Now here's a knot to show. It's a quilted wall hanging of a Celtic Knot--specifically a Celtic Cross. My mother was looking for a sewing challenge a few years ago and found this pattern. She told me she was going to make it for me. I really like this sort of thing and she knew that. We went out and picked the fabrics to go in it.
I have the Amish style Quilt hanging in the spring and summer in my living room and switch out with the Celtic Knot in the fall and winter.
When you read the title did you think I was going to show one of those intricately shaped lace designs--perhaps a Celtic knot? No, it's a knot...of lace. Lace like embroidery floss, soutachie braid, jewelry chains and other stringy things has a way of twisting itself up as soon as you turn your back on it.
Then I had to lay it out all over the house to dry. The table top doesn't even have a third of it. Plus, you have to lay it out flat to dry or you'll have a more miserable time flattening it without stretching it later. Very tedious, let me tell you. It took me two days. But now it's done and put away very neatly in a new bin with a better fitting lid.
I believe this pattern goes beyond being an apron into smock territory. It covers the whole upper half. I'll being doing some baking this week (Parmesan & Green Onion Biscuits among other things) and I'm a mess with all that flour, but I don't have a smock/apron. The closest I have is an old butcher's apron with a brownish stain. Sure, I could make the above pattern, but then I couldn't tell the kids how the stain on my butcher's apron is old blood.
As the card reads, "It's easy to dye with Diamond Dyes." I'm pretty tolerant of some things kids get into. I let my boys play in the mud--it's what being a kid is all about. They had to stand while I hosed them off before letting them in the house though. But dye? No way. Look at the mess on the carpet. The poor mother in the background--she'd better get hold of the kitten first, I think.
It's kind of sad and dumpy. A tie at the waist cinches it in some though. It's a morning dress or house dress that belonged to my great grandmother. My dad laughed when he saw it and recalled how women used to change their clothes throughout the day. This dress would be worn in the morning to do all the chores: laundry, baking, mending, cleaning, etc. At lunchtime the lady of the house would change into something better.
A tattered pattern but showing my favorite 1940's style: the peplum jacket. I love the look of a fitted peplum top. I used to have a vintage crepe dress with a smooth peplum with soutachie braid trim--beautiful.
It's an ad for Blendables thread from Sulky I spotted on the back of a Creative Needle magazine when I was looking for my French Handsewing books for a refresher course. It says about the threads, and I quote, "They will add excitement to your quilting and everything else you do." .....Oh.....Sold. Is this thread still available or has it been banned in all 50 states? The magazine is from 2004. I'm not seeing a 100% guarantee in the ad either.
How different advertising was a hundred years ago. No blaring commercials from the TV or radio--or extremely annoying pop-ups on the computer. Simple, pretty trade cards; no wonder people kept them. 
Do you see color combinations on things you like and in turn want to find fabrics with those colors? I like the orange, green, and yellow combination on this old bowl. I haven't been able to get any fabrics like it or match any up, but I'll keep my eyes open.
Among the things my pack rat family has kept is this little celluloid pig with a fabric tape measure coming out of its mouth. Who thinks of this stuff? A pig with a tape measure?
Another vintage beauty--and one I made. I made this 1941 pattern back in the late 80's with the same fabric I made the bolero out of. I'm surprised I didn't wear this out I wore it so much. The sides gather and have a tie in the back to give that hourglass shape. The elbows have darts as well as the back of the neck. The fit is amazing. (Note I didn't iron it).
