Vintage Embroidery Transfers

Very quick blog - just loved the way these cushions turned out and couldn't wait to share them with you. They're embroidered on my favourite vintage linen, then appliqued onto a 6" felt square and onto Cath Kidston fabric - a simple square cushion with a zipper at the bottom for easy removal of pad.

These are vintage embroidery transfers - and I think they're so cute .... if you'd like them just click on the small image below for a larger version to use. They'd be lovely for a nursery or just to enjoy yourself.

Wish me luck for Candlelit Dartmouth on Saturday!! Happy sewing all ....

Christmas is coming ..... Santa sacks at the ready!

How bad at blogging have I been these last couple of weeks?! My only excuse is extreme busyness as I'm trying to do so many tasks at once. Not only am I making, sorting, ironing and labelling stock for the last Craft Fair of the season ....

..... I'm organising the old people's lunch club Christmas party, as part of the Stanborough Chorus I'm singing at several concerts, in addition to making a chocolate birthday cake for excited soon-to-be-four-years-old twins whilst trying to keep up with my normal day-to-day activities!! (work, dogs, home, family, etc etc etc)

As part of getting ready for Candlelit Dartmouth I've been photographing my stock as a reference in case I decide to use some of them as projects in my forthcoming book. I couldn't wait to share the Santa sacks though and just had to tell you about them now!! I chose fresh Nordic-inspired colours for my sacks as they went well with the crisp white cotton - blue and red is traditional, but I thought that the pink and lime green worked well together too.

You can see a selection of the sacks above. I used vintage cotton sheeting as the base, but a repurposed pillowcase would be just the right size - simply add fabric and braid as shown - stitch a channel for a drawstring at the top and applique or heat-press an image onto the centre of the sack.

Here's a closeup of one of the sacks - I made the drawstring channel by cutting a 3" strip of fabric to fit around the base plus a bit extra to turn under at the side seam. I turned under 1/2" top and bottom then machine stitched along the edges to attach to the base leaving the side opening unstitched. Threaded through some 1" cotton tape and hey presto! You can just see the tape peeping out at the top right of the picture. Trimming the sack was the fun part - I tried to make sacks that both boys and girls would love.

I altered my Santa a little to make space for the name of the lucky recipient to be written in using fabric marker. I applied him directly to the sack using transfer paper and my trusty heat press. If you are making sacks and don't want to use this method then an applique Santa or other Christmas image would work just as well. If you click on the image above you'll see the full-size version - please feel free to download it for your own personal use if you want to use my Santa on any of your Christmas goodies.

Will post again next week and let you know how the fair went.

Sleepy Cat Tea Cosy Tutorial

I've been feeling very creative just lately. I think it's a combination of long dark winter evenings, when it's simply impossible to spend time down on the beach, and the need to have lots of exciting stock for my stall at Dartmouth by Candlelight (only 3 weeks away -eeek!!). But ideas are just tumbling out of my head .... and here's another tutorial which would make a great Christmas gift .... the Sleepy Cat Tea Cosy. It's really simple to make, there are only 3 varieties of stitch in the embroidery and I think the cat is irresistible.

Don't tell Amy (one of my Newfoundland dogs) as she'd be most insulted to think she in any way resembled a CAT - but the cat's expression was inspired by Amy's blissful face as she snores gently in front of the fire! (She has a round body too, just like this cat!)

If you thought the Snuggle Bunny was cute - well I think the Sleepy Cat is cuter! I'd love to know what you think - it would be great if you could please take a moment to complete the fun poll at the top right hand corner of the blog.

Then simply click here for your free pdf tutorial to make your very own Sleepy Cat.

"Hodge Bag" (Hedgehog book bag)

I've been so busy the last week trying to finish enough stock for my stall at "Dartmouth by Candlelight" in December, while juggling printing Christmas paper bunting and not forgetting going to work, (part-time for a local charity), walking the dogs, cooking, cleaning etc etc.

Here's one of the book bags I've made - if you'd like to make it too, then here are a few basic guidelines ....

You'll need:

• 2 pieces of the plain fabric (I used vintage linen mangle cloth) each measuring 14.25" tall x 14" wide.
• sufficient scraps (feedsack scraps are great for this) to make two patchwork strips each measuring 4.25" tall x 14" wide.
• fabric strips/webbing approx 12" long or whatever is your preferred handle length
• 2 pieces oilcloth for lining each 18" tall x 14" wide
• assorted buttons
• embroidery floss

Note: all seam allowances are 0.25"

Transfer your hodge to one piece of plain linen using whichever method you prefer. I have a laser printer and have recently discovered that if I print the picture onto photo paper then press onto the fabric with my heat press it transfers beautifully. Probably everyone else has known this for years, but still it's a relatively new discovery for me! Below is a closeup of the embroidered hodge - no complicated stitches so he's quite quick to do .... and he sits just above a line of running stitches - alternating the colours was a nice touch I felt.

Sew on a scattering of buttons - use the picture for a guide - use embroidery floss to make them even prettier. Vintage shell buttons look really nice as they have natural patterns, but leaf-shaped buttons would be good too. Join your two patchwork strips to the tops of your plain pieces and then make up your bag following your usual method for a lined tote bag. I've lined mine with a rather nice Cath Kidston oilcloth and placed a patch pocket for keys, phone or whatever else is likely to fall to the bottom of the bag. If you're not sure about making a lined tote bag, then just google for instructions - there are some really clear and straightforward tutorials out there.

Isn't it cute!!

I'm definitely going to make a few of these - I'm sure they'll sell well. I'm also listing one on DevonBear Designs so if you don't have time to make your own, then you'll find this very bag on there!

Not sure how many sewing days left until Christmas - not enough is all I can say!! Happy stitching everyone!

Reuse, Recycle, Restore ....

A long time ago, I came across a folder of embroidery transfers with this design amongst them. It commemorates the end of World War 2 and shows representatives from the Allied Nations not simply celebrating victory, but rather rejoicing in their new peaceful world. It's quite a dated design I suppose, and not one that has automatic appeal today, and yet .... I didn't want to discard it, so I put it aside until I could think of a use for it.

Time moved on and I acquired a computer and developed the skills to use Paintshop and a heat press to print my creations onto fabric. The Union Jack became one of our most popular icons and nostalgia, epitomised by Cath Kidston's designs became fashionable. I remembered this transfer and magazine pages, so scanned it ....

Above you can see the original embroidery instructions and below the key to the different countries. I didn't plan to embroider it as I didn't particularly like the effect...


So after scanning the actual transfer (below), I converted it to black and white, cleaned it up a bit (restored it) in Paintshop, then brought it to life with colour!!

I think it looks great! Much more in keeping with our tastes today, yet retaining some of that sense of the past. Then I combined it with my favourite applique ....

.... and the Union Jack to create a range of cushions to offer on DevonBear Designs

.. including Cath Kidston fabrics, but also, in keeping with the reuse and recycle theme, I have used some vintage and repurposed fabrics - the base fabric is my favourite vintage linen mangle cloth and the blue fabric on this cushion is from an old Provence table cloth. This also means every cushion is different - and unique.

So that's reuse, recycle and restore .... our grandmothers from the "Make Do and Mend" generation would, I'm sure, approve of my efforts! I think my cushion looks great - and just a little bit different to the many Union Jack cushions on offer today. I hope you like it too!

Free Animal Knitting Patterns

Click here for Victoria's pattern (pdf)

Have just come across some wonderful FREE knitting patterns by a Dutch designer, Annita Wilschut who was previously unknown to me. I think they're great and wanted to share them .... there's Victoria the dog (above) ..

Click here for Suzie's pattern (pdf)

Suzie the mouse - shown here in a variety of weights of yarn and needle sizes and there's a bear and mouse too. Just click here to visit Annita's site to see her other patterns.

Hope you like them too... thanks Annita.

Free Snuggle Bunny Hand Warmer Tutorial

Now, with the autumn weather has come a feeling of snuggling in, tidying away the last remants of summer sloth and stockpiling all sorts of handmade goodies ready for my Christmas stall. My cuppboard is reassuringly full (and tidy!) and I've been finding various ways of using up the bits and pieces I discovered at the bottom of my stash when transferring everything to my new cupboard.

The latest creation I'd like to share with you are the Snuggle Bunny Hand Warmers. Created from vintage linen and Cath Kidston/other patterned scraps they are a great way of using up bits and pieces, and also of preparing for cold days ahead. With a Snuggle Bunny in your hand your fingers are guaranteed to be toasty warm!

The bunnies are really easy to sew and even the features only need basic embroidery skills. They have a little pocket in their tummies into which you insert your heating bag - containing the filler of your choice. I used rice and organic lavender, but you could use buckwheat, cherry stones or even oatmeal. You can also add spices, herbs and essential oils for an even more fragrant bunny.

Aren't they cute?!

And so easy to make.... download your free pdf tutorial here with love from me to you.

Happy sewing!