Hopeful Bluebird Stitching Smalls

Back in April, we introduced our Hopeful Bluebird Stitch-Along during those uncertain times at the beginning of the pandemic—it certainly helped to keep us occupied as we all stayed at home. Our Hopeful Bluebird Facebook group was created and we really enjoyed seeing everyone's version of the wallhanging. Because it was so fun, we wanted to keep that fun going by creating more options to use our pattern so we created some sewing smalls that used our Hopeful Bluebird motifs. And to make it even easier to create, we have put together a kit for all four sewing smalls! 

The limited edition kits are available on our website starting today and will include all the wool needed. The Hopeful Bluebird pattern is available in our store in either digital or printed form if you don't have it already.

Each week, for the next 3 weeks, we will give you the instructions to create the showcased small for that week. This week we are creating our pansy scissor keeper which will be a pretty complement for those special scissors—pair that with our scissor fob that we showed you a couple of weeks ago (HERE) and your scissors will be set.

Hopeful Bluebird Scissor Keeper

Cut your wool out using your templates
and staple or fuse and then appliqué.

Stitch the vine onto your scissor keeper 
top. We used #12 pearl cotton.

Blanket stitch the top of your keeper front
with #12 pearl cotton, starting and stopping
an eighth of an inch from the ends.

Assemble your scissor keeper by placing
the keeper top on the top of the back piece, 
then place your front on top of that
aligning the edges.

Pin or staple all your pieces together to keep them in place and then 
blanket stitch around the entire scissor keeper.
Sometimes I lightly draw a line around the edge of the piece I am
working on to help keep my blanket stitches even.

(The first scissor keeper we made had a purple pansy, but we changed that out later to make it purple and orange as those colors looked better with the rest of the projects.)

The leaves are stitched down with an angled blanket stitch.

To add a little pop of color, you can make a
few straight stitches in a contrasting color
on the bottom three petals.

The finished vine.

If you choose to purchase the kit (and we hope you do!) your kit will include all the wool needed to make all the smalls including the scissor fob. The cream background for all of them is a 12" square and we have included a picture here of how we laid our templates out to make sure all your pieces will fit.

These little sewing treats would make lovely gifts for a fellow stitcher or for yourself and let's face it—we can always use some new stitching items! If you don't have the pattern, you can head to the website to purchase it in either digital or printed form. While you are at the website, feel free to pick up a kit while you are there.  Just click on the Hopeful Bluebird link in our shop.

The next step will be to download the instructions for the scissor keeper. You can do that below or better yet, join our Hopeful Bluebird Facebook Group. All the links to the instructions will be there as well and you can share your progress, and maybe make a few new friends. We also have an ongoing giveaway that is running. All you have to do to enter is post a picture in the Facebook Group of any Hopeful Bluebird project you have done or are doing. The giveaway will close on November 23rd and the winner will be revealed on Thanksgiving Day, November 26th.

Update!

The Giveaway is now closed, but you can now purchase the Hopeful Bluebird Sewing Smalls Printed Pattern along with the wool kits using the link below.

Hopeful Bluebird Pattern and Kit

Hopeful Bluebird Facebook Group

If you are already a member, please share our group with a friend. The more the merrier and the more inspiration and encouragement we will receive from one another. We can't wait to see everyone's stitching treasures!

Happy Stitching

A Bluebird Needle Book

Needle books are a handy thing to have when you use a lot of needles, and our bluebird needle book is no exception. This little book has plenty of space for lots of needles, and the bluebird is even carrying one! The stitching on this goes together quickly, and we have put together the instructions to help speed you on your way.

Hopeful Bluebird Needle Book

As we said, our simple needle book can be made in a short amount of time and would be perfect for that stitcher who is a fan of all things bluebird. We stitched our bluebird mostly out of bright blue ultra-suede (included in our kit), but of course wool would work just fine. When you buy a kit, we will include a package of ultra-suede needles for free! Regular needles will work well, but the chiseled tip of the ultra-suede needles are designed to more easily pierce the fabric.

The breast is stitched first, followed by the top wing, and then the body.

We used staples with the ultra-suede, and although the staple initially leaves an indentation, 

that can be rubbed out without a problem. 

All stitched down

Once the bluebird is appliquéd, it is time to add the embroidery. The bluebird's eye is one French knot with #8 pearl, and the beak is made with straight stitches in the same thread. The instructions include the needle and thread design, and the buds are made with a French knot and two lazy daisy stitches at the base of the knot.

You can play around with the stem stitch for the thread. Here we just 

used one color, but on the final we added a pop of purple with a whipped stem stitch.

Once all the embroidery is finished, all you need to do is add your lining, stitch and flip, and then sew the opening closed—add the needle page and your needle book is all finished!

Do you know anyone whose day would be brightened with this little gift—or better yet an entire needlework set? Head over to the website to pick up our Hopeful Bluebird pattern along with our sewing smalls kit, and you will be set for making not just the sewing smalls but the wall hanging as well.

If you already have the pattern, then all you need to do is download the instructions found at the bottom of this post, and you will be ready to create these fun little sewing treats. Also don't forget to join our Facebook group, where you can post your bluebird stitching—and even be entered in our giveaway! All you need to do to enter is post a picture of your progress on any one of the Hopeful Bluebird projects. It can be a picture of your chosen materials to a completed project and anything in between.

Our giveaway includes a pair of Famoré embroidery scissors, chenille needles

for the pearl threads, milliners needles for perfect French knots, 

and an assortment of lovely threads for stitching!

The Giveaway is now closed, but you can now purchase the Hopeful Bluebird Sewing Smalls Printed Pattern along with the wool kits using the link below.

Hopeful Bluebird Pattern and Kit

Hopeful Bluebird Facebook Group

Updated: A Hopeful Bluebird Stitch Along

Updated: We have enjoyed our Hopeful Bluebird Stitch Along! While the pattern for this lovely wall hanging is no longer available for free, it is available in our web store. It's never too late to join our Facebook group where we have been inspired by all the beautiful work that has been shared.

No deadlines...just jump right in! 

In spite of the current pandemic, Spring in this part of the world is showing off her beauty in some spectacular ways. The fruit trees in our local orchards are covered in blossoms, the fields are full of buttercups, and the birds are singing some lovely tunes. Even though we have to stay home, it has been nice to witness the changing of the seasons and to welcome some warmer weather. 

Staying at home for us, both Teri and I (Kara), has meant that we get to do a lot of stitching and we have seen from social media that many of you have been stitching as well. Since there is so much needlework going on, we thought it might be fun to offer a free pattern and a stitch along! So without further ado we introduce our Hopeful Bluebird appliqué pattern and Stitch Along!

The design is inspired by a vintage postcard and we thought it would be fun to stitch a little welcome sign that we can display for that day when we can welcome people back into our homes. Over the next three weeks, we will post all the instructions, patterns, and templates that you will need to complete your own little bluebird wall hanging. At the end of each post you will find the PDF links for all that you will need for that particular week.

So lets get started!

The first order of business will be to gather your supplies, starting with your background. We used a cotton background because we enjoy the look of the two different textures, cotton and wool, together, but you can certainly use a wool background if you prefer. The supply list gives each piece of appliqué wool needed and the colors we used along with a list of threads you will need. 

Once you have gathered your supplies, print out the template page. There are many ways to cut out and use templates for wool appliqué and you may already have a tried and true method. If so, that's great and feel free to use what works for you. I don't enjoy tracing my templates on freezer paper and I like to limit my prep time wherever possible, so I glue my templates onto freezer paper with a glue stick.

Apply glue to back of template page, making sure to cover the template area.

Template page is now glued to freezer paper ready to be cut out.

Some people really don't like to cut their patterns and would prefer to keep them intact. The nice thing about a PDF pattern is that you can print as many copies as you need. Once I have finished cutting out my templates and using them, I store them in a plastic baggie and keep them with the pattern. That way I will be able to reuse them if I decide to make the project again.

Templates all cut out and ready to be ironed onto the wools

I like to use fusible in my wool projects, whereas Teri does not—either method works just fine and it is a matter of personal preference. On this project, I used fusible but you can choose to do what method you prefer. Once you have cut out your templates, fuse or staple them onto the appropriate color wool as listed in the template page and cut out.

For Week 1, we have kept it simple and there are just a few pieces to appliqué and a little bit of embroidery. Find the center of your background and use the X's on the pattern to help you place your wool pieces, then fuse or staple your pieces in place.

Week 1 pieces fused and ready to appliqué.

Use matching thread and an appliqué stitch to secure wool pieces to background. Sewing thread or one strand of floss is what we use. Once your pieces are appliquéd, mark a faint line on your background for the little stems. Use your pattern as a guide for placement. Follow the directions for the embroidery and your Week 1 is finished.

Week 1 stitched down and embroidered.

Hopefully this won't be too much for one week and that you have fun doing it! We are looking forward to hearing from you and seeing your progress. We have created a Facebook group called Hopeful Bluebird Stitch Along so you can share your progress and ask questions. 

It is our hope that you enjoy creating this little project and that while stitching, you can feel hopeful about someday welcoming back some of the things that we are currently missing. 

Hopeful Bluebird Supply List
Hopeful Bluebird Pattern
Hopeful Bluebird Templates
Hopeful Bluebird Week 1 Directions
Hopeful Bluebird Facebook Group

Hopeful Bluebird Extras!

Our Hopeful Bluebird project began at a time when we were all dealing with what it was like to stay home for our safety. We were thrilled that so many of you joined our Facebook group and created our small wall-hanging that would welcome our friends and family back into our homes after the lockdown. Since we had such a good time with the wall-hanging, we thought we should continue the fun with some other projects using our Hopeful Bluebird pattern. (You can read more about the original project by clicking on the links at the bottom of this page.)

Throughout the next couple of months, we will be offering free patterns to our Hopeful Bluebird Facebook group members with a series of four sewing smalls that use the Hopeful Bluebird appliqué parts. All the appliqué will come from our pattern, which is for sale on our website if you don't already have it. These projects will give you a lot of bang for your buck with just one pattern! The projects will be for members only and will include the instructions for how to make each item. All you have to do to join the Facebook group is just ask! Our first project is a scissor fob that uses the star-shaped flowers from the pattern. This little project is so easy to do, you will want to make extras for your friends!

With beads

Without

If you have the pattern already, just head to the Facebook group to download your instructions. Easy peasy! If you don't have the pattern, all you have to do is go to our website listed below and purchase the pattern—either printed or digital. Then head to the Facebook group, request to be a member, and you will be able to participate in the group and be notified when the next project comes along. Here is a sneak peek of the next project!

Can you guess what the next project might be?

Each month we will post the new pattern in the group, along with some how-to pictures, and maybe a few surprise offerings! It is such an encouraging group that we thought it would be fun to keep it going with a few more ways that you can use the original pattern. We would love to have you join us if you haven't already, and for those who are already members, we are thrilled that we get to keep this little group going!

Update!

You can now purchase the Hopeful Bluebird Sewing Smalls Printed Pattern along with the wool kits using the link below.

Hopeful Bluebird Pattern and Kit

Hopeful Bluebird Facebook Group

A Poppy Pincushion and Pin!

This is our last installment in our Hopeful Bluebird Sewing Smalls, and "hopefully" you have been joining in on the fun. This week we will be showcasing our Poppy Pincushion.

Hopeful Bluebird Poppy Pincushion

To start the pincushion, cut out the wool pieces and appliqué the poppy—the templates for the poppy can be found in our Hopeful Bluebird pattern (website link below). The first two petals are stitched down on one of the circles, and then the smaller petals are just tack stitched in the center. Once that is finished, it is time to add the embroidery to the top and side piece. We used a stem stitch down the center and then embellished that line with lazy daisies and French knots. We added a stem stitch around the poppy in purple just to bring a hint of that color to the pincushion, and the center of the poppy is made by using a spider web stitch with 5 spokes. Here is a video of how we did that stitch:

After the embroidery is finished, it is time to assemble the pincushion. First stitch the top to the side using a blanket stitch and #12 pearl cotton in green starting 1 inch from the end. You can pin if you like to help keep it together.

When you get to the end, overlap the two ends and finish off your blanket stitch. Line up the bottom ends, pin, and then sew the overlap with matching sewing thread.

Overlapped ends

Overlap sewn closed

Next, attach the bottom circle with a blanket stitch as you did for the top. You can choose to pin the whole thing, but we found that it was easier to just pin at the end after we had stuffed it.

Blanket stitching the bottom circle

Leave an opening and stuff.

Pin the opening and stitch closed.

Stitched, stuffed, and ready to go!

An extra project this week is to make a pin to wear for Remembrance Day! It's super simple to do—just cut a small piece of wool for a backing and then tack stitch the centers of your poppy petals to the backing, embroider the center, and then add a pin to the back.

 

We hope you have enjoyed making our sewing smalls—and don't forget, we have kits for sale on our website that contain all the wool needed to make all four smalls: scissor keeper and fob, needle book, and pincushion. You can find all links needed for all the smalls below, as well as a link to our Facebook group where you can meet other stitchers and participate in our great giveaway. All you need to do to enter is join the group and then post any of the Hopeful Bluebird projects, either finished or in progress.

Update!

The Giveaway is now closed, but you can now purchase the Hopeful Bluebird Sewing Smalls Printed Pattern along with the wool kits using the link below.

Have fun stitching and don't forget to share your pics!

Hopeful Bluebird Pattern and Kit

Hopeful Bluebird Facebook Group