Crochet-edged Vintage Pillowcases

Whilst the weather continues wet and windy, my afternoons, when I am at home, are being devoted to indulging in the creative whim of the moment.

And this afternoon's whim was adding a crochet trim to a pair of pretty vintage pillowcases I found in a charity shop a week or two ago, for the bargain price of 50p each.

I have crochet-trimmed vintage pillowcases before, here and here, after being inspired by the gorgeous crochet-edged pillows in Rosehip's blog a few years ago, and buying this Mollie Makes Crochet book a couple of months ago I was excited to find that it included several edgings designed by Rosehip.

So finding these pretty pillowcases covered with tiny blue roses and even tinier blue spots, buried amongst piles of old duvet covers, sheets and curtains, was serendipitous.

And so, with the rain battering the windows, the wind howling outside, a good fire roaring away in the wood-burner, and a friend in for a cup of tea and a chat, I finished one pillowcase this afternoon.

As I had two balls of cotton, both which matched the flowers on the pillowcase, and not being able to decide which one to use, I went for using both. 

I used the green yarn to blanket stitch the edges first, then crocheted the first round in blue, then the second and final round in green. I'm glad I did as I like how it's turned out.

Another project I've pulled out of  the pile of WIPs for finishing off are these patchwork cushion covers started over a year ago. Made from new fabrics for a change, these are pieced from reproduction 1930s and feedsack fabrics, with simple embroidered hearts on white squares.

Even though I'm using new fabrics, I am using second hand embroidery threads that I picked up from the antique and flea market.

A peachy pink for these pretty yellow and pink tiny florals...........

.......and a pretty pale blue for the blue fabric patchwork top

I've marked the heart shapes ready for embroidering in a simple running stitch, and then I just need to make them up into covers and put them in my Etsy shop with some other Spring-like products.

I am still working on the reverse applique cushion cover, using these three shades of oranges and red, and I'm liking the look of this sea green thread as a pop of contrasting colour. 

Not sure yet how or where I'll use it.

Linking up with Chrissie Crafts and Ladybird Diaries in the Bloomin' Crochet-a-Long today, so check out the others linking up here.

Hope you have a happy and creative week!

Cushions and Crochet

Hi everyone, I hope you all had a great weekend!

And a huge Welcome to my new followers!

I have been on a bit of a roll with the sewing since the new year, spurred on by the inspiration I receive from viewing all your lovely blogs and seeing how productive you have been, and also by the encouraging comments you very kindly leave for me here.

I am also trying very hard this year to actually finish off some of the many WIPs I have littering my sewing room before starting new projects. 

What happens is that I start out with an idea, usually one that I've scrawled down and roughly sketched in my ideas book, then I get half way through said project when another idea overtakes me and I'm swept away with the urge to make it!

Sound familiar?

Hence the build up of  WIPs.

Unless of course I go all out for finishing the project I first started, whilst still in the first flush of love for it, forsaking all housework and all other calls on my time. Which is not usually very realistic.

Of course, there is no way I could just excercise restraint and ignore the new idea - that would be rude wouldnt it? I'm always worried I might forget it, even if I have made a sketchy note of it, and could run the risk of losing a great idea!

So I am particularly pleased that I found these hexagons at the weekend, and finished the cushion I had planned back in the summer when I first pieced them, although I had a round cushion in mind at the time, and still want to make a round version. 

But the round cushion pads I have found are quite pricy, at £5 a time - does anyone know where to get cheaper ones in the UK???

I stitched the hexagons together, then placed the whole piece on to a beautiful piece of vintage table linen, a damask that was damaged in parts so beyond its original use, and so I could cut it to re-use it without guilt - I have some close-ups here.

You can just about the see the patterns - a kind of double "V" or chevron repeat design in the photo above, with a more traditional damask design around the edges of what would have been a tablecloth, in the photo above that.

The back (see above and below detail ) is another piece of vintage linen that was damaged in places, once a fine towel I think judging by the hanging tape, and with a monogram that I am keeping for another project. 

I do get such great satisfaction from being able to make something pretty, new and useful from something old and damaged, but still of great beauty.

I have lined the front of the cushion to give it additional strength to support the patchwork applique, and sewn it together using french seams to provide a neat finish inside.

This is another cushion I made this weekend, using vintage fabric chosen by my daughter, which I have made into a panel and attached to a vintage thick cotton napkin. I have used a band of the reverse of the fabric for the back closure, and the back is also made of vintage napkins. 

Segueing neatly from cushions to crochet..........the subject of trims being the common factor here in case you were wondering how my mind works........

following on from some comments I received on my last post, I have found and photographed another vintage pillowcase I trimmed with crochet edging at the same time as I made the other. 

Needless to say, only one pillowcase is finished, as I must have been overwhelmed by another creative urge before I could even start on the other.

And the fact that it was sitting in my sewing room with its unadorned partner awaiting its trim, with a ball of cotton with a trail of crochet trim hanging from it, hook still intact, meant that I must have had plans for something else too!

This pillowcase is trimmed with a small scallop that is crocheted to the desired length first, and then sewn on afterwards.

The pattern for this latest trim in pink, and the blue trim on the pillowcase above, has been taken from one of my favourite crochet books, Crochet Adorned by Linda Permann. 

It has some great ideas and patterns inside for embellishing clothes and making things to wear and for the home, and best of all it has a brilliant section at the back with all sorts of stitches, patterns for squares and flowers, and pages of wonderful trims! 

I have plans for using some of those trims!

It also has this wonderful white crochet bowl that you mould and stiffen with starch - I'm just dying to have  ago at this!

above photo from Crochet Adorned by Linda Permann

I shall leave you with a glimpse of my current project - more hexagons, larger ones this time, and machine basted for speed - am currently enjoying hand stitching them together in the evenings, as even though I can happily spend time during the day in my sewing room machining away at the latest project, the thought of spending time sitting hand stitching for some reason leaves me feeling guilty!

So it waits until the evening. Which is quite good really, as it allows me to start yet another project during the day, time permitting of course ;)!

No neat segueing here, but just a thought that popped into my head, as a sunny day at this time of the year (and yay, it is sunny!!!!) naturally turns my thoughts to the garden..

I noticed the first huge and swollen pink bud on my camelia this weekend, looking like it will burst forth any day. I'm sure this is earlier than last year, I need to check the dates on last years photos. Has anyone else noticed theirs flowering yet?

Note - this is last years flower!

And at last the first few purple crocuses are out, despite the fact that the ambient temperature was -3 when I got back from the school run this morning.

Have a great day!

Pink stuff

Just a quick update on last night's post to show you some better lit photos of the latest cushion.

The photo above shows the cushion front made from vintage pink fabric with a beautiful pale coffee (latte?!) crochet mat stitched on, then finished with a pink flower and button 

Back of cushion - natural linen (new) and hot pink pleated trim

In the background you can see the cushion above, which is one I made last year from vintage floral fabric probably either 60s or early 70s and reversed with a vintage dusky pink drawn threadwork napkin (see below)

The two pretty faded floral cushions behind are ones I bought a while ago, made from a lovely linen fabric by a scandinavian designer ( I think) whose name is on the tip of my tongue but eludes me for the moment. I know it is a short name........any guesses? Female. I shall try and remember and then update this later!!

And whilst we're on the subject of pink, and because these happen to be on the bed at the moment (and the above cushion photos were taken in the bedroom) I thought I would show you a photo of the pale turquoisy green crochet trim I added last year to the pink floral vintage pillowcases I found very cheaply on eBay, after being inspired by rose hip - if you've never visited there, do check out her beautiful blog for the most amazing crochet trimmed pillowcases..

Hope you're all feeling "in the pink" today!

( In good health!)

Oh, and whilst I think of it, I have updated my Made by Gillyflower page on this blog - see the menu below my header to view this page - if anyone would like to see some of my recent makes all in one place. There are still many more things to add!


Gill xx