Just in... Innocent Crush

Anna Maria Horner's 'Innocent Crush' range now in the shop at £10 per metre.  Can be found here.  In the shop is also the new bundle of the range which we have named 'Midsummer Dream'. 

I am totally in love with this range, such beautiful tones.  I can see dresses and bags and cushions and... the list goes on.  What will you make?

Christmas book wishlist and a giveaway

Who still hasn't finished their Christmas shopping?  Well, I certainly haven't... and I'm not panicking quite yet.

I have three new book reviews on the site which would all make great gifts for a crafter. Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts, The Bag Making Bible by Lisa Lam, and Nancy's Favorite 101 Notions by Nancy Zieman.

The lovely people over at Charles and David have also given Backstitch customers an additional discount on these books in their shop, making it possible for you to purchase these books at better than half price with free P&P... can't say fairer than that!  The links and discount codes are at the bottom of each review in our articles section.

And, how would you like to win a copy of The Bag Making Bible and Nancy's Favorite 101 Notions?

How do I win a copy of these books?

There are two ways to enter the competition:
1. Follow Backstitch on Facebook
2. Leave a comment on this post telling us which of our bundles you would most like to recieve under the tree this year, and what you would make with it.
You can enter two times into the draw. One entry via each method. Once the competition closes, at 12:00 GMT on Sunday 19 December 2010, we will pick one entry at random from all valid entries.


Prize Draw Terms and Conditions
1. Entry to the competition is restricted to two entries per person please.
2. You must be a follower on Facebook to enter via that medium.
3. Prizes can only be sent to a valid UK address.
4. Winners will be chosen at random from all valid entries.
5. Winners will be contacted via blog/ Facebook names displayed on our website.
6. The Judges decision is final and no correspondence will be entered in to.
7. The competition will run from 12 December 2010 11:00 GMT until 19 December 2010 12:00 GMT.
8. Backstitch is compliant with the data protection act. Our policy is such that we will not pass on your details to any third party without your prior consent.

What's your Christmas tipple?

We have ten brand new fabric bundles in the shop.  What will yours be?  A Golden Dawn; Metropolitan; Bellini; Brown Cow; Pink Lemonade; Blue Train; Kretchma or a Hot Apple Pie?

Our bundles make fabulous presents, with a selection to suit all budgets, and don't forget everything you buy at Backstitch comes wrapped like a gift!


Blue Train Bundle



Golden Dawn Bundle



Pink Lemonade Bundle



New Pattern: The Reversible Sunday Sling

We've a new Amy Butler bag pattern in!  The Reversible Sunday Sling is 'Stylish and sweet and easy to sew.'  The bag is great for beginners, with large pockets, tie handles and pleats. 

The bonus with this pattern is you get the templates for two sizes: the smaller is a perfect shoulder bag size for a sensible person and the larger is the perfect shoulder bag size for those of us who tend to daily cart around everything but the kitchen sink!

And, it is reversible... how cool is that?!

Oliver+S City Weekend now in stock

Our latest range to come into the shop is the Oliver+S City Weekend range from Moda.

Our selection includes six jersey knits and nine quilting cottons. 

The knits are a medium weight, in the wider width of 60 inches/ 152 cm, and are lovely and soft.  We have them in each of the six Cafe Dot colours (yellow to follow this week).

The cottons are in a quilting weight and normal width of 44/45 inches/ 115cm.

Of course the fabrics are beautiful for kids clothes, particularly the Oliver+S patterns!

Leisl from Oliver+S talks about the collection on her blog here.

Q is for Quilt

Wondering where to start with quilting?  Get inspired and be informed by our Q is for Quilt article on the website.  Covering the practical basics of contructing a quilt, and including some excellent resources, this is a great place for a novice quilter to start.

Free Lavender Embroidery Transfer

Have you harvested your lavender yet? We don’t have much in our garden, but are lucky enough to have a friend who is happy to pass on her harvest. It means a chunk of evenings are spent hand threshing a massive pile of the stuff… the smell can become quite overwhelming!

What I am left with though is a wonderful stock of lavender for various projects, and where better to start than with some good old lavender bags for your drawers! These are great for gifts… dare I talk about Christmas?!

Last year I worked up this embroidery pattern for lavender related sewing and thought I would share it.

To download the pdf, please click download it from within the articles section on our website.  Just click here and click on the pdf icon.

We have 3 winners!

Thank you all for entering the giveaway.  We had a great response and I particularly enjoyed learning about your favourite fabrics... in hindsight it was a bit of a mean question asking for just one favourite!

We have three winners picked by random: @magpiemeadow and @honki25 from Twitter and craftyjemima from on the blog.

Could you guys contact me here with your postal addresses please, and I will mail out your books.

Win a copy of 'Simple Sewn Gifts'

The lovely people over at David & Charles have given me three copies of 'Simple Sewn Gifts' by Helen Philipps for giveaway. 

A cute book, with a good selection of basic (true to the 'simple' in the title) projects and great for fun sewing. There is a strong emphasis on the embellishment of each project and particularly on cross stitch. It gives you some great inspiration for 'prettying up' your pieces.

You can read the full review in our articles section here.

How do I win a copy of the book?
There are two ways to enter the competition:

1.  Follow Backstitch on Twitter, and tweet the following text: 'Do you sew? @backstitchshop is giving away craft book 'Simple Sewn Gifts' over here http://tinyurl.com/sew-ssg RT and follow to win'

2.  Leave a comment on this post telling us which is your favourite printed fabric in the Backstitch shop right now.

You can enter two times into the draw.  One entry via each method.  Once the competition closes, at 12:00 BST on Tuesday 21 September 2010, we will pick one entry at random from all valid entries.

And, if you don't win a copy of this book you have the chance to purchase it at a reduced price: David & Charles are offering Backstitch customers the chance to purchase the book at the special price of £8.99 (rrp £14.99) with free p&p (UK only), click here and quote code R11304 at the checkout.

Prize Draw Terms and Conditions
1. Entry to the competition is restricted to two entries per person please.
2. You must be a follower on Twitter to enter via that medium.
3. Prizes can only be sent to a valid UK address.
4. Winners will be chosen at random from all valid entries.
5. Winners will be contacted via blog/ Twitter names displayed on our website.
6. The Judges decision is final and no correspondence will be entered in to.
7. The competition will run from 14 September 2010 14:00 BST until 21 September 2010 12:00 BST.
8. Backstitch is compliant with the data protection act. Our policy is such that we will not pass on your details to any third party without your prior consent.

Follow-the-Lines Baby Quilt

 

Looking for a good beginner hand-quilted quilt?  This Follow-the-Lines Baby Quilt from Joelle Hoverson's 'Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts' is a great place to start.

I used English Rose from Philip Jacobs, Kaffe Fassett Purple Spots and Purple Klona Cotton.

Read the full article here.

Related Products
Philip Jacobs English Rose - Blue
Kaffe Fassett Spots - Purple
Klona Cotton Purple