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Thursday 20 December 2018

Pre-cuts for the Boys & Merry Christmas!

I have recently taken delivery of two new fabulous collections that I ordered with the boys in mind. I know I have many fabrics and kits which are far too floral and pretty for the men in our lives, so these new sets of pre-cuts are for them!



The first is the Quantum Bygg collection from Andover Fabrics, designed by Giuseppe Ribaudo, also known as Giucy Giuce in the social media world. These richly coloured fabrics feature geometric prints inspired by quantum physics diagrams, with no flowers in sight! The 40pc strip set (aka jelly roll) includes two strips each of twenty designs, while the 42pc charm pack has two 5" squares in each of 19 designs and four squares in another



This second new collection is from the company Dear Stella and features the cutest seagulls dressed in wooly jumpers and hats, ditsy fish and crabs, mermaids and lighthouses and even the odd shark!

In bright and modern blues and orange, this is another great collection for quilts for the often neglected men in the family - or what about a quilt for that seaside getaway or for a day at the beach? The 42pc Charm pack contains six 5" squares in seven different designs, while the fat quarter bundle is made up of seven fat quarters - more than enough to make a baby or even lap quilt - add a blender and you could make a single or even double bed quilt.

Click here to see my whole Pre-Cut Collection



I had a lovely email from a regular customer this month who sent me pics of her latest creation. Gillian bought one of the Connewarra Red Strip sets along with the last fat quarter bundle and took inspiration from my Fox in the Nine Patch free pattern to make this glorious quilt. She used the jelly roll for the front - isn't that pieced border wonderful! And then used the fat quarters for a great pieced backing, this really is two quilts in one! Thank you so much for sharing your quilt Gillian, I look forward to seeing your next one ;)



Meanwhile, I've actually found some time to sew this week - here is a new Hexy cushion kit in progress, and I also had this commissioned quilt back from the longarmers, North Star Quilting, who as ever did a wonderful job. 


I'm taking a break over the festive period and looking forward to getting down to my mum's and helping her to enjoy my husband's amazing cooking as well as the odd bottle of red. So for now, I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Peaceful and Creative New Year! 
Louisa x

Linking up with Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday

Thursday 6 December 2018

Christmas EPP Bunting and a Christmas Market

It's December!!! Which means we're finally allowed to talk Christmas! I know I started a while ago with my Table Runner and Wall Hanging Kits, so I just had to end this year's Pre-Cut Party with some festive bunting! As you may know already, or for those new to Sewmotion, I send out a free pattern every month to my Newsletter subscribers, before it goes on general sale, sometimes as a pattern only, but often as a kit. 


For this month's pattern I've returned to some EPP to create these adorable stars to make into Christmas bunting to adorn your wall. Or you could add a little loop to each one and make them into Christmas tree decorations, maybe don't go festive at all and make them in baby fabrics to hang in a nursery, the choice is entirely yours! The pattern includes full instructions and templates to cut out - subscribe here to get this free PDF pattern straight to your inbox. 


If you would like a set of these Jewel shapes as pre-cut templates, I have just listing a pack of 100 in the Sewmotion shop - you can see the whole collection of papers, including the Crescent and Wreath shapes, here.

It's a very busy time of year for us small businesses, and a highlight of this month is a lovely Christmas Market - I will be at this year's Bowes Museum Christmas Market at Barnard Castle in County Durham.


This ever-popular event takes place in the Museum's grounds, with entrance to the Museum and traditional fairground rides included in the £5.00 entry (£2.00 children).

Friday 14th December  12noon - 7pm
Saturday 15th December 10am - 5pm
Sunday 16 December 10am - 4pm

Visitors can look forward to a wide range of fabulous locally sourced foodstuffs and crafts from some of the finest suppliers in the area, with around 80 hand-picked vendors offering superb ideas and products for those extra special presents or last minute treats. Click here to find out more.


Wishing you all a creative week, linking up with Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday


Thursday 29 November 2018

New EPP Cushion Kits & Matilda's Own Wadding

It's so nice to be back to normal after the madness of Sale week, I really need to start making some new stock! So I've started with these two new EPP cushion kits - a few of my customers often buy two identical kits as they want a matching set for their sofa, then I thought, well they don't need to be identical, just in matching fabrics, so these new releases are both in Makower's gorgeous Bloom fabrics.


The first is a variation on my Wreath design and uses curved English paper-piecing to make this beautiful ring. You then appliqué it onto your background square, add borders and then hand quilt big-stitch style. The second cushion is another take on my Diamond Star cushion design, which again looks very striking on that dark grey background. Both kits include all the fabric, pre-cut papers, embroidery thread and full instructions, you just need a square of wadding and backing. You can see my full collection of cushion kits here.


I've had quite a few new fabrics arrive lately which I'm just desperate to start working with, I've added some new fat quarter bundles to the shop including Makower's Woodland and Dashwood Studios' Nesting Birds, but I'm keeping Quantum to myself for a little while longer... I have so many plans for this beautiful range, I just love the masculinity of it and can see some great 'man' quilt kits on the horizon!

I have recently added a couple of new items to the shop, including this luscious wadding I came across a few months ago. Matilda's Own 80/20 wadding is sooo soft, easy to quilt, both machine and hand, and comes in at 94" wide, a little wider than your normal wadding, and as we all know, that 4" can make all the difference! Click here to find out more.


My second new stock item is something I now use religiously in all my EPP work - Mary Ellen's Best Press. Once I have pieced all my shapes, and BEFORE taking the papers out, I spray my work with this gentle fabric starch and press. Not only does this flatten out the odd lump, but it also helps maintain those sharp folded edges to help with the needle-turn appliqué. Find out more here.


If you're an avid reader of the wonderful Love Patchwork & Quilting mag, you'll find my lovely set of cushions in the latest issue - this curved EPP project uses larger shapes making them a great introduction to this technique, and who could resist those gorgeous Dovestone fabrics from Dashwood! This is a fantastic bumper issue with projects from Kate Webber, Yvonne Fuchs, Karen Lewis and Lynne Goldsworthy - what amazing company I'm keeping!

Wishing you all an amazing creative week.

Linking up with Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday

Thursday 15 November 2018

New Beginner's Quilt Kits & a Pop-Up Shop

Over the years my Beginner's / Quick & Easy Quilt kits have been instrumental in helping many of my lovely customers embark on their quilting adventure. As you may know this is how Sewmotion came into being, while working in a fabric shop who didn't run classes, someone would come in near enough every day wanting to learn how to quilt. So I designed and wrote this Beginner's Quilt tutorial to help them along, and of course, once I started Sewmotion, it just had to be the first kit I released!

These kits are ideal for those who maybe haven't bought the rotary cutter, ruler and mat as yet, and just want to have a go, for those who aren't too confident in their cutting, or even for those looking for a quick project.



Each kit comes with all 36 pre-cut squares, borders, binding and thread and full instructions, which also include links to my very thorough online tutorials for even more help. Each kit is £30 and would make a great Christmas gift for someone wanting take up this wonderful craft, you can see my whole collection of quilt kits here.

TeesCreatives workshops start this weekend, Laura will be teaching the Tilly and the Buttons Cleo dress on Saturday, Jen will be teaching the Linden Sweatshirt on Sunday, while I will be holding a Sewmotion pop-up shop in Creative Room 2. So if you're in need of beautiful fabric, sewing inspiration or just on the hunt for sewing gifts for special friends, why not pop along? I'll be there this Saturday 10-4pm.


For a full list of TeesCreatives workshops, including my Diamond Star Cushion and Flower Hoop Art classes next week, click here. We are also currently meeting up with lots more tutors who want to work with us in the New Year, so it would be a good idea to sign up to TC's Newsletter to be kept up to date with new classes and workshops!

Wishing you all a happy and creative week!
Linking up with Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday.

Friday 2 November 2018

Friendship Star Wall Hanging

Gosh, what another busy week! I had a good time at last weekend's quilt show at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford, always a fascinating venue, if a little cold to the bones... someone said the aircraft in the other half of the hangar has to be kept at a certain temperate.. they're not kidding! 


Anyway, it was lovely to meet existing as well as new subscribers to my Newsletter, all of which have just received this month's free Pre-cut Party pattern... my Friendship Star Wall Hanging.


I recently rediscovered this lovely block which is made using a pretty clever piecing technique that uses very little fabric and is really quick. To get your own free PDF pattern, you can subscribe to the Newsletter here, not only will you get a free monthly pattern, but I also send out exclusive subscriber-only offers on my kits and pre-cuts, what's not to love! I made my version into a Christmas hanging using Makower's bright and funky Joyeux fabrics, which is available as a kit - click here to find out more.


I've also had a happy dance this week when I saw my Modern Stars baby quilt had made it to the front cover of the latest issue of Love Patchwork & Quilting - another great curved EPP project to get stuck into this winter.

Linking up with Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday

Thursday 18 October 2018

New and Updated Digital Patterns

I seem to have spent the last 48 hours glued to the screen, well I have slept a little... I have been neglecting my website for so long that I decided this was the week to get stuff done. Having been told that my provider has updated all their systems and that I'm on the old one, it appears that I will now have to update every page.... ahhh!! Don't you just love ever evolving technology! 

Anyway, I thought this was a great opportunity to update my collection of digital patterns, many of which have been Pre-Cut Party patterns offered to my Newsletter Subscribers for free for a month before going on general sale - you can subscribe now and join the party!


As you can see on the Digital Patterns page, each pattern has a button which takes you through to the relevant Payhip page, from here you can read more about what each pattern includes, fabric requirements and skill level. Once you have purchased a pattern, you will receive them via email together with any templates.


Among this collection of 23 patterns is last month's Pre-Cut Party pattern for my Christmas Wreath Tablemats, which don't have to be festive at all! I was so happy to see this version on Instagram made by Katy. Instead of the mats, she used the pieced design to make this beautiful bag, isn't it stunning! It still amazes me how patterns can look so completely different depending on the fabrics used. Thank you so much for sharing Katy.

Linking up with Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday

Thursday 11 October 2018

New Pre-Cut Paper Packs and a New Road Trip Cushion Kit

As my collection of curved EPP kits grows, as does my range of paper shapes, all designed by myself and cut on my trusty Brother Scan N Cut. Not only does it allow me to cut any shape I wish, but I can also add drawn guidelines to the shapes before they are cut - genius!

The kits are proving quite popular, especially with my Newsletter subscribers - but once you have a kit and are completely addicted, you may want to make more versions, so I thought I should start supplying the papers on their own. 

Designed to work in conjunction with a pattern or previously purchased kit, these papers don't include the instructions for construction. However, you can always watch my free Curved EPP Cushion YouTube tutorial for a comprenhsive guide to curved EPP - the templates for which are included in the new collection. 



As well as two size of Hexies and a 60deg Diamond, there is the Crescent shape used in my Overlapping Circles cushion, a small Dresden Plate, and the Flower temps mentioned above. This week I have also added the papers used to make my Christmas Wreath table mats.

Talking of curved EPP, I couldn't resist making a new Overlapping Circles Cushion kit from Alison Glass's new Road Trip fabrics - these abstract prints in luscious jewel colours look amazing backed onto Robert Kaufman's Essex Yarn Dyed Metallic linen - it's so glittery!! This kit comes with all the fabrics for the front, pre-cut papers and full instructions.



Until next week, happy sewing everyone!

Linking up with Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday

Thursday 4 October 2018

TeesCreatives Open Day


I'm so proud to have been involved in the setting up of Middlesbrough's newest creative space, TeesCreatives. The brainchild of Jen - a friend as addicted to dressmaking as I am to quilting, her plan was to offer a space where fellow sewists can come and learn, develop their skills and be sewcial with like-minded makers. Jen is actually a hairdresser by trade and owns a beautiful Victorian terrace building down Middlesbrough's main road. While her salon is on the bottom floor, she once rented the rest of the building to students. However, as her sewing addiction took hold, the dream of a sewing space started to grow, and when she mentioned it to me and a fellow dressmaker and retailer, Laura who owns Cotton Reel Studio, we jumped at the chance to get involved.

The first course of action was to de-student the rooms which involved a lot of work on Jen and her lovely husband's part, then there was painting, and more painting.. ahhh! Finally with a couple days to go before the Open Day, everything was coming together. Laura and I did some last minute cleaning while Jen took the steamer to that beautiful tiled floor, as you can see, even Henry the hoover had had enough!




With Cotton Reel Studio's and Sewmotion's pop-up shops all set up and the machines all raring to go, we had a well-deserved day off before the big day. Jen actually went to a SewUpNorth get together where she met some Instagrams sewing mates, and even bought a few of them back! Did I mention, the building also has a couple of AirBnB rooms on the top floor for visitors to book Sewing Weekenders and for visiting tutors to stay over? So these lovely girls were our guinea pigs, and by the sounds of it they had a great time!


The Open Day was so much fun, we had our 'guinea pigs' working on some projects at the machines, fizz and cake were handed out to the many visitors and there was a lot of excitement about our class and workshop plans - a great day was had by all. Now the real work begins, we're hoping to start running classes and workshops in late November, with the website being launched soon. You can follow us on Facebook and on Instagram to be kept up to date, and if you're from the Teesside area, we would love to hear which  classes you would like to see run, is there a creative skill you have always wanted to learn? We are also inviting tutors to get in touch and work with us in this great creative space.

So thank you to both these gorgeous ladies, and here's to an exciting and creative future!



Linking up with Let's Bee Sewcial, Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday

Thursday 20 September 2018

Blogger's Quilt Festival

It's that time of year again when the lovely Amy Ellis of Amy's Creative Side hosts this wonderful quilt party where we can share and be inspired by fellow quilters around the world. Click here to find out more and to see all the truly stunning quilts.



My entry has to be my Rainbow Rings I entered into the Festival of Quilts earlier this year.



Having totally fallen for curved English paper-piecing in a big way, I thought I should really create a show quilt using this technique and decided to raid my stash and make a scrappy rainbow design. Having planned out the shapes on the computer and worked out how many of each colour I needed, I dragged out my many, many boxes of scraps and got pulling - this is how the quilt started...



I then worked on the rings making sure the colours were in sink as they went round.



Then I had a problem - what to back it onto? Originally I had planned to go with the cream as I had used grey in a previous project. But as much as I looked at each version, the dark grey kept calling to me, the colours seemed to really zing against such a dark background - so dark grey it was.



I wanted to make this a totally hand sewing project so decided to big-stitch hand quilt the entire thing... during the hottest summer the UK has known for years! Haha! I echo quilted within each of the EPP shapes and then around the rings, and then added some replica motifs in the negative spaces which I left unquilted.



I was very chuffed to see the quilt on display at Festival and had some really wonderful comments from the judges and visitors, thank you!



I can't wait to see all the other wonderful quilts on display, though it may take me a while, please be patient with me!

Linking up with Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday.

Thursday 13 September 2018

Stitch Gathering Sponsor & the latest CMM BOM

One of my best memories from last month's Festival of Quilts was finally meeting Jo Avery in the flesh - we've been trying and missing each other since Quilt Con in 2015! Jo is a wonderful modern quilter, designer, owner of My Bear Paw in Edinburgh and a prolific contributor to many quilting mags. Jo also organises and runs the modern quilting retreat, Stitch Gathering. Now in it's 6th year, this fantastic weekend is dedicated to all things modern and includes workshops on improv block building, lino printing your own fabrics and even some gorgeous embroidery that I know is close to Jo's heart. Tutors include Jo herself alongside well known names such as Karen Lewis and Mandy Munroe.


While talking to Jo at Festival she asked if I would like to be a sponsor for this great event, and I jumped at the chance. So those of you who are lucky enough to be going to this amazing retreat weekend, look out for a little Sewmotion EPP goodness :)


Talking of EPP goodness, the latest instalments of my Curve Motion Medallion block-of-the-month come out this week. I have customers at all different stages of this program having joined at different times, but above is a pic of Block 9, the Pink and Purple Flower. You can join in this 16-month EPP adventure at any time, and what's more I can now supply the pre-cut papers you need for each month, so no more cutting out! Click here to find out more.


A customer sent me her version of my EPP Hoop Art this week, I love those puffins so much, and the fussy-cutting is just perfect! Thanks very much for sharing Wendy. You can now purchase this pattern in paper form which comes with the pre-cut papers, or as a PDF for instant download.

Wishing you all an inspired week of creativity.

Linking up with Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday

Thursday 6 September 2018

This month's free pattern and gorgeous new pre-cuts

We've had a little taster of autumn up here in the Northeast this last week, but the sun's shining again, so all's good. This time of year always reminds me of new beginnings and learning new things. What about you? Do you feel the urge to learn something new? A new technique maybe?? For my latest free Pre-cut Party pattern to my Newsletter subscribers, I have returned to my favourite curved English paper-piecing technique to make up these beautiful festive table mats. I've had the idea of an EPP wreath running around my head for a while now, and when I showed this variation on IG, a friend suggested they would be great as table mats, so here we are!



The wreath is hand pieced and then appliquéd onto the background, a feature panel for your cutlery and borders are then added to complete these beautiful mats, which would go nicely with my Table Runner kit featured last month. If you would like your own free copy of this pattern, subscribe to the Newsletter here.



I also have these mats available as a kit - with enough fabric to make a pair of mats, each kit also comes with the pre-cut papers for the EPP, binding, backing and full instructions, you just need wadding. You can find out more about this kit here.



I have also just taken delivery of these glorious fabrics from Alison Glass's latest collection, Road Trip - aren't they beautiful!! I have a 12pc fat quarter bundle (£36) and a 48pc charm pack (£12), both of which would make amazing quilts!



Wishing everyone a happy sewing week - linking up with Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday

Tuesday 4 September 2018

2018 Online Quilters Meet & Greet

Benita Skinner of Victoriana Quilt Designs is running the 2018 Online Quilters Meet & Greet during the month of September, and asked if I would like to join in. Of course I said yes, I love any opportunity to meet fellow quilt addicts from around the world!



Throughout September you can visit Benita's page where you will find links to lots of wonderful quilt bloggers, some you may already know, others will be completely new - what a great chance to make new friends and be inspired!! Benita is also running an amazing competition open to all who take part - you can learn more and enter by clicking below.



So let me introduce myself, I am Louisa Goult, I live in Middlesbrough in the Northeast of England, though I am originally from London, and I run my own quilt business, Sewmotion. I have always been fascinated by colour and geometry, particularly symmetry in design, and what better way to express this than through designing quilts! I started quilting in my teens, then had a break in my 20s where work/career took over. Then when I and my husband were both made redundant, we decided to embark on a round-the-world trip which included the US, New Zealand and Australia. It was on a rainy day in Australia, hunkered down in our campervan where my love of quilting was reignited thanks to some wonderful Aussie quilting mags.



When we eventually got back from our travels, I had a couple of jobs in craft retail to learn the ropes as it were, then in 2014 I decided to take the plunge and set up on my own (eek!) Having worked in a quilt shop for four years, I knew how the craft was growing in popularity, I had so many people come in looking for classes where they could learn this great skill, and this is where the idea for my first quilt kit, the Beginner's Quilt kit came from. I also provide free tutorials on the website, including how to make your first quilt which can work in conjunction with the kit if people prefer to follow photographic instruction.



From that first kit, I now offer around 50 kits which include quilts, cushions, runners, purses and hoop art projects, as well as a growing collection of patterns. I have also developed a curved English paper-piecing technique, which seems to be taking over my life at the moment. This method is used in my block of the month quilt, Curve Motion Medallion, which is also a quilt-as-you-go project. You can learn more about this 16-months of hand sewing joy here. I have also made my first YouTube film, a four part tutorial on how to make my EPP Flower Cushion, hopefully there will be more of these in the future!

Having just exhibited at the Festival of Quilts in the UK, I also entered a quilt for the first time, another curved EPP creation, using scraps from my stash. I then big-stitched quilted around the rings in the grey background space.



I also send out a Sewmotion Newsletter, which includes a free pattern every month based on my love of quilting pre-cuts, though it does seem to be whatever inspires me at the time! You can learn more about that here.

Well, I think that more or less covers me and Sewmotion. Working on my own from home everyday, I love meeting fellow quilters online and sharing experiences and ideas, thank you so much Benita for running this great event, hopefully this will be the first of many! Don't forget to enter the competition - the more blogs you visit the greater the chance of winning those amazing goodies!

Thursday 23 August 2018

New Printed Patterns Now Available

In the run up to the Festival fo Quilts earlier this month, I decided it was about time I had some more of my patterns printed up and available for sale in paper form. I'm glad I did, they went down very well at the show, especially the EPP patterns which include all the pre-cut papers you need for the project. You can see some of the collection below, and click here to visit the shop.


A lovely friend from my quilt group posted a pic of her latest creation on Instagram this week, and I was over the moon to see that she had used this month's free Pre-Cut Party pattern - the Rail Fence Quilt - isn't it beautiful! If you would like your own copy, plus a free pattern every month, sign up here to the Newsletter.



Meanwhile, when not preparing for the Great Northern Quilt Show next week in Harrogate, I've been playing round with my Christmas Wreath idea, I posted the photo on the left on IG and Facebook (forgive the lap shot, I was sewing in the car :)) intending it to be a new hoop art kit in the style of a wreath, only for suggestions to come flying in for other uses, such as table mats to go with the table runner, a table centre or even a tree skirt! I do love a good group brainstorm and love all these ideas! 



I am veering towards the placemat idea, so I went back to the wreath and tilted the shapes to resemble the branches of holly and fir... my next challenge is to see if I can sew the inner ring on top of the outer one, another idea that has been rolling around my head for a while - anyway, watch this space, whether I get these kits ready for next week's show is another matter :)

As I mentioned above, I will be at the Harrogate Quilt Show next week, you can find out more about this fantastic 3-day event here. So I will be back in a fortnight, until then, happy sewing everyone.

Linking up with Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday.