Menu Close

Tag: free sewing patterns

Week 3 of Our Sewing and Embroidery Adventure

This week’s “And So To Sew”, and “And So To Embroider” bulletins really kick off into some great projects.

Dirndl skirt and two aprons

And So To Sew bulletin 3 includes full patterns and instructions for two aprons, plus a dirndl skirt with shaped or straight waistband.

While And So To Embroider 3b (aka And So To Sew Embroidery Section 3b) teaches us to embroider them, and a cushion, with interesting spot motifs. It also introduces a new range of embroidery stitches.

As always with these leaflets, I have included links to video and photo tutorials for each technique or stitch, so as many people as possible can get the most out each week.

Sarah

And So To Continue

Those “And So To” puns are going to get old really quickly. I should totally stop that.

🙂

Today we continue “And So To Sew”, and “And So To Embroider” with the second leaflet in each series.

And So To Sew 2a - collars

And So To Sew bulletin 2a contains two full patterns for making these cute collars. The one on the left is my favourite.

And So to Sew 2b cover

And So To Embroider 2b (aka “And So To Sew Embroidery Section 2b”) contains lots of new stitches and a section on choosing suitable threads and fabrics for different types of projects.

As always with these leaflets, I have included links to modern video and photo tutorials so that everyone can get the most out of the information within. They’re a real treasure and I wanted to make sure they were as useful to as many people as possible.

Sarah

And So To Create

I have been collecting these vintage leaflets for quite a few years now, and am very excited to finally be able to begin sharing them with you now that I have managed to find complete sets!

Today we begin a journey into vintage sewing and embroidery with the “And So To Sew”, and “and So To Embroider” series from the UK. I have three leaflets for you today, due to a very unexpected surprise while I was scanning. They include two sewing leaflets that cover creating with felt, and one embroidery leaflet covering basic stitches, needle and fabric choices.

Wherever possible, I have included links to modern videos and photo tutorials that cover each topic.

Please note that the early “And So to Embroider” leaflets were named “And So To Sew Embroidery Section”.

And Sew to Sew 1a cap and mittens

And So To Sew 1a – felt mittens and hat. These are also a great pair of patterns for anyone who likes to felt and upcycle old jumpers/sweaters.

Felt donkey and puppet

And So To Sew 1a – alternate. Felt toys (slightly edited). I suspect this leaflet was released before WW2 and the rationing of fabrics and paper  as the toys are very much in the style of the late 30’s. It is never mentioned again in the series, whereas the bulletin with the felt and mittens project is.

And Sew to Embroider Cover No1b

And So To Embroider 1b (aka And So To Sew Embroidery Section 1b). Materials, needles and threads. Varieties of running stitch and cross stitches.

Come back next week for the next leaflets in the series, or sign up to be notified of every new post! (on the left on desktop, or under the post on tablets and mobile).

Sarah

And So to Begin the New Year

Welcome to the very first freebie of 2019!

This year, Tuesdays will be dedicated to sharing two very important series of leaflets from Scotland and the UK that were brought out by the Needlework Development Scheme over the 1950’s and early 1960’s.

“And So To Sew”, and “And So To Embroider” were released in 1951, near the end of fabric rationing after WW2 as a way to reintroduce skill and originality into dressmaking and embroidery after a decade of scarce materials and “making do”. Each leaflet introduces new skills and projects, with

The first leaflets were designed to be used by schools, but they quickly became very popular with the public. So much so that almost 70 years later they can be found as precious items in needle worker’s collections.

Today we begin at the beginning with “And So To Begin“, a booklet for the classroom with an outline of projects that can be made by students, and tips for setting up the needlework classroom.

And So To Begin by the NDS

Next week I’ll share leaflets 1a (sewing) and 1b (embroidery), and will post at least one of each every Tuesday, along with modern video and photo tutorials for the techniques covered. The early couple of leaflets will cover the basics, while further on you will find projects and patterns for all sorts of interesting and beautiful vintage style projects.

I hope you enjoy them!

Sarah

(Please note: there were designs I wasn’t willing to share in three of the leaflets so I have edited them with my own samples or motifs, while keeping the style and skills being taught the same. I will note on each leaflet when I have done this).

Flashback to Toyland

We’ve knit Winter warmers and Christmas stockings, decorated our trees with hand embroidered felt baubles, now for my final “OMG it’s almost Christmas!” post, I thought I’d feature a few toys that you still have enough time to knit.

Sure you do. Sleep is for suckers. 🙂

Hand knit doll

Bliss’s dolly was the first pattern I ever put online, way back in 1996. I’d designed her to be knit with any yarn as my gift to the Knitlist email group in 1995. The pattern has stitch by stitch instructions to knit her with dk weight yarn, and a recipe for knitting her with any gauge yarn of your choice. The original pattern includes undies and a dress, and there’s a separate pattern for Bliss’s netball uniform for the sporty types. In fact, if you add a couple of pom poms, the netball uniform would make a cute cheerleader’s outfit too.

Knitted doll with lavender mohair shirt and pink variegated pants

If you’d like a doll that’s faster to knit but just as cuddly, my easy knit doll pattern is a quicker knit. Knit in dk weight yarn, she’ll measure 12 inches tall, but I’ve written the pattern out in rows rather than measurements so you can make her with any yarn that you have, at any gauge.

If you just want some little stocking stuffers, why not knit a Pebble Baby or twelve? They’re great stash busters, and if you add a bit of catnip to the stuffing, they make fabulous cat toys.

Soft toy monster in a pink flowery skirt

Florentine the monster is a quick sew pattern I designed when I found an unfinished pyjama top at a local re-use shop. She can be pink and frilly, furry and fabulous, or left plain and packaged with fabric pens for a DIY decorating project!

Felt Betsy dolls

Finally, check out the Betsy Dolls, available in three sizes. Full size (about a foot tall), can be made from any fabric, a slightly smaller size (shown) is designed to fit on commercially available sheets of felt, and a Betsy Doll Christmas tree decoration that can be made from scraps of felt and hung on your tree.

These are just a few of the toy patterns here on Knitting-and.com. If you’d like teddy bears, cats, clowns, bunnies and more, check out the knitting patterns for toys, and the sewing and embroidery projects pages. And remember, when it comes to Christmas crafting – sleep is optional!

Sarah