Pattern Page from Victorian Calling Card Collection

Victorian Calling Card Collection Page 2

     So… after spending a number of hours, researching the antique calling cards on eBay, (and a little bit of money purchasing a few that were irresistible), 25 unique appliqued card shapes each with it’s own unique motif had been designed.
     All of the blocks have a 12” x 8” scalloped calling card “mounted” in the center of a 16” finished square. By using a dark background fabric, I was able to spotlight the cream, tone on tone fabric of the appliqued calling card, meant to mimic the antique paper look of the real calling cards. In addition, I “fussy cut” all of the roses and larger flowers from my own hand dyed fabrics done in rich, deep, tie-dyed colors. This gives the flowers and roses the hand painted look of the original cards.

 


Old Calling Card in Jeni's Collection

     The rest of the applique fabric was a range of quilt store prints that mimicked the textures in the real item, (like a wood print for the cart, crackle for leaves, etc…). I can’t help it; I like to shop for fabrics.
     The one challenge that occurred in this project was the “jigsaw puzzle” approach to the applique. I hadn't tackled an applique project with as many overlapping pieces. Many of the appliques, within the motif, lie on top of or under another. To help you tackle this, I have numbered the placement for the appliqués right on the pattern and have included a few other tips for staying organized. (For more detailed instructions on how to needleturn applique- take a look at A Little Guide to Needleturn that includes a unique Victorian Calling Card not included in this collection of patterns.)