Vintage Needlepoint Mondays – Anne Orr

Old needlepoint books and charts can be full of the most delightful surprises.!

We often think that our needlepoint ideas have been newly invented. If we look around we’ll realize that isn’t true.

Looking back we know that:

• Blackwork gained popularity in Tudor England
• Bargello has been stitched since the Renaissance
• Four-way Bargeelo charts can be found in Victorian magazines.

If you poke around you’ll find lots more instances of old ideas and techniques being newly discovered.

Even so, vintage charts are a real treasure for stitchers.

In a new series, Vintage Needlepoint, I’ll be recharting for you, usually in color. Vintage charts I’ve collected.

Often there won’t be information about them, but whe there is I’ll provide it after the charts.

The charts all use whole stitches so they will work for techniques such as charted knitting, beads, perler beads, cross stitch, and mosaics.

Today we have three charts from Anne Orr. Although not a stitcher herself, she was a prolific designer of all kinds of needlework. Besides charts, patterns, and projects, she also created kits and finished needlework, often using women in Appalachia to do the work. Because this was during the Depression, this work was a lifeline for many families.

She also was a great repurposer. The three charts today come from a kid’s craft project from the early 50’s which used perforated paper printed with the designs for the projects in the package. Interestingly enough, several of the same mot8ifs were also available as stamped cross stitch samplers with sayings.

In future posts, I’ll have some of the sayings charted.

Toy Soldier

The little Toy Soldier at the top of the post is designed to be a bookmark. You could also make it into a tall, skinny ornament. Change the color of his uniform to make a whole set.

Just click on the picture to see the full size chart.

Knotted Corner Border

This simple two-color corner is a great one to set off needlepoint. It can be done in two shades of any color, or even in two different colors. It’s wide enough to provide clear definition to your work, but not so wide as to be a burden to stitch.

You can make the sides any length you like. Stitch the lighter color first to create the outside of the border. This will define the corner and make it easier to stitch the knots. This border would be lovely framing the charted sayings you’ll find later in the series.

To see the full-size graph, click on the picture above.

Morning Glory with Leaf

I just love the delicate beauty of this morning glory. It’s big enough to stand on its own as a small project, but it could also be a sampler motif.

Please note that in the chart, the squares that are light grey are actually stitched in white, Grey was used to make them easier to see.

To see the full-size graph, click on the picture above.

Come back every Monday for great vintage needlepoint recharted in color.