A Favorite Quilt ~ Lessons Learned

One of my first quilts!

"The Twelve Gifts of Birth" by Deonn Stott, 2005

Early in my quilting journey, I joined a local guild.  One particular year, our guild received permission from Cheri Saffiote, a friend of our guild president's mom, to use blocks from a pattern she was designing, Sweet Land of Liberty, as a block of the month.

Tammy 4 All Seasons

I'm "Sew Happy" to participate in today's Tammy 4 All Seasons Blog Hop today.  

Woohoo!  I finally made a Tammy Bag!

Snap-on Pinny

Pinny back

 
 Tammy back pocket

I know, so sad - no cross-stitch yet!

Hey, this is fun - my handle has a keyring.  Perfect to attach my scissors.

Good tools make such a difference!

Beam N Read LED hands-free light, good Readers, Stick With Me secure magnet, Frixion iron-off pen.

A big thanks to the team for this hop:  designers Mdm. Samm @ Sew We Quilt - Tammy Bag pattern, Cori Blunt @ Chitter Chatter Designs - adorable Pretty Pinnies, and Brooke Nolan @ Brooke's Books - Vintage Cross Stitch.  Another round of applause for Mary @ I Piece 2-Mary for herding us all together, keeping us on track, and cheering us on.  And a big shout-out for an amazing assortment of sponsors for this hop!  The right tools and supplies are so essential... as I discovered!

I knew it would be a tight schedule when I signed up - my husband and I just returned yesterday from a vacation.  I had designated time for my project but by the time I realized that there was something amiss about my aida cloth for the cross-stitch, we were far from home.. and supplies.  My grids measure about 7/16ths...

something's wrong with this picture

The pattern calls for 28-count aida cloth, and after trying, "frogging" (rip-it, rip-it), trying with single strands, ripping, trying again - I realized that my cloth had a much higher count, and every teeny weeny stitch took about 6 tries... not feeling "sew happy".  I had to put it aside.

Instead, I kinda lived the summer scene rather than stitch it...

Swam with stingrays, snorkeled a bit, got a little sunshine and a little time with my honey.  Aaahh.  

I'll try again, with the right supplies - then use the Summer cross-stitch motifs for the scrapbook.  Or another Tammy.  Perfect.

All loaded and ready to stitch!

Be sure to check out the entire lineup - Mary's got the master list HERE.  You can also check Mdm. Samm's Tammy 4 All Seasons Pinterest collection HERE.

On the Edge...

Blanket Stitch / Buttonhole Stitch.  Are they the same thing?  Find out over at Cutting Corners today!

My cute friend Frannie gave me an old Necci booklet called "Modern Home Sewing" published in 1952 which I've used as a resource (and an occasional giggle) to prepare this year's series of vintage stitchery and sewing tutorials at Riley Blake Designs' blog. 

I also had a look at my Mother's little Coats & Clark's "100 Embroidery Stitches" booklet.  That one is from 1964. They're little treasures!  And don't you love it when everything old is new again?  I do.  I love it. Check out today's tutorial HERE.

Hand Stitchery Primer

Today's "Sewing Basics" tutorial/demonstration is a handful of the very most basic hand-embroidery stitches. Stitch out a sampler block or make a cute quilt block, name tag or label, or make a fancy Needlenook to carry your stitchery supplies.

Hand Stitchery: Chicken Scratch Embroidery!

Today's Cutting Corners tutorial, sponsored by Riley Blake Designs, brings you more GINGHAM fun!  We'll try this simple vintage embroidery technique to create a lovely lacy overlay effect.  Then I'll give some directions to make a darling little pincushion!