15% off coupon good thru Jan 2, 2012

You can still take advantage of the 15% off coupon HOLIDAYSAVINGS15 in my ETSY store. The coupon will be good until Jan 2, 2012. 


I am also still offering free shipping worldwide on hand knit dog sweaters. 

Stay well and safe this weekend.


Debby

A big Thank You and A savings coupon

First I would like to express my appreciation for your support of Historic Needlecrafts on ETSY in 2011.

To date in 2011, there have been more than 40,000 views, 3,000 favorites, 700 orders of over 1,150 items as well as sales to 26 different countries and 47 states in the USA. That certainly surpasses any expectations I had for this year!

Right now I am offering Worldwide Free shipping on hand knit Dog Sweaters and some lovely lace scarves by First Class mail (USPS). If you want to upgrade to Priority Shipping, just contact me through a convo on ETSY.

As a big THANK YOU, here is a savings coupon of 15% off that can be used during the check out process: HOLIDAYSAVINGS15. Have a look now through the more than 400 items currently being offered and see if you can find a few last minute gifts for a friend or even yourself. Most items are patterns in PDF format and can be delivered by email. If you want a pattern emailed to a friend as a gift, please let me know in the NOTE box as you check out.

Once again, thank you and Happy Knitting and Crocheting,
Debby Decker

Last minute gift ideas...

If you are still looking for a last minute gift for a crafty friend, there is still time to purchase some fun vintage or original patterns from my ETSY shop and I will deliver them with a "gift note email" to the recipient.


I also have some knitted items and knitting kits available. There is still time for First Class mail but if you want Priority Mail, just drop me a line for a quote. Most things can ship for about $5 in a flat rate padded mailer (US).

Free Crochet Pattern

I have been researching in some Victorian magazines for some new pattern ideas. I came across these two patterns for crocheted flowers: campanula and spider wort. There were no illustrations with the patterns so I pulled these images from a lovely book dated 1825. It seems that some Victorian ladies had a lot of time to make artificial flowers to decorate their homes. Enjoy.

I LOVE CHOCOLATE

I love chocolate and I love homemade fudge. It is fun to check for new ideas and recipes... look at what I found from TIPNUT!!!

http://www.omnomicon.com/cadburys-fruit-nut-fudge

http://montcarte.ca/2010/01/29/cherry-polka-dot-fudge/

and an all time favorite: http://www.food.com/recipe/Chocolate-Covered-Saltine-Crackers-134153

Enjoy!

Koigu KPPPM knitting kits

There are three lovely knitting kits available right now on ETSY. They each have two skeins of Koigu KPPPM yarn and my Vintage Vine Stripe scarf pattern. If you haven't used this yarn before, you are missing out. It knits up beautifully and feels lovely and soft. This will make a nice gift for a knitting friend...or even yourself!

 

Happy Friday-Free vintage crochet pattern from 1911

Happy Friday!

Here is a lovely Irish crochet pattern for a dress embellishment. It is from a 1911 Weldon's magazine. I think I am going to make one to put on the shoulder of a black jacket that needs some jazzing up.

 Click here for the Free PDF pattern

Here are a few samples of more patterns from this 1911 magazine for sale on ETSY

Enjoy and have a safe weekend.

Use Sale Coupon all weekend and on Cyber Monday

Here is a 15% off coupon code for my store on ETSY.

BLACKFRIDAYSALE

Copy and paste as you check out on ETSY.

Enjoy!

Black Friday sale code for ETSY

Here is a 15% off coupon code for my store on ETSY.

BLACKFRIDAYSALE

Copy and paste as you check out on ETSY.

Enjoy!

Call for Entries—Jane Austen Knits 2012

New Jane Austen Knits 2012 call for entries.

Jane Austen Knits 2011 arrived!

WOW! My copy of Jane Austen Knits arrived today. I ordered it from KnitPicks and got a great discount and free shipping since I ordered some other items. I am off to make a pot of tea and have a read!!!

12 days of Christmas, 12 patterns at Caron Connections

Do you subscribe to Caron Connections? It is a newsletter featuring Caron yarns. Right now they are sending a new free pattern for easy to make gifts. Here is day 1-4. Subscribe and get it delivered to your email INBOX.

Doing for others...charity knitting and crocheting

You will find loads of places that you can extend a helping hand by some knitting or crocheting and using up that stash of yarn. 

Here are some great sites to get you started:

Knitting Charities: Knitting for a Better World
http://www.interweaveknits.com/community/charities.asp

Lion brand Yarns Charity connection http://cache.lionbrand.com/charityConnection.html
patterns http://www.lionbrand.com/cgi-bin/pg.fcgi?page=charityPatternTemplate.html

Knit 'n Style — Knitting for Charity
http://www.knitnstyle.com/knitforcharity/index.shtml

Free order for 1,000th item sold in my ETSY store.

I am approaching my 1000th item sold in my ETSY store. To celebrate, if your order contains the 1000th item sold, your order will be FREE. I will send you a THANK YOU email and a refund through PayPal. Thank you in advance for your patronage!

New Freebie

Here is a freebie. I found it in a 1925 newspaper clipping...will make a nice gift for a crafty friend.

Clever Sewing Bag

I also have a new hat pattern on ETSY from 1926.

Thanks and Enjoy!

Jane Austen Knits

Sorry I haven't posted in a while...been ill with bronchitis. Here is something I am looking forward to getting...

Jane Austen Knits is a special issue from the editors of Spin-Off magazine, it explores the Regency era through patterns inspired by one of the greatest writers to come out of this time—Jane Austen. 

Looks like a very interesting issue! You can find out more HERE.

Free Victorian knitting patterns

Here is a link to three Victorian knitting patterns as printed in the New York Times in 1883


a pair of ladies gloves
a lace shoulder shawl
a baby sock or bootie

Dritz Smockruler

Remember those velvet and corduroy smocked pillows from the 1960's? I thought they were fascinating. Well, I found a smocking ruler at an estate sale and have it for sale on ETSY. All the instructions are right on the package. 


Here is a news article from 1965 describing how to use the ruler...and check out the picture of Ann Landers on her column!

 

Lace collar pattern on ETSY

Are you tired of scarf patterns? Make this simple collar to keep your neck warm and stylish.

This collar is an adaption of a simple lace pattern from the 1890's. It is a very simple knitted lace project having only 12 rows making up the pattern.

The collar pictured was made up with Red Heart Shimmer, a light worsted weight yarn and US 8 knitting needles.

Finish your collar with a pretty vintage button, ribbon bow or a broach.

Make this your first lace project without the bother of thread weight yarn and tiny needles!

Free Vintage Pot holder patterns

I love TIPNUT. Here is a great set of vintage potholders on the site. 


Here are some sample pictures:

ENJOY

Great online resource for historic materials

Have you been to this site? 

It is called:

On-Line Digital Archive of Documents on Weaving and Related Topics

There resources related to knitting, crochet, lace making, etc.

Penquins in need

Did you see this on Good Morning America?


Blue penguins in New Zealand have been soaked with oil after a container ship ran aground near the east coast of the country's North Island earlier this month. New Zealand’s Environment Minister Nick Smith has described the oil spill as the nation’s most significant maritime environmental disaster.


On Oct. 5, a cargo ship ran aground in New Zealand, pouring 350 tons of oil into the ocean. The accident has been regarded as the country’s worst environmental disaster in decades.
More than 1,000 sea birds have already died as a result of the spill, including birds from the country’s native blue penguin population.


Oil can be extremely harmful to penguins, whose feathers are very different from other birds. They have very dense and tiny feathers of different lengths that stick onto them like Velcro, creating a waterproof pseudo-wetsuit.


“Basically, when you get even a drop of oil on these birds, it opens up a channel so water can penetrate,” Kevin McGowan of the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology told ABCNews.com. “It’s like a hole in their wetsuit.”

Skeinz has been asked to help with the penguin relief by knitting small Penguin PJ’s to help protect the birds & prevent them from preening their feather & ingesting the toxic oil.  If you can help out by knitting a penguin jumper – see the link for instructions in the next paragraph.


Here is the link to Skeins web site for info and instructions to make a sweater for one of these penguins who need help.

Worldwide Free shipping on Hand Knit Dog Sweaters

Know a doggie who has everything? How about a hand knit sweater? I am offering worldwide free shipping on any of the doggie sweaters offered in my ETSY store. 

If you are the crafty type, knit one yourself from one of my original patterns.

Thanks and have a great weekend.

The Latest on ETSY

Here is my latest creation on ETSY...ready for easy knitting and gifting to a good friend...do you recognize the lace design?

 

Online Resource-Antique and Vintage Tatting materials

Have you checked out the Hathi Trust Digital Library? They have some good resources and if they are in the public domain, you can view them online or download a PDF version. 


Here is just a sample:


The Elite Instruction Book 1916



The Rundall book of edgings, medallions, insertions and tatting 1915

Enjoy!

Happy Friday-2 free Victorian knitting patterns from 1892

Here are two knitting patterns from magazine clippings that date from 1892.


The first one is for a pretty knitted lace edging.

The second is for an early version of a round potholder.

Hope you have a happy and safe weekend. The colors are beautiful here in Virginia. I will be taking lots of photos this weekend!

The hat binge continues....

2 New hat patterns

Vintage Hat Sewing Instructions 1939 PDF Pattern Ruth Wyeth Spears

 

Vintage Wedding or Bridal Veil instructions 1929 PDF 3 styles

Thanks, Debby

Happy Friday Freebie-Free 1944 pattern

Happy Friday! Here is a simple pattern for covering lamp shades for a new look. This pattern is from Ruth Wyeth Spears. Enjoy and have a safe weekend.

Latest on ETSY-Knitted Lace edging patterns

From the English Needlecraft magazine of about 1910, I have posted 6 sets of knitted edging patterns. These are wonderful late Victorian, early Edwardian patterns. They would look great worked up for a guest towel or to finish off the end of a plain scarf. There are two designs to each pattern. Some also have an insertion version as well. ENJOY!

Set 1

Set 2

Set 3

Set 4

Set 5

Set 6

New on ETSY-Vintage Crochet hat pattern

I am really on a hat binge lately. I have purchased some hat patterns... I am even attempting to make some hats.

Here is my latest hat pattern on ETSY from 1951. I LOVE IT!

Enjoy.

New on ETSY-Vintage Wedding or Bridal Veil and a freebie

I found some newspaper clippings from 1920 of a column by Clotilde. I have one available on ETSY for a vintage bridal veil.

I also have a fun freebie-instructions to make undergarments from 1929

Enjoy.

New on ETSY-Digital image for your computer desktop

I love this image from a Regency era print of two ladies winding balls of yarn. I have cleaned up the image and created a digital file that you can use for a computer desktop or screensaver. Just something different for a change...

This digital image is available from my store on ETSY. I can also provide instructions on how to set up an image as a desktop or screen saver. 


Thanks, Debby

Happy Friday-Free vintage hat crochet pattern

Here is a freebie for today:  A fun pill box from 1952. Enjoy.

Free pattern on Berroco site- Sawtelle Jacket

Check out this basic jacket pattern that you can jazz up or play down. The pattern is free on the Berroco Yarn website. I have some large vintage buttons that I think need to be on a sweater like this! It is only 59 here in Virginia today so I am thinking WOOL!

Have a safe weekend!

Free patterns on UK Hand Knitting Association page

I have to admit that I had not seen this page before but it has some great information. They also offer some fabulous free knitting and crochet patterns for personal use. Have a look:

Knit a Star, Embellish a Tree

 

Short Sleeve Berry Pattern Jacket

 

Fruit Pouch

Crocheted Sunroom Spiral Scarf

and LOTS MORE!!!

Enjoy!

Victorian Shawl Pattern for sale on ETSY and Freebie

New on ETSY: a lovely Victorian shawl pattern from 1899

New Freebie: Quick Crochet Gifts

Enjoy, KnittyDebby

Labor Day Sale on ETSY-get the 15% off sale code here!

Take advantage of this 15% off sale coupon for Historic Needlecraft blog readers: LABORDAY15. 

This coupon is only good for Monday, September 5.

Here are some new listings on ETSY:

 

Crochet Wheel Lace Baby Bonnet from 1904

Woman's Petal Cap Crochet pattern from 1955

Knitted Cover up Bolero  Knitting pattern from 1952

 Round Filet Crochet Doily pattern from 1957

Tatted Lilac Doily 1952 PDF pattern

 

 Baby Bib Crochet pattern from 1952

 

Baby Mittens Thumbless Crochet Pattern PDF 1952

 

Mother and Daughter Crochet Hats 1952 PDF pattern

 

Knitted Lace Collar 1952 PDF pattern

  

Hope you are having a nice holiday weekend so far. Stay safe.