Old Favourites

A love of collecting vintage sewing

tools, books, patterns

has always included searching

for vintage sewing accessories

to make.

I have a collection of felt

needlecases which include

the ever-popular

bonnet lady needlecases

and wide-brimmed hat needlecases,

I found these two patterns in

a vintage Madame Weigel's

(Australian magazine) Journal

of Fashion - October 1, 1945.

Here they are for you to enjoy.

(click for larger image)

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Sewing Companion Dolls

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Among my vintage sewing

collections, I have many folders

lining the shelves in my

sewing room full of vintage

patterns.

Once upon a time, I used

to have a stall at a

trash 'n' treasure market.

I used to stock much of the stall

with bazaar items, many that I

had made using patterns that

I had purchased either from

new Women's magazines or

from vintage magazines that I found

myself at trash 'n' treasure markets.

I would look for any of thoses that

included patterns for dolls and toys, bazaar items,

items for fetes, babies, and above all,

Christmas gifts.

Not to say that once I had access to

a computer ..... well, the whole

world opened up to me!! 

Sewing Companion Dolls

Would it be fair to say that these

companion dolls have evolved from

the chatelaine?

They serve the same purpose - to hold

all the necessary sewing equipment needed

and close-by for the needlewoman.

The pictures below are taken from

vintage magazines and a commercial

pattern. The dolls are both novel

and charming.

This is Grizelda, and she has the added

bonus of being a workbag.

(1930's)

 

This is Sally Spool from

Star Gift Book No. 48

The American Thread Company

(1930's)

This is the "Sewing Doll" from

Simplicity Crafts 5227.

(2004)

This is called "Johnny-on-the-spot",

a crocheted cowboy from 

Crochet Money-Makers for your Bazaar

Book No. 278 

J & P Coats . Clark's ONT

(1951)

 

This is "Sammy Spool"

another crocheted doll from

Gifts Galore by

Coats & Clark's Book No. 183

(1968)

This sweetie is a design from the

well-known Jean Greenhowe of

the English Women's Weekly, a fabulous

designer of dolls, toys, and

gifts, knitted and sewn as well as wooden

toys. (1983)

I actually picked up a handmade doll

from a local bazaar about 25 years ago, paying

just $2. I still have this doll (pic below)

and discovered that it is the Jean Greenhowe

sewing doll just 20 years later when I

managed to come across the EWW

magazine issue with the pattern included.

It may be not quite as well made as the

original, but I still like her.

One day I will attempt to make one of

my own.

In the course of "vintage

sewing" collecting, I have also

found these two delightful versions

below.

There is a website called "Gail Wilson Designs"

which sell as a kit or a completed doll called -

"The Ladies Home Sewing Companion"

All of Gail Wilson Dolls are an absolute

delight and worth the visit ....

Click HERE for the New Items

and scroll down to see the "sewing"

dolls.

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Jennifer Murphy

Ever since I saw Jennifer Murphy

on the "Martha" show,

I became a fan of her work.

Her originals are a little

beyond me in price but I

am happy to go with the

licensed items of

her designs.

Being a Pin Cushion Collector

(among a million other things!)

I couldn't resist her little

Pearl the Pig pincushion (below).

Jennifer's website can be found

here

and she has a blog

here 

The links to her spot on "Martha" are

here for the pom pom bunny and  
here  for her pumpkin people.

(The particular segments can be
found at the right-hand side of
the page - you will need to click
on the arrow for further videos
on the show which are in two parts.)

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