Custom pillowcase pattern #2

Hey guys! Back again with more ideas for pillowcases. I started off with a simple cross stitch font and a sweet little bird design. I realize there's a whole host of cute, weird, or funny things you could say on these but I thought the basics would be nice:



Hope you enjoy and as always, please comment if you've stitched these - I'd love to see them!

Custom pillowcase pattern

This week, I decided to do something a little different... instead of just bringing a few old patterns out of the vault, I decided to combine them to make a new vintage pattern!

 I started off with those two images at the top, which are very nice as is, but I thought that together they'd make a really pretty pillowcase pattern. I added a few french knots on the "Hers" pattern, and if you know a "His" who won't mind a pillowcase so thoroughly girlified, you could try the "His" pattern, too:


I like all the detail you could work into this pattern - and if you stitch it, be sure to leave a comment or send me an email, I'd definitely love to see it! :)

Same Old Grind

Here's a cutie from the archives! Phew! It is tough work being enough of a multi-tasker to remember to post in 3 places. I'm brainstorming some ideas for managing that, so stay tuned. In the meantime, enjoy this pooch! :)

Sweet stove

Hey guys! Here I am again with another little goodie from my collection. Sweetness, no? Enjoy! :)

Can't stop the cat cleaning

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.

Go take a bath

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.

Really, this won't hurt a bit!

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!

Be an Angel

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

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? :)

Cross-stitch alphabet

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.

Mailorder 86 - Cross-Stitch China; Bizarre Animals

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.

Superior 137 - 22 Motifs for Pillowcases, Towels - Linens

read the back

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.

Superior 146 - Six Easy-To-Do Kitchen Towels

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."