My Country Sewing Set

Designed for the Hershey's Kisses Patriotic Tin, this set features a pinkeep, a biscornu pincushion, a needle envelope and a decorative scissors tassel for the Gingher Glory scissors.  Bright reds and blues are stitched on 32 count antique white linen.  A primitive colorway will be posted soon.

       

Motifs inspired by Whitman's Tins

This set contains several designs for each tin, including a tin topper for the heart. (Pictured left to right are Sampler, Bluebird, Bronze Griffin and Heart)  The tins are retired and can only be found in the stashes of tin collectors or possibly on Ebay.  Finishing instructions are included.

     Whitman's Tin Sewing Set

Cloisonne (pictured at left), 1930's (center), and Wynnewood (right)  Each set features a coordinating tiny pincushion, scissors tassel and felt needlebook.  Finishing instructions are included.

The latest Whitman’s® tin to be released is red and gold and is labeled “vintage replica tin”.  It’s a little larger than the small candy tins that have been available.  This tin measures approximately 2 1/2” x 6 1/2” x 1” tall, so there’s room for a few more items in your sewing kit.  This chart contains finishing instructions to line the tin, make a scissors tassel, and graphs for a biscornu (tuffet) pincushion, tiny scissors sheath and linen needle book cover.  Finishing instructions for the accessories are included. 

This sewing case features rose motifs repeated from the Lavender Rose Sweetbag, in addition to new ones. The case folds and is tied with silk satin ribbon. There is a pocket for scissors and covered rings for floss. Another pocket gathers the floss in the interior of the case. On the inside flap of the case are pages for needles covered by a personalized linen flap edged in nun’s stitch. Optional accessory pieces includes are a pinkeep and a scissors fob.

Again, the fancy work of the Elizabethan period is an inspiration for this latest sweet bag. Sweet bags were among the gifts that were presented to Elizabeth I on New Year’s Day. The bags were filled with sweetmeats or aromatic herbs, which were used to ‘sweeten clothes’ or mask unpleasant odors. Among the many floral motifs that decorate Elizabethan clothing and accessories are the rose, the carnation and the pansy. The pansy is said to have been Elizabeth’s favorite flower. This bag is stitched on 32 count Pear linen with a variety of silk flosses and gold paillettes. The bag is trimmed with twisted cord and tassels, including a sprinkling of beads and pearls. The bag can be stitched with only the cross stitch, or you may choose to stretch yourself and pick up the many stitches of the 17th century. The model uses these stitches and a stitch guide is included so that you may make your sweet bag the same way. An additional reference book is a good idea when stitching the diagonal Montenegrin stitch. Amy Mitten Design Ltd. has produced a wonderful little book on this subject, Autopsy of the Montenegrin Stitch. It is highly recommended that you acquire this book if you intend to use the Montenegrin stitch in this piece.

Through the ages, the strawberry has been a favorite motif for embroiderers. It has been used on samplers, furnishings and clothing. The coiling stem motifs, common in Elizabethan work, use a variety of flowers in addition to the strawberry. This amulet bag combines the strawberry fruit on the same coiling stem as its white blossom. Gold paillettes, assorted glass beads and freshwater pearls complete the embellishment. Stitched on 32 count linen/silk fabric with silk threads, the Elizabethan Strawberry Amulet Bag features tent and cross stitch over 1, smyrna cross stitch, queen stitch and french knots.

This chatelaine is based on a fancywork pin and needle book from the 19th century magazine Godey’s Lady’s Book. Updated with an assisi interpretation of the dogwood blossom, this chatelaine hangs by silk satin ribbon from a dogwood fashioned of French-wired ribbon. The pin and needle book features the assisi techniques of cross stitch and double running stitch. The central design is framed with hemstitching interlaced with silk ribbon. French knots finish the center of the dogwood blossom. Ribbon manipulation techniques are included in these instructions to create the dogwood.

The motifs in this sewing case are interpretations in double running of those floral motifs found on the various garments of Elizabeth I. The geometric outline of the pinkeep as well as the scrolling lines of the scissors pocket are motifs inspired by the costume of Elizabeth. The Case is made into a large sandwich-style pinkeep, with a scissors pocket attached to the back flap. The verse on the pinkeep back is from the Elizabeth I stanza of John Taylor’s In Prayse of the Needle. It is hidden by a page of wool felt to hold your needles.

Lavender's Blue Needleworker's Case

The Lavender’s Blue Case is reminiscent of the fancy fans of the Victorian era. Inspired by antique greeting cards made to look like fans, this sewing case opens from the side rather than the usual manner of fans. Diagonal bands of flowers and berries in yummy shades like Blue Grotto, Coventry Gardens, Mountain Laurel, Spanish Moss, and of course Blue Lavender adorn the front of the case with the motifs carried over inside the three sections. A small pocket on one flap holds a needle threader, an ultrasuede sheath in the center holds scissors, and wool felt attached to the third flap is a receptacle for needles. Twisted cording and tassels trim the sewing case. Stitched on 32 count Lambswool linen, the case features several stitches including long-armed cross stitch, queen stitch, tent stitch, and two variations on the Rhodes stitch.

Sampler Band for a Shaker Carrier

Again, one of the beautiful Shaker boxes from Orleans Carpenters has inspired me. This sampler band is stitched in two pieces and the designs were adapted from 16th and 17th century samplers. The floral borders echo the imagery contained in the verses of Song of Solomon 2. The verse above the floral borders is from a beautiful anthem (“Rise up, my love”, taken from Song of Solomon 2:10) sung by my choir this past spring. If you prefer something different, please feel free to substitute your own verse or genealogical information in the area above the floral borders.

Originally, many of these bands were stitched using the complex and textured stitches of the 16th century. I have specified mostly cross stitch for this band so that you will not be afraid to use the carrier once it is finished—no satin stitches that might be pulled when removing your scissors. The bands are stitched on 32 count Natural Light linen in a variety of DMC floss colors. The band is then inserted into a #7 divided carrier. Finishing instructions are included.

Sampler Scissors Box

This small Shaker box has been fitted with a holder for scissors and embellished with a sampler of Silk ’n Colors from The Thread Gatherer. Stitched over one thread on 32 count linen, this tiny sampler will protect your embroidery scissors. Complete finishing instructions are included.

Lavender Rose Sweetbag

The rose has adorned clothing and furnishings for hundreds of years. Inspired by flower slips from a late 16th c. cushion, this stylized rose is worked in the queen stitch patterns of 17th c. samplers. Working with soie d’alger, you will create this lovely bag on 32 count linen, adding your own initial or mongram to the design. Leaves will be shaded using tent stitch over 1 linen thread and the rosebud uses scotch stitch and rice stitch variation. Graphs for fancy single initials are included in this package; however, feel free to design your own monogram for the cartouche.

Spring Chatelaine

The Spring Chatelaine was designed as a teaching piece to experiment with various overdyed cotton and silk fibers while creating a lovely and useful needlework accessory. The chatelaine includes a heart-shaped pinkeeper with tassels and pewter charm. Attached by twisted cords are a scissor case (for 2 1/2” mini scissors) and a needle envelope with wool felt pages and ultrasuede pocket. The 32 ct. ivory linen is embellished with springtime florals and birds. Long-armed cross stitch (in both directions), wrapped backstitch, queen stitch and tent stitch are used in traditional and non-traditional ways. The instructions are very detailed and include many finishing diagrams.

...Through the Woods Pincushion for a Nantucket Basket

A pastoral scene, after going “Over the river and through the woods”, is created in 20 different Sampler Threads. This is designed to fit the Nantucket pincushion basket and must be stitched on 35 count linen. If you use a larger count, you will need to use a different basket or finish the design as another object.

Quaker Swan Case for Bodkins or Needles

This heart-shaped case features the notable swan motif adapted from Quaker samplers, as well as the popular lily-of-the-valley. This case was designed after the heart-shaped bodkin cases from the early twentieth century. Many silver companies produced plain and fancy sets of sterling silver flat bodkins and presented them in cases. Bodkins were used to insert ribbon into garments and lace trims by lacing the ribbon in and out of eyelets or holes in lace trim.

The finishing instructions feature two interior options. Using ultrasuede, you may finish the inside to hold your antique or reproduction bodkins. If you choose, you may use wool felt to make needle pages and turn your Swan Case into a needle case.

Stitched on 32 count Blue Silk linen, using Sampler Threads from The Gentle Art.

A Ribbon Roll for Needles and Pins

This charming ribbon roll, which can hold your needles and pins, is adapted from an antique in a private collection. A counted design on linen forms a box-pillow pincushion. Flannel is embroidered with lazy daisy stitch and is sewn into a length of vintage French ribbon. Each section of flannel can be used for pin or needle storage. The pillow holds pins around the edges. When rolled, it is no bigger than 1 1/2” by 2”.

A Satin Ribbon Chatelaine

This ribbon chatelaine is based on an antique from the collection of Barbara Rothenberg Reaveley. Soft and drapeable silk satin ribbon forms a double bow base for attaching scissors, a pinkeep and needlebook. The pinkeep uses a “sandwich” construction with the edges covered by the satin ribbon. A vine pattern stitched in silk overdyed floss adorns the diamond-shaped pinkeep. A coordinating pattern covers the scissors sheath. The needlebook is made of art paper decorated with an embossed stamped design, filled with wool felt pages.

A Pair of Pinkeeps (Sampler Pinkeep & Victorian Vine Pinkeep)

An elegant receptacle for straight pins, the flat pincushion or pinkeep has graced chatelaines of old for hundreds of years. When attached to chatelaines, these pinkeeps were usually round. The heart shape is used here as a little change of pace, as well as a suitable shape for gifts for a treasured friend. The Victorian Vine pinkeep features scrolling lines and blossoms stitched in lovely colors from The Thread Gatherer. The Sampler Pinkeep features an “over 1” alphabet, as well as some traditional sampler motifs. In addition to the beautiful Silk ‘n Colors from The Thread Gatherer, alternate selections from two lines of overdyed cottons are given also. The pinkeeps can be further embellished with matching Silken Ribbons from The Thread Gatherer.

There are alternate heart shapes of each pattern that will fit on top of the heart-shaped Altoids tin.  See the picture at left, stitched in red, for this version.

The word “Pins” can be omitted from either design and replaced with one or two sets of initials for use as a special gift. The straight pins can be omitted from the edges and a hanging cord attached for use as an ornament.

Hearts & Flowers Sampler Band & Accessories

The Hearts and Flowers Sampler Band was designed to fit a #4 Shaker box with an inside measurement of appx. 22”. The design is stitched on 32 count linen, using 10 colors from the Sampler Threads palette to create undulating vines with floral motifs and birds. A small heart separates each band.

The Pinkeep/Needlebook picks up the carnation motif, holds pins across the top and features wool felt pages on the back side tied with silk ribbon. The Scissors Fob is weighted, echoes the bird and heart motifs, and is embellished with a tassel and beads. The Bag for Thread Wax has a drawstring with tassels and may be made in whatever size you require; it is adorned with the heart motif from the band.

The Shaker Box used in the model is the #4 Button Box and may be ordered from Fancy Work.

Quaker Motif Sewing Kit

This sewing kit takes its shape from a combination of fan-shaped fitted sewing boxes and the half octagon motifs that prevail in Quaker needlework. The motifs that adorn the sewing kit are adapted from Quaker samplers of the early 19th century and are stitched in cross stitch with DMC floss. Through the ages sewing kits have been known by various names, from the French necessaire and etui to the simple rolled housewife. A sewing kit has been described as anything which holds the item necessary for the needleworker, usually pins, needles and scissors. The Quaker Motif Sewing Kit holds pins along the top edge where it is filled with wool like the flat pinkeepers of the early 20th century. On the back, a geometric half medallion is stitched on a flap that opens to reveal wool felt needle pages. Also on the back is a scissors pocket of Ultrasuede trimmed with a Quaker border design. This pocket will hold the tiny 2 1/2” scissors. Various tassels and twisted cords further embellish the sewing kit.

The Apple Tree Accessory Set

This set of sewing accessories was originally released in separate charts, but is now available in this combined set. The design of the set was inspired by a text in Divine Hymns, or Spiritual Songs, compiled by Joshua Smith, 1784, New Hampshire. It’s familiar setting is a musical piece, Jesus Christ, the Apple Tree, with a tune by Elizabeth Poston, 1905-1987.   The needle case features cross stitch, cross stitch over 1, upright double cross stitch and tent stitch. Inside there are felt pages for your needles and a pocket for other supplies.  The scissors case features cross stitch, queen stitch, braided herringbone stitch and rice stitch.  The pincushion features cross stitch, cross stitch over 1, upright double cross stitch, queen stitch, long arm cross stitch, double back stitch and star eyelet.  DMC floss, overdyed cottons, silk floss, and metallic threads are used to work these designs on 32 count natural brown linen from Wichelt Imports.

A Trio of Carols (Christmas 2006)

This year’s Christmas offering features three familiar carols.  These tiny ornaments echo the style used on my ornament for the Just Cross Stitch Ornament 2006 Issue, with motifs and letters of single color overdyed floss and embellishment of matching silk ribbons.  Angels We Have Heard on High is a miniature of the shape you have come to expect from Fancy Work each year, with a primitive angel outline illustrating the text.  The letters J, O, Y grace each side of a three-sided bauble and Star of Wonder from We Three Kings is fashioned in a biscornu shape, but hung as an ornament and embellished with ribbons.

Christus natus est nobis is a sacred Latin text meaning “Christ is born for us”. I have chosen to begin this series of three ornaments using Latin texts with the English band sampler style of the 17th century. The motifs on the sampler ornament are adapted from actual bands found on samplers in Mayor and Fowle’s book, Samplers. Stitches used include long arm cross, diagonal cross stitch, double running or back stitch and cross over one. Gold paillettes are also sewn onto the ornament

The remaining ornaments in the Latin series will feature sampler techniques and motifs from English and German work. Each ornament will use a sacred Latin text associated with the Christmas season.

The text for my 2004 Christmas ornament comes from the song Jesus Christ, the Apple Tree. This song is a part of Divine Hymns, or Spiritual Songs, compiled by Joshua Smith, 1784, New Hampshire. It’s more familiar setting is a tune by Elizabeth Poston, 1905-1987.  This song is one of my favorite pieces from my choir’s Advent Lessons and Carols service, usually sung on the first Sunday of Advent.  The ornament is stitched on 32 count Natural Light linen using DMC floss.

The Holly and the Ivy is considered by musical historians to be a folk song and was composed in the Gloucestershire region of western England. It is not known exactly when the carol was written or who wrote it, but it became popular when it appeared in the Oxford Book of Carols published in the early 1900’s.  The ornament is stitched on 32 count Sandstone linen using DMC floss.

There Is No Rose  (Christmas 2002)

The text for my 2002 Christmas ornament comes from an anonymous medieval carol. The reference to the rose is one used throughout biblical history for the Virgin Mary. The shape of this ornament is meant to represent a stained glass window. A border of rosebuds surround the central “Alleluia” and other rose motifs are used in the central area.  The ornament is stitched on 32 count Stoney Point linen using DMC floss.

"Gloria in Excelsis Deo" rings out every Christmas eve in my parish.  This ornament is stitched on 32 count Lambswool linen using DMC floss.

Once in Royal David’s City is the opening strain of one of my favorite carols. I was introduced to this carol by listening to the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols that is sung by the boys and men of King’s College Choir in Cambridge, England on Christmas Eve. A boy soprano opens the service by singing, Once in Royal David’s City stood a lowly cattle shed, . . .  The ornament is stitched on 32 count natural linen using DMC floss.

This ornament is stitched on 32 count Lambswool linen using predominantly DMC floss.

I find such inspiration in the carols and anthems that my choir sings during Advent and Christmas. One regular carol from the Advent Lessons and Carols Service is “People, Look East”. The Lessons and Carols service dates to the 15th and 16th centuries in the Church of England. "People, Look East" was written by Eleanor Farjeon (1881-1965) and was first published as "Carol of Advent” in The Oxford Book of Carols, 1928. Farjeon was a native of London and she achieved acclaim as an author of children's nursery rhymes and singing games, and is best remembered for her poem "Morning Has Broken”.

One custom that many people follow before Christmas is readings and prayers on the four Sundays of Advent as they light a candle on the Advent wreath. Many children have enjoyed the 25 day Advent calendars filled with surprises for each day. This set of ornaments is designed with the idea that you would hang one on each Sunday of Advent. Or you may choose to hang them on a tree all at once.

This set of 3 ornaments was inspired by phrases from Handel's Messiah

The words from the familiar carol of the Advent season, O come, O come, Emmanuel inspired this ornament. The design, as finished in the model, is large enough for a wall hanging. In addition to cross stitch over one and two linen threads, the design uses long arm cross stitch and tent stitch over 1 thread. Worked in rich silk and metallic threads, this piece will make a lovely addition to your holiday decor.