I'm super excited to let you know that the first in my series of house themed patterns is now available. The Little House Notion Pouch is a fun pattern, that uses a combination of different sewing techniques, there's English paper piecing, hand sewing, machine sewing and appliqué. The pouch uses a small amount of materials so is perfect for using up scraps. It is also quite quick to make, it takes me about 6 hours to make one, and I am quite slow at making things. It is also very addictive to make! I have made two and I will definitely be making more! I had some very lovely people test the pattern for me, to make sure it is the best it can be. Take a look at their lovely versions...

The pattern contains full step by step instructions as well as clear photographs. I made my version using Hexiform for the appliqué and EPP parts of the pattern, but the pattern includes printable shapes if you would prefer to use paper. 
You can find the pattern for sale here.
Thank you so much, happy sewing,
Emma

I am equal parts nervous and excited to let you know that I have launched a Patreon channel. For a while now, I have been very kindly asked if I have a Patreon page where people can support me. I am enjoying making Youtube videos so much that I decided to launch a Patreon page because this will give me the opportunity to share even more. I earn very little from Youtube itself, but I am extremely grateful for what I do get. The idea behind Patreon is that it will be a place for me to share extra content and that it will ultimately support my Youtube channel and help it to continue.

If you aren't familiar, Patreon is a way people can support creators through signing up for a monthly subscription. In return, the creator will offer various things back to their Patrons as their way of thanking them for their support. 

​I currently have two tiers available. The Hexagon Flower Tier is £2 per month and in return, Patrons at this level will receive a monthly update post about things I have been working on, enjoying, inspiration etc. The Jewel Flower Tier is £6 per month and Patrons will receive early access to any Youtube videos ad free, as well as an extra, Patreon only vlog each month. I have so many ideas for the Patron only vlog, I think it will be an opportunity for me to share broader topics than I share on Youtube and I think it will be a bit more personal too. My hope is that Patreon will evolve and grow and I will be able to offer more things as time goes on. It is scary putting myself out there in this way but I am so thankful for the wonderful support I have received over the past few years. Monthly subscriptions can be cancelled at any time so people can join for the exact length of time that suits them and you can move between the tiers too. If you would like to join me over on Patreon, that would be truly wonderful. Currently, all of the January content is over there and ready. But please remember, if you aren't able to join, it's absolutely fine, there is no pressure to join at all and nothing will change in terms of everything else I am doing. You can find my Patreon page by clicking here. 

I find it so difficult launching things like this, it is very nerve wracking! But when I sent out an email newsletter last night, I had a group of lovely people sign up straight away and I am so grateful for that, and so excited to go on this new journey with them, and if you are able to. I would love to see you over there, it's a very cosy, creative and friendly place. 

In this week's video I am sharing some tips for how to improve your English paper piecing technique. I am definitely not an expert, but I've learnt a few things along the way, through making my own mistakes. I firmly believe there is no right and wrong to do things, but making some little changes here and there will hopefully help a little.

Basting
1. Make sure you have accurately cut paper shapes
2.Take care when glue basting, don't use too much
3. Don't put the glue too close to the edge
4.Try not to wrap the fabric too tightly around the shape
5. Use a seam allowance of at least 1/4"

Sewing
1. Use a fine, long needle, for example, a size 9 milliners needle
2. Use a strong, fine thread. I like polyester thread such as Invisifil by Wonderfil
3. Use a colour that blends with your fabric
4. Pull the thread tight when you sew, making sure there aren't any gaps
5.Use a locking knot at every junction
​6. Carry your thread at the back of the work

I've never found new year resolutions to be particularly helpful. They always end up becoming a list of things I am failing at, a list of things I can't keep up with. It drags me down and makes me feel not good enough. So this year I've decided it will be different. I am starting the year in a more gentle way, here is my approach. I hope you like it and that you can take something from it too. 

1. Reconnect with what inspires you
2. Don't set targets and goals
3. Write a list of accomplishments
4. Change habits little by little 
​5. Organisation
6. Reframe how to think about time
7. Make least favourite tasks more enjoyable
​8. Group tasks together

Happy New Year! I hope 2023 is a brilliant year for you full of good health and happiness.

​The start of a brand new year always feels like a good time to reflect on the past year and think about what changes we can make for the new one. I began by thinking I didn't really achieve much last year because I thought about all of the things I didn't do. My list of goals, none of which I completed. All of the things I started but didn't finish. I had to remind myself that it was a tough year personally in many ways, my health wasn't at it's best. But hopefully I am through the worst of that now and I can move forward. When I looked back on what I did make, I was pleasantly surprised that I did work on some nice projects last year! I also taught some lovely workshops at the festival of quilts and the knitting and stitching show, meeting so many lovely people at both. So overall last year ended up being better than I initially thought!

A major highlight of the past year was the quilt as you go community project. I started a quilt as you go quilt and after sharing it on Youtube, I asked others to join in and to send info and photos of their projects in so I could share on the channel. The response was fantastic and I really enjoyed seeing what everyone was making. If you'd like to see too, I will leave the video below so you can watch, it's so inspiring I know you'll enjoy it too.

In 2022 I launched my Stitch School and I am really proud of it. So far there are two workshops on there, one that is an add on to the Hexagon Sewing Case pattern and one that is a stand alone mini workshop for the Flower Power Pincushion. I have lots in the works for more workshops in 2023 and I am looking forward to sharing that with you in due course.

Thank you so much for all of the support you have shown me over the past 12 months. Whether that is through following on Instagram or Youtube, buying my patterns and workshops, or purchasing items from my shop, it all means so much to me and I have a lot to be grateful for. Wishing you a wonderful 2023 full of lots of creativity.
​Emma 

Edit - Competition over, thank you to all who entered. The winners were chosen at random and are Elaine, Laura, Kerry, Jenny and Pauline. Winners notified by email.

I am super excited to let you know that I will be attending the Knitting and Stitching show in Harrogate again this year. I had a great time last year and I am looking forward to going back. I will be teaching a workshop for how to make this adorable Flower Power Pincushion, all stitched by hand! My workshop is from 10-12 and we will learn hand sewing techniques along with tips and tricks for working with miniature patchwork pieces. The flower is made using Hexiform and will be a really enjoyable project. I do hope to see you there. I have 5 pairs of entry tickets to the show to giveaway! These tickets are not for the workshop, they are just for the show and only valid for entry on Sunday 20th. If you would like to be in with a chance of winning a pair of tickets, please leave a comment on this blog post and I will pick five winners randomly on Tuesday 20th September. Please don't leave your email address in the comment (in case of spammers) but do check back on the above date and keep an eye on my Instagram as I will announce it there too. Good luck!

Today I would like to tell you about a wonderful company I am very lucky to be working with, Serious Readers. They are a British company who make lights for reading and for hobbies. They very kindly sent me their high definition floor standing lamp along with a compact light for me to test out and they also kindly sponsored my latest Youtube video. I have never worked with a company in this way before. I do get approached every now and then but I have always turned down offers because they have never felt like a natural fit for me. However, when Serious Readers got in touch and I learnt about their lights and the sort of company they are, it felt like the perfect fit for me.

The lights are made in the UK and I loved the personal story behind the company. The founder of the company developed the technology to make a light for his mother who had developed sight problems. They use something called Daylight Wavelength technology and I thought this sounded really interesting because I have always found using a daylight lamp essential for my sewing. We have a lot of grey days in the UK! So I actually use a daylight lamp in the daytime as well as night! Therefore I was really interested to test out the lamp to see if I liked it better than ones I had used previously. At one time, I used to use two different daylight lamps at once to try to get enough light on my work!

First of all, I love the look of the lamp, it is really beautifully made and feels high quality. I also love that it came in packaging with only a small amount of plastic, it was clear that this was a conscious effort by the company and I love that. The small, compact lamp even came in its own drawstring bag!

But the big test was the light that it emitted, and I have to say, it has surpassed all of the three other daylight lamps I have tried over the years, made by various other companies. The Serious Readers high definition floor lamp is fantastic. Other lamps I have used in the past emit a very white, almost blue light, which is quite stark and sterile. The high definition light is a much warmer light, and this took me by surprise at first as it didn’t seem like your typical daylight bulb. As soon as I started worked on my sewing, I realised how much better this light was.

It is absolutely true to natural light, it feels like you are working on a bright sunny day and that feels so nice. I found the light to be really relaxing on my eyes and the fact it has a dimmer switch means you can set it at the exact level for the conditions you are working in and this makes it so comfortable to use.

On the brightest setting, it is far brighter than the other lights I have used and I have to say, I absolutely love it and I can’t imagine not sewing with this light, it will certainly be a firm fixture in my sewing room. 
A huge thank you to Serious Readers for sending me the lights and sponsoring my video. They are a lovely company to work with. If you would like to find out more about their lights, here is a link to their site and if you were to decide to purchase one, you can use the code EMMA10 and you will get a free compact light too, which means you can have a second place in your house for sewing, that’s what I am using mine for!

In this week's Youtube video, I am sharing some ideas for using those long, thin scraps that can be difficult to use. It's hard to know what to do with them because they aren't the most useful shapes and sizes but hopefully you will find some of these ideas useful. I enjoyed making yarn from them and crocheting some coasters, as well as wrapping my embroidery hoop to make it look pretty. Thank you so much for watching, see you soon!

Aside from sewing, another craft I really love is crochet and I have been doing  quite a bit recently. I have a couple of blanket projects in the middle of, but I started a new one too! The pattern is for crochet hexagon blocks and they have flowers in the middle! So right up my street that is for sure. I saw the pattern in a book called Cute and Easy Crochet with Flowers by Nicki Trench, a book I have had for many years. I have a lot of her books and I really like her style. I actually learnt to crochet from one of her early books and I am still working on a project from it to this day! It will all get finished one day I am sure.

I am using a different yarn to what the pattern suggested so it is working up smaller than it should but I don't mind that. I am using Sheepjes Softfun which is cotton and acrylic DK and it's lovely to work with. I think the cold weather we have been experiencing lately has drawn me back to crochet. It's nice to work with something warm and cosy, knowing that it is slowly growing into a lovely blanket. I am using lots of pastel shades which is making think of warmer, brighter days. Do you crochet? I would love to know. 
Whilst I love working on my sewing designs and Youtube videos, I have realised over the last few weeks that it is really important for my well being that I still work on projects that are just for fun and not for a pattern or tutorial. When I am working on my own designs, I have to think about how it will translate into a pattern for others to follow. I need to take careful notes to document my process as well as precise measurements and not to mention filming myself sewing. I love doing all of that but it isn't as relaxing as just creating. So it has been really nice to work on some crochet and I have also been working on a new block of the month kit I have subscribed to, but I will show you that next time. I am hoping that if I can get some balance between projects for 'work' and projects for 'fun', I won't get burnt out so quickly and I will keep my mojo going for longer, we will see!
Take care, thank you for reading and happy crafting,
​Emma