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.

Back on John Scott's Sewing World

It's been such a busy month, yet most of my sewing has been secret so I haven't been able to share much. A couple of projects are my new Diamond Star and Hexy EPP Cushion Kits which I demoed on John Scott's return show after lockdown. We were all happy to be back in the studio, but it felt very weird not being able to hug anyone - it is lovely to realise how much hugging is done in the sewing world though. 

Anyway, we managed ok, if you missed the show you can watch the show on YouTube here - I'm on in the second hour where I show how to hand piece the diamonds and hexagon shapes together using two EPP techniques. The Cushion Kits are also still available to purchase on the Crafter's Companion website here and include all the Alison Glass Sun Prints fabrics you need for the front, plus the grey background fat quarter, pre-cut paper pieces and full instructions.

I have also been keeping my Newsletter subscribers busy with my free lockdown mystery quilt, Hope in the Stars. You can see some of the latest blocks below, aren't they beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing (clockwise from top left) Bev, Carol, Helen T, Ruth, Helen L, Andrea, Elaine, Jayne and Gracie.

If you would like to learn more about this hand sewing block-of-the-fortnight quilt, free to my Newsletter subscribers, sign up now by clicking here for the latest block, the Le Moyne Star, plus links to all past blocks.

As we are now in July, although it feels more like October here, I think we're now allowed to mention the C word, us makers have permission to start Christmas projects early don't you think!? I have a long list of projects and kits to get on with, including a new Christmas Wreath Table Mat kit, to be featured and demoed on my next appearance on John Scott's Sewing World on 14th July. Kit production is in full swing, which included cutting 600 2.5" fabric strips, ahhh!! 

So, I best get back to it, I really hope you are all keeping well, managing to stay safe and sane during the madness, hopefully through sewing, and hope that we can soon look forward to better days. Best wishes to you all xx

Linking up with Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday

Appliqué points tutorial

How are we all doing? I do hope you're all keeping well and finding some much needed calm and sanity in your sewing. When I've not been processing orders, I've been working on some new kits to help inspire my customers, many of who are going through their stash and UFOs very quickly indeed! I also have many new customers who are using this down time to finally get round to learning how to quilt, which is amazing!! My Beginner's Quilt Kits are ideal places to start. I now just have to get on with some new kits to help them develop theirs skills even further... hahah!

Many customers are also finding solace in my EPP cushion kits, not only are they small do-able projects, but as I said in my last post, hand sewing really does help centre the mind and shut out the world for a little while, something we all need at the moment.

Once the EPP is complete on my Cushion and EPP kits, you then have to appliqué the panel onto background fabric, and I have often been asked how to deal with the 'dog ears' and how to get nice sharp points. I have now included this in my kit instructions, but I thought I would also share a little tutorial here.

Once you have centred and pinned or basted your panel onto your background fabric, you will use a tiny slip stitch to sew it down. Knot the end of the thread and bring your needle up from behind the background fabric. Pick up a couple of strands of fabric from the very edge of your pieced panel, then insert your needle directly downwards back into the background fabric. Travel a tiny way along behind the background fabric and bring the needle up again to pick up the edge of the pieced unit again, and as before go straight downwards into the background. The smaller the stitches the more invisible they will be.

When you get to a point, you will have a flap of fabric in the way - these are called 'dog ears' and must be kept in tact - don't be tempted to snip them off, though if they are too large, you can trim them slightly. Fold the 'dog ear' to the left and out of the way and stitch up the folded point. 

Add a couple of stitches to strengthen the point, then tuck the dog ear underneath the panel and continue to sew down the next side. As you can see below, this gives you a nice sharp point to your shape.

Talking of EPP cushions, I have just released a pair of new kits in Riley Blake's Heart & Soul prints - a Diamond Star and a Hexy, which would make a lovely matching pair on a sofa. Each kit includes all the fabric for the front, pre-cut paper templates, embroidery thread and full instructions. Click here to find out more.

I know many of us have been putting our sewing skills to good use and making much needed PPE supplies for our wonderful workers on the frontline of this terrible pandemic. From scrubs to masks, headbands to scrub bags, I have seen some wonderful fabrics being brought out of the stash for this amazing cause. I myself have been making scrub and shoe bags which will be going to my local hospital James Cook in Middlesbrough. 

I really want to crochet some mask extenders too, it's been so long since I crocheted!  I have also just heard from a friend that she has the filter fabric needed for face masks available on her online shop Sewing Sanctuary, so maybe that's the next project... 

Wishing you all good health, and hours of sewing happiness and calm. xx

Linking up with Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday 

Finding Calm

Wow, how the world has changed since my last blog post! From excitement for the year ahead with new shows and projects to look forward to, to a feeling of loss, fear and confusion that, to be honest, I'm struggling to get my head around. How can this have happened so damn fast!? 

As a mainly online business, working from home or alone at my unit isn't really any different for me, but it breaks my heart to hear about other business owners fearing for their survival. Us sole trader entrepreneurs have taken that leap to follow our dreams and have worked so hard to make it work - to see it all come to an end through no fault of our own, is just killing me. Many of us don't have back up funds in the bank, let alone any profit as it is all ploughed back into the growth of the business.

Anyway, enough with the worry and stress I tell myself, there's nothing I can do about it other than keeping going as best as I can, support other businesses where I can, and to help my customers in the best possible way. I am very fortunate to be in an industry that can offer amazing help to people at this unsettling time, as we all know sewing and craft can bring great calm and relief in times of stress, and we have never needed it more. 

It has been said that us quilters have been preparing for this our entire crafting lives and this is the perfect time to hit the stash, so if you are looking for inspiration, I have a number of free patterns on the website, including the All Squared Up quilt, and my Curved EPP Flower Cushion for those lovers of hand sewing. Click here to see the collection.

So far I have found hand sewing to be my saviour, together with an engrossing audible book really helps to switch off the world for a while and just concentrate on one thing. Which is why I have a new EPP Diamond Cushion kit out, this one features lovely soft blues and greys from Makower's Bloom collection. The kit includes all the fabric you need for the front, pre-cut papers and full instructions. I am also offering 15% off all EPP Cushion kits to my Newsletter subscribers, so if you need a project you can lose yourself in, why not sign up now and treat yourself to some sewing sanity. Once you have subscribed and received the verification email, the discount code will be in the final Welcome email.

Linking up with Midweek Makers, Needle & Thread Thursday and Can I Get a Whoop Whoop?

I really wish you all the best of health, stay inside as much as possible and look after each other. xx

New Kits and my Next Big Show

Where has this month gone, where has this year gone come to that? I can't believe it's nearly Christmas again! It's been all go at Sewmotion HQ lately where I have taken delivery of the beautiful new collection of quilting cottons from Liberty of London, Summer House. I have the Purple and the Pink colourways, and started off with a making up a couple of strip sets (aka jelly rolls), aren't they pretty! You can see my whole collection of quilting fabric pre-cuts here.

I then decided to make up a new Diamond Star Cushion using a couple of these fabrics, and I especially love how the fussy-cut centre star has come out. I do love this cushion design, and with enough fabric to make one of three different layouts, this kit really does make a lovely hand sewing project. You can find out more about my cushion kits here.

My latest project in these fabrics is my All Squared Up quilt kit - this design has always been a firm favourite, and was originally designed as the next step in skill level after my Beginner's Quilt kits. However, it has proved popular with both beginners and the more experienced quilter as it shows off the fabrics so well, and these Summer House prints are no exception! 

I have hand-cut all the 2.5" strips in both the Liberty prints and the grey background, as well as the borders and binding, though you will still have some cutting to do to piece the blocks. The kit also comes with thread and full instructions. I have added my favourite pieced backing to this quilt - I do love a pieced backing, not only can you use the fabrics used on the front, but you also get two quilts in one! This backing set is also available on the website.

I am also busy preparing for my first Knitting & Stitching show which takes place at Harrogate's Convention Centre next week. The four-day event is huge and attracts all types of crafters as well as quilting, so it should be a really interesting show. You can find out more by clicking here.

Before all of that busyness however, we are celebrating my lovely Justin's 50th birthday with a weekend in Newcastle, which promises amazing food, sampling his favourite IPAs and a visit to the amazing Biscuit Factory gallery. 

Wishing you all a happy, warm and creative week, linking up with Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday

New Quantum Bygg Cushion Kits

When I first saw this Quantum Bygg collection from Andover fabrics, I just knew I had to have it! Designed by Giuseppe Ribaudo, otherwise know as Giucy Giuce on social media, this collection of geometric and abstract prints come in a more subtle or even sombre array of rainbow colours - the perfect opposite of those girly flowery prints that have featured in many of my quilt and cushion kits up to now.

Having already made up a 40pc strip set and 42pc Charm pack, both of which can be purchased in the Sewmotion Shop, I decided to make another set of matching cushions (the previous matching set in Pink Bloom proved very popular).

This time I wanted to revamp my Hexy Cushion kit, and used eight colours from Quantum and backed them onto a larger square of Linen Texture in Storm. I also used this in the matching Diamond Star cushion kit - I think this warm grey makes the colours shine! Both of these EPP designs are based on the traditional shapes of the hexagon and diamond, so no curved edges in sight! 

Each kit includes all the fabric, pre-cut papers and easy-to-follow instructions to make up each cushion front - you will need a Sewline glue pen, thread, wadding and backing. You can find out more and make a purchase here.

What would you make in these luscious fabrics? Quilts for the boys maybe? Or what about a huge wall hanging for that  minimalist loft apartment?? ;) 

Wishing you all a happy and creative week, and linking up with Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday

Finding the positives in life

Is it me or does there seem to be a positive vibe in the air? Maybe it's the great weather or England's young footballers in Russia... But with the world going through so many upheavals and constant change, I find it difficult to hear the good things in life, one of the many reasons I no longer read our national press! But I went on Facebook the other morning to find so many happy stories to brighten my week. A friend who had had a pretty serious fall and broken her neck was well on the mend and able to look behind her for the first time since the accident. Another friend had completed her first triathlon at the young age of 69 while another had just completed a charity cycle ride from London to Cologne. These people are all amazing!

These achievements also reminded me of a wonderful lady I meet sometimes at my local quilt group. She's a friend of a friend really, and comes whenever we have a fabric sale. After introducing me to Mable, my friend then said, "guess how old she is... 90!!" I couldn't believe it, she looked amazing, if that's what quilting does for your longevity, then I'm all in! That was 3 years ago, and Mable's still going strong, in fact she told me that she's just tried English paper-piecing for the first time! Now this really made my day and just goes to show, it's never too late to try something new, be it running, swimming, cycling or EPP :)

Talking of EPP, my latest addition to my EPP Cushion Kit collection is now available in the Sewmotion Shop. This Diamond Star Cushion kit is a great hand sewing project using English paper-pieced diamonds to create this striking star design in Makower's Bloom fabrics. And of course, not only does the kit include all the fabric you need to complete the front, including binding, there's also a Sewline glue pen, an Aurifil thread, and a whole pack of pre-cut papers!! No more cutting your own, yay! 

So if you're looking for a holiday project, why not treat yourself to some relaxing mindful stitching with an EPP kit - you can see the whole collection here.

A lovely customer contacted me a while ago to ask if I could make up one of my quilt kits, but in different fabrics, and I said, of course I can! So we went for the Novelty Nine Patch cot quilt in Happy Day fabrics, and I have to say, Gillian's quilt is so pretty, and the backing is perfect - I love how she used the block left over from the front for a label. 

I'm sure this quilt will bring years of love and joy to its recipient. Thanks so much for sharing Gillian. You can see the original kit for this quilt using Let's Play fabrics here, or this design is actually one of my free patterns on the website, which you can see here.

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

New EPP Cushion Kits and a Love P&Q block

Are you a lover of hand sewing? Are you as addicted to English paper-piecing as I am? Everywhere you read these days, we're been told to take time out and do something mindful and relaxing, forget the busy mad world around us, just for a little while, and concentrate the mind on something meditative.

Well, my answer to this is to always have a hand-piecing project on the go, wherever I go - you may have seen me stitching away at a recent quilt show. And as you know, I like to share my addictions, which is why I'm releasing two new Cushion Kits, just in time for the summer hols!

This Hexy Cushion kit comes in subtle shades of grey, pink and green from P&B Textiles' Bear Essentials collection. As a huge fan of the humble hexagon, I love playing around with different layouts, and these rows are a firm favourite. Fast glue basting and a clever piecing technique makes this a quick project to come together. If you would rather use your own fabrics, I have also released this as a pattern, though you will still need the pre-cut 1" paper pieces, which you can get here. You can also download this pattern as a PDF in my Etsy shop.

My second new kit is one of my Diamond Cushions, made with Alison Glass' Sun Prints fabrics in gorgeous modern monochromes. This cushion design features a full star layout, and I have used a pink 12wt Aurifil thread to hand quilt each diamond. Both of these kits come with all the fabric you need to complete the cushion panel, including binding, plus a Sewline glue pen, paper templates, wadding and thread, and of course full colour instructions, perfect for that portable holiday project.

Elsewhere, today is my day on Instagram to share my block for Love Patchwork & Quilting's sew along featuring the booklet of 32 fabulous blocks free with the current issue. I chose to make this cross design using Michael Miller's Sweet Everlasting fabrics - wouldn't this make a gorgeous quilt, maybe with alternating fabrics?? If only I had the time... There are some beautiful blocks being made and shared on IG - why not join in with #lpq32blocksSAL

Talking of time... where does it go?? I'm making steady progress on my EPP Block of the Month design for next year... might be a tall order to get it done for Harrogate though. Still, I'm loving how these rounds are coming together. If you would like to hear more about this BOM, subscribe to my Newsletter to hear regular updates and how to sign up.

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

Relaxing EPP and Quilts UK

There's little else I find as relaxing as hand sewing, in particular some good old English paper piecing. I became slightly, well very, addicted to EPP hexagons and diamonds a while ago and have been known to sew at airports and on trains while listening to a gripping audible book.

Many visitors have caught me stitching up a new cushion design while on the stand at quilt shows - this new diamond cushion was half made at last week's event in Harrogate, and will no doubt be finished at Malvern this weekend.

And it seems I'm not alone, talking to fellow quilters and show visitors, there are so many of us moving towards this quieter, more contemplative type of sewing.

Great to do in front of the tele, but also to take on holiday or on long drives, or just to sit quietly curled up in a favourite armchair. Don't get me wrong, I still love knocking up a quilt on my Janome, and adore machine quilting, but I feel that EPP slows me down, relaxes me and turns off the outside world for just a while. In conversation at shows you may have heard me say this is my free therapy, and it's true! I have also heard people say "they don't have the patience for hand sewing", which makes me sad. I have actually found that it gives me patience, I have to slow down and take one stitch at a time, which really can't be a bad thing!

So why not have a go yourself? My EPP Diamond and Hexy Cushion Kits are designed to be small undaunting projects that you may actually finish ;) Each kit contains all the fabric you need to complete the top, including binding and wadding, plus a Sewline glue pen, thread, paper templates and full instructions. What's more, if you subscribe to my Newsletter before the end of May, you can get 20% off each kit, just in time for those summer holidays.

This week we're off to Quilts UK at the Three Counties Showground in the beautiful town of Malvern. This four-day event is the UK"s second largest quilt show of the year, and fingers crossed, promises to be a great weekend. The shows runs from Thursday 18th to Sunday 21st May, 10am - 5pm (4.30pm on Sunday). If you're in or around the area, it would be great to see you.

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