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A Bustle & Sew Publication Copyright Š Bustle & Sew Limited 2017 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 2017 by: Bustle & Sew The Cottage Oakhill Radstock BA3 5HT UK www.bustleandsew.com
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Welcome to the October Issue October seems to have arrived super-fast this year, with all its joys and pleasures - longer walks with the Newfies now there’s no more danger of them overheating in the summer sun, crisp colourful leaves for scrunching through in wellies, and lovely shiny conkers to collect with Freddie and bring home to help protect his Mummy from the annual autumn invasion of spiders! And of course, the chance to sit inside by the log burner and enjoy some slow stitching. With this in mind I’ve included three hand embroidery designs this month, two of which include embroidering fur - surprisingly easy to do once you’ve mastered just two basic principles. Then we have a couple of Halloween patterns as well as the first part of my new Nativity set. We also feature two very talented makers, Emma who produces the loveliest candles, and Adrienne, who offers her hand embroideries in her Etsy shop. I hope you have a lovely month, and do look out for the November Magazine which will be published on Thursday 26 October. Have a lovely month!
Helen xx
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Tips for Stitchers Don't try to hurry when you’re stitching text. It’s worth taking your time to make your text as smooth and flowing as it can be and as letters are such precise shapes it really shows if your stitching isn’t too neat and tidy. If you’re at all unsure whether to make one large or two smaller stitches then I would always make the two smaller ones. It can be tempting to try to get away with larger and larger stitches if you’re rushing to start your next design - but if you want your work to look beautiful then you need to take your time over it. And finally, if it isn’t looking great - then you may need to take the plunge and unpick it. It’s a horrid thing to have to do I know, but otherwise that work will always be spoiled for you when you look at it. Other people may not notice, but you most certainly will!
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60 Between this month’s covers …
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Tips for Stitchers
Page 4
Taste of the Season: Pumpkins
Page 42
October Almanac
Page 6
Instagram Favourites
Page 43
Autumn Smile Hoop
Page 8
Spooky Spiders Placemat
Page 44
Meet the Maker: Wilton St Craft Co
Page 11
Tis Near Halloween
Page 46
A (very) little guide to Cotton Floss
Page 15
A (very) little guide to Embroidery Hoops
Page 49
Lovely Idea: Bandanna Pumpkins
Page 16
Bert the Bat Softie
Page 50
Embroidering Fur Tutorial
Page 17
The Countryside in October
Page 52
Two Sleepy Foxes Hoop
Page 22
Meet the Maker: Ellis & Ivy
Page 53
A Country Diary
Page 27
The Village Pub in Autumn
Page 55
Poetry Corner: October
Page 28
Nativity Set Part One
Page 56
Summer’s Last Blooms
Page 29
Home Comforts
Page 58
Lovely Idea: Autumn Printable
Page 30
In the Kitchen: Conversion Tables
Page 59
Merry Little Penguins Decoration
Page 31
Templates
Page 60
Taste of the Season: Plums
Page 34
Rosie’s Recipes: Autumn High Tea
Page 35
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October Celebrate autumn’s bounty with a walk through the woods as the season gently fades towards winter in a blaze of colourful glory. You may find sloes and damsons to gather - wonderful for Christmas cordials and liquors; clusters of hazelnuts you can pull down with a stout stick and even the last handfuls of blackberries. Eat these at your own risk though after 29 September, Michaelmas Day as this is when the Devil is said to have spat on them). For cheerful colour around the house bring back sprays of rosehips and haws, and skeins of old man’s beard (the soft fluffy seedheads of wild clematis). As gardeners across the country well know, October is the time for clearing up. Lawns and grassy areas need their last cut before the frosts and dwindling daylight hours bring their growth to a halt. The spent heads and stalks of Michaelmas Daisies and sunflowers are sinking back into their beds and the last leaves are falling from the apple trees. On sunnier days a few butterflies still flutter, sipping at the sweetness from fallen fruit and searching for a
place to hibernate, whilst in the woodlands it is fungus time. October is the peak moth for the appearance of often bizarre and
“The woods never look more beautiful than from the close of last month to the middle of October, for by that time it seems as if nature had exhausted all her choicest colours on the foliage. We see the rich, burnished bronze of the oak; red of many hues, up to the gaudiest scarlet; every shade of yellow, from the wan gold of the primrose to the deep orange of the tiger-lily … and all so blended and softened together in parts, that like the colours on a dove’s neck, we cannot tell where one begins and the other ends.”
colourful mushrooms and toadstools that erupt from the ground or emerge from the damp bark and rotting timber that now litters the woodland floor.
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October 4th brings the feast day of St Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscan order of mendicant friars. Francis was born in Assisi, probably in 1181, the son of a wealthy merchant, and led a carefree, extravagant life until his mid-twenties. His sudden decision to embrace a life of poverty and religious devotion has been variously attributed to severe illness, military experiences and a visionary dream. Today he is perhaps best remembered for his sympathy towards the natural world - he is often shown preaching to birds or surrounded by other animals. In 1980 he was proclaimed patron saint of ecologists and ecology Strong winds are sometimes welcome in October - hence the old saying “A good October and a good blast to blow the hog acorns and mast” though here in Britain most Octobers are not as windy as 1987. Those who managed to sleep through the exceptionally stormy night experienced by southern England on October 15/16 woke to a scene of devastation - garden fences and
greenhouses smashed, power lines down, uprooted trees blocking roads and railways, roofs blown off and boats driven aground. The storms swept through the southern counties in the early hours of the morning, with winds reaching hurricane force in places: gusts of 94 mph were recorded in London and over 100 mph elsewhere. Eighteen people lost their lives, hundreds more were injured and an estimated 15 million trees destroyed. The eighteenth brings the feast day of St Luke, a doctor by profession and the writer of the third gospel of the New Testament. He is the patron saint of doctors, artists and butchers and his symbol is a horned ox. St Luke’s Day is supposed to be a good time to choose a spouse, and there are various rituals that young women who wish to dream of their future husbands can follow. This was also the day that the old Charlton Horn Fair was held in London until 1872. On sale at the fair were horns of all kinds, objects made form horn and figures bearing horns. All the visitors to the fair wore or carried horns and all the stalls were decorated with horns This custom may have originated in a legend of King John and a miller’s wife (the horns of a cuckold) or the horns may possibly
have been in honour of St Luke’s ox. The gunfight at the OK Corral, the most infamous shoot-out in the history of the Wild West, took place in Tombstone, Arizona on 26
“Earlier on today, apparently, a woman rang the BBC and said she’d heard that there was a hurricane on the way. Well, if you’re watching, don’t worry there isn’t.”
October 1881. The site of this gunfight is now a tourist attraction, with life-size replicas of the combatants and re-enactments of the 30 second exchange of bullets that has resonated through history and captured the imagination of cowboy enthusiasts across the world. On the last Sunday of October here in the UK the clocks go back, an extra hour in bed to be sure but still a reminder that summer is now well and truly behind us. The end of the month traditionally brings witches and goblins. In pagan times it was a brief season
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when the divide between the worlds of the living and the dead became less secure and the dead returned from their graves to haunt the living. Ritual fires were lit at dusk on hilltops and in open spaces to purify the land and defeat the powers of evil. Boisterous games were played and loud noises made to frighten away the evil spirits. In AD 835, in an attempt to distract their congregations from these pagan practices, the Church moved Hallowmas, the feast of All Hallows or All Saints, from mid-May to the first day of November. Undeterred people focused their ghost-hunting rituals on the night before All Hallows and the celebration of Halloween on 31 October came into existence. Today Halloween is mainly celebrated by children who dress up as witches, ghosts, devils or other ghoulish creatures, and make pumpkin lanterns by scooping out the flesh, cutting shapes in the shell to represent a face and placing a light inside. As well as the introduction from the US of “trick or treat”, recent years have also seen the revival of traditional British Halloween games such as “bobbing” or “ducking” for apples; trying to eat or catch with the teeth an apple suspended on a string or floating in a bowl of water.
Autumn Smile Hoop Autumn is, I think, possibly my favourite season - with the exception of spring, summer and even winter of course!! It is an especially lovely time of year though, and I’ve tried to reflect that in this little hoop featuring two beautiful red Fly Agaric toadstools and some lovely scarlet berries too. Shown mounted in 7” hoop.
Materials
Method
● 10” square natural coloured linen or other suitable fabric for embroidery
● Transfer the design to the centre of your fabric using your preferred method and stitch in accordance with the stitch guide on the next page.
● 7” embroidery hoop ● DMC stranded cotton floss in colours 310, 321, 415, 704, 3345, 3750, 3852, 3857, 4065, ecru
● When finished press lightly on the reverse, being careful not to squash your stitches. ● Mount in hoop, trimming away excess fabric
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● The berries are satin stitch and the highlights are tiny stitches worked across the satin stitch in ecru.
Stitching Guide ● Use two strands of floss throughout. ● The toadstool caps are worked in long and short stitch. Be sure to angle your stitches towards the top point of the cap and work the spots afterwards. The spots are French knots - some are clusters of knots and I’ve also used different numbers of twists to vary the sizes.
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● The leave sprays are all worked in satin stitch at an angle. ● The stalks are long and short stitch. I began with the darkest colour and worked towards the ecru. ● The word “Autumn” is worked in satin stitch and the remaining text in split stitch.
We have limited numbers of this design available as kits including a nice quality pure cotton panel pre-printed with the design and all the floss you need. Our kits do not include the hoop as it’s difficult to source good quality hoops at an economic price and they also add to the cost of postage. 7� hoops are readily available online. To see our selection of kits please CLICK HERE
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“Transporting you through time and distance …”
Meet the Maker
Emma Darbyshire tells us a little about herself, her assistant miniature dachshund Lady, and their online business, the Wilton Street Craft Co Thanks for joining us today Emma, we’re looking forward to hearing about you and your business too. We’d love to know…
Can you tell us a little about your home and where you live? I live in Whitefield, a small town in Greater Manchester, along with my husband. Home is a Victorian terrace house with a black front door but behind that black door are rooms full of colour and quirkiness, and a miniature dachshund called Lady.
We love that your candles are eco-friendly and vegan - what inspired you to take this route? I have always been a big candle fan (read addict) but I had noticed when I burned certain candles Lady's behaviour would change dramatically which made me wonder what was in them capable of doing this. More research led me to discover all sorts of synthetic rubbish and toxins that go in to mass-
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produced candles to give the fragrance or set the wax hard. I wanted to avoid this and produce the most natural product I could so that when you light one of my candles you can just focus on relaxation and not what toxins you might be breathing in. If it says it's lavender then you know it's lavender. I've always felt the importance of doing what we can to be kind to the environment and everyone living and working around the world. Using ethically sourced ingredients and championing sustainability is key in what I do and in doing so I like to think I'm making it a little bit easier for others to live like that too. In putting all these elements together when creating our candles we produced a vegan, cruelty free product. It was a happy accident really as one of my friends (who is vegan) just happened to ask me if she would be able to burn my candles and we were both delighted when the answer was yes! Using soy
wax, essential oils, cotton wicks and absolutely no additives we produce candles suitable for vegans and everyone else who shares our values. Our packaging is made from recycled paper and our glass jars are recyclable or can be repurposed.
And your fragrances are amazing too, I love the thought of tomato leaf - my greenhouse in summer! How do you dream them up? Thank you, we are glad they make you feel excited and that the tomato leaf scent gives you the joy of your greenhouse in summer. That's exactly what we aim for. I take inspiration from my travels, home comforts, nature and changing seasonal produce along with favourite food and drink.
For me it all started with Gin & Tonic, it was the very first candle scent I developed. I'm a massive gin fan so thought about what would happen if I put that scent in to a candle. It worked really well. When you tell people it's a G&T scent initially they say 'oh but G&T doesn't have a smell' then they smell the candle and are immediately taken to drinking a gin on holiday or a fun night out with friends. The thing I love about scent is it's ability to transport you through time or distance, to evoke memories of nostalgic smells. It's a very powerful sense. I love that everyone smells a scent slightly differently to the next person, it's a very unique experience. It transpired I have quite
a knack for being able to reproduce a scent in a candle, I have a good nose apparently! As I work with essential oils only it gives me the creative freedom to blend scents together to create new ones, rather like a chef does with ingredients for a meal. Using essential oils means I you also get the benefits from the properties of the different oils. With the tomato leaf scent, one of the unique properties of tomato absolute is it's ability to neutralise odours so it makes an excellent kitchen candle (or puppy training candle as we discovered with Lady).
And what is/has been your favourite? My favourites can depend on my mood but generally I love our Sloe
Gin scent (its gin but better, very Autumnal) and Eggnog, which I have made for Christmas. I didn't think it was going to work but then it just blew my mind in a very good way. It makes you want to grab a hot chocolate and curl up under a blanket. I've also got a tea-based scent in development at the moment for next year, which I think is going to be very special.
Your dachshund, Lady, takes a starring role in your business - does she have a job title? Of course, she is my business partner and the quality control officer. No new scent goes on sale without her approval. She's a very discerning dachshund. We have only had one where she really turned her nose up at it and so far her favourite has been Spiced Apple, she actually licked the sample we had she liked it so much (don't worry she didn't eat it and I burned the licked one at home).
And how do you reward her efforts? With cuddles, treats and long walks through the woods or on the beach.
How did your business begin? The Wilton Street Craft Co. was born out of adversity and serendipity. I'm a qualified doctor but become unwell with depression in 2014. I realised I was no longer able to keep well working in that profession and knew I had to put my health first. I'd always been creative and had taken an interest in business. The opportunity to work for myself was really appealing and offered the flexibility I needed at that time. After attending a number of candle making master classes I discovered
a talent as a mixologist of scents. Having always had a love for candles it was a natural progression.
What do you find most challenging about selling online? It can be really difficult when you don't meet your customers face to face to try and gauge their interest and needs. I guess I'm a people person and miss that interaction although there are ways around it with social media and email. You can feel like a small fish in a very big pond.
And what's the best thing about running your own business? Being able to have Lady, had I not changed my career and working style we would never have been able to have a dog. Running my own business gives me flexibility and freedom. There are times of the day when I know I work best and I can be in control of my work load and working style generally, this in turn allows me to have more control over my health and wellbeing. I love nurturing the business, it's difficult at first to let go and switch off because it really is my 'baby', I make the decisions, I carry out the process and I have creative freedom. I can look at it and know that I made that!
Do you have any advice for readers hoping to start up their own craft enterprises? Remember everything takes longer than you think it will. Stick in there, readjust your expectations and know everyone is facing the same challenges. It can be very lonely so join local and online craft and business groups, find a mentor and support your
peers, they will see you through the challenges and champion your successes. I have made some amazing friends through similar groups and the sense of camaraderie is wonderful plus I know I will always have people I can buy unique gifts from!
What's been moment?
your
proudest
There's still a big novelty when sending orders internationally. I love marking off new countries on my map and if I've not visited them before then finding out more about them. This year especially I have built up a number of loyal, return customers. It shows the hard work pays off and tells me I'm doing things right. That puts a big smile on my face. Most recently I launched a new scent, fig & cassis which sold out in 4 days. Now that moment I toasted with a gin & tonic and Lady got a chew stick.
What are your plans for the future of Wilton Street Craft Co? I have so many ideas floating around; I have to remember I don't have to do them all this week. Some things you can look forward to next year include make you own candle kits, a subscription/membership club and lots of new scents to look forward to. I'm traveling to Uganda and Ethiopia in February so who knows what scent ideas I'll come back with, watch this space!
And finally, please describe your style in three words. Quirky, homely, cosy
If you love Emma’s candles and would like to see more of the Wilton St Craft Co, then please do visit her online ….
http://www.wiltonstreetcraft.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/thewiltonstreetcraftco/ https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/WiltonStreetCraftCo https://www.pinterest.co.uk/thewiltonstreet/ PS you can commission your own bespoke candles too!
A (very) Little Guide to Cotton Embroidery Threads You can use all kinds of threads for hand embroidery, offering almost limitless possibilities for variety of colour and texture, especially if your work is intended for display only. If it’s likely to be used and possibly washed then you will need to bear more practical considerations in mind! The most common types of fibres used for surface embroidery today are cotton, silk and wool. The most common cotton thread used for hand embroidery today is 6-strand cotton floss. This comes in skeins, and the whole thread that comes off the skein can be split into six separate, fine threads. Each of these threads is made up of two smaller plies that are softly twisted together.
It’s really important to pull the “right” end of the skein when you’re using your floss - this will mean you can pull out the length you require really easily. Pulling from the “wrong” end will leave you with a nasty tangled mess! And of course the right end is always the hardest to find! When embroidering with stranded cotton, you can choose to use any number of strands. When using one strand your embroidery will be quite fine. As you add strands, the resulting embroidery becomes heavier. If you stitch with all six strands, the stitches become chunky. Pearl (or perle) cotton, unlike 6-strand cotton floss, cannot be divided. Pearl cotton is a twoply tightly twisted thread that gives quite a textured effect to
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your stitches. Because it is normally heavier than floss, line stitches like stem stitch and chain stitch usually sit higher up on the fabric, compared to the same stitches worked with floss. Perle cotton comes in four sizes normally used in needlework: #3, #5, #8 and #12, with #3 being the heaviest and #12 being the finest. In addition to floss and perle cotton, there are other cottons created specifically for hand embroidery, including floche and coton a broder, both of which are excellent hand embroidery threads. DMC and Anchor are the most widely available quality brands today. Never be tempted to buy be cheap thread - you disappointed!
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a lovely idea Halloween Bandana Pumpkins
Pumpkin tutorials are all over the internet, but these are particularly effective I think, as Sarah has used vintage bandanas to make each and every pumpkin totally unique. A great idea for decorating your home this Halloween! Thanks to Sarah for sharing this great idea
Free from Sadie Seasongoods : Halloween Bandana Pumpkins 16
How to Embroider Fur: Bear in a Hat Hand Embroidery Project 17
You will need: ● 10” square white linen, cotton or other non-stretch fabric suitable for hand embroidery. Don’t use anything lighter than a quilting weight cotton as it will need to support quite a lot of stitching. ● DMC stranded cotton floss in colours 310, 352, 436, 437, 640, 945, 3023, 4124
I have always loved stitching fur, though I know some people are a bit put off by a technique they consider might be difficult and/or time consuming. I won’t deny it does take a little while, but though the results are impressive, it isn’t really difficult to do. You need very few colours to make your fur look convincing - the fur on my little Bear in a Hat uses only 3 shades of brown and - a bonus for me(!) - Your stitching doesn’t need to be too neat either ! You do need to give your project some thought before you begin though, but once you’ve done that then there are only a few basic principles you need to follow. This little bear also uses a variety of embroidery stitches for his coat and hat - back stitch, blanket stitch, cross stitch, chain stitch, French knots, ghiordes (or turkey) stitch and satin stitch. If you don’t want to try your hand at stitching fur, then he’d look nearly as nice with his face and legs simply outlined in back stitch, as are his coat and hat.
Method ● First transfer the bear design to the centre of your fabric. It is full size and also provided both the right way round and reversed to suit your preferred method of transfer. ● Use two strands of floss throughout and use colours according to the diagram below.
● Hoop up and take a good look at your soon-to-be furry bear. If you have a pet, then take a look at him or her too. - always away from the nose.
● Take notice also of how your pet’s fur overlaps so that the fur nearest the nose lies on top of that further down the body.
The first principle of realistic fur is getting the DIRECTION of your stitching correct. ● Below is another picture of the bear with arrows indicating the direction in which you should angle your stitches.
● You can see how the fur on our bear (above) is all directed away from the nose. Imagine smoothing him - you never smooth an animal from tail to nose as that would ruffle their fur the wrong way - always nose to tail. ● The only variation on the “away from the nose” rule is around the eye. Fur radiates away from the eye so you will need to blend the directions of your stitches together to take account of this. Don’t be tempted to simply stitch around the eye in circles - fur doesn’t grow like this at all.
● The second important thing to think about before you even thread your needle is shading. Below is the original watercolour of our little bear:
The second principle of realistic fur is getting the SHADING correct. ● We will be using three shades of warm brown floss for the bear’s fur. 436 (dark), 437 (medium) and 945 (light). From now on I will refer to them as dark, medium and light rather than by their numbers. ● Abandon any thought of stitching along the outline (as you will do for the coat and hat). Our bear is fluffy, not hard or smooth. Outline stitching is for hard or smooth edges (generally). Work your stitches at a slight angle to his limbs as though the fur was falling softly. ● Begin with the dark brown and work the shading around the tops of his legs where the coat casts a shadow and along the bottoms of his rounded feet. Fill the shape completely with dark where the shading is most intense, but leave gradually increasing gaps between the stitches so you can blend in the medium brown as the colour gradually becomes lighter.
● Ignoring his coat and hat and looking simply at his fur you can see that the shading gives his fur substance and shape. It’s darker where there are shadows or the limb is further away and lighter where the body catches the light, for example on the top of his head. ● This is the effect you are aiming to achieve with your needle and thread. You’ll work darker stitches where the fur is in shadow and, blending as you go, work towards lighter stitches where there are highlights
● You also need to have a fairly solid line of dark fur (again remember the direction of your stitches) between the legs so you can tell the bear has two legs, not one very large one! Be sure to alter the lengths of your stitches slightly too - again natural fur is not completely even.
the effect you’re achieving - this will simply add to the texture and richness of your fur (up to a point that is!) ● Next stitch his face. I find it easiest to work the black parts of the eye and nose first (adding the highlights later) as this means I can work right up to them with confidence.
● As you stitch it’s a good idea to keep a picture of the finished bear - or the watercolour original - close to you as it’s easy to lose track of the effect you’re trying to achieve. ● Continue in this way until the legs are finished, gradually shading from darkest unmixed brown to the palest colour. Be sure to mix your stitches well on the boundaries between colours, and again no hard straight lines. Try not to leave any gaps at all between your stitches, you can overstitch quite a lot if you’re unhappy with
● Work the face in exactly the same manner as the legs, beginning with the darkest brown around the neck area and shading upwards, working in the pink cheek (I used the pink part of the variegated floss 4124 for this to save adding another colour to the list). I also think using too many colours can make your work appear a little “bitty” so I try to keep to the minimum as much as I can. ● Remember to direct your stitches away from the nose, and blend in the radiating stitches around the eye. ● The final part is to add a shine to his nose and a tiny white stitch to give his eye a little sparkle.
Two Sleepy Foxes Here’s the second of this month’s fur embroideries. This one is two little sleepy foxes snuggled up together in a nest of bulrushes. The principles used to stitch the foxes are exactly the same as those for the Bear in a Hat design. Shown mounted in 8” hoop.
Materials
Method
● 12” square natural coloured linen or other suitable fabric for embroidery
● Transfer the design to the centre of your fabric using your preferred method and stitch in accordance with the stitch guide on the next page.
● 8” embroidery hoop ● DMC stranded cotton floss in colours 159, 160, 434, 644, 702, 822, 838, 907, 924, 976, 977, 989, 3753, 3827, 3865, ecru
● When finished press lightly on the reverse, being careful not to squash your stitches. ● Mount in hoop, trimming away excess fabric
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Use two strands of floss throughout. When stitching this design I would recommend working one fox at a time and then the bulrushes. Before beginning look carefully at the photos and watercolour image to decide where the areas in shade should be and the direction in which you should angle your stitches to represent the fur. Remember that there are no hard lines in this design, so showing the positions of the foxes limbs and
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tails depends entirely upon your stitch colour and angle. You will need to angle your stitches carefully around the right hand fox’s muzzle and chest - refer to the diagram on the next page to help you do this. The bulrush leaves are very simply stitched in satin stitch - and where they are wider the stitches are worked at an angle to an imaginary
centre line (see large image) It’s up to you which colours you work where on the leaves - there really isn’t a right and wrong apart form perhaps the very dark blue leaves around the fox bodies which helps them stand out - and of course the leaves in this position would be in the darkest shade. The stems of the bulrushes are stem stitch. The bulrush heads are French knots - again
you will need to take notice of the shading and blend your colours accordingly. I have included a large photo of my finished hoop on the next page as I am aware that this all sounds quite complicated and it’s probably easier to show you what I mean than to try to tell you in words. But remember the two main principles of fur direction and shading and you won’t go far wrong as my mum used to say!
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A Country Diary After luncheon, Albert decided to walk through the wood for the last time, to have a last chance, and allowed Vicky and me to go with him. At half-past three o’clock we started, got out at Grant’s and walked up part of intending to go along the upper path, when a stag was heard to roar, and we all turned into the wood. We crept along, and got into the middle path. Albert soon left us to go lower, and we sat down to wait for him; presently we heard a shot - then complete silence - and, after another pause of some little time, three more shots. This was again succeeded by complete silence. We sent someone to look, who shortly after returned, saying the stag had been twice hit and they were after him. Macdonald next went, and in about five minutes we heard “Solomon” give tongue, and knew he had the stag at bay. We listened a little while, and then began moving down hoping to arrive in time, but the barking had ceased, and Albert had already killed the stag; and on the road he lay, a little way beyond - the beauty that we had admired yesterday evening.
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October I’ve brought you nuts and hops; And when the leaf drops, why the walnut drops. Crack your first nut and light your first fire, Roast your first chestnut crisp on the bar; Make the logs sparkle, stir the blaze higher, Logs are as cheery as sun or star, Logs we can find wherever we are. Spring one soft day will open the leaves, Spring one bright day will lure back the flowers; Never fancy my whistling wind grieves, Never fancy I’ve tears in my showers: Dance, night and days! and dance on, my hours!
Christina Rossetti 28
Late blooming ivy … By now the flowering season is coming to an end, but there’s one last chance for bees, butterflies and other insects to enjoy a nectar and pollen rich feast before the colder weather really begins to bite. Ivy flowers from September to November and provides a valuable source of nourishment for insects when there’s very little else available for them to forage. You can encourage ivy to bloom more profusely by pulling the tops of the shoots carefully away from their support so that they can hang free.
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Look!
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a lovely idea
Free Autumn Printable
We’re loving this elegant leaves are falling autumn is calling design. Thanks to Kelli and Kristi of Lolly Jane for sharing this lovely printable with us.
Free from Lolly Jane : Autumn Leaves Printable 30
Merry Little Penguins I know the quote on this hoop isn’t quite right - but I rather liked the idea of wishing a Merry Christmas - and these little penguins certainly seem to be having a good time! I have also included the text “yourself” though in case you’d like to stitch the traditional version. This is a fun project that’s a great way of using up any leftover scraps of Christmas fabric from previous projects. I couldn’t lay my hands on mine, so have used a selection of small prints instead. The embroidery is very simple, just split stitch, back sttich and chain stitch. Shown mounted in 8” x 12” hoop.
● Scraps of coloured felt and printed cotton fabrics for the parcels and bunting.
Materials ● 12” x 16” medium weight light blue background fabric. Don’t use white or cream as the penguins’ chests won’t show up properly.
● Stranded cotton floss in black, white, light pink, yellow, silver and colours to match/work with the fabrics you’ve chosen for the bunting and parcels
● 4” x 6” black felt
● Bondaweb
● 4” x 6” white felt
● 8” x 12” hoop
● 2” x 1” yellow felt
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● Finally trace and cut the bunting shapes. You can use fabric for these, but personally I think felt is best as it shows up the stitched letters better.
Method ● Begin with the applique parcels. Trace the shapes onto the paper side of your Bondaweb and cut out roughly. Then fuse onto the reverse of your fabric and cut out carefully. Peel off the paper backing and position the shapes on your design but don’t fuse into place yet as you may need to tweak them slightly when you add the penguins and bunting.
● Position the bunting on your design and when you’re happy with the position of everything (use the photo and/or templates as a guide) press your work with a hot iron to fuse into place. You may wish to protect your work with a cloth when you’re doing this. Be sure to press, don’t iron as an ironing movement may cause your shapes to shift out of position.
● Now trace the shapes for your penguins in the same way using the REVERSE template. Trace the white shapes first, allowing extra so they can be overlapped by the black shapes (see diagram below).
● Secure the applique shapes around their edges using two strands of matching floss and short straight stitches worked at right angles to the shapes. ● Now work the rest of the embroidery using two strands of floss except where otherwise stated. ● Add ribbon to the parcels using chain stitch. ● The text is worked in black floss using split stitch. ● The block capitals on the bunting are worked in three strands of silver metallic floss. ● The penguins’ eyes are French knots, their feet are chain stitch and their little pink cheeks are satin stitch. ● The string for the bunting is back stitch. ● When you’ve finished press your work lightly on the reverse.
● Cut and position the black felt in the same way, but don’t fuse yet. Cut the yellow beak allowing a little extra so you can push the head end of the beak under the black/white felt shape.
● Mount in hoop - notice that the bottoms of the stacks of parcels are covered by the outer ring of the hoop. ● Have yourself a merry little Christmas!!
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Taste of the Season: Plums Plums are at their best at the beginning of the month, juicy and luscious with a beautiful bloom to their skins. Both plums and their smaller cousins, damsons, are such a flavourful and versatile fruit, lending themselves to both savoury and sweet dishes (though with damsons you do have to watch out for seemingly hundreds of tiny stones!). Plums, although not damsons which are a little tart, can be eaten raw though personally I love them baked very simply, sprinkled with brown sugar. To do this just halve and stone your plums, then place cut side up on a lightly greased dish. Sprinkle with the brown sugar, then bake at a low heat until they are tender and soft. Serve warm with cream or ice cream - the taste of autumn in a bowl!
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Rosie’s Recipes: Autumn High Tea
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Here in England, the hour “goes back” at the end of October, bringing an end to British Summer Time. Whilst I’ve always enjoyed the opportunity of an extra hour in bed that day (until little Freddie arrived that is!), This does always seem to mark the absolute final end of the warmer months as the evenings grow dark early and al fresco eating is replaced by warming high teas and suppers eaten round the kitchen table. But with lovely warming recipes and Christmas round the corner, there’s still plenty to look forward to this month!
Shepherd’s Pie This was traditionally made with lamb leftovers from the Sunday roast. Mum always made Cottage Pie instead though as she isn’t fond of lamb - follow exactly the same method, but use minced beef instead of lamb. Serves four:
Ingredients ● 2 tablespoons oil ● 1 large onion, finely chopped ● 225 g carrots, peeled and chopped ● 200 g frozen peas ● 450 g minced lamb ● 1 tblspn plain flour ● 300 ml beef or lamb stock ● 1 tblspn tomato puree ● 2 tspns Worcester sauce
● 150 ml single cream
Method ● Preheat your oven to 190C (375F, gas mark 5). Saute the onions and carrots in the oil until the onion is soft but not coloured. Add the meat and cook gently until the meat is browned. Stir in the flour and cook for five minutes. ● Gradually stir in the frozen peas, stock, tomato puree, Worcester sauce, herbs and seasoning and bring to the boil. ● Reduce the heat, cover the pan and simmer for 10 minutes. ● Turn into an oven proof dish and allow to cool a little before topping.
● ½ tspn dried mixed herbs
● To make the topping - boil the potatoes until soft (but not falling apart) and drain well.
● Salt and pepper to taste
● Mash and beat in the butter and cream. Season to taste.
For the topping: ● 450 g potatoes, peeled and sliced ● 25 g butter plus a little extra for topping
● Spread the mashed potatoes over the meat mixture and fork up the top so there are ridges and furrows that will crisp up well in the oven ● Dot the top with butter (and if you’re feeling particularly luxurious add a little grated cheese too) and bake for 20-30 minutes until the top is golden brown and crispy.
Time for Tea The word “tea” is confusingly used - it can mean the infused liquid we drink with such pleasure or a meal at which it is drunk - and that meal itself has several different meanings to different people in various parts of the country. In some places, especially further North, “tea” has always meant the final meal of the day -a fairly substantial affair probably consisting of a cooked dish as well as bread and cakes and, of course, tea drunk alongside. “Afternoon tea” is an earlier meal enjoyed between 3 and 4.30 pm that traditionally consists of bread-and-
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butter, crumpets, sandwiches and cakes of various kinds. “High tea” is what the people who usually had “afternoon tea” called the bigger meal. To add to the general confusion they would have referred simply to “tea” and not “afternoon tea.” High tea would have been eaten when a substantial meal was needed later than the usual teatime, but too early for dinner, such as before the theatre, after sporting events, or when children were too young to stay up for the more formal adult meal.
by Charles Dickens
(NB: He would have been referring to English muffins shown below, not the fluffier, more cake-like American variety)
Crumpets These are delicious served warm so that the butter melts and drips down through the holes - usually onto your front if you’re like me and forget your napkin (much to Mum’s exasperation!) Homemade are much nicer than the shop bought variety though you do need crumpet rings. If you don’t have these then good quality biscuit cutters will do - but make sure they won’t bend or buckle when heat is applied. Makes 16
Ingredients ● 350 g strong plain flour ● 15 g fresh yeast (or 7 g dried yeast) ● 300 ml warm water ● About 200 ml milk ● ½ level tspn bicarbonate of soda ● 1 level tspn salt ● Oil for greasing
Method ● Sift half the flour into a bowl, add the yeast and water and blend
until smooth. Cover the bowl and leave for about 20 minutes until frothy. ● Add the rest of the ingredients, beating well until the mixture is the consistency of a pouring batter (add more milk if necessary). ● Grease a griddle or heavy frying pan and about six round metal rings (you can use metal cookie cutters if you don’t have crumpet rings) about 3” in diameter. Place rings on pan and heat thoroughly. ● Pour about 2 tblspns batter into each of the rings on the hot pan. Cook for about 10 minutes or until set and holes appear, then remove the rings and turn the crumpets to brown on their other sides for 10 minutes. ● Continue until all the batter is used. ● Cool on a rack and serve slightly warm - or if this isn’t possible do be sure to eat them while they’re still fresh, they don’t keep well.
Around our Island… Bara Brith from Wales and Scottish Ginger Cake
Bara Brith This fruit loaf is a Welsh speciality that is served buttered - either as a cake or an extra bread for tea. Best kept for a couple of days before eating. You will need a 2 lb loaf tin.
Ingredients ● 75 g lard ● 450 g plain flour ● 75 g soft brown sugar ● 150 g sultanas ● 150 g currants ● 75 g raisins ● 50 g chopped mixed peel ● ¼ level tspn salt ● ¼ level tspn ground mixed spice ● 200 ml milk
● 15 g fresh yeast (7 g dried yeast) ● 1 egg, beaten
Method ● Rub the lard into the flour, then add the sugar, dried fruit, salt and spice. Warm the milk and pour 100 ml onto the yeast and mix well. ● Make a well in the flour mixture, add the yeasty liquid, the egg and enough of the remaining milk to make a soft dough. Cover and leave in a warm place until it has doubled in size. ● Knock back, turn into a 2 lb loaf tin and leave in a warm place to prove for about 30 minutes. ● Cover the top of the loaf lightly with 2 thicknesses of greaseproof paper and bake at 190C for 30 minutes. ● Reduce the temperature to 170C and bake for another 50 minutes. Turn onto a wire rack to cool.
Scottish Ginger Cake Ingredients ● 350 g plain flour ● ½ level tspn salt ● 2 level tspn bicarbonate of soda ● 1 level tblspn ground ginger ● 50 g sultanas ● 100 g chopped mixed peel ● 50 g preserved ginger, chopped ● 350 g black treacle ● 175 g butter or margarine ● 75 g soft brown sugar
● 3 eggs ● 2 - 3 tblspns milk
Method ● Sift the dry ingredients together, then add the sultanas, chopped peel and preserved ginger. ● Put the treacle, butter or margarine and sugar into a pan and heat gently until melted, then mix with the beaten eggs and milk. Pour this mixture into a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and beat together very well. ● Pour into a 7” (18 cm) square tin and bake in the oven at 170C for about 1 ½ hours. ● Turn out onto a wire rack to cool. ● This cake will improve with keeping
Welsh Rarebit There are so many different recipes for this toasted cheese recipe. Mum even makes a great Slimming World version these days! But this is my favourite of them all …. Serves 4
Ingredients ● 200 g strong cheese Cheddar is our preference grated
● Pepper to taste ● 4 slices of lightly toasted bread
Method
● 25 g butter
● Pre heat your grill
● 1 level tspn English mustard powder
● Put everything except the bread into a saucepan. Stir well and heat gently until everything is melted and combined.
● 2 tspns plain flour
● Spread over one side of the toast
● 4 tblspns beer
● Brown under the grill ● Serve with chutney (we
ours with Mango Chutney!)
Taste of the Season: Pumpkins Later this month supermarket and greengrocers’ shelves will be piled high with orange globes ready for Halloween carving. But too often the pumpkin flesh is simply thrown away when it can be used to make a variety of different, and equally delicious, dishes. Whether you eat the insides of your pumpkin or not, they are amazing to grow if you have the space with their dramatic foliage, large yellow trumpet-shaped flowers as well as their wonderful fruits. If growing to eat, then choose your variety carefully - whether your choice is the classic American pumpkin pie, pumpkin soup like the mildly curried version my Dad used to make, or even simply roasted in the oven. When you harvest your pumpkins leave the stalks on as long as possible as this is where the first signs of rot will appear. If , like me, you love to display before carving and/or eating them, keep them on your windowsill, or another cool dry place.
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Inspiration
inspiration
A closer look at some of the accounts we love…
@brynnandcoshop
@penandpaperpatterns
Based in Queensland on the Sunshine Coast, Amanda creates modern handmade hoopart. She describes herself as a ‘wife, mama & maker and lover of beautiful things’.
Lindsey is a pattern designer and mama of 3 based in Arizona. Her feed is full of the beautiful quilts she makes and you can find her patterns on Craftsy.
@fuzzyandflora
@crochetroad
Becky creates one of a kind needle felted wool animals and embroidery hoop art. We absolutely adore her little llamas - they’re just so sweet!
Joy is a crochet designer based on the Gold Coast, Australia. She makes wonderful crochet flowers, colourful granny squares and runs fab workshops too!
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Spooky Spiders Placemat Although I am most definitely an animal lover, I regret to say that the sight of a large fat hairy spider looking up at me always makes me squeal! I know that here in the UK we don’t have any species that can harm me, but I simply do not like them - not one little bit! Luckily the spiders on this placemat won’t be chasing me across the carpet anytime soon they are very simply embroidered in satin and back stitch, whilst the placemat is simply twelve squares of fabric - in Halloween colours of black and orange of course, so perfect for any celebrations at the end of the month. Mat measures 12” x 16” approx
● 17” x 13” white/cream or pale orange felt to back your patchwork
Materials ● 9 x 4 ½” squares printed cotton fabric in orange and black colourways ● 3 x 7” cream or white cotton squares for embroidered pieces ● 2 x 1 ½” x 4 ½” pieces printed cotton fabric to make borders for hanging spider piece
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● Stranded cotton floss in orange and black ● 60” x 1” white bias binding ● Temporary fabric marker pen
● Press seams open.
Method
● Place your felt on a clean flat surface and place your patchwork right side up on top. Pin or baste together. Then stitch along the seams to join the two layers. You could quilt in the normal way with backing and wadding if you preferred, but I wanted to make a quick and simple mat that would only be used for a couple of nights each year and that could be easily folded quite small to store for the rest of the time.
● First work the embroidery onto your cream or white fabric. The grey borders on the templates show where you will cut out the patchwork squares when you’ve finished stitching so be sure to allow enough space between each design to allow you to do this. ● Use two strands of black floss for the spiders’ legs which are a single strand of floss. The webs and legs are back stitch and the spider bodies are satin stitch.
● With your temporary fabric marker pen draw diagonal lines across the squares (see photo). With three strands of orange floss work running stitch to quilt the layers together. Do not work running stitch over your embroidered squares.
● When you’ve finished stitching press your work lightly on the reverse being careful not to flatten your stitches and cut out the patchwork pieces.
● When finished remove marker lines, press and trim away excess felt.
● Add borders to the hanging spider rectangle.
● Bind the edges with bias binding.
● Arrange the fabric squares into three rows of four squares. Using a ¼” seam allowance first join three rows of four squares, then join the rows together to form a 4 x 3 square rectangle.
● Finished!
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When witches go riding and black cats are seen, the moon laughs and whispers,
“tis near Halloween�
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The very last day of October is, of course All-Hallows Eve, better known as Halloween, when witches fly abroad and ghosts and other supernatural beings are at their most active and dangerous.
In snap apple the fruits are hung from string suspended from a wooden pole and again the aim is to try to grab one with your teeth. An even older, and much more dangerous,
This day was once the ancient Celtic New Year’s eve, when thanks were given to the sun god for the harvest and Samhain, lord of death, was celebrated at the dying of the old year. It was a night of black magic, and huge bonfires were lit, both to ward off the evil spirits known to wander the earth this night, and also to welcome the ghosts of ancestors returning to their old homes. Lanterns carved from turnips and beets also helped to keep the evil spirits away.
Great fun goes on in watching the attempts of the youngsters in the pursuit of the swimming fruit, which wriggles from side to side of the tub, and evades all attempts to capture it; whilst the disappointed aspirant is obliged to abandon the chase in favour of another whose turn has now arrived. The apples provided with stalks are generally caught first, and then comes the tug of war to win those which possess no such appendages.
When the Romans invaded Britain they brought with them the festival of Pomona, held in honour of the goddess of fruit, which was also celebrated on the last day of October. Over the centuries the two festivals gradually merged into one another and many of the traditional Halloween games still played today have their roots in the old Roman festival. Apple bobbing is one such game, in which apples are floated in a tub of water and contestants have to try to pick one up in their teeth - good luck for the year to come being the reward for any who succeed.
Some competitors will deftly suck up the apple, if a small one, into their mouths. Others plunge manfully overhead in pursuit of a particular apple, and having forced it to the bottom of the tub, seize it firmly with their teeth, and emerge, dripping and triumphant, with their prize.
version had a stick with an apple on one end and a lighted candle on the other suspended from a pole. A circle of children stood around and tried to bit the apple as it swung in their direction.
Halloween was also regarded as a good time for trying to predict your future. If you combed your hair at midnight while eating an apple and gazing into a mirror, a vision of your future partner was thought to appear in the glass. Alternatively you could place a pair of nuts in the fire or on a hot grate and if the nuts burned quietly together or exploded a the same time, the lovers they represented would be sure to be married. Another amusing idea was to go blindfold into the garden and pull up a cabbage stalk the length, straightness and thickness of the stalk predicted the height and build of your future spouse, whilst the amount of earth remaining on the root was an indication of the fortune he or she would bring to the marriage. Finally, the taste of the pith was said to denote the bitterness or sweetness of your future spouse’s nature. In many areas people would don costumes and blacken or mask their faces, then go from house to house asking for food and money. They would often carry carved turnip lanterns, a relic of the old Celtic festival of Samhain. Today Halloween is mainly celebrated by children, wearing costumes and masks, going from door to door demanding “trick or treat!” Householders usually prefer to hand over sweets rather than risk falling victim to a trick.
Today making carved lanterns from pumpkins has become something of an art form - so much more than just hacking out a spooky face - today you can download all kinds of tutorials and videos to help you make your pumpkins truly beautiful for Halloween. But even so, the spooky face is still the classic creation at this time of year, and children love carving fierce faces into their pumpkins to grin from the windowsill on Halloween. If you do decide to go for a more artistic creation, then gathering together a few tools will make your task easier. A lino-cutting tool with a grooved blade is ideal for cutting straight lines; a gimlet makes perfect small holes; a flat edged wood carving tool is useful for lifting out areas of skin without piercing your pumpkin and a craft knife is perfect for cutting out shapes. Before you begin to carve make sure your pumpkin has a flat base. If necessary cut
a slice away to level it out so that it’s nice and firm and doesn’t wobble on its base.
To roast your pumpkin, cut into chunks. Place in bowl with oil and seasoning and for each lb of pumpkin add one unpeeled garlic clove. Toss to coat in the oil. Arrange the pumpkin mixture on a baking tray and roast for 40 minutes at 180C until the pumpkin is tender. Slice off the top to make the lid and then you can begin to scoop out the seeds and flesh. You can dry the seeds and save them either to plant for next year’s crop or for your bird table. Alternatively wash off any clinging strands of flesh, dry the seeds and toast them in your oven to serve as a
snack, when you’re baking bread or simply to sprinkle on salads. Use the bigger chunks of flesh that you scoop out to make soup or a traditional pumpkin pie, or roast them in the oven with garlic. For a longer-lasting lantern scoop out as much flesh as you can to leave a thin outer shell. This will also give you more light from your lantern as the whole pumpkin will appear to glow and it won’t go mouldy quite as fast. If you don’t feel confident enough to carve your design freehand, then use a marker pen to trace it onto the pumpkin before you begin. A washable one is best so you can remove any mistakes and begin again if necessary. Nightlights - whether LED or the traditional real flame - are perfect to place inside your pumpkin lanterns. Taller candles aren’t very stable and might also burn your pumpkin lid if you decide to use one.
A (very) Little Guide to Embroidery Hoops An embroidery hoop is made up of a pair of rings that fit tightly inside one another when the mechanism - usually a metal screw - on the larger ring is tightened. Embroidery hoops come in various sizes and are generally small enough to hold with one hand and work with the other. Hoops were originally made of wood, bone, or ivory while modern versions are manufactured from wood or plastic. Unless you are working with materials that may be crushed or damaged by your hoop you don’t have to choose a large hoop that your whole piece of work will fit inside as it’s normally possible to move your hoop around as you complete different parts of the design. A smaller hoop is generally easier
to handle and will keep your fabric more taut than a larger one. You should always remove your hoop from your work if you won’t be stitching for a while to avoid it permanently marking your work. Hoops are generally available in sizes ranging in one inch increments from 4 inch to 12 inch diameter. If your work is smaller than the hoop you have available then don’t despair - there is a good way to make it fit. Simply find some spare fabric that fit your hoop and baste your work into the centre quite firmly. Backstitch works well for this. Place the inner ring of your hoop on a clean flat surface and place your fabric on top face up with the embroidery on the top.
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Loosen the screw on the outer ring and press it down over the fabric. Tighten the screw, pulling your fabric taut. Now turn your work over and with a pair of small sharp scissors trim away the spare fabric from the back of the area you want to embroider. You can remove the remaining fabric from your work by snipping the backstitches when your project is finished. The best hoops are made from a quality close-grain beech wood that’s been steamed and bent into a circle. My preference is for Elbesee hoops made here in the UK. Whatever you use, don’t be tempted by cheap bamboo hoops as these don’t hold your work securely and aren’t very nice to work with.
Bert the Bat Softie Bert the Bat is the cutest little Halloween softie who isn’t scary at all! He’s also really easy to make, is completely hand stitched and would be a great crafting session for nimble fingered kids. He measures 3 ½” tall from base to ear tip and has a 10” wing span (approx).
● Toy stuffing
Materials
● Stuffing stick - optional, but is useful. You can make one really easily by breaking the point off a bamboo skewer and fraying the end so it will “grab” the stuffing as you push it into the softie.
● 12” x 8” dark grey felt ● 12” x 4” black felt ● Small piece pale pink felt ● Two very small black spherical beads for eyes (optional - you can make French knots if you prefer) ● Black, cream and pale pink floss
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● If you need your bat to stand very steadily, then you might want to consider weighting the base with polybeads, rice or a pebble, but this is optional of course.
secure, pushing the edges up inside the body.
Method ● Cut out all your pieces using the full size templates. You do not need to add a seam allowance.
● Attach the pink ear inners to the outers using one strand of pale pink floss and slip stitch so the stitches don’t show through to the backs of the ears. Stitch the ears to the side of the head.
● All pieces are joined by hand using a decorative cross stitch. To work this place the two pieces to be joined with WRONG sides together. With two strands of floss work whip stitch over the edges in one direction. When you come to the end turn round and return along the seam angling your stitches in the opposite direction to form the second part of the cross stitch.
● Join the two wing pieces together around their edges again using a decorative cross stitch. With three strands of cream floss work the markings on the black side of the wings in running stitch, making your stitches at a shallow angle so they don’t show through on the reverse.
● Join the two side pieces down the back seam from A to D using black floss. Join under the nose from A to B. Insert the chest from B to C on either side. Stuff firmly and insert weight if using. Run a gathering thread around the base, pull tightly and
● Run a gathering thread down the centre of the wings (where the fold is marked on the template) and pull up tightly. Sew onto the back of your bat. ● FINISHED!
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The Countryside in October Lovely October of the half-way days, the wayward pause between the certainties of summer and winter - the one is well over, the other not yet begun. For the countryman everywhere this is the month of the great tidying up - the sweeping, the burning, the cleaning and digging. The fields were ploughed, the seed was scattered and another summer has passed by to end in the dust and gold and busy thunder of harvest. Still in October around the margins of the ploughed fields, or in the stubble where it has yet to be turned shine small wild flowers still. October is a month of magic - the last fireworks of dahlias and yellow sunflowers against cottage walls, the last hum of insects about yew berries and ivy bloom, the smoke of bonfires rising blue from cottage gardens; the birch brooms are busy with the falling leaves, and the apple harvest …. The whole orchard is alive with the wings of late butterflies and dewy cobwebs festoon the last flowers of autumn. The sound fruit is taken away whilst the windfalls may be left to fertilise the orchard floor, or heaped at a penny a pound in boxes by the gate. October, and the amber-bright disc of the full “Hunter’s Moon” shining huge over the valley horizon above the evening mist; and later in the night the “hoohooing” of the hunting owls over the bright fields, the yapping of a dog-fox up in the spinney. We feel thankful in the still of these autumn nights, that for all the pressures of the modern age, the countryside itself is still quiet and wild and very very old, and very much itself.
C Gordon-Glover Book of the Countryside
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“Take some time to try new things…”
Meet the Maker
Adrienne tells us a little about herself, and her online embroidery enterprise, Ellis & Ivy How did you choose always use DMC the name for your threads. business, and how did And do you have any Where in the world it begin? tips you can pass on to are you? I started my business in I'm in Seattle, in the hand 2014 to help raise other USA. money for our youngest embroiderers? Hi Adrienne, it’s lovely to meet you ….
Can you tell us a little about your home, neighbourhood and family? I live in a 1960 split level which has been tricky to organize, but my neighbourhood is quiet with lots of kids for my little boys (5 and 2 years old) to play with.
son’s adoption costs. We brought him home in March of 2015, and now that our adoption costs are paid off, I donate a portion of my sales to other adopting families and host fundraisers through my Etsy shop.
Take some time to try new things! It can be easy to get stuck using one or two kinds of stitches, but trying new ones can give you new inspiration!
What is the best thing about having your own Where do you find business? Meeting other people your creative who have their own How did you learn to inspiration? small businesses and I’m inspired by nature collaborating with stitch, and how long and the outdoors. I’ve them. ago was that? always loved plants I learned to sew when I was 5 and have always had a sewing project going on. I even took my sewing machine to college with me.
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and stitching them.
How do you keep yourself motivated What are your and interested in your favourite fabrics and work? flosses to work with? Trying new ideas and My favourite fabric to stitch on is linen, and I
creating new designs.
I’d like to start making pattern kits What has been the biggest challenge And your proudest moment? Hosting fundraisers for adopting for your business so far? And finally, it’s the weekend, how Pacing myself to only take on work I families! do you relax? have the time for. I’m also an With a book, a beer and some quiet What are your plans for the future Elementary school teacher, so I have time for myself. to set aside time to work on of Ellis & Ivy? embroidery too.
If you love Adrienne’s embroidery candles and would like to see more of her work, then please do visit her online ….
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/EllisAndIvy
The Village Pub in Autumn The long summer evenings are behind us now … no longer can customers sit outside by the river and enjoy a pint until the sun dies behind the beech trees. No longer is the cry “time gentlemen, please” the signal for us to go out onto the village green in search of empty bottles and glasses. But although we bid farewell to all this with a twinge of regret, I think there is a lot to be said in favour of the cosy winter nights in the pub. With the curtains drawn and a log fire burning by the time we open at six in the evening, it isn’t long before everyone comes into settle down, finding their favourite seats unoccupied by visiting townsfolk and holiday makers. Hay time and harvest, which in their turn kept farm workers in the fields until the church clock struck nine are over and forgotten. And now, with the coming of the long dark evenings, the darts club is re-formed and fixtures arranged with teams in neighbouring villages. The hand bell ringers, too, start practising in preparation for the Christmas festivities. There are other differences too. For instance in summer time a tray of mushrooms or an odd trout or two might use their way in through the back door and onto the kitchen table, but from now on we shall have to be content with hares and an occasional pheasant.
Bob Copper: Book of the Countryside
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Nativity Set (part one) I was looking back through the Bustle & Sew archives and was amazed to discover that it’s been five years since I last made a Nativity set. This one’s designed to be completely child-safe with nothing that can be pulled off or damaged. The characters are all simple softie shapes with the images appliqued onto the front in felt and a few cotton prints. The features are all embroidered so no choking hazards either. The second part of the set featuring the three kings, ox, sheep and angel will be in next month’s magazine. Joseph is just under 5 ½” tall. ● Stranded cotton floss in black, pink and red
Materials ● 18” square midnight blue felt (this will give you enough for next month’s characters too)
● Toy stuffing
● Scraps of felt and fabric for applique.
● Stuffing stick - optional, but is useful. You can make one really easily by breaking the point off a bamboo skewer and fraying the end so it will “grab” the stuffing as you push it into the softie.
● 18” square cotton fabric for the reverse of the characters (doesn’t have to be dark blue, choose whatever colour you prefer)
● Bondaweb
● Embroidery foot for your sewing machine.
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● Fit the embroidery foot to your sewing machine and drop the feed dogs. With black thread in your needle and a paler colour in your bobbin go around the edges of each shape twice aiming for a sort of scribbled effect.
Method ● The fronts of the characters are all made in the same way - simply appliqued onto a felt background, so the following method should be used for all. The templates are full sized and reversed for tracing onto the paper side of your Bondaweb.
● Embroider the features with two strands of floss. The eyes are black French knots, the cheeks pink satin stitch and the mouths red back stitch. I also hand embroidered the line of the donkey’s head.
● For the adult characters cut a rectangle of midnight blue felt 7” x 5” approx, for the donkey 5” square and for the baby Jesus 4” square. Work the applique in the centre of these shapes.
● Press your work on the reverse. ● Trim your softies to shape by cutting around them allowing an approximate 1” border from the edges of your applique. This border doesn’t have to be the same all the way around, so don’t be too fussy about measuring.
● Trace the applique shapes onto the paper side of your Bondaweb. Allow extra for them to overlap - I have included an additional diagram of Joseph with the overlaps marked in red to show how much to include. Notice that the arms are cut in one piece which makes them much easier to handle and to position correctly.
● Cut your backing fabric to the same shape and join with right sides together leaving a gap at the bottom for stuffing. using a ¼” seam allowance. Clip curves, turn right side out and stuff.
● Cut out roughly and fuse to the reverse of your fabric, then cut out carefully. Peel off the paper backing and position on your felt background. Work from the bottom upwards.
● Close stuffing gap with slip stitch. ● Your softie is now finished.
● When you’re happy with their positions, fuse into place with a hot iron, protecting your work with a cloth.
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Home Comforts Fruit is available in abundance at this time of year - so why not consider using apples, pumpkins or other varieties to make attractive seasonal candleholders? These look (almost) good enough to eat and are really easy to make. Push your candle a little way into the top of your apple (or draw around the base onto the skin if using a pumpkin or other squash with a tough outer layer). This will give you a guide for cutting out. Use a small sharp knife to remove enough fruit so that the base sits far enough down inside to be secure. If your fruit doesn’t sit firmly on its base, then trim the bottom flat with a sharp knife. You can decorate the top of your fruit with moss, leaves and berries as shown in the photo above.
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Autumn Smile Hoop Template is right size and also reversed to suit your preferred method of transfer.
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Bear in a Hat Pattern is right size and also reversed to suit your preferred method of transfer.
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Two Sleepy Foxes Pattern is right size and also reversed to suit your preferred method of transfer.
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Merry Little Penguins Hoop Pattern is right size and also reversed to suit your preferred method of transfer.
Trace your applique shapes from the REVERSE template on the next page 66
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Spooky Spiders Placemat Pattern is right size. The grey borders show where you will cut your patchwork squares when the embroidery is finished
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Bert the Bat Pattern is right size.
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Nativity Set Templates are right size and also reversed for tracing onto the paper side of your Bondaweb
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