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Thanks to signing up to the Aurifil Colour Builder club at Oh Sew Sweet Shop I've been able to add to my collection of Aurifil 40wt threads. Sumatran Tiger is this month's selection and these orange threads - shades 1104, 1133 and 2214 - really are beautiful and are great for machine quilting. 
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Are you taking part in the Worldwide Quilting Day today? Did you even know there was such a thing? I'm just back from holiday, so before I step into my sewing studio, I need to unpack my case and load the laundry into the washing machine. Then I can make myself a nice cup up of tea, and sit down with some hand sewing. Oh and I might even look through that LONG list of kits that seem to be getting longer and longer and see if I can move one or two to the top of my "to-do" pile!  I've been away for a few days with Mr F and some special friends having a very relaxing time at Warner Leisure Hotels Thoresby Hall, in Nottinghamshire. Now I'm back home, and I'm looking forward to settling down in my sewing studio, ready to start a new project!  Here's the Retro-style sling bag - pattern by Kandou Crafts - that I made recently! This bag was a gift for my friends husband - last year when we were all on holiday together, he'd requested a bag he could use for his manky bits and bobs - and finally, a year later, I managed to make it for him! So here's the completed bag in action, modelled by my friend's husband!  Here's a better picture of my progress so far with George and the Donkey, a mystery BOM by Lynette Anderson Designs. It's really coming along nicely. I just need to finish the hexie borders whilst I'm waiting for the pattern for the final block to arrive.  Block 6 - All A Flutter - is the next installment of the mystery quilt George and the Donkey by Lynette Anderson Designs. This block is filled with cute little bees, stitched with colonial knots. I'm using a selection of variegated Valdani embroidery threads for this project The suggested colours are printed on the pattern for block 1, however you can use whatever brand embroidery threads you prefer...
...these pretty Suffolk Puffs are made with a selection of fabrics from a variety of collections also designed by Lynette Anderson Designs. The muted tones from these fabrics all blend well together. Suffolk Puffs are simple to make and add a lovely texture to this quilt block, along with an embroirded circle which is simply appliqued into position on top of a flower stem...
...the original pattern has an embroidered snail, however I chose to applique mine, and just embroider his shell. The butterfly is also appliqued, and the blanket stitch arount the upper wings are some of the tiniest stitches I've ever sewn...
...blocks 4 and 5 have fields made with a variety of green fabrics, whilst this block has blue clouds - each one made with a different fabric. Once the blocjk was finished, it was pressed and stitched into place. I just need to finish the hexie border then I can wait patiently for the pattern for the final block to arrive!  For the past year I've been using a double-sided basting tape for holding zippers and trimmings in place prior to securing them by machine. Unfortunately, when I ordered more I didn't have the same success, as the tape didn't seem to adhere to the fabric and had a dreadful chemical smell, even though it was the same brand. Then I saw an advert for this one - I've been very impressed with other ByAnnie products, so I'm very keen to see how I get on with this one! I managed to find a UK supplier - Sew and Knit Shop - my order arrived promptly and I'm keen to start a new project to see how I get on with it!  I needed a gift for a special little girl, and this floral Tanya Whelan fabric, teamed with a spotty fabric for the binding and prairie points, was just perfect for what I had planned! I also added a piece of vintage lace trimming to make it look even prettier. The bag pattern is Anna's Sminkepung by the Norwegian designer AnnAKa and is available to buy from quilt shops in Scandinavia. This is my favourite pattern for small bags, and although the instructions are written in Norwegian, I simply followed the diagrams. This is now ready to fill with a few girlie bits and bobs and send off in the post!  I'd initially purchased this pattern back in March 2022. Designed by Kandou Crafts, this PDF pattern has very detailed instructions with lots of photographs detailing each step. The instructions include full size templates, and as suggested by the designer, this was the only part of the pattern that I printed out. The designer has also suggested using Emmeline Bags hardwear - swivel clips, strap slider and d-rings - which I ordered from Sew Hot along with the webbing for the straps...
...rather than buy more fabric, I recycled some denim from a pair of Mr F's jeans that were destined for the rubbish bin. I even managed to unpick the label from the Jean's and stitch it onto the front of the bag. For topstitching the front flap, I used Aurifil 40wt thread in a dark blue colour on the top to blend in with the denim, and a right green colour in the bobbin to match the lining fabric. I used a Schmetz Jeans needle size 80 for all of the construction, which worked really well...
...this shows the D-ring in place on the back of the bag with the swivel clip clipped in place. The strap was relatively simple to construct, as the pattern instructions and accompanying pictures were very easy to understand...
...this bag has several pockets both inside and out so is really handy with lots of room for a purse or wallet, mobile phone, bottle of water etc. I couldn't resist stitching one of my Kylie and the Machine labels in the back pocket!...
...so here's the front and the back of the bag. Now I just need to fill it with a few essentials, and wrap it up as it's a birthday gift for a special friend. I just hoe he likes it!
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 About me...Hi - welcome to my quilting blog! My passions are my family, my dog, my friends and sewing, not necessarily in that order! 
 
 
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