Happy Easter everyone!
This week I finished my rabbit, it’s a kit from Raggedy Ruff Designs. Three weeks ago when I last shared it I had just started the free motion embroidery, it was starting to take shape…
As usual I procrastinated as I still had the hardest bit to stitch, the eye, I do think they are a bit of a make or break as your eyes are automatically drawn to them, you don’t want a rabbit that looks cross or angry!! Andrea’s instructions are great and once I’d sat down to do it it didn’t take too long. I still nearly fluffed it on the eyes, my first attempt wasn’t bright enough, so I added a brighter orange…then it was too bright and googly…so I added some grey round the edge…but that wasn’t dark enough so I added some black…which looked too dark! By this time my sewing machine was starting to complain about the amount of stitches in the area and missing a few!! In the end I added the creamy white highlights and decided from a far it looked OK…
The whiskers aren’t quite at the right angle, or maybe too uniform, but they’re staying, it would cause more mess trying to undo them!
The grasses and seed heads were fairly quick to do, again if you look closely they’re not very neat, but looking as a whole they look fine.
I still have a love hate relationship with my new sewing machine, but for this it’s a godsend as it has an automatic needle threader (just how does that work!!!) which when you’re changing colour every few minutes is wonderful!
I haven’t quite decided whether to make a cushion out of this or add it to other blocks to make another quilt. I love the colours in this one, I do like the way Andrea (the designer) does her backgrounds, there’s just enough to make it interesting without dominating the piece.
If you fancy having a go at one of these designs Andrea has a 50% off sale over Easter, so it’s an ideal time to pick up a kit or a pdf pattern to try. I’ve got quite a few kits in my to do pile but I’m still tempted! There’s a gorgeous little one of a mouse giving her mum a flower, so pretty. I’m stitching a pheasant next which was part of the highland quilt, I bought it as a stand alone piece, but I am tempted to get the others in the set. The kits are great as Andrea uses lots of batiks, the unpatterned style, just the right amount is sent, together with freezer paper and stabiliser, all neatly labelled and with great instructions.
Update; I couldn’t resist! I’ve just popped over to Raggedy Ruff so I could make a link here and the little mouse and a pair of squirrels just fell into my basket, guess I’m going to be busy for a while!
thecraftycreek 
You made me laugh when describing stitching the eye of your Rabbit. I think sometimes you just have to step away. When we stitch we are so up close but rarely does anyone look that closely at something and by looking at it when you stand back it often looks so different. He is beautiful, and so are your new pieces. Are you going to stitch them as individual pictures or join them up to make a stunning quilt? I hope its the latter Margaret. xx
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I still haven’t decided if I’ll make a quilt or not, mainly because I already have a kit for her Secret Garden quilt!!
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Both you and Kathy make the most beautiful quilts I get so envious xx
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I love your squirrels and perfect proud pheasant! I also enjoyed your description of the stitching… always so frustrating when it doesn’t feel quite perfect but sometimes I find I make more mess trying to correct things. He looks lovely though and I think the accents work well.
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That eye is amazing! You did a great job on the whole piece. It is so beautiful. All of these creatures are so adorable. I can see why you want to make more.
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looks like you’ll be making enough blocks to make another quilt then!
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Step away Margaret, step away! Oh my gosh, I know that feeling! The rabbit still looks great, he is literally bright eyed and bushy tailed!
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The rabbit’s eye is perfect – he has a quizzical, interested look and he’s looking in the right direction, which is also very important!
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Margaret, your rabbit looks wonderful. Nobody would ever notice the whiskers if you hadn’t pointed it out, so don’t ! They may be a little uniform, but he’s just a well turned out rabbit. I love Raggedy Ruff designs, but I’ve never been brave enough to try one, as I’m out of my comfort zone with free motion too. You’ve done such a wonderful job, I think I’ll pop over to her site and take advantage of her sale.
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Ooh, I do wish I hadn’t, I want everything now. How do I choose ?
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He looks like he is gazing at the lovely butterfly, he is gorgeous.
A self threading machine that sounds excellent and such a time saving feature.
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Wonderful!
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An enchanting, delightful piece.
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