Draped Top - The Great British Sewing Bee Book

A while back, I borrowed my Mum's copy of The Great British Sewing Bee Book  as I wanted to have a go at making the Draped Top.  There was always something else that wanted sewing, knitting or baking, so I didn't get around to it for ages.

Well enough was enough and last week I gave it a go.  My sewing skills are more geared to quilting, so dressmaking was a total change.  But I like a challenge!  Assisted by the cat, I set to, tracing and cutting out the pattern from the pattern sheets provided.

The fabric I was using is probably older than me and was brought back from Hong Kong over 40 years ago.  Its matt silk and much richer in colour than the photo shows.

I found it quite flimsy to work with, but has a beautiful drape.  Just what you need for a top like this.

The pattern was simple and easy to follow and gave separate instructions for the gathering required for the neckline.  I chose to do my gathering by hand and did the rest on the machine with Gutermann Sew-it-all thread and a size 70 machine needle.

A simple halterneck style neck tie.

And a nice scooped hemline front and back.

Its going to be just perfect for a beach holiday!

I think I like it so much, I will try it out in a variety of fabrics.  I bought this lovely fine cotton from Liberty about 4 years ago and think it would look great as a draped top.

However, it has sat in its Liberty bag since I bought it and I'm not sure I can bare to actually cut it up.

Happy sewing!

A little sprinkling of Christmas Sparkle - Cowslip Workshops Xmas Bonanza

Well Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without a jaunt down to Cornwall for Cowslip Workshop's annual Christmas Bonanza, now would it.  This year I stayed again with the lovely Lisa at Goodmansleigh Farm and rented White Park for a week.  This way I could have family to stay, sew to my hearts content and also explore the local area a bit more.  I don't know how I did it, but the weather was great and showed off the delights of Bude Beach, Tintagel and Boscastle at their best.

Not a bad view from the kitchen!

However, I digress, back to the sewing.  A couple of years ago, I started my Reindeer Quilt at Cowslip.  I finally finished it towards the end of 2014. 

 

At the Christmas Bonanza, I wanted to make a cushion which would complement it, yet also have a go at the Free Machine Quilting technique, of which owner Jo, is a great teacher.  This was my final offering, which I am really chuffed with.

I also made this cute Christmas Robin, mounted on a log, with sewn holly leaves, fresh moss and twigs.

I can,t bare to put my Stuffed Star Christmas Tree away for Christmas, which is now adorned with little silver bells and so it sits proudly in my office/sewing room.

I got asked to make some stuffed Christmas Bells for a couple of my gardening clients and got a bit carried away.  Five later - they looked great bagged up in a simple cookie bag and ribbon.  The Christmas napkins were gifts for family, with the embroidery templates copied by eye from the lovely 'Stitch it for Christmas' Book by Lynette Anderson.

Last year saw a bit of a crafty lull for me, so my New Years resolution?  More knitting, sewing and baking.  Bring it on!

Happy Sewing!

Wonky Log Cabin Xmas Lap Quilt - Cowslip Workshops

One of my favourite crafty places to visit is Cowslip Workshops in Launceston, Cornwall run by Jo Colwill.  For the last few years I've been lucky enough to attend their 2 day Christmas Bonanza workshops, where there is stacks of inspiring projects to get stuck into.  This was the display from 2 years ago.

This is Ruddy, one of my creations.  I can't bare to put him away after the festivities, so he holds court in my spare bedroom!



2 years ago, I started on my Wonky Log Cabin Xmas Quilt.  Rather than creating squares around a central starting point with rectangular strips, with the Wonky Log Cabin you make your first square with the strips of fabric.  Then, using a cutting square you cut on an angle in a downhill direction.  The second round of strips is cut in a uphill direction and the third downhill again and so on depending how many rounds you do.  I did 3 rounds.  It gives a more unusual effect.



It was meant to be turned into a much larger quilt with many more Xmas tree squares, but at the Christmas Bonanza last year, I took inspiration from some of Jo's quilts and turned it into a little lap quilt/wall-hanging.

I still used the main ideas from the larger quilt design including the leaping Reindeer with Rudolph leading the pack.

The Reindeer were hand stitched with silver thread around the outer edges, whilst my snowflakes were stitched on the sewing machine, with special silver machine thread.

After adding the wadding and lovely soft red backing fabric, I decided to hand stitch around certain parts of the quilt with embroidery thread, starting in the centre to hold everything together. 

The quilt was finished by folding the backing fabric over and machine stitching it down.

I cant wait to display it this Xmas and who knows what I'll create at this years Christmas Bonanza.  There is talk of Reindeer draught excluders and Robin doorstops!  How exciting!

Happy Sewing!

Pie Crust Cushions from Jo Colwill's Book 'Cushions & Quilts'

I have been itching to use some lovely linen fabric in my stash, but just had to decide on the right project.  As I only had a fat quarter each of the floral and pink hare fabric, I knew it had to be a cushion.

Last November I had the delight of being back at Cowslip Workshops in Launceston, Cornwall for their annual Xmas Bonanza Weekend. One of the many options to try out was a Pie Crust Cushion, designed by owner Jo. Using some lovely red heart and flower fabric from the shop along with some I already had, I created a fabulous applique heart cushion. But more of that later.

This gave me the idea for my Hare cushion.  Using the larger brown hare fabric piece, I then cut out the pink hare fabric to create a wide border.

The final size came to 11 inches square.  I cut out the back fabric and then added a piece of wadding and plain fabric to each to create a quilt sandwich.  This helps bulk out the cushion and makes the Pie Crust effect when you hand stitch later.

A side gusset has to be added to the top panel first and then the bottom panel leaving enough space to get your cushion pad in.  Stuff the cover with the pad and hand sew the open seam with a slip stitch.

The Pie Crust effect is created by hand sewing up and down on the top and bottom of the cushion, using a cotton Perle thread.  I used Anchor Cotton Perle No 5 in Colour 968 Pink.

Here's the original Heart cushion I made, which gave me the idea for the Hare cushion.

This was using a 12 inch square, but both were stuffed with a 14 inch cushion pad for bulk.

And as its Chelsea Flower Show this week, I thought a garden shot might show them off nicely!



Happy Sewing!

Hot Water Bottle Cover in Cath Kidston Fabric

I have had the hot water bottle, the fabric and the idea sitting around for far too long.  So of course I waited until the hottest weekend of the year so far to make a quilted hot water bottle cover!  I used the idea from Cath Kidston's Sew Book. 

For my first attempt I simply drew around the outside of the hot water bottle allowing an extra 2cm, to get the bottle in.  It ended up a tad tight around the neck, but still perfectly usable.

Keen to get it just right, a couple of weekends later, I thought I'd have a go using the template provided with the book.

Using your chosen fabric, you cut out 3 pieces.  1 for the back and 2 for the front. 

Using these as a template you cut out the backing fabric and wadding, which goes in the middle to give a padded effect and provide warmth.

 

 

At this stage, you add on some bias-binding to the 2 front pieces to seal their straight edges. 

 

 

 

 

I cheated and used ready made binding.  But it is possible to make your own.

 

 

The 3 sections are placed fabric right-sides together and pinned, so the top flap will be the outermost piece.

You then simply sew the 3 pieces together and cut out a few notches on the curved edges.  This ensures less bulky corners when you turn the cover the right way.

 

 

Turn the cover the right way (removing all your pins!!) and voila!

 

 

 



Here's the difference between my 1st and 2nd attempt. 

My friend Raph has also got the sewing bug and is working her way through the book too.

 

Here's our attempts, with some possible embellishments.  A really quick and easy sewing project.

Happy Sewing!



Summer Daisy Quilt - Cowslip Workshops

Back in June last year, my Mum and I spent a lovely weekend on an Applique workshop down at our favourite Cowslip Workshops in Cornwall.  Mum learnt needle-turn applique (a technique I had learnt here before with my Little House Quilt), whilst I had a go at making a double bed quilt.  Here I learnt rough edge applique, using a double layer of fabric to create more depth on the daisies.

During the first evening we had fun trying to decide where to put each daisy square to create maximum impact.

The quilt was made in 2 halves.  A 2 column panel and a 3 column panel were made and I then used the 'quilt as you go' technique to sew them together.

Trying to machine quilt a 25 daisy panel double quilt would have been near on impossible!  This way, once you have created your daisy columns, you baste the front, wadding and backing together, then start free machine quilting the 3 layers together to secure.

This was my first attempt at Free Machine Quilting.  Never one to start small and build up, I went straight into a double bed quilt.  My quilting technique leaves a lot to be desired and I certainly learnt about playing around with the machine tension.  Achieving a nice stitch on top and below the quilt took some practise.  But not bad for a first attempt I think!

For the 'Quilt as you Go' technique, after all the daisies are machine quilted together, you machine sew the 2 panel and 3 panel top layers together, then hand sew the wadding together, followed by the backing, to create a 25 panel quilt.  Add the top and bottom panels and complete by finishing off the edging.



I'm pretty pleased with it.  Now I just need to keep the cat off!

Details on the 'Quilt as you Go' technique and much more can be found in Jo Colwill's inspirational book 'Cushions & Quilts'.

Happy Sewing!





Disappearing Nine Patch Cupcake Cot Quilt

Back in March my Mum and I enjoyed a great little Patchwork & Quilting Workshop at the Brighton Sewing Centre.  It was open to all abilities and a bargain at £20 for 4 hours. 

I had bought the cupcake fabric from them the previous year, when I went to the shop to get advice and to buy a new sewing machine.  The girls were so helpful on which model to buy and I love my Janome TXL 607.

We already have some experience at patchwork, but its always good to pick up new tips. We both decided on the Disappearing Nine Patch Block and were amazed at how simple an idea can be so effective.

Basically you piece and sew 9 equal size squares together and then cut up and then across the middle of the nine patch block.  The four cut pieces are then re-sewn to create a new pattern. 

I decided to turn this into a cot quilt for my niece, Ellie, as we are both fans of cupcakes!  I gave it a simple white inner border, using complementing squares in pink and purple and then used the spotty turquoise fabric for the outer border, which I folded and hand-sewed onto the backing fabric.

I'm really chuffed with the backing fabric, which I found on sale in the children's section of Laura Ashley.  I think it makes a great reversible quilt, but then I am biased!

To speed up the quilting process, we found out about the use of 505 Fabric Adhesive at Cowslips Workshops (more on that weekend in the next blogpost!).  You spray your wadding (the middle of the quilt) and lay your backing fabric on and smooth out any creases.  Then turn the quilt over, spray the other side of the wadding and lay down your quilt top and smooth out.  This saves hours of tacking the 3 layers together and means you can get straight on with the quilting part of the quilt.

I hope she likes it!

Now I just need to crack on with a Daisy Quilt I started at Cowslip Workshops a couple of weekends back.  Here's a sneak preview.......

Happy sewing!