In-house and occupied

Well, isn't this a strange time to try out something new? I hope this finds you safe and well and finding lots of outlets for those creative urges.

Last month when I was due to post on my New to Me's I had succumbed to what might, or might not, have been the cause of the worldwide closure. I couldn't concentrate on anything so it is probably just as well that I didn't have the energy to post as who knows what gibberish I might have written :)

I was supposed to be attending a full day Embroidery and Applique workshop two weeks ago with the very talented Roslyn Mitchell, who gave a fascinating presentation at my EG group a couple of years ago. Ever since then I have been looking for a chance to attend one of her workshops, so I was thrilled when I discovered one would be held not too far away on a day that I could attend. Needless to say lockdown put paid to that :(

So, my New to Me's this month are, of necessity, in-house.

 Our Endeavourers Quilt is due to be revealed on May 1st and I have been playing around with tea-dying fabric. The tea towel above (yes that is the before photo!)

Now looks like this! Trust me it will make sense in time :)

I have always struggled with isolated French knots like these when I have been stitching a pattern.

If I think that I can get away with it this is usually how I stitch them, with the thread trailing across the fabric between the knots.

No longer! Thanks to this tutorial from Mary Corbet's Needle 'n Thread no more trailing threads :)

I am so delighted at having discovered this method and only wish that I had taken the time to look for it sooner but, then I suspect I am not alone in that regard.

Hoping this finds you all well and finding joy in the small things too!

Figgy Pudding Teatowel Tutorial - Ho, Ho, Ho and on We Sew

Welcome to this month's Ho, Ho, Ho and on We Sew Link Party, where we encourage you to organise your Christmas and Holiday crafting over the year so that by December everyone is cool, calm and collected! Well, that's the plan :)

I love having linens that are only brought out at Christmas and have been gifting festive tea towels to the family since our time in Latvia. However, my stash of Christmas themed, linen tea towels bought in the factory shop in Lithuania has now run dry so it was time to get creative.

I give you my Christmas Pudding Applique Tea towel Tutorial !

To make one of your own you will need the following:

1 plain white 100% cotton tea towel 19" x 28" (approx)
Scrap of brown fabric for pudding approx 7" x 7"
Scrap of light fabric for topping approx 7" x 4"
Scrap of green fabric for leaves approx 3" x 3"
I small red button
Thread to match your fabrics
Fusible interfacing, same dimensions as your fabric scraps (I used a light fusible fleece so that my pudding would be slightly padded but you could use double-sided fusible web instead)

Step 1

Fuse your interfacing to the reverse side of your pudding, topping and leaves fabrics. Trace a 5.5" circle on the interfaced side of the pudding fabric.

As you can see I used a cake tin lid for my template, so draw around anything you have to hand that will work :)

Measure 2" down from the centre top of the traced circle and draw a line across the top of the circle through the mark you just made. (It doesn't matter if the line is not exactly straight as it will be covered by the topping fabric later)

 Cut out the traced circle and then cut along the marked line to give you the base of your pudding. Set aside the pudding base for later.

Step 2

Trace a semi-circle on the interfaced side of the topping fabric using the same measurement/template that you used for the pudding.

Place the top pudding piece that you cut off earlier on top of the traced semi-circle and draw freehand the wavy edge of the topping below the straight edge of the top pudding piece. See below.

(Make sure that your freehand line does not come completely up to the bottom edge of the pudding top)

Discard the pudding top piece and cut out your traced topping shape

Step 3

Draw two holly leaf shapes on the interfaced side of the leaves fabric and cut out.

Step 4

Decide where you want to applique your pudding to the tea towel. If using double-sided fusible web fuse the pudding base to the front of your tea towel. If using fusible fleece as I did, pin and baste the pudding base to the tea towel front.

 Step 5

With matching thread blanket or satin stitch around the curved edge of the pudding. (The straight edge will be covered by the pudding topping piece)

Matching up the curved edges, and making sure that the straight edge of the pudding is covered, fuse or pin and baste the topping piece to the tea towel.

Blanket or Satin Stitch around all edges of the topping with matching thread.

Step 6

Repeat fusing and stitching for the two holly leaves on the top of the pudding.

Stitch the red button on where the holly leaves meet.

Finished in plenty of time for Stir-Up Sunday!

If you need more inspiration for your festive crafting, each month we add a brand-new Christmas or Holiday project to the Ho, Ho, Ho and on We Sew archive. Click on the button at the top of the page to see all of the brilliant projects dreamt up to date by our fabulously talented guest hosts and be inspired!

Of course it wouldn't be a Ho, Ho, Ho and on We Sew Link Party without a giveaway and this month's giveaway is sure to spark your imagination!

 This very festive thread bundle has been generously donated by Tikki Patchwork

If you haven't come across Tikki Patchwork before you should definitely check them out and whilst you are there sign up to their newsletter to be sure of being in the know when new products hit the shelves or the sale signs go up! As I can personally testify their customer service is second to none :)

Last month's winner of the Animal Coin Purse pattern was Kathy at Running with Rocket who was quick enough off the mark to link up her own version of last month's Snowman Drawstring Bag tutorial from Sandra Sews

If you want to be in with a chance of winning that festive thread bundle then link up your Festive makes to this month's Link Party to be entered into the draw. Keep it current though no blasts from the past here! The Link Party is open until 23.59 GMT on October 31st so you have plenty of time to get stitching :)

An InLinkz Link-up

As ever a big thank you to all of our generous sponsors who provide such great giveaway prizes throughout the year

  

 

Linking up to Fabric Tuesday at Quilt Story