Now this post  may seem like I’m trying to be teacher’s pet given that the pattern for this wonderful Stitchy Pie needle case is by one of the organisers of Le challenge, Lucy at Charm About You  but I assure it isn’t like that! This was a purchase to support May is for Makers an initiative by Lindsay Rhodes to recognise just how much free quilty stuff is out there by supporting those who make very hefty contributions to all that on tap inspiration by designing patterns and sewing products.

I loved the look of these needle cases once the design came out and my current needle cases, shall we say, need refreshing. I was inspired by this post by Kerry with a beautiful version of her own.  I used a very sweet pink Blossom material for the binding, a text print and some pinky flowers from a scrap piece of material fused on and then stitched round.

I am sure it’s not lost on you the  irony of machine embroidery on a needle case for handstitching needles!  I’m afraid handstitching is not my favourite thing but Kerry’s post also opened my eyes to the complexity of needle choice given that my go to needles in the past have generally been economy packs of multi sizes. It may just be the reason why I don’t enjoy hand stitching that I never have the right needle for the job. So armed with Kerry’s advice I splashed out and bought some proper fit-for-purpose needles. First job was to sew back on the blazer badge for one of the children. It certainly was a cinch to go through the very thick badge material but the eye of the needle will, trust me, not take even a microscopic camel!!

I am sure more of these stitchy pies are in  my future not least because the one above in fact isn’t full of needles yet but my home-made alphabet pins!

Such a great design by Sarah of using just 2 1/2″ strips means no pfaffing around with different measurements. And all from scraps! And we all have plenty of those… The Bees Blessed ladies made the very valid point of just going with the flow as the scrappy look seems to works it’s magic and everything come together beautifully. Personally I suspect a fair degree of careful placement of donated blocks is required by those same ladies but the results are stunning. I especially love the quilt in this picture at the recipients home. Looks styled doesn’t it?

Well it looks as if I have created a blog! Who would’ve thought. I have always found quilting so much easier than grappling with the social media aspect of it. And yet it is those amazing and generous contributions on blogs and other social media platforms that have been such an amazing inspiration so I feel I want to do my part.  Not that I’m promising anything like as much as some but this will be about sharing what I have learnt along the way and also a useful record for me. Well I gather the first rule of blogging is plenty of eye candy with some of my favourite quilts….