http://sewmotion.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=283af0689412a27dde38a81a9&id=94559d9e45

Thursday 11 February 2021

Send someone a hug in a mug rug - Free Pattern!

As I type we have a bright sunshine glistening on the snow that fell yesterday. It's also bitterly cold out there which is why I'm having a day at home sewing rather than going to the freezing cold unit :) 

Having said this, it is lovely to see the sunshine, it's been a dark and dull year so far, which doesn't really help when you need a lift during these difficult times. So while we can't hug people in person to lift their spirits, why not send some love in the post instead - and what better way than with a lovely quilted heart? 

This Mini Heart Quilt pattern is free to my Newsletter Subscribers and can be anything you want, a mini quilt for someone to hang on the wall, a large mug rug for a steaming hot cuppa and biccie, or maybe a block to add to a larger quilt. Once made you can then send this virtual hug to someone to let them know they are in your thoughts and you'll see them again very soon.

To receive this free pattern, plus exclusive offers and the latest product news, click here to sign up to the Newsletter today.

In other exciting news, I have extended the places on my Mystery Pieces Subscription Program. Every other month, subscribers will receive a mystery box of quilting goodies from Sewmotion, including a pattern designed by myself, gorgeous fabric pre-cuts, full size templates relevant to the pattern, and quality haberdashery items, all for £30 every other month (this includes UK postage, if you are outside of the UK, contact me through the website). You can find out more and reserve your space by clicking here - the next Mystery Box is due out in March, so sign up now so you don't miss out.

Wishing you all a peaceful and warm week, stay safe xx

Saturday 9 January 2021

We have a winner!

Huge congratulations to Helen who won last week's Makers' Gallery Prize draw which happened on a very brief Facebook Live - you can still catch it on the Sewmotion Facebook page.

Helen entered her beautiful Hope in the Stars quilt, my lockdown mystery quilt-along that I ran free to my Newsletter subscribers during the first lockdown. Here is her gorgeous version, mostly made from her stash, and she also named each block to mean something special to remind her of this time in histor, such as 'Keyworkers' and 'Listen to the Birds'.


This quilt series is still available to my Newsletter subscribers. Although no longer quite the mystery, it's still a great hand sewing project to help us through these difficult times, especially as we enter yet another lockdown. Not much soothes the soul and blocks out the world like a couple hours of hand sewing. If you would like to find out more and get the links for this quilt's PDF instructions and templates, sign up to the Newsletter here. You will also hear about the latest product and events news, plus exclusive subscriber-only offers.



Thursday 31 December 2020

Sewmotion Makers' Gallery of 2020

Well, what a year! I won't go into the stresses and strains of 2020, but instead focus on being grateful. Thankfully, my family and friends, up until now (fingers crossed, touch wood and all that) have all stayed safe and well, even though this has meant not seeing them as much as usual. But as we know, this time will pass and these sacrifices will be worth it as there is finally an end in sight. It may take another few months and even more sacrifices to get there, but things will return back to normal and we can restart our lives again. 

I know I can't wait to get back to exhibiting at quilt and sewing shows, I have really missed the in-person interaction I have with my customers, having a good old chat about quilting, as well as meeting up with my fellow business owners. Since March I have relied solely on online sales, and have been overwhelmed by the support and kindness from my customers who really have kept Sewmotion going this year. As well as placing orders, many of you took part in my block-of-the-fortnight quilt along, and shared some lovely pics of your progress. I have also received some very lovely and often timely emails with such kind thoughts and encouragement - thank you so much.

So to show my gratitude, I thought I would host an online gallery of Sewmotion makes to end the year on a high. I am also offering a prize bundle of Sewmotion goodies - the winning participant will be drawn out of a hat on Friday, 1st January by my glamorous assistant Justin :)

Having put a call out to my Newsletter subscribers and on Facebook, I have been inundated with photos of some truly gorgeous makes, I'm sure you'll agree. Many of us have kept busy working through the stash or finishing that pile of UFOs, and of course working through all those kits bought over the years. So without further ado, enjoy!

Clockwise from bottom left: Lynda, Sue, Naomi, Ven, Ven (again) Jan and in the centre Jill

As it's still the festive season, I thought we would start with a collection of Christmas EPP Hoop projects, aren't they beautiful?! I just wanted to mention Jill's hoop, she made this for her daughter Joanne, who sent in the photo and explained that even though she couldn't see her mum this Christmas, receiving this beautiful gift felt like she had some of her mum with her, how wonderful is that!? Well done Jill ;)

Continuing the Christmas theme, next we have the Table Runners and Placemats, one of the great things about these projects is that they can be brought out year after year, so even though you may not have used the whole set this year, they will still be there for 2021 :)

Clockwise from bottom left: Naomi, Suzanne, Dileas, Karen, Jacquie, Carol & Laura.

Finally, a little more Christmas with some fabulous bunting... 

From left: Fiona, Lesley & Theresa

Alison

Rather than making a string of bunting, Alison made these individual stars to send to friends and family around the world who she wouldn't be seeing over Christmas, another wonderful example of how craft has brought people closer together during these times of separation. 

Many of you have spent 2020 making cushions, and even better, discovering new techniques such as EPP and my fave, curved EPP. Starting with the ever-popular Diamond Star...

Clockwise from top left: Carol, Ven, Janet, Kay, Lynda, Christine, Debby & Pamela.

And then there were the gorgeous curved EPP cushions...

Clockwise from bottom left: Lesley, Lesley (again) Pamela, Sue, Joanne, Julie, Debby, Shirley, Jacquie, Kathy & Carol

Some of you went tiny with your EPP projects and made these beautiful pincushions - you can never have too many right?!  I love Helen's embroidery to remind her of her day out at Duxford quilt show where she bought the kit :)

Clockwise from top left: Michele, Kay, Kay (again), Patricia, Helen & Naomi 

Some of you got creative with machine quilting, while others found their own projects to make using my designs and fabrics...

Clockwise from top left: Patricia, Pamela, Katy, Tess, Naomi & Lynda

And then there are the quilts, so many glorious projects...

Clockwise from bottom left: Fiona, Anne, Joanne, Karen, Jan, Naomi, Pat and in the centre Margaret

Clockwise from top left: Barbara, Joanne, Sally, Sally again, Ellen & Jan.

And finally, I would just like to end with these glorious Hope in the Stars quilts - this was my quilt-along offered free to my Newsletter subscribers earlier in the year using traditional hand piecing, a technique that was new to many of you. I also sold sets of templates, raising over £400 for the NHS Covid-19 charity. Thank you all so much for taking part, I know there are many more half finished quilts out there, and I look forward to seeing them in 2021 ;)

Clockwise from top left: Ven, Helen, Shirley, Joanne, Laura, Samantha and in the centre Gracie

I love every one of these quilts, and it makes me so happy to see my design created in so many different fabrics. I don't have favourites of course, but I would just like to mention Gracie in the centre, who decreased all the templates so she could make an English paper-pieced version, this finished mini quilt is just 14inches square, isn't it stunning?!

Thank you to everyone for taking part in this celebration of the Makers, we will be announcing the winner of the prize draw on a Facebook live tomorrow at 1pm (Friday 1st Jan). The winner will also be announced on a future blog and the next Newsletter. 

With all the best wishes in the world for you and your family to have a much happier 2021, keep on sewing, sharing and inspiring xxx

PS if you have been inspired by the wonderful makes above, click here to visit the Sewmotion shop for quilt, cushion and EPP kits, fabric pre-cuts and patterns.