettering.

Frequently Asked Questions

2007-01-07T15:46:00.033-05:00

Welcome to my vintage transfer blog! This is where I catalog my vintage embroidery transfers and share free patterns from time to time. Maybe you've visited my embroidery blog or seen me on Flickr? Please leave a comment with any history, observations, etc, and let me know if you've stitched any of these yourself! ;)

Printing and Transfering Designs

How do I print the free patterns?
Click on the pattern image, which will take you to Flickr. Then click "All sizes" just above the picture to see the large size. Now you can either print or download the image!

How do I transfer the image onto fabric?
Use a transfer pencil or pen to trace the image you've printed out and iron it onto your fabric.

Try my tutorial: how to use a transfer pencil.

Contact Me
I'd love to hear from you! Leave a comment or send me an email at unafloresita AT gmail DOT com.

More Embroidery Resources

Feeling Stitchy (Flickr Embroidery Group Blog)
Flickr Embroidery Group
Hoop Love Vintage Transfers Group

Copyright Questions

What about copyright? Is it okay for you to post these free patterns?
I am making free patterns available only for companies that are no longer in business, and for patterns which are in the public domain. According to this chart, works published from 1923 - 1977 are in the public domain. Here's the copyright law I'm referring to: http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap3.html#304

None of the transfers I offer as freebies have copyright symbols on them (and within that date range, works needed a copyright symbol to be protected). I am not a lawyer, so I would not take any of this as legal advice - this is just my basic understanding.

These images are offered to you for educational purposes, I make no profit off of these images, and I actually pay to host this "free" content. It is for this reason that I ask that you do not sell these images, on their own, or in any other way I only hope you enjoy learning about them and viewing them as much as I have!

Why are there no Aunt Martha's freebies?
I won't post free patterns for any companies that are still in business (like Aunt Martha's, McCall's, Simplicity, etc). Aunt Martha's still sells its vintage designs - even though the patterns may not be protected by copyright or are in the public domain, I personally feel I should not offer them for free.

Yay! Are you an expert on copyright law? I have 5 billion questions for you!
Sadly, no. All I know is pretty much covered above!

Selling
Are your patterns for sale?
No, I'm not selling them at this time but I may sell extras in the future. In the meantime, enjoy the free patterns!

Can I sell items made from the free patterns you post here?
Yes, you may, but sell no more than 25 stitch-outs of these patterns. Anything more than that I consider "commercial use" of the pattern, which I do not allow.

Can I sell your patterns on their own or as part of a kit?
Nope. Do not sell these free patterns in any way.

Can I digitize your patterns and sell them?
Nope. Do not sell these free patterns in any way.

Wait - if the patterns are in the Public Domain - you can't tell me what I can and can't do with them, anyway, can you?
I am offering these free patterns under the following Creative Commons license, please take a look at the details of that license. I would like your use of the patterns to be in keeping with the free, share and share alike spirit in which they were offered. I pay to host this content, I have purchased the patterns, (or they have been donated by generous people), I scanned, edited, and uploaded everything myself. If you turned around and sold the content I gave to you for free, I probably wouldn't be able to stop you, but I'm thinking that if you read this far, you'd care to respect my wishes. And you'd care that it would make me sad and want to stop sharing cute patterns. Keep the cuteness free!

Scanning Questions
Do you scan every pattern you buy?
I usually scan only 1 motif from each set but I also list everything I didn't scan so you can decide what you want in your collection!

Hey, if I ask you, will you scan all the contents of a pattern and email them to me? Pleeeeease?
I don't want to sound mean, but, no. People ask this a lot - to me it's like saying - hey I really like that free piece of cake you just gave me - can you make me a whole big cake of my own, with extra frosting, please? While it doesn't hurt to ask, please don't be mad if I don't respond to an email like that!

Tips for Buying Transfers on Ebay

Don't believe descriptions that say "rare" or assume that if a transfer has a high price it must be worth that much - embroidery transfers were mass-produced, so if you're looking for a specific transfer, just keep checking back instead of paying tons of money.

Some vendors sell photocopies or downloadable PDFs, not the originals, so read their descriptions very carefully.