Free Festive Embroidery Design

Hello, Hello!

My chicken stew is in the oven and the fire crackling. The silly old dog is dilligently singeing himself.

I have just stopped by to report a super brilliant day with some lovely ladies who came to sew with me this morning in town. It is such an absolute joy to share a skill with enthusiastic people. And here is a pic of us working away, Helga, Elizabeth (not sure if I have spelt that right) Joan and Rachel:

We are using English Paper Piecing techniques and there is a variety of projects being skilfully put together. Everyone is concentrating hard, don't we all look serious! Our next meet is on Tuesday 6th January.



And today I found Lynette Anderson has posted a small, free festive embroidery deisgn for anyone to download. It's also been prepared as a painted design and formatted to make a printable Christmas card. So hop on over to her website full of adorable applique, patchwork and embroideries and take a look for yourself!

http://lynetteandersondesigns.typepad.com/

Just a quick post, I have to be up to collect my son at 1 am!! Back from a school trip. Tomorrow I am sewing with company again. A busy time of year, probably should start my Christmas shopping soon!

Hand Pieced Christmas Star Patchwork Panel

Well yesterdays photographs were not very good, its a balance between memory usage on the site and getting detailed pictures. Hmm, so I need to work on that.

It's been a productive day, look what I've made with the diamonds! You can see the order that they need to be stitched in.

This is what I have ended up with. Considering I wasn't exactly fond of the fabrics or the idea of Christmas themed fabrics, I can't quite believe that this has turned out so well. I loved adding the border of rectangles which I just trimmed by eye each time I added another strip. I would like to make this part of a mini sampler quilt and incorporate some foundation piecing as well. So my next challenge is going to be improving my skills on my Electric Quilt software. I definitely want some Dresden plates...

One final thing on this panel, the outer red points, turning the seams in was tricky. Helped along by some spray starch sprayed into the lid so that it is a fluid and then brushing  onto the corners, tease into position and then dab with a hot iron. Worked a treat  and the sewing machine stitched without a hitch.

My last quick project for the day, I can't take credit for. I saw this done somewhere on the web and fancied having a go. It's a super fast Christmas star decoration which I think would be brilliant as a Christmas style bunting or garland, personalized gift label or whatever else you can think of.

As it's late I'll post up the pics which are completely self explanatory. I stitched on the machine, normal straight stitch width. I used a Frixion pen and some wadding scraps. Just sandwich the wadding between the fabric front and back, right sides out and stitch on the line. Remember to tack a ribbon loop inside before you sew. With pinked raw edges this is so much fun to make and really, really fast! Yes it will fray, but that's alright. You could layer organza over a print or stitch together strips and mark the template on the resulting pieced together fabric. Add buttons, a bell, bow, whatever!

I like Christmas sewing!

Christmas Diamond Paper Piecing

Gosh it's a busy time! I have had a super lovely day today, finished some sewing and had the pleasure of spending the day with my sister's family. We made a big roast dinner, listened to Christmas music and put up my Christmas decorations.

My son, Max is away in Cyprus right now and my Husband, Charlie is in Australia of all places! It's quiet, just me and Charlie boy, the dog and the crackle of logs on the fire.

So, I have been sewing! Mainly for the sewing class I am teaching at Beales in Bedford. We are working on English Paper Piecing. So far we have dabbled in simple hexagons and now are taking a break from that shape and moving to diamonds as it's a festive shape for a decoration. I have fussy cut these to create a kaleidoscope pattern in the middle.

In the center there is a 6 point meet and that can be tricky to get a neat finish so you can always stitch on a button or two or make a sweet little label like this one.

And look at this apron! I just love this! It has two gusseted pockets which means I can fit all of my notions and spares inside. Its a mid weight denim, tough but flexible enough. I saw lots of variations on the internet, some with sectioned pockets, but I'm glad I just have two large ones, a really flexible space which I can reach into and grab what I need. The applique, I would do differently now, but it was quick and fun.

What else have I been doing? Have a look at these cheerful, festive fabrics

There's a fun reindeer print on an oatmeal background. I just love the image of a reindeer! I don't really much like novelty fabrics, well not until now. Besides, I think it is really good to try and use different fabrics and unfamiliar styles, keeps the creativity going. As long as you don't hate the fabric that is!

These diamonds have a 1inch side. one is fussy cut.

 So I made 6 sets of those and added larger 2 inch sided diamonds. Next, my favorite bit, arranging the proposed layout. Isn't that a pretty little flower that has appeared in the middle?

I have added more, but that's for next time! Back soon...