How many of you remember the old cross stitch designs by Aunt Martha? These were done mainly on tea towels, and pillows, or aprons. Well, in moving some things in the sewing room, I came across these. My husband brought these to me when he had to clean his uncle's house when he passed away 2 years ago. Can you believe the price? I tried to find a date on them, but just know that they are old. I know that there are machine embroidery done with these designs now. How fun is that?

I just checked this designs at theoregonpatchwork.com to make sure they had them and not only they still have them, but they are 40% off,,,by...goin shopping for dow designs from aunt martha...My greatgrandmother could finally be proud of me...Lord rest her soul.

1 comment

by dlonnahawkins 15 Jun 2008

That is great. I have been putting a crocheted edge on flour sack towels, and now need some designs. i willhave to go look.

I'm old...so I'm a Aunt Martha' lover...LOL., you can buy her designs at the OregonPatch, they very reasonable priced.

I well remember all those flour sack dish towels my grandmother use to iron on Aunt Marthas designs & teach me how to embroideery on them. I can remember making some horrible stitches & having to take them out & do it all again *4U 4 reminding me

I too found embroidery, with the original transfers, in my Mothers' effects 3 yrs. ago. It was stuff I had done as a child during WW2 when Mum & I spent a lot of time together. One thing was a cushion cover embroidered with my Father's regimental badge. I didn't know she had kept them all this time now, I expect I'll keep for a while longer!!

I too remember these designs. I embroidered most of the nursery animals and flowers onto garments for my babies as well as doing Dutch girl designs on linen for my glory-box before I married... ah! great memories. Although I'm not sure all the designs would be copyright free yet, so best check before digitizing. I think some digitizer already has rights to these vintage designs.

I have a number of pre-war iron-on transfers from my mother, mostly flowers. My mother even had me embroider a dress for my sister and for a niece when I was about 9 or 10 years old, using those. Last year I came across them and I digitized a couple of roses, just the outline. Intend to do a couple fully filled as well. So much faster to stitch them out!

I hand worked several of these designs as a young girl back in the olden days...lol not really that long ago...back then they only cost .50 or $1.00 per pack. Like the new method better.

Hmmmmmmm - I bet a good digitizer would have lots of fun with these - what a great piece of history. *4U

5 comments

by ezzemml 13 Jun 2008

can you i have a lot of old transfers from the Hobbytex days and some from my mum and more from oppshops.And what about pictures form craftbooks that are put out for hand embroidery can you digitize them also after all they are printed for you to embroider.

by shirlener88 13 Jun 2008

I think you should give it a shot.

by dlonnahawkins 13 Jun 2008

Well, Someday i want to learn to digitize. I have a program, I think, but just too chicken to try it!

by mpo14011 14 Jun 2008

I think if you digitize for your own use, that's fine.Better check,though,to see if you are allowed to sell the designs.I have digitized things from colouring books but never sold any.That might be different.

by mariahail 14 Jun 2008

This designs are sold at theoregonpatchworks.com,they are really pretty.I learned hand embroidery with my greatgrandmother,same story teas towels aprons, fluor sacks, even more so when my greatgrandfather use to owned a bakery...so there was always plenty fluor sacks to play with...Oh, the good Old days...

I have a handful of those too from my mother-in-law. I loved her dearly and just can't part with them even though I will probably never use them.

There still is something special about doing cross stitch and embroidery by hand. I love my machine but it makes me really appreciate the delicate work done by hand. My mother was so good at it! Her outline stitch was especially beautiful.

2 comments

by kezza2sew 13 Jun 2008

This is one thing I could not get into. Hand cross stitch, still got a tiny piece half finished from years ago....Guess I will die with it half finished. But I appreciate those who do it by hand greatly.

by mpo14011 14 Jun 2008

I love doing both.To me they are two different "looks".