When you stitch, do you use a hoop, a frame, go without, or what? I have used all sorts of tools to help me stitch. It depends on the size of the project which tool I will choose. For smaller projects many times I will choose to hold the fabric in my hand alone. When it comes to hoops, if you have ever tried to explain to someone how to use one, you know how difficult that is. DMC has a simple tutorial for how to put fabric in a hoop that will help. So the next time you are teaching a beginner, you may want to refer them to this tutorial. Use the comments section below to tell us which tool you prefer for holding your fabric.
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Designer Spotlight: Little Dove Samplers
When I was casting about Etsy to find a designer to spotlight this week, I landed on Little Dove Samplers and felt like this might have been a designer that I showcased before. It turns out that I shares a summer sampler of theirs a couple of years ago, but I remembered the bright and cheerful designs, which once again drew me into their world.
This UK based designer does a lot of colorful sampler patterns, with a focus on seasons and holidays. In fact, speaking of that summer design, you can actually purchase a set of all four seasons, which have coordinating designs so they could be displayed together, or change out the season when appropriate throughout the year. There’s also a more rustic design that has all four seasons in one piece if you prefer that look.
Of course it’s not all seasons and holidays at Little Dove Samplers, though that is a lot of it. Another pattern that caught my eye is The Sewing Room, shown above. This colorful design features buttons, threads, a quilt top, a sewing machine and a black cat lounging on a pile of fabric. There’s even a basket of yarn under the chair. It’s like she was peeking in my craft room when she designed this (I knit, sew and have a black cat who loves to hang out under the sewing table).
The design is 114 by 133 stitches, or 8 by 9.5 inches (20.3 by 24.1 cm) on 14-count fabric. I am thinking hard about making this one for my crafty space!
Some of the patterns have kitted options like this pretty butterfly sampler. (I’m not seeing one for the sewing room pattern.)
They also have a couple of granny square crochet afghan patterns if you like doing other crafts, too.
Check out all the designs they have to offer at Little Dove Samplers on Etsy.
If you have a shop, or have a shop you love that you’d like to see featured here, let me know about it by clicking on the “suggest a DIY” link at the top of the page.
[Photo: Little Dove Samplers]
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