If I could spend a day with a quilter, hands down it would be Mary Engelbreit. The woman’s work is delightful; she is creative beyond description and her talent is off-the-charts.
My first exposure to Mary Engelbreit’s work was in 1982 when I came across her charming and whimsical quilt pattern called “Playtime Pals” featured in Better Homes & Gardens Creative Ideas Christmas magazine. I ordered the pattern immediately via Canada Post and couldn’t wait till it arrived! The pattern was an iron-on outline of sweet & cheery children in vintage outfits. One needed to complete the outlines using fabric paints… basically colouring for adults. I ironed all the pattern outlines onto muslin fabric in different sizes, purchased an array of fabric paints and set to work, painting for days on end. (I had never used fabric paints in the past, so there was a bit of learning curve and some less-than-perfect blocks!) I loved every single minute of working on that quilt.
Playtime Pals became my baby daughter’s first and favourite bedtime treasure. She virtually loved that quilt to its demise as it became tattered and torn throughout the decades of her life.
I have tried, in vain, to find that pattern again so I could make Playtime Pals for my sweet baby granddaughter, Harlow. I’ve contacted Mary Engelbreit’s “people”, the magazine that first published the pattern, and checked for it on ebay countless times. No luck.
Maybe one day, I’ll come across that fabulous pattern again – still in it’s plastic and wrapping from 31 years ago. Or maybe someday, I will meet Mary Engelbreit in person and she will dig this pattern out of her archives – just for me! Fingers crossed!
Till later…..Kim
Kim, I found the BH&G 1984 edition of “American Christmas Crafts and Foods” at a thrift store for $.50! I am enlarging the patterns from graph-pictues in the book. I will then applique the designs. There are several other ideas in this book that are worth making, also.
Hi, Kim. I know this is an old post but I just came across it while searching for the Playtime Pals pattern. I made that quilt in 1982 for my, then, 5 year old daughter. I just unpacked a box of old stuff and found the original Better Homes and Gardens magazine from 1981. It has the pattern pictures on a grid and I’m pretty sure I can make patterns pieces from those. I’m going to try! If you are still interested, I can scan the picture and email them to you.
Judy – that’s totally amazing. What a find! Kim
I actually have the orginial from 1981 I am just tracing the dolls to make after all this time for my grand children let me know if you would like a copy.
Hi Krista. That is so very generous of you. But I did end up finding a copy of the full pattern on ebay. Take good care.
Kim