Wednesday, March 16, 2016

A Sweet Sunbonnet Sue Needle Keep with Penny Rose Wool!

Welcome to my stop on the Penny Rose Wool L♥ve Blog Tour!  I am thrilled to share my little project today!


I've been wanting to re-do a little needle-keep I found stashed behind the drawer of an old treadle sewing machine cabinet my husband purchased a couple of years ago.  It's a tiny little 4" x 5" Susie.  
Here is a picture of the original:


Sunbonnet Sue first made her appearance in quilts in the late 1800s!  Read a little bit of the history of this playful little girl in a big bonnet HERE.

And here she is, all dressed up, remade with modern fabrics and notions, and ready to keep all my pins and needles handy.


I added a little wool roving between the layers of her bonnet for a pincushion, then blanket-stitched around the edges.  I continued the blanket stitch around the edges of her skirt front and back because I like the look, but I could have left the edges plain.  To embellish, I used a little wool trim with a few French knots on the bonnet, a bit of mini ric-rac on the underskirt, and a little gathered flat lace with a button to make a cute teeny bouquet.  Pull back the skirt and the pins and needles are underneath.


With that little bit of stuffing in the bonnet, I can use it as a mini pincushion!


Don't you love her?  I couldn't just make one! 


For this version, I used a couple of tools to help me cut the wool:  my AccuQuilt die cutter to cut out the little flower, and a Wave blade in my Olfa cutter to trim the underskirt.


Want to make one, too?  Download the PATTERN << from my website.


Need a review of some simple stitchery techniques?  See some basics on a couple of my previous tutorials over at Cutting Corners for Riley Blake Designs:
  Stitchery Primer (French Knot, Stem Stitch, etc)
  Edge Finishes (Buttonhole & Blanket Stitch)

Penny Rose Fabrics is a sister company to Riley Blake Designs.  Penny Rose fabric lines give that feel of days gone by with a focus on historic and vintage reproduction prints.  These new wool solids  coordinate perfectly with their prints.  

Penny Rose Wool bundle
Check out their fabric lines at www.pennyrosefabrics.com for more vintagey goodness, then ask for them at your local quilt shop.

Be sure to visit all these lovely, creative ladies on the tour:

March 16 - Deonn Stott of Quiltscapes << Thanks for stopping by!


16 comments:

  1. She is so cute Deonn. I love the colors you used. Thank you for generously providing the pattern for free.

    ReplyDelete
  2. There you are...I came a few times.....you are here..and look at your sweet bonnet girls...oh my totally awesome...totally country....totally perfected by you

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh my gosh, Deonn, she is so darn cute! I just love this little needle keeper. Thank you for the pattern and instructions.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you for the pattern. Your needlekeeps are the cutest. I thought the green one was adorable but after seeing the red one, I think she's my favorite. My oldest daughter loves Sunbonnet Sue; she'd love this.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hello Deonn. Your needle keepers are so cute. I love how the pins and needles are enclosed in her dress, such a wonderful design....and the pincushion hat is genius. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful project. Well done my friend.

    ReplyDelete
  6. That is so cute Deonn. She is a great reproduction of the vintage one.

    ReplyDelete
  7. what a pretty and practical little Sue thanks for the download, have not got any wool but will have a go with felt, liking the scalloped edge will have to look out for a blade.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I don't care what some folks say, I LOVE Sunbonnet Sue. I love needle-keeps too, so you can bank on the fact that I will be making one of these for myself. Great idea to stuff the hat. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I found one of these among my mother's sewing things after she died. I still have it.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sue looks beautiful, and warm! Thanks for sharing.
    cork@pa.rr.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Sue is so sweeet, find the idea of locating the original Sue is the old machine intriguing. I think I might frame her for my sewing room, if she was mine that is.
    Enjoy the Lord's day,Tonia

    ReplyDelete
  12. Such sweet ladies. They are so lovely independent of background fabric. Great idea. so nice of you to bring it back.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thank you for the tuto!!!
    It's so lovely!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I don't think I can live without this darling needlebook. You always create the cutest goodies. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete

So happy you stopped by for a visit! Thank you!