I would say this is one of the best sharing subjects we’ve ever had – I love seeing these samplers and assorted needlework! Thanks so much for sending them and now….enjoy!
And last but not least, here’s a question for you – have you ever seen this type of needlework?
It’s a small zipper bag and the colored rows are rick rack – the zipper is metal. I’ve had it for years and I’ve never seen another like it. I’m hoping someone reading this will be able to shed some light on this mystery bag.
Karla T – I love all your quilts. I’d like to make each one of them. Great job!
I think the bag sides are made by treble crochet grid like this –
https://thecrochetfox.com/treble-crochet-stitch/
then weave the rick-rack through the openings. Add single(?) crochet for the top & sides to give more support to the machine stitching for the zipper and side seams.
Cute bag!
I think I have some of those paint tubes yet…I bet they’ve petrified by now.
JustGail – wow, you really nailed it! Although I don’t understand the technique, I’ll look it up and thank you!! Wow – I hope the readers see your answer.
This post takes me back to when I was home with my preschoolers. I took knitting lessons when I only had one baby and taught myself to crochet. Then, it was whatever was trendy, be it needlepoint, embroidery, crewel or mainly counted cross-stitch. I looked forward to nap time, so I could drag out my work bag. When I finally got brave and tried quilting, I was hooked and never looked back. I do still knit in the evenings and when we are traveling—dish cloths and afghans, nothing that has to fit anyone. 🙄
Thanks so much, Mary 🥰
I’m with you – I tried it all but stuck with quilting.
I have really enjoyed seeing all the needlework samplers! And the quilts today were all so beautiful! I will be babysitting my son’s 3 dogs for the weekend. The two older dogs (one is 11, the other just a year and a half) have been at my house a lot, and they get along well with both my dog & my cats. But they got a new puppy (rescue situation) at Christmas, and it hasn’t been to my house yet, so I’m a little worried about that!!
Debra – hang on! A puppy in the house!!!
Great art show today. My mom taught me to embroider on pillow cases. I was probably 8 or 9. She would iron on a pattern to the cuff of the pillow case and I would embroider it. I haven’t embroidered since then, but sure loved how the pillow cases looked when completed. Thanks for reminding me.
Teresa, I embroidered pillowcases for each season and used them on my bed. Learned to embroider as a young woman and still enjoy doing same as an old one (83). Carolyn in GA
I love your little zippered bag, Mary. So precious and unique. Karla T, is most of your work tiny pieces? I can’t really tell the size of the finished quilts, but a couple look very small. I’d love to know any tips you have to work with small pieces! The cross stitch and needleworked pieces are so fun to read. The first picture of the ribbon flowers, so pretty. I visited a shop on Cape Cod last summer with my needlework guild, it has an amazing selection of needlework canvases and the yarns, threads and ribbons to finish them. I was amazed at the cost of some of those canvases and supplies! Yikes! But they sure are beautiful! Jan in MA
Hi Jan! Thanks for your interest. Yes, 2 if the quilts are small.. the heart is 15×18″ with finished blocks at 2 3/4″. It is a sew along by Temecula Quilt Co on her blog. The other is 12″ square and blocks are finished at 2″. I know… I’m insane to like such tiny pieces, but they’re just so cute, I can’t help it. For tips, I don’t always do this, but starching your fabric first before cutting helps.
Hi Karla! I thought they might be small! I love little quilts and have done one that Temecula Quilt Co featured. So fun! It’s on my table right now. I love her fabrics as well. Thanks for the tip to starch the fabric first before cutting. I’m going to try that. Jan in MA
What an amazing collection of stitchery that has been shared. You chose a great subject this time, Mary.
Karla, you have been one busy lady! The quilts today are so pretty.
And the group picture with the Bullseye quilts!
I love this blog
Pat in AZ
Thank you! I finished all of the quilts in January. I was pretty productive for a change! 😉
What lovely pictures today! So many interesting items to share.
I love seeing all the handwork. I both make it and collect vintage pieces. My grandmother taught me to embroider when I was 6 and I always knew cross stitch and counted cross stitch were two different things. I always enjoyed doing cross stitch, especially the samplers. Cross stitch also included “chicken scratch.” I didn’t even know it was called that. I was 7 before I was trusted to look at pattern books and mark the gingham for my grandmother. When I was 10, we moved back to our farm outside Denison, IA after a 3-year absence for my dad to recover from a surgery. The house had a large, enclosed porch with two walls of windows. Mom said I could make all the curtains. I selected pink 1/4″ gingham, measured, cut, marked, and stitched them all with chicken scratch and the sewed them on the treadle New Home my mom bought for me at an estate sale. When my folks sold the farm and moved to town she gave them to me and now my daughter has them.
Marlene, what a great memory. We all come to our crafting in similar ways, don’t we? Thank you for sharing .
Marlene – oh, what a wonderful story about chicken scratch. My grandma did chicken scratch with added butterflies around the bottom of my pink gingham gathered skirt – I hope I still have it.
Hi Marlene, I love your story. That’s so great for you that you made the curtains! A big ego booster for a young girl. I had forgotten about doing cross stitch on gingham. Thank you for sharing. Susy
What is “chicken scratch”, please?
Pauline in South Australia
Pauline – I’ll see if I can find a picture – it’s a type of embroidery.
What marvelous stitchery today, thank you to all who shared. The Scatter Smiles, made me smile. Your purse it marvelous to see, hope someone can provide some insight. Love this blog.
Mary,
The cross stitch and embroidery pictures have been wonderful! I have really enjoyed seeing them.
Day 3 of dog sitting. Scotch has been real good. He’s not used to walking as much as I do, but he’s getting along. He is absolutely my shadow. He sits in my sewing room chair or lays right behind my sewing chair. I have to be careful not to step on him. Never realized how frequently I get up to iron or to trim something until I had to watch out for a dog! I have his bed right in the doorway but he likes to be closer! Biscuit seems pretty unsure of Scotch and will growl at him. After a few minutes he is ok though.
Have a great day everyone !🌻
Sunflower – this sounds like Keeper – he has to always be so close to me! I don’t dare just turn around and start walking or I’ll trip over him. Scotch has decided you’re his person! Biscuit feels betrayed maybe
Loved all the needlework. It would be hard to pick my favorite!
Another day at home. Yea! Glare ice on driveway! Parking lot at the church where my sew group meets is the same. I will spend the afternoon in my sewing room. I have a couple things to do before I can venture there today however.
I’ve really been enjoying all of the great embroidery,cross stitch, and quilting pictures. Thanks Mary for such a great blog.
I so enjoyed seeing all of these pictures, especially of the needlework. The one about the dirty dishes, is so precious!
After joining a stitch-along for counted cross stitch over 2 years ago, it still sits in the bag. Maybe one day…
It’s a real treat to start my day with a cup of coffee & all of those beautiful needle work pieces. I especially like reading the sayings! The ice storm has arrived here so it will be a sewing day. On Thursday I usually cook at Meals on Wheels but today it’s too dangerous for the drivers who deliver the meals to be on the road. Love the purse & it seems like other are in the know about its construction. I am heartbroken reading about the dear little baby who lost her life to this terrible influenza. Prayers to all.
I agree that it has been one big sharing of samplers. And they are fun to read. The quilts are outstanding. I was remembering after the embroidered pillowcase memories yesterday that my mom would go to parties where they demonstrated needlework kits and one stick out in my mind as why she would have even bought this kit…..it was painting with tubes of paints on a tablecloth. She had to buy a flat hoop and I still remember seeing her work on that. It might have come from a different party than the ones who sold crewel or embroidery kits.
I remember my Mom doing that tube painting as well. She went to a home party and bought a kit.
That paint company was called Artex. It was a big deal for a while. I still have a Santa and sleigh wall piece that my mom did. As to the bag, the color rick rack parts almost look like someone crocheted puff stitches with it.
My mother and 2 aunts went together to purchase a “set” of the tube paints which they then shared for different projects. I think they each did 1 project before they lost interest. My fingers just itched to get at those tubes but never got the chance.
Oh that gave me a chuckle Debbie wishing you could hold those tubes of paint. I never did it either. I was a needle and thread gal. Maybe we need to buy Paint by Number kits for our deprived lives.
I remember my mother doing the tube paints on a runner and on dish towels. I think the ladies in her Home Bureau group as it was called then, now Homemaker’s Extension, all worked on them as a group project. They also did trays that were etched somehow, with a design. I do remember them making leather billfolds and purses. That group worked together on lots of crafts.
Dee – my mom did those etched trays, too. Hmmm, I wonder what happened to them.
So many beautiful works of art to look at today, My brain is on overload!
Received a very lovely card from Beverly in Ohio today, thank you so much!
You’re very welcome! 😊
Hi Mary, maybe the bag is crochet and the Rick rack is woven in the holes, hard to be definitive without seeing it in person, l was looking at Rick rack with embroidered trim once on Pinterest, little ducks etc.Lovely weather this week, finally summer in New Zealand! Take care everyone, best wishes from Sandy
Your mystery bag is crocheted, in a manner to create open spaces then those spaces are filled in with puff stitch. It is worked handle to handle then sewn up the sides before zipper is added. Lovely. Beautiful eye candy tonight. Thank you. Sharon