Stitch Savvy Book Review

I have a book review for you today.

Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes

Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes - 25 skill building projects to take your sewing technique to the next level. 

This is such a lovely book. Hardback, ring bound so it lies flat, a CD with 13 PDF patterns, quality paper and a great layout. It's the sort of book every beginner sewer needs, packed full of pictures, tips and techniques.

The book is split into 5 different sections: Home decor, Patchwork & Quilting, Bags, Sewing for children and Clothing. Each section has 5 projects ranging from easy through to tricky, there is even a section on Warm-Up projects to dip your toe in the water before you start.

contents

Deborah takes you through the sewing basics, terminology and techniques,

explaining some sewing basics

then holds your hand all the way through each project. Giving you a supplies list, clear instructions with photos, tips and Next Steps boxes to other projects in her book that will stretch your new found skills even more.

project introductory page

Personally I think this book is best suited to someone who is at beginner level because they can use the book to guide them and teach them at every step, wether they want to learn to Quilt or make their own clothes 

How to insert a zip with a fly

That being said it is also a book that a more experienced sewer can refer back to time and time again as a refresher it is practical and informative. Especially in the clothing section, as the photos are much clearer than you get on commercial patterns.

I need to brush up on my FMQ skills for a project in the near future so I'll be using the Tea Cozy FMQ tips on the smaller Coaster (Mug Rug) as practice piece.

FMQ how to

Coaster and Next Steps ideas

I've also never used knits, so the Knit Top is perfect for me.

Knit Top

You can get hold of a copy from stitchcraftcreate.co.uk, it's a brilliant book and well worth a look.

Sarah x

I haven't been paid in for this review, but I have been given a copy of the book to review and keep by F&W Media in return for a fair unbiased review. I am not sponsored by any manufacturer or supplier, I only use fabrics I like and suppliers that provide excellent service. All photos are taken by me and all opinions in my blog are entirely my own based on my personal experience.

May's Together do.Good Stitches blocks

A very quick post today, just to prove that I am still here.

I had a spare few hours over the weekend to get my May Together do. Good Stitches blocks done. Again for Siblings Together but this time the quilt is for a teenage boy. Good choice Anna, as another mum to a boy I have to agree that there is a lack of choice for boys. 

When I was pulling my fabric last week I was surprised how little 'older boy blue' I had in my modest stash.

blues and grey's with a hint of yellow

This was my first attempt at making improv triangle blocks, we were asked to aim for 12.5"

Don't worry about getting the block side perfectly 12.5", just as long as they are over - Anna Quilting Along the Grain

But 16" is a little excessive, don't you think?

time to trim 

I did better on the second block, I think it came out at nearer 14" - Yay!

These will now be posted to Anna, and well within the time limit, hooray!

Sarah x

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Winner

I decided to pick a winner the old fashioned way by putting all your names into a hat and picking a winner. My husband is now home so off we go..

138 entries ready and waiting

mixing it up

I think he's found one..

..Yep, he's got one

drum roll please.......

Congratulations Brittney!!!!

Congratulations Brittney. And Brittney's favourite alfresco meal is Grilled Steak and Corn Salad - yum!

As a reminder, here is what Brittney has won

Liberty Coin Purse kit

"Brittney, I'll email you later on tonight for your address."

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who entered my giveaway. 138 comments was far more than I imagined, I've read each and every one and your replies have left my mouthwatering. I'm going to spend sometime over the next week going through your comments and visiting your blogs. And thank you to my new followers on Google Friend Connect and Bloglovin.

Sarah xxx

ps. Jon would like to apologise for his dirty fingernail, he wants you to know that his hands and nails are usually clean - he's been cleaning and prepping a motorhome ready for sale today, mucky work!

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Update

Good morning.

Just a short update for you...

Because I am doing the draw the old fashioned way - drawing a name from a hat - I don't feel comfortable picking a winner when I recognise so many names in the comments that is why I want my husband to pick the winner. 

Unfortunately he has been delayed at work so I'm postponing the draw until he gets home, hopefully within the next hour.

138 entries waiting for the husband to get home

My apologies for the delay and Thank You for your understanding

Sarah xx

Speaking the unspoken.....

...Money!

Ok, I'm laying myself bare with this post, but its something I cannot ignore and I feel its important I say it. Controversial it may be and a post that I may end up regretting in time because of its sensitive subject, but here goes....

I love the Amy Butler Weekender Bag, the shape, the size, the possibility of making something stylish and unique to me - no wonder its so popular. 

It has been on my "I'd love to make one someday" list for so long. With the Fat Quarter Retreat coming up my mind started thinking of possibilites. Then came along Art Gallery Fabric's Make it Right Challenge using Angela Walters Right Angles Panel from the Textures collection. Perfect partners, win win. Make a bag, in a gorgeous fabric with the added bonus of entering it into a contest to win fantastic prizes.

Right Angles Panel by Angela Walters
Image taken from Art Gallery Fabrics blog

I love this panel, it is so me, the colours and geometric shapes.

I tracked down a UK supplier and bought a couple of panels, before I lost impetus. I must say it is even more lovely in real life. I haven't used Art Gallery Fabric before and now I know why it is such a favourite, it feels so soft to handle. 

After planning in the time and dithering over which method to use I decided to go with the popular QAYG method and spent a few hours last night and a few more this afternoon 'internet' shopping around for the rest of the supplies.

It works out cheaper to buy the coordinating solid fabric (for the lining, handles and piping) from the US (by approx. £10). It will shorten my make up time having it shipped from US, it will be a rush but I can live with that. (The contest rules state that you have to use the Pure Elements fabric as 'fillers').

I also need to buy some Duck Cloth/Canvas, Aurifil thread, bag feet, piping, the pattern and the zip. And I'd like the bag to have those rectangle rings on the handles. I've got the pattern on hold at John Lewis to pick up tomorrow and I'll buy the piping while I'm there. I'd shopped around to get the best prices and lowest delivery cost for the remaining bits and bobs and have everything in my virtual shopping carts ready to buy. 

This is when I got the calculator out for my total spend. Are you ready for this.

For supplies and delivery charges (not including the zip or piping as I don't have a cost for them yet or the rectangle handle rings because they aren't a necessity) my Weekender bag is going to cost me..... £91.36!!!

How do can I justify spending this amount of money when we are a one income family and it's not something I especially need? I honestly don't think I can go ahead with the bag, the cost makes it too inhibitive. And there I was planning a post tomorrow about the projects I've got coming up. I may need to re-think.

Please be assured that I'm not writing this blog post for sympathy but only to highlight the cost of supplies.

On a totally different note, I would like to say a huge Thank You to everyone who has entered my giveaway so far. I've been astounded by the number of you that have entered, thank you. 

Sarah xx

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day

COMMENTS NOW CLOSED - THANK YOU FOR ENTERING

Yay! It's time for the fantastic Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day. Hip Hip Hooray! A chance to win loads of goodies, go and check it out and enter as many giveaways as you want, but only after you've entered my little giveaway of course :-)

For those of you who are visiting here for the first time, "Welcome, come on in and take a look around". I'm Sarah. I'm lucky enough to be a stay at home mum to my fast growing not so little boy, living in Yorkshire, England. I blog about sewing, all sorts really, I'm a newbie quilter who also likes dressmaking.

Giveaway time!

I'm giving you the chance to win a lovely Liberty print coin purse kit.

Liberty Coin Purse kit

The kit includes:
1 x 6"x10"piece of Liberty Lawn fabric

1 x 6"x10"piece of Kona Pomegranate fabric

1 x 3" purse frame

1 x 20" piece of Purse Frame Paper Cord

2 x good size pieces (more than enough needed) of Vilene S13 heavy weight sew-in interfacing

Everything you need (apart from the glue) to make your own cute Liberty Coin Purse. 

I'm not including instructions, but if you need them U-handbag have a free tutorial. 

The nitty gritty:

• Because of the time difference between here and Sew Mama Sew, I'll close comments at 10am GMT on the morning of  Saturday 11th May and pick a winner at 11am GMT.
• Open to International entries.
• One entry per person (I'll remove any duplicate entries).
• If you are a 'no-reply" blogger, please leave me your email address in your comment so that I can contact you if you are the lucky winner.
• All entries will be put into a hat and drawn by my husband, I'll post photographic proof!
• I'll email the winner on Saturday 11th May.

All you have to do is to comment on this post with your answer to the following question:

Because today was the first day of the year so far (here in Yorkshire, anyway) that we've been able to eat dinner outside in the sunshine, what is your favourite alfresco meal?

All that leaves me to say is "Good Luck" and I'm looking forward to discovering some new blogs

Sarah xx

Fox Hollow Baby Quilt

Here it is, finish number 3.

Fox Hollow Baby Quilt

I've been really unoriginal with the naming of this quilt ... its a baby quilt and I used Fox Hollow from Monaluna prints with Kona solids hence 'Fox Hollow Baby Quilt'!

"A quilt please, for a long awaited baby" (sex unknown at the time) was the brief and off I went. I know Fox Hollow is quite and old collection now (a year old is a long time in the fast moving world of fabric collections) but I've always liked it and I thought it was a perfect unisex collection. All I had to do was try and get hold of some. After an email cry for help, the wonderful Annie had a rummage around and found just enough FQ's (Family Fox, Foxy Too and A is for Apple) left in stock and she had the coordinating solids (Kona White, Cardinal, Cactus and Aqua) in stock too - a one stop shop is what I like!

foxy!

The design is The 2 Hour Quilt Top from Katy's post on the Sizzix blog, it took me a lot longer than 2 hours but then I don't have one of the fancy Sizzix machines and I certainly don't sew fast! It has a plain back of Kona Ash and I used the zigzag binding technique for the scrappy binding, I also choose to go simple on the quilting too by following the zigzags on either side of the seams.

plain and simple back

so pleased with my neat corners

scrappy binding

all done and ready for it's new home

2 posts in one day, "Phew, I need to go and lie down!" 

Sarah xx