Owl and Hare Hollow HQAL

Posted on July 20, 2025 by craftycreeky

It’s happy dance time, I have finally finished my Owl and Hare Hollow quilt! It’s taken a while, it was back in April 2023 that I started the BOM from the Homespun magasine and it’s taken 12 months to hand quilt it.

Three weeks ago when I last posted about my quilt I had just finished the quilting so all that was left was the binding.

I was thinking of using a darker William Morris print, but when I looked I didn’t have enough left (it takes a surprising amount to bind a quilt) as I’d used most of it as a strip up the back and actually it looked too busy anyway. I started looking through my stash. I found there’s an advantage in often using a similar colour palette, a fabric that I used for my Coming Home quilt matched perfectly. It has lots of seams in it as I had one piece about 24″ long and another which was much longer but was obviously a trimming from making the quilt as that already had seams in it.

I machine stitched it to the front and then hand-stitched it to the back. Normally my last job would be to make a label, but I embroidered one as the final extra block, the quilt pattern was for a rectangular quilt 8×6 blocks without sashing, whereas I wanted a square quilt 7×7 blocks. Of course I could just embroidered 2025 and my initials on the back too for the final finishing date…I’ll see.

So here’s my finished Owl and Hare Hollow quilt…

I remembered to stitch tiny dark buttons on for the owl eyes, they look perfect on the appliqued owl on the third row, maybe a little big for the embroidered owl in the top right corner.

Here’s the back with all the different sized circles. I’m pleased with how that idea panned out…

It’s interesting how the eyes play tricks, on the right side I see diagonal waves but on the left I just see circles!

The quilt has already been through the washing machine, having taken two years and more importantly, been quilted during building work, I felt it was probably quite grubby. So it’s now fresh and clean, ready to go on a bed.

I love it!

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, Sharon, Karrin, Daisy, and Laura

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 Owl and Hare Hollow BOM, Quilt-a-long, Quilting | Tagged , , , , , , | 22 Comments

Golden Stitchers

Posted on July 18, 2025 by craftycreeky

In the autumn it’s 50 years since my stitching group was formed. It was originally part of the Embroiderer’s Guild until they decided a few years ago to cast all the individual guilds adrift so now we are a thriving independent stitch group called Skipton Stitchers.

It was suggested that we do a joint project to celebrate and one member came up with the great idea of each of us stitching one or two small pieces in gold, 50 altogether, which could then be displayed at places such as Yarndale.

We were each duly given a card disc about 4″ in diametre, a piece of wadding and some felt to back it with. We could do what we liked so long as the background was gold coloured and the theme was gold.

I had a peruse on Pinterest on possible designs and decided on a cone flower (echinacea ) I thought it was an interesting shape but wasn’t too complicated. Ages ago I stitched a cat cushion by Ragged Ruff Designs, the cat was surrounded by cone flowers, I couldn’t find the pattern on my computer but I’d also used it on a denim jacket so I used that as a basis for my template…

I rummaged round in my silk remnants box and found a silk dupion in a gorgeous soft gold colour, perfect for the background. I found a square of gold leather too so I earmarked that for the centre of the flower. I also spotted some fancy gold fabric and after a play around I decided to use that for the petals rather than having to embroider and fill each petal. I could just edge it in gold thread then.

I nearly had a disaster when I tried to iron bondaweb onto the fancy gold fabric as it started to melt! Luckily I was just on the very edge of the fabric so I quickly found a pressing cloth and used that to protect the fabric.

I drew on the petals with a Frixion pen, planning to couch the gold thread down. I had to change my plans however as you need to use a large chenille needle to thread the ends through to the back and betweeb bondaweb, silk and some cotton I’d put behind to support the silk, I couldn’t get the needle through even with the biggest one I could find. I rummaged in my box of gold threads, most of which I inherited off my mother so goodness know how old they are! I found a thin coiled wire thread which I though was like the purl wire I used in the goldwork bee so I stretched it out a bit and started couching it down.

I’ve edged all the petals in the coiled wire but I’m not convinced it was the same type of wire as it is very thin and doesn’t hold the line very well…it looks pretty though!

I tacked a small piece of felt on the central cone to give the gold leather a bit of shape, I then stitched the gold leather down and this time used a purl wire to edge it.

I used a soft gold tape doubled up to make the stem and that was my embroidery complete. I had mulled over the idea of stitching on the background but actually I like the simplicity of the design.

Once the embroidery was finished I trimmed it to an inch wider than the disc, gathered the edge and pulled it in round the cardboard (which I’d already glued a circle of batting too) to make like a Suffolk puff (Yoyo). After a bit of fiddling to neaten the gathers, I stitched a circle of felt on the back to finish it off.

I’m pretty pleased with it, I love how the different gold fabrics work, I’m not sure how long the gold thread will stay neat but hopefully it will still look good for Yarndale, the show in September where they are all going to be on display.

Posted in embroidery, Skipton Stitchers | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments

Christmas in July

Posted on July 17, 2025 by craftycreeky

I’ve managed a few finishes this week, one of them being my Christmas rose humbug. I started this ages ago as it’s been my stitching on the go project so it’s a lucky coincidence that I’ve managed to finish it in time for ‘Christmas in July’. It’s a design by Faby Reilly, she has lots of very pretty humbug designs on her website.

The finished cross-stitch is a rectangular design with a back-stitch edge which is used to stitch it together.

The linen is a scrap I found in my linen drawer and it’s not the best, it’s fairly thin so I cut a piece of iron-on cotton interfacing to just fit within the back-stitch outline. It’s both given it a bit of body and made it more opaque.

To make it into a humbug shape the two short sides are stitched together, using whip-stitch through the back-stitch. The top edges with the smaller roses are then stitched together making a square pocket with one open side. The bottom edge is then stitched so the centre line of the large rose and the seam with a bow on it come together, resulting in a humbug shape. Mathematically I believe it’s called a tetrahedron! …a pyramid!

I threaded some fine gold tape through the top to make a hanger and my Christmas decoration was finished…though I am tempted to put a bead in the centre of the bow where it doesn’t quite meet!

I’ve now got a little collection of Christmas humbugs to hang on my tree this year…

Holly Humbug gorgeous cross-stitch decoration
Mistletoe Humbug, gorgeous cross-stitch Christmas decoration.

Kathy is doing ‘Christmas in July’ on her blog, do follow the link to see what everyone else is stitching.

Posted in Christmas, cross-stitch, embroidery | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Stitching on the Go

Posted on July 15, 2025 by craftycreeky

I always have a little stitching project in my handbag for those opportune moments when you can fill some time stitching. I’ll stitch anywhere, waiting rooms, bus station, tea-shops, broken down trains…I usually arrive at work about half an hour early, so I sit in the coffee room and stitch.

These projects need to be small and easily picked up, I find cross-stitch easier than free embroidery for this as I know exactly what threads I will need. Over the last few months I’ve been stitching a Faby Reilly design I bought ages ago, it’s another Christmas humbug decoration, I’ve made three humbugs before, two Christmas ones and the poppy one.

Holly Humbug gorgeous cross-stitch decoration
Mistletoe Humbug, gorgeous cross-stitch Christmas decoration.
Faby Reilly Poppy Humbug

Humbug refers to the shape of the finished decoration. Here in the UK we have a mint sweet called a humbug and it is this shape. It’s basically four triangles.

I’ve just finished the cross-stitch design. I put it through the washing machine as it was looking a little grubby, pressed it and now I just need to make it into a humbug.

You can see how the design will (hopefully!) match up when it’s stitched together, there’s half a bow either side and the smaller roses will also meet up. I might put some light interfacing behind as its quite a thin weave linen, it was a scrap I found in my linen box but it hasn’t been great to work on, if I find any more in my stash I won’t be using it for cross-stitch.

Hopefully I’ll be able to post the finished Christmas decoration soon.

I’ll try and post more about what I’m stitching on the go, rather than just give final updates, maybe once a fortnight…hopefully once the decorating is finally finished I’ll be able to get back to posting (and sewing) a bit more regularly.

Posted in Serendipity | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Butterfly Alphabet SAL

Posted on July 13, 2025 by craftycreeky

I’ve made good progress with this embroidery over the last three weeks, mainly because it’s been my main project in the evenings. I’m still busy with the never-ending decorating so I haven’t done much else but my OH and I have got into a routine that if we’re busy doing our own thing early evening then at 9pm we both head to the lounge, watch a bit of TV etc before bed. This project is kept in the lounge in my workbasket so I can easily pick it up to do a bit.

Three weeks ago I had just past the half way point with the letter N embroidered…

Well I’m now within sight of a happy dance! I’ve embroidered the whole of the next row and I’ve just got the last four letters to embroider! I’m sure you can tell from my progress that I’m enjoying embroidering this DMC kit.

I photographed it this time in our conservatory in bright sunlight, it’s interesting to see how its captured the slightly raised contours of the satin stitch.

I’m already thinking about what my next SAL project is going to be!

Please visit the other blogs that are also taking part in this SAL. There are so many different projects to enjoy. The participants live all over the world so you may need to allow for time differences. We’re posting today at local time. Click the links to their blogs below and see what they’re up to.

Avis, Claire, Christina, Kathy, Margaret,

Sunny, Megan, Deborah, Sharon, Daisy, Cathie,

Linda, MaryMargaret, Cindy, Helen

Our next updates will be posted on the 3rd August 2025.

Posted in embroidery, kits, Stitch-a-long | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

Owl and Hare Hollow HQAL

Posted on June 29, 2025 by craftycreeky

Well it’s time for a little happy dance as I have finished hand quilting my Owl and Hare Hollow quilt, it’s only taken me eleven months!! To be fair I have had quite a few other projects keeping me occupied, never mind the on-going house renovations and the garden redesign, but it’s done.

Three weeks ago I just had six blocks left to quilt…

I finished quilting the fiddly corner and edge blocks a couple of nights ago. I’m really pleased with how the different sized circles and the larger interlocking circles have worked out. I just have to remember to stitch little buttons on for the owl eyes on a couple of blocks.

I’m thinking of using the blue William Morris print for the binding, I think I have enough, t’s the one I’ve used for a stripe down the middle of the back. I don’t think it’ll be too busy a print but I’ll have a play before I commit…

All I have to do now is trim the edges, stitch on the binding and hand stitch it down and then it will go in the wash! I don’t wash them immediately generally but having had all the building work done over the last few months I’m sure it’s grubbier than it looks.

I’ll definitely be ready for a full scale happy dance next time!

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, Sharon, Karrin, Daisy, and Laura

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 Owl and Hare Hollow BOM, Quilt-a-long, Quilting | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Butterfly Alphabet SAL

Posted on June 22, 2025 by craftycreeky

Apologies for not posting sooner, I’ve been painting the hall all day – we’re at that stage of our building work so at the moment it seems endless! We’ve got quite a big hall, well it’s T shaped and has seven doors and a window to paint round, never mind plugs and light switches etc, but it’s now had it’s first coat and looks so much better.

Back to my alphabet, I’ve made pretty good progress, I took it away when I went on my walking holiday as you do need something peaceful to do in the evenings after walking all day. Three weeks ago I was embroidering the letter K…

Not only have I finished K, but I went on to embroider L, M and N, so I’m now over half way and I’ve finished the first two rows, happy days!

I think my satin stitch is finally improving too!

Please visit the other blogs that are also taking part in this SAL. There are lots of different projects to enjoy. The participants live all over the world so you may need to allow for time differences. Click the links to their blogs below and see what they’re up to.

Avis, Claire, Christina, Kathy, Sunny, Megan, Deborah, Sharon, Daisy, Cathie,

Linda, MaryMargaret, Cindy, Helen

Posted in embroidery, kits | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Tealing All Our Stories

Posted on June 19, 2025 by craftycreeky

Every year Kate Chiconi makes a quilt to be auctioned for an Ovarian Cancer charity. Several quilters around the world help make blocks for the quilt. The ‘colour’ for ovarian cancer is teal so that’s always the colour scheme and the theme of the quilt is always a play on words with teal. This year the title is ‘Tealing All Our Stories’ , it’s a bookshelf quilt so we were to make a 12.5″ block of books and a few personal touches could be included too, like you would have on a book shelf. Kate wants to start making the quilt very soon so I knew these blocks were my priority as soon as I finished the walk.

I volunteered to make two blocks. For the first one I used some gorgeous teal batiks, one with gold patterns on which I’ve treasured for years in my scrap box, waiting for the perfect time to use it. I’ve not made a bookshelf block before and the maths did throw me a bit at first, I sort of chose the fabrics, then made books before arranging them so they looked balanced. I toyed with the idea of adding a Yorkshire rose to one of the spines but I decided it would dominate too much, so I’ve kept this block fairly simple.

For the second block I decided to make it a bit more personal. We were allowed to use other colours so long as they don’t compete with the teal. I made this is sections, thinking on my feet as I went along. My starting point was a little picture of Catbells, my special place in the Lakes. I cut out the shape and stitched it onto the sky on the machine with ‘blanket stitch’. I then added the lake in front. I used a grey pattern to frame it.

I decided to stand the picture on lying down books. I chose a couple of bee fabrics, partly because I’ve just made a book on bees, but also as a nod to my mum, we used to keep bees and she thought (wrongly I think!) that our family name of Bickerdike originated with beekeepers. One of them does have a touch of teal in the pattern and the other is a blue which goes well with teal. The bottom book is probably more green than teal, it’s a bird themed one for my love of birds. With hindsight these books should have been the other way round as I feel they’re now lying face down!

I was planning to have a slanted book standing, but if I was to keep the lovely allium head on the spine, I didn’t have room to make it lean.

Hopefully these two blocks will work for the quilt design so they are now winging their way to Australia. Have a look at Kate’s blog to see the other blocks that have been made and in time to see the beautiful quilt.

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Day 8 Swale Way

Posted on June 12, 2025 by craftycreeky

Today we reached the source of the River Swale, we have walked from one end to the other, over 70 miles in total! I’m back home and feeling a bit more human after a long bath!!

Last night we stayed in a yurt, mainly because the other B&B’s in the village were both full but it turned out to be a lovely end to the walk. They are surprisingly spacious, ours had two single beds, a bed settee, a table and four chairs, fridge, kettle, log burner…we had our own private toilet and shower albeit down in a shower block. They provided a piping hot evening meal, breakfast, packed lunches, all delivered to the yurt. Here’s the inside..

This mornings walk was less than 6 miles, there was a lovely hazy light which was perfect for photos…

One little bit of excitement along the way was when we spotted some filming on one of the farm tracks, it soon became apparent they were filming another show about Reuben Owen, one of the sons of Amanda Owen, the ‘Yorkshire Shepherdess’. Their farm, Ravenseat, is only a couple of miles from where we were walking, I love watching the TV programmes.

The Swale officially starts at the confluence of two becks, Birkdale Beck and Great Sleddale Beck, so we sat and had a celebratory cup of coffee at the confluence…

So that’s our long distance walk completed for 2025, we haven’t decided which one we’re doing next year, however we have decided we want a walk that is on better paths than this one. We enjoyed this one but it was hard walking, not the distance but the terrain. We’ll probably have forgotten our traumas in a couple of weeks time, but that’s our thoughts at the moment 🙂

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Day 7 Swale Way

Posted on June 11, 2025 by craftycreeky

Today we walked about 12.5 miles from Reeth to the hamlet of Keld at the top of swaledale. It was a hot day so despite suntan lotion, my arms are a little pink this evening.

The first half if the walk was pretty hard going, the author of this route seems to delight in funding the less frequented, often very faint footpaths and over tricky terrain, especially if you have balance problems like me.

Swaledale is well known for its hay meadows which the farmers cut late to allow the wild meadow flowers to set seed for the following year. This is one reason why we decided to do this walk in June. They are beautiful, full of buttercups, poppies.

Having walked an easier route for the second half of the walk, we are finally esconsed in our yurt, a new experience for us.

Tomorrow we just have 7 mile’s to walk to the source of the Swale and back.

Posted in Serendipity | Tagged , , | 5 Comments