Week 6 of the Stitch-Along and my new sewing space...

Have you stitched the A - E letters yet?

Today we're up to F and for this pincushion I chose to sew it with a touch of elegance by using tonal fabric for the embroidery, cotton lace along the left edge, and a romantic print to finish it off. 

The 'F' has been stitched in just two colours, which I love because it allows that cute little ladybug to have her moment in the spotlight.

The main outline of the letter is embroidered with chain stitch and the curly side shoots are backstitch. The leaf is backstitch as well but I've added a line of blanket stitch through the centre. 

(I have a tutorial with free practice pattern here if you'd like to see how I did that) 

This little pinnie has been kept very simple, which allowed the two-colour embroidery and floral feature fabric to stand out, but you could add chain stitch in the ditch, a line of tiny buttons down the left side instead of lace...whatever makes you happy. 

DOWNLOAD the free pattern for 'F' here or here.

This pattern will remain a free download until November 2nd.

The patterns for A-E are now available here in my shop as a $2 purchase for the set.

Well, I promised I'd show you how I've set up the studio/sewing room in our new home and today is the day.

The room is 3 m x 3.4 m (about 9' by 10.5') so I had to be smart about where to put things. Mr E removed the wardrobe (closet) doors which really helped me create a lovely open space for storage and display and as the room is so fresh and light it feels much larger than it is.

I placed a couple of small bookcases inside the wardrobe and hung a cherished vintage quilt purchased years ago at the op shop for $2 over one of the hanging rails.

My threads are all together underneath, along with my tub of large applique or border scraps, fabric stabilisers, beads, buttons and small pieces of wadding and current designs waiting for their patterns to be written.

Storing a few finished quilts on the shelves added a beautiful 'homely' finish to what was once an ugly empty wardrobe.

Under the window is an old chest of drawers which now holds my quilting rulers, large pieces of quilt wadding, handmade gifts and an abundance of quilt hangers.

My large fabric shelving holds a mix of textiles, buttons, patterns, a basket of tiny applique scraps and other odds and ends. The drawers at the bottom have all my sewing machine bits, plus a large selection of sewing and quilting notions, glue gun, pincushion filling etc.

What was previously my corner office desk is now a cutting and sewing machine table. 

As you can see the walls are bare and that is because I'm going to have my husband build a shelf above the corner table, but there's still room to hang a few things when I'm decided on exactly what they shall be.

I have found my mindset is very different now decorating our own home, compared to previously decorating rental homes. I am taking time to really acquaint myself with each space and consider what I want, and whether I need as much as we have had previously. 

But some things never change.

Blossom designed this sweet garden angel embroidery and stitched it for me when she was about 16.

I made a cover for my sewing machine and appliqued it to the front...it always makes me smile.

And pinned to the sewing machine cover is the pincushion Blossom made me when she was only ten years old. At that time I had not yet learned to embroider or quilt but she gathered some fabric scraps from my sewing box (I used to make clothes for her) and took sewing machine thread to make this precious gift which means the world to me.

And I guess that's what has got me thinking about 'what' I want to display at home, and 'why' - but more about train of thought in another blog post.

For today, be blessed in all you do, be kind to all you meet, and give thanks for all you have.

hugs