I'm continuing to work on my Merrow Croft quilt. I keep thinking I've not got far to go but hand sewing is a slow, slow process! I'm working on my last border of back basted, applique blocks. It's such a satisfying process, if you've not tried back basting applique I recommend doing so. There are some good tutorials on YouTube to show you how. Hand piecing and hand applique are definitely two of my favourite techniques. The simplicity of just using fabric and thread is so lovely. Then some mending was required. My middle loves skateboarding, which plays havoc on fabric when you car ..read more

Cross stitch has been taking over as my favourite pastime recently. To be fair it's probably half and half with quilting, though I find I'm drawn to the meditative following of charts and making cross stitches after a day of work. I purchased a few patterns this year and I'm working my way through them. The first one I completed is Good Intentions by Kathy Barrick. Its a lovely design and the sentiment is just so true of me. I made a few adjustments to the pattern and changed the colours slightly. The colours are a similar palette to the original but was using what I had and substituted t ..read more

It would be nice to write about all the things I made this year before the end of the year is up!  One of the makes I'm most proud of, I finished in early autumn and it had been a while in the making. I started making this coverlet when Jenni Smith taught the Manx log cabin technique at Stitch Gathering in 2019. This traditional technique involves measuring and ripping fabric strips by hand, folding and sewing the blocks by hand and sewing them together front and then back. I made all the blocks by hand, sewed the fronts together on the machine and then hand sewed the back of the blocks ..read more

This blog post is wholeheartedly selfish, I am writing it because I need to. My blog has documented so many life events and I can't miss this one out. It's taken me many months, adding bits here and there so if it reads like that, well, it will. The whole time I am typing I am sobbing, this post may be triggering - if you are grieving right now, you have my full empathy and it might be best to skip this one. Then again maybe we all share grief. This may be cathartic to some of you, I don't know. I feel like that's a warning of what is to come. Some of you may think this is oversharing. Please ..read more

I recently gave this cross stitch to my friends, in celebration of their wedding earlier this year. As soon as I saw this pattern I knew it would make a perfect gift. The design is based on a New York subway tile. I like the Charles Rennie Mackintosh vibe, both in style and colour and thought they'd like too. A quick google tells me the design is actually an interpretation of a book cover by Talwin Morris.  My friends also happen to have a love of birds - well I already knew the groom did but happily have since discovered they both do. He's been my friend since primary school, for as ..read more

  Finally a fully finished object! I got my Granny Square SAL finished and framed it in this quite dramatic frame. I loved choosing the colours for this, picking out my favourites and calmly stitching along. One square a week was a relaxed pace. I would have happily kept on stitching these squares, it's quite addictive and a really big piece full of granny squares would look amazing. Maybe one day. With other projects to get back to though (and oops maybe start!), I stuck to four. Also I liked the idea of keeping it small within a bigger frame. In my search for frames, I happe ..read more

I've been enjoying a return to what started as my 100 day project, hand piecing my Merrow Croft quilt (pattern by Margaret Mew). If you haven't done any hand piecing before, I have a how-to with lots of tips in my hand piecing tutorial. Using some of my treasured hand printed fabrics by Karen Lewis and Lucy Engels, I'm enjoying the neutral cool vibe of these pieces. So I'm using up my stash but I'm also adding to it... | read more ..read more

Sew alongs and stitch alongs are always great fun! I enjoy seeing people make a pattern their own or even if they follow the pattern exactly, it's nice knowing you're creating something with others and it helps keep you on track for a finish. The most recent ones I've joined in with were a year long but the Fat Quarter Shop is doing a summer Great Granny Squared-Along that is cute and simple. With patterns designed by Lori Holt, you can make a quilt, crochet or cross stitch piece. There's something for everyone and they make for good scrap busting projects too! The Granny Squa ..read more

  Have you tried sewing with paper fabric? Also known as washable paper / vegan leather. It is often used for labels on denim and it is really fun to sew with. I have made a whole host of projects and tried a new to me brand of paper fabric that I'm going to share with you today. I also have another product to share, that allowed me to use some vintage embroidery transfers to create cute decorations. Heavily inspired by stationery these simple, modern makes are perfect to give as gifts... it might be is a long post, so grab a brew and I hope it inspires you! I first used this ..read more

  It's something that needs talking about, it makes some people uncomfortable, but many of us have the luxury of being able to access sanitary products and others don't. There's a huge need for safe hygienic menstrual products and a pressing concern about making products sustainable. 28th May was World Menstrual Hygiene Day and I'm happy to be sharing the great work that ActionAid UK are doing to end period poverty. "We focus on women and girls because the denial of their rights is a grave injustice and one of the underlying causes of poverty worldwide. By working directly with com ..read more