Free pattern instructions for rag quilt

I've just come across a free pattern for a rag quilt and just had to share it with you all. Rag quilts are very effective and surprisingly easy to make. Why not take advantage of this free pattern from "I love to craft". Just the thing to keep you and the family warm over the winter months.Click here for your free rag quilt pattern. Enjoy!

Happy quilting.

Warmly Lenna

www.stitchingcow.com

Cottage embroidery design

One of my favourite themes in hand embroidery is based on cottages and their rambling gardens.

Hand embroidering a garden allows you a lot of freedom. Often I free hand work the garden area which means I do not rely on a pattern very closely. I usually mark the outline of the area to be worked with a washable marker and then proceed to fill the area with the plant. I find that the garden begins to take shape right before my eyes. Having a knowledge of common garden plants helps when choosing colours for the design as well as deciding on the scale. Both these design considerations bring a sense of realism to the project.

One of my other favourite things to do is to paint the background fabric with a diluted paint. This gives a much greater depth to your embroidery work and contributes further to the realism of the design.

Don't be afraid to experiment with your hand embroidery. If you make a mistake simply undo it or I often work over the top of my mistakes. This is another advantage of embroidering cottage gardens. Because plants overlap each other it is not a problem to rework an area.

If you enjoy hand embroidery I know you'll love stitching a Cottage embroidery design. To find out more about the cottage embroidery design pictured click here.

Happy stitching

Warmly Lenna

www.stitchingcow.com

Japanese Fabrics

Isn't it wonderful spending time with like minded people who share the same passion as yourself?

Yesterday morning I spent time with some friends of mine who are passionate about all things to do with fabric, threads, buttons, and beads. We visited some shops in our area that were new to me and I was very eager to discover what they offered. One shop in particular was a surprise. From the outside it was not particularly inviting although some Japanese fabrics hanging in the windows suggested the theme of the shop. As we entered the little rooms of the shop we were met with baskets of fabrics, vintage sewing items, trinkets, decorative papers,wooden cotton reels, antique kettles and old kimonos. It was a visual feast. One of the friends I was with almost dived head first into the shelves laden with rolls and rolls of Japanese fabrics. I smiled as I watched the excitement on her face and was reassured that my passion for fabric is really quite normal after all.

I was more intrigued by the lengths of vintage fabric, some of which was very worn and had been patched and then decorated with hand sewn stitches. I couldn't help but pick up the fabric and wonder who had sewn those running stitches all those years ago. I wondered where the fabric had been and who had worn it as they went about their day to day lives.

It's very special to be able to share your passion with others who understand and enjoy the look and feel of fabric. There's something quite magical about it. I hope you too can find the time to discover some fascinating fabrics for your fabric stash.

Happy fabric hunting!

Warmly Lenna

http://www.stitchingcow.com

Cutting table for quilting

Are you looking for a cutting table for quilting or maybe a sewing table. Are you sick and tired of working in a cluttered work environment? Is the sewing table you are using the wrong height? Does your back and neck ache when you're sewing because your chair is all wrong? If you answered yes to any of these questions then keep reading. I have found some sewing furniture that maybe perfect for you.

Here's what one happy customer had to say about the sewing table pictured:

Barbara, Salem Oregon "Homespun 3702 Sewing Center" Wow, was I ever surprised when I received my sewing center. It is absolutely gorgeous, fits my Quilt Designer II machine perfectly. The quality of the center is superb and looks like a piece of furniture when closed up. I'd definitely purchase again."

And another happy customer:

Jacqueline "Beautiful Cabinet" I received the cabinet as an early Christmas gift. We put it together last night and it is actually a very nice cabinet - very sturdy and very functional. It looks very nice too. There were several scratches on the top and I called the customer service number - they are sending out a whole new piece - I couldn't be more pleased with how very nice people were to deal with and their quick response. It is definitely worth the money.

There are also cutting tables and chairs to have a look at. No more sore shoulders and neck!

And the best part is that if you are quick you can take advantage of the current 30% off sale price ...that means you will have some money left over for more fabric.

Here's the link. Click here for sewing tables ,cutting tables and chairs

Quilt Sayings

Do you collect little sayings, words of wisdom or verses for your sewing projects? I know I do. I have a little book that I write them in. When I need some meaningful words for a quilt label or as a feature verse for a stitchery or quilt, I turn to my little book with confidence.
Here are a few quilt sayings that I thought you might enjoy.

Bit by bit, putting it together…
Piece by piece, only way to make a work of art,
Every moment makes a contribution,
Every little detail plays a part,
Having just a vision’s no solution,
Everything depends on execution,
Putting it together, that’s what counts.
(Stephen Sondheim 1930)

Asking a quilter to mend is like asking Picasso to paint your garage

Blessed are the children of the piecemakers for they shall inherit the quilts.

I am a material girl. Wanna see my fabric collection?

Friends are like fabric - you can never have too much.

Quilters affect eternity: they can never tell where their influence stops.

Click here for lots of other quilt sayings that I know you will enjoy.

Happy quilting!
Lenna

Native American quilt block patterns

"Native Americans represent several diverse cultures, each rich in symbolism that is represented in artwork ranging from woven Navajo rugs to intricate beading on leather.
As settlers and soldiers moved west they brought quilts with them. Native Americans were fascinated with these new bed coverings."http://www.womenfolk.com/historyofquilts/

Quilting was one of many crafting techniques that Native Americans borrowed from European traditions and adapted into something unique to their culture.

"To Indian people, the Morning Star Quilt represents the epitome of gift-giving. To give a Star Quilt is to show the utmost respect, honor, and admiration to a person. It is given and received by both men and women. Star Quilts are also gifted away after certain special ceremonies. Other times, the central focus of a celebration is a huge generous giveaway where many beautiful Star Quilts will be offered to guests. The mother of a brand new baby is always overjoyed to receive a Star Quilt for her child. Birthdays, graduations, and all other celebrations of Native American life involve the gifting of a Star Quilt."http://www.native-american-star-quilts.com/Introduction.htm

Morning Star quilts are made with an eight-pointed star that fills most of the quilt top. Numerous small diamonds are skillfully pieced together to create these stars. Native American women from the Great Lakes regions added floral motifs from their own traditions. These appliquéd flowers were placed between the points of the stars.

http://www.womenfolk.com/historyofquilts/

If you would like to try your hand at some of these amazing designs click on the link for a book on '>Native Sampler American Quilt Blocks'>. Be quick there are only a few in stock.

Find exactly what you are looking for

I'm always on the look out for informative, quality books to add to my sewing library. Online shopping has opened up huge possibilities for hobbyists worldwide. We can now find exactly what we are looking for online and have it posted to our door without having to leave the comfort of our lounge room. This is simply wonderful.

If you haven't checked out Amazon lately you are missing out on one of the most efficient, hassle free shopping experiences around. Their range is incredible. They are now stocking lots of other great products besides books.I found everything from gourmet chocolate to bird cages to mix masters.

Here's a sample of things I stumbled across this morning:

So do yourself a favour and have a look at Amazon for a blissful shopping experience...you'll never have the hassle of trying to find a parking spot again!

Click here to start your journey, have fun!

Lenna

Free online quilting block patterns

I came across some freebies that I thought I would share with you all. Penny from How to Quilt.com is giving away some free simple quilt patterns. Penny is the author of a terrific resource called "A Beginner's Guide to Quilting" it has tips and tricks to improve your sewing and quilt making skills. This step-by- step guide shows you exactly what to do with clear, easy-to-understand instructions. In addition, the full-color photographs illustrate each step along the way. If you would like to improve your patchwork and quilting skills quickly and easily click here.
Penny's quilt blocks could easily be incorporated into a sampler quilt or just pick your favourite and repeat the block to produce a beautiful quilt. Even if you don't have a project in mind at this stage, simply download and keep them amongst your resources. You just never know when they might come in useful.
Hope you enjoy them. Here's the link for the free online quilting blocks.
Happy patchwork and quilting!
Lenna

Country style stitchery pattern

Are you looking for a quick and easy country style stitchery pattern? Then look no further. Whether you're new to stitchery or a more experienced sewer I know you'll find something to suit you at Stitching Cow.

Incorporating some simple stitcheries into your home decorating can help to achieve that popular country look.

Many of the stitchery patterns include easy hand embroidery stitches and simple construction methods. This means that they can be finished and decorating your home a few days from now. Wouldn't that be great? Many of the patterns would make ideal gifts for family and friends. Don't you deserve a new pattern? Start to enjoy these country style stitchery patterns today.

Happy Stitching

Lenna

PS Don't forget to grad your free hand stitchery patterns

How to dye fabric with tea

Giving your fabric an aged or antique look is very easy. One method is to use tea to dye your fabric. You can tea dye the fabric before using it or after depending on its end use. If I am making a sewing bag for example. I would dye the fabric before using it. Here is an example of a sewing bag that has used tea dyed fabrics.

If I wanted to embroidery on the fabric I would choose to tea dye it after working on it simply because it is much easier to transfer the pattern prior to darkening the fabric. Although if you choose to tea dye the fabric after embroidering on it be aware that the dye can effect the colour of the embroidery threads used and can sometimes shrink the fabric as well.

To dye fabric with tea place some tea bags in a glass bowl and then fill with boiling water. Add a teaspoon of salt to help set the dye.The number of tea bags will determine the strength of the tea dye solution. As a guide use approximately 4 tea bags for a weak solution. Let the solution cool slightly. Wet the fabric to be dyed with warm water. Squeeze out the excess and then place into the tea solution. If you are wanting an even dye remove the tea bags. Leave for a few hours stirring occasionally to ensure the tea dye is being taken up evenly. Alternatively leave the bags in the solution for a more uneven result. Remove the fabric from the tea solution and squeeze out the excess water. Remember the colour will be lighter when the fabric dries.

Another method is to put some strong tea in a spray bottle and spray the fabric until you get the desired effect. Or you can dab the fabric with the warm tea bags to give a more dappled result.Here is a sample of a project that I have tea dyed by dabbing with a tea bag.

Once your fabric is dry and you are happy with the aged look press with a hot iron. If you are unhappy with the result simply repeat the process again to darken further, or soak in a solution of stain remover such as nappysan to bring the fabric back to its original condition.

Dyeing fabric with tea can give your projects a unique aged feel to them.

Happy fabric dyeing !

Lenna

Quilting cutting turntables

Spinning cutting turntables are the new "beaut" thing for quilting enthusiasts. They enable greater ease when cutting quilt fabric and trimming blocks. I came across one for a discount price and thought I'd share it with you. Here's some information about it:

"OLFA's exclusive Rotating Mat features the same self-healing surface as many of their other popular mats and works great with all of the OLFA rotary cutters and rulers. The convenient 12" square size is perfect for taking to class with you where you may not have a lot of room. Its sleek and simple design fits easily in your tote bag and has no ball bearings, stands or other parts to lose! Lightweight too! Try it for paper crafting as well!"

Here are some benefits of this great product:

Rotary mat features 30, 45, 60 and 90 degree angles in each quadrant
Less than 1/4" thick-great for storage or taking to class!
Smooth rotating action simplifies piecework when making multiple cuts
Eliminates the need to turn your body

Here's what one happy quilter had to say about the cutting turntable:

"It's just what I needed!" I just received my new mat, and I had to try it out. Now I need to recommend it to others. It's a wonderful tool for trimming up quilt blocks. It turns well and eliminates realigning a ruler to cut the third and fourth sides of a square. I shopped around before buying this mat and found it on sale at JoAnn's. Great product! Great price!"

If you would like to add this product to your quilting supplies and start enjoying these benefits click here.

How to do blanket stitch by hand

Blanket stitch is primarily used for hand applique however it can also be used as a surface stitch. This stitch is frequently used around the edge of blankets which is probably where the name originates from.

Blanket stitch is also known as open buttonhole stitch. Buttonhole stitch is very similar to blanket stitch. The difference being that the stitches are worked very closely together. It was often used around buttonholes (hence its name) although can also be used in fancy needlework such as cutwork. I often use this stitch for working flowers, especially hollyhocks. Click here for a sample of how this stitch can be used.

Work blanket stitch from left to right along straight lines and curves. When appliqueing bring the needle up on the outer edge to be worked. Pull the needle through the fabric over the top of the thread as shown in the diagram. Click here for a sample of how blanket stitch can be used for hand appliqued projects.