An Evening of Christmas Music

I will be singing in this concert. Please come and support us if you are around Hampshire!

See you there!

Somerset Star Christmas Card Tutorial

These beautiful greetings cards make wonderful gifts and are an ideal way to display your patchwork! It looks complicated but it's actually easier than it looks. There is not much skill needed to make this. This is a traditional patchwork design called Somerset Star in the UK. It's made by using small pieces of fabric folded to make triangles. Here is the instruction of making the Somerset Star Christmas card.

Materials:

• a piece of white or cream backing fabric , 7" x 7"
• a 6" embroidery hoop
• white fabric cut 12 pieces , 1.5" x 2.5"
• blue fabrics cut 16 pieces, 1.5" x 2.5"
• white thread
• needle
• a circle aperture card- circle 96mm Dia

Step 1

Turn under the top edge of each rectangle by 1/4"

Step 2

Fold the top corners to the middle to form a triangle.

Step 3

Create 12 white triangles and 16 blue triangles.

Tips: Use 2 different colours of fabrics to show the contrast.

Step4

Divide the fabric into four and draw a line from left to right and from top to bottom.

Step 5

Using an embroidery hoop to hold the fabric taut so that it doesn't pucker.

Step 6

Position four triangles.

Step 7

Sticth the triangles at the centre.

Step 8

Stitch the triangles according to the order of numbers. Number 4 will be go back to the center on another piece of triangle.

Step 9

Stitch all the four triangles.

Step 10

Take your second set of blue triangles. Build up the next round of four triangles, placing them 1/4" below the first.

Step 11

Build up another four of blue triangles overlapping the first.

Step 12

Take your third set. Repeat the same step as Step 10 for another round of triangles.

Step 13

Repeat the same step as Step 11 for another round of triangles.

Step 14

Continue to work in rounds, spacing the triangles over the previous round and in between until the design is complete.

.

Step 15

Complete the final round.

Step 16

Remove the star from the hoop and iron it on the ironing board.

Step 17

Trim off the extra bit and now you can create your card!

Step 18

Ta da! Here is your Somerset Star Christmas Card!

You can even play around with it by using different materials

or

in different pattern!

For more designs please visit here!

I was featured on Sew Happy Geek !

Somerset Star Christmas Card

Last Wednesday, I went to a quilting group and I saw a lady, Tammy, was stitching the lovely Somerset star. I like the way she used of colours and materials. Since then, I decided to learn this Somerset star!

I used two different types of materials to make these stars. Did you realise the shinny gold fabric and the shinny silver fabric that I have used in the stars?

Yes, those materials are attractive BUT they are not easy to use because they don't crease easily. To make them easier to fold, I ironed the materials before I stitched them together!

The simple technique of using Somerset patches in the circle forms an eye catching central star motif. Do you want to make this a christmas card for your family and friends? Visit my tutorial here. I hope you will enjoy doing it!

Scent of Love

Time flies! I'm counting down the days till christmas! Have you decorated your house? Have you prepared the christmas gifts for your family? This decorations can be placed in a closet, hung on a Christmas tree, or presented as a gift to a loved one.
Here is my christmas lavender decoration!

Where did you get your lavender from in this time of the year? I got the lavender from my garden! I harvested the lavender in summer time. Apparently, the best time to harvest lavender is just before the final flowers have closed. On a dry early morning, after the dew has gone but before the heat of the sin draws out the essential oils, cut the full length of the steams. I found that the lavender leaves will give us a strong fragrance too. Therefore, I always keep the leaves.