January stash busting

A new month already, doesn't time fly by when you are having fun? We have been very lucky not to have had the terrible weather this winter that some people have been experiencing, but it certainly hasn't been the kind of weather that you would be spending much time outside in. So, sitting snugly inside with my sewing machine has definitely been the way to go.

Definitely a mixed bag of projects too!

1. STAW Rd3 Hive 7 Block 5, 2. Wine bottle cushion, 3. STAW Rd3 Hive 7 Block 1, 4. Infinity Scarf, 5. STAW Rd3 Hive 7 Block 2, 6. Luckenbooth Cushion front, 7. STAW Rd3 Hive 7 Block 3, 8. Clamshell with chain, 9. Completed HST BOM quilt

A finished quilt though, that doesn't happen very often :)

Sign-ups for Round 4 of the Scrappy Trip Around the World Bee open today, so if you missed the boat on previous rounds sign up here before the February 6th deadline. The blocks are really straightforward to put together, and it is such fun seeing how different the block looks depending on the fabric selection. Great stash buster too!

I signed up to another Bee this month too, The Fat Stash Brit Bee, which is a monthly Bee where we will all make the same block using fabrics in our stash to complement the fabric sent out by the month's Queen Bee.

This year is definitely going to be about liberating those stash fabrics :)

Linking up to

Luckenbooth Cushion

I have been playing with my new toy, the EQ7 software and it is definitely challenging my poor brain! Still they say that it is good to keep your brain active with puzzles so I console myself with that thought when I am baffled.

One of the things that I wanted to do with the software was create my own patterns for fusible bias applique. I love Celtic Knotwork patterns and would like to recreate them in fabric.

I decided to start off with something easier though :)

Luckenbooth Cushion

The Cushion applique is based upon the Luckenbooth symbol with two entwined hearts beneath a crown. The Luckenbooth symbol is an ancient Scottish love token, which was often given to brides on their wedding day. There is a legend that Mary, Queen of Scots gave a Luckenbooth charm to Lord Darnley when they married, but as that marriage ended rather violently we will dismiss that as a bad rumour :)

The applique Crown was fused to the background fabric and then blanket stitched, the heart applique was made with bias strips which were also fused and blanket stitched to the background fabric. You can see both of these more clearly below.

I made my favourite button closure for the back as the perfect buttons were just sitting in my button tin waiting to be used!

They are Japanese shell buttons from Woolmouse , which I bought when we visited the Market Hall in Richmond, North Yorkshire last year. I knew they would be perfect one day!

Whilst the fusible applique was straightforward, the corded trim was a bit of a nightmare! I found the trim in my stash, it must be several years old, but I couldn't have found a better match if I tried. Although I have attached piping on a cushion and bags before, I have never attempted to attach cord and such large cord at that. I discovered that my usual method of attaching with a zipper foot just didn't get close enough to the cord, so when the cushion was turned out the cord tape was still visible. It took another attempt with the piping foot, which was balanced precariously on top of the cord (!), to finally be able to stitch a line close enough that the cord tape didn't show. 

Updated to add that the pattern for this cushion is now available as a free download in my Craftsy Pattern Store

 
If you have tried something new too this month, don't forget to link up to

The link up closes at 24.00 GMT today January 31st, so you still have time to link up no matter where you are in the world!

There is still time too to link up to the first monthly link party for

One lucky linker will win a copy of Quiet Play and Blossom Heart Quilts Ornamental and Sew Seasonal Bundle, that's 25 patterns up for grabs. So, if you have made a Christmas gift to tuck away for December or finished a Home Decoration project that didn't get finished in time for Christmas 2013, head on over to Mud, Pies and Pins to link up before the link party closes at 24.00 GMT January 31st too.

This is my first finish for the 2014 FAL and we are still in the first month, so I hope that bodes well for the rest of the Quarter!

It is also another project for the brilliant me,me,me Bee dreamt up by Moira at Kettleboiler to encourage us all to remember to make something for ourselves now and again.

Linking up to Crazy Mom Quilts

New to Me in January

Welcome to the first New to Me in 2014. As you can see we have a new Blog Button to celebrate another year of New to Me.

If you are new to the Link Party, let me explain what it is all about. Every month we celebrate the trying of something new, whether it is a new craft, a new technique or even a new location, if it is New to You link it up!

The emphasis of the Link Party is in the trying so if you have tried something New to You and it hasn't quite worked out for some reason, that's OK link that up too. You never know there might be someone out there who has had the same problem and can pass on some sage advice, but at the very least you will get lots of support and encouragement from your fellow bloggers for having the courage to try in the first place :)

My New to Me's this month are fairly random.

First up, we were guinea pigs for a brand-new cruise ship! It was just as good as it sounds, we were only on the cruise ship for one night but took full advantage of the facilities downing appropriately named cocktails and dancing the night away to duelling pianos!

My second New to Me is my first ever purchase of much lusted after Oakshott cottons :) Thanks to Catherine's need for a partner in crime for her Oakshott shopping, these lovelies came winging their way to me from North of the Border. I am enjoying stroking them for now until I can come up with a master plan for them.

Next up my first ever Clamshell frame purse! There was a bit of brute force required to get the folded edges into the frame neatly, but other than that it was really straightforward to assemble. I will definitely be making more of these :)

And finally, look what I found under the tree on Christmas morning! I am still finding my way around it all, and being bamboozled by all the possibilities in the process, but I can't wait to design my very first quilt. Needless to say I will share it all with you in a New to Me post when it happens :)

Now it's your turn.


As ever please help to spread the word by linking back to this post in your post and/or adding the blog button to your sidebar.

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Check out the other links and leave a comment along the way. The emphasis of this link party is to celebrate the trying of something new, whether it works out exactly as planned or not, so a little encouragement here and there would not go amiss! 

The link will remain open until January 31st so if you found some exciting new tools or kits under your Christmas tree that you haven't even opened there's still time to try them out and link them up :)

An InLinkz Link-up