Sewing and Cats

 Two of my favourite things!

So I've finally got around to writing a SewforSoul update, having left an embarrassingly long gap since my last post! Lots has been going on here, including the sad death of Lily, our tabby cat, who often used to make a blog appearance.

Mr Larkin and I decided not to get another cat, as our human offspring will soon both be at university and my elderly father-in-law needs ever more care, so we felt it best to stay feline free......

This decision held for at least four months(!) before I weakened and we welcomed Luna and Lola, two British Shorthair girls, into our house and hearts.

When they arrived they were just the cutest bundles of fluff I have ever seen and they literally brought tears to mine and my daughter's eyes!  A year further on and they're still very adorable and fluffy, just much bigger!

Like all cats they are unbelievably nosy and are always keen to be involved in everything and anything anyone is doing.  Unsurprisingly, what they enjoy doing most is inserting themselves into the activity where they're actually needed the least! So this means they're often to be found in my sewing room 'helping' me with both fabric choices and the actual stitching....

Now you would think having originally decided we weren't having any more cats, two would have been more than enough......Not so!

We recently also acquired Digby, a little Snow Savannah boy! 

British Shorthairs and Savannahs are different in everyway - personality, size and build, fur, etc etc but Digby and the girls actually complement each other beautifully!

Views around cat ownership have definitely changed since we last had new cats, with many people now keeping their pets as indoor kitties only. I personally think that lots of cats like to have outside access, so we had our garden cat proofed by Viking Joinery using the Felisafe system. 

This meant a pretty brutal pruning back of over twenty years of growth but it was definitely worth the loss of shrubbery for the peace of mind the cat fencing provides.

Chris, the joiner from Viking, did a brilliant job and worked 10 hour days for a week in order to fit the system. He also made us a bespoke gate (& water butt lid!) for the same price as an inferior off the shelf version. He and his partner don't have cats, instead sharing their home with cute guinea pigs!  He really is a lovely guy and also gives his time and amazing joinery skills to helping at the Cavy Corner Guinea Pig Sanctuary. So when I saw some lovely guinea pig fabric over at Etsy I knew exactly what to make him for a little thank you present....

Festive Guinea Pig Bunting!

Christmas Applique Hoop Art

Embroidery Hoop Tutorial 

In my blog post last week I shared the first of my projects from 'Creative Christmas', a lovely festive bookazine which is available in shops now.  My second design for them is this cute little woodland scene, featuring an adorable fox and robin dressing their tree ready for the holidays!

The design can be stitched up in just an evening and it makes a perfect first project if you've yet to try free motion / free hand machine embroidery.  However be warned that Kirsty Allsopp declared it's highly addictive and 'craft crack cocaine'!

The magazine includes full sized patterns and clear step by step colour photographs.  I used a frixion pen to mark the stitching lines (and then erased them with a warm iron) which makes precise sewing a doddle!

The hoop would look perfect hung on the wall of a child's bedroom or nursery and you could even change the colours of the bunting flags to perfectly coordinate with your own decor!

Merry Christmas xx

Creative Christmas ~ New Bookazine!

Appliqued Felt Christmas Tree Decorations

This year has rushed by as I have been pretty busy being part of the sandwich generation!  In other words caring for elderly parents-in-law whilst still having children at home.  My blogging has sadly diminished to practically nothing but, with Christmas just around the corner, I thought I really ought to share my festive makes featured in a lovely new bookazine 'Creative Christmas' which is available in shops now.

I was asked to design a number of projects the first of which is these retro inspired applique felt baubles evoking memories of vintage glass ornaments.

There are seven different designs in the set and they're the perfect way to add a touch of retro glamour to any Christmas display! 

The designs feature both hand and machine stitched elements for a lovely homespun feel!

Stitch the whole range in just one colour of felt for a sophisticated look or pick your favourite design and repeat it onto baubles cut from different coloured felts for a more relaxed family friendly effect!

The magazine contains full sized patterns, easy to follow instructions and clear step by step colour photographs

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Bunting Tutorial

DIY Appliqued Fabric Banner

I've been stitching up bunting this week ready to pop in the post as Christmas gifts for my lovely family.  I used a cute blue dotty fabric to represent snow, combined with some very sweet snowmen and tasty figgy puddings!

Bunting is such a thoughtful gift to give and you could also use Christmas fabric, without the appliqued images, for an even quicker project.  The shops charge a fortune for fabric banners and bunting but if you can sew in a straight line, then you can whip up a festive garland!   

Christmas Bunting Tutorial

Materials

Blue dotty fabric

Blue lining fabric

Scraps of fabric for applique

Fusible web (Bondaweb/Heat N Bond)  

Paper or acetate for template

Bias-binding or ribbon

Small red buttons for holly berries

Bells or pom-poms

Step One

Create a template by drawing an equilateral triangle of 20cms either using Publisher or by hand (Having all sides equal saves worry about which is the ‘top’!).  Cut the template from acetate, salvaged from gift packaging.

Using the template, cut the required number of triangles from both the front and lining fabrics.

Step Two

If you're adding applique draw a suitable image or download one from the internet.  I drew a very simple snowman and figgy pudding with the word 'Noel'.  

Step Three
Trace all of your applique pieces onto the Bondaweb.  Place on fabric, fuse and cut out.

Step Four
Arrange the applique pieces on your flag fronts and, when happy with their placement, fix into position with your iron.

Step Five
Machine stitch around the applique pieces using black thread.  Sew over each line twice and don't worry if you wobble, this is all part of the appeal of free motion embroidery!

Step Six

Pin the fronts and lining pieces together, with right sides facing. Then machine stitch around three sides, leaving the tops open. Trim seams and snip across the bottom point to reduce bulk, then turn through to right side and press carefully.

Almost there!

These triangle flags were stitched, pressed and ready to be attached to the bias binding when I noticed that one of the 'N's' was upside down - I quickly stitched up another one........A bit of a D'oh moment!

Step Seven

Place the flags inside the bias-binding approximately 2cms apart and pin into place.  If you don’t have any bias-binding simply fold some pretty ribbon or tape in half and press.  Remember to allow at least 10cms of tape at both ends of the bunting garland so that it can be tied or hung in its finished position.  Machine stitch using either a zigzag or straight stitch.

Step Eight
Stitch a little bell or pompom to each of the triangle points and then hang in pride of place in your home (or gift to a loved one, if you can bear to part with it!).

See, I told you it was easy!

'We all love figgy pudding, so bring some out here!'

'Let it snow!'



Merry Christmas!

Felt Hanging Christmas Ornaments

Stitched Felt Decorations

 

This month's Cuddly Buddly design team challenge was entitled 'Something for the tree' and I stitched up these cute hanging felt ornaments.  I also included a second free-standing version.

They're really straightforward to make and so the perfect project to get the children involved.

 You can see my tutorial over at the Cuddly Buddly blog, along with lots of other festive makes from my talented team mates.

All of the materials you need to complete the project are available to purchase from Cuddly Buddly and if you enter my Christmas Giveaway, you could win a £25 Cuddly Buddly gift certificate....but hurry the giveaway ends today!

Good luck!