Scottie Dog

                             

About 4 years ago I bookmarked this pattern over on the Denyse Schmidt website. Just before the school holidays began I finally got around to making it.

I used 2.5" squares to make both the dog shapes and the joining strip, I have a box of 2.5" squares that I started to cut from scraps as I finished a project. **

 

** That was during one of my 'enough is enough' periods of organisation but it was shortlived and I currently have 2 dumpbins full of scraps taunting me.
 

I loved deciding to make the Scottie Dog and not have to cut anything out.
 

And I love the scrap vomit effect. No endless rearranging of fabrics to get the position right - just sew and go! 

This was the first new cushion for our new to us caravan that we in this house arguments - wish I'd thought of it sooner!!!

Working together with Janome

This autumn our workshop programme is being helped by Janome.

We have 7 computerised machines being used in our studio by workshop attendees and our quilt club ladies.

We (mostly Leanne) made pretty covers for all of them.

 

New machines meant having yet another rejig of the studio - and we managed to keep a table and corner free for hand stitching or knitting projects.

Our autumn workshop programme can be found over on the website, and I am putting together next years list as we speak! 

Any new ideas gratefully received - we love to find out what new skills you wNt to learn.

Definitely on the cards (following many requests!) is a granny square crochet class. 

Watch your mailboxes next month for the  full workshop list...

September Start and Help from Bloggers.

The summer months, and those ridiculously long school holidays (which ended with an 8 year olds broken elbow) , have meant that blogging, website updating, and newsletter writing have taken a back seat.

The new term has arrived so fingers crossed for a motivated, productive term.
We have made lots of changes in the shop over the past week but I know the website needs lots of tlc after a summer of neglect...hold that thought...I'm getting there!!!

As you know from my last blog post I have finally conceded that I.Cannot.Do.It.All.

I was overwhelmed with the response from everybody and I am really pleased to present the 4 bloggers who will be contributing to this blog and the website.

                             

                                             


Do pop over and see their lovely blogs!

And I'm looking forward to seeing their creations in the future.

It has been a while since mailing list subscribers have heard from me too. So tonight I sent out an email to 3 subscribers who have won the monthly draw.

Lorraine, Elaine and Doreen will all receive a lovely bundle of Christmas ribbons new in to the shop.

You can sign up here to receive my infrequent ramblings!


The broken elbow that has kept me out of the shop quite a bit over the last week!

Vacancy.....

Running Patch is the best job I have ever had. There aren't enough words to describe how happy I feel knowing I am going to 'work'.

I love my shop. Love my fabrics. Love my customers. Love my studio space. Love to sew whenever I get the chance.

But... 

There is always a but isn't there???

It's hard work. Really hard work. Juggling everything with my 4 children, 2 of them still very young, a husband who works away half the week, a stupid cat, a social life (ha) and sleep sometimes gets overwhelming! 

I have help in the shop, Leanne and Sheona are amazing and between us we try hard to keep on top of everything but I need more help.

That's where hopefully 'you' come in...

Patch is looking for bloggers who would be willing to work for fabric and shout outs on this poor,neglected - but soon to be managed properly- blog!!

The job spec goes as follows - every couple of months we send you 2 bundles of fabric - one for you and one to turn into a sample, with a tutorial ( or you can use an online tutorial or book pattern) for the shop/blog. 

We would like you to blog about it which I can then post on the Patch blog linking back to you. 

We will cover all postage costs.

Does this sound like something you would like to do? 

I hope so, if you are interested please email me patchfabrics@hotmail.co.uk with your name and your blog name.

Hope to hear from you soon! 

1930's Playtime

    

These gorgeous precuts landed at Patch last week.

1930's Playtime by Chloes Closet for Moda does what it says on the tin.... It's a collection of vintage repro prints in lovely pastel and primary colours. 

We have charm squares, layer cakes and mini charms, as well as jelly rolls too (coming on Katy's Jelly Roll workshop?? This line would be a great fabric choice).

I wanted to make something that shows off how gorgeous this collection is.
 

Dresden Plates are perfect. 

This tutorial from mama said sew is the best I have come across. And there is a printable template to make life easy! 

I cut the blades from a charm pack - 2 from each square so you will get 4 plates from each pack.

All you then need is 30cm of co-ordinations fabric for the circles in the middle. I only ordered precuts (huge mistake on my part) as I was shown the collection on paper and that sometimes makes it harder to see what will work...but anyhow no point crying over unordered fabric ;)
 

I used a tiny tone on tone dot for the centres.
 

These plates have been appliquéd onto more plain fabric and will be turned into cushions for a display in the shop.

 

I had so much fun making these - chain piecing the blades really speeds things up. I'm all about the time saving!!!
 

And who doesn't love a project that looks like its taken way more work than it actually has!! 

 

The quilting is very simple - so as not to take away from the fabrics you know...nothing to do with my ability/attention span!!! To finish it off I pieced the back from leftover charms and made a speedy zip fastening cushion.

Dressmaking

There has been a surge of dressmaking projects recently at Patch. 

Although we are not specifically a dressmaking fabric shop ( no stretch Lycra or poly cotton here *shudders*!!!)- the great thing with our quilt weight fabric is that, as they are 100% cotton, they are perfect for garment making too.

The last couple of months have seen some amazing creations being made by our ladies and gentlemen, some nights at quilt club we think we should change the name!! 

Graham, spent 4 mornings with us making this amazing wool waistcoat, lined with a metallic pindot. He was a pleasure to teach, great company, and a mine of country music information - I gave him a line of a song I had heard and liked on the radio 6 years ago and not only did he know what it was, he put it on a disc and brought it in for me, best one to one student ever!!! 

This gorgeous Cath Kidston inspired top was made by Hannah, our work experience student who was with us at the end of June. She was a natural and has a great textile-y future ahead of her.

I made these skirts after taking one of our pattern making classes. With Nickys expert guidance we measured, drew and cut and all had perfectly fitting skirts.

Nicky is one of our guest tutors, who will be back with us after the summer. ( she is also mumma to the gorgeous Charlotte from Lawson and Lottie) 

 

Our dressmaking for beginners workshops are proving very popular, this workshop teaches you how to read and cut out a commercial dressmaking pattern and construct a garment. 

Today the first group of ladies arrived at Patch armed with fabric and patterns and  enthusiasm, which never waned all day, even when energy levels did!

 The morning was spent preparing. And learning that pattern size measurements aren't always the same as the dress size we wear!

The next beginners dressmaking workshop is in early August, it is fully booked, but we will be holding more of these classes in the autumn.

We welcome anyone to join us one2one or in a small group, just ask for more details or to arrange a date.

. 

Fat Quarterly Retreat 2013

Next week Leanne and I will be travelling down to London for the 2nd Fat Quarterly Retreat.

Looking forward to a weekend of meeting up with old and new friends and maybe a bit of sewing too!

Those of you who are going will probably know that Saturday night is market night and Leanne and I will both be taking our wares in a suitcase Del Boy stylee.

I shall be taking some bundles and precuts and will have a stack of Klona solids swatch cards that will be free instead of £2 at market night. 

Leanne has been printing like a crazy thing and has lots of her gorgeous designs available - including her new prints. I know I am famously Leanne's number 1 fan but seriously, however gorgeous they are on screen, in real life they are stunning.  

There is a discount code especially for attendees at FQ retreat. Enter FQRLONDON  for free delivery and I will bring your order down with me.

http://patchfabrics.co.uk/

Look forward to seeing you there :)