As regular readers know I often highlight free books, patterns and resources that I discover online. On the archive.org site I discovered and French design book the Directoire designs for textiles which has been digitised by the Internet archive. The Directoire designs for textiles is an out of copyright pattern book that was published in 1793. The patterns are French and the book is catalogued as containing over 100 drawings.
I have a few of the patterns here so you can get a taster of what is on offer in this old French design book. Many are half the pattern so you have to trace them off on tracing paper – flip it and then you have 2 sides of the pattern. They look great for biscorno pin cushion patterns or any project where you want a medallion. I was very tempted to clean up some of them in Illustrator and present them whole but life got in the way.
You can download the file in a number of formats PDF which is the file format I think most people use, but you can also get a full Test download and formats such as EPUB and Kindle.
If you are new hand to embroidery here is 12 Surface Stitches for Beginners a PDF file I wrote a while back. These surface embroidery stitches can be used with these types of patterns. Also check out the first few weeks on the TAST list of challenge stitches, for links to tutorials to the basic stitches.
My Stitchers templates
My templates aim to help you take your stitching to the next level. With them you can create hundreds of different hand embroidery patterns to embellish your seams with flair. These templates are easy to use, made of clear plastic so you can position them easily and are compact in your sewing box.
These are simple to use. You simply position the template in place and use a quilter’s pencil to trace along the edge of the template. Stitch along this line to decorate the seam. I have a free ebook of patterns to accompany each set which illustrates how they can be used.
TO ORDER your Crazy Quilt Templates
Crazy Quilt Templates set 1 you will find here
Crazy Quilt Templates set 2 you will find here
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Thank you so much for this wonderful trove of designs and stitches. I have recently retired and am getting ready to learn all the gorgeous stitching that I have admired since childhood. If only, I had badgered my grandmothers to teach me all that they had learned from their mothers snd grandmothers.
Hi.. These are really brilliant. I love old designs though they are very rare. May god bless you for your efforts. Really thanks.
Regards
Generously working overtime again, I see, on behalf of needleworkers.
Thank you for sharing the templates. I’ve saved them for future projects as well as more from the wonderful book.
Thanks so much for sharing this. It looks like a great resource of designs and ideas, so many possibilities. You are so generous in sharing your finds and talent with us.
Thanks Janet pleased you like the resource.
Thanks So much! This is a wonderful resource and the designs have so many possibilities.
These are so lovely. I did some research, and Abe books will do a reprint of the entire single edition for a little over $6. It ships from India, so it make take up to 25 days to get it after it’s printed and shipped. I thought it was a good deal, so I ordered it. Abe Books is a great resource for things like this.
thank-you Sharon,
Even though I am still really a novice, I am enthralled with the designs and can even contemplate attempting one or two of the less complicated ones. If that is OK I will share your email with a good friend who is a wonderful embroiderer I am sure she will be interested. You are a wealth of information and resources. I truly appreciate it. Cheers
Marilyn share the blog address – ie pintangle.com rather than my email address as that way your friend will find the patterns too
Dear Sharon, you are always very generous when you post to share,encourage and teach others but to share this resource with us is fantastic. Thankyou so much! Thank you too, for revealing the amazing archive it is held in, of all sorts of treasures. Lilliana
Lilliana the library has all sorts of treasure – hope you enjoy it