Cowslip Creations

My grandson wanted to do a fancy dress riding competition dressed as Bob the Builder and turning his pony into a digger (made by his dad) with his friend dressed as Wendy.

We couldn’t find a suitable shirt so I made this one for him last week. It’s the ‘Yoke Shirt’ designed by Purperita and is available from Etsy, there is a video tutorial available on YouTube.

They came 4th in the competition 😁

My latest project that I’ve been working on is Maizie the Original Holstein as a wall hanging. The pattern is available to buy from Etsy.
I made her using applique techniques I’ve learnt from doing workshops with Trease at Patchwork Lane

My latest make - this is my first version of the Rosie Sling by Knotted Threads. It’s a really useful pattern for days out, it holds my bottle of water, purse and keys in the main section and my phone in the front pocket. The following versions of this pattern will be made with the recommended fabrics so it will be quicker and easier to make!
The pattern is available from https://knottedthreadsco.com/products/rosie-sling-pdf-pattern there is a tutorial from the company and many bag makers have made sew-a-long tutorials on YouTube

I’ve actually managed to complete one of my many projects this month, the rest will eventually get finished!
This is my version of a project bag, it’s nearly 16’’ square and is plenty big enough for quilt blocks or dressmaking.
The block I have used for the back is Hunters Star.
There are lots of variations on how to make these available on YouTube if you fancy giving one a go. They can be made any size and don’t have to have a quilted block for the reverse, I find it a good way to try out different blocks and use them instead of having a bag of orphan blocks 😁

I had a productive afternoon yesterday making my version of the Triple Sling crossbody bag. Really useful for traveling as the pockets are big enough for your passport, phone and cards/cash and handy for days out when all you need is your phone/cash/card. The only change I made was to use webbing instead of making my own straps.
The instructions are very clear and there is a video tutorial by Country Cow Designs on YouTube and tutorials by other bag makers.
https://countrycowdesigns.com/product/triple-sling/

My Easter makes.
I didn’t have a pattern for the tubs, I quilted the Easter fabric and bound the base and top, they were filled with Easter gifts for my grandkids.

I made a Simnel and a sponge traybake to have with a cup of tea/coffee after chapel.

https://www.easypeasyfoodie.com/easy-simnel-cake-traybake/

A recent make - my version of the Mini Carry-All pattern, I used the pattern pieces and decided to bind all my edges as practice for other bags in my list to make that involve a lot of binding.
It’s a very handy bag to hold all sorts of hobby stuff and keep by your chair or sewing machine….a few who have made them use them to keep their toiletries in one place in the bathroom, it is a useful bag approx 10’’x7’’ and 8’’ deep plus the external pockets.

Last week I was busy making the large Desktop Cubes for Mothering Sunday gifts for the mums in our family. The Desktop Cubes are part of the Minikins Season One by Sew Sweetness.

Before I gifted them I added shower gels and a shower puff as it didn’t look right gifting an empty cube 😁

I’ve been working on this scrappy duckworth quilt for the last few weeks for my cats to enjoy while sleeping on the sofa, as modelled by Jasper, obviously they’re not at all spoilt 😹
For the quilters a duckworth block is a wonky log cabin, ideal for using up different sized leftover strips! I took the opportunity to practice free motion quilting, it’s not perfect but it’s finished 😁

Another ’Easy Does It’ pouch, it’s a free pattern from the By Annie website. This one was made as a birthday gift for my SIL. I was a bit quicker making this one and found it easier and I didn’t have much unpicking 😁

My latest makes, 2 project bags, the largest is 15’’ and the smaller one is 9’’ a great size for smaller rulers and templates.
If you fancy making one I used the following YouTube tutorial as a guide to make them.
https://www.youtube.com/live/_prIXnjJieg?si=wOUHRfPio31EUTam

Wishing you all a very happy new year, this year like other years I’m starting my sewing with finishing the many projects I’ve already started!!!! I have enough works in progress to keep me busy for weeks and I have lots of new stuff planned 😁

I haven’t posted for a while as most things I make from September on are Christmas gifts, descriptions are with the photos.

I’m back from a holiday to Salou. Before we went I decided I needed some more strappy clothes to take so made these. The camisole is the Ogden Cami by True Bias and the Tempo sundress is by Love Notions.
I didn’t make any changes to the sundress or the blue camisole, the mustard camisole I added 2’’ to the length and added tie straps, the other camisole I added the extra length and a flounce.

For any of my followers who enjoy dressmaking.
Please have a look at my friend Helen’s latest YouTube video and it would be great if you could follow her. Helen does regular dressmaking videos showing clothes she has made with feedback from the patterns that have been used plus showing off her latest fabric purchases and other sewing related content 😁

Friday Sews 18th August 2023 - Makes and new fabrics Lovely Sewing People!Here is my weekly Friday Sews video, I hope you enjoy it and as always I will list below the details o...

A few things I’ve done in the last few months.

Thought I’d share my birthday present from my friend Bernice. The design is from Embroidery Library and has been stitched out and put into a hoop and backed with felt. I think she knows me very well!!!

My most recent make for myself is these Wardrobe By Me Easy Pants available as a PDF pattern from www.wardrobebyme.com
These trousers were made from inexpensive fabric to check for fit and they’re the best fitting trouser pattern I’ve made in absolutely ages so will definitely be making more. After finishing there was enough fabric over to make a top to wear with them so worn together they would look like a jumpsuit.
The pdf peasant blouse pattern is free and available from www.happiestcamper.com it has a photo sewing tutorial as well as a video.

During April I took part in the challenge, I managed to complete 3 blouses! I have another 4 waiting to be made plus a list of other patterns I liked after seeing them entered into the challenge by others taking part.
The patterns I have had for some time and the fabrics were from my stash. They are all wearable toiles but I will make some changes when I make them again.
The event was an Instagram challenge hosted by Ruan and Gabrielle
I am on Instagram if any one would like to follow me on there xx

I’m having a change from crocheting in the evenings. I have started this cardigan to get back into knitting, the pattern is a honeycomb made using a cable needle. I’ve decided to make it in one colour using bought from Ammonite Yarns in Pontyclun.

My belated St David’s Day photo!
I made this using a patchwork and appliqué design from AbbieAnne Patchwork Quilting & Textiles. When I’d completed the patchwork I quilted it on my embroidery machine using the daffodil ‘end 2 end’ design from DBJJ.
The fabric for the appliqué was attached using Bondaweb and stitched around using a variety of stitches in my sewing machine.
Finally I made it into a cushion.

A few items I’ve made recently. The baby’s playmat was made in January and was gifted in February. All the appliqué and embroidery was done on the embroidery machine and then I pieced it all together.
The Sophia bag is designed by Crafted by Leanne and the pattern is available from Etsy and I made this one for myself. The tree of life tapestry fabric is from Lee Mills in Swansea.
The other photo is the start of a ‘Springtime’ quilt, the blocks are released weekly by Sweet Pea. The aim is to have it all embroidered and stitched together ready for Easter.
I have quite a few projects so far to work on during March, another playmat to complete, 2 sets of bunting, a bag, an appliqué cushion and some dressmaking…….my list changes regularly but I do eventually get my projects completed 😁

During January I’ve been trying out some new patterns, I chose the Holland Pouch by Centre Street Quilts and the Quilted Zipper Pouch by Minki Kim. I wanted to practice the quilt as you go technique for the pouches as well as practicing binding all the raw seams as I haven’t used this method very often. They are both excellent scrap buster patterns! There are video tutorials to go with the patterns on YouTube.

https://www.centerstreetquilts.com/the-holland-pouch-easy-boxy-zipper-pouch-pattern/

https://sewingillustration.com/products/quilted-zipper-pouch

A few things that were made before Christmas. There is more information about most of the items with each photo.

Wishing you all a very happy new year where we get to work on our crafting and maybe even finish them all……. I usually start the year completing works in progress!!!!!

My latest machine embroidery project which has been gifted to my grandkids.
This was a mystery Halloween quilt which started on the 12th August. The blocks were released weekly until 14th October, a few weeks there were 2 blocks to make.
I didn’t buy any fabric for this I made all the blocks with fabric left over from other projects plus a few fat quarters from my stash.
The designs are available from www.swpea.com

This week I’ve made another Craggan Messenger Bag, this one is for my granddaughter, she chose the bee fabric and I used my embroidery machine to add the ‘bee kind’ to the exterior pocket.

My grandson chose the space fabric fat quarter and asked for a bag, luckily I managed to get all the exterior out of the space fabric and used some superhero fabric for the interior of his Craggan Messenger Bag.

https://www.spencerogg.com/product/the-craggan-mens-messenger-bag-pdf-sewing-pattern/

As we come out of summer my crochet comes back out, I started this earlier in the year but when the weather improved I’d rather be outside so this baby blanket got put to one side until 2 weeks ago. I do a few rows during the evening while watching tv…….I find it relaxing and because my hands are busy I don’t eat chocolate/sweets which helps me keep my weight on track!!!!
The pattern is the Sweet Baby Blanket by Sue Rawlinson, the yarn is stylecraft dk and Marriner Mermaid left over from other projects

Thank you to Sew Heavenly Designs for offering these machine embroidery files free for our personal use.