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Merrymaking Santa Sack

Sally has been busy making a lovely Santa Sack using two of the characters on the large character panel from the Merrymaking range 2022 which she cut down to 21″ high x 17″ wide.  She added a thin border around the each panel piece for the front and back that was cut at 1 1/4″ wide, then added charm squares all around (5 charm squares down each side & 6 charm squares across the top & bottom).  That finishes the front and back piece.

Cut two lining pieces 27 1/2″ wide x 31″ high.  Stitch one lining piece right sides together to the top of each of the front & back pieces.  Now lay your front/lining piece on top of your back/lining piece, making sure that the lining pieces are on top of each other and the front & back are on top of each other.  Pin carefully making sure that the seams on the charm squares meet front & back.  Sew all the way around leaving a 5″ gap in the middle of the bottom of the lining for turning & a 1″ gap on one side the in line with the top of the small border as this will be where you’ll be stitching your ribbon channel in a minute.

Turn right sides out then stitch the gap in the lining closed & push the lining into the bag.  Press with an iron especially around the top of the sack.

To make the channel to feed your ribbon through, stitch through both the lining and outer pieces using the top & bottom of your small border as a guide.  Using ribbon approximate 1.5m long put a safety pin in one end and feed it through the ribbon channel through the 1″ gap you left previously.  Tie both ends of the ribbon together & hope that Santa will fill it with presents!

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To The Sea Fabrics by Janet Clare

Janet’s been designing fabric for Moda for over 10 years now and her latest collection ‘To the Sea’ has arrived!

If you’re a fan of the seaside like us you’ll love Janet’s new book ‘Spoondrift’ which features 25 blocks and two setting options for a sampler quilt. It’s the perfect skill-building project!  We’ve put together fabric packs using To the Sea fabrics for the Spoondrift quilt with two options on sashing.

To The Sea Selection

Janet has designed many “sea themed” patterns over the last 10 years, many of which would lend themselves to this nautical range: Down Beside the Seaside (available in 2 colourways), On the Wing (both re-coloured for this range), we’ve put together kits for Charming Gulls & there’s also Newton, Sailaway & Sailing the Blue patterns & her beautiful book Hearty Good Wishes.

 

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Linda’s makes with Tilda’s Cotton Beach fabrics…

Our Linda’s been having fun making some lovely items with Tilda’s Cotton Beach fabrics.

Her first make is this beautiful reversible Hobo shoulder bag.  It’s embellished with a large flower, beads & stitching – pattern available here for both bags

Linda's Cotton Beach Hobo BagLinda's Cotton Beach Hobo Bag with Flower Embellishment

Linda’s second make is a lovely zipped make up bag, perfect for carrying around your make up etc

Linda's Cotton Beach make up bag

& finally these adorable summer pyjama bottoms which are so light & comfy which have been made from the pattern Agnes Pyjama Set by Paper Theory (sorry we don’t stock this pattern, but what a great way to use Cotton Beach fabrics).

Linda's PJ bottoms in Cotton Beach

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Join Our Mini Charm Challenge!!!

Join Our Mini Charm Challenge:

Do you love pre-cuts? We think they are fantastic! With Pre-cuts you can get right on with the best bit of patchwork – the planning and sewing- all the cutting is done for you and so accurately.

Layer cakes can make a great quick quilt, charm packs are perfect for a baby quilt, play mat , lap quilt or bag. Jelly rolls have books and patterns devoted to them so that you can whip up a quilt in a weekend.

But have you tried the mini charm packs? They still have all the range of fabrics in there but these little 2 1/2″ squares are amazing value, just right for gifts, treats and perfect for those smaller projects.

So guess what….. to give you a chance to play and win prizes we are launching the Mini Quilt Challenge!

All you have to do is complete a project this summer using a mini charm pack of your choice. Add extra fabric if you like and then send us a clear photo with your name, address and telephone number or email address. Also tell us the name of the mini charm pack used. That’s all there is to it!!!! There are two categories, Christmas or everyday.  We have lots of mini charms to choose from & many are in the sale.

The closing date is Friday September 9th 2022. There will be 2 winners, one for each category – one £25 gift voucher for the everyday mini charm project category & one £25 gift voucher for the Christmas project category, and all entrants will receive a discount voucher.

EDIT   We have extended the challenge for the Christmas Mini Charm until Friday 9th December

We just ask that you make something new for this challenge, & if you use someone else’s pattern, please credit the designer.  Good Luck!!!

Mini Charm Challenge

 

The winner of the Christmas Mini Charm Challenge is Penny who created this pretty festive tree. A simple but beautifully executed make.

 

 

CHALLENGE ENTRIES

 

Carol B made her little hexie Useful Bag using Moda Spring Chicken mini charms with Makower linen texture cotton and Liberty lawn trim and lining.

Carol used Tilda Daisyfields and Kona Solid for this beautiful bag. Her daughter made the poppy that gives a lovely finishing touch.  The pattern was a free one from the Moda website.

Tricia visited us whilst on holiday having lost her sewing mojo. With a little inspiration she found the time and inclination to create her pretty Day in Bluebell Woods cushion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elaine began quilting during the second lockdown and has been a quick learner. Look at this beautiful backdrop that she made for the bird sculpture, using Daybreak fabrics.

 

 

Brenda has made this gorgeous cushion for her granddaughter using a Freya and Friends mini charm and some Tilda Wendy fabric for the dress.

 

 

Fran made this delightful drawstring bag using a Change of Seasons mini charm

 

This bolster cushion was made by Sally B who loved the 70s look of the Cider mini charm.

Heather D made this delightful cushion cover by adapting Bird in a Basket by Lynette Anderson.

 

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Mary’s Bean Bags – Details & Instructions

This Safety First panel has been created to make facemasks, but our Mary has come up with another ingenious idea for this panel.  They make a really fun set of bean bags too & great fun for the summer holidays!

Children could assist in making them, then play the game throwing them into a bucket to see who wins or using them for the new game that’s all the rage Cornhole!  We’ve got a demonstration of Mary’s Cornhole game on our You Tube channel: https://youtube.com/shorts/VPnWrszLcEQ?feature=share

Marys Bean Bags

Bean Bags for Summer Fun
You will need : one mask panel and 2 x 500g popping corn or similar

This summer the latest craze is Cornhole, a lawn game from North America where you toss bean bags onto a sloping board with a hole in it. If you land on the board you get a point, if you get through the hole it is worth two points. Play in teams or individuals.

Or be very British and find an old bucket, aim and shoot away!!!!!

Take your mask panel and cut out the 5 children’s masks leaving the two sides joined on one of the long sides. If you want to make bigger bean bags do the same with the adult mask panels. Otherwise make a sixth child size panel from one of the adult masks and cut to the same size as the other panels. I used the remaining fabric to make my bean bags double thickness so use the instructions and left over adult mask panels to do this. If you are using all the masks to make more bean bags use scrap fabric for the inner lining.

Take a mask panel and with right side up lay it onto a scrap piece the same size. Fold in half with the right side inside the fold. Stitch around with a ¼” seam leaving a small hole for filling the bag on the unfolded long side. Leave the smallest hole you can comfortably fill your bean bag through. This will be quite small if you have a funnel , a bit larger if you need to use a spoon. You can make a funnel from a square of cereal box rolled up and fastened with sellotape.

Clip the corners a little and then turn to the right side, being careful with the layers and the patterned right side should now be in full view!

Fill with popping corn, rice, lentils or plastic polybeads. I used about 150-175g of popping corn per bag.

Slip stitch the opening closed with tiny stitches.

Finally keeping the corn out of the way, top stitch around the whole bag to make sure you don’t lose any filling during play.

Please note: the food based fillings are best kept dry.

Have plenty of summer fun!!!!!

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Part Time Sales Assistant Opportunity

Job Description:

● 2 to 3 days a week including some Saturdays, working hours are 9.30 – 4.30 plus any overtime required. Extra days will occasionally be required to cover holidays.
● Job includes serving & advising customers on sewing related queries so must have a good eye for colour & knowledge of a sewing craft (embroidery, quilting, etc)
● Requires a polite and good telephone manner to answer the phone
● Be computer literate with a basic knowledge
● Fill website orders, manage website and shop stock (training will be given)
● Must be trustworthy, reliable, patient, work methodically, accurately, tidily & work well as part of a small team.
● A knowledge of retail is an advantage but not essential.

Please be aware this role can be physically demanding, with lifting, carrying & cutting fabric, and you are on your feet most of the day. If guidelines change, we also ask customers and staff to wear a mask whilst customers are in the shop.

If you are interested in joining our happy hardworking team, and receiving a generous staff discount, please send a CV & covering letter to sally@coastandcountrycrafts.co.uk or drop one into the shop for the attention of Sally.

Closing date Saturday 16th August 2022 with a late August early September start

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Liberty Riviera Bag

Liberty Riviera Bag was made using the Sophie Quilt as you go pre-printing batting

I fell in love with the Liberty Riviera fabric range which couldn’t be more summery with its vibrant Neapolitan colours and decided to make a summer bag using the Riviera fabric and the Sophie tote quilt-as-you-go preprinted batting bag kit.
Start by using spray glue 505 to attach your lining fabric onto the wadding allowing it to dry while you cut your other fabrics.
If you are using directional fabrics you will need to check where you’re going to use it on the bag to make sure you have a large enough piece & that the direction will be correct.
When choosing fabrics for the strips, I wanted to include directional prints so I cut them slightly longer, them cut the strips in half and then stitch the bottoms together, as the centre of your strip will become the bottom of the bag and other ends of the strips will become the front and back of the back of the bag so need to be facing the right direction – see photo below.
Starch your strips as recommended on the Sophie bag instructions as it does make construction easier.
Once you have added all the strips to the bag front and you reach the construction stage, fold the tote in half with the outer fabrics right sides together and sew down the two sides as instructed.
I don’t like to see raw edges inside my bag so I cut strips from the spare lining fabric 1 1/2 inches wide to bind the sides before stitching across the bottom pictured in figure 2 on the tote instructions. Once you’ve stitched across the bottom, you can then bind them pieces as well.
Turn the back right side out and check all your seems.
Internal zip pouch for Liberty bag
If you want to add any internal pockets now is the time to do it, before you add the handles and put the binding on. I wanted an internal pocket with a zip to keep keys and money in so for the front of my internal pocket I cut an outside piece and lining piece 6 inches wide by 8 inches long. I then cut 2 inches off the top of both of them. Using a zipper foot, I then stitched the 6” x 6” piece of outside fabric & lining fabric to either side of the lower part of the zip. (You will have to keep the needle in, lift the machine foot, & move the zip along out of the way when you stitch across). Press it back right sides out & top stitch. Repeat on the top part of the zip with the 6” x 2” pieces of lining & outside fabric.
Trim if necessary making sure your zip head is in the centre. Measure this & cut another lining & outside fabric piece the same size. Play these pieces wrong sides together then lay both pieces on top of your zippered piece with outside fabrics right sides together. Stitch down both sides and the bottom leaving the top open. Trim excess zip off & zig zag stitch the side & bottom edges, then turn right side out.
Attach the inner pocket to the top edge of the inside of your bag with an 1/8th” seam. I made myself a key fob from a strip of fabric which I also attached to the top inside bag with 1/8th seam.
To jazz up my bag for summer I stitched some bright coloured Pom Pom trim around the top outer edge. Now you can go back to follow the Sophie bag instructions for binding the top of the bag & adding the handles, but I cut my binding 2 3/4” wide as I’d added the trims etc.
Label it: why not use the selvage edge to make a label? I used “The Riviera Collection” to label my sunglasses case. 😎 ☀️
With the leftover fabrics & scraps of wadding from around the edge of the bag you can make accessories.  A sunglasses case, or an ipad bag, make up bag, etc.  Below are instructions to make a sunglasses case to match.
Sunglasses case :
Outer fabrics – two each of:
Top strip 2 1/2” x 5”
Middle strip 5 1/2” tall x 5” wide
Bottom strip 2 1/2” x 5” wide
Wadding 7 1/4” x 5” wide
Stitch together top, middle & bottom strips & put the wadding in behind the middle & bottom strips, then quilt through to hold the layers together & around the edge 1/8th” in.
Lining – two each of:
9 1/2” x 5” wide
Stitch one lining piece to each of the outside pieces along the top strips (5” edge)
Lay both front & back pieces right sides together with lining on lining & quilted front on top of quilted back. Pin to match seams then sew all the way around the edge with a 1/4” seam allowance, but leave a 2” gap in the centre bottom of lining for turning.
Turn right sides out & stitch the gap closed then push the lining inside. The top piece will be folded in half & pushed inside, so you can insert a magnetic clasp or press stud, or drawstring. You can then stitch around the top seam again to hold the top piece inside.
Go out & be the envy of your friends wearing your beautiful summer bag!
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The New Oliso Smart Iron: TG1600 Pro Plus

How many of us have watched American sewing videos with the amazing irons that pop up by themselves.

The new Oliso Smart Iron is now available in the UK with the following features:

  • iTouch® never-lift technology: lifts and lowers with the touch of your hand, preventing burns, saving your wrists, and saving time.
  • Diamond ceramic-flow soleplate with pro-press core: superior heat, durability, and non-stick, easy-clean even in the stickiest of situations.
  • Smart Sensor extended auto shut-off: Extended 30 minute standby while working for your convenience, 30 second safety auto shut-off if tipped over.
  • 2-inch detailer tip: perfect for seams, bias tape and tight corners. Press under and over pleats, pockets, cuffs and collars with ease.
  • Longest cord in class: 3.7m with a 360° pivot. Largest water tank in class: 375ml for heavy steam usage with easy side fill and fill cup included.
  • Built-in spray: Stubborn wrinkles? No problem. My built-in spray is a powerful wrinkle buster.

To find the Oliso Smart Iron on our website click here

To watch a demonstration click here

 

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Waddings ~ how to care for your quilts & wash them

Hobbs have been making waddings/battings since1978.  Here’s what they recommend on using their waddings:

How should I wash and dry my quilts?
All quilts, old or new, should be washed with care. It is recommended to wash by hand or in a washer on the gentle cycle using cool water. Be especially cautious with front-loading washers as the intense spin cycle on these machines can be very hard on quilts, and avoid agitating your quilts to keep them in tip-top shape.

Drying should be done on the very lowest heat or air-dry setting. If no shrinkage is desired, laying the quilt out to air dry is recommended. Over-drying is detrimental to the long-term strength and colourfastness of any quilt and should also be avoided. Extreme heat and agitation should be avoided for all quilts, but particularly for quilts with cotton/wool, wool and silk battings (quilts made with these battings should be air-dried).

Vintage quilts require a more delicate process of gently soaking in a bathtub of cool water on top of a large sheet. Fill the tub, soak the quilt and drain the water. Repeat until the water runs clear. Do not lift the quilt during this soaking and rinsing process. Allow the final rinse water to drain away and use the sheet to carry the wet quilt to a flat surface appropriate for air-drying your quilt – the sheet helps to safeguard the quilt during transport, and without it, the weight of the wet quilt can cause thread breakage or tearing of fragile fabrics and batting.

Should I prewash my batting?
The short answer is NO! Hobbs Bonded Fibers does not recommend pre-washing our battings. The battings are designed to be used directly from the package and pre-washing, especially in a washing machine, is
likely to ruin them.

How do I remove creases or wrinkles caused by packaging?
You can lightly spritz your Heirloom® battings with a little bit of water and toss them into a cool, no-heat dryer for a few minutes to release stubborn wrinkles.
The one exception to this is our Heirloom Fusible 80/20. Because this batting has a water-soluble fusing medium sprayed on both sides of the batting, and it won’t fuse if it gets wet, this wrinkle-release trick can’t be used on this batting