Coasting

You know how it is, planning to make things that you actually need but just never getting around to it.

Well, I finally got around to it and now we have small splashes of colour dotted around the house. These colourful quilted squares started out on the kitchen shelf, a logical place for them to be in our house.


Within days one has found its way on to my sewing table. Another has migrated to my husband’s bedside table. Strangely, it’s the most girly, floral one. But I choose not to read anything into that… There’s one on each boxy arm of our couches, another on the dining table and the remainder of the bunch is a homebody – it’s still on the kitchen shelf.


Who knew the simple coaster could be in such demand? Although I have to concede that using ones as cheerful and tactile as these ups their appeal enormously.

Jacobean leaves embroidery pattern: 3 of 8

I particularly like the edging of this leaf. Back stitch gives it a nice smooth edge and a row of palestrina provides texture.


It was one of those embroideries where less is definitely better. If I’d only realised this from the start, it would have saved me much unpicking. But it was a valuable lesson in embroidery design.

Download the pattern here.

The first two of eight leaves can be found here and here.

Spring gleaning

It’s a wonderful feeling to be able to fling open the windows, breathe in the crisp air and hear the world again. We never realised how isolated we’d feel during the long UK winter. It’s difficult to describe the complete silence that double glazing affords to those who’ve never experienced it for themselves. The eternal silence – and the need to pile on layers of clothing before heading outside – has driven us a little moggy. Suffice to say our first British winter has made me long for spring like I’ve never longed for a season before.

But these grey, drawn out months have also made me appreciate all the more the glorious weather and al fresco lifestyle we grew up with in South Africa. The silver lining of this wintry cloud, then, is an increased awareness of just how weather can influence your mood, your perspective, your life.

The onset of sporadic, but dazzling, sunshine and gusts of wind that clear the city air (and cobwebs from my head) has had me hauling out half-made and long forgotten projects that are suddenly infused with possibility. An abandoned bit of crochet, still dangling forlornly from the hook, became the starting point for a cushion. The rich red triggered a mental leap to the piece of 1930s reproduction fabric that MTM gave me not long ago. But its white background needed lifting. The experimental crocheted flower shapes lurking among the skeins in my wool box took care of that, and blue buttons destined for a shirt that never was found new purpose nestled in their centres.


Alongside the flowery shapes in my wool box, I rediscovered three rolled up strips of white crocheting – an extremely mini version of an Erika Knight project. They just needed to be joined and attached to a cushion front. Instant gratification doesn’t come easier.


Two days, two new pieces of eye candy. And time enough over to wander around a park or two and soak in the sunshine. Sounds like the start of spring to me.

On the pages of a magazine

It’s been a while coming, but MTM and I are finally making our magazine debut in the May issue of British Patchwork & Quilting. Exciting stuff. It'll be on the shelves on Friday, 17 April.


MTM used my Fleur designs to make up a range of applique cushions, one of which is featured in British P&Q. There are six designs altogether:


(back, left to right) Fleur Audrey, Fleur Mabel, Fleur Ann and Fleur Judith
(front, left to right) Fleur Edna and Fleur Euphemia

They’re all the same size, so would also work well as an appliqué quilt – using one, two or all six of the designs. We’ve used a traditional appliqué technique, but you could easily revert to machine appliqué.

UPDATE: These patterns are now available exclusively through my website: www.kellyfletcher.co.uk.

The five Fleur patterns that are not provided in British P&Q can be bought directly from me for £3 each or £12 for all five. They’re A4 colour PDF e-patterns, incorporating templates and instructions, that are easy to print at home. If you’re interested, please send me an email — kellyfletcherdesigns@googlemail.com — and let me know which patterns you want. I'll send you a paypal invoice and, once payment has been confirmed, email the patterns to you.

Fleur Audrey (the pattern featured in British P&Q) is also available as an e-pattern, which I’ll happily send to you for free when you buy one or more of the others. If it’s only this pattern that you’re after, though, you’ll have to buy a copy of the May issue. Unless, of course, you live in a faraway country that doesn’t stock the publication, then I’m sure the editors of British P&Q won’t mind me sending it to you.

Either way, we’d love to see what you do with our Fleur patterns. So please send a photo when you’re done – we’re looking forward to hearing from you.

Jacobean leaves embroidery pattern: 2 of 8

And here’s the red leaf. If you missed the first one, you can find it and a little more info on the patterns here.


Download the pattern here.

My Jacobean Leaves embroidery is now framed and hanging:


I chose a simple metallic frame with dark edging as it went well with the fabric, which was from my gran’s stash. I also had my Celtic Stems embroidery framed – finally – and am rather pleased with the result: