Cross Stitch Camp Project Bag

This morning I decided today was the day to attempt making my first lined project bag, using the tutorial that ‘Elizabeth Ann Can Stitch’ has on Floss Tube.

I followed her step by step………….and   Ta dah.........

I have a bag!

I finished it off by stitching the two previous cross stitch camp badges, that were designed by Sheri (Colorado cross Stitcher) our camp leader, to the back of the bag.

And then crocheted a cute little toadstool to use as a zip pull.

I love the way it looked when it was finished and will definitely be making more of these,  over the vinyl front ones that I’ve make in the past. 

I can’t wait for Summer Camp 2022  to start  in June and I’m looking forward to stitching the new camp badge and to find out what three new challenges we will face this year.

 

Happy Stitching!

Sue

X

Industrious!

 Back at the end of last month, I mentioned how my discovery of Floss Tube was so inspirational, but the down side was it was also a drain in my bank balance, Lol!

One of the first things I noticed was that most of the stitchers were using

 beautiful project bags and after purchasing this one from Ness Loves Needles  on Etsy, I had a go making some for myself. 

My first one wasn’t that great but it was still usable and as I got bit more comfortable using my sewing machine, (it doesn’t see the light of day very often) I turned out three more.

 

Also thanks to Floss Tube I've discovered designers on Etsy selling downloadable pdf cross stitch charts.  

So after the lovely Jan Hicks of  Jan Hicks Creates, mentioned the Etsy shop and designs of Yuliya Do,  on her one of her Floss Tubes, I had to visit and downloaded two of her designs.    

‘Bird’ and ‘Pumpkin’ 

and after a little more looking around I came across  ‘Full Bobbin Sampler’ from New Leaf Craft,     so lots to keep me occupied.

You’ll find lots of beautiful charts from both of these sellers, so please check them out.

So, what else have I been doing this week.

I worked on and finished ‘Vintage Easter Bunny’, a chart from the most recent issue of  Just Cross Stitch (April 2021) that was designed by Elizabeth Spurlock of Saving Graces Fine Needlework.  

And here he is.

I can’t believe that in all my years of stitching, I’ve never done anything for Easter before.  My plan is to finish him as a little pillow and them make a few more smalls to go in a bowl.

And now I’m going to mention the ‘C’ word……..yes, I also started some Christmas stitching!

I came across two charts in old copies of Cross Stitcher (Oct 2019 & Dec 2018) that I wanted to stitch for two very special little people and decided to make an early start on them.  

Here’s where I’m at.

 

So that’s about it I think for another week.

The only other thing to report is the purchase of two pieces of 32ct Zweigart Belfast Linen, one in Vintage Country Mocha and the other Honeydew Green.  They are intended for Little Sheep Virtues and 

 the Snowflower Dairies’ Joyful World SAL, both of which I hope to get a start on next week, so until next time, 

Have a  Happy time Crafting!

(Whatever you passion may be)

Sue

X

 

Please feel free to leave a comment if you stop by. 

Lockdown Discovery…………

 that’s proved to be expensive!

 At the end of last month I left you with a little teaser as to what I had just discovered, and I will get to that shortly.

I had just one finish this month, as I’ve been busy trying to get my craft room into some sort of order.  I really want to decorate in there but can’t decide what I want to do, so it’s become a bit of a dumping ground if I’m honest.  But in an effort to use up my excess of odd balls of wool I’ve been crocheting lap throws and have just finished the second one.

The two finished throws will be heading to one of the many good causes on Helping Hands.

Now to my discovery.

Everyone had heard of You Tube right? 

Well, I’ve just discovered that there is also Floss Tube,  a  whole community of crafty people showing off their cross stitch WIPs, finishes, thread storage, tutorials, plus lots of other crafts too…….oh my, I’m so happy!!

The trouble is, it should come with a danger warning because every time I watch a video, I end up with the list of new charts I want to stitch, gadgets I can’t do with out and things I want to try. Lol.

One of the first things I noticed was that many stitchers were using lovely clear fronted projects bags to store their work and of course I needed one, so I ordered this one from ‘Ness Loves Needles’ on Etsy.

 Now this is beautifully made, but at £23 a time, owning a few would set me back quite a pretty penny. But after doing some research on Floss Tube I found a number of tutorials and am going to try making some myself……. which leads me my nicely to my next couple of purchases, 20” fabric squares and zips.

Nothing too expensive just in case I mess it up, so …………….Watch this space!

Another thing I noticed was that everyone was using a magnetic needle minder on each project, so again I looked on Etsy and came across Denkai Designs.   A few days later these arrived.

I splashed out on charts too, this time from Peakside Needlework's web site

I’ve been eyeing up “Little Sheep Virtues” from Little House Needlework’s  for some time and finally took the plunge and ordered all 12 charts and the cute buttons that go with them.   

I’m just waiting for the fabric to arrive and I’ll be making a start.

So that’s about it for now, so until next time, Stay Safe.

 

Happy Crafting!

(Whatever you passion may be)

Sue

X

 

Please feel free to leave a comment if you stop by. 

Covid 19 – Day 45 of Lockdown

What a week it has been!

The Corona virus still has a hold over the world and every death is one to many, but although things are looking to be heading in the right direction here in the UK,  I can’t see a return to ‘normal’ life coming anytime soon.

As I have for the previous 4 weeks, I was out at the end of my driveway on Thursday at 8pm, clapping in support for those on the front line of our NHS, but this week there was also a very special birthday to celebrate too.

War veteran Captain Tom Moore, captured the hearts of the nation when he set out to raise one thousand pounds for the NHS by walking 100 circuits  of his garden celebrated his  100^th birthday yesterday.

To make his day an extra special one, not only did he receive a special card from the Queen and around 135,000 from the general public,  he was made an honorary colonel and given a replacement World War Two Defence Medal .  

And as if that wasn't enough, he is now in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the oldest person to have a No, single, "You'll Never Walk Alone", sung with Michael Ball and the NHS Voices of Care choir.

But above all of that, his effort to raise £1,000 has exceeded all his expectations and the total broke the £31 million mark yesterday and is still climbing.

Such an inspirational man, who could teach us all a thing or two don’t you think?

Happy 100^th Birthday Coronal Tom

So, now onto what I’ve been up to this week.  My sewing machine and crochet hook has been flying again while I've been in lockdown.

29 Toiletry &  8 Scrubs Bags that are heading to St. Margaret's Hospital, Epping.

20 Crocheted Hearts 

   

And these 28 hearts were made last week.

Please all stay safe and well

&

Happy Crafting!

(Whatever you passion may be)

Sue

X

Covid 19 – Hearts & Rainbows

So, it has been another busy weekend of crochet and sewing.

I have completed another nine rainbows, all of which have homes to go to and I have sewn a further 48 hearts.

The crochet pattern for the rainbows is free, c0urtesy of
Kerry Jayne Designs   

Mind you, it didn't all go as smoothly as I had hoped, because I had a major catastrophe this morning, when I was trying to finishing the hearts off.  

Much to my annoyance, I somehow managed to break the bar in my overcasting foot on my sewing machine, meaning I was unable to continue.  I've managed to order a new one on line,  but the down side is that I  now have to wait until at least Thursday for it to be delivered before I finish the last few off.

In the meantime I'm changing production to toiletry bags to keep me occupied while I wait. 

Please all stay safe and well

&

Happy Crafting!

(Whatever you passion may be)

Sue

X

Covid 19 Hearts Appeal - The Desperate Situation Continues

When I last posted around this time last month,  I really wasn’t prepared for just how serious this pandemic would turn out and continue to be.

Fortunately no one close to me has succumbed to the virus,  for which I am extremely thankful, but I am fully aware that behind the frightening  numbers that are reported from around the world every evening, there are families grieving for their loved ones.

I myself have been in isolation for almost 4 weeks now and as difficult as it has been I keep myself sane with my crafting.

I’m still plodding along with the construction of my Virgin Queen’s Stitching Wallet, but when the call went out for the Covid 19 Hearts Appeal, I decided to put it on the back burner for a while and get my crochet hooks out.

The aim of the appeal is to make pairs of matching hearts that can be given, one each to Covid patients and their family, to remind them they are loved at a time when they can’t be together.

Here are my first 5 pairs of hearts.

The hearts don't have to be crocheted, I've seen, knitted, fabric and even felted hearts, so anything goes as long as they fit into a greetings card envelope.   

It's a great way to use up all your odd balls of wool as well as being quick to make, so over the following couple of evenings (while watching tv) I made another 9 pairs.

I had lots of fat quarters in my stash too, so got my sewing machine out and made 11 pairs of fabric hearts 

bringing my grand total so for to 50 hearts that all being well be heading to Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow, Essex.

Please all stay safe and well

&

Happy Crafting!

(Whatever you passion may be)

Sue

X

A Bit Too Close To Home

It’s quite rewarding being able to make items, whatever they be, for the Facebook group   Helping Hands, and knowing that I’ve been able to make a small difference to other people while still enjoying my passion for crafting.

I started making heart shaped cushions back in 2015, when a very good friend of mine had to undergo a mastectomy and up until that point I hadn’t realised that something as simple as a cushion could bring so much comfort to someone after their surgery. 

I made two for my friend, and then two smaller banana shaped ones, that she said were more comfortable to use when she was driving.

That was the start.

Since then I’ve made more than a hundred, all of which have gone to Broomfield Hospital in Essex, and that have been given to unknown women who have gone through something that I hope I never have to face, please god.

But in recent months, another special friend of mine has found out that her family carry the BRCA2 gene.  Fortunately she was tested and was clear, but she has already lost one of her sisters to this awful disease and another is undergoing chemo at the moment.

 These latest four special cushions have been made for Donna with love in every single stitch.   Needless to say that we are all praying for a good outcome.

Happy Crafting!

(Whatever you passion may be)

Sue

X

Please feel free to leave a comment if you stop by. 

A Coming Together of Two Crafts

I’m still very much a novice when it comes to quilting, but when I saw this little quilt, I knew I had to give it a go. 

The  ‘High Tea’ Fusion Quilt, which is designed by Tiffany Behmer,  is a coming together of  pretty quilted squares that are joined together with crochet.

The first step was cut 72 fabric squares and 36 squares of batting, sew them together, turn the right way out and finish off with a row of machine stitching ¼” all the way around each one.

 Next  blanket stitch evenly around the outside of each one.

 Once that is done, it’s just a case of crocheting around them all and stitching the squares together and finishing with a border around the outside.

 

 

 

The pattern for this quilt can found for free over on  Ravelry.

 

Happy Crafting!

Whatever your passion may be

Sue

x

 

 

Best News of the Year!

Having undergone treatment for breast cancer, including a mastectomy, and unrelated treatment for a badly fractured ankle and leg problems with wounds not healing on her legs, my wonderful friend Tracey has just been told that she is in remission.

I’m so thrilled for her because she been through two and half years of hell and lost her job to-boot, but she’s stayed positive throughout, so well done hun for being so strong…..you’re a star!

Now, Tracey was the reason I started making these heart cushions back in August 2015 and this is the latest batch, finished on the 3rd March, which I will deliver to her so she can take them into the Breast Cancer Unit at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford the next time she goes.

 

Happy Sewing!

Sue

x

'Helping Hands' are still busy!

I’m loving my new sewing machine and especially the quilting foot, so much so that during February I’ve  made two small incubator quilts for one of the projects on the  Helping Hands Facebook Group.   

They are 18 x 22 inches an will be heading to the NICU’s of Chesterfield and Mansfield hospitals.

I also finished off a lap quilt that I started a short while back.

 

This was my first Disappearing Nine Patch, which measured 22 x 22 inches and is also heading ‘Up North’ to one of the hospitals mentioned, along with the other little lap quilt I made a few weeks back.

 

Happy Stitching

Sue

x

 

 

Am I Really a Quilter?

11^th October 2016

Back in August I had a go at my first 12 inch quilt block and then I made another one with a cross stitch centre panel as part of a project that someone from the  Helping Hands   group was doing.

 

Now, with lots of encouragement from my friend Nicki and the lovely ladies in the group, I finally plucked up the courage to attempt to make my first ever lap quilt.

Taking the advice I was given after making my first block, I decided to go with a simple nine patch block, using some ‘Kirsty Allsop’ charms that were on special offer in Hobbycraft and complementing them with some simple ‘ Henley Studio Spot.

 

 

 

With the relatively simple piecing out of the way it was now time for the more daunting quilting.

I layered  the quilt, going for the quicker pinning method rather than tacking and then it was back to my sewing machine for the actual quilting.  But once again my expectation was rather bigger than my ability because I chose to ‘stitch-in-the-ditch’. 
I’ve since been told that even experienced quilters avoid this method……..and now I know why!  It’s really not easy to accurately stitch in the join of the fabrics.

The binding was another first for me but this was the bit I enjoyed doing the most I think.  It was machined on the right side and then hand finished on the back.

At this time I’m not sure which of the Helping Hands projects this will be going to but be assured it will be keeping someone’s knees warm very soon.

Happy Stitching

Sue

x

 

 

Broomfield Heart Cushion Project

5^th September 2016

While my sewing machine was out I quickly run up another eleven cushions for the Breast Cancer Unit at Broomfield Hospital

 

Happy Stitching!

Sue

x

Another String to my ‘Crafty’ Bow’……..well sort of.

29^th August 2016

  There are so many ladies, including my wonderful friend Nicki,  on the Helping Hands Facebook Group   making beautiful patchwork quilts  for various charity projects and I’ve sat back in awe of their amazing work, believing that I would never be able to make anything like that because it’s way out of my skill set.    But when one of the ladies made a request for a quilt for herself, it was the perfect opportunity for me to attempt my first ever quilt block. 

Her idea was to ask people in the group to each make a 12” block, with the theme of ‘Loving Life’ and then she planned to piece the quilt herself.

 I set about finding a block template with a square in the centre so that I could include one of my cross stitched square,…………. because cross stitch is my thing!

The block I found is called ‘Garden Path’ and it fits the bill exactly, so armed with four fat quarters I made my first attempt.

After lots of encouragement from the ladies of the group and one comment that I had chucked myself in at the deep end, having not chosen the simplest of blocks for my first attempt, I was fairly pleased with the results for a first go, although it was far from perfect and not good enough to be sent.

Next I got to thinking about what I would stitch for the centre of my actual block and came across a perfect design from Michael Powell called ‘Peacock Hearts’.   The original had Red hearts but I decided to change the colour to Blue, to match in with the fabric I had chosen.

My second block was a little better than the first.
I managed to match the trees at the bottom on the Blue fabric but failed on the top panels and I also failed to get the pattern straight on the Yellow fabric, making it look wonky even though the panels are in fact straight

 

Anyway, after some more encouragement for Nicki and some of the other ladies, I decided to send it off and am hoping to see it incorporated into the finished quilt.

Happy Stitching
Sue
x