Australian Smocking & Embroidery - New Issue!

You won't want to miss the latest issue of Australian Smocking & Embroidery, Issue No. 84.

It has lots of beautiful color photos, illustrations, instructions and full size patterns.

This issue is on sale now for only $14.95.

See the current issue for more information.

Also, we do still have some back issues available. Some back issues are becoming very hard to find.

3 New Machine Embroidery CD's

Blue Ribbon Baby by Karen Bosch, is perfect for a crib set or blanket. Great gift idea for a new baby!

There are 34 designs in 4x4 and 7 designs in 5x7. Includes formats for all popular machines.

Paisley Alphabet by Sandy Jenkins is a very elegant monogram collection.

This machine embroidery cd, which is part of the Sew Beautiful Machine Embroidery Collection, includes 26 alphabet designs in 5x7 format. Easy to use installer.

Le Petit Oiseau Bleu (The Little Bluebird) by Wendy Schoen contains pretty, dainty designs, perfect for heirloom baby gowns.

For more information on these and other machine embroidery designs from Martha Pullen, see: Machine Embroidery Designs

Cute Machine Embroidery and a Free Vintage Pattern

In a previous post I mentioned that Maleah and I made her an apron and decorated it with Martha Pullen's Pick-a-Pocket machine embroidery CD.

These embroidery designs are too cute! We chose the lollipop design for Maleah's apron pocket. The bright and cheerful colors stood out again the grey poplin fabric used in the apron. (I raided my fabric stash)

We stayed pretty much close to the color recommendations on the embroidery CD, except we substituted a gold metallic thread to outline the large, center lollipop. Then we accented the top of the pocket with a red rickrack. She loved it!

As promised, we added the Pick-a-Pocket embroidery CD to the website so that you can order it. Martha's embroidery CD's are easy to use and include formats to fit all popular machines.

For more information and to purchase: Pick-a-Pocket Machine Embroidery Designs

Free Vintage Pattern!!!

McCall's #1606 - Size 2

I always wanted to make this little tucked dress, but waited too long and now all my granddaughters are too big for it. So one of you gets to make it!

I thought it would look beautiful made with the Aqualine Blue Bearissima II Swiss Batiste. The pattern calls for 1 1/2 yds of 52 inch wide fabric. The contrast yoke in View A calls for 1/4 yd of fabric.

The pattern also says on the back: "Narrow Slide Fastener for Back Opening (Optional - 10 inches)" In those days they called a zipper a "slide fastener". Since it is optional, I would NOT use a zipper. I do not like zippers on this type of dress, I use button closings instead.

The copyright on this pattern is difficult to see, but it looks like it says 1951.

Use this link to notify us that you want this pattern, McCall #1606.

How to claim this pattern: Send us your name, address and the pattern number (use our contact form for fastest submission). The pattern will go to the first one who notifies us that they want it.

Just a Few Rules - The Free Vintage Patterns are an exclusive offer to our newsletter/blog subscribers only. The free offers will be limited to the USA only. We will mail them to home addresses only, no businesses. Some of the patterns are very old and in fragile condition. They will be distributed "as is". This free offer is for fun, without warranty or guarantees.

Vintage Baby by Martha Pullen

The Vintage Baby book by Martha Pullen is back in stock! This hardcover book has many beautiful color photographs that will inspire you to create heirloom garments for a special baby.

It includes photos and descriptions from the private collections of Martha Pullen, Sue Hausmann and Elizabeth Rhodes.

The Vintage Baby book is available either separately or included in a complete set with 2 companion machine embroidery disks.

(Above photo - Sample garment from the book)

Vintage Baby Book plus Companion Machine Embroidery Disks

If you own an embroidery machine or if you plan to get an embroidery machine in the future, you should take advantage of the huge savings you will receive if you purchase the complete set.

Martha Pullen machine embroidery disks are very easy to use, especially for beginners. They are high quality, giving you excellent results.

If you are new or inexperienced with machine embroidery, we highly recommend that you select high quality designs. (Cheap machine embroidery designs can cause headaches and frustration.)

See more machine embroidery designs from Martha Pullen

Sewing With Kids - Yes It Can Be Fun!

Several months ago, feeling very brave, I invited all 3 granddaughters to my sewing room. I needed a project that could be sewn fast and would capture and hold their attention.

The pull-on skirt in Martha Pullen's Sew Kool 4 Kids was chosen for the pattern. Hannah and Maleah wanted red skirts and Ashleigh wanted a blue one. We used Featherwale Corduroy, but any medium weight fabric would have worked.

All three of them wanted to decorate their skirts with machine embroidery and decided on a butterfly design. For the younger girls we used a butterfly design from Martha's Mini Collection. Ashleigh wanted a larger butterfly and chose the one from Dainty Designs.

The machine embroidery turned out great. It was very easy using the Floriana Wet and Gone Tacky. With this particular stabilizer, you do not hoop the fabric. Instead of hooping the fabric, you hoop the stabilizer and place the fabric on the sticky stabilizer. Very easy!

Because I didn't want the embroidery stitches to sink down into the corduroy fabric, we placed a water soluble stabilizer on top of it before stitching. The girls were absolutely fascinated with the embroidery machine!

That was Hannah's first time at seeing a piece of flat fabric turn into a cute skirt that she could wear! At only 4 years old, she loves clothes.

Managing Children in Your Sewing Room

The secret to managing energetic kids in your sewing room is to "de-energize" them! Earlier in the day, I sent Ashleigh and Maleah over to my son's (Hannah's daddy) house where there are acres and acres for them to run and jump and play to their heart's content!

When they returned, along with Hannah, they were more than ready to sit still and relax in the sewing room!

In the following video, you can watch them de-energizing before our sewing session.

Have a great weekend!

Quick and Easy Raglan Nightgown for Girls

Did You Know?

You can use most bishop (smocking) patterns when you want a quick and easy raglan style nightie for girls. Smocking is a decorative way of controlling gathers. If you leave off the smocking, you have loose gathers. Perfect for a nightie.

I wanted to make Hannah a warm nightgown during one of our record low cold periods. (We have had a strange winter here in Alabama, record high's and record low temperatures.)

I used the Joy of Smocking pattern, minus the smocking. That pattern is great, it goes from Size 6 months all the way to 14 years!

For the fabric, I choose our snuggly, warm Austrian Cashmere Cotton. Not only is that fabric warm, it is super durable. You can machine wash it and throw it in the dryer over and over again and it still comes out nice.

I thought it would be too plain without the smocking, so I machine embroidered a pretty basket on the front from the Dainty Designs Sew Beautiful Embroidery Collection.

This was an easy project that went together fast. So fast in fact, that I might make her a few more with the other colors of the Austrian Cashmere Cotton. The machine embroidery turned out great on this fabric. (Remember to pre-shrink before embroidering - I used the washer and dryer)

Reminder - Our Current Sales are Ending Soon

You still have time to save on the Ivory Bearissima Swiss Batiste, Mettler thread, French lace and Pink Bearlin. See our current sales.

Upcoming Sale

Look for beautiful Silk Dupioni to be featured next during our big Winter Fabric Sale!

New Martha Pullen Book and Machine Embroidery Designs

Vintage Baby - Martha Pullen and Friends Series

You will love the latest of Martha's vintage books because it has page after page of beautiful photographs of vintage baby clothes. Martha Pullen, Sue Hausmann and Elizabeth Rhodes contributed to this book, each from their own private collections.

Every item in the book is described in detail, inspiring you with ideas for creating your own heirlooms for baby. There are also several pages of embroidery designs for hand embroidery.

The book sold separately is $29.95.

2 Companion Machine Embroidery Disks

If you have an embroidery machine, you won't want to miss this opportunity to get the complete set, which includes the book and both of the companion embroidery cd's at the Introductory Price of only $80.00! If purchased separately, the book and the 2 cd's would cost $209.95.

I can't wait to try these! Order yours today!

Update on the pattern "Classic Dress" by Creations By Michie

We are now fully re-stocked on the size large (2 - 5) of this newest pattern by Michie.

Everybody loves Creations By Michie patterns because they are easy, easy, easy!!! Her new pattern is destined to be a, hummmm, what's the word I'm thinking of, oh yes, a classic!

Sewing Machine & Dealer Recommendation

Over the years I have worn out several sewing machines and always had to replace them. That is, until 1992, when I bought my Husqvarna Viking 1100.

It's still going strong after fifteen years of heavy use! That machine has never given me any problems. It has been the most dependable sewing machine I have ever used and I have been sewing since junior high school home economics class in 1964.

When it was time to think about getting an embroidery machine, Husqvarna Viking was my choice. And I'm glad I did. These new machines are amazing. Visit a Husqvarna Viking dealer near you and ask for a demonstration. You'll see what I mean.

Husqvarna Viking Dealer in Meridian, MS - For those of you who live in or within driving distance of Meridian Mississippi, I recommend you visit Sew Precious. That's where I got my new machine.

In addition to the latest machines, Sew Precious offers sewing and smocking classes. They have ready to sew kits and a large selection of fabrics including Spechler Vogel, Fabric Finders and many more.

You'll also find many of your favorite patterns, including Maja's Heirlooms, Bonnie Blue Designs, an extensive collection of Children's Corners patterns plus a lot more.

You can visit their website for driving directions and store hours.