March is National Craft Month! To celebrate, we’ll be featuring a few of our favorite projects from past issues of Classic Sewing magazine right here on our blog. The projects we’ve selected to feature include both garments and home decor projects, and range from embroidery projects to items you’ll make with your sewing machine and serger. All the projects are perfect for springtime sewing. We’ll also spotlight some of our products, clubs, and online classes offered on our sister site, The Sewing Collection. We hope you enjoy!

VINTAGE EGGS HAND EMBROIDERY PROJECT TUTORIAL

By Claudia Newton, originally featured in our Spring 2018 issue

Simple embroidery stitches in Easter egg colors decorate a purchased hemstitched towel, and cotton Cluny-style lace edgings add a nostalgic touch to this vintage looking design.

SUPPLIES

  • One purchased hemstitched hand towel
  • 1/2 yd each cotton lace edging, 5/8″ wide and 1″ wide
  • DMC six-strand cotton floss:
    • #208 v dk lavender
    • #369 v lt pistachio green
    • #604 lt cranberry
    • #743 md yellow
  • DMC 50wt cotton sewing thread, white
  • Hand embroidery needles:
    • #8 or #10 crewel/embroidery
    • #26 or #28 tapestry
    • #10 sharps

INSTRUCTIONS

*Get the downloadable Template/Stitch Key PDF here.

*Get the downloadable Stitch Book PDF here.

1. Pre-shrink towel and laces. Lightly starch and press towel. Fold towel with long edges meeting and crease to mark vertical center.

2. Place towel over *Template. Match vertical center mark to center crease on towel; align horizontal placement line with upper hemstitch edge of towel.

3. Trace design onto towel with wash-away fabric pencil for fine lines.

4. Refer to the *Stitch Key and color photo to work embroidery. Use one strand of floss in embroidery needle; change to tapestry needle to whip and wrap stitches. Stitch instructions are available in the *Stitch Book.

5. Rinse towel to remove any visible tracing lines; press and allow to dry.

6. Use cotton sewing thread in sharps needle. Cut lace edgings 1″ longer than towel edge. Turn under 1/2″ at each end and whip to finish lace edges.

7. With right sides up, whip upper edge of wider lace to lower edge of hemstitch line.

8. With right sides together, whip upper edge of narrow lace to lower edge of towel.

DETAILS: Purchased hemstitched towel is linen/cotton blend available from All About Blanks; cotton lace edgings are #359 (5/8″) and #2485 (1″) by Capitol Imports. Stitched with DMC six-strand cotton.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Claudia Newton is a designer and instructor whose love of sewing and embroidery began at age 10. For several years she served as an editor for Sew Beautiful magazine and other Martha Pullen publications. Claudia now enjoys traveling to teach embroidery and fine sewing; you may contact her at claudianewton@mediacombb.net for information about her SAGA-approved classes.


ENJOYED THIS PROJECT? WE THINK YOU’LL ALSO LOVE:

Classic Sewing magazine: Published four times a year, each issue features beautiful patterns for making children’s garments, casual pieces, gifts, and projects galore — all created by the industry’s best designers and leading sewing celebrities.

The Sewing Collection Online Shop: If you’re looking for the best sewing notions, supplies, and digital patterns, look no further than our Sewing Collection Online Shop! Our curated collection of sewing notions includes the tried-and-true tools that our staff uses over and over again in our own sewing rooms. Plus, you can shop machine embroidery collections, ready-to-embroider baby items, e-patterns, and more.

The Embroidery Club: This is the premier online club for sewists who love machine embroidery! Members receive access to multiple design collections, including alphabets, seasonal designs, children’s motifs, and more.

The Doll Club: Featuring exclusive patterns designed by Connie Palmer, this online club offers members downloadable patterns for creating an adorable wardrobe of clothes and accessories designed to fit popular 18″ dolls.

Online Classes: We offer 100+ online sewing classes and workshops! In addition to a wide catalog of start-anytime courses, experience the fun and business opportunity of a Martha Pullen Online Licensing. Each licensing curriculum includes 30+ projects, taught by Licensing Staff along with other sewing educators.

Original Sewing & Quilt Expo: Join us live and in-person at any of our Original Sewing & Quilt Expo events held across the country. These fun and inspiring events include three days of classes, shopping, presentations, and galleries! The Expo also offers a great selection of live online sewing and quilting classes via Zoom throughout the year.

Our YouTube Channel: Visit our new YouTube channel for endless hours of sewing inspiration. You can view classic episodes of the long-running PBS show, Martha’s Sewing Room. More video content will be added in the future, so subscribe and stay tuned!

Plus, sign up for our newsletter to get weekly inspiration delivered right to your inbox!

CSG Newsletter Signup - Insider

 

Previous articleDouble-Scalloped Pillowcase: A Sewing & Embroidery Project
Next articleCutie Pie Carrots: A Machine Embroidery Project