Did you know my Newsletter subscribers receive a free PDF pattern every month? So far this year, we have been enjoying my block-of-the-month Mystery quilt which came to an end in June. So we are now returning to my beloved pre-cuts and stash-busting patterns, starting with a variation on a theme...
My Wonky Squares Wall Hanging pattern proved very popular, especially when I made it on Sewing Quarter, so I started to wonder which other shapes would work - and of course, I had to have a go with the good ol' hexy! I also returned to my partially-seamed hexies, a tutorial for which can be seen here. Add in the freezer paper technique used for the wonky blocks, and hey presto, I have a new pattern.
Now, I have to admit, I think there is a little too much white/negative space in the wall hanging for me - you may love the space to create beautiful free motion quilting designs, or maybe embroidered motifs. If it's not for you, then you can simply decrease the size of the sashings and borders as below, just taking an 1" off the width of the strips makes such a difference.
As the wonky blocks finish at a 9" square, there are so many possible layouts - I have had a play with a few below...
In this one I have bordered the 9" blocks with blue strips to add a little more interest, then added white sashings and borders.
Who says the wall hanging has to be square, or this would make a gorgeous table runner. Add light blue sashings and inner border and then a wider white border.
Finally, my favourite, which I think I will just have to make into a quilt when I get a minute! I have added the layout below so you can see the white strips that offset the blocks to create this circle.
You can obviously also play around with the colours - what about using all black and whites for a monotone quilt? Maybe different tones of the same colour? If you would like to receive this free pattern, subscribe to the Newsletter today - these patterns are free to my subscribers for a month before going on general sale.
On to something completely different - Sewing Quarter have been holding their Christmas In July event and I appeared last Thursday to make my EPP Snowflake cushion and a gorgeous Scandi quilt by Lynne Goldsworthy - you can watch these shows and catch up on my past appearances here.
Wishing you all a happy, sunny and creative week! Linking up with Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday
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
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
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
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
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.
Where on earth is this year going!?! I seem to say this every month, but how did it become August already?? Anyway, a new month means a new Pre-Cut Party pattern. For those new to Sewmotion, I offer a free pattern to my Newsletter subscribers every month, based on my love of the quilting pre-cut, be it jelly roll strips, charm squares, a layer cake, or even scraps from the stash.
This month I have taken inspiration from one of the many strip sets I've been making up for next week's Festival of Quilts - my Rainbow stripper made up of Makower's Spectrum solids. They are so bright and cheerful and I wanted to show how the most traditional of quilt blocks can look amazingly modern in the right fabrics. So here is my Rail Fence Quilt...
This quilt finishes as approx. 53" x 65" so would make a great lap quilt or a child's bed quilt. It uses just 20 strips and around 2m of background fabric.
For your own free copy, and more free patterns every month - subscribe today! You also get special subscriber-only offers, including 20% off the jelly roll used in the quilt.
Meanwhile, I have a winner on my latest Instagram Giveaway... congratulation Jacqui, I know you're going to love making your Rainbow Overlapping Circles cushion!
As you may have gathered by now, I'm off to the Festival of Quilts next week where you can find Sewmotion on Stand F16. As well as many, many boxes of quilt, cushion and EPP kits, I'll have lots of gorgeous fabric pre-cuts just begging to be stroked and a large collection of printed patterns including some Pre-cut Party gems - so if you're coming along, come and say hi!
See you on the other side :)
Linking up with Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday.
