As you probably know by now we LOVE Liberty of London fabric prints! So when Purl Patchwork and purlsoho.com started making and selling the Liberty Fat-Quarter bundles I knew I had to do a project that used all 10 of the different prints together in some way.

With the weather finally turning sunny and warm I had picnics on the brain so I decided to make a Liberty Picnic Set of ten napkins and one crisp white picnic cloth, which can be used as a tablecloth or a blanket depending on your favorite picnic style. I embroidered the edges of all the napkins and the cloth with a retro looking pink and blue triangle stitch. I love the idea of everyone having a different but equally beautiful napkin. I also love the idea of taking the delicate looking (but actually quite sturdy), high class Liberty Tana Lawn out of it's usual dressy context and bringing it outside for a lovely picnic lunch, because what good is such beautiful fabric if you don't use and enjoy it!

If you'd like to make your own picnic set please visit my Liberty Picnic Set Project Journal. --Molly

When we got married, my husband and I didn't register for gifts. We were young and naive and just felt kind of weird asking people to give us stuff. So instead of gravy boats and champagne glasses, we got lots of funky and surprising things, like these salt and pepper shakers. They came from my wonderful Aunt Rosemary who collects vintage treasures wherever she goes. We never could have registered for these!

I have to admit that sometimes I do regret the decision to not register, like in the morning when I eat my cereal out of my Ikea bowl with my Ikea spoon at my rickety kitchen table. But, really, I would trade a thousand silver spoons for the thoughtful, personal and often handmade gifts we did receive.

So, in that spirit, I decided to make my cousin Maria and her soon-to-be-husband, Len, a set of cotton washcloths for their June wedding. Blue Sky's new Skinny Cotton is organically grown and, in the case of the tan and cream, undyed. It is soft and sturdy, and will just get better and better as Maria and Len grow old together!

I'm also giving them some heart shaped soaps that I got at a store near Purl called Sabon (You can get them online too - click here.) Weddings are the perfect time for such luxuries!

If you want to eschew the wedding registry too, visit my Wedding Washcloths Project Journal. Thanks! - Whitney 

I have to admit that before Purl Patchwork opened I didn't have a clue about thimbles. They seemed quaint and old fashioned but I didn't really understand their use (... and I thought that you wore them on your thumb!) Now that I hand sew and embroider regularly my thimbles  have become indispensable. I have different kinds for different uses and I thought I'd share with you what they're all for in case anyone out there is similarly clueless.

(The back ground fabric is Avalon from Alexander Henry, a new Purl Patchwork favorite.) 

Traditional Thimbles 

The goat leather thimble is my favorite traditional thimble and thus it's a good place to start. I used to think that thimbles were primarily used as  protection from the sharp end of the needle. But in the case of traditional thimbles that's not true. You wear a traditional thimble (usually on your index or middle finger) to protect your finger from the eye-end of the needle. If you use your index or middle finger to push  the eye-end of a needle enough times your finger will get hurt; that's where a thimble like this comes in handy.

I use my goat leather thimble  primarily for hand quilting. The rocking motion of the hand quilting stitch would be very painful without it because you are constantly pushing the end of the needle with the tip of your finger. (For a more in depth explanation of hand quilting click here.)

You can also wear a thimble for hand piecing to help push the needle through as you do the running stitch.

I prefer the goat leather thimble to a more traditional metal thimble because it's flexible and feels like an extension of my own finger, but a metal thimble works the same way.

Some people prefer the metal thimbles because they don't cover the first finger knuckle. Also their indentations are useful in catching the eye-end of the needle. Our quiltmaking teacher, Cassandra, finds the leather thimbles bulky, while I find the metal ones too rigid.  It's all a mater of personal preference and what feels right to you.

Make sure when you buy a traditional thimble, be it goat leather or metal, that it fits properly. It should be snug enough to not fall off your finger but not too tight that it hurts.

Under Thimble

The Under Thimble is also primarily used for hand quilting. When I was taught to hand quilt I was told to push the needle through the quilt until it just poked my bottom finger.

I do still think this is a good way to initially learn because it helps to regulate your stitch size. However, now that I've learned the basic principle, the Under Thimble makes hand quilting much quicker, because I'm not so afraid of impaling my poor underfinger.

To use it you simply stick it on your index finger with one of the reusable stickers that come with the package. All of a sudden your under finger is invincible!

Thimble Pad

The thimble pad is something that I use for embroidery. It gives me a better grip when I'm  pulling the thread through my fabric and prevents any irritation that might come from always gripping the needle in the same place. It sticks on and can be used many times. I have also heard it can be very useful in applique.

The thimble pad is a really versatile tool, there's no rules to it, it's just there to help. I was embroidering some napkins recently and I kept pricking myself over and over in the same place. I popped a thimble pad on and the problem was solved!

Sashiko Thimble

The Japanese Sashiko technique also has it's own Sashiko thimble, and it's worn in a very unique place on the base of the middle finger, protecting the top of the palm.

After gathering many stitches on the needle you push the needle through using the top part of your palm (protected, of course by your thimble!) For a more in depth explanation of Sashiko click here.

So... in conclusion

If you're hand sewing and your fingers are being in any way irritated, poked, pricked, or prodded, there is a thimble to help you.  

Mother's Day is awfully sneaky, so I'm issuing an alert: Mother's Day is nigh! On May 11th you will encounter your mother's outstretched hand, and you best have something to put in it! What a great opportunity for a handmade gift - you get to avoid Hallmark, make crafts, and give a real gift of appreciation.

The Treasure Locket is a necklace with a small pouch that holds a beautiful little crocheted ring.  It's small in size, but big in details. To make the Treasure Locket takes some patience and nimble handwork, but I think the care that goes into it shows. That, after all, is the point - to show you care!

For instructions on how to make the Treasure Locket please visit my Project Journal. Thanks! - Whitney

Many moths ago, we received a shipment of My Folklore from Lecien and I instantly fell in love with "Orange Wildflowers". Since I didn't know what I wanted to make, I bought three yards so that I could have a choice of projects when I finally made a decision.  It sat on a special shelf in my craft room until last weekend.   My decision was made when Mari told me it was going to be warm and humid in Japan (Joelle and I are going to be there next week as guests of 7 Island's Fabrics for the Japan Hobby show!)  Skirts are perfect for me in hot humid weather but, I'm shorter than average so they are often too long for me. I searched through our skirt patterns here at purlsoho.com and was convinced that Indygo Junction's "It's a Wrap"  was going to be the answer to my style/weather conundrum. 

This skirt was quick, simple and super fast to make.  I laid out the fabric at 4:30 pm and had the skirt on to cook dinner by 6:30, (even after sewing through my finger while working on projects for my upcoming wedding, ouch)!  You will need three yards of fabric, coordinating thread and of course the pattern!  Enjoy!! --Jen