Progress on the Hope in the Stars Mystery Quilt

After such a warm and sunny spring, this sudden change in the weather has been a bit of a shock to the system to say the least! Still, I suppose it gives us an excuse to let Mother Nature do her thang in the garden and for us to get back indoors to our sewing. And if you're looking for a hand sewing project to immerse yourself in, why not join us on my block-of-the-fortnight Hope in the Stars Mystery Quilt. 

This quilt is made up of nine different star blocks, which are sewn together using a traditional hand piecing technique. There will then be a choice of final layout revealed at the end. This SAL is free to my Newsletter Subscribers - you can sign up here and it's totally free!

I am making two versions, one in Alison Glass Sun Prints, and the other in Edyta Sitar's Super Bloom, both fat quarter bundles are available in the Sewmotion Shop. We are on Block Three now, the Kaleidoscope Star, but there are links in the current newsletter to previous blocks, so you can always catch up. Each pattern is released every fortnight and includes instructions and templates for that block. However, I am also selling a set of pre-cut card templates for the whole quilt, proceeds of which will be donated to the NHS Charities Together Covid-19 Appeal.

Here are some of the blocks that have been shared on social media so far... thank you Helen, Jacqui, Susan, Annette, Barbara, Anna, Ruth, Andrea and Gracie, they look wonderful!

So if you would like to join in the fun, sign up to the Newsletter today! Wishing you all a peaceful and safe week, xx

Linking up with Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday.

The Hope in the Stars Mystery Quilt

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.

Completed Mystery Quilts & New Hoop Kits

After last week's grand reveal of my Birds of a Feather Mystery quilt, I've seen some lovely completed tops - I have a few prompt quilters who have religiously kept up with my monthly posts, one of which had saved them until the end and then made it during her last five weekly quilt group meetings!

The first of these quilts is by Justine, who had actually got ahead of me and finished the quilt before the grand reveal, clever girl!! ;) I was so happy to see the quilt made up in the luscious grey and purple fabric bundle - doesn't it look so rich and sumptuous! Justine tells me she plans to add a couple more borders to increase the size, which will look amazing!

You can see the close up centre of this colourway in Ann's quilt - made over five weeks in her quilt class, she also loves how the purples and greys work so well together.

Ruth was wonderful throughout this process and more or less made up each block on the same day she received the pattern, which was why she was the first to tell me of any hiccups! Thanks again Ruth :) In her version she used the Flora Pop fabrics, similar to my own, however, if memory serves, I think she bought two or three of the curated fabric bundles, so I can see her making at least one more quilt!

Finally, Jan went for her own choice of fabrics, and purchased some Linen Textures from the Sewmotion shop - I love these soft pastel shades, and it really does look like such a different quilt compared to the grey and purple. Next month I will be sharing quilting ideas and a free pieced backing design.

This free pattern will be available to my Newsletter subscribers until the end of June, sign up now and join in the fun - you will also receive subscriber-only offers, more free patterns and the latest Sewmotion news.

Meanwhile, in the Sewmotion shop, I have released two new EPP Flower Hoop Art Kits - these projects are mounted into 12" hoops and come in two designs. The first is in lovely 1930s-inspired vintage fabrics, while the second features Makower's Woodland range in soft blues and greys. Each of these kits include the fabric and wadding, embroidery thread, pre-cut papers, 12" wooden hoop and full instructions - the perfect holiday project! What's more, if you subscribe to the Newsletter, you can get 10% off these new kits today!

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

The Grand Reveal of the mystery quilt

When I came up with the idea of running a block-of-the-month mystery quilt for my Newsletter subscribers, it was primarily to give me a chance to get ahead with my free monthly patterns... of course this hasn't happened, and with month five upon us, I have still to write up the rest of the year's free patterns which was the plan. Ah well, forwarding planning was never my strong point!

However, I have found that my subscribers are loving the monthly blocks, with just enough to do each month to keep up, I've had some really lovely feedback. Up until now this has been a mystery quilt and this week I revealed the final layout, which you can see below. 

I have already had one customer send me pics of her own version which she made with the luscious greys and purples in one of my specially curated fabric bundles. Her quilt is beautiful, I'll be sharing more quilts next week once subscribers have had a chance to read the latest newsletter.

If you would like to learn more about this quilt and get free instructions for the past five months (now you know what it looks like) then sign up to the Newsletter now. This free patten will only be available until the end of June. As a bonus in July I will be sharing quilting tips and even a pieced backing pattern.

My latest Sewing Quarter adventure once again saw me on screen with John Scott where I demoed this stunning FPP quilt by Linda Clements. I do love foundation paper-piecing even if it is a little time consuming, and this project certainly put my skills to the test. 128 blocks!! 

I also showed how to make my very own Wonky Squares Wall Hanging, which did look amazing in those beautiful batiks! If you missed the show or would like to see it again, you can catch it on Sewing Quarter's YouTube page here. I also have my Wonky Squares pattern available on the Sewmotion website, both printed and as a digital download.

Wishing you all a happy, sunny and creative week, linking up with Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday

Month Four of the Mystery Quilt

Where is this year going!?!? I can't believe it's May and nearly time for Quilts UK at Malvern.  As you can imagine, I've being extremely busy cutting, folding and making up kits for this upcoming 4-day show - I'm also working on some new kits which will have their debut at the show.

Inbetween all this I have been on Sewing Quarter again, this time demoing a lovely summery quilt from the Big Book of Lap Quilts. This was a joy to make and the large flying geese blocks came together so quickly. In contrast, my second project was Lynne Edwards' Cathedral Windows table runner, which featured both machine and hand sewing, so it was nice to get back to some hand work.

You can catch these shows on Sewing Quarter's YouTube channel here, and you can see links to all my past SQ shows here.

The beginning of another month can only mean one thing, it's time for the next instalment of my block-of-the-month mystery quilt. This Birds of a Feather quilt is free to my Newsletter subscribers, and features half-square triangles, a little foundation piecing and some simple patchwork. If you would like to join us you can sign up here, and you will receive the latest Newsletter with links to previous months so you can catch up with the BOM.

Last week saw the release of a new EPP Flower Cushion kit, this time in this cute Red House Liberty print. This kit is a great introduction to curved English paper-piecing as the pieces are quite large and not too fiddly. And of course, you also have my four-part youTube tutorial to help you on your way. You can find out more about this new EPP kit here.

Wishing you all a fun and creative week, linking up with Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday

A Foundation Paper-Piecing video

As you may know, I offer my Newsletter subscribers a free PDF pattern every month, and currently we are making a block-of-the-month Mystery quilt - Birds of a Feather. Block 3 involves some simple foundation paper-piecing and more half-square triangles. 

Now I know foundation piecing can be quite daunting and confusing for some, it certainly was for me until I had that eureka moment when I discovered this technique using an A5 piece of card and an Add a Quarter Ruler - this tool really is invaluable! So as well as my comprehensive instructions in the pattern, I thought I would make a little video to provide even more help. If you would you like to try this technique for the first time, or maybe you'd like to see a different way of sewing the templates, then watch the video below.

If you would like to join in this mystery quilt fun, you can subscribe here to receive the latest Newsletter, which includes links to the previous two months' patterns.

As well as making up lots of new kits for Quilts UK next month, I've been working on some new projects, soon to become kits, including a new version of my zigzag quilt using Libs Elliott' gorgeous Tattooed North prrints, and another Curved EPP Flower cushion in Liberty's Red House print from their Cottage Garden collection. These kits will both be available in the online shop very soon.

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

Pre-Cut Party Time - with a difference

As many of you may know by now, I host a Pre-Cut Party in which subscribers to my Newsletter receive a free pattern every month straight to their inboxes. Well this year, I've decided on something a little different - over the next five months I will be hosting a mystery block-of-the-month quilt! The Birds of a Feather quilt is aimed at the skilled beginner and upwards, and features half-square triangles, a little foundation piecing and some simple patchwork. 

Each month I will share cutting and sewing instructions for each block, and then show how to put them all together into the finished quilt in June. I know it can be quite daunting not knowing what the finished quilt will look like, but that's all part of the fun! My Newsletter subscribers can also get 20% off a collection of fabric bundles I have curated especially for this quilt. 

If you would like to take part in this exciting new BOM, why not sign up to the Newsletter now and receive instructions for the Centre Nest Block. You will also receive a newsletter every week with special offers and the latest Sewmotion news.

In other exciting news, I have designed a beautiful quilt for Sewing Quarter using some very pretty Tilda fabrics, this will be on air on Saturday 9th Feb at 9am (GMT) while my next appearance on Sewing Qaurter is next Wednesday (13th Feb) where I will be showing off my favourite curved EPP technique to make my Curve Appeal cushion and then demoing a beautiful quilt by Elizabeth Hartman. You can watch Sewing Quarter on Sky 687, Freeview 73 (8am-12noon), online and on YouTube.

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