For my latest free pattern to my Newsletter Subscribers, which is totally free to join, I have decided to host a block-of-the-fortnight mystery quilt. I know our world is on the verge of slowly getting back to some sort of normality, but I think it's going to take a long time, and is also going to be quite a stressful time for us all. And my best cure for stress? Hand sewing of course! Many of us will still be remaining at home as much as possible with time on our hands, so I'm releasing a block a fortnight to see us through the summer, hopefully sat in the sunny garden.
My Lockdown Sewdown quilt, otherwise known as Hope in the Stars, is made up of nine different blocks made using the traditional hand-piecing method - I know, not EPP!! What is wrong with me?!! I have recently fallen back in love with this technique and wanted to feature it in this glorious stars quilt. I have made two versions, one in Alison Glass's Sun Prints and the second in Edyta Sitar's Super Bloom, both fat quarter bundles are available on the website. I also have a set of pre-cut card templates to make life even easier, also available on the website.
Here is a pic of the first block, the Blazing Star, I love the 3D effect created by careful fabric placement. Once all blocks are made up, you will then have a few options of layout, all to be revealed at the end, so if you would like to join us in this hand sewing mystery adventure, why not sign up now?
I hope you are all keeping well and have this glorious sunshine, even if it is a little nippy. Stay safe and best wishes to you all xx
Linking up with Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday.
Ok, this year is already going too fast for my liking!! Happy New Year everyone, even if it's already the 9th January, I hope you had a wonderful break surrounded by love and happiness, be it with friends and family, or some quiet sewing time to yourself.
We had a lovely quiet Christmas with my mum, then went to our best friends in Germany for New Year which was so much fun. Now I'm back full of more ideas than ever and great plans for 2020.
2020 has already started with a bang thanks to the final airing of Sewing Quarter. As I may have mentioned, this great sewing TV Channel had to close at the end of 2019, which really was very sad for everyone involved. However, they had some airtime to fill at the beginning of January and gave us guest designers the chance to film solo shows to let viewers know how to keep in touch with us and learn more about our businesses. We weren't too sure when these shows were to be aired, but when I suddenly started getting Newsletter subscribers and orders online, I knew my show had to be on, what's more they were on a loop, so every few hours this would happen again, so funny! I really enjoyed doing my shows at SQ and I'm so glad so many viewers have decided to carry on following me and Sewmotion, so if you are one of them, thank you very much!
On my SQ show, I demoed my latest cushion kit, the Overlapping Circles and Flower cushion in Liberty Pinks. Having watched my YouTube tutorial on my EPP Curved Flower cushion, customers have been asking for one on the overlapping circles, so I'm really pleased I got the chance to record this one - if you have purchased this kit in the past and need a little extra help - maybe you learn better from following a demo rather than reading instructions - then you can view this recording on Sewing Quarter's YouTube channel
I have also been working on this month's Free Pattern to send out to my Newsletter subscribers, a little late again, but I really do plan to get on top of these this year and not leave them til the last minute, honest! This month I fancied some hand sewing, but instead of EPP, I have returned to the first patchwork technique I learnt, American hand piecing, which involves sewing a tiny running stitch along a drawn line. I had forgotten how much I love this method and plan to do more of it! This wall hanging (or table runner, it's up to you) was inspired by my love of Orla Kiely's graphics, and is a kinda homage to her Stem design. Subscribe to the Newsletter now to receive your own free copy straight to your inbox.
Wishing you all a warm and creative week, linking up with Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday
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.
Wow, what a month to be a woman, and a quilting one at that! Not only do we have Mother's Day this weekend in the UK, International Woman's Day today, but it's also National Quilt Month in the US - what more reason do we need to take some time out from the busy and more often than not, stressful day-to-day and treat ourselves to some 'me-time'.
I for one really struggle with this, even though I don't have kids and have a wonderful husband who cooks EVERY night (I know, so lucky) I use these as reasons to work on the business harder than I should. While we took the conscious decision not to have children, I often feel I need to find another way to make my mark on the world, which is why Sewmotion is so important to me.
I'm lucky enough to absolutely love my work - the idea of designing, sewing and then sharing online is my dream job come true! I also believe sewing is the best therapy in the world and I know without it I would be a complete mess (especially at the moment, peri-menopause is a bitch!) Which is why, as you may have noticed, many of my recent patterns and kits have involved hand sewing in an effort to make myself sit down quietly and be mindful of just one thing for a while.
While I do have the added pressure of the sewing being work, with deadlines and consequent patterns/kits to make up, I still find so much enjoyment and satisfaction in what I make, and I think this feeling of achievement and mindfulness is something we all need more of in our lives, we all need to slow down a little, not always, just now and again, and enjoy the slow and creative side of life.
I do hope you wonderful mums out there have a wonderful Mother's Day and all you fantastic, amazing, awe-inspiring women treat yourselves to a little you-time this weekend.
Linking up with Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers, and Needle & Thread Thursday.
