Jacobean leaves embroidery pattern: 8 of 8

Here it is, the final pattern in my series of Jacobean Leaves. This is one of my favourites. I love the alternating blanket stitch as a central vein and using fishbone stitch gave the bottom edges of the leaves great definition.

Download the pattern here.

As I’ve said before, I’d love to see how you use them. So please send me a link to your finished work.

And thanks to everyone who has linked to these patterns in the past few months, it’s much appreciated.

NOTE: Please remember that I hold the copyright and that these patterns can’t be used for financial gain.

A bird in hand…

The bird as a design icon seems to be fading into the trends of Christmas past. There’s been a glut of fabric with birds on it, templates to create 3D birds and embroidered bird patterns on the market.

But while design trends come and go, twitchers will be around for ever. Which is why this was a perfect “gift for no reason” for one of my favourite bird watchers: MTM.


Made from a spool pattern out of shwe-shwe and 30s print fabric.

Jacobean leaves embroidery pattern: 7 of 8

There’s something about three rows of chain stitch in graded colour. It just works. And I think it worked particularly well here.


Download the pattern here.

NOTE: Please remember that I hold the copyright and that these patterns can’t be used for financial gain.

Frugal fatigue

My sister recently used the phrase “frugal fatigue”, the latest linguistic spin-off of the economic meltdown. People are, understandably, tired of scrimping and budgeting and worrying about money and well, not spending. And it was only a matter of time before someone came up with a name for it.

I recently spent some time (and money) at Creative Quilting in Hampton Court. And I have to admit that running my fingers through drawers of possibility after about 18 months of fabric hibernation was immensely pleasurable. I was after six fat quarters and determined to stick to my quota when I stepped through the shop doorway. I walked out with my six fat quarters. Plus four Japanese prints for which I have no specific purpose in mind. And two more pieces for my mom – gifts don’t count.


Seeing the latest additions to my fabric stash hanging up to dry made me realise how good it feels to have new supplies. It also gave me some first-hand insight into frugal fatigue. I think everyone should just spend like mad during July to avoid the feeling and, if that doesn’t kick-start the economy, at least we’ll all have lots of new fabric to see us through.