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

Thursday 21 December 2017

Merry Christmas - and the colours of 2018


I would like to say a big Thank You to everyone who has supported me and Sewmotion over the last year. 2017 has been a busy year, with lots of great quilt shows (steep learning curve!) more patterns than ever before, and the chance to develop new kits with some truly gorgeous fabrics!

And 2018 promises to be even better, including a booked (and deposit paid!) stand at the Festival of Quilts in August! Eek!! I don't even want to think about how much stock I have to make! 

Plus of course, there's the Curve Motion Medallion BOM to look forward to - you can read more about this 16-month programme here, to make this glorious 90" quilt.


It seems that I'm not the only one looking forward to 2018, both Kona and Pantone have announced their colours of 2018... looks like it's going to be a fabulously rich year - I do love that Tiger Lily!


May I wish you and your loved ones a wonderful joyous Christmas, and an amazing 2018 full of quilting discoveries, fabric-stroking and creative wonderment.

I am off on a much-needed break, so while shop orders can still be placed, they will now not be shipped until Wednesday 3rd January.

All the best, Louisa x

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

Thursday 7 December 2017

Curve Motion Medallion BOM Launch date!

I'm really loving how this gorgeous quilt is coming together, I just have the two side panels of blocks to attach now, I'm hoping the weather's going to be bright enough over the weekend to take some decent pics!!

The official launch date for this Block of the Month programme is Monday 11th December, it's a 16-month project, a little longer than originally planned, I thought I'd take the pressure off a bit, this is supposed to be a slow, enjoyable hand sewing project after all!


Each month subscribers will receive the relevant Alison Glass Sun Prints fabrics to make up each ring, and then the grey background square to appliqué it on to. Also included will be step-by-step instructions with colour photos, and full-size paper templates to cut out.

Each block is then quilted using the quilt-as-you-go method, which means you can really go to town - hand quilt large stitches as I did, or maybe go for some free-motion machine quilting, the choice is yours!

After an initial payment of £40 to secure a space (also covers the 16th payment) subscribers will then pay 15 instalments of between £27 - £30 depending on where you live as this includes postage.

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


Thursday 30 November 2017

UKQU's New Website & Sewmotion Gift Certificates


Many of my followers in the UK will know of this hugely successful Facebook group dedicated to the British quilting enthusiast, but did you know they're on the brink of launching a brand new website?

Aimed at providing an online resource for quilters in the UK, both new and the more experienced, the site will provide access to patchwork and quilting services across the country.

As well as a an extensive directory of UK shops and businesses, both bricks-and-mortar and online, there will be regular blogs from a wide range of members, book and product reviews, plus great projects to inspire and keep us entertained, including a Mystery Quilt and a Block-of-the-Month starting in January.  The website goes live on 9th January 2018, is totally free to access and can be found at ukqu.co.uk - you can pop over now and register to enter a wonderful competition to win this complete quilting package, including a Janome Horizon sewing machine - just like mine!





Meanwhile back at Sewmotion HQ... 


You can now buy Gift Certificates for the Sewmotion Shop - perfect for those who would love any excuse to go fabric shopping! Even better, why not spread the word to those loved ones around you who try as they might, just don't understand your quilting addiction at Christmas! Click here to find out more.






Thursday 23 November 2017

The Big Sale Is On This Weekend!

I'm having a huge sale in the Sewmotion shop, and in my Etsy shop on this mad, frenzied big sale weekend - though hopefully sitting in the comfort of your own home, maybe in your PJs with a cuppa at hand, won't be frenzied at all! In fact I'm looking forward to some online browsing and shopping myself, I may even get ahead on some gift shopping, unheard of for me!



As you can see above, there are some great offers on including 10% off all quilt, cushion, wall hanging, table runner and pincushion kits, 15% off all fat quarter bundles, charm packs and strip sets (jelly rolls), 20% off all fabric by the metre including Michael Miller, Dashwood Studios, Makower and Riley Blake, and finally 25% off all my patterns, both in printed form and PDFs.

So if you're gift shopping for a fellow crafty friend, or maybe you need to give someone a nudge in the right direction for gift inspiration, why not send them to the Sewmotion Shop for a good old browse, and thanks to that little padlock in the web address, you know your shopping will be completely secure.

Finally, Happy Thanksgiving to all my lovely friends across the water - I hope you all have fantastic weekends surrounded by love and family.

Linking up with Let's Bee Social, and Midweek Makers 

Thursday 16 November 2017

Introducing the Curve Motion Medallion Quilt - a 2018 block-of-the-month

I have finally named my English paper-pieced block-of-the-month quilt - the Curve Motion Medallion Quilt - I really wanted to use the word 'curve' as this is what it's all about really, and then I thought of 'motion' as in Sewmotion. And even though it's not really obvious, this quilt is constructed in a medallion style, and even better, it's quilt-as-you-go, so all the individual rings are appliquéd onto grey squares, then quilted, before they're sewn together into a finished quilt approx. 90" square.


So if you're coming to the end of a 2017 BOM and in need of a new challenge, or maybe you're a lover of hand-piecing and looking to enjoy a slow sewing project, why not join us on this curved EPP adventure?

Each month you will receive instructions, full size templates to cut out, the relevant Alison Glass Sun Prints fabrics and a grey background square from Makower to make up to four blocks at a time. 

The cost is £40.00 up front, which will secure your place and cover your first month, followed by eleven monthly payments of £28.00 to be taken by direct debit. This subscription programme will open on Thursday 7th December, there are limited spaces, so be sure to add this date to your diary!

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

Thursday 2 November 2017

This month's free Pre-Cut Party Pattern and funky new packaging

I had a great time at last weekend's Autumn Quilt Show at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford, I had a larger stand than last year, and it seemed busier all round, just goes to show the love of quilting is growing all the time. 


I did have many more beginners going for my Quick & Easy Quilt Kits which was really encouraging, as we all know, once you've made your first quilt, you're in it for life! I also think my funky (and practical) new packaging may have helped - they also make great gifts.


So it's the beginning of another month, which means it Pre-Cut Party time! This month's free pattern, available to my Newsletter subscribers, is based on the 10" layer cake to make this beautiful Buzz Saw quilt. 


I used my gorgeous 1930s Vintage Fabric roll together with a pretty white-on-white to make this single-size bed quilt (approx. 50" x 67.5"). If you would like this free pattern, and many more in the future, you can sign up to the newsletter here. I'm also offering my subscribers 20% off this new kit for one month only.


Looking for more quilting fun and inspiration? Why not pop along to these great Linky Parties - Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts, Midweek Makers at Quilt Fabrication and Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation 

Saturday 21 October 2017

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).



Thursday 12 October 2017

A new Rainbow EPP Pincushion kit

After releasing last week's free pattern to my Newsletter subscribers for these gorgeous EPP pincushions, I seem to have gone to town creating more kits! And when I received the new Alison Glass Diving Board fabrics, which just have rainbow written all over them, I couldn't resist making a third one. Don't they look stunning against that Kaufman Essex linen!



Each of the kits include all the fabric you need to make the pincushion, plus full instructions and actual size templates to cut out. All you need is a Sewline glue pen for basting and filling. They do make a perfect small project for retreats, as well as a great introduction to curved English paper-piecing. Why not treat a crafty friend this Christmas! What's more, if you subscribe to my Newsletter, you get 20% off each kit!

This week I've also taken delivery of these scrummy Flora Pop fabrics from Michael Miller, I have so many ideas of what to make with them, I just need the time! I have listed them by the metre, as well as a 9pc fat quarter bundle.



Meanwhile, I'm also making further progress on my EPP BOM, to be released early next year, I'm now working on the larger rounds including this 'overlapping' design which was a sod to work out how to match up, but I've finally cracked it!



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

Thursday 5 October 2017

October's Free Pattern, and Our Little Trip Away

I love Autumn, the colours of the trees, the smell of newly-lit wood burners, a chilly walk on a sunny day... to me it's always been a season of change, or rather a time to start new things, probably harking back to school and college days. 

So what better time to learn a new skill!! For this month's free pattern I wanted to share my new-found love of curved English paper-piecing. This technique is featuring quite heavily in current and future projects, including the Sun Prints block-of-the-month quilt starting next year. So as a taster I've designed this gorgeous, and quite substantial, pincushion using some very pretty 1930s vintage florals.



Admittedly the pieces used in the pincushion are a lot smaller than those for the BOM, but thanks to some wonderful glue-basting this project should be fine for the seasoned sewer.

This pattern is free to my Newsletter subscribers, so why not sign up now! Not only do you get a free pattern every month, but you'll also receive subscriber-only discounts in the Sewmotion shop, as well as the latest news and updates on upcoming events.



To accompany this pattern, I've also released two pincushion kits which include all the fabric you need, plus a square of wadding, instructions and full-size templates to cut out. These are priced at £8.00 and would make lovely Christmas gifts or Secret Santas for a crafty friend. Click here to find out more.



We recently returned to our favourite short-break destination, The Netherlands, for a week of great food, walks and even some cycling - I'd just like to say, this land isn't as flat as they say it is, I can still find a hill or two to struggle up! Still, it was lovely to cycle down beautiful tree-lined lanes and explore more of the Dutch countryside and of course, indulge in a drink or two on the seafront.



Staying at a Eurocamp park (Duinrell) in Wassenaar, just outside The Hague, meant we were only a short walk away from some fantastic restaurants - I recommend Pop's Diner for amazing steaks, Da Alfio Ristorante for sumptuous grilled prawns, and Luciano's for the best ice cream AND added running hot chocolate that goes hard!!!! On our last night we went at the Bistro Plein 14, which was just too amazing for words, the menu says it all!



Our break actually started with a few days in London visiting my mum, the mandatory visit to Liberty's and where I finally had time to show Justin around my favourite museum of all time, the glorious V&A in Kensington. The Chihuly sculpture just hits you as you walk in - in fact the building itself is worth a visit alone, with glorious ceilings and amazing floor mosaics. I was obviously so in awe, I didn't manage to take many pics, but here are a couple - there's something so inspiring about wrought iron designs - free motion quilting maybe...

Linking up with Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursdayhttp://www.myquiltinfatuation.com/2017/10/king-sized-difficulty-and-ntt.html

Wednesday 20 September 2017

I need to cut how many strips!?!? And the Blogger's Quilt Festival

Have you sat down to start a new quilt, fabric all chosen and pressed, tools and equipment all set up and ready to go, then you read the instructions and you have to cut a million WOF strips? Well not a million maybe, but enough to for your heart to sink. Well, I wanted to share the quick and accurate method I used for cutting over thirty 1" strips to make my new version of my Mosaic Garden Quilt, kit coming soon.



By using the full width of your quilter's ruler and moving that instead of the fabric every time, you're able to cut a lot quicker, believe me! You can see my full tutorial here.
The quilt above is just waiting to get quilted - I have something special planned for this baby, so watch this space.

Amy over at Amy's Creative Side is holding her annual Blogger's Quilt Festival, this online event is a great opportunity for quilters to enter their favourite creations of the past 12 months in this virtual competition, and for us to be inspired by and vote for these truly stunning quilts. I have decided to enter my Blueberry Park Lone Star wall hanging which was featured in Quilt Now magazine a few months ago. 



This was probably the start of my love affair with English paper-piecing, and these fabrics by Karen Lewis just bring the star alive! Please go and visit Amy's post, enjoy and be inspired.
I know I said I'd be away this week, I got my dates wrong, so there will now not be a blog next week!

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

Thursday 14 September 2017

Bolt End Sale, EPP BOM Progress and Workshop Ideas

When designing and making up my quilt and cushion kits I buy small amounts of fabric, which makes these creations limited editions. If you see a kit at a show or online, it's unlikely that it'll still be available in six months time. And I like this, it means not only do I have to move onto to a new design and new fabrics, but I also get to sew and quilt a new product, what's bad about that (apart from time!) However, it also means that if I run out of just one fabric in the range and I don't want to re-order, I am left with the remaining fabrics I can no longer use. So to make room for new fabrics, I thought I'd have a Bolt End Sale! Click here to see the collection, they are based on £15p/m with a huge discount of 25% off. Enjoy!


Meanwhile, I've been making great progress on my English paper-pieced block-of-the-month design, hoping to be released early next year. I've been having some great feedback from fellow quilters, and I can't wait to start sewing the blocks together using the quilt-as-you-go method. 


This BOM will feature Alison Glass's Sun Prints fabrics with that gorgeous Linen-look grey from Makower for the background squares. Each month you will receive the fabric and paper templates you need for the EPP, together with the grey background square to appliqué the shape onto, and of course full instructions for each block, including the quilting. If you might be interested in this program, which at the moment looks at being around £30 per month, though this could change slightly, sign up to my Newsletter and keep up to date with progress and news on its future release.


This week I also had an exciting meeting with a like-minded sewist who has been dreaming of setting up some kind of sewing hub in the centre of Middlesbrough where we live. While she's more into dressmaking, and I quilting, we thought it would be great to join forces to offer workshops and classes, and to also provide a large workspace with sewing machines and tables for groups and individuals to use. This is obviously all in the planning stages, and we have lots of ideas, I would just appreciate some feedback from you... do you go to somewhere similar near you? What do you like about it? If you live in the Teesside area, would you come along? Any thoughts below would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

More exciting news - I was chuffed to be asked by Popular Patchwork to write their Patchwork Of My Life column in October's issue which is out now.


We're taking a much needed break next week, off to our favourite land of the Netherlands for some great food, walking, and maybe even cycling, so I'll see you in a couple of week's time. Meanwhile, don't forget to check out these great Linky Parties - Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday.

Thursday 7 September 2017

Fun at Harrogate and a new All Squared Up Quilt Kit

We had a great time at the Great Northern Quilt Show last weekend, it was so nice to meet many of my newsletter subscribers who had lovely things to say about their free monthly patterns. It's always nice to put faces to names of regular customers. Thank you for your kind words!
Below is a little video of my stand, if the quality is a little suspect, click on the settings symbol (the washer-type circle) at the bottom of video and you should be able to click on HD which should improve it. You can also turn up the sound though my little commentary seems a bit drowned out.



As you can see above, I have a new All Squared Up Quilt Kit, this one is in Riley Blake's gorgeous Happy Day fabrics, together with some Makower Spots. 





This popular quilt kit is great for beginners, and comes with all the fabric strips, borders, binding and thread you need to complete the top, plus of course full instructions. It is priced at £45.00 and there is also a fabric pack available for my pieced backing included in the instructions.

Don't forget this month's free Pre-Cut Party pattern is out, just subscribe to my Newsletter to get this strippy table runner PDF straight to your inbox, plus access to previous free patterns! There's also a code for 20% of the kit below.


I'm currently taking part in a great tag on Instagram, the #GreatBritishQuilter which runs all month. There are so many amazing quilters in the UK, why not pop along and say Hi!

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

Thursday 31 August 2017

September's Free Pre-Cut Party Pattern and the Harrogate Quilt Show

Yep, the first of the month has come round yet again, which means it's time for another free pattern in my Pre-Cut Party! For those new to my party, every month I design and write a free pattern based on my love of the quilting pre-cut, including fat quarters, jelly rolls and charm squares. This pattern is then emailed out to my Newsletter subscribers absolutely free. Quite often I will also have a kit to accompany the pattern, with a subscriber-only discount. So let me introduce you to this month's pattern, the Strippy Star Table Runner.



I wanted to show another nifty trick with the 2.5in fabric strip, as well as how to make stars without having to tackle those 'Y' seams. I love these Dashwood Studio Twist fabrics, and I think these colours ever so gently nod to Christmas.



So, if you would like the free pattern, subscribe to the free Newsletter today!

If you would like the whole kit, which includes the pre-cut strips, borders, binding and thread, it's priced at £25, though if you subscribe to the Newsletter, you'll get 20% off till the end of the month.

I can't believe it's been a year since my first ever quilt show, this was last year's stand at Harrogate, and I'll be there again this week with new quilt kit and cushion kits, fabulous fabric pre-cuts and more inspiring patterns. If you're in the area, why not pop along, the show runs from Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd Sept, 10am-4.30pm (4pm on Sunday) at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate. Click here to find out more.



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

Thursday 24 August 2017

EPP BOM Progress & Social Sewing at Stitchscape

As many of us quilters, sewists and crafters know, 'making' is extremely good for our health and wellbeing. As life becomes faster and more pressured, finding those quiet moments seem more precious than ever, even just an hour or so to sit quietly, clear the mind from outside troubles and concentrate on just one thing at hand, and what could be more perfect than patchwork and quilting?! I've mentioned in the past how I use English paper-piecing as my free therapy, and after a very busy month, I'm looking forward to getting on with my EPP Block of the Month project, planned for release in early 2018. I've actually been thinking of a name, possibly centred on the curvy nature of the piecing... Curvaceous maybe? Circular Motion... ooo, like Sewmotion... mmm, what do you think? Maybe I should ask again when you can see more of the quilt! 


I'm just starting to quilt some of the individual blocks now, the whole quilt is designed (hopefully) to be constructed using the quilt-as-you-go method so you should be able to do most of it by hand making it a great portable project. I will be writing continuous updates on this blog, but if you want to make sure you don't miss this BOM's release, why not sign up to my Newsletter. Not only do you get to hear about my latest news and product lines, but you also receive a free Pre-Cut Party pattern every month - September's is a gorgeous modern table runner using 2.5" strips, which will also be available as a kit.


I know I'm not alone in my craft-as-therapy thoughts, and one such lovely lady has used this idea to build a whole sewing community in Cheshire in the north-west of England. Diane's business, Stitchscape, is an amazing studio providing an 'escape place for stitchers'. This light and airy space is open 10-4pm every day except Wednesday and Sunday and is open to anyone wanting to either learn a new craft (you can see Diane's workshop schedule here) or those fed up with clearing their craft away every night, or having to sew alone. This social space provides an excellent opportunity to meet like-minded people who love to make, find help and inspiration from each other and to just sit, stitch and have a good chat! So if you're in the Warrington area, why not pop along, click here to find out more.

Recently Diane had an open day and purchased some of my kits to sell from her studio and she's just started a series of YouTube videos, each highlighting one of my kits - I'm overjoyed as you can imagine! As well as her very kind words about my patterns, Diane is also full of encouragement and motivation for those wanting to learn a new craft as well as those who prefer working from pre-cut kits where a lot of the hard work has been done for you. You can see her talk about my All Squared Up Sun Prints Quilt Kit below.



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

Thursday 17 August 2017

Festival of Quilts 2017

Oh my word, I'd forgotten how much work this event is, and I wasn't even working for myself! Mind you, I was with one of the hardest working teams at Festival this year, my old employers Doughty's. This was my eighth year working for them, and with five stands, more gorgeous fabric than ever, and an amazing group of people to work with, I had a great time, though totally and utterly exhausted now. I'm planning to do Festival for Sewmotion next year, if only for an easier life!! Haha! It was lovely to see some familiar faces, especially Sewmotion customers, thank you so much for coming to say Hi! Here are just a two of the five Doughty's stands - you can read a blog from 2015 about what goes into building these mammoth stands here.



Somehow I got the chance to see some of the quilts this year, here are some that caught my eye on the way to the loos :)


The top one was one of my faves from the show, 'The Sprinter' by Birgit Schüller entered into the Quilter's Guild Challenge, just look at that quilting, such amazing movement! Bottom left is 'Rainbow Roads' by Isabel Munoz and right is 'Broken Records', though I'm afraid I didn't get the name of the quilter, both from the Modern Quilts category.

I was overjoyed to see so many modern quilts there this year, including the travelling exhibition from this year's Quilt Con, and I got to see the winning quilt in person - 'Bling' pieced and quilted by Katherine Jones.



Above are more quilts from the Quilt Con exhibit - top left 'Whatever' by Katie Larson; top right 'Die Been (Trees)' by Lindsey Neill; bottom left 'Go North' by Maritza Soto; bottom right 'Lincoln' by Kim Soper.


I'm a sucker for anything Pop Art and I loved these panels inspired by comic strip glamour girls and the work of Roy Lichtenstein.  'Cover Girls' is by Bethan Ash and is made by fusible collage and then machine quilted in parallel vertical lines.


Another exhibition that caught my eye were these amazing quilts from the UKQU 365 Challenge - the ultimate Sampler Quilt designed by Kathryne Kerr.

Any finally... the Best in Show went to an old favourite of mine, Phillippa Naylor's 'Measure for Measure' - how exquisite is that quilting? I've never seen something so tiny before, Phillippa has really taken the 'mini quilt' to a new level!


I hope you've enjoyed my mini review of this year FoQ, now back to reality and preparing for Sewmotion's show in Harrogate on the first weekend in September!




Thursday 3 August 2017

Free Pre-Cut Party Pattern and New 10" Vintage Rolls

I know I say it at the beginning of every month, but where on earth is this year going!? So August brings more dubious summer weather, the Festival of Quilts, and my blind panic in preparing for the Northern quilt show in Harrogate in September... and breathe!

It also brings a new free pattern in my Pre-Cut Party - for those of you not in the know, I send out a free pattern every month to my Newsletter subscribers inspired by my love of the quilting pre-cut. This month I have gone back to my favourite, the jelly roll strip, and wanted to show one of the easiest and most effective designs you can make with this pre-cut - the nine-patch Irish Chain.



Sadly I ran out of time to actually make this project, though it is on my list - I think my Coonawarra Red strip set would make a stunning quilt! This pattern includes a materials list and full colour instructions to make this 22" cushion, I've then added a couple of quilt layouts to help you go bigger, complete with fabric requirements. Subscribe to the Newsletter today for this and many more free patterns.

I've just taken delivery of these gorgeous 1930s Vintage Florals, I've been waiting a while and have so many plans for them! In the past I've been asked if I sell 10" squares, otherwise known as Layer Cakes, but I've always struggled with how to display them, they either take up too much room, or they get battered! So when I friend showed me a roll of 10" squares he'd purchased abroad, I was inspired, don't these look yummy!! 



There are 15 squares in each roll, each in a different design, I guess I'm now going to write a couple of Layer Cake patterns for future Pre-Cut Parties. These rolls are priced at £15.00, though if you subscribe to the Newsletter you can get £3.00 until 17th August. 

I'm off to the Festival of Quilts next week, working for Doughty's (maybe next year I'll be ready to do it for Sewmotion) so I'll see you on the other side, hopefully with lots of quilt pics to inspire!

Linking up with Let's Bee SocialMidweek Quilters and Needle & Thread Thursday.

Thursday 27 July 2017

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