Cover photo: Sewing basket from Paula Vaughan In Miniature. Stitched by me and made into a needlebook.
This post features books that weren’t numbered, including several that aren’t cross-stitching patterns. To see the rest of her work, and to read my hints for finding these out-of-print patterns, please visit my main Paula Vaughan post.
To change the skin or hair color of the people featured in some of these designs, search for skin tone charts online. (If you find one that is especially helpful, please let me know!) You’ll need several shades to take advantage of the highlights and shadows. Some designs include reflections in mirrors, so be sure to change the reflection as well.
Paula Vaughan in Miniature. My understanding is that this was originally sent as a bonus to subscribers of Leisure Arts Magazine. I bought mine on eBay, so I don’t have first-hand knowledge of its origin. The booklet contains 20 small designs, plus an alphabet. Because each design is relatively small, they work up quickly. They’re a great option to use when trying a new fabric, or to make a pincushion, sachet, or ornament! Except for the borders and alphabet, the designs were pulled from patterns already published. For example, design #2 in this book is a chair with a pink-ribboned straw hat on one spindle and a sewing basket on the seat. The exact same chair, bonnet, and basket are in Book 2: Aunt Verdi’s Porch. Design #4 in this book shows a straw hat with a blue ribbon and a book titled “Flowers,” just like the hat & book in Book 6: A Bouquet For Elizabeth except that they filled in the edge of the hat that was hidden by the flower basket in the original book. It’s a fun little “treasure hunt” to find where each design in this book was originally used! Published in 1989.
From Mother’s Hands, sold under Cross Stitch Lites. This design shows a pink dress on a dress form. A treadle sewing machine has pink fabric under the needle, and a small sewing basket beside the machine. The sewing machine’s wooden chair is painted green, and has a blue ruffled seat cushion. A larger basket sits on the floor, with a blue and white quilt held in a hoop. A window with white ruffled curtains offers a glimpse of a rose bush growing outside. A heart-shaped pincushion hangs on the wall beside the window. A hat box and a pincushion on the floor beside the dress complete the scene. Published in 1992.
Now I Lay Me Down, sold as a kit by Janlynn in the Golden Needle Collection. Unfortunately, I don’t have a scan of this one to share as mine is apparently stored somewhere else, so I missed it when I scanned in my books’ covers! The design shows a grandmother and her granddaughter kneeling together beside a bed, with their hands folded in prayer. The bed is covered with a Dresden Plate quilt. A Bible sits on the bed. Beside the girl, a doll lies on the rug, and an orange cat sits patiently. A bedside nightstand holds kerosene lamp, a bottle of lotion, and a pair of glasses. A mouse hides under the base of the nightstand – maybe the cat is saying grace before his mousey bedtime snack?! Behind the bed, a snow-covered town is visible through the window.
Beautiful Dreamer. This design shows a young girl playing dress-up. She’s wearing a wedding gown that is much too large. As she looks in the mirror, the reflection shows a young adult bride wearing the same gown and a veil. Around the room, an armoire has a Dresden Plate quilt draped over the door and a book on top. The window in the room has a stained glass transom above it. Several picture frames lean against the wall. A trunk holds a cloth with a lace edging and a violin and bow. A music box (I think?) sits in front of the mirror. An old baby carriage holds a doll. A square hat box sits on the floor, along with a pair of white boots. Published in 2004.
Through A Father’s Eyes. This design shows a father with his arm around the shoulders of his daughter in her bridal gown. The reflection in the mirror shows a young girl standing on her father’s shows. The mirror is decorated with roses, and more roses are displayed in a vase on the fireplace and in a basket on the floor beside the bride. An opened trunk holds a doll. An armoire in the background holds a Double Wedding Ring quilt and a couple of hat boxes.. Published in 2004. This was the last new Paula Vaughan design ever published.
Pattern Compilations
The Romance of Paula Vaughan. This book includes 6 cross-stitch patterns along with other projects of a similar theme. Some of them are rather dated as this book is now over 30 years old, but enough of the projects are still pretty enough that I think this book is worth considering. Click or tap the name of the book to see a post with pictures of all of the designs included. Published in 1993.
The Best of Paula Vaughan: 26 of Paula’s designs. I don’t have a scan of the cover, because I don’t own this book yet since I already have all of the patterns in their original books or magazines. This book would be a great way to get a lot of her designs in one book. Click or tap the name of the book to see a post with pictures of all of the designs included. Published in 1994.
The Best of Paula Vaughan Book 2: 25 more patterns. I don’t own this book yet, either. Just like the previous book, this would be a great way to get a small collection of Paula’s work in one book. Click or tap the name of the book to see a post with pictures of all of the designs included. Published in 1998.
Garden Reflections is a collection of 9 designs from various designers featured in For The Love of Cross Stitch magazine by Leisure Arts, including 2 by Paula Vaughan: Spring Garden Spot was originally published in For The Love Of Cross Stitch Magazine in May 2001, and Grandmother’s Garden of Love was published in July 2001 of the same magazine. I don’t personally own this book yet, as I already have the magazine issues with those 2 patterns. Click or tap the name of the book to go to the Magazines post, then scroll to the bottom to see the patterns included. Published in 2004.
Book That Aren’t Cross-Stitch Patterns
Granny Bloomers: a children’s story book written and illustrated by Paula Vaughan. This sweet story describes a young girl’s relationship with her granny, who always wears the bloomers that inspired her nickname. (When I looked at this book on eBay just now, the “synopsis” section of the first 6 listings described a book about Object-Oriented Programming. That definitely appeals to the tech-geek side of my personality, but has nothing to do with this book! I’m guessing that some identification number was re-used, and now pulls up the computer programming synopsis instead of a description of this book.) Published in 2001.
Plush and Pretty Afghans: 7 crocheted afghan patterns inspired by Paula’s work. Published in 2004.
Romance With Quilts: quilt patterns inspired by Paula’s work. As of the date of this post, the Amazon listing for Romance With Quilts shows the table of contents and several of the quilts! The patterns include Double Wedding Ring, a blue crazy quilt, New York Beauty in pink and green, a quilt with hearts inspired by paper-cutting, a basket quilt, Trip Around the World, Rose of Sharon, Wild Rose Bouquet, Dresden Plate, Garden Wedding, Tulip Basket, and Bed of Roses. Published in 2009.
Stories For A Mom’s Heart: short inspirational stories compiled by Alice Gray, with art by Paula Vaughan. I came across a different version of the cover that doesn’t mention Paula’s name, so I don’t know if that edition includes Paula’s art. I own the version shown in this photo. Published in 2001.
Happy stitching!
— Elizabeth
More Paula Vaughan posts: Paula Vaughan ~ Text-only Books List ~ Books 1-10 ~ Books 11-20 ~ Books 21-30 ~ Books 31-40 ~ Books 41-50 ~ Books 51-60 ~ Books 61-70 ~ Books 71-80 ~ Other Books ~ Magazines