SQ Croak Couture

The second project I have to finish for the local Eisteddfod was Croaky Couture also by Sew Quirky.  Layering up the applique wasn't difficult, just time consuming. Again, I lost a piece of the applique - this time a nostril.

Between fielding calls about the eisteddfod, I have finished the applique and the jacket which was tricky. I now have until Sunday to quilt the background aqua speckled yarn dyed linen and make it into a cushion. Perhaps I might even remember to add a label to this piece.

Lola cushion

 

It was time to stitch up some of the Sew Quirky projects from the mystery box. I have included two Sew Quirky projects in the 2026 UFO challenge for our group. Even though number 12 has not yet been pulled, I chose the project t enter in our local Eisteddfod, and hand in day is this coming Saturday!!

I increased the design by 100%. The preparation takes some time as the pieces are small and fiddly. Though my biggest challenge has been losing one of the lenses of the sunglasses. I was determined not to prep the pieces again, so I kept looking for the piece as I worked on the other parts of the applique. Eight hours later, I discovered the pieces stuck to the underside of my slippers. That did make us laugh and it was a relief not to have to cut out the pieces again.

I used Glide threads for the applique and also added hot fix rhinestones to the centres of the flowers for some extra sparkle. The striped border picks up the black and white of the Dalmatian.

I closed the back of the cushion with snaps but totally forgot to add a label. I now need to work on Croak Couture, also by Sew Quirky, to enter it into the Eisteddfod.

Sew Quirky mystery box

 

The most recent Sew Quirky mystery box was called "Razzle Dazzle". You can order previous boxes here or pre order the next box due in April.

The box always contains a new fun pattern and a kit to make the project. This quarter's pattern is called Croak Couture and features a frog in a dazzling fringed jacket.

The specialty fabric this time was metallic vegan leather. the green shades are definitely more Lizzie than me. There are pattern weight, labels and a secret project which was a mini purse / pouch.

The sweet treat was yogurt frogs (long gone). Continuing the orange and pink theme was some strapping for bags, I'm told we have some of this already and a big embroidered patch.  Finally matching zips and bow zipper pulls.

Lola pouch by Sew Quirky

 

The Lola lunch buddy is one of my 2026 UFOs, but I have also entered it into the 2026 Jersey Eisteddfod, so it needs to be handed in by 1 March. I have enlarged the dalmatian applique from A4 to A3 and plan to make it into a cushion for my daughter. The pattern was in a Sew Quirky mystery box and came with a kit. 

I have substituted the metallic sunglasses for the gold as enlarging the pattern meant there wasn't enough and I added the aqua vinyl which goes well with the speckled Essex dyed linen I've chosen for the background. So far, I have prepped all of the pieces and fused them to the background. The fun starts now with adding applique and free motion stitching.

February WIP challenge

My February UFO for our group UFO challenge was my thimble blocks from a sewalong with @happysewucky some time ago. I chose the largest block to make into a project bag. I added a border of Kona in the colour breakers and then did a 1" cross hatch grid using a pale pink Ruby Star Society print as the backing.

I even remembered to add a little rainbow label into the binding. The Ruby Star Society + print was the perfect binding and accent fabric paired with a leopard print vinyl from Studio7t7 and a pink striped zip from Purple Stitches.

I may use some more of the thimble blocks for another project, but I now need to work on a project that I have entered for our local Eisteddfod.

Paris, je t'aime II

It's February so time to start another section of this pattern by Verushka Karate. I am wishing that I had done section 2 first as it is not big or complicated and only has one element which is appliqued. 

I know that March will be busy for me so I will stitch section 3 which is small and has no applique. Limiting myself to one section a month is working so far for me as it is a manageable chunk, and I can also work on other projects. I still have to find the pouch of leftover fabrics from La Vie en Rose which has many of the same fabrics.

January challenge

Number 7 was chosen as our group challenge for January 2026. hank fully I made a toile as the bodice of the pattern with its princess seams did not suit my shape. Instead, I used the Aspen dress and turned it into a pinafore. I tried the burrito method for the first time and drafted a facing for the bodice using the principles from the Noa dress.