Vintage embroidery transfers have regained popularity today and the hunt is on for lovely designs from the past. Today designs can be programmed and machine stitched on the new embroidery machines. Improved fabric paints, dyes and markers allow these great old designs to be used by even the needle-challenged. And, of course, those who love hand-stitching still use them to create lovely vintage designs.
Early Butterick Transfer
Here’s a quick history. Embroidery transfers have been available from many, many different companies for well over a hundred years. Early transfers were perforated patterns – the design was composed of small holes in the paper and transferred to fabric by forcing black powder through the holes. Embroidery designs transferred to linens by rubbing and/or moistening the pattern made a brief early appearance, but the hot iron process quickly became the norm.
Most companies produced hot-iron transfers that were single-use — the unused pattern had raised ink that transferred to the fabric. If the design is composed of small dots, it’s a Numo style pattern. Designs often were offered in a choice of blue ink (for white or light fabrics) or yellow (to show up on dark fabrics). Expect to find only one or other in an envelope: although it may be marked “blue and yellow,” there should be a separate stamp telling which actually is enclosed. Many companies eventually switched to a lighter or “electric” blue that would show up on light and dark fabrics. A few companies used green ink or the Silver-Tex process.
- Mail Order Transfer
A flat ink transfer, especially if red, may be a multi-stamp pattern that fades as the transfer is used. But if the flat ink is blue, yellow or green, it’s probably a single-use transfer that has been used. Do remember that these designs, while not able to be used by ironing on to fabric, can be scanned into embroidery machines or hand traced using tracing paper.
The most thorough history that I’ve found on line is on the sewingpalette.com website. I credit them with this information and please pay them a visit.
