Category: Project Ideas

Hints, tips and dream projects on how to make the best of your fabric!

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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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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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Backyard Happenings Spring bunting instructions

 

This is a lovely little project to put together quickly. It is also the perfect way to introduce children or beginners to some simple sewing.

You will need

A Backyard Happenings Bunting kit

Thread to match the panels (off white or beige) plus thread to match the bunting tape.

Sewing machine and general sewing notions, scissors, pins etc

 

Press all your fabric before starting. This ensures accurate cutting and piecing.

Cut all pieces of fabric into 8″ squares to match the size of the images.

Arrange the flags that will face forward in an order that you like and take a photo for reference. I alternated an image with a patterned fabric piece. You will have 9 flag fronts.

Next arrange the fabrics for the back of the flags to also make a pleasing display that spreads the colours and patterns evenly.

 

Pair up each front and back with right sides together and pin or clip to hold in place. Make sure any directional designs are facing the right way up.

Sew down the right hand side, across the bottom and up the other side on each flag. DO NOT sew across the top.

Trim a small triangle off the bottom two corners making sure not to cut through the seams. This makes the turning out easier.

Turn the flags the right way out, easing out the corners to make neat squares.

Making sure the flags and seams are straight, press each flag neatly. At this stage you can top stitch the three sewn sides if desired but it is not essential.

Lay the bunting tape down and finger press in half as you lay each flag into the fold, face up in the desired order, use your photo for reference. Remember to leave a tail each end of the bunting tape approximately 45cm/18″ long for ease of hanging later. Place each flag about 2″ or 5cm apart. Pin or clip the flags in place.

Tucking in the end of the tape, start sewing all the way along the tape anchoring down both sides of the tape and the flag as you go. Sew as close to the lower edge of the tape as possible but check that you are catching both sides. You can use a straight running stitch or a zig zag or decorative stitch if you prefer. Sew all the way along. Check for any stray threads and hang with pride and a little smile.

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Beaks & Bobbins Liberty Wall Hanging

Michelle used the Cottage Garden Stitch Kit from Beaks & Bobbins to create this delightful wall hanging. She has teamed it with pretty Liberty fabrics and we all love it. It reminds us of warm summer days and the heady smell of flowers dancing in the summer breeze.

To replicate this idea you will need the following-

the Beaks & Bobbins kit of your choice

Strips of fabric for the piecing and a piece for the backing to fit the size you make. Michelle used a fat 1/4 for the back, hanging sleeve, and one of the frames around the embroidery, plus a fat 1/8 for one frame and the binding, then three other strips of fabric for the remaining frames, approximately 1″strip x width of fabric or a fat 1/16 or fat 1/8 will do it

An 8″ or 10″ embroidery hoop if you like to use them

wadding approx 12″ square

a wire hanger, Michelle used the Flower Garden hanger

general sewing notions

 

Complete the stitch kit as per the instructions included.

Trim the completed panel to a neat square leaving at least a 1/4″ seam allowance all around. Approximately a 6 1/2″ square.

Cut 2 strips 1″ x 7″ and stitch to the sides of the panel

Cut 2 strips 1″ x 8″ and stitch to the top and bottom of the panel

Press and trim to a square.

Continue to add 1″ strips in this way until you have 5 frames around the panel. Each strip will increase by 1/2″ in length on each round ie frame two strips will be 1″ x 7 1/2″ and 1″ x 8 1/2″.

Layer up the finished top with wadding and the backing. Quilt as desired. Michelle stitched in the ditch between frames one and two, two and three and four and five.

Now add the binding and a hanging sleeve or tabs depending on preference. If adding a hidden hanging sleeve, sew this on before adding the binding. Cut a strip of fabric 11″ long x 2 1/2″ wide. Wrong side up fold over the short ends by 1/2″ and sew down, next fold in half wrong sides together down the length and stitch in place at the top of the back. *You can only use this method if you are using a dowel hanger otherwise you will need to add the wire hanger into your hanging sleeve before stitching the sleeve down. Hand stitch the sleeve down if needed to ensure it is hidden from the front.

Michelle added binding using the mitred corner method. Cut binding strips 2 1/2″ wide joining if needed depending on if you have width of fabric or fat 1/8s to work with. With raw edges matching sew your binding on, mitring the corners as you go. Hand sew the edge down on the back of your quilt.

Slide your dowel through the hanging sleeve and admire your summery creation.

 

 

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Mary’s Show n Tell

Our Mary is an exceptionally talented needle woman, and has designed so many beautiful patterns which we’ve run as classes, and sold as patterns and kits, & you can see a few of them here.

 

Mary used the Sophie mini quilt pattern in the book Little Handfuls of Scraps by Edyta Sitar as inspiration for these two matching quilts. One each for a child and their favourite toy.

The original uses scraps or a mini charm, and for the larger one Mary used 5″ Charm Squares instead. For these examples she used the I Believe in Angels fabric range. The Mini Charm pack for the mini quilt and two charm packs for the bigger quilt. For the lap quilt Mary followed the original pattern but using the bigger squares and added some extra rows to make the larger size. Look at the quilt top photos to see the layout she used and number of rows needed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mary made this gorgeous quilt using Brenda Riddle fabrics a few years ago that started as a Jelly Roll Race, but ended up as an alternative version of Rail Fence. It has little additions of small embroidered “heart felt sayings” on squares dotted throughout this pretty quilt, that were taken from an old magazine Vingette by Leanne Beasley.

We think it would look beautiful in Brenda’s latest fabrics which are called Grace.

Rail Fence Quilt

 

 

 

 

 

One of Mary’s beautifully designed kits is this Care, Share, Dream Rotary Wrap made from Le Beau Papillon French General fabrics, perfect for carrying your rotary cutters, etc., with purpose made pockets inside.

Care Share Dream

There’s nothing more iconic here in Cornwall than a Mining Engine House perched high on the cliffs, & Mary’s foundation pieced pattern Poldark reminds us of this.
Mary’s kit been made by so many of our customers, who have sent them all over the world to friends and family to remind them of home.

Poldark Country Kit & pattern

 

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Mandy’s Show n Tell

Mandy has used the D is for Dream Milestone Blanket panel and accompanying fabric to make a wonderful sample for us.

She cleverly used the block print fabric to make a frame to highlight the numbers and words in order to make it clear of the Milestone being celebrated for baby. The frames were made by sandwiching pelmet vilene between the top and the backing fabrics to give stiffness.

Luna Lapin and Tilda Fox kindly modelled for us to give you an idea of the use of a Milestone Blanket. No bunny was harmed by the fox during the taking of these photos!!

We love Mandy’s idea and her quilting with little ducks, bottles and rattles is divine.

 

 

 

 

 

A lovely lady called Pam Woods started the embroidered pictures on this Gardener’s Journal Quilt, which Mandy inherited & has now completed & I think you’ll agree, is absolutely beautiful!

The Gardener’s Journal Quilt has been designed by Anni Down’s of Hatched & Patched & is in her book “A Gardener’s Journal”.

There are many small individual projects in the book, each using one of the adorable stitchery designs, or you can complete them all and make the full quilt.

Here are some close up photos of Mandy’s beautiful quilt.

 

 

 

Mandy has been using Songbook fabrics to make a stunning quilt she saw in the Homespun magazine issue 205.  She’s used a Songbook Layer Cake, or you could cut your own pieces from a fat 1/8th or fat 1/4 bundle too.  It has a background made from one Bella Solid Charm pack for a small quilt, or 1.5m of cream background fabric for a larger quilt.  Love the quilting Mandy!

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Michelle’s Show n Tell

 

 

This lovely wall hanging is made from one block of Friends for Christmas by Lynette Anderson. It’s a great way of making smaller projects rather than a large quilt if you are short of space. Many Block quilts can be split into smaller sections for hangings, cushions, table runners etc, Show us your ideas and we will add them to our Customer Gallery. 

 

 

 

 

 

Michelle used images from the Heartstrings Pre Printed Stitchery panel to make this pretty wall hanging.

We have made up Stitchery kits using images from four of the panels so you can recreate something similar. Kits are available for Willowbrook, Heartstrings, Make Ready for Christmas and Letter to my Daughter.

Each pack contains a selection of images, DMC threads and three fat 1/16s of fabric.

 

 

 

Look at this gorgeous sample using one of the images from the Blume & Grow panel from The Birdhouse. Michelle has used fabrics from the Blume & Grow range and we think it’s a delightful sunny wall hanging that could also be made into a cushion. The back is equally as pretty as it is made up of pieced strips of the fabric. The hanging is displayed on a heart top wire hanger.

Michelle has plans for the remaining images to use in bags and a block keeper. Watch this space for updates.

Life’s a Journey is one of our all time favourite wall hanging patterns, with the words “Life’s a journey, take time to smell the flowers along the way”, which reminds us to stop for a moment and appreciate what’s around us, whilst we rush through our busy lives.

Designed by House on the Hill, their pattern was made in earthy colours, but we also love Michelle’s version done in beautiful Tilda fabrics in blues, pinks and reds!  Michelle & her friend Vicki stitched them “virtually” together, with Michelle here in Cornwall & her friend Vicki who’s overseas, & you can see their beautiful wall hangings below.

You can have fun embellishing the hearts and tabs with some of your favourite buttons from your button tin, or perhaps with a pack of our beautiful hand painted heart buttons?

Life's a Journey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michelle has been busy designing a new paper pieced cushion using Lynette Anderson’s new fabrics, the Colour of Love fabrics by Lynette Anderson, with the Jewel 1.5″ x 3″ paper pieces to create the heart shapes.  There’s also an acrylic template available to help you cut out your pieces.

The hearts were stitched on a cream background & Michelle used our soft Sligo in Sand colour for the cushion back.

She’s added embroidery using DMC 221 & a lovely selection of wooden & shell heart buttons

You can make the cushion as long as you want, but Michelle’s is approx 40cm high x 1m long & has 1 1/2 pillows inside.  Michelle’s pattern is available to purchase here