… in progress for Mothering Sunday. Something very simple, but I hope she likes it. The fabric here is Amy Butler’s Sandalwood in Tangerine from her new Love collection. Quite appropriate really!

… or the fabric alternative! If your mum has a passion for pattern then one of our pretty floral fabric packs could be the perfect present.

Check out our new sale section for money off some of our fabrics and patterns.

Enjoy! - and we’ll be adding a few more items within the next few days.

A runner I made for Auntie A’s birthday. In hindsight, maybe not the most practical choice of colourway - but thinking that her mealtimes aren’t nearly as messy as ours maybe I’ve gotten (gotten - is it a word? - oh well, it sounds okay to me) away with it. She liked it. If you too like the look of this, all you need to do is:

- Cut out some 6″ x 6″ squares in some plain and patterned fabrics you like (I didn’t count how many I needed - just winged it.) Note - a quilters’ ruler and rotary cutter is near to essential / very useful here.

- Pair each of your plains with one of your patterneds (goodness - another non-word here!), one on top of t’other, right sides facing.

- On the plain bit of each pair draw a line from one corner to another in erasable pen or chalk.

- Take your squares over to your sewing machine, and sew a line 1/4″ down each side of your line on each pair.

- Take your squares back to your cutting area and cut along the line you drew on each pair.

- Open up the triangles. You have a load of squares made up of two triangles - one patterned and one plain.

- Look at your pretty squares and play around a bit to find a combo that pleases you and sew them together - again sticking to your 1/4″ seam allowance. This makes the top of your runner.

- Get your batting (a flat, thin wadding is best for this), and lay your runner top… on top. Then lay those on top of your runner backing.

- Pin this lot together (you now have a sandwich of top, batting and back) and take it over again to your machine, and get quilting. I just sewed some more lines in to follow the triangle ‘theme’.

- Once you’ve finished quilting, just sew on the binding. And then wash it so it’s presentably clean.

Another note you’ll probably want to press your pieces as you go along - not just because it makes getting your joins neat easier, but it’s also quite satisfying.

Here we have more of your gorgeous makes:
1 Maria of Me and Ma made this quilt from Botany - love the freshness of this - especially with the white. So unusual.

2 And what about these cheeky monsters from Funky Rascals - what a team! We can imagine making these can become somewhat addictive. We meant to put this picture up a while ago - sorry Lara!

3 Fingerless gloves from Meadowstitch - complete with bag made from Amy Butler’s Lotus Dots in Cherry - wouldn’t these make the perfect gift? I love them (I have some of my own and wouldn’t be without them - ever tried dishing out raisins wearing the usual?).

4 Finally, we have Erin’s (mummyandmonkey.co.uk)  cute changing mat for her little monkey - no one else will have the same - his nappies will be changed in style!

Thanks for sending your makes through to us - we love seeing what people do with the fabrics. Wonderful!

Look at these cute bloomers! Perfect for lounging around the house in - worn with a pretty vest - if you’ve got the central heating turned up :)  Head on over to the Colette Patterns blog to download the pattern free. These would look gorgeous made with so many of our fabrics - I’m thinking our Philip Jacobs designs especially. Have fun!

These arrived last week and are even better than we expected. They’re:

- kind of like a pattern and a book all in one. All of the instructions are found in the ‘book bit’ at the front, and then your tissue-y bits are in a little folder in the back. This is good   because it means that you’re not grappling with more ginormous bits of paper than you have to.
- wonderfully vintage in style.
- seemingly easy to follow - we’ve not made anything yet - though we have high hopes.
- made for - and shows off! - a womanly figure. If you’ve got curves, these designs are for you. If you haven’t, they’ll near-as-dammit give you some.
- take a look at Tilly’s version of the Sencha blouse. She hadn’t quite finished it at the time of writing this, but she promises it will be finished soon. Can’t wait to see it!

I will be getting out the matchsticks to prop my eyelids open to put the new patterns on the site tonight - otherwise it’s going to be next week and they’re too nice to languish. x

When I was a kid, my Nan and Pop created the most fabulous bathroom in their flat.  It was a shell grotto, smelling of Imperial Leather and Brut. My nan stuck shells to the side of the bath (leg scrapings were commonplace) and on the ceiling was a HUGE fishing net, filled with more shells, dried starfish and those round things which I don’t know the name of and have never actually seen anywhere else. Then, in the corner was Dolly with a loo roll up her skirt.

Notwithstanding Dolly (or maybe because of Dolly, depending on your tastes) that bathroom was pretty cool. I just tell you this story because the sewings of Kirsty from Sixty One A set me on the Nan and Pop bathroom chain of thought. Kirsty’s sealife mobile and seahorses aren’t as kitsch (too pretty!) but are just as smile-making to me as thinking of that bathroom.

… Take a look at her folksy shop for more.

Our Blueberry pack has been a hit! Thanks for the inspiration, Karen, and also to Maria for sending some pics of the gorgeous patchwork cushions she crafted from her Blueberry purchase.

And it seems things have turned full circle, because although we’ve now sold out of the Blueberry, one of Maria’s purchases has inspired this pack (hope you don’t mind us stealing  your ‘eye’ Maria - it was too striking a combination to ignore).

We had a bit of a false start with My Happy Garden from Cloud9. We ordered the whole collection, but there was a bit of a problem with Speckle Grass (damaged in transit) which meant that we couldn’t offer the whole collection.

But it’s all sorted now! Michelle and Gina were so helpful and efficient, and made sure they posted our replacement bolt right away, meaning that we can now offer the whole collection.

For those of you who want to see all of the designs we will be offering them in a My Happy Garden fabric pack as well as a few more smaller Cloud9 packs.

Enjoy your weekend!