Little House Corner block 2 and some other sewing progress...

 

Did you make your bordered cloth and stitch the first house in one corner last week? Today I have the second little house for another corner. 

The little heart windows are a reminder that a happy home equals love. The four house stitcheries are all quite simple, and once you've made your supper cloth or table cloth, you could stitch them again onto any number of small projects, even greeting cards. If you have extra ideas for displaying these little houses please share in the comments below. 

Use the link below to download this week's Little House Corner stitchery pattern.

DOWNLOAD week two pattern

If you missed week one, you'll find it HERE. If you need to watch the bordered cloth tutorial, it is HERE. 

I've been designing patterns since 2009 and have loved every minute, so I still design, but not as much anymore. Slowing down my life, especially being in my 60's, has allowed me to play around in my sewing room again, rather than always working in there. 

Last year Shez gifted me one of Anni Downs quilt patterns, Gossip in the Garden, and I decided to made one of the blocks into a cushion for my daughter Kezzie. This was for two reasons - firstly, I knew she'd love the tea time theme, and secondly because I wanted to test myself with needleturn applique. 

You see I have dabbled with needleturn over the years, but my own designs are 99% blanket stitch applique simply because I love it, and the way I can 'adorn it' with chain stitch or other stitches. See below one of my Virtuous Wife blocks, how I've split the applique of the basket into two separate sections and filled the space with chain stitch...

But, I've now discovered that I love both styles of applique, so when I completed Kezzie's cushion I decided that one day I would indeed make the whole Anni Downs quilt and use only needleturn. 

Back in January I made a start, and my friend Rosie joined me, so we're both in the process of sewing our own versions of Gossip in the Garden. I have to tell you how much fun it is to text photos back and forth to each other, or to sit across the table and stitch together as we chat! 

Here's my progress so far...I am loving the Dresden blocks...

...and this is where I'm up to at the moment. The centre block is a work in progress, and I add sections to it as I go. First it was the vase and the stems, then the tea pot, then the leaves, now the circle flowers ready to be needleturned. Once I complete them I'll add the larger flowers and stitch the words. 

The fabrics used are mostly 'Blume and Grow' by Natalie Bird, with extra fabrics added from my stash. 

I have found this project very relaxing, something Blossom pointed out to me the other day. Needleturn  is a bit like 'zoning out' for me, the gentle rhythm of sewing something beautiful which does not require me to tweak, measure, write instructions for, sew, photograph and promote - well, it's rather wonderful and soothing in a way I don't quite have words for.

I'm rather sure that once this quilt is made, I shall be looking to Anni's shop for another of her whimsical patterns. 

What are you stitching at the moment? 

Bless you heaps, and may the weekend just around the corner bring you days of calm delight, gentle thoughts, laughter, love, and precious moments of worship in the presence of our Lord. 

hugs

Don't miss out on any Elefantz news or free patterns. 

Subscribe to my blog posts HERE and receive them direct to your email inbox.  

Or sign up HERE for my free newsletter which often has extra benefits, freebies & tutorials!

Week 1 Little House Corner Stitch-along...

 

Good morning! Today we begin a four-part stitch-along which I'll be sharing with you throughout March. 

I named it Little House Corner because we shall be stitching four cute little houses into the four corners of a simply bordered cloth. Your cloth can be made of any solid or tonal fabric you like, however, I have stitched three of these small supper cloths (table cloths) using authentic unbleached flour sack. A lovely floral gingham print border adds a simple sense of homeliness to the completed project. 

If you missed last week's tutorial for creating a bordered cloth, you will find it HERE

Today, before we start embroidering our first little house, we need to position the design in the corner of our bordered cloth. I did a tutorial for this back in 2017 when I made my first supper cloth, which had a summery yellow border and the same little vase of tulips in every corner. 

The tutorial instructions from 2017 for correctly positioning a stitchery in each bordered corner is the same as you will use for all four houses in our 4-part stitch-along, except that you will be stitching four different houses instead of one repeated design.

1. Print the design you wish to embroider and gather a pencil and quilters ruler. Because my tablecloth is a square the corners are a perfect 90 degree right-angle, as you can see below.

2. Decide how far into the corner you want your embroidery and after positioning the ruler over the design use a pencil to trace the corner under the design.

3. Place your fabric over the pattern sheet and line up the corner pencil lines with the corner of your fabric before tracing the design. I did not trace the cloth under the vase, as you can see. 

(The little vase design is one of the 12 stitcheries in my Scrappy Vintage Kitchen pattern HERE)

So let's make a start on our Little House Corner supper cloth today, shall we?! 

This week we're stitching house number one, so print up your pattern sheet and follow the instructions above for tracing the first house into one corner of your bordered cloth.

The embroidery instructions are on your pattern sheet. 

Use the link below to download the first little house pattern.

DOWNLOAD Week One Little House Corner pattern

I have previously stitched two Little House Corner cloths, one for myself and another for my friend Rosie. Mine has a red floral gingham border and hers has a blue floral border, which blends well with Rosie's calming blue and white home decor. 

I was at Rosie's yesterday and wanted to show you how she uses her supper cloth. We always have a lovely morning tea before we stitch and chat about recipes, the garden, homemaking and family, and I absolutely love how she placed a red gingham tablecloth on the table first, then the supper cloth diagonally over the top! I instantly thought of a farmhouse kitchen and couldn't help but smile with delight.

Here's the same little house you'll be stitching this week, but bordered in blue...

Choose thread colours which blend nicely with your border fabric. I did not fuse any stabiliser behind the stitchery corners as flour sack is quite a sturdy fabric and it was not necessary. It's entirely up to you whether you want to add a stabiliser, but I think if you don't carry threads across the back of the design, but secure them when each coloured section is complete, you will be fine without it. 

Here's the back of my little house so you can see what I mean...

And here's the back of my tulip supper cloth as well. This cloth is almost six years old now and has been washed many, many times. I hang our washing out on the line in the bright tropical sunshine, and it has worn very well. I've never had to repair the border or any of the hand stitching...

I'd love to see your cloths coming to life, so if you have a blog please leave a comment with a link to it so I can come take a peek. If you're on Instagram use the hashtag #littlehousecorner so I can find you, or drop by my account @jennyofelefantz to say hi and let me know.

MORE news!

It's been a while since I added a brand new pattern to my Etsy Shop, but as you probably know, I've become a bit of a redwork lover the past couple of years, and combined with my love of home, this new design kind of made my heart sing.

"Always Be Home-Hearted" is a PDF download from my shop, so you could fill time stitching it in between the weekly Little House patterns this month.

The design is mostly backstitch, with some satin stitch, French knots, running stitch, lazy daisy and cross stitches scattered throughout. 

The mini-quilt measures 12" x 13.75" and was stitched onto a white cotton/linen blend background. Borders of assorted red fabric scraps complete the project. 

Imagine it in blue or green...mmmm. Nice. 

You'll find the pattern HERE

I hope you enjoy stitching the Little House Corner, my new redwork pattern, or something else from your sewing basket over the weekend. I believe when we have a heart for home, that love grows the more we tend and nurture it. For me, there's real delight in adding handmade pieces to our home - just as I gain joy from baking a loaf of bread, filling jars with hot jam to fill the pantry, or folding sheets fresh off the clothesline. When our hearts are turned towards home, when we actively choose to participate in creating a safe and inviting sanctuary within our walls, when we slow down and appreciate what is right before us...we are not just blessed, but become those who give a blessing to others.

God bless you, 

Don't miss out on any Elefantz news or free patterns. 

Subscribe to my blog posts HERE and receive them direct to your email inbox.  

Or sign up HERE for my free newsletter which often has extra benefits, freebies & tutorials!