Blog Archives

The Write Stuff - Bugs and Critters

28/8/2023

A couple of years ago I bought this super Bugs and Critters fabrics by Nutex. I'd used it to make Zip it Up (a ByAnnie pattern) and threlittle boy I'd made it for loved it! Anyway, two years later I've still got some leftover fabric, so now I've made him a journal cover to match! I've used another ByAnnie pattern, The Write Stuff, and I've adapted it to fit a chunky A4 notebook. There's a zipper pocket on the front of the journal cover, which can store pens and pencils. I've used zipper by the metre from Zipper Station, in the same colour that I'd used for the Zip it Case I'd made for him previously.. ...

...there are useful pockets inside, and the notebook slips neatly inside the front and back pockets so it will lay flat when opened. I've used a spiral bound notebook with lots of dividers inside...

...the flap that fastens the journal cover together is held in place with a sew-in magnet, and I used a chnky black button on the front of the flap. This just needs to be wrapped with a few more books about bugs and critters - I hope Charlie likes it!

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Bits and Bobs Sewing Folder

26/8/2023

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A couple of weeks ago, we were due to go on a mini-break as Mr F was playing cricket in Wales, and I needed a hand sewing project to take me. Using this beautiful bundle of fabrics from the Blue Sky collection by Laundry Basket Quilts (purchased a few years ago from Cross Patch) were just right for the project I'd got planned. The Bits and Bobs Sewing Folder, designed by the Australian designer Gail Pan, was purchased last year from Poppy Patch, and it didn't take long to trace the stitchery design onto a low volume fabric from the collection. The hand embroidery was stitched with 2 strands of a deep blue DMC embroidery thread...

...once the hand embroidery for both the sewing folder and the small pouch was completed, the fabric was pressed and trimmed to size. The sewing folder was pieced together in a srappy arrangement due to the size of the fabrics in the bundle of fat eighths. Ric rac was added and embellished with colonial knots. Layered onto wadding, I machine quilted around the stitchery panel, and added some vintage buttons...

...the front of the stitchery folder has been hand quilted using ecru coloured DMC perle thread. I made my own template by folding a strip of freezer paper concertina-fashion, and cut out the shape of a simple curve. Folding out the paper, and pressing it onto the fabric with a warm iron, I was able to use the curved edge as a guide. The freezer was simply peeled off and placed along the bottom edge of the fabric for the lower curve. The folder is fastened with fabric ties which have been topstitched along both long edges and inserted into both sideseams...

...inside the folder there are a selection of fabric and clear vinyl pockets, which are ideal for storing sewing paraphernalia...

...the small sewing pouch has been pieced together in a scrappy fashion, and has been both machine and hand quilted. The back of the sewing pouch has a clear vinyl zippered pocket...

...a neat binding covers all the raw edges - this has been machined in place on the back of the pouch, folded over and hand stitched to the front...

...and here's the finished project. True to it's name, it's perfect for storing lots of sewing bits and bobs.

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New Covers for Consersavatory Furniture

21/8/2023

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My conservatory chairs and sofa cushions desperately needing new covers, so I recently purchased some beautiful upholstery fabric from Lydia's Fabrics in Ipswich. The original covers were removable, so I was able to use them as templates, carefully unpicking the seams and zippers. I prefer more substantial zippers than were in the original covers, so I bought several meters of continuous zipper from Zipper Station in this burnt orange colourway to match the upholstery fabric...

...I'd had a trial run with the seat cushions a couple of years ago, using some old curtain fabrics, and so making replacements seat covers was a bit of a breeze. The back cushions were a different story altogether though, as they comprised of 2 compartments that zippered together - not my finest hour, I have to admit, but overall I was happy with the results. The foot stool cushion cover was made with some smaller leftover pieces, and went together much easier than the larger covers. Anyway, here are the completed covers on the chairs - they really were worth all that hard work!

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Aurifil Colour Builder - African Penguin

19/8/2023

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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. African Penguin is this month's selection, and is the final set of threads. These black, grey and white threads - shades 2692, 2625 and 2021 - really are beautiful and are great for machine quilting.

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In Full Bloom Quilt Label

10/8/2023

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Once I'd stitched the blocks together for my In Full Bloom quilt - (pattern by the Australian designer Lynette Anderson Designs) - I doodled some ideas for a quilt label. I always like to incorporate the theme of the quilt into the label, so using some of Lynette's flower motifs, I sketched some simple flowers along with a bee, surrounded by letters depicting the date and my name. Once I'm happy with the final design, I draw over the pencil lines with a very fine black sharpie. This enables me to use the pattern to trace my design onto fabric. I do yjis by taping the pattern onto my lightpad, taping the fabric over the paper, and tracing the design wth a fine fabric marker pen. Mt favourite is a Micron Pigma pen, nib size 005, in a pale brown shade (sepia). This size nib is fine enough that it can be covered with just one thread of a stranded embroidery skein. For this label, I've used a piece of the beautiful yarn dyed fabric that was used for the stitchery designs on the quilt, and a selection of the same coloured embroidery threads. Now I just need to decide how to quilt In Full Bloom, then I can hand applique the label to the back of the quilt.

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In Full Bloom - Patchwork Blocks

9/8/2023

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These gorgeous fabrics in soft muted colours are from the Secret Garden collection, designed by Lynette Anderson and produced by Lecien back in 2011, and they really are lovely to sew with. The fabrics were cut up and pieced together to make Broken Dishes patchwork blocks..

...the patchwork and applique blocks are joined together, set out in a 5x5 layout. A narrow inner border is then stitched around the blocks, ready for the outer border...

...a pieced outer border is finally added to the quilt top. The finished top measures 38" x 38" and will make a very pretty wall hanging. Now I just need to decide how to quilt it, whether to by hand or machine. Oh and I need to doodle some ideas for a quilt label too!

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The Write Stuff - Bugs and Critters

Bits and Bobs Sewing Folder

New Covers for Consersavatory Furniture

Aurifil Colour Builder - African Penguin

In Full Bloom Quilt Label

In Full Bloom - Patchwork Blocks

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