Comfort and Joy Guest from Uk and Spain...our dear Lesley with a Christmas Stitchery

Hi to you all. My name is Lesley Boost from SewHappy.Me and I am a pattern designer and ‘quiltaholic’. I lead a glorious double life (living in both UK and Spain) and I love to provide quilting and sewing inspiration. I am flattered to be asked to guest blog over here with Madame Samm. I must confess I was a little concerned when she told me I would be her HUMP for the week, (yikes!) as it does have a totally different meaning here in the UK, but she assures me that in Canada it means ‘highlight of mid week’, so I am much happier about that. LOL.

Doesn’t Madame Samm just come up with the best ideas to keep you all inspired! The theme of ‘Comfort and Joy’ for this festive time of the year has fitted in well with just about everything I am designing and sewing at the moment. But wow, that Christmas time of the year does creep up on us so quickly, doesn’t it! Having recently published my Christmas Stitchery Banner pattern on my SewHappy.Me blog I was overwhelmed by the response and so have decided that you might well like a Christmas Stitchery project. With this in mind I have designed the following little project for you which involves stitchery, a little appliqué and some piecing.



You could make it either as a small wallhanging (it measures 18″ square) or you may prefer to make it into a cushion. Or hey, perhaps you will come up with an even better idea!

Firstly, download the pattern.

Materials:
Calico 13″ x 10″.
Cotton wadding 13″ x 10″
Sixteen 2″ squares in an assortment of fabrics
Inner border: 2 strips 12½″ x 1¼″
                          2 strips 14″ x 1¼″
Outer border: 2 strips 14″ x 3″
                          2 strips 19″ x 3″
Scraps of fabric for appliquéd hat
Stranded Embroidery thread

Finished Size = 18″ square

Method:



Trace the stitchery design on to a piece of calico measuring 13″ x 10″. Make sure that you centre the design. I use a Clover water erasable pen for tracing, but a fine sharp pencil works equally well.



Layer a piece of cotton wadding  measuring 13″ x 10″ behind the marked calico. I like to stitch my stitchery with a light cotton wadding behind. It is easier to sew and you will find all your ends and knots etc. do not show through to the front. I use 505 basting spray to hold these two layers together, but you may also tack them together.

Embroider your stitchery design on to the traced lines. Use two strands of embroidery thread. I have used a variegated thread on this occasion. Use back stitch for all stitchery except for the number 25. For this I have used a very small chain stitch.

Stitchery Close Up

Once your stitchery is complete, add the appliquéd shapes as follows.

Trace the hat shapes, (which have been reversed on your pattern sheet, ready for tracing), on to bondaweb. Where one shape goes beneath another, trace around dotted line.  Iron the bonded shapes on to your chosen fabrics. Cut out bonded shapes. Iron into place on your stitched calico. Sew in place. I have used a blanket stitch with two strands of thread for outline and back stitch for hat creases.

Close up of appliquéd hat

Cut completed stitchery down to 12½″ x  9½″.

Add your pieced borders as shown in diagram below. All seams are ¼″.



I do hope you have enjoyed this little project. Stitchery is so relaxing to do, isn’t it! And you can sit and sew in front of the TV and still stay sociable with the rest of the family. If you have enjoyed this design please do pop over and see more of my patterns, designs and ideas on my SewHappy.Me blog. I love to provide lots of inspiration and tips there. We have a great time with Free Tutorials, Giveaways and fun! Ooohhh and I have a great Stitchery/Appliqué Block of the Month coming up very soon with cute teddy bear designs.

Hope to see you again soon. Keep stitchin’!