A Favorite Find

Thursday, June 14, 2012

 

 I visited a local quilt shop yesterday. While I was there a woman brought in her 6 year old daughter to find a sewing class for her. The young girl told the sales clerk she wanted to learn to sew. (I was amazed to say the least! I had to beg my daughter to even think about sewing....Laura...are you reading this?)

It made me think of these cards I purchased last spring at an antique sale. I've seen the traditional sewing cards for young children. They are made from heavy cardboard and the children thread something like a shoelace through the holes in the card. But these were something new for me. Have you seen any like them before?

After finding these small sewing cards at the sale I grabbed them right off the table. I couldn't believe how cute they were! A young child would actually have to use a needle and thread or floss and really sew the details on the cards. 







 I love the pointer....below are the stitches on the reverse side of the card. You can tell a child worked on these. But at least the front looks great.

 




This card wasn't completed. It gives you an idea of how they looked before sewing. I wish they still made these!

Our newest quilt book, In The Meadow is going to the printer tomorrow! Will show a picture of the cover then.

Until later,

Alma

25 comments

  1. I had some of those cards as a child! (and I'm not that old!) A few years ago when I couldn't find any still on the market I made some for my niece...she loved them!

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  2. I remember these cards. Had some as a child. Couple years ago I found some again and purchased them. It brought back old memories, just as this post does.
    Have a wonderful summer and thanks for the memories.

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  3. i had some like those but not the same.some times the back of my work will look like that. LOL!!!!!!!!!!!! denise

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  4. It's funny I have one daughter that loves to sew and at 22 is a great quilter. The other daughter could care less. Both grew up with a mother who loves to do any kind of needle work. You just never know..

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  5. I love your cards, and I love any type of needlework done by children! I have a very, very small tablecloth and napkins that are vintage, done in cross stitch, by a child. Almost all of it still needs to be stitched which I will do, but I am definitely keeping in the stitches that are already there!

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  6. I also had these as a child after wanting to learn sewing at the age of four. My favorite was a horse picture, they came with thick thread. I do not remember a needle, though after using the cards up, my father would then draw similar pictures on light card and I then used a large tapestry needle and wool. A simple thing but a lot of fun from the earl 1960's.

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  7. Really sweet. I've see cards but bot quite like that.

    Can't wait to see In the Meadow. Love the sneak peak of Cinnamon Spice, too.

    Bobbi

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  8. Oh my gosh! I love those sewing cards. Now, you have to understand that I am 62 years old now, but I don't remember these particular type of sewing cards...however, I wanted to embroidery and crochet by the time I was 4, but my mom knew that was a bit too young for crochet because I wanted to do doilies, like she did. However, she kept me supplied with sewing cards that also required a needle and crochet thread or floss until at 5 she finally sat me down with my first set of 'weekday' flour sack dish towels. She had ironed on the patterns and with some very close guidance, it wasn't long before I was ready to start a second set, then on to pillowcases, and finally at 7 years old, I made my first doily. It was more oval than round, but I was very proud of it! Point is, it all started with the sewing cards. Your right, 'Lacing Cards' aren't even close to what we would want in a childs sewing card, and on the very rare occasion, you can find some vintage style sewing cards if your looking for them. So I was thinking...why couldn't you take one of the cardboard pieces out of a charm pack and put fabric over it somehow with a cute but simple design on it, then punch small holes accordingly for the little ones to practice on??? I'm just sayin'...Hugs... By the way, this is a link to an ebay page with sewing cards more like the ones I learned on. http://www.ebay.com/itm/1953-CHILDRENS-SEWING-CARDS-/380446018593?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5894598c21

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  9. I remember sewing cards when I was a little girl. Such fun we had with those cards!
    Such a wonderful find! Enjoy!
    Prim Blessings
    Robin

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  10. Living in The Netherlands, I also worked on such cards. What a beautiful find of these old ones !

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  11. wow!!
    I hod no idea such things existed! they really should get reprinted nowadays.. imagine the possibilities with these days' technology and fiber choice!
    I wish I had such things, Italy has seen medieval times stitching wise.. shame, such a shame..!

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  12. Wel, I am from the seventies, and at Kindergarten in The Netherlands, I made these cards also! I even bought them in the toystore because I loved them so.

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  13. Alma... I love these. You are so fortunate to find the greatest things in your shopping adventures! Gloria

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  14. Alma, Loved seeing your sewing cards. My 11 year old recently made a pouch to hold her MP3 player. :)
    On another note, do you happen to have a conversion chart for the Belle Soie colors that were used on the Americana design in the July 2011 issue of Cross Stitch and Needlework magazine? I'm having no luch finding one.
    Thanks,
    Paula

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  15. I loved these types of cards!

    Archivers (the store) sells a type of roller that pokes holes in paper that can then be sewn -- I would have loved that as a kid.

    Diane

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  16. Maybe you should design and sell some of these cards! There must be a market through quilt shops and sewing stores.

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  17. I, too, have done them as a child and loved every minute of it - guess that's another reason to love needlearts now. I did see some not long ago (maybe 2007) and I really thought they were a MODA product.
    I can hardly wait to see the new book - I loved everything I saw at Market!!

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  18. I have been looking for the new book because I thought it was already released! I did find some older Blackbird books today at the NQA Show in the Quilting Books Unlimited booth, but I am still looking for the Higdon Camp book. Are you sure there are none hidden in the warehouse?!! I remember a newer type of sewing cards when my Daughter was little.

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  19. Oh my goodness, I had forgotten about those but I had some as well. They were probably my older sister's (who really wasn't into crafts) but I ended up using them. What a great memory! ~Roberta

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  20. oh yes i had some of those cards too when i was in kindergarten ... they annoyed me because i completed them so quickly and then had nothing else to do - laugh how i wish that were true now with my projects!

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  21. I can't remember having these cards when I was younger, I really wished that I had. I wanted to learn how to sew little clothes for my dolls when I was about 4, so my mum gave me scrap material, normal sewing needles and just close supervision. I am very thankful for the time that she took in teaching me so young. By the time I was 7/8 years, I was able to sew on buttons, simple stitch and a blanket stitch. I am surprise a few years ago when I started uni and my flatmate couldn't sew on a button, because no-one has shown her. Basic hand-sewing/mending needs to be taught again at schools.

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  22. Just recieved my copy of "In the Meadow" and I wish I could drop everything and make them all. Love everything!

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  23. Wish I could find those cards for my granddaughters! I never had them as a child, but I would have loved them. You should make and sell them!

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