Tote Bag Stitching

Posted on January 27, 2024 by craftycreeky

This is another bit of holiday sewing!

I bought this tote bag at the Harrogate Knitting and Stitching Show, it is made by the same people who designed the sewing box, Sew Enchanting. I think they had two or three designs to choose from. There’s no kit, just a bag with a design printed on for you to embroider. It was quite useful on holiday as initially I used it as a bag to carry my sewing stuff in, then once I finished the first embroidery I started this one.

When I was selecting my threads I felt I wanted some that were slightly thicker than DMC and variegated where possible. Last year when I was doing the Sewing Room Declutter Challenge I organised my embroidery threads, they had been stashed in a big box, mixed up and rarely used as I couldn’t see what I had. I bobbined them all, and also started a note book with a sample of stitching and a description of the threads. From this I could deduce they were Paint Box Threads, beautiful hand-dyed threads I must have picked up at a show somewhere. They were just the weight I wanted in gorgeous rich shades.

I’ve chosen quite a rich palette of colours and I’m pleased with how it’s coming on, so far I’ve just used chain stitch throughout…

The flowers remind me of clematis, the purple ones still need a French knot at the end of each petal, I just haven’t decided what colour to do them yet, a contrast such as orange, not quite so contrasting such as pink, or subtle with dark purple. Decisions!

Posted in Serendipity | 8 Comments

January Photo Challenge

Posted on January 26, 2024 by craftycreeky

Cathy from nanacathydotcom is running a photo challenge this year, mainly as a way of encourage herself to get out more, I think it’s a great idea. This month the theme’s are trees and sky.

I’m rather partial to pointing a camera straight up in a wood, this is one I took on holiday near Wellington in New Zealand…

We had a few lovely sunsets on holiday too, this one was as we were leaving Auckland…

There’s quite a few people sharing their photos so please follow the link to see a tree and sky fest. Next months themes are flower and road, I’m sure I’ll be a bit nearer home next time!

Posted in Photo Challenge | Tagged | 5 Comments

Sewing Room Declutter 2024

Posted on January 22, 2024 by craftycreeky

Last year I did the sewing room declutter challenge for the first time and it certainly helped me sort things out a bit…but things sneak into sewing rooms over the year so I’m back to do the challenge again!

It’s organised by Karen of ‘Lets get it done quilts’ and it runs over 21 days, starting on January 1st, which I’ve obviously missed, but it doesn’t matter, you can start when you want as all the video prompts are on youtube.

In case you think it can’t be that bad, after four days of the challenge here’s where I’m at! This is a panoramic view, I haven’t really got round walls!!

Karen breaks it down into manageable chunks, so hopefully by the end it will be more sorted.

Day 1 was just taking rubbish out, one bin bag later!

Day 2 was ‘squatters’, all those things that really shouldn’t be in the sewing room

Day 3 was subscriptions; I checked through all my magazines, wheedled out a few I’m not going to realistically use, these are mainly Classic Inspirations magasines, so I’ll probably try and sell them on ebay. I also unsubscribed from a few companies on my computer who keep sending e-mails.

Day 4 was books; always a hard one for me as I love books, but I did flick through a few I’d picked up in charity shops which I don’t think I’ll be using, I’ll probably take those to my stitch group to see if anyone wants them.

Today I’m tacking Day 5 which is patterns, hopefully the dress patterns won’t be too bad, though I know there’s half a dozen that don’t fit me any more since I’ve lost weight and gone down a couple of sizes. Quilt patterns though do need sorting, especially ones on my computer, I do need to get them organised.

This is where I store my dress patterns, in those three tubs on the top shelf and the basket underneath…

…wish me luck!

Posted in Dressmaking, sewing room | 21 Comments

Owl and Hare Hollow HQAL

Posted on January 21, 2024 by craftycreeky

Last time I shared my progress was on New Years Eve when I was actually on holiday on the other side of the world, I’d just finished another embroidered block, it’s still sitting on my design wall, waiting for the mini hexies…

This week has been pretty much wiped out with jetlag, getting back to work and trying to get some kind of routine for Bella, our new golden retriever, more about Bella in another post but here’s a photo of her enjoying her holiday with my daughter…

I did manage to make a start on four of the pieced blocks this week, these are called four patch circle blocks. As you can see I have two sets of four squares for each block, a large one and a smaller one. These now need to be trimmed and gathered round a 7″ and a 4″ circle template before being appliqued onto a background square. As usual the hardest bit is choosing the fabrics…

I’ve some churn dash blocks to make then I’m onto the last magazine instalment. There’s just three more blocks to make then before I can start putting the quilt together. I’m tempted though to do an extra embroidered block, the quilt is designed with 48 8″ blocks, arranged 8 x 6 with a border round. I’m tempted to make an extra one so it can be 7×7. I’m thinking of an embroidered one with a sewing theme where I can include my initials and date, instead of a label on the back.

I also want to put sashing between the blocks. I haven’t decided yet whether to put say a 1″ border round each block, or a 2″ square strip between, I’d rather not buy yet more fabric so I just want to use up some of the fabrics I’ve used. Any suggestions gratefully received! Here’s some of the other blocks to give inspiration!!

Hand Quilt Along Links

This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another.  If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.

Kathy, Margaret, Deb, Nanette, Sharon, Karrin, Daisy, and Connie

I’ll also be linking up with Kathy’s Quilts for Slow Stitching Sunday, please follow the links to see what everyone else has been stitching.

Posted in embroidery, Owl and Hare Hollow BOM, Quilt-a-long, Quilting | Tagged , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Bits and Bobbins Box

Posted on January 20, 2024 by craftycreeky

Whenever I go on holiday, I always pack a little stitching to do, as we were away for nearly four weeks this time I took several projects, a cross-stitch kit and also two pre-printed embroidery panels. The panels proved great for the trip as all I needed was a bag of threads, no pattern to fiddle with on an airplane or to blow away on a breezy ships deck.

The first project was the embroidery to go on the lid of a sewing box. It’s a kit I bought at the Knitting and Stitching Show last autumn by Sew Enchanting. You could buy a kit which included everything to make the box but I decided to just get one with the embroidered panel and instructions. I’ve just googled it and it’s available at Craft and Create at the moment.

I took a selection of DMC threads with me, both plain and variegated ones – I do like a variegated thread! I varied the stitches slightly from the instructions – instead of detached chain stitch for the leaves, I used fishbone stitch. I felt if I used chain-stitch the chances of me covering the printed lines were slight…and I like fishbone stitch for leaves. Otherwise it’s mainly back-stitch and French knots.

It’s about 10″ diameter, it’s going to be made into a zipped drum shaped fabric basket using bosal to stiffen it. I’m thinking of using a batik fabric for the outside which has blues, greens and purples in, I need something fairly practical as it’s going to live next to my chair in the lounge for when I’m sewing in front of the TV. I need to buy a 36″ double ended zip and also check I have enough bosal in my stash. The box in the pattern is plain inside but I am tempted to put pockets round the sides inside the box, it helps keep little things like threads or embroidery scissors tidy.

So this is the finished top…

I finished it midway through the cruise, I’m pleased with it, it’s a cute design and it has lots of happy memories stitched into it too.

I’ll be linking up with Kathy’s Quilts tomorrow for Slow Stitching Sunday, please follow the link to see what everyone else has been stitching.

Posted in embroidery, Serendipity | Tagged , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Stitching my Garden SAL

Posted on January 14, 2024 by craftycreeky

Well we finally returned home yesterday after nearly four weeks away, visiting family in Sydney and then cruising round New Zealand. We had a fabulous time, but after over 30 hours travelling to get home, I’m feeling somewhat jetlagged, hopefully this post won’t be too much gobble-de-gook!!

It’s quite a while since I shared any progress with my embroidered garden book as I had to put it to one side to stitch my grandson’s birth sampler. Whilst I haven’t any progress to share I have got plans!

My last bit of stitching was the amethyst and amber garden AKA the beer garden, this completed the three main areas of the garden…

I’ve quite a few ‘filler’ pages which have little embroideries on, so I think I have enough pages now, but there is one more I want to do. I stitched a map of our street for my book, but what I want to do now is a simple map of the garden, showing the different areas and how they relate to each other and the house. I measured the garden a while ago and used google maps to try and get a fairly accurate representation of the garden, I’ve managed to draw it out on paper, now I just need to stitch it. I’m going to keep it fairly simple using bondaweb for applique-ing the different areas. I just need to get started. Hopefully once I’m over the jetlag I’ll get myself motivated again so next time I’ll have some progress to share.

This SAL is organised by Avis from Stitching by the Sea, we post our progress on our projects every three weeks. Please follow the links to see what everyone else has been stitching.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, 

Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Deborah, Sharon, 

Daisy, Cathie, Linda, Helen, MaryMargaret, Cindy

Posted in embroidery, Garden, Stitch-a-long, Stitching my Garden, Textile Books | Tagged , , | 22 Comments

Owl and Hare Hollow HQAL

Posted on December 31, 2023 by craftycreeky

Before I went away I managed to finish another embroidered block for my Owl and Hare Hollow quilt,,,

I just need to add the hexie blocks when I return from my holidays. I think there’s just one more embroidered block to do and a few pieced ones before I can start putting the quilt together.

Here are some of the other blocks;

They all have hexies round them, nineteen on each one, so a fair number of hexies!

Happy New Year everyone, here’s to lots of stitching!

Hand Quilt Along Links

This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another. If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.


Kathy, Margaret, Deb, Nanette, Sharon, Karrin, Daisy, and Connie

Posted in Owl and Hare Hollow BOM, Quilt-a-long, Quilting | Tagged , | 8 Comments

Seasons Greetings

Posted on December 24, 2023 by craftycreeky

Merry Christmas everyone, here’s a few of my Christmassy makes from the last few years;

A Christmas dachshund and a cute pug in cross-stitch
Holly Humbug gorgeous cross-stitch decoration
Faby Reilly Christie SAL
Christie SAL Faby Reilly
Faby Reilly Christie SAL

Wishing you all a very happy Christmas.

Posted in Serendipity | 10 Comments

Holiday Sewing

Posted on December 21, 2023 by craftycreeky

I made a few new clothes for our holiday, having realised that after losing two stone many items in my wardrobe didn’t fit me…on the plus side several fitted me again!

I bought two new patterns over the summer, similar but slightly different, McCalls 2795 and 2755. They’re both what I would call comfortable and casual. They have sleeveless tops, skirt and dress, over shirts and trousers, a complete holiday wardrobe really…if I started early enough to make them all!

I made two pairs of trousers, both in batik fabrics, the green pair is another inside out pair in that I used the back of the fabric which was slightly toned down. The blue pair were second, I sized down one size and made them in less than two hours…

Please excuse the hair!!

I made two tops with a rouleaux loop fastening…

I also made the bias cut linen skirt above which I just love. I’d also used the same pattern to make a bias skirt in the summer using a fine cotton, I used three panels instead of two to give it more of a floaty feel. With a short length of navy I had in my stash I also made a waistcoat style top, which I lined with a remnant of Liberty I had left. Hopefully I’ll have photos of me wearing these two after the holiday,

For once I managed to have the sense to look at the fabrics that went together rather than just ending up with a group of random clothes. They’re all loose fitting with elasticated waists – ideal for a long holiday!

Posted in Dressmaking | Tagged , | 10 Comments

A Quilt for Pip

Posted on December 18, 2023 by craftycreeky

I managed to finish Pip’s quilt just in time, I think last time I shared it I had just sandwiched it together…

I decided to quilt it with a meandering heart pattern, it fitted in with the hearts on some of the fabrics. Of course it wasn’t as neat as I would have liked, some hearts are better than others and annoyingly I ended up with a crease on the back, something that’s never happened before. Luckily it looks a bit like a seam so it’s not as noticeable as it could have been. It’s backed with a lovely soft feeling cotton, not sure where I bought it but it’s quilt weight but manages to feel soft and cuddly.

The border is not as wavy as it looks in the photo, I think I just didn’t lay it out very well.

Due to a lack of a sizeable piece of fabric I decided to do a scrappy border, mixing silver and gold fabrics, the positioning couldn’t have worked out better with a strip of silver in the centre of each side. I machine stitched it on, remembering to stitch it to the back first so I could do a neat line along the edge on the front, which pretty much ended up in the ditch on the back.

Every quilt needs a name and I decided to call this one Heart of Gold, I had started the quilting in the centre gold square with a heart. I embroidered the name on the back together with my initials, following the line of quilting.

I gave her it yesterday as we’re going on holiday so we’ll miss her birthday, she loves it!

We’re away for four weeks now, my daughter is coming home to house sit and dog sit fortunately – we weren’t planning to get a dog until after the holiday! So, if I don’t reply or posts seem a bit thin on the ground…that’s why!

Posted in grandchildren, Quilting, Sewing for Grandchildren | Tagged , | 3 Comments