Large scale blocks of retro colors on a subtle background make a striking impact. Practice sewing curved seams while making this handsome quilt. Intermediate level. Finished size: 71in x 71in. By Brigitte Heitland

81in x 81in, A subtle star pattern emerges from a low-contrast mix of solid color and metallic prints. We used a layer cake for print variety and easy cutting to make this festive Christmas quilt. By Brigitte Heitland

Finished size 60in x 60in, pieced and machine appliquéd; Improvisational style snippets arranged around a lettered block evoke birds circling high in the sky. One Layer Cake gives you all the colors and patterns you need for the playful quilt. By Brigitte Heitland

Finished Size: 18in/46cm RECOMMENDED FABRICS: The Diggles Dragon Stuffed Animals Toy Sewing Pattern can be made from most types of fabrics including woven,non-stretch fabrics eg. cotton, cotton drill, flannelette, corduroy and quilting fabrics as well as knit, stretchy fabrics like fleece (of any type), velour and chenille.

Finished Size: 8-1/2in tall and 14-1/2in long. An elephant with its trunk up is meant to symbolise good luck. This didn’t make sense to me because I’m originally from Africa where an elephant with its trunk UP means it’s about to charge and you’re outta luck! BUT let’s go with the positive! I wouldn’t recommend this pattern for beginners because the tusks and trunk are a little bit fiddly. Georgie will be a cute gift for anyone you feel could do with a little bit of luck in their life!

Hoffman Modern Batiks 120 220 Fern

Hoffman Modern Batiks 121 496 Pineapple

Hoffman Modern Batiks 119 296 Steel

Hoffman Modern Batiks 109 39 Rust

Hoffman Modern Batiks 112 92 Slate

Hoffman Modern Batiks 105 632 Raw Umber

Hoffman Modern Batiks 107 166 Evergreen

Hoffman Modern Batiks 107 454 Dune

161 381 Pomegranate

Beautiful Embroidery Motifs and Projects with Wool and Cotton. Includes 20 motifs plus projects and instructions.

For the embroiderer who appreciates the value of beautiful stitches but also likes to break a few rules along the way, Rebecca Ringquist’s Embroidery Workshops is a refreshing new resource for both standard and out-of-the-box techniques. Based on the popular classes Ringquist leads across the country, Rebecca Ringquist’s Embroidery Workshops teaches everything from the “proper” way to form a French knot and transfer a design to a canvas to new ways to stitch three-dimensionally, work with nontraditional threads and fabrics, draw with thread free form, and mix and match machine- and hand-stitching. Also featured are instructions for 20 innovative projects, including a cloth sampler designed especially for the book (and packaged in an envelope at the back), table linens, wall art, and clothing embellishments. Includes a real cloth sampler to stitch.

Embroidery artist Yumiko Higuchi offers modern makers a fresh new spin on her beloved designs by combining embroidery stitches with hand applique. Learn how to use felt, cotton, and linen to create beautifully layered designs full of texture and contrast, then embellish with just a handful of basic embroidery stitches. With over 30 motifs inspired by nature, you will find designs for hydrangeas, sunflowers, lilacs, tulips, poppies, birds, bees, strawberries, and more. Use these motifs to create any of the sophisticated bags, pincushions, coasters, tea towels, and wall art projects included in the book, or be inspired to design your own.

In Garden Stitch Life, embroidery artist Kazuko Aoki invites you into her enchanting world of garden-themed embroidery. You’ll get a glimpse into her creative process, from sketching and selecting thread colors to stitching tips and techniques, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at her atelier, garden, and other inspiring locales. In addition to dozens of botanical motifs, you’ll also find designs based on the author’s favorite things in life: food, travel, and design. Projects include samplers, collages, patches, bags, table linens, and more!

In her first two Doodle Stitching books, Aimee Ray proved that doodling isn't just for paper anymore! Now she brings her irresistible art to a variety of embroidery techniques in a timeless resource for anyone with a needle and thread. Appealing to stitchers of all levels, the beautiful decorative stitches and techniques here include stump work, applique, Shisha, cutwork, and Sashiko. They're all presented in Ray's fresh, accessible, and whimsical style, with more than 20 fun projects and extra motifs so readers can personalize their creations.

Zakka Embroidery presents designs that are an elegant blend of Japanese and Scandinavian style. The motifs and patterns are spare and graphic, yet softened with organic shapes and imagery drawn from nature. The result is embroidery that evokes a personal feel and conjures a sense of nostalgia. The task of picking just the right palette for an embroidery project can be overwhelming to beginners and experienced stitchers alike. But when you take away that challenge, a whole world of texture and style becomes available. Here Japanese designer Yumiko Higuchi presents embroidery motifs to be stitched using just one or two colors—creating patterns and designs that are more evocative for their form than for a play of colors. Each embroidery design is paired with a simple craft project, transforming the stitched fabric into a functional object, including pouches, pillows, aprons, and more. With beautiful photographs, clear step-by-step instructions, and detailed diagrams, Zakka Embroidery will be an inspiring guide for those new to embroidery and a delightful experience for those experienced with needle and thread.

Feminist Cross Stitch by Stephanie Rohr. Crafty activists will love this snarky book with its 40 irreverent, vintage-inspired cross-stitch patterns. Whether you want to proudly announce to the world that you're a nasty woman or remind others that a woman's place is in the revolution, you’ll find edgy slogans, sharp one-liners, and cheeky images that make fabulous wall art or wonderful handmade gifts. An illustrated basics section will get you started, with information on materials, tools, techniques, and framing your finished pieces.

Finished Size: 25cm 10in tall / 38cm 15in long Mickey Moose may not be as famous as his rodent namesake but he’s just as cute! It took a while to work out how to design his antlers so they didn’t flop but I am pleased to say Mickey is a fine, upstanding member of the moose community! This pattern is suitable for an intermediate or adventurous beginner sewist.

Finished Size: 30 cm / 12 inches This sweet little squirrel is named after ‘Sue’ a.k.a Suraliyama - one of the lovely sewists I met in India when I visited Bluemango. There I saw the cutest Indian squirrel which the locals call ‘aneel’ and thought it was a toy design just begging to be made! This toy pattern has some small pieces so I wouldn’t recommend it for a beginner toy maker who should start with one of my easy patterns. Recommended fabrics: I sewed my squirrel with quilting cottons. You could use minky, cuddle and even fake fur especially for the tail to give your squirrel a fun fluffy look.