Stitch Gathering 2014.....and a giveaway

Hiya, I think it is time for a little Stitch Gathering sum-up.......wonderful!  I don't really need to say much more (except, of course, I will!).  I had the most wonderful bunch of 12 ladies who all finished their Café Aprons - so many different looks from one simple little pattern, and a few clever customisations along the way.  What a way to make me happy! 

If you hang on to the end of the post there's a wee giveaway to share some of the fun from the day.

Our lunchtime entertainment consisted of viewing all the very talented ticket bag decorations, some were truly stunning.  Then we had the fun of finding our swap partners, I hope Sally likes hers. I was exceedingly lucky to be given Jo's.  Isn't it clever (it really gives you an idea of Jo's rather eclectic and bright taste and her range of skills spanning pretty much the whole crafting spectrum)?  Katie was determined that I should highlight her two favourite parts.  Can you tell?

Here's me (on the right) with Jo, admiring the bag she gave me

There was also a pretty mindblowing Show and Tell session - just so much talent.  I couldn't resist adding this photo which shows just how impressed (and shocked) Jo was at the skill, and time, that had gone into making this bundle of red and white blocks. 

I joined in the Patchwork Doggie class in the afternoon......helping out a little to get a few people started and then I was able to do some sewing of my own, which was a great way to unwind after my class.  We were all hand sewing so there was plenty of time for chatting - in amongst the occasional naughty word as something was sewn on the wrong way round (I'm referring to myself here!).  I still have a bit more to do to finish mine but it won't take too long and I plan to give it to Islay.

It was lovely to see so many faces from last year and meet some great new people too.  (And fab to catch up with Sarah who I met at the Fat Quarterly Retreat last summer).

We all received fabulous goody bags.  Many thanks to the following sponsors:
Aurifil (thread), Nairns (biscuits), Pilot (Frixion pen), Coats (Millward needles and Coats thread), Dashwood (fabric FQ), Love Patchwork and Quilting (magazine), DMC (embroidery thread), Very Berry Fabric (Liberty Tana Lawn scrap pack), Groves and Banks (embroidery scissors), Liberty (tote bag, which I forgot to photograph, sorry, and fabric), Blend Fabric (2 fabric panels), Robert Kaufman (5FQ bunble), myBearpaw (DMC perle cotton number 8 and packet of beads)

Having had such a great day I thought it would be good to share some of the happiness........so to win the goodies below just leave me a comment!  Open to everyone, wherever you are and whether it is your first visit or you're a regular here.......and I'll probably sneak in some edible goodies too.....anyone not like chocolate?!  Good luck!

The Stitch Gathering - ticket swap bag



Not long now until The Stitch Gathering.  I'm really looking forward to it this year. I did last year, too, but with quite a lot of nervousness in advance of the class I was teaching.  This year, I'm feeling more sure of myself especially since I have taught a few classes throughout the year.  Having written this, and expressed my relative lack of fear out loud, I'm now pretty concerned that I'm tempting fate.  I do hope not!

 

Anyhow, I'm sure it will be a wonderful day. Jo is a bit of a genius for putting together good things (and we'll just have to hope that, for the sake of everyone in my class, I'm not struck by lightning or a similar smugness-induced calamity between now and then). Last year we each received a fabric ticket which we embellished and handed in.....for Jo to turn into a stunning quilt which will be raffled for charity at this year's event.

 

I did wonder how that idea could be beaten, but I needn't have worried.  This year we have all been sent a ticket bag to embellish for a swap partner.  I can't reveal who my partner is as that would spoil half the fun, but I can show my finished bag.

 

After a lot of um-ing and ah-ing the flower applique idea came to me as I was heading off to sleep one night (do you find yourself mulling over stitchy problems then too?).  I much prefer bags with a bit of body and strength to them so I added a lining and picked out some fun lobsters for a wee pocket and key tab too. I hope my partner likes red.  I think she does!

 

I've added a few wee notes below on how I put the bag together.  I really love applique and it was one of the first things I taught myself a few years ago.  I'm not sure I do it the 'proper' way but what I do works for me so I thought I'd jot down a few pointers for the very simple way I decorated the bag in case anyone wants to give it a go but hasn't tried before.  It is fun so do try!

 

Applique notes::

 1. Firstly sketch your design, in this case I just did it straight onto the bag so that I didn't have to copy out the circles which were going to form the basis of my flower - but I could have traced the circles onto a piece of paper and then sketched my design on that.
2. If your design has a right and wrong way round (e.g. numbers and letters) then you'll need to reverse it, I usually hold my paper up to a window and trace the design onto the back of the paper.  In this instance it didn't matter, it just meant that the petals (which I drew free-hand and deliberately weren't symmetrical) would be mirror images of their originals.....but would still be exactly right to fit round the outer circle.  The four inner quarter circles were symmetrical so they didn't change when transferred onto bondaweb.
3. Next, you'll need to trace your design onto the rough side of some bondaweb (check the instructions it comes with if you're not sure which side!) - I use a pencil for this step.  Roughly cut round the outside of each piece of the design, a seam allowance of 1/4" or so works well. 
4. Iron each piece of the bondaweb design onto the wrong side of your chosen fabric(s) (again refer to instructions for exact timings etc).
5. Carefully cut out each design following the traced line on the bondaweb - now you'll have lots of pretty fabric pieces, hopefully in the right shapes!

6.  Now have some fun tearing off the backing sheet from the bondaweb! Place each piece of fabric, right side up, where you want it to lie on your bag (or wherever your design is going).  You can see that my pieces don't match my original design as I didn't reverse it - I have created a mirror image of my original.

 7. Iron in place.

 8. For extra security sew the design down by sewing round the outer edges with a short zig zag stitch - I found it simplest to unpick one side of the bag so that I had more room to manoeuvre the bag while stitching round the flower design.

9. And that's it.  Do say if you spot anything that doesn't make sense and otherwise I hope you have fun!

Working on this design, and playing around with the applique, made me realise how much fun machine embroidery would be - have you ever tried?  Any tips?

Stitch gathering 2014 Workshops

Photo from Jo's site - myBearpaw - expertly modelled by Jo

The pocket on my sample has a seam in the middle - result of a silly cutting error...I'll give precise cutting instructions to everyone taking the class!



Are you free Sunday 14th September this year?  Could you make it to Edinburgh to come along to the 2014 Stitch Gathering Retreat?  I do hope that you can.  It promises to be a wonderful day.  Jo has lined up a great selection of classes - 7 in total, and you can attend 1 in the morning and 1 in the afternoon.

I'm really looking forward to teaching my Café Apron - this class is a great way to try out some dressmaking skills.  And the apron itself is pretty fun to wear (I'm sure it makes me feel like I'm a much more sophisticated cook when I have one on!) and it certainly makes a great gift too.

For details of the other classes have a look at Jo's blog and the Stitch Gathering website.  I do hope to see you there!

Also, still time to enter my Village Haberdashery giveaway - don't be shy, it is lovely to see some new names(I'm a dreadful 'lurker' on some blogs)!

The Stitch Gathering - A Gathering of Stitchers

Wow - I am still buzzing, really, from Sunday.  The Stitch Gathering was such a  special day.  It was a truly lovely mix of people who all had one thing in common - a love of crafting, and especially stitching.  We were such a mix of ages and interests and the day felt very easy and friendly - especially once my class (thankfully in the morning) was underway.....then I relaxed a bit more and began to properly enjoy myself.

I didn't remember, or really have much of a chance in among all my chatting, to take any photos so those from the day shown here are all taken by Jonathan (Jo The Stitch Gathering organiser's photographer husband) - I would have dearly liked to show more, and tell more, and mention more people but really I think there's going to be enough going on below.........I loved meeting you all and just wish I could mention and link to everyone.

We started off the day, which was held at Napier University's Merchiston Campus (just round the corner from Jo's treasure trove of a shop) with tea and coffee and lots of meeting and chatting - it got really noisy once we started swapping our name tags - I got the most beautiful one from Fiona at Poppy Makes (and she got mine), it even has trees on the back, just for me.  Thanks Fiona, I love it and it is hanging on my sewing table lamp........just in case I forget who I am!

Then it was off to the first classes. I had a great group in my Patchwork Bib Class and everyone, despite some being quite new to machine sewing, finished their bib.  I was very proud of them!  Look at those beautiful bibs.

We had a yummy buffet lunch and got the chance for some Show and Tell, a lucky dip (fat quarter of fabric for me, yay!) and time to admire the wonderful embellished tickets - it is going to be quite some quilt once Jo has found a way to sew them together.

How's this for a first quilt? - in progress by Emily

Lynz's Around the Block and Across the Pond Quilt - I really really love it

In the afternoon I got to attend Katy's Foundation Paper Piecing class, something I have wanted to try for quite some time.  It isn't the easiest technique to teach and explain but Katy did a great job*.  I don't have much to show for it.....yet.....I did get a fair way through but it really isn't worth photographing for public viewing yet.  Have a look here at Carol's which she finished on Monday night.  I think I might have made better progress if I hadn't taught in the morning - but I'm not complaining as I really enjoyed my teaching and am sure I learnt enough from Katy to be able to finish off my teapot mat and tackle other projects in the future.

Then it was off to Jo's shop to view the quilts in The Modern Quilt Exhibition.  It was part of Edinburgh's annual International Arts and Culture Festival.  I had a quilt in the exhibition which was completed just in time to enter and will be blogged about shortly (along with many other things on my ever growing list!).  My quilt paled into insignificance alongside some of the beauties on show.  Find out more here.  Jo and her lovely colleague Sarah were handing out fizzy and nibbles and it was a lovely way to end the day (some carried on for a meal out but since it was our anniversary I thought I ought to head home and see a wee bit of John!).

My 'Free As A Bird' Quilt - it will get a post of it's own

We were given bulging goody bags too from a wonderful range of sponsors.  Highland Spring water; biscuits from Nairns; a bag from Liberty and a Liberty Fat Quarter too; a Pilot frixion pen (I use them a lot so know it will be very handy); ten pretty spools of thread from Sewing Machines Direct; beautiful wee hexies from webfabrics; lots from Coats Crafts including embroidery thread, fat quarters and a tote bag; some beautiful liberty from Very Berry Fabrics (who I have wanted to buy from for quite some time); buttons and thread from  The Button Company; fat quarters from Jo's Avery Homestore; and lastly contact information for Beechwood Quilting services (tempting!). 

I can't wait for next year.  Maybe you'll be able to make it?

* I now know that Katy had a pretty long and stressful start to the day - which involved an early-hours-of-the-night drive to Glasgow and back.  But it was all part of a very good cause.  To look after Sarah and her lovely mum.  So good to see them both after their dramas!

The Stitch Gathering - only 1 week to go!

The Stitch Gathering is almost upon us.  Typing 'only one week to go' in the blog title was rather scary.  I still haven't prepped for Katy's class - I took one look at the instructions a few days ago and decided to leave it for later......never a good sign or good idea.  Still, assuming I manage to get the prep done I may come away from next Sunday knowing how to paper piece, and that would be a good thing.
I have at least ticked a couple of things off my rather large list.  The fabric ticket was one of Jo's genius ideas.  Each person attending will be embellishing their ticket, any way they like, and Jo will make them all up into a quilt*.  It will look fabulous.

And there is also a name tag swap - we'll be finding our secret partners on the day and handing them over in person which I think is a lovely idea.  I know the person that I'm making for and really hope she'll like her tag - I certainly enjoyed making it.  I can't wait to see what mine is like**.

* I suspect some may be easier than others (i.e. mine) to incorporate into a quilt. I made up my ticket embellishment as I went along - I knew what I wanted to do but had never tried it before.  I got the effect I was hoping for, but if I was doing it again I'd trim more as I went along............it is quite thick in places - but Jo is so talented I'm sure she'll have no trouble at all, especially since I included a wee owl especially for her :)
** I'm not sure what happened but I didn't receive a name tag for the FQR (which I will blog about, in brief since so many others are weeks ahead of me, at some stage) - it doesn't really matter, just one of those things, but I am looking forward to having one this time!

The Stitch Gathering preparations - patchwork bibs

I have been busy preparing some samples for the Patchwork Bib class I'm teaching at The Stitch Gathering.  The first bib has a cute wee patchwork strip across the middle and the second, as well as a patchwork strip, has some applique and embroidery.........I'll be teaching how to make the first one and the second shows just a couple of examples of how easy they are to personalise.

I had a 'meeting' with Jo a few weeks ago (well, lunch with a bit of work chat in among the general blether!) and Jo very kindly gave me the fabric I have used for these bibs - so if you're taking the Patchwork Bib class, and can't decide what fabric to bring, you can make yours just like mine by visiting Jo's shop!

:: the linen is a beautiful linen/cotton mix - Essex Linen in Natural and is lovely to work with, Jo has several linens which you can find here
:: the printed fabrics are all Nested Owls prints from the ADORNit range (this link will take you to Jo's ADORNit collection) - these fabrics are classic Jo - she loves owls!
:: the back of the bib is flannel (soft and absorbent so perfect for bibs), Jo has some flannels here (I also like to use this flannel)

I know that Jo is close to getting out class information to all The Stitch Gathering attendees which is very exciting news.  One of Jo's brainwaves is fabric tickets - perfect.  Take a look at them here and read about how they will be turned into a charity quilt here.  I really love this idea but, so far, haven't had any flashes of inspiration to suggest how I should personalise mine.

I'm really looking forward to The Stitch Gathering - it is set to be a great day.  And my class is in the morning so by lunchtime I can relax and really enjoy the fun!  What about you, do you take this sort of thing in your stride or would you, like me, get a little nervous before-hand?

This week

Fabric from Jo, Avery Homestore, to make bib samples for my Stitch Gathering class

Fabric for a custom quilt

Fabric to make a door hanger for my new nephew

Sari fabric - shhhhh don't tell the small people that I was standing on the dining table

This week is turning into another where I am longingly looking at beautiful piles of fabric that I'm not getting a chance to play with.  My lovely friend Arni has just given me some gorgeous sari fabric - from a recent trip she made to visit family in Calcutta   I have 5.5 metres but really no idea, so far, what to do with it.  All suggestions welcome!

At this time of year our Sundays are very full - we're in the middle of mini rugby tournament season - and the tournaments tend to go on for hours.  It was our home club tournament at the weekend, with both boys playing, Islay training and Katie all over the place!  John was on first aid duty all day and I was on tuck shop duty for some time too (note:: toddlers and low tables filled with home-baking don't mix too well).  Only another couple of weeks to go and then we have Sundays free until after the summer.  Phew.

The photos below remind me that it really is fun, and that the children love it.  Not the best shots unfortunately as I don't want to show any with clear photos of other people's children.