How To Host A Successful Craft Swap

I've noticed lately that there has been an explosion in the number of craft swaps hosted by bloggers, particularly on instagram.

I've hosted The Sweet Pouch Swap several times now over the past couple of years and have built up some experience about what works well and what doesn't.

If you are considering hosting  a swap of your own, these tips might be helpful for you!

Sweet Pouch Swap - Christmas Edition

Woohoo! Round 4 is happening and with a twist - a Christmas theme!

The Sweet Pouch Swap is an event hosted by yours truly and involves stitching up a gorgeous zipper pouch (or similar), including some delicious treats, and posting it off to your assigned partner. Simple and sweet.

The Strawberry Swap

I haven't participated in any swaps since the last round of the Sweet Pouch Swap, so when I saw the Strawberry Swap pop up on instagram I signed up straight away - what a fun theme!

My parcel of goodies has arrived to it's surprise destination - Michelle in Queensland - so I can share what I've made! Of course, if you follow me on Instagram or Facebook you will have probably already seen most of this!

In her information, Michelle said that she would like a zip pouch. Well, she had the perfect partner, because as you know, zip pouches are my specialty! I used the Pink Stitches Boxy Pouch tutorial and made this one for her.

I was actually a bit sad to send it away, I was really pleased with it and I love the mix of fabrics in the patchwork.

Strawberry Mug Rug

I signed up for the Strawberry Swap via Instagram a couple of weeks ago and intended to make a mug rug for my partner. But, as it happens sometimes, my first attempt was a big fat fail!

Online Sewing Events

There is quite a few great things happening at the moment so I thought I'd share some of my favourites with you in case you'd like to get involved too!

First up is a swap - which I know lots of you will be keen on - hosted by Jenny from Mend & Make New.

Those of you who have kids and love to sew for them will love this swap! Check out all the details here. One catch - it's only open to Aussie & NZ residents.

Next up is the Sew Fab pattern bundle sale. Available for a limited time only, you can get 20 patterns for $29.95 - bargain!

You can buy the pattern bundle through Abby from Things for Boys - check out all the available patterns and the link to buy the bundle here.

And last but not least, Jane from Lil Pip Designs is having a monthly sewing challenge. Well, not a challenge as such, just a suggested pattern or tutorial every month so anyone who wants to can make the project and share it. Sometimes it's nice to sew as a community, and all the projects are simple and small. I love the idea and I'm looking forward to joining in.

The first project is this gorgeous bowling set designed by Birdiful Stitches.

Photo source: Birdiful Stitches

Read all about Jane's monthly sewing challenges and check out the upcoming projects here.

So which ones are you planning to get involved in? What will you make first?

Round 3 Sweet Pouch Swap Features

Another successful round is over and I'm excited to share a small selection of some of the awesome gifts the participants made!


 

For Alyce of Blossom Heart Quilts made by Jenny (ig: @jennyrach). Beautiful blocks and such stunning colours!

   

Made by Patti from Retired To Quilt for Janine (ig @janithom). Love the fussy cuts!

   

Made by Liz V for Natalie from Sew Outnumbered. They grey and green is such a great combo and I love the zipper pull too!

   

Made by Melissa of Ms Midge for Barbara of Das Mach Ich Nachts. The colours really pop inside that denim border.

   

A patchwork drawstring bag - I couldn't work out the identity of the maker from flickr - sorry! Love the patchwork and quilting stitches!

   

And last but not least, this typewriter pouch by another maker whose real identity I couldn't work out!

 

There are heaps more amazing pictures in the Sweet Pouch Swap flickr group and on the instagram hashtag #sweetpouchswap. Make sure you have a look!

Thanks again to all the participants for a great round!

Swap Gifts Received!

I've had such an exciting mail week - both my Sweet Pouch Swap and Secret Valentine's Exchange gifts arrived! I'm feeling very lucky, so without further ado, check out what my very generous partners sent to me:

In the information I gave Lynda, I told her that I loved the Cloud 9 fabric range, Koi. She ordered a bundle and made the pouch using it, then sent me the rest of the fat quarters! So generous - I had told her that I hadn't bought any yet because it was hard to get and very expensive here in Australia.

I'm completely thrilled with my little bundle of Koi and very appreciative, I still haven't seen it for sale here.

I confess that some of the treats Lynda sent are missing - we ate some before I took the photos! I've added some of the little boxes of yogurt covered raisins in Anna's school lunch box this week and they've been a huge favourite!

But let's talk about the Hershey's Marshmallow Heart. Seriously. I think I need to set up some sort of confectionery importing business so I can keep myself in supply of these. YUM! Are they seasonal for Valentine's Day or available all year around? I NEED MORE.

Thank you so much Lynda for being such an awesome partner, and thank you to all of you who participated in round 3 of the Sweet Pouch Swap! Round 4 will happen in the next few months and will be hosted by Alyce from Blossom Heart Quilts. I always announce the sign ups in my newsletter so to get the announcement straight to your inbox, sign up here!

Next up was the Secret Valentine's Exchange, where we received gifts from an unknown partner.

The person who made for me was the lovely Lightning McStitch, who as it turns out, lives just a few suburbs away here in Melbourne. She sent me this divine Japanese gauze scarf that she embellished with some hand embroidery. Pop over to her blog for the story behind the scarf!

It's beautifully soft and lightweight and will be great for the in-between weather in Spring and Autumn. Thank you so much Lightning!

If you'd like to see what I sent my partners, check them out - Sweet Pouch Swap gift for Lynda and Secret Valentine's Exchange gift for Stephanie.

Quilted Big Tote Bag

It's Valentine's Day today  - hurrah if you are into it, but personally I always remember my awkward teenage self who never received anything for V Day while girls around me at school were showered with flowers and cards. It can be a wonderful day, but man - it can be a terribly lonely one too! (Note to self: do something sweet for my girls on future Valentine's Days when they are teens.)

A few weeks back I signed up for the Secret Valentine's Exchange hosted by Sanae and Ute. I got my details and discovered I would be making something for Stephanie from Sew A Crooked Line.

As I always do when sewing for others, particularly for people I don't know, I went through a crisis of confidence, then took weeks to settle upon a project to make for Stephanie. If you are regular reader of my blog, you'll know my love for zipper pouches knows no bounds, but this time I wanted to make something I hadn't made before.

Stephanie said in her info that she liked the colours pink and mint. Pink I can do, but mint was a bit tricker, so with that colour palette in mind I made the patchwork panels for the bag with lots of pinks and a variety of greens moving into aquas. I also used any fabric I had that had a love theme.

For this side of the tote I decided to make this elephant print the feature - so glad I did as it turns out Stephanie is a huge fan of elephants and sponsors three of them.

I really love those TVs.

The pattern for this bag is the awesome Big Tote Bag designed by Abby from Things for Boys. We are friends in real life so I thought, perfect, I can give her a buzz if I need help. Didn't need to - this bag is so simple. Cut 2 exterior pieces, cut two lining pieces, follow some simple construction steps, wham bam DONE. Obviously the quilting made my construction process a bit different - I made two patchwork panels, basted and free motion quilted them, then cut them out. From there the bag construction was the same as the pattern. I used some simple hot pink cotton drill for the lining.

Then once I had finished the bag, I stressed out again. This bag is kinda LOUD. Bold prints, bright colours. What if Stephanie has a more understated style? But then I thought, it's not an everyday bag. It's large, so it's more of a beach bag or library bag. Maybe a gym bag. Or even a bag to keep her latest unfinished sewing project in, so all the pieces are together.

The size of this bag is really great so in my head I am already planning another one, this time for me to take to work so I can fit my lunch, drink bottle, book and handbag. Better add it to the ever growing to-do list...

Sending you all lots of love on this Valentine's Day!

Sweet Pouch Swap: My Gift for Lynda

Round 3 of the Sweet Pouch Swap has come and gone, but don't worry, if you missed it, it will be back later in the year for Round 4! I always release details in my newsletter first so if you are keen to get the announcement straight into your inbox, make sure you subscribe!

My partner was Lynda from San Diego, and in her 'about me' info she said how much she loved the fabric line Indian Summer. Perfect - I had a fat quarter bundle of Indian Summer so I cut some of my favourite prints from the range and put them together to make a very simple patchwork zippy.

I love the blues and aquas in this range and I teamed it with some Kona Ash grey solid for the base of the pouch. When I finished the it I felt like it needed something extra, so I made a little beaded zipper pull to add to the zip. I've since tinkered around with my jewellery making supplies and have posted a tutorial on how to make one - check it out here.

Love the fox and toadstool print - I think that and the teepee print are my favourites from the bundle! I still have a lot of fabric left over and I've got plans to make myself a quilt.

And what would the Sweet Pouch Swap be without the treats? Here is my selection for Lynda - mainly Cadbury chocolates as they aren't widely available in the US. The shops are full of easter chocolates already so I picked up a small pack of mini eggs - yum! It's mostly chocolate but I also added a couple of packs of Fruit Tingles which are also an Aussie favourite (and personal favourite!)

I know it's a bit of a cliche but I couldn't resist this cute Koala postcard! I'll have to make a resolution to send my next Sweet Pouch partner a card of one of the more obscure Australian animals. Koalas are actually pretty grumpy, they don't really live up to their cute and cuddly reputation. I personally prefer the Platypus, and have a very soft spot for the Frill Necked Lizard - we had a family of them living in our backyard in Brisbane in 1984. We named them Leonard, Leo & Baby Suzie.

It's been another round of amazing zipper pouches and generous treats - you can check out what people have made on the instagram hashtag #sweetpouchswap and in the flickr group. I'll post a couple of feature round ups soon and share mine when it arrives - can't wait!

Linking with Alyce for Sew Cute Tuesday!

Sweet Pouch Swap: Round 3

Happy New Year!

As promised, I'm kicking off 2014 with the latest round of the Sweet Pouch Swap! Since I last hosted it, some of you might be new here.  I'd love you to join in, so here's the low down:

WHAT: The Sweet Pouch Swap is a handmade swap where you exchange a zipper pouch (or similar) that has some sweet treats included, and send them to your assigned partner.

WHERE: This is an international swap. It's way more fun to receive some goodies that you can't get at home! In the past, we've had participants from many countries around the world.

WHO: This is a direct swap between a pair. Each pair is assigned at random by me. There is a limit on participants for administration reasons, however, it is first in best dressed. Once I reach the limit, I will remove the sign up form from this blog post. Everyone is welcome, from beginners through to advanced sew-ers.

WHEN: You'll receive your partner's details before January 10th. If you don't get an email from me by then, please get in touch. The postage deadline will be January 31st, giving you just over 3 weeks to complete your gift and post it.

IMPORTANT INFO:

By committing to this swap, you will be agreeing to post a parcel via international mail. This is not always cheap - you can get some information about what to expect to pay in this post here. I strongly recommend you read it before signing up.

Share your gorgeous work! Use the #sweetpouchswap hashtag on IG and share your photos in the flickr group. Follow me so you can keep up with the swap and what others are creating! Make sure you follow the Sweet Pouch Swap Pinterest board as well - there are heaps of fantastic ideas pinned there!

 What to include in your parcel:

• A handmade pouch
• Some sweets / chocolate / candy for your partner to enjoy. Please ensure that these are packaged goods to comply with customs & quarantine laws.
• A lovely card or postcard from your home town.
• Your contact details (email, return address) so your partner can thank you when their parcel arrives.
• Extras? Sure, if you like :) I often send a couple of crafty things or a fat quarter or two. Optional! 
• You can see previous swap gifts I've sent for Round 1 and Round 2.

Use this opportunity to make a new friend! So many of my online buddies are former swap partners. Email each other, check out each others blogs and social media. You might just be partnered up with a kindred spirit!

Thank you for reading through all the details, if this swap sounds good to you, go ahead and sign up! Thanks for being part of it!


Swap is now closed! Thanks so much for your interest - if you missed out there will be another one later in the year :)

Gnome Pouch : Sweet Pouch Swap Round 2

I've been looking forward to sharing this one with you for a while! Finally it arrived for my partner Kristi in Washington earlier this week so I can reveal it here on the blog!

I decided to use the quilt-as-you go method and make two quilted panels, then sew them up into a zip pouch. I really like the random style of the patchwork and the ability to use lots of different fabrics. I tend to stick to a colour palette, and this one was no exception - I followed the colour scheme of the Heather Ross gnome fabric and went with pink and green. Pink was always going to be a big part of the pouch as it's Kristi's favourite colour.

Here is the other side - just a lone gnome on this panel. But he is not too lonely - he can watch TV with the elephants.

I've made a few quilt as you go projects now, and they are really fun, I love the technique because it's a great way to blend fun fussy cuts and use up a lot of small scraps. I've just recently done the Quilt As You Go Patchwork Bags* class on Craftsy and that really improved my skills and taught me a few tricks about fabric placement that I'd struggled with in previous projects.

Kristi wanted to try some sweets that weren't available to buy in the USA so these were my picks for her.

From what I know, Cadbury products are generally unavailable in the USA so I chose some of my favourites- Cherry Ripe, one of the new Marvellous Creations bars and lots of Caramello Koalas. I also included a couple of rolls of Fruit Tingles - I really loved those when I was a kid. I was always on the hunt for that elusive rainbow coloured fruit tingle!

I also included a couple of little gifts that weren't sweets - some fun things from the Japanese discount store Daiso.

Some pretty squares of Japanese paper which are lovely for origami or other papercraft projects and some cute little bento forks. Kristi has a four year old daughter as well, and I know my girls eat a lot more fruit and other good foods since I bought them a variety of bento forks and picks to use, so I included these for her.

Alyce and I have chatted about the Sweet Pouch Swap becoming a regular event - possibly quarterly - so if you are keen to participate, make sure you subscribe to my newsletter. I will be releasing the dates for the next Sweet Pouch Swap to my newsletter subscribers first.

Now I will go and stalk my letterbox as I wait for my sweet pouch to arrive!

*Affiliate link.

How To Keep Postage Costs Down

 Like me, I know many of you are big fans of handmade swaps. You might also sell your handmade products online. Postage is the one thing that can be a negative in amongst lots of handmade loveliness. I've learnt a few great tips and tricks over the past couple of years, and I hope some of these will help you too.

Obviously, a lot of this advice is given from an Australian perspective, because that is where I post from. If you have some tips and tricks of your own from your country, I'd LOVE to hear them! Please leave a comment!

Tip #1: Keep It Flat

Keeping your items flat allows postage in prepaid envelopes or as large letters. These envelopes are designed for documents, however if you keep your item under 200mm in thickness, it can go in the regular post as a letter or large letter, keeping the cost way down. For example, the most popular item in my etsy store is a two pack of bibs. Bibs are flat and light, and within Australia I can post them as a large letter in a postage paid A4 size envelope for $2.70. To send them as a small parcel would cost me $6.95. For international post, a parcel would cost me $13.95 but a large letter to the US costs me about $6.

Keeping it flat is especially important for those of you posting from the USA. Standard international parcels are now $23.95, so if you can send your items as a large letter it may help in keeping your price down.

For the last Sweet Pouch Swap, I kept my parcel as flat as I could. I designed a pouch that would sit flat, and I added sweets and a block of chocolate that would not make the package bulky.

Tip #2: Keep It Light

Once you get over 250g it becomes harder to send as a letter. You can send a small parcel, which is $6.95 within Australia or $13.95 to post overseas. So at this point bulk doesn't really matter, but weight does. My rule here is to keep your items under 500g. Once you exceed that weight, postage skyrockets in price. For example, 501g to the USA from Australia becomes $25. To keep things light, I use my electronic kitchen scales at home. Once I have all my items ready to post, I weigh them, then use the Australia Post online calculator. Make sure you leave at least 40g for the parcel bag if you have to buy one. Once I know how much my postage will cost, I will have no nasty surprises when I arrive at the post office to send my parcel.

Want to calculate your post at home? Here are links to the Australia Post calculator, the USPS calculator, the Royal Mail price calculator , the Canada Post Find A Rate and the NZ International Post Calculator.

Tip #3 - Chat to your Postal Worker

There is no doubt that Post Offices around the world are very busy places. But I've found that if you ask a few questions, most people who work at the post office counter will go out of their way to help you find the cheapest price for your parcel. I once had a lady spend 20 minutes with me going through every possibility for the parcel I was sending to Japan. They have all the knowledge and know about the various pre-paid and weight options for your parcel. Be polite, give lots of smiles and the person at the counter will give you the cheaper rate for that 503g parcel! (That happened to me once. I could have kissed the post office lady.)

Tip #4 - Use Registered Post if you can

The biggest problem that occurs within handmade swaps is when the item doesn't arrive. It causes a lot of stress for sender, recipient and host, and a lost parcel can mean hours of beautiful work wasted. If you can afford it, I would recommend sending your parcel via registered mail. Earlier this year I participated in the Covert Robin Swap and I sent my items to Dee in Queensland via a Registered Post prepaid 500g satchel. It only cost $8.25, which is not much more than the regular parcel price of $6.95. Well worth the extra buck for peace of mind.

From what I understand, most USPS parcels are trackable within the USA. With the Royal Mail, I think you need to pay for First Class postage to have your item tracked. (I may not be correct about this - let me know in comments if you know more about USPS or Royal Mail)

So that's it! I hope that helps a few people - I know during the first round of the Sweet Pouch Swap I had a couple of people withdraw as they felt they couldn't afford the postage. Others emailed expressing their shock of arriving at the post office and being charged way more than double or triple what they'd spent on materials and sweets for their gift.

Happy sewing, swapping and posting! Please share your knowledge of your local postal system in the comments!

Sweet Pouch Swap - Round 2

It's baaaack! And it's moved to Japan!

The Sweet Pouch Swap is back for another round, and my lovely friend Alyce from Blossom Heart Quilts will be hosting! Alyce is an amazing quilter, sewist and Mum of two gorgeous kiddos who is currently living in Chiba, Japan with her family.

For those who aren't familiar with the Sweet Pouch Swap, the plan is to sew a zipper pouch or similar, fill it with some local sweet treats like chocolates, lollies, candy etc, and send it to your partner. You will also receive one in return.

To make the administration side of the swap a bit more manageable, Alyce and I decided to cap the number of participants at 100. First in best dressed, so get in quick! We also decided it would be easier to make it a direct swap, so this time you will make a pouch for the same person who makes one for you.

The flickr group, instagram / twitter hashtag ( #sweetpouchswap ) and Pinterest board will all remain the same as round one, so make sure you get over there and get inspired by all the amazing pouches that were made during the last round.

The idea of this swap is that it's for everyone - beginners, intermediate and advanced levels of sewing. Everyone is welcome!

Before you sign up, please consider a few things. Do you have time with your other commitments? Are you willing to commit to paying for postage? If you are not sure, perhaps wait - there will be another one some time in the future!

 For the sign up form, head over to Blossom Heart Quilts! Who knows, maybe you'll be MY partner!

Are you in?

Fat Quarter Swap

Last month I joined the fat quarter swap hosted by And Sew We Craft. I thought it would be fairly easy...it wasn't.

Choosing fabric for other people is a minefield. What if they already have it? What if they don't like it? It's all a matter of taste, and what if their taste is wildly different to yours?

It took me forever to make a decision, but these are the choices I finally settled on for my partner, Sophie from Modern Day Mummying.

From left - Pink Medallion print from the Woodland Whimsy range from Spotlight, Grey Dandelion print from Premier Prints, Periwinkle from Soul Blossoms by Amy Butler, and Woodland print by Belle & Boo from Spotlight.

My thinking was to choose a few that I really like, but also choose some fabrics that are versatile. You probably recognise that dandelion fabric, I've used it in several projects like my simple zip pouch and my fabric storage basket. The medallion print makes a nice coordinate and is a bit different to the usual polka dot or solid that I normally go for. I've used the Woodland Whimsy fabric range in this charity quilt I made recently. The Amy Butler print is just one I love and I have a few yards in my stash, and the Belle & Boo prints are just lovely and I thought Sophie might like to use it for a project for her daughter.

So what do you think - good choices? Sophie received them last week and assured me that she was thrilled with them. Now I'm stalking my letter box waiting for the postman to bring some surprise fat quarters for me - I can't wait!

Handmade Gifts for Me!

This year I have participated in four handmade swaps. Yep - four! I think I am addicted to getting parcel deliveries full of lovely things!

Over the past few months I've gradually shared what I've made, and today I am featuring the beautiful gifts that some very talented ladies have kindly made and sent to me!

First up this year was the Pink Stitches Love Day Swap hosted by Bonnie. My partner was Julie from Ohio USA, and she sent me a lovely stash of love themed goodies.

The patchwork box shaped pouch is great, I've already used it so many times! I like to pack my phone and ipad charger in it when we go for weekends to my in-laws place. Julie also sent me some crafty bits and pieces including the trims and stickers in the picture, and a variety of rubber stamps and a pink ink pad.

The next swap was the Sweet Pouch Swap that I hosted. I shut my eyes and pointed at the computer screen so I could randomly assign myself a partner! My finger landed on Stacey from Maine, USA.

She sent me this gorgeous zip pouch made from an Amy Butler fabric. She added an elasticated wristlet and a little clasp which is attached to the selvedge - how cool? I love it. It's a great size for popping some make up and other toiletries into my handbag. She also sent some delicious cherry and almond chocolate (which lasted about 5 minutes), some Lindt balls, some maple syrup sweets and and she wrote out a family recipe for Choc Chip Banana Bread which I have been meaning to try!

Next was the Little Pincushion Swap hosted by Lisa from Sweet Little Pretties. My partner was Kim from Wisconsin, USA. She made this amazing cathdral window pin cushion and she also made a beautiful little zip pouch for me with the name of my blog embroidered on it!

Kim added some Andes and York mints - what a treat - you can't buy them here in Australia. I especially loved the York ones. Any of you want to become my regular supplier??

The pin cushion really is spectacular - I may have squealed when I opened the parcel!

And last but certainly not least was the Covert Robin swap. Melissa from Western Australia sent me this amazing pink and brown quilted table runner.

I love the modern blocks and although its hard to see in the pics, Melissa quilted it in the chocolate brown sections.

So a HUGE thank you to all my swap partners - all the gifts have been so beautifully made and I appreciate SO much all the effort you went to for me.

Not sure what I'll sign up for next but I can tell you that the Sweet Pouch Swap will be happening again but there will be a few changes - watch this space ;)

Zakka Style Sewing Kit

I recently participated in the Covert Robin Swap, and after sewing for lots of swaps earlier this year, I was keen to choose a couple of projects that were new to me, and also practical for my partner Dee, who documents all her sewing and DIY projects at her blog Dee-Tales.

I bought the book Zakka Style ages ago, and have been keen to make something from it but other projects always got in the way. Dee has been recently become a Nanna, so I thought the travel sewing kit might be a good choice. She always has a project on the go but I assumed she would be spending more time with her grandson but might like to have some sewing goodies with her when she is out and about.

I used some linen I had in my stash, and some orange daisy and kite ties in deep blue from the Lucy's Crab Shack fabric range - left over from the quilt I made Lucy.

I popped into my local craft store and bought some goodies to fill the sewing kit - a measuring tape, some little scissors and pretty embroidery floss, which I chose to colour coordinate with the fabrics I've used. I love being matchy-matchy - it's like a sickness. I even picked out orange headed pins so they would coordinate too! I am a dork.

For a long time I've avoided stuffed projects, but knowing that I wanted to make this kit which includes a pin cushion, and also knowing that I had to make a pin cushion for another swap, I forced myself to sit down and learn how to properly hand stitch a seam closed. My previous attempts at hand stitching open seams have been an absolute embarrassment. You Tube to the rescue - I found this excellent video demonstrating ladder stitch with no knotted threads, and now my stuffed projects are all pretty! Ladder stitch is probably old news to you but for me it's been a revelation! I might have a bit of a crush on it.

The second part of the gift I made was a super simple but very practical little project - some hot and cold packs.

These are made using 5" squares - perfect if you have some charm squares left over - and some flannel, and filled with rice. I used this tutorial, which I found on Pinterest. I've been using Pinterest a lot lately, I'm enjoying the inspiration and also looking for THAT perfect quilt pattern for the Tsuru fat quarter bundle I ordered yesterday. So excited that I will finally be making a quilt for me!

I had some Joel Dewberry Aviary 2 and Modern Meadow scraps, which I cut into squares and used - it is so satisfying using up scraps of fabrics that you love, and really making the most of them.

So that is the last of the swap gifts for a while but soon I look forward to sharing the beautiful items that my lovely partners have made for me! I have been very lucky! Dee received this gift a couple of weeks ago and you can read her lovely post about it here.

Selvedge Pin Cushion

It's been swap mania around here lately - so far this year I've participated in four (!!) handmade swaps. Crazy. But they are so fun and getting parcels delivered is quite addictive!

This project was for the Little Pin Cushion swap hosted by Lisa from Sweet Little Pretties. There are heaps of great patterns and tutorials out there for pin cushions, but in my usual style, I made this up!

I like to save my selvedges and once I get enough they come together to make really bright and colourful projects. I thought they would be perfect for this project as who else would appreciate selvedges than a fellow sewer?

I chose some of my favourites that had complementing colours - greens, blues and reds, then I stitched them together in a panel. I added a border to make them stand out, then backed it with some chevron print from the Dress Up Days range by Riley Blake.

I also added some pins to the parcel - these pretty heart shaped pins. I bought them on eBay and when they arrived I was a bit disappointed in the quality - the perils of online shopping! However, they are extra long which is really handy for some projects.

It's nearly time to make some more selvedge projects - this one was the first one I've done in a long time and I loved it!