Keeping House

About four years ago, I launched the PatternBee website and have managed to keep it up and running with only a few minor hiccups along the way.  However, the shop is now temporarily closed (for the first time) as I need to spruce-up my office and replace worn-out equipment.  Unfortunately, the only way I can accomplish this "house-cleaning" is to unplug and move stuff.  Not to worry though, business will resume again in a couple weeks.  In the meantime, I'll try and pop in here with updates and inspiration.

One thing that I'm really excited about is these red-stripe cotton towels from IKEA.  I'm always being asked where to find good quality towels for embroidery, and although these aren't linen, or the best quality, they're still pretty cool for only 49c each!    Perfect for beginners anyway--although I like them just fine.  The downside is, they're only available in store.  If you can find these make sure you wash them before you do any embroidery though because they shrink quite a bit.  And they wrinkle. Badly.  But all that aside, how cute is this? I used a favorite Vogart pattern (#611) and finished this towel in a few evenings while watching movies.  It's a pattern I offer as a repinted transfer, but since the website is down, I'm offering it here as a traceable pattern.  Just in case you simply cannot live without it.  I think this would be nice without all the cross-stitching as well, so if you didn't want to trace all those x's (I sure wouldn't!) you could omit them entirely and still have a beautiful motif.  Click on the design to bring it up in a new window; right-click to save it to an image file so you can adjust the size before printing it out.   The original is about 6-inches long.  The best way to transfer this to cloth:  Trace the design onto a sheet of tracing paper with a Sulky pen, and then stamp it with a hot iron.  I recommend using tracing paper for a few reasons.  First it doesn't absorb ink or bleed so it leaves a crisper image.  Secondly, you can see how much of the pattern you've traced and are not as likely to miss areas.  Also, the heat of the iron penetrates the tracing paper more quickly than heavier paper, so scorching is minimized.

BTW: Thank You for all the Birthday Wishes for Grace!  She enjoyed reading them and wanted me to mention that she appreciated every single one!   

Comments

[misspaula]

Ok, you can take some time off!!

If you ever need help, give a hollar!!

This Sulky pen you linked to, is it fine point and does it wash out? Is this what you use?? I know too many questions. Sorry!

[lily boot]

This is lovely! I too have found Ikea's textiles to be good for repurposing - I have their Christmas tablecloths from last year hanging as curtains in my daughter's bedroom, I've trimmed their blue cotton bedspreads with Japanese linen and wide rick-rack for curtains in the dining room, and trimmed the red and white teatowels with red and white check for kitchen curtains. Pretty and cheap! Can't wait to try the embroidery!

[Val]

WHAT??? YOU JUST BETTER GET FINISHED IN A HURRY AS YOU WILL BE MISSED SO MUCH..LOVE YOU POSTS AND YOU PATTERNS THAT YOU MAKE AVAILABLE TO US TO BUY..I'VE HAD GREAT SUCCESS AND MADE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAPPY..YOU ARE VERY GENEROUS TO OFFER THIS ONE..VAL

[tammyCA]

I have gotten those towels from Ikea before and embroidered on them. Like you said ,they are okay, but I like a tougher towel to embroider on. But, they are a bargain...just saw them the other day when we were at Ikea.
I think I have that pattern, too. What I can't find is the Sulky pen! I guess I have to order one.

[Elaine/Muddling Through]

What a pretty pattern! Thanks.
~Elaine~

[Christina]

This is GREAT!!! I have been looking for a project for the kids and I think that I've found it!

[Cindy]

Thank you for the towel idea. IKEA here I come.

[Linda]

I received a set of linen towels as a shower gift from my grandmother when we married 40 years ago. They are heavy with the red edge and she did seven, one for each day of the week. I considered them too precious to use but recently got them out to refresh and put out, at least for display. Have fun reorganizing!!

[Alice]

Oh ...I need to do that. Just shut down and clean up! What a devine idea. Good luck in the re-organizing!

[Marianne]

Hi, googlereader led me here and when I saw that lovely Dutch blond cheese girl on her wooden shoes on the top of your blog, I was sure this was a good blog to visit. After all I am blond, Dutch and love cheese (I do not walk on wooden shoes though).
Nice to meet you.
Greetings from the Netherlands

[Kelly]

Loved your page - I'll be linking you, if that's okay...
Greetings from Brazil.

[Susan]

Thanks for the embroidery pattern and the tip on the Ikea towels. I am new to your site...loving it!

[kristin]

That tip for the Ikea towels is fabulous! We dont have an Ikea here but I may have to stop by the next time we're out of town because that is an incredible deal :)

[Melissa H]

I love those Ikea towels--bought one for embroidery but put it into the kitchen to "test" and it's still testing. It's quite absorbent.

[Rosa]

I miss Ikea. The closest one to Nashville is Atlanta! Ouch.

[sabine]

Have to check this out in our nearest Ikea. One of my addictions by the way: buying towels...

[Hazel]

Your embroidery patterns are lovely, you are so talented.
Ikea is such a great shop, I miss not having one close by, luckily I did get to visit one in Boston last year.

[Irma's Rose Cottage]

What a great find for the price at IKEA. I will need to visit mine and get a supply.
Thanks for sharing.

Irma :)

[Bridgette]

I buy a bunch of these towels whenever i visit Ikea. Love, love, love them!

[ReminisceHeirlooms]

This pattern is lovely. Thank you so much for sharing it. I have been missing your blog. I have been so busy with the baby, I am glad I finally got to drop in. :)