Tapestry cushion

When I started this project I hadn't done a tapestry since I was a child, I think I grew out of them as I don't find them to be particularly creative, they are mainly a glorified paint by numbers. But then I saw this kit by "Cleopatra's needle" and was drawn to the colours and pattern as it complemented a bedroom we have and the stitch size was not too large so looked quite attractive.  It has taken about 2 years to complete the sewing part but I still have to stitch it all together to make the cushion.

Update - I was all ready to stitch it together but couldn't convince myself to without stretching it, even by my standards it was too far out. It is currently tacked to an old table top in hopefully the right shape drying out from the water spray

The kit itself came with some lavender to put in the cushion, I was apprehensive about having it floating around inside and getting tangled in the tapestry itself so I made a little extra pouch to go between the two layers of wadding provided to stuff it.

I was a bit lazy and just used the thread that was already on my machine as I figured it would be very hidden.

Making the cushion up was really easy, I just machine sewed the front to the back leaving a small gap for turning and stuffing. I trimmed my edges to just over a centimetre and cut off the corners, turned it the right way round, stuffed and then hand stitched up the gap. And here's the finished item:

It only took me about 3 years to complete it!

WIP....Hexi paper piecing

I have no idea when I will finish this or quite what it will look like when I am finished....it is my first attempt at paper piecing.  I have used a Clover plastic template and made all my paper inserts (I found a "Fat Face" catalogue the ideal weight for the inserts) and then have been tacking them in a method that means the paper is easily removable without needing to take the tacking out.  The fabric is a selection of random pre-cut fat quarters from my local fabric shop - Hometown, in Rochester.  I have kept to the basic rule of keeping the central hexi plain and the fabric for the surrounding ones the same, using small pattern prints. This is my on the go project where I keep some fabric and templates in my travel sewing kit so I can keep doing it when I am caught hanging about in the car, generally on school pick ups. Anyway, I will post updates in the future and give it a number when it is completed.

My trusty template and cut-outs from Fat Face

Some completed hexies

Gift tags

This was a rainy afternoon project where I fancied trying my hand at making some gift tags in preparation for Christmas.  I had picked up the washi tape in the sales last January from John Lewis and then picked up some punched the other day. I kept them simple but used metallic card.  I loved the corner punch, a simple thing that turn a square homemade looking cutout into something a bit better.  This was my first venture into paper crafting and stamping, I am sure there are several techniques that could have made these look more professional but I am happy with my first attempt.

Quilt number 5

I wasn't sure whether to class this as a quilt or not but given I did sandwich the fabric with batting and quilted it I thought I would include it.  I made this travel sewing kit the day before I was going on holiday back in August, I should have been washing clothes and packing but I thought I needed to get my priorities straight and make sure I kitted out for sewing whilst away!  I made this up by looking at various pictures on pinterest and then adapted it for what I wanted, I knew that I wanted an area to store my hexies as I  was keen to start a paper piecing project. The strip of elastic didn't quite work as I intended to hold things in as this would only work with a solid back.  I added extra ribbons so I could tie things to it so certain things would not get lost while traveling, this feature has been great for threads and my scissors.   The ribbons weren't the best coordinated but I just used what I had in my stash, no time to go out and get new ones.

My special hexi pocket

All rolled up!

Unrolled and ready to use