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Embroidery Designs
A comment from last week’s post asked about handkerchief embroidery, thank you Kristin. I immediately thought about my collection of Peterson’s Ladies Magazines.
And just as I thought, the first book I opened had what I was looking for. Pretty handkerchief corner designs for embroidery. The illustrations are dainty and exactly what one might expect to find in an 1858 publication.
Download Instructions: Right-Click on the image. Select either “save link as” or “save image as” depending on what browser you are using. Or simply click on it, it will open in a new window and save it from there.
If you download the JPEG photos within the post rather than the PDF file, you will be able to resize the designs using a picture resizing software such as PIXresizer. It’s the one I’ve used for years. Or by using photo editing programs like Photoshop, etc.
I wasn’t able to find an applique embroidery pattern yet, but I’m sure I’ll find one eventually.
Peterson’s Ladies Magazines
I know I just scratched the surface finding embroidery designs in my Peterson’s books. Most of my collection is the entire year of monthly magazines bound in a hardcover book. They are fascinating.
Looking in 1891 I found very few hankie designs. They must’ve been going out of style at that point.
You can find several more handkerchief designs included in the Embroidery Patterns PDF eBook I have for sale here. They are from the 1859 Peterson’s Ladies Magazine.
More Designs
These designs would most likely work on a 12″, 14″ or 17″ square handkerchief.
Links to Other Embroidery Patterns
This Lazy Daisy heart pattern is precious. Especially useful for Valentine’s gifts. February is not too far away. Click on the heart and it will take you to the post for this design.
Here’s a post on Basic Embroidery Designs for Borders that includes a couple pages on stitches and how to do them.
PDF File Download Link
Like I stated above the PDF file designs cannot be resized. In order to do that you’ll have to download the JPEG files above.
Books on Instructions for Embroidery
The books below on embroidery instruction can be found on Amazon. One in particular looks interesting, Encyclopedia of Classic and Vintage Stitches it rates 4.9 out of 5 stars with glowing reviews.
Speaking of Handkerchiefs
Last, I wanted to share these great books by Marsha Greenberg on Amazon. The books show how to use vintage hankies to make one-of-a-kind doll clothing. Plus the book Hooked on Hankies which has instructions on projects to preserve beautiful vintage hankies.
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Enjoy!
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I wish I could find a book or something that gives instructions specifically for handkerchief embroidery. One on my Flickr page is so extraordinary, and has tiny applique on it as well. I wonder how the handworker was able to come up with that pattern, or if it came from a published instruction. I have a collection of embroidered, crocheted, lace and tatted etc handkerchiefs. Many are made in Switzerland, so perhaps it’s a European thing & not really well-known in US? Oh well- thank you so much Debra for these vintage patterns
Yes, they sure could be European. I have some old needlework booklets from Germany that have wonderful crochet and embroidery patterns in them. Not sure on the copyright rules for them, so haven’t shared any yet. Our favorite site, Antique Pattern Library has some European booklets as well. There are some beautiful embroidery patterns in them.
Oh thank you so much Debra. I have a collection of vintage hankies, I have only photographed a handful of them on my Flickr page. They can be found at thrift stores & online auction sites- I usually find them at the thrift stores. I have some from the 1940s that are as they were new, some with price tags still attached (in ’40s & ’50s they sold decorated hankies just about everywhere, and women earned a very meager living doing the hand-embroidery) many were made in Switzerland and sold here.
The “Hooked on Hankies” book- I don’t think I could bear cutting up my beautiful old handkerchiefs! She has you turn them into something else like doll clothes etc. If the hankie were damaged or torn I would, but I don’t think I could otherwise- could you?
I know it is hard to cut them up and there are so many ideas via Pinterest, etc. to display them without cutting. Of course, those with holes or stained are fair game for projects. I find quite a few of those and never pass them up because the graphics and/or embroidery on them is so beautiful.