Craftpod Giveaway

My two daughters are always entering giveaways and have far too much success for my liking!  Recently I entered a giveway for Craftpod, tagged my daughters who in turn entered and blow me if Clare went and won!

Knowing she was most unlikely to suddenly take up embroidery, I offered to do it for her.  

There were two projects, a hoop of botanical stitching and an embroidered project bag.  Really enjoyed all the stitching, learning a new stitch - catkin stitch.

I added a design to the other side of the project bag so there is stitching on both sides.

I'm always moaning because I never win the giveaways I enter but all this has now changed as I have won two tickets for this year's Festival of Quilts so I know where I am going in August!

Another shawl!

I've recently completed another Maid of Honour Shawl, this time for my sister as a birthday present.  Now that it's been delivered, I can blog about it.

Once again I have used Scheepjes Whirl, this time in Rosewater Cocktail.  She said she liked bright colours and bright colours is what she got.  

The Maid of Honour pattern was designed by Buttonnose Crochet and this is the third one I have made but I love it so much and the combination of Scheepjes Whirl and the graduated colours makes it a joy to make.

Little baskets from Little Box

Although I haven't mentioned Little Box of Crochet recently I am still subscribing but haven't been inspired by the last couple of boxes.

However, the April box did inspire and I quickly made these two little baskets, designed by @atergcrochet.

The first one (the one at the back) came out quite loose so I went down a hook size for the second one which came out much better.

Journal Quilt for May

I've now reached Yellow on my journey around the colour wheel so I decided as it was one colour I would do a 'whole cloth' quilt and print it after quilting.

I started with a piece of yellow fabric which I had in my dyed stash and quilted it as a traditional log cabin.   Once complete, I gelli printed it using a wooden block in a leaf design.  I use two shades of yellow fabric paint but as the quilt still looked a bit plain, I also added some prints using the same block.

For the binding, I used some more of the yellow fabric which had been printed in the same was as the quilt.

Embroidered Denim Jacket

Despite the lack of posts, I have been busy - I am someone who cannot sit and do nothing!

I started a new project a few weeks ago and this is one I will be working on for some time, so watch out for updates.

I have had a denim jacket hanging in my wardrobe for some time but in the last few years I have not worn it.  It had a lining (must have been a posh one!) which had ripped around one of the armholes which no doubt contributed to its lack of use.

Rewinding a few years, Quilting Arts featured a denim jacket that Susan Brubaker Knapp had covered with stitches and although several years have passed since I first saw it, the inspiration stayed with me so I decided it was time for me to start.

To prepare the jacket, I ripped/cut out the lining and was surprised to find the finish wasn't too bad although some parts did need tidying up.  I was just going to overstitch the edges but my daughter Clare suggested I get some pretty bias binding to use instead.  Great advice which I duly followed!

I started with a mandala as I had just finished my first embroidered mandala which I had enjoyed.  This was followed by two more mandalas on either side.   I now need to add some stitching to connect these as I feel they look a bit odd 'floating' at the sides.

Centre Mandala

Mandala which sit either side of the centre one

The next panel I worked on was really inspired by that first one I saw in Quilting Arts.  I used images of items I use when sewing - tape measure, cotton reel, scissors and needle and thread.  These were all done in outline and the background was then filled with seed stitches.   I plan to do another layer of seed stitches over the top of the first layer.

Detail of centre panel

Put them altogether and you have ......

I planned to wear it to a family party last week but the weather was so hot, jackets were not required!

This is very much a WIP and I have planned the next few designs to go on it but I will take my time to make sure it is just what I want.  I added an extra bit of stitching in the corner just so people know.