New Alice Caroline Liberty Lawn, a Snowball Star cushion & a Giveaway!

A few weeks back I was reading a sewing magazine and saw a small feature in a news section about new Liberty prints at Alice Caroline.  I read on and was interested to read that Liberty and Alice Caroline had collaborated to produce new versions of familiar fabric designs, fresh colour ways and a new cheater print.  Only a couple of days later, I came home from work to an email from Anna, the marketing manager  at Alice Caroline asking if I'd like to try some of the new exclusive collection, write a post and host a giveaway- you can imagine that I didn't need to think about that for long...

The best way to experience a new fabric is to make something and I knew almost straight away that I wanted to work with the cheater prints and make a snow ball star cushion cover.   You can see the two colour ways of the cheater prints below- perfect for fussy cutting, hexagons, buttons, mirrors, all the little tiny things we like to make from Liberty lawn.  As always, the fabric is beautiful quality, finely woven,  silky soft, 137cm/54" wide and the colours are gorgeous! 

 Anna, shared a few details about how the prints and the new colourways were chosen - I tried not to be too envious with the thought of hours looking through the Liberty archive :

"Alice has spent years of searching rare colourways of Liberty whilst on several visits to Japan.  Her collection has been inspired by colours that just aren’t available further afield.  Designing the collection was great fun - Alice spent hours looking through the Liberty archive books which is an honour and very rare treat.  Whilst hunting in these archives she found her favourite retro ‘Wiltshire’ fabric and took the colour theme for the collection from this, coupled together with a mint colour theme which is really popular in France.  Alice is delighted with the end result: a beautiful exclusive new collection."

My inspiration for the cushion cover came from this mini doll quilt from Martha's Q is for Quilter blog.   Her  snowball blocks are tiny at 2",  I sized up to 4" squares.   The cheater print squares are not quite 4" square, they are slightly shorter in height and I comfortably managed twelve square cuts, the extra prints creeping in at the edge fitted inside the  ¼" seam allowance.  I cut these, plus the mini squares for the snowballs and the cushion cover back pieces out of half a metre of fabric.   It's a very efficient project with minimal wastage.   My finished cushion is  approximately 17 ½" square.  This is the cushion back view, I quilted between the print squares and added a lapped zip:

This is what my 4" squares looked like with the print from neighbouring squares creeping into the seam allowance:

The basic snowball construction principles can be seen in the numbered square below. Each white square (Kona Snow) has triangle corners added using print squares.   I used 1 ¾" squares but you could go between 1"-2" for differently proportioned stars.  Drawing the diagonal lines on the reverse is much easier when you use a board covered with fine sand paper - I use an old notebook with a large square of sand paper stuck on top.   

I planned my layout so it has a scrappy but not chaotic look.  It's easy to sew the blocks together as each snowball is paired with a print square, no seam matching required!  

The quilting is a mix of machine stitched 50wt Aurfil and hand stitched 12wt, both in shade 2021, Natural white. 

Alice Caroline have got a lovely giveaway for you- half a metre of each of the cheater colour ways so a metre of lovely Liberty in all- you do need to pop over by Thursday 6pm GMT to my Instagram  @verykerryberry to enter. 

The cheater prints can be found here and here.  The other exclusive prints from the Alice Caroline Liberty collaboration collection (sixteen in all) can be found here.  Worldwide postage is available.

Disclaimer:  I was sent the fabric used in the cushion cover from Alice Caroline in return for a review style blog post. 

Liberty 'Hello Kitty' Kanerva Blouse

My second outing for the Named Clothing Kanerva blouse pattern.  This time in Liberty lawn, Hello Kitty toile style print, bought a couple of summers ago from Fabrics Galore at Fat Quarterly Retreat.

I tweaked the pattern slightly, a quarter inch reduction centre front and back so an inch all round plus I reduced the slope on the shoulders at the neck side. It still needs a little more tweaking as this version was a little tight across the chest and I had to let out the scant seams.

The lowered the neckline which makes it look a little softer, but there is some extra fabric in the high bust area so I will trace again and make a little alteration to lose some of the excess for the next one.

I made the sleeves around an inch longer, I like the effect.

Close up on the fabric, love the musical theme.

You can read my first post on this pattern here. 

Named Clothing have a new Spring/Summer 15 pattern collection, Ticket, released 3rd March. 

My sewing is little all over the place at the moment.  I've sewn a lot of things for my daughter in the last few months and I've also been making lots of things for friends samples/market/pattern tests/blog hops in the last month which will pop up here in time.  Quilting has taken a back seat, apart from hand sewing 'Bring Me Flowers' and clothing has taken over along with some family stuff but there are too many things in progress which just makes for mess and chaos. I need to prioritise and let go of a few things before I start anything else.  Thankyou as ever to Lula for taking the photographs in a moment of beautiful sunlight. 

Betsy Alder Shirt Dress

This is my second Alder shirt dress and this time I cut into a long length of Liberty that I've been storing for a while- the classic Betsy print in aqua that I found for a bargain price on ebay.  This is a tail end of summer dress, by the end of September it will have to wait for next year to come out and play!

I tweaked the pattern a little.  My previous Alder dress details can be found here.  On this one I retraced the bodice pattern to make it size 4 with size 2 at the waist, same small bust adjustment and raising of bust dart.  This made the collar a little bigger than my last version so I can wear it fully buttoned if I want and made the armholes slightly looser.

I used the Cami dress pattern for the pockets as they were a  little smaller than the Darling Ranges pattern pieces and it works a little better.

I used Oakshott Impressions/Elements scraps for the collar stand facing, pocket, yoke facing and bias hem.

As the weather is not quite up to high summer temperatures, I've been wearing this dress with my Butterick 6031 Slip.  I added pearl snaps just like on the last dress and I am going to add a 'how to' tutorial post after I've written this.  I use Prym pliers and they have been the only way I've been able to successfully and consistently attach snaps. 

You can find the Alder shirt dress pattern here as a PDF and the sew along details here.   I am considering a maxi version for winter- I loathe tights and am not keen on leggings so cold weather means knee socks and maxi skirts and dresses, but for now I am enjoying September sun and bare feet. The clogs are swedish and were a thrift shop score- lucky me!

Liberty Pinks Datura

A quick make for the remains of the hot weather- you know summer comes fast and often briefly in the UK so we have to make the most of it! I bought these two Liberty prints, the pink is Capel and unsure what the ribbons is- from Shaukat at last years Fat Quarterly Retreat.  It was a memorable shopping trip; I was completely overwhelmed by the selection at Shaukat and it is all at competitive prices.

My daughter is really getting to grips with my camera and with the effects of different lighting so I get some lovely pics as a result.   I don't really like standing like this for photos and so doing it with her makes me feel more relaxed. 

 The pattern is Deer and Doe's Datura.  I've made one before here. All the size and modifications details are there too.

Beautiful fabric to work with- goes without saying.  Lined with white cotton lawn on the top bodice.  It is a handy pattern as it uses such a small amount of fabric.

I shall be making the most of any sun today; the rain is a-coming...

Liberty Diamond Ring

A long time in the making but finally finished: Liberty Diamond Ring quilt.

This started when I first saw Alexia Abegg's pattern  a few quilt markets ago.  Lots of people commented on it at the time although I haven't seen many versions of it made.  It does require a lot of background fabric but it is a great showcase for stunning prints like Liberty lawn and it was easy to follow. No pairing of print and colour is repeated in my version- all are different.  When I received an Oakshott Impressions stack I knew it was just the thing for this design. 

Details:

Pattern: Diamond Ring Quilt, Green Bee Patterns, Alexia Abegg

Size; Throw, 72" square

Background: Robert Kaufman Quilter's Linen in Grey

Coloured Fabric: Oakshott Impressions, fat eighth stack (diamonds and scrappy binding)

Prints: Liberty lawn (some from here) and a couple of Lecien Memoire a Paris Lawn prints (similar here and here)

Threads: Pieced with Aurifil 50wt, quilted with Aurifill 28 wt with 50wt on bobbin.   I used the Simply Color small box of colours for the heavier thread.

Batting: Hobbs Heirloom

For the quilting, I stitched the ditch on the diamonds and around the circle.  For the centre, I found a geometric faceted diamond cut drawing and drew that on the centre with a Chakoner- Japanese chalk device.  It worked well, sufficient to see and removed easily.   I used a Hobbs Heirloom batting for the first time.  It is lovely and light to use, the lot is a little thicker than Quilter's Dream Blend and it needs closer quilting (at least 3 ½" apart). I stitched using a range of colours in the centre.  The outer border was quilted in concentric circles and with grey and with lines radiating out from the diamonds.

The binding was scraps of the Oakshott Impressions joined together.  Oakshott makes a lovely binding as its so light and responds beautifully to an iron and holds its shape as you turn the binding.  I machine my binding and use Roxanne basting glue and Clover Wonder Clips to help with this.

The backing is a warm light twill, maybe wool cotton.  It was a car boot sale find and is lovely and soft.  It is a gift for a family member (let's say no more in case they are reading).

The photo shoot involved all the family, you can see us all in this shot!

Love Liberty Local

I am lucky living where I do.  Its a pretty little city, a short drive from the beach and has the bonus of a friend selling Liberty so should I ever run short, I am only minutes away from a carefully curated supply!  

Jo, aka 'A Life in Lists' has been running her Etsy shop for some years now and her choice of prints is sublime, just the right mix of new and traditional.  It can be a fine line with Liberty between edgy digital prints and old lady chic and Jo is definitely on the right side of this.  She is becoming a part time sponsor here, a new occasional position for small businesses, and has 10% discount up for grabs for my blog readers  with the code VERYKERRY10 (expires 15th December) and she ships worldwide.   Having had the pleasure of seeing all the stock in person in Jo's sewing room I shall take you round her virtual shop, starting with charm packs.  The 'Random' pack is a great place to begin, a quality street, bit of everything selection of 36 x 5" squares:

She also has a beautiful low volume pack which contains many of my favourite quieter prints.  This one literally makes me sigh:

She has a similar but more masculine and modern grey/blue charm pack. 

See what I mean about her stock choices!  If you see anything you like in a small cut that you have suddenly decided you must have more of for clothing or quilting or whatever , let Jo know and she just might be able to get hold of it for you.  I see prints in her shop that I don't see in elsewhere!

If a charm pack is not enough for you, there is the bundle option, 8 fat eighth cuts of your choice, (there is also a 4 option and a mega 18 colour wheel option:

I think my favourite classic print is this green Betsy.  I've used it in my Diamond Ring Quilt (post on that coming very soon) and as a trim on clothing.  The colours are beautiful, I am always drawn to those aqua and green tones, and this is the right level of ditsy floral for me. 

Equally stunning in grey, Betsy

 There are prints aimed at children, small scale cute motifs with huge appeal to children and grown up 40 something women too.  This is called 'Cars', you'd never have guessed right?

Hello Kitty, another Liberty favourite for children and adults.  I saw a toddler child in one of my classes with this fabric as her coat lining!

Or this in Hello Kitty in navy (I have some of this secreted away…)

This is a larger scale print from the annual art range- different 'personalties' designing for Liberty, this is Ornithology by Edwyn Collins from Autumn/Winter 2011.

More art prints, 'Philippa' by Grayson Perry- lots of little bicycles and this print is named after Grayson's wife.  I've made a tunic from this print, great for clothing.

A more recent collaboration is with Jamie Oliver and Rachael Pedder-Smith, this print is called 'Truly Scrumptious' also available on a dark navy background. 

This is one of their more unusual prints with huge amounts of detail which in my head works for quilting and clothing and is a long way from the traditional designs. 'Flora Bo D'

And here are some of Jo's prints in action with Oakshott's Impressions and Quilter's linen in grey: my just finished Liberty Diamond Ring quilt.