(Re)Introducing the 303 English Cottage Kitchen pattern

January 25, 2024 3 Comments

by Molly Hamilton

We are very excited to bring this special pattern back into print!  The 303 English Cottage Kitchen is a treasury of sewing patterns for lovely kitchen items that will make any kitchen feel like a sweet and cozy place to cook and eat and visit.  This pattern has been out of print for many years, but was the very first Folkwear pattern I ever owned.  It appealed to my sense of creating a home wherever I was.  I could imagine making tea and scones, and sitting in a chair by a table with my tea pot covered by a tea cozy and set on a placemat.  There would be a vase of peonies and a sweet little tea towel too. Ideally, I would have all this set in a garden or maybe a cozy kitchen overlooking a garden.  But it was also perfect for whatever apartment or room I was temporarily renting - to give me that feeling of an idyllic, romantic cottage.  Sometimes that is the power of sewing patterns - to help you envision a look, a life, you want.  Or to just give your imagination some fun exercise.

We have brought this pattern back as a paper pattern for those who prefer a physical pattern and a PDF version for those eager to sew it as soon as possible.  The PDF pattern has copy shop versions (A0 and 36").  There is a print at home file (with all the page numbers noted for printing the different items - so you don't have to print it all to get just the placemat, for instance).  The A0 and print at home versions are layered for printing the kitchen items or the apron (and apron is layered by size).  And for the first time, we have a projector file as well!  Sewing instructions and detailing are also included, of course!

We loved this pattern so much that we even have a few items from this pattern that we have released as free patterns over the years, but 303 English Cottage Kitchen as a whole is exceptional.  Not only do you get sewing patterns for a tea cozy, egg cozy, placemats, napkins, oven mitts, tablecloth, and an apron, but you also get all the instructions for adding designs to these items.  The pattern provides 8 pages of instructions on stenciling, quilting, and embroidery as well as several interchangeable designs for flowers to stencil, quilt, or embroider onto the kitchen items.  Or make up your own designs, and using the instructions provided, add them to the things you make!  Plus there are instructions for tatting your own lace!  It's not that hard.  On a side note, my great grandmother (born in 1898) told me many years ago that tatting lace was her favorite handwork.  After seeing this pattern, I can understand why.  I thought it was impossible until I read through the instructions here.

Stencil design for 303 English Cottage Kitchen. We will have some tutorials soon about using this pattern.

Stenciling information is given for application to a floorcloth, as well as instructions for how to make a floorcloth. Floorcloths were used in the 1700s and 1800s to protect floors (and rugs) and to insulate rooms, but they were also decorative and often covered in stencil or painted designs.  

I don't know what my favorite item in this pattern is, but I do love napkins.  And they are a great way to use smaller sections of fabric.  They also make wonderful gifts.  I really enjoy the biscuit cozy as well.  It is so cute and makes presenting biscuits (or scones or cookies) memorable.  

Many of these patterns are perfect for using smaller sections and scraps of fabric.  And, they make wonderful gifts. 

I also find the apron to be romantic!  The words Apron and Pinafore are often used interchangeably in this pattern, but I generally call the garment an apron.  However, it can be a pinafore, especially if made for girls.  The pattern is sized for women (SM-LG) and girls (2-10).  We will have some tutorials for sizing the adult apron up very soon.  The Pinafore apron pattern can be made so that the skirt buttons in the back and the bib straps are buttoned in the back.  And, it can also be made like an apron, with the waistband ending in a large sash which is tied in the back (and apron is open in the back). 

All this to say, we are thrilled to be re-releasing this pattern and re-introducing it to you!  If you have any questions about this pattern, let us know!  We are glad to talk more about it, and we hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

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