Welcome to the sewing mat stop on Sherri Noel’s Text It! Blog Hop, and an especially big welcome if it’s your first time here.
Text It! The Book
If you follow this blog then you will know that I was destined to love Sherri Noel’s fabulous new book ‘Text it!’. There were quilts with words on them and applique. This was totally going to be my thing! And when I received a copy of the book, it didn’t disappoint. The projects were playful, quick and stylish, the instructions were clear and well-written. I loved the inclusion of seven (seven!) full alphabets so you can personalise your projects as much as you want.
The Bobbin Cover Mystery . . .
When I first saw Sherri’s book, I knew straightaway which project I wanted to do. Just before Christmas, whilst I was sewing my bobbin ran out. Without getting up, I wound a new bobbin and as I re-threaded the machine, I reached for the bobbin case cover and it was gone – like, really gone. My kids were in the room at the time unpacking Christmas decorations. I asked everyone to look for a small bit of mostly see-through plastic. Which went well, as you can imagine.
I looked for that cover for THREE hours. I looked in places it couldn’t possibly be, simply because I’d looked in all the places it could have been and it wasn’t there. Himself helped by walking round in circles peering quizzically at the floor in a supportive sort of way.
Finally, taking stock in total exasperation, I noticed an unopened box of Christmas decorations on the far side of the room. Had anyone been looking through that box? No one had. I had figured by then that as I hadn’t left my seat, someone must have brought over a decoration to show me and accidentally lifted the bobbin case cover up with the decoration. Everyone was sure they hadn’t opened that box? Yes, they were sure. And of course, you know by now where the cover was. I tipped out the entire box and there at the very bottom lay a small square of nearly see-through plastic.
The up-shot of all of that was, I realised how very handy a sewing mat with pockets would be!
The Sewing Mat
We were in Sligo just after Christmas and I saw this lovely themed panel in The Craft and Sewing Basket. It seemed just perfect for a sewing mat and The Middle One egged me on as she wanted all the left-over pieces!
I selected my favourite few squares and added a border round the panel pieces to increase them to the pocket size that Sherri specifies in her instructions. Taking advantage of the full alphabet provided, I added an inspiring word to the top left hand corner of my sewing mat! This is just what I need to see on a dreary Monday morning.
I loved the colours in the cheery background fabric. It gives the sewing mat a forties feel that suits the panel. As it was quite a busy fabric, I went for simple grid quilting. If you follow this blog regularly, that won’t surprise you either!
I bound the quilt with some grey blue binding and the sewing mat was done. This is such a quick, fun project and the finished sewing mat would make a great gift for a patchworking friend. As for me, I diligently place my bobbin cover into one of the little pockets every time I have to wind a new bobbin!
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Giveaway
For this blog hop, I have not one but THREE prizes to give away!!
The nice people at Martingale will send a hard-copy of Sherri’s book to one winner (US residents only) and because this is a global blog hop, Sherri has offered to personally post a copy to any winner who isn’t resident in the US. How awesome is that?! If I didn’t already follow her on Instagram (@rebeccamaedesigns), I would go follow her right now, just for that display of loveliness!
In addition, Aurifil are offering a prize of two large spools of thread (random colour) and they will post it anywhere in the world!!!
And finally, I will offer one winner a pdf pattern of my own, and the best bit is you get to choose which one. So leave your comments below, you have THREE chances to win and I will chose three winners at random. Closing date midnight on 18 th March. (I will not be able to reply to every comment but I promise you I will read and appreciate every single one.)
The winners chosen at random, were Beth Talmage (who wins a copy of Sherri’s book), S Morris (who wins the Aurifil thread) and Allison (who wins the pdf pattern from my shop). Congratulations to all three!
Where can I get a copy?
I don’t think I have ever been on a blog hop before where so many participants have made more than one project, just because they are such a joy!
Join in the fun and get your signed copy of Sherri’s book here.
Right, now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to make that cute little ‘Home’ pillow on p. 43 . . .
Love the ideas and the texting. So many fun projects!
It’s a really great book, isn’t it? I feel very privileged to have been part of the blog hop.
I love the cute fabrics on your pockets. Also enjoyed your bobbin case cover story!
Thanks, Susan, I was delighted to find the panel fabric.
Love the sewing mat with pockets! I spend a lot of extra time that I could be sewing looking for bobbins, scissors, etc. This would definitely come in handy.
I am new to sewing and to your Blog. Excited to see what comes next!
Sherri’s design is great, Theresa, I use the sewing mat every day. It’s very quick and fun to make too. I’m so pleased you have found your way to this little corner of the Internet, I hope you will find much to inspire you!
I love the pocket fabrics!
Thanks, Cindy! The panel was a great find!
Har lige fundet din side – tak for alle dine gode tips. Vil elske at se hvad der kommer i fremtiden, jeg har syet tøj før, men er ny til quilt og er ganske ny bruger af alt indenfor computer – så fremtiden er stor………
Ich freue mich, dass Sie diesen Blog nützlich finden. Ich hoffe, Sie werden hier Inspiration finden. Früher habe ich Kleidung genäht, bevor ich Quilts entdeckte!
I am delighted you find this blog useful. I hope you will find some inspiration here. I used to sew clothes before I discovered quilts!
First time at your blog and loved reading about your adventure searching for the bobbin cover. I also like the sewing mat, I never saw one before and think this would work out great when I take my sewing machine to guild meetings or other sew alongs. It would replace the small metal tray I keep under the extension table.
I actually hadn’t seen a sewing mat before I saw Sherri’s book either. It really is so handy and a great present for fellow quilters!
Love your mat. You do wonderful work really enjoy your designs.
Thank you so much for your kind words! It means a lot to me.
Your mat is just darling. I love the panel that you found. Great idea!!
Many thanks, Nancy! Good luck with the giveaway!
I’ve been reading the posts about this book, and I think I really need to win one (wink!), or I’ll just need to get one. Your sewing mat is so cute. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve buried my bobbin cover under fabric, so I can totally see how yours ended up in the Christmas box! Thank goodness you found it, even though it took you three hours of precious sewing time. The mat will be handy for you! (I want that home pillow too!)
Thanks for feeling my bobbin cover pain, Wendy, I have a new found appreciation for that little bit of plastic.
I think you’d love a sewing mat. Best of luck with the giveaway!
I really like how you did the pockets. Wonderful idea.
Thank you, Christi! It was a fun project to make.
Beautiful mat. Thanks.
Thanks, Sally! Good luck!
Your story about the missing bobbin cover is very familiar! I keep canning jars with lids by my sewing machine for that very reason. 😉 And, yes, I think Sherri is a gem–so glad quilters outside of the US can have a chance to win this wonderful book, too.
It was so kind of Sherri to open up the giveaway, as a non-US resident I was delighted to see it! Thanks for stopping by!
Such a wonderful use of your panel! I’m sure it will prevent further mishaps with the bobbin cover!
I keep a close eye on my bobbin cover now, Cathy! Thanks for your kind words.
Great sewing mat idea and clever pockets. I can relate to trying to find a particular sewing item. Then going on a hunting mission looking for a particular quilt pattern or a fabric that is somewhere?
I honestly think, Rosalind, that I spend more time in my sewing room
looking for something that I’d had in my hand just two minutes ago than I spend sewing.
Thanks for your kind words.
Love your pockets and the placement of your word.
Thanks, Donna! Good luck with the giveaway!
On my, I have lost things in weird places as well. So aggravating! I really like your project. I’ve seen sewing mats before and they haven’t interested me. But pockets?? Now that’s a game changer!! Thanks for sharing!
I hope Sherri’s book has inspired you to make your own mat, Michelle. It was a really quick project too (and they are always my favourite type!)
Love the sewing panel used for the pockets. Just perfect for a sewing room, and to help keep all those little notions in order. Thank you for sharing.
The sewing mat is so handy, I’m delighted with it. Good luck with the giveaway!
Love your Sewing Machine Mat! Thank You for your Blog+Giveaway!!!
Thank you for your kind words, good luck with the giveaway!
Love your mat, how useful! May just have to make one! Thank you, from Texas.
So glad you enjoyed the project, Mona!
That mat looks nice but I’m wondering if the machine doesn’t walk around without some traction under it? anyway nice project
Hope I win!
My machine is so heavy the mat doesn’t shift one bit so it works really well. Best of luck!
I love what you did with the panel in making the mat! This looks like a really fun book. And who doesn’t love Aurifil thread?! Thanks for the opportunity to win!!
Thanks for your lovely words, Brenda!
And yes, the book is great fun. Good luck with the giveaway!
Great sewing mat. I like your pockets! I live in the US!
Thanks, Nancy! Good luck with the giveaway!
That’s a GREAT project! Fun and Functional. I could certainly see one under my machine…soon.
It is so handy, Melody, best of luck with the giveaway!
I love your sewing machine mat!1 Your pockets are adorable! I don’t blame you for wanting to make another project from this book…they have all been so wonderful to see.
I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed the blog hop. Sherri’s projects are such good fun.
Sure glad you found that itty bitty bobbin case cover! It drives me NUTS when I can’t find something! It’s not like you can even sew without that cover, so it’s really important! Love the sewing mat and that’s something I need, too. Looking forward to your Home pillow…it will be gorgeous, I’m sure! duchick at gmail dot com
I was never so happy to see a bobbin case cover in all my life! Thanks for stopping by and leaving your kind commets. Best of luck with the giveaway, Kathy!
Your sewing mat is delightful! Thanks so much for showing it and telling the story!
I’m delighted you like it, Pam! Thanks for stopping by!
What a nice sewing mat. I like the pockets .
Thank you! I find them so convenient!
My story was about misplaced seam ripper. Could find, put a stop to my project and mojo. Boy, do I need to make a sewing mat!
I feel your pain, Joan! Good luck with the giveaway!
I am really enjoying this blog hop. All of the eye candy is an inspiration. I live in Canada. Thanks!
I’m delighted you’re enjoying it, Delaine! I felt privileged to be part of it.
Great job, yours turned out really cute. I like that you personalized it with a different word than the others also.
Many thanks for your kind words, Alison, good luck with the giveaway!
Love your sewing mat, a great project. The book looks great, lots of ideas!
Thanks, Eileen! I felt lucky to get to choose a project from such a fun book! Good luck!
I have an old teacher’s desk for my sewing table and I have all of my thread in the pencil drawer directly below my machine, BUT it would be handy for sit and sew events or retreats!!
Yes, sewing mats are very portable and great for classes too. Thanks for stopping by, Tambry!
What a perfect fabric to use for this mat! It’sbeen fun seeing all the projects from this book. Thank you.
Thanks, Teri, I’m so pleased you’ve enjoyed the blog hop. Good luck with the giveaway!
What a great story. I’ve had things like that happen. Somehow, some of these small sewing room items seem to bounce across the room. Love your sewing machine mat. PS I’m in Canada and really appreciate the special efforts that you bloggers go to on our behalf.
Thanks for your lovely comments, Laura. Best of luck with the giveaway.
Love the pockets on this project and the fabric you used. I hate it when something is lost. You are very lucky to have found this.
USA
slrdowney at hotmail dot com
Thanks, Sue! I couldn’t believe it when I found the bobbin cover after three hours.
I really thought it was gone forever! Good luck with the giveaway.