Sew-outs.

Way back in 1999 when I got my first embroidery machine I did loads of stitch-outs of various designs whilst I experimented with threads and stabilizers. Later when I started digitising my own designs I used to do trial stitch-outs to see if my ideas would work.

Of course after using up thread and fabric I couldn't just bin them so they got integrated into my stash.

Here I have used some of these trial runs to jazz up some plain material for more bags. At least they won't be mistaken for anyone else's bag ! :o)


The squares below are all stitched out on different silk remnants. They just asked to be stitched together but I am not sure where I go with them now?
Maybe I should have sashed them or alternated them with plain squares, or embroidered some more to make something bigger. I don't really fancy unpicking them as the silk frays so badly (or so well? )

They will probably hibernate back into the stitch-out box until inspiration strikes. At the moment all I can think of is a humbug shaped cushion or the top of a pretty bag to store something in?

BQL bags.

Along with many other members of the British Quilt List I am making a bag a month, following directions kindly designed and drafted by Kandy Newton.
Life got in the way in June so I unfortunately missed that month's bag but I am pleased that I have managed to keep up for the other months. Apart from helping to cut down on plastic bags these bags have used up a lot of fabric that has just been lurking in my stash; have introduced me to new techniques and have sometimes been the sewing project I needed to get me creating again.
You can join the BQL here.
You can see all the bags that have been made here.

Catching up.

I may have been quiet but it has been a busy couple of weeks, with one thing and another!
Most of the daylight hours I have been outside in the garden clearing brambles and cutting grass and hedges but also quite a lot of other creative stuff has been going on.

First ,I managed to get a simple, electric sewing machine, so that my 10 and 6 year old grand daughters can be introduced to the fun of sewing. We started off with a pile of squares that had been lurking amongst my stash. They shuffled them around with great deliberation until they were satisfied with their pattern and then pinned them all before going to the machine. The 10 year old made herself a lined bag and the younger one managed to piece the top of a blanket for her bear. (She backed it with fleece later)
They did really well and did it all by themselves, though I had to sit on my hands at times. We now plan on a regular Sunday afternoon sewing session during the winter months. I think I have located a hand sewing machine for the younger one whose hand and foot co-ordination isn't quite so well developed.


The postie called to bring back "Crazy Paisley" complete with the Machine Quilting Award and rosette from the Scottish Quilting Championships.
What is it about rosettes? The award will probably be placed safely away but the rosette will go on my little noticeboard in my sewing room. I love it, if I win a different coloured one----------well I love it when I win one but take extra delight if it is a different colour. :o)



I have also been continuing with my stash busting and have been doing some garment sewing. These are the second pair of micro fibre trousers lined with thin fleece----------should be cosy in the colder months!