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A Bustle & Sew Publication Copyright Š Bustle & Sew Limited 2016 The right of Helen Dickson to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, or by any means, without the prior written permission of the author, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. Every effort has been made to ensure that all the information in this book is accurate. However, due to differing conditions, tools and individual skills, the publisher cannot be responsible for any injuries, losses and other damages that may result from the use of the information in this book.
First published 2016 by: Bustle & Sew The Cottage Oakhill Radstock BA3 5HT UK www.bustleandsew.com
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Welcome to our Autumn Collection I am nearly certain that Autumn, or Fall as it’s called on the other side of the Atlantic, is my favourite season - but then there’s something to love about all of them! I do enjoy working with tweeds, woollens and felts though, which somehow seem to speak of cooler days and home comforts to come as well as the glorious autumn palette ranging from bronzes and purples right through to palest yellows. Inside this book you’ll find a carefully curated collection of patterns that somehow speak of autumn to me, including woodland designs of course, but also one or two that are a little bit unexpected perhaps. I hope you’ll enjoy this collection, and as well as the patterns I’ve also included some other seasonal reading and recipes that I hope you’ll enjoy. So make yourself a hot drink, snuggle down in your comfy chair and take it easy for a little while at least! Happy autumn stitching!
Helen xx
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Autumn Joys Hoop
Page 5
By Candlelight
Page 34
Poetry Corner: Rich Days
Page 9
Leaping Fox Hoop
Page 36
Appley Dappley Cushion Cover
Page 10
Poetry Corner: October
Page 39
Badger Hot Water Bottle Cover
Page 12
Woodland Animals Height Chart
Page 40
Autumn Printable
Page 15
Applique Deer Cushion Cover
Page 44
Toadstool Patchwork Bag
Page 16
A Real Log Fire
Page 47
Bringing the Harvest Home
Page 29
William: A Very Good Dog!
Page 50
Carpe Diem Banner
Page 23
Chocolate Cinnamon Brownies
Page 53
Owl Tea Cosy
Page 26
Red Fox Fzux Taxidermy Head
Page 54
Nature Notes: The Teasel
Page 30
Templates
Page 57
Deerly Loved Hoop
Page 31
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Rich Days …
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We’re loving these dreamy Autumn days ….. Bracing walks along our local beach now totally deserted - mugs of hot chocolate when we get home that we drink while warming ourselves on the Aga!
Snuggling into cosy knitwear, lighting the fire and toasting our toes Crunching through the fallen leaves…..
Less time in the garden means more time for sewing!
T hat oh-so-evocative smell of cold nights and smokey bonfires … walking home beneath the stars on a crisp cold evening, seeing all the lights on in the cottages along the road - such a homely sort of feeling….
The sun’s rays reflecting the warmth of the beautiful leaves russet, scarlet and burnished gold.
Spooky time at Halloween!
Farewell to summer salads - until next year - and hello to comforting casseroles, warming soups and wonderful English puddings … spotted dick, treacle sponge and sticky toffee .. Yum! Starting on my Christmas projects - but still plenty of time to complete them - what’s not to love about October? xx 71
Toadstool Patchwork Bag There’s something about toadstools in October - their bright cheerful colours peeking up through the fallen leaves that carpet the woodland floor - and they make a great decorative addition to this little bag too, with its cheerful patchwork interior and handstitched trim. Finished bag measures 7 ½” high x 8” wide x 6” deep and has an inner patch pocket and magnetic closure
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Carpe Diem Banner This banner’s a great reminder to those of us who are rather too prone to procrastinate - to get on, get out there, and seize the day! I thought it would be fun to stitch a banner rather than a hoop, giving more of a sporty, active feel to the embroidery. Worked in corals, dusty purples and soft greens on a grey background it would make a great gift, or perfect to keep for yourself. Stitches used are satin stitch, stem stitch, split stitch, back stitch and French knots. Finished pennant measures 8” x 12”
● DMC stranded cotton floss in colours ecru, 154, 310. 352, 353, 779, 783, 906, 3041, 3328, 3712, 4065
Materials ● 16” x 14” grey cotton, linen or blended quilting or medium weight fabric for front
● Temporary fabric marker pen
● 14” square cotton fabric for backing ● 10” x ¼” wooden dowling ● 24” cream cord for hanging
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By Candlelight ‌. In September the evenings are drawing in rapidly - indeed by the end of the month we will have passed the autumn equinox and the nights will be longer than the days. It’s usually still too warm for a fire, so I love to fill my hearth with candles to enjoy their flickering light and enjoy their glow through the dusky twilight hours.
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Snuggle down and keep warm ‌ there’s nothing quite like a real fire to toast your toes - and your marshmallows!
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If you’re lucky enough to have an open fire or a wood burning stove, then it’s at this time of year that it begins to come into its own, as the heart of the house, a place to gather and gaze into the flames to talk and warm chilly toes and - if an open fire roast chestnuts and toast marshmallows too! If you have a large fireplace and need a lot of kindling to start your fire, then tie it in a bundle with a twist of plant twig (not string, which will burn away to nothing almost straight away) so that the heart of your fire won’t collapse. To add fragrance to your fire, throw citrus peel onto it, or pine cones which are wonderfully aromatic, and particularly appropriate, I always think, at Christmas time. Don’t burn pine logs though as they send out showers of sparks. Ash is the best wood for burning as it burns hot and long and doesn’t spit. If you burn hickory wood it will fill your house with its aroma, and apple wood smells wonderful.
When choosing logs it’s important that they’re well-seasoned. When trees are felled they’re full of water and it takes between six months and a year for them to dry out fully. You can roughly gauge their readiness for burning by their weight, though it’s possible to purchase moisture meters if you want to take a more scientific approach. If you try to burn green or partly seasoned wood it will hiss and spit and your fire will burn sluggishly, producing far too much smoke. Keep your wood supply under cover to prevent rain and snow falling on it - if you’ve allowed time for it to season then you don’t want it getting wet all over again! If you don’t have a wood shed, then stack your supply beneath a sheet of heavy duty plastic, allowing air to circulate from the sides.
You can make good use of wood ash too. Put ashes on a path to make a good hard core - it packs down gradually. Or put a sprinkling onto the garden or your compost heap.
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Red Fox Trophy Head No foxes were harmed in the making of this trophy head honestly! Mounted on an 8” hoop, this cheerful-looking little fox head measures around 9” tall with lovely floppy whiskers created from strong thread (easy!) and a cute black button nose. Every home should have one!!
● Pale pink and fox red stranded cotton floss
Materials ● 18” square fox red felt
● Strong brown thread
● 9” square white felt
● Toy stuffing
● 3” square pale pink felt
● Hot glue gun
● 2 x ¼” safety eyes
● 10” square cotton (non-stretchy) fabric for mounting
● 1” black button (for nose)
● 8” embroidery hoop
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