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.

So many new projects!

Both Christmas and my next quilt show at Duxford seem to have crept up on me, which means I'm having a mad week trying to get stock made up and getting kits together for Christmas gift shoppers. After having such a great success with my Pincushion Kits, I decided I should make a new EPP cushion kit using one of my new blocks from my Block of the Month design, the overlapping circles. Now I've worked out how to make this ring lay flat, I'm loving the design and couldn't resist making a rainbow version with Alison Glass's Diving Board prints, and what else to back it onto but Robert Kaufman's Essex Linen...

I've also been trying to get ahead for next month's free Pre-Cut party pattern, and finally made a quilt from my gorgeous 1930s feedsack prints. This one uses my layer cake roll of twenty-one 10" squares. To get this quilt pattern for free in November, you can sign up to the Newsletter here, there will also be a subscriber-only discount off the kit, coming soon.

My third project this week is a new version of my Quick & Easy/Beginner's Quilt Kit, using Makower's gorgeous Into The Woods fabrics - these blues are so beautiful! Hopefully the sun will be shining tomorrow for some 'finished' pics for the kit, then this too will be available. These simple quilt kits make great gifts for someone wanting to learn to quilt as the square are all pre-cut, they can just get stuck in and start sewing! You can see the other versions I have for sale here.

I will be at the Autumn Quilt Festival in Duxford next week, this show is held at the Imperial War Museum at Duxford Airfield in amongst the full size aircraft hanging from the rafters - one of the most interesting quilt venues of the year! The show runs from Friday 27th to Sunday 29th October, 10am - 4.30pm (4pm on Sunday).

New Kits, Bundles and Secret Projects

I finally had a bright enough day to get photos of these two new Quick & Easy/Beginner's Quilts and now have the kits available in the shop. Each kit includes pre-cut squares, borders, binding and thread, plus full instructions and links to my free online tutorials, making them ideal for newbies who are maybe a little nervous about fabric selection or cutting. With these kits, they can just get stuck in and start sewing.

The first kit features Dashwood Studio's Confetti and Twist fabrics, while the second is made in these lush red and white fabrics from Red Rooster's Coonawarra Red collection.

New products also include these gorgeous fat quarter bundles and a charm pack in Michael Miller's Let's Play collection, aren't they cute!! I used these fabrics in my Novelty Nine Patch quilt kit, and they do make a lovely gift for a new arrival.

Meanwhile, in my sewing time I'm currently working on two 'secret' projects for magazine submissions, the first is developing my love of curved paper-piecing, with a little fussy cutting of these gorgeous Norrland fabrics from Dashwood. 

And the second is a larger version of my Wonky Squares block using Riley Blake's Gingham Girls fabrics, I'm really loving how these fabrics look together!

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

Show Preparations

It's all go here this week, with two weeks to go before the Stitching, Sewing and Hobbycraft Show in Harrogate, followed closely after by Quilts UK in Malvern (eek!) I'm sewing and cutting like mad!! As well as some gorgeous fat quarter bundles, strip sets and charm packs...

I'm been finishing up the instructions and packing for my Red Brick Tile quilt. I decided to wash it, it being red and everything... and with a couple of colour catchers, it came out fine.. thank goodness, you know that heart in your mouth feeling... thank the world for colour catchers!! I include a note at the end of all my kits recommending these babies, they really do work. This quilt is so big, it nearly filled our little garden! The kit will be available on the website after the shows in June. 

I've also been working on a couple new Quick & Easy / Beginner's Quilt Kits, one in that gorgeous Coonawarra Red collection and another is this ditsy Confetti range from Dashwood. The Harrogate show is my first one of these Hobbycraft shows, so I'm hoping it attracts new quilters as well as the more addicted, sorry experienced.

So if you're in the Harrogate or Malvern areas in May, why not visit to one of these wonderful quilt and craft shows, details as follows;

Stitching, Sewing & Hobbycraft Show
11th - 13th May, Harrogate Convention Centre 
10am - 4.30pm (5pm on Saturday)

Quilts UK
18th - 21st May, Three Counties Showground, Malvern
10am - 5pm (4.30pm Sunday)

If you're looking for more quilt fun and conversation, why not pop along to these links parties and say hi.
Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts
Midweek Makers at Quilt Fabrication
Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation.

Christmas Gift Sale & Folksy Gift Guide

A few weeks ago I remember promising a round-up of my favourite handmade gift ideas to be found in online marketplaces, and I seem to have got as far as Etsy… and then we moved house. I completed underestimated how much time this was going to take out of my month, and now I fear I’ve missed the Christmas shopping bubble. Hopefully there is still time for last minute purchases, and where better to look in the UK than Folksy.

For those of you who are new Folksy, this online marketplace is very similar to Etsy, but only sells hand crafted or designed work from UK designer-makers. This is a great opportunity to support British makers, and also handy for last-minute gifts! Folksy provides handy Gift Guides  which have been curated by some of the talented makers over the past year. These include ‘British Printmakers’, ‘Gifts for Makers’ ‘Eco Friendly Gifts’ and ‘Gifts for Music Lovers’ – there really is something for everyone! Here are just a few of my favourites...

Going clockwise from top left: Mouse Bookmark, Earth & Air Jewellery, £18; Sycamore Yarn Bowl, Bluebell Woodturning, £31; Thread Storage Wall Organiser, Laura ter Kulle, £34.99; Lampshade in Forest Green, Justine Ellis, £46; Wooden Heart Stud Earrings, Ivy Lace London, £6.50; Felt Coin Pouch, Song of the Seam, £6.

If you're still stuck for last minute gift ideas, why not check out my own sale in both the Sewmotion shop, and my Folksy shop - with up to 30% off selected gifts and cushions.

Folksy is also running a great campaign to celebrate everything handmade – use the hashtag #celebrate_handmade on social media to find some beautiful items. They also have a wonderful article on their blog by Tash Goswami who explains why buying and giving handmade is so much better - why it's more sustainable than mass production, how handmade is forever, not just for now, and how, by buying handmade, we are supporting local businesses and keeping craft skills alive.

I think the last point Tash makes about keeping craft skills alive, which also demands education in these skills, is something I feel very strongly about. I could go one for days about how wonderful, relaxing, therapeutic, and just so good for you, crafting is, whether you are sitting at your sewing machine all day sewing endless half-square triangles, or in front of a roaring fire with an EPP project on the go, the repetitive action of crafts like patchwork and quilting is what slow craft is all about. Being able to unplug, for even just an hour, and concentrate on one thing, is as beneficial for many as a good night’s sleep. This is why through Sewmotion, I aim to introduce as many people as I can to my wonderful craft, be it through my free online tutorials such as the Beginner’s Quilt series, or through one of my Quick and Easy Quilt Kits. These would also make great Christmas gifts!  

I hope this blog has helped you out with any last-minute gifts, before I go I just wanted to share this fantastic video. As you may know by now, I’m a great fan of star quilter Angela Walters, and I was so happy to discover she’s just started a new quilting channel on YouTube for Craftsy called the Midnight Quilter. In the first episode Angela makes this gorgeous Variable Star Quilt and shares some great tips along the way, at the same time raising a glass of red wine – she is my kinda girl!

This week I'm linking up with Let's Bee Social on Sew Fresh Quilts and Midweek Makers on Quilt Fabrication. If anyone knows of any UK linky parties out there, please let me know - otherwise, I'm thinking of starting my own in 2017...


 

Craft is good for the soul

Following on from last week’s post, I thought I would look deeper into why learning something new makes me feel so happy, and why it’s essential to make time in our busy lives to discover something we didn’t know before, or to try something way out of our comfort zone. And I’m not talking about bungee jumping or cave diving here, but something a lot more accessible to us all – craft.

Whether it’s knitting, crochet, dress-making or like me, ‘cutting up fabric to sew it back together again’, creative hobbies give you so much more than just a finished object.

Recent medical research has found that not only do creative activities such as crafts relieve stress, anxiety and even depression, but they can also improve happiness and a sense of wellbeing. The activity of sitting still for a couple of hours and concentrating on just one thing can do wonders for your mental state. Just being able to shut out life’s problems for a little while can bring a great sense of peace and mindfulness which let’s face it, we could all do with a little of these days.

I know the same can be said for doing the daily crossword or Sudoku puzzle, but there seems to be more to actually creating something - be it a handmade quilt, a knitted scarf or a crocheted egg cosy - working with colour and different textures, having to make creative decisions, or even mathematical ones – and then at the end, to have a finished item made by yourself, that sense of accomplishment when you can say proudly “I made that” – can surely only be a good thing, right?!

These kind of crafts that stretch your knowledge are also said to be great for maintaining your brain’s cognitive skills, after all, your brain is a muscle that needs to be used constantly to keep it in good condition. We have got to keep learning and pushing our boundaries, our comfort zones, after all, isn’t that is what life’s about? For living? What a waste it would be to just stop – no new experiences, no great accomplishments, no understanding of new ideas. Crafts can give you all of this, and so much more, I haven’t even touched on the community and sense of inclusion that these activities can evoke.

With so many online resources at our fingertips these days, it's so easy to have a taster of a new hobby before devling into a local class or workshop. YouTube is a great place to start – if you would like to learn more about quilting I strongly recommend the Missouri Star Quilt Company and the Fat Quarter Shop for some great free tutorials.

And of course, you could always start with my Quick & Easy/Beginner’s Quilt tutorial and pre-cut Kits. For more about the basics of quilting, from the equipment you need, to which fabric and waddings to use, check out my free tutorials.

And if you're already quilting/knitting/crocheting, here's to a long, creative and very happy life... but don't forget, there's always something new to learn just around the corner.

This week I'm linking up with these great parties:

Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts

Midweek Makers at Quilt Fabrication

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

 

 

No Quarter-Inch Foot? No Worries!

To me, one of the greatest things about being a quilt and kit designer is encouraging other people to take up this wonderful craft that I love so much, and I was so happy to inspire a lovely Dutch lady who bought one of my Quick & Easy Beginner’s Quilt Kits at last weekend’s craft fair.

After a long conversation about our love of the Netherlands, and their love of the UK, I managed to ease her worries about making her first quilt - even the fact that the ‘inch’ (rather than metric) was about to take over her life, in particular the scant ¼” seam allowance. I wrote a blog post about checking the accuracy of your seam allowance last year, but thinking about it again, I wanted to add that you don’t actually need a specialist ¼” presser foot, which many machines don’t include, but that you can use your normal straight stitch foot with a little adjustment of the needle. So I have since added to that tutorial which you can read in full here.

Back at Sewmotion HQ…

As I mentioned in my previous blog, we have a new Vintage Rose Strip Set – a 20pc pre-cut made up of Riley Blake’s Backyard Roses with a couple of co-ordinating Kona Solids.

To celebrate we’re hosting a Giveaway!!! If you haven’t entered yet, or want to tell a friend about this great chance to win a set of these new Vintage Rose pre-cuts – just think of that beautiful quilt you could make – click here to go to my last blog and enter there. The draw will be made on Wednesday 27^th July.

Upcoming Events

This Sunday (24th July) Sewmotion will be at the Teesmade Festival at Preston Park Museum & Grounds in Stockton-on-Tees. This great family event will be exploring the rich history of heritage skills in the area, with live demonstrations of leather working, willow weaving, pottery, foraging and quilting.  
You can then discover the modern-day crafts emerging from Teesside in the Music Room where local makers will be selling their unique handmade items.

 

Going Dutch Again, & Two New Quilt Kits

When Justin plans our holidays, he likes to take inspiration from a favourite film, “Planes, Trains & Automobiles” – though this time it was a ship instead of a plane… so our week in the Netherlands started with a pleasantly smooth overnight ferry from Hull to Rotterdam. The fun really started the next morning when we realised that by updating the SatNav the night before, we’d somehow deleted the European maps… oops!

So, a little longer and a little more stressed than planned, we finally arrived at Duinrell Campsite to our cabin for the next few days. Apparently our accommodation had only been finished a few days ago, so we were the first to use it! This one had three bedrooms, a fitted kitchen and bathroom (with constant hot water) and a beautiful covered deck. Alas, the day we arrived was the only time we saw the sun - we managed a couple of wet bike rides to the sea, and a trip into Den Haag, but the highlight of the trip was the beautiful town of Wassenaar… and the food!

With its elegant architecture, cute cobbled lanes, and pretty brick houses, this town couldn’t be more Dutch! And the cherry on top has to be the impressive number of restaurants - all within walking distance - including a Greek (amazing pork), Italian (best king prawns ever), an American Diner (the flank steak was perfect), a traditional Dutch (so happy to catch the asparagus season) and to finish our night off in style, a gorgeous ice-cream parlour! So yeah, the weather might have let us down, but man did we eat well!!

Still, I shouldn’t complain about the weather too much, I did have some time to make a start on my Perpetual Spring EPP project, one of my May is for Makers purchases.

I’m really enjoying the piecing, and curved seams aren’t as daunting as I first thought! Flossie Teacakes’ instructions are easy to follow, and once you get into the flow, you’ve made two flowers before you know it! By the way, if you are an EPP fan like me, you have got to check out Florence's latest design, The Peony - absolutely beautiful!

Meanwhile, at Sewmotion HQ

As promised, I have finally been able to take some pics of our two new kits and get them uploaded into the shop. The first is another Quick & Easy Beginner’s Quilt Kit, this one features Riley Blakes’ Keep On Groovin’ collection, plus a couple of matching Kona Solids.

These kits are great for someone new to quilting  - the co-ordinating squares are all pre-cut, so rather than worrying about choosing fabrics and the cutting, you can get right on with the sewing! If you need a little extra help you can follow my comprehensive free tutorial online as you go. 

Our second quilt kit is this cute Baby Quilt featuring Riley Blake’s Teddy Bear’s Picnic range, with an added white-on-white print and some blue Kona for the binding.

This kit is slightly more advanced in that you have to cut the white fabric yourself, and you also use a couple of quilting techniques – fussy cutting and creating a four-patch from charm squares. This quilt is also sewn on-point, which may be another new technique to some.

Both of these kits are obviously also great for more experienced quilters looking for a new project, the Quick & Easy kit would make a great weekend make, and the cot quilt would make a beautiful gift for a new arrival, be it a boy or a girl.

As an introductory offer, we are offering our Newsletter subscribers the chance to purchase the Teddy Bears’ Picnic Cot Quilt kit for £30 (normal price £35.00) To sign-up to our monthly Newsletter and take advantage of this limited offer, please click below.

Upcoming events

We will be at the Great British Food Festival on 11^th and 12^th June (10am-5pm). You will find us in the Arts & Crafts marquee where we’ll be selling our handmade gifts including purses, glasses cases, make-up pouches and novelty cushions, as well as our collection of pre-cut quilt and cushions kits. If you’re in the area why not pop along for a day of fine food, live music and a special shopping treat.

If you're looking for more quilt-inspired fun, visit these great Linky Parties;

Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts

Sew Cute Tuesday at Blossom Heart Quilts

Finishes & More May Purchases

I don’t know about you, but when I have a holiday on the horizon, I either go into a complete panic and try and get everything done that I can before leaving my workroom for a week, thus completely stressing myself out. Or I start to wind down way too early, using my week off as an excuse for not getting things done.

Well, this week, thankfully I've gone somewhere in the middle – not only have I finished two quilts, but also indulged in a little planning for some me-sewing away from the computer screen.

My first finish is this cute baby quilt using Riley Blake’s Teddy Bear’s Picnic collection, together with some matching Konas and a white-on-white print.

Once I’ve finished writing up the pattern and had it checked by my trusty ‘testers’ – you know who you are – it’ll be available as a pre-cut kit.

Having realised that my Quick & Easy/Beginner’s Quilt Kits were quite girly, I decided to put together a more masculine version, though I do admit I quite
like it myself! 

This one features another Riley Blake design, Keep On Groovin’, with navy and orange Kona solids. Again, this will be added to my Kit collection once I’ve got back from my holiday.

I have to say, I’m totally loving this May is for Makers movement, it has really made me sit down to look at other designers’ patterns with the view of making something myself – I haven’t done this for years! It’s also given me the great excuse to make a couple more purchases!

First up is this funky Runaround Bag from Anna at Noodlehead, who I have admired for years on blogs and Instgram. Anyone who knows me knows I’m not really a ‘handbag’ sort of girl, but would much rather a big bag I can throw everything into - including the odd bit of handsewing - so this will be ideal, I just need to find the right fabric now…

And talking of handsewing, well English paper piecing to be exact, my third purchase this month is this gorgeous EPP design, Perpetual Spring from Flossie Teacakes. 

Florence is a self-confessed EPP addict, and I would say one of the pioneers of fussy-cut piecing. For those new to this wonderful craft, Florence has a great Beginner’s guide, plus a fantastic tutorial on how to fussy-cut your different shapes on her website. I have been catching curved paper-piecing all over Instagram during the last year, and felt I must have a go. I do love the yellows Florence has used, though looking at my stash of solids, I may go for a range of pinks with maybe a light grey… guess what I’ll be taking away with me next week!

So as you may have gathered by now, I will be on annual leave next week, enjoying more delights of the Netherlands – our second home! This means I will not be processing orders through my Sewmotion, Folksy or Etsy shops until Tuesday 31^st May (though my PDF pattern downloads will still be available through Etsy). Have a great week lovely people!

Why not pop over to these Linky Parties for more quilty fun and inspiration...

Let's Bee Social over at Sew Fresh Quilts

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation