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Creative Sewing Challenge Prompts 2023
January 2023 Grateful Heart February 2023 Frozen March Favourite Things April Planet Earth May You Are My Sunshine June Microscopic July Safari August Carousel September Harvest Moon October Autumn Vibes November Sparkle December Silver Bells
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Free Embroidery Pattern: Heart of Hope
This is the last of three embroidery patterns I have been working on during our latest UK lockdown. My little Heart of Hope was stitched in anticipation of better days to come, helping to keep all the worries and woes at bay during this unsettling time. You can download the pattern below for free, its…
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Free Embroidery Pattern: Stay Home Stay Cosy
At the time of writing, the UK is into its 3rd lockdown as the battle against COVID-19 continues. To keep myself sane, I have turned once again to embroidery. It calms my energy, occupies my thoughts and keeps me creative. This embroidery design was created in particular to focus on the more positive aspects of…
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Queen of Hearts Quote Embroidery Pattern
This free embroidery pattern is based on a quote taken from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, and very apt for these crazy COVID times we are living through. “What a strange world we live in said Alice to the Queen of Hearts”. Download the design to make your own Alice in Wonderland Hoop Art, using…
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5 Things to Consider When Choosing Fabric
It took me a while to realise that not all fabric is equal, and through a lot of trial and error (and I mean A LOT of error), I discovered just how important it is to choose the right material for your sewing project. Here’s a few important considerations I’d like to share with you…
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Free Embroidery Pattern: Feather Hoop Art
Download this free embroidery pattern to create your very own Feather Hoop Art. You can transfer either or both feathers, depending on your preference. You can fill the sections as I have done, or simply embroider the outline for a simple but striking affect. The choice of colours and stitches is entirely yours, or you…
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Sewing Tutorial: make a cafetiere cosy
This week I have written a series of posts breaking down the process of making a cafetiere cosy. This project was inspired by my Creative Sewing Challenge theme for June, ‘Flight of the Bumblebee’, and I’ve really enjoyed the creative journey its taken me on; from honeycomb-inspired crazy quilting, through to darting bee embellishments, and…
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Cafetiere Cosy Sewing Tutorial Part 2: thread sketch bee
This post is part two of my series, ‘How to make a cafetiere cosy’. However, you can also still follow this tutorial for any sewing project you would like to use with thread sketching; the process is the same and it is a very creative skill to acquire along your sewing journey. You will need:…
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5 Bee Inspired Sewing Projects
The theme for my Creative Sewing Challenge this month is ‘Flight of the Bumblebee’. Whilst I currently work on my own sewing project for this theme (a bee-inspired cafetiere cosy!) I thought I’d share some of the other lovely projects I’ve been researching for my Creative Sewing Challenge Community. If you are also interested in…
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Five tutorials to help children get into sewing
This week I’ve published a series of tutorials to help anyone who would like to support the children in their lives to develop a natural love of sewing. At the time of writing, we are amid the COVID-19 crisis, which has left many of us juggling work, childcare and homeschooling. But this crisis won’t last…
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Free Embroidery Pattern: Rainbow of Hope
As the world grapples with the fear and uncertainty that COVID-19 has bought about, I was hunting high and low for some good news stories to share with members of my Creative Sewing Challenge. And I found a news story about the rainbows that children of Italy are drawing and hanging in their windows with…
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How to shorten a flared skirt: gathering method
Like many things I write about on my blog, trying to tackle a curved hem when I first started dressmaking left me feeling frustrated and defeated. The hem would always pucker, and I’d never be able to avoid tucks and kinks no matter how hard I tried to keep it neat. But I have since…
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Sewing tutorial: make a dotty daisy bookmark
These bookmarks are so simple to make using embroidery and fabric paints. Even the least confident artist can create a really beautiful result using the end of a paintbrush. An ideal home-made gift for book-lovers, and pretty good scrap-buster project as they require only small rectangles of fabric. Make up a few and Christmas, birthdays…
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How to turn sketches into embroidery motifs
I love to sketch, and every so often a little doodle of mine wants to hop out of my sketchbook and do something more with its life. Turns out its perfectly possible to turn your sketches into embroidery motifs, and its very easy. Read on to find out how. You will need: Your original sketch…
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Tutorial: how to make bunting
There is something about bunting that just makes you smile. It seems to represent sunny days, garden parties and all things quaint and pretty. No wonder it is such a popular choice for home decor, as well as festivities of any kind. Whether its a nursery or a kitchen, a wedding or a street party,…
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How Sewers Can Change the World
I first encountered the word ‘craftivism’ from reading a blog a few years ago, and whilst I didn’t immediately grasp the concept, I felt very drawn to the idea that making and creating, a thing I love to do, can have some greater good to bring to the world. I’ve since delved a bit deeper,…
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Free Pattern: Embroidered Heart Charm
Make this beautiful felt heart-charm in no time at all. This is a simple piece of hand-sewing that you can put together across an evening or two; a lovely handmade gift for occasions like Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day, or just something sweet for you to keep. Choose any colours that appeal to you; I…
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10 Garden Inspired Sewing Projects
Spring is in the air, and everything is beginning to grow again. Its such a lovely time of year, full of optimism and fresh beginnings. And for those of us who love to sew, there is something so very inspirational about those gardens full of all things bright and beautiful. Read on to discover a…
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Loving Kindness Sewing Projects
Sewing is such a rewarding hobby, but I’ve recently been curious about how I might be able to be more giving through my sewing; not only in terms of making gifts to give, but whether there are other ways that loving kindness can be spread through the things I make. Here are some of the…
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Tutorial: shooting star embroidery hoop
Follow this step by step tutorial to create your own embroidery hoop art. This tiny shooting star is simple to make, and a wonderful little project for anyone looking to develop their hand sewing. I found denim to be an ideal fabric for this piece, putting a pair of old jeans to good use to…
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5 Charities That Need Your Sewing Skills
If you have ever wanted to use your sewing talents for a greater good, you are not alone. Simply making and donating handsewn items to charity is a worthwhile activity in itself. However, there are many organisations who have established their good works around the premise that people who love to sew also have good…
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How To Improve Your Top Stitching
Top stitching is a type of stitch that can be both decorative and functional. There are a few simple steps you can take to make sure your top stitching looks great, giving your sewing projects that professional finish. Use a sewing machine needle suitable for top stitching Depending on the project you are top-stitching, it’s…
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Really Simple Sewing Pattern: Heart Pencil Toppers
A cute little sewing tutorial, designed for children but ideal for practising your hand embroidery too! I was scrolling Pinterest for a little heart-related project for Valentines to try and review, and stumbled across this lovely little make from the Kids Activities Blog for Back to School: Felt Heart Pencil Toppers. Now, the original tutorial…
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Creative Sewing Challenge Prompts 2022
January 2022 New February 2022 Love is… March 2022 Home Sweet Home April 2022 Cactus May 2022 Hummingbird June 2022 Beauty lies in symmetry July 2022 Orange and black August 2022 Coral Reef September 2022 All good things are wild and free October 2022 Apples and pears November 2022 Mythical December 2022 The Holly and…