Tutorial: Vintage comb holder and cosmetic case

Comb Make up Cases2 This vintage pattern shows how you can make a comb holder and matching cosmetic case. It was originally published in a 1954 Workbasket Magazine, but you can download it for free at the Pattern Patter blog. The pattern comes courtesy of Mary Beth from RetroMonkeys. You can make it from felt, as the vintage project sheet recommends, or go more modern with a vinyl or laminated cotton. You could also fuse together two cottons to create a double-sided fabric that won’t fray. The comb holder looks like it might also work as a reading glasses sleeve, though I don’t have a pair of reading glasses so I can’t measure to be sure. You could certainly adjust the dimensions to fit your glasses.

Click below to go to the free pattern:

Comb Holder and Cosmetic Case, 1954 Workbasket project courtesy of RetroMonkeys

[photo from Pattern Patter]

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If your taste in cross stitch patterns tends toward tiny Christmas cross stitch projects, then you need to know about Ecliptica Design on Etsy. This cross stitch shop based in Hungary specializes in patterns that fit in 3-inch hoops, with 22 of their 64 designs as of this writing being Christmas themed.

Neither small nor Christmas is all that they do, but they do a lot of that, so let’s get into it.

The 3-inch Christmas section includes lots of charming little designs for everything from Christmas trees to elf feet, hot chocolate to bells, winter scenes and gingerbread men.

One of my favorites is this little snow globe with a Christmas tree inside. At 24 by 29 stitches, it uses 11 colors and comes out to 2 by 2.4 inches or 5 by 6 cm on 14 count fabric. It’s perfect to put in a little hoop and make into a ornament or use as a greeting card.

In addition to the Christmas patterns, there are 3-inch designs on topics such as animals and nature, dogs and butterflies, as well as patterns for Easter and Halloween. There are 2-inch minis of birds and butterflies, as well as 7-inch hoops of butterflies (as well as one Easter design).

There is one Christmas pattern meant to go in an 8-inch hoop, and a few patterns labeled medium size that I think would work in an 8-inch hoop, too (I love these rain boots with sunflowers!).

In addition to purchasing patterns one at a time, there are a handful of Christmas themed bundles you can buy. Or you can make your own bundle and get 30 percent off when you buy three or more patterns at the same time.

Check out all of the goodies at Ecliptica Design on Etsy.

Do you have a favorite cross stitch designer you’d like me to feature? I’d love to hear about them!

[Photo: Ecliptica Design]

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