of stitchery and appliqué is currently my favourite look and the designs in this book unite those hand skills beautifully. I love attention to detail: this can make my work look complicated but on closer inspection you will see that I only use basic stitches, making my designs achievable for all skill levels.
The patchwork in the designs is straightforward, with easy blocks and useful diagrams. I have used a fusible web method of appliqué and more traditional needle-turn appliqué, and the step-by-step text gives detailed instructions on both of these. You could use either method for the projects in the book. The techniques required are either described within the chapters or in the Techniques section at the back of the book. All the templates you will need are provided in the Templates section.
So many people adore quaint cottages and country garsdens and I’m sure you will love the charming designs in this book – happy stitching!
Cottage Garden
This gorgeous sewing set of bag, needle case and scissor keeper features a sweet thatched cottage and its flower garden. An enjoyable mixture of patchwork, appliqué and embroidery makes them a pleasure to stitch, and great to give as gifts too. You could make the projects individually or work them as a pretty trio.
The simple drawstring bag is the perfect size for your sewing work in progress – just take it along to your sewing group, sit back and wait for it to be admired. I just love the needle case, with its tiny prairie points that set off the stitchery perfectly. There is a place to put your name and the year on the front, while inside there are pockets to safely store needles and threads. A sturdy scissor keeper completes the collection and is the perfect way to keep your scissors safe and easy to find.
Hollyhock Cottage Bag
This useful bag is so easy to make you’ll want to create lots for family and friends. The threads and stitches used for the little stitchery that adorns the bag are described at the end of the project.
You will need…
• Two pieces of dark brown print each 51⁄2in × 10in (14cm × 25.4cm)
• Two pieces of brown floral each 81⁄2in × 10in (21.5cm × 25.4cm)
• Two pieces of brown check for lining each 10in × 14in (25.4cm × 35.5cm)
• Two pieces of blue print for casing each 2in × 9in (5cm × 23cm)
• Cream textured fabric for stitchery background 6in (15cm) square
• Tiny blue check for house appliqué 2in (5cm) square
• Scrap of blue print for door appliqué
• Ginger wool for roof 2in × 21⁄2in (5cm × 6.5cm)
• Stranded embroidery cotton (floss): ginger, salmon pink, dirty mauve, black, aged red, moss green, grey and petrol blue (I used Cosmo threads but DMC equivalents are suggested in the instructions)
• Fusible stabilizer (optional)
• Fine-tipped fabric marking pen in brown
• Cream cord drawstring 13⁄4yd (1.5m)
• Template plastic
• Light box (optional)
• Tacking (basting) glue (optional)
Finished size:
91⁄2in × 131⁄2in (24.1cm × 34.3cm)
Working the Appliqué
1 Use the relevant templates given in Templates at the back of the book. Using your favourite method of appliqué, prepare the appropriate pieces (see Working appliqué in the Techniques section). If using needle-turn appliqué, add a seam allowance around the shapes. If using fusible web appliqué, reverse the template shapes before using. I used needle-turn appliqué for this project and made the templates for the appliqué shapes from paper. Once the edges are turned under and tacked (basted), press the shapes, first on the wrong side and then on the right side.
2 Using the photograph as a guide, position the appliqué shapes. I used a light box, placing the pattern sheet on to the light box and positioning the background fabric on top. If you don’t have a light box use a bright window. Once you are happy with the positioning glue tack (baste) or pin the appliqué shapes in place.
Tip
I use a tacking (basting) glue to fix the shapes in position on the background as I don’t like the way thread gets caught around the pins when I’m sewing the shapes into place. Roxanne’s Glue Baste It™ has a small tube through which tiny drops of glue emerge, allowing for fine placement of the glue.
3 Stitch the appliqué shapes in position using a blind hem stitch and thread to match the background fabric so it doesn’t show.
4 Using a fine-tipped fabric marking pen either freehand draw or trace the embroidery lines from the template. Work the stitchery following the instructions at the end of this project.
Making the bag
5 To make up the bag cut the following pieces.
Two pieces 51⁄2in × 10in (14cm × 25.4cm) from dark brown print for the bottom of the bag.
Two pieces 81⁄2in × 10in (21.6cm × 25.4cm) from brown floral for the top of the bag.
Two pieces 10in × 14in (25.4cm × 35.5cm) from brown check for the bag lining.
Two pieces 2in × 9in (5cm × 23cm) from blue floral for the drawstring casing.
6 Take one top bag piece and one bottom bag piece and join together, pressing the seam open. This is the bag front. Repeat with other two pieces for the back of the bag.
7 Using the template provided, make a template from template plastic for the large circle. With the wrong side of fabric facing up, centre the circle template over the stitchery. With a fabric marking pen or pencil draw around the template. Cut out on the line (a seam allowance has been included in the template). Turn
