Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Big Stitch Swap Package (gone in the post)

Today, I put my Big Stitch Swap package in the post. I hope my partner will like it.

I used a LiliPopo embroidery pattern on the front. I enlarged it a little so I could have a bigger finished pouch, suitable for hand sewing or knitting projects. This girl is very sweet, and though the pattern was straightforward, it took a little bit of work to get the look I wanted for her. I tried to make her sweet but a little quirky.


I was trying to figure out how to set her in a background, and I wanted something to give it a tiny bit of an edge, so as not to be too super sweet. From somewhere, I had the image of her standing on a rocky, pebbly beach. Happily, Trudi's class at the FQ Retreat covered pebble quilting, and despite my previous pre-FQR attempts at the technique leaving me ready to cry, after practising a little, I felt up to tackling it on this. It took quite a while, and a surprising amount of thread, but I was really pleased with how it turned out. The texture of the thread against the Essex linen is just so lovely, it feels great.


For the back, I spent quite a while thinking through various blocks before I landed on this one. I wanted something I could add handquilting detail to, something with clean lines and that would be striking against the linen. I was inspired by Camille Roskelley's Puddle Jumping pattern, but I drew this block out on Touchdraw so I could customise it to the size I wanted myself.

My colour palette was inspired by something I saw my partner say, and when I went digging around, I was delighted to find a scrap of Nordika that was perfect for fussy cutting for the centre.


I did dither about the hand quilting on this, initially when I finished it I thought it was a bit boxy looking where the corners of the blocks crossed over, it didn't look quite as I imagined. But when I came back to it the next day, I was happy, and I got a lot of positive feedback on IG and FB about it, so I relaxed a little :-)


I added a hot pink zipper for a pop of colour and I used a Vintage Happy print for the lining. I bought this print a good while ago, specifically for use as lining,and I love how it works. I did a divider pocket about half way down. The pouch measures just under 12" x 12", so it's a good size.


So my pouch was all done, and I just needed to pull out some scraps to include to finish off my package. It's gone in today's post and I really, really hope that my partner likes it.


If you like hand stitching, or embroidery, or just want to see what loveliness can be created with a simple needle and thread, pop over to the Flickr group and have a look as some of the gorgeous finished projects. Maybe we will see you in Round 2?

10 comments:

Susan said...

Your partner will love this! I know I would! Maybe I need to join the next round!

Katy Cameron said...

Oh she's gorgeous, and love the pebble quilting!

Isisjem said...

Great pouch. The pebble quilting really does set that sweet little girl off. The back of the pouch is equally as fun. Definitely a 'double A side'

Kwilt Krazy said...

Wow! That is beautiful, your partner will love it. Excellent job.

Archie The Wonder Dog said...

Your partner is very lucky!

Teresa @ Aurea's Kitchen said...

The pouch is really lovely.

Kathleen said...

Who would not love this?! So cute the way you quilted around the embroidery. And the back is beautiful as well. You could have made two pouches with a plain backing and they would have been just as nice!!

Ruth said...

It's really lovely - I'm sure it will be loved the minute the envelope is opened!

Andee said...

Enjoyed watching your progress on this on instagram...the back is as cute as the front!

Tina said...

It's gorgeous! Love all the hand stitching, the pebble quilting, and the fabulous lining fabric!