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. 

A different perspective

It is good to look at things with a different perspective. I often cut large volumes of fabric at our kitchen island as it is a better height for minimizing bending and it' a clear space which my sewing room is generally not clear.

I stitched up a quick toile of the Noa dress in a secondhand duvet cover. I am so pleased that I did that as the bodice did not fit at all. I also don't have the skills to alter princess seams so that the bodice would fit. I decided instead that I would make a winter version of the Aspen dress by Fabric Godmother. Having cut out the bodice and skirt, of course, there wasn't enough fabric for sleeves! So I have now altered the pattern for the Aspen dress to turn it into a Noa style pinafore. Wish me luck.

WIP Wednesday- honey of a tiny town

This is not a big cross stitch project by any stretch of the imagination, so I had hoped to finish it in January. Continuing bouts of vertigo have slowed my progress, but I have worked the full width of the piece. The next series of Bridgerton is released on 29 January, so I predict binge watching and cross stitch.

Now I need to work on my January UFO challenge project which is a tale of woe!

Rainbow clock

One of my Christmas presents from Lizzie and Matt was this £2 clock from Ikea. I have included the reverse of the clock so you can pick one up too.

I planned out the basic colours on a scrap piece of paper and then picked suitable skeins from DMC threads that were waiting to be put away. Having stitched those numbers, I then picked out the remaining colours from my storage boxes. I used three 12" lengths of DMC six stranded floss.

I have now hung the clock in my sewing room in an alcove where I store my overlocker.

Paris Je t'aime - section 4

I prepped the applique pieces of section 4 to take to my guild meeting on Saturday. However I woke late on Saturday and road works around the venue put me off going, so I stayed home and did the applique and then pieced the units together. I am pleased with how it's looking so far and I will now put the project away until February when I'll work on section 2.

I now need to work on my January UFO challenge piece which is the Noa dress by Tilly and the Buttons.

Frosty tiny town

 

I took this piece to the framer last Tuesday and collected it yesterday. Initially I thought the painted frame was too brown but when I photographed it this morning it looked much better.

Design boards

 

Yesterday I did some cutting out for a pattern that I am designing. I pulled out my 18" design board to keep the pieces in some sort of orderly fashion. I made these design boards according to Lori Holt's instructions here. I ask my local framer to cut the mount board into 18" squares for a small cost. I also use premade bias tape for speed.  I don't however use a hot glue gun as I haven't mastered using one and I end up with big blobs of glue everywhere. Have you made any of these design boards?

WIP Wednesday

 

I have been working on part 4 of Paris, Je t’aime by Pride & Joy Quilting. I am surprised at my progress and I have all parts of the piece foundation pieced apart from one, so I need to prep the appliqué pieces next.

I was going to pin my fabrics to my design wall to free up space next to my sewing machine but instead I’ve laid them out on the window sill which is to the left of my sewing machine. I’m not worried about sun damage as I will put away the fabrics until February soon.

I still need to find pins and the kit pack from Nantes. I can then use the leftover fabric from the Nantes fabric first.

Project planning

 

I have started prepping my Paris, Je T'Aime by Verushka Karate as my fabric arrived during the week along with the starch. I have started by printing out the instructions and putting them in a folder. I printed out the foundation papers on speciality paper which I have grouped in the folder by section.

I tried the starch powder for the first time and made a BIG mess! The fabric was as stiff as cardboard, so I had to wash the fabrics and use spray starch. I have labelled all of the fabrics and have started sewing section 4. I need to find the kit for La Vie en Rose as I know that I have some of the same fabrics. I can then use up some of the smaller pieces for this project.

Frosty Tiny Town

I have completed Frosty Tiny Town by Heart in Hand on 32 count opal evenweave in the color Rai. It just needs a press and then I can take it to the framer. I like the framer's simple system - drop it off on a Monday (for example) and pick it up a week later.

I have now made a small start on A Honey of a tiny town.

 

2026 project - Paris - Je t'aime

Paris - Je t'aime by Verushka Karate had previously caught my eye as it would go perfectly with my Nantes cushion. I took a class with Verushka in Nantes in 2024 or 2023. I saw on Instagram that my friend Pippa, received the kit at Christmas, which spurred me on to commit to this project. I have purchased, downloaded and printed the pattern. I now need to put it into a folder to keep some sort of order to the project. I then ordered all of the fabrics except one. I may have some of that fabric in the kit for the cushion. I also ordered some liquid starch as Verushka starches her fabric and hangs them to drip dry and they are beautifully crisp. I have some of the Moda Bella in Christmas red that Verushka had starched for the Nantes show and she didn't want to take anything home with her, so shared her leftovers.

Looking forward to 2026

I have just forwarded a list of twelve projects to Jersey Modern Quilt Group to participate in the 2026 UFO challenge. I finished ten out of twelve projects in 2025.

Part 1 of the Barbara Ana sew along and this is as far as I got in 2025.

Numbers 2 to 4 are the other three seasons. No doubt winter will be chosen before any of the others.

I planned to work on number 5 - Frosty Tiny Town over Xmas but not a stitch was placed in the piece.

Newly purchased fabric purchased last week at Guthrie and Ghani. It is waiting to be washed.

More fabric from Guthrie and Ghani!

Number 8 is the many thimble blocks I've made in the sewalong with Happy Sew Lucky. If only I knew where I'd put them!

Fabric purchased in 2021 from Rosenbergs on a three hour visit with Lizzie.

Jingle all the way has lots of embellishments to add along with a border.

One of many kits from Sew Quirky which is too cute not to make.

Another Sew Quirky pattern which will probably be made into a cushion for Lizzie.

I also have a longer term project that I'll share with you on Friday.