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‘Home Sweet Home Sewing’ Book Tour

November 3, 2020 By Lauren at Molly and Mama 4 Comments

Welcome to the book tour for Helen Philipps’ new book ‘Home Sweet Home Sewing’*. Helen has produced a beautiful array of crafty books throughout her career, but this is the first with Tuva Publishing (who also published my own book*).

I was so honoured when Helen invited me to join the book tour and also grateful to the publishers for sending me an advance copy.

*If you make a book purchase using this affiliate link, I will earn a small commission that doesn’t change your purchase price, but helps me to continue to bring you free content. Thanks for your support!

How pretty is the book cover? As it states in the title, Home Sweet Home Sewing contains a selection of 17 different inspiring projects including quilts and pillows, but also lots of quick and easy, small projects too. I especially love the Honey Hives Quilt (p38) and the Needle Book and Scissor Keep on page 28.

All levels of sewists will find that the patterns are straightforward and easy to follow, with excellent illustrations for each step in the construction process. I love books like this!

Having a bit of an addiction for English Paper Piecing, I really loved the simplicity of the Hexagon Flower Coasters on page 34 so I created my own pretty set (above). Tying them with a delicate ribbon was a lovely finishing touch.

To get started, I decided to use some pre-basted hexagons I had previously made with a beautiful and varied array of Liberty lawn prints. Helen gives a basic overview of the glue basting process for English paper piecing in her book and I also have a more detailed English Paper Piecing Tutorial if you’re interested in learning more. How sweet are these hexies below?

Once all the paper shapes were basted in fabric, it was time to arrange them into flower shapes and hand stitch them together. I used Aurifil 80 weight thread for this process. It’s a very fine but strong cotton thread and the neutral colour helps the stitches really blend in.

In the instructions, Helen suggests using fusible wadding stitched to the back of the hexagon flowers but as the Liberty lawn is such a fine fabric, I decided to pin the flowers to wool felt and use that as a backing instead. Each coaster has a different shade of felt under it. You can just see the pale blue peeking out here.

This pretty pink coaster is backed with cream felt. I love the mix of prints!

Pale pink felt sits behind this vibrant hexie flower.

And pale green worked perfectly with the green tones here.

En masse, the colours are bold and fun! They’ll bring a cheery finish to any table setting! They’re pictured here with the first Summer rose from my favourite variety in my garden. So pretty!

To see more about the book, please visit the ‘Home Sweet Home Sewing’* listing on Amazon or search for it at your favourite book retailer. To see Helen’s other projects, I’d recommend following her on Instagram. Her photography styling is so beautiful and inspiring.

Please also visit the other makers sharing their projects from the book. Here’s the Instagram schedule;

Thanks for joining me for the tour. If it’s your first time visiting Molly and Mama, I’d love for you to hang around some more and see what’s on offer. Besides a beautifully stocked Pattern Shop, I also share lots of Free Tutorials. I hope you find something that inspires you!

Enjoy, Lauren x

Molly and Mama Sewing Patterns

Filed Under: Pattern and Book Reviews Tagged With: Hexagon coasters, hexagons, Home Sweet Home Sewing, home sweet home sewing book

Comments

  1. Diane Osbourne says

    November 3, 2020 at 9:12 pm

    Ooh.. I love how you’ve made the hexi coasters Lauren. This may be yet another book on my list!! 😊

    Reply
    • Lauren at Molly and Mama says

      November 5, 2020 at 12:26 pm

      Thank you Diane. They were a fun and easy project to put together!

      Reply
  2. Alexine says

    November 20, 2020 at 11:08 am

    Hello! Your hexies are really neat, and the felt bottoms are a smart touch. Nice color coordination. At first I lingered over the small floral patterns, which always draw me in, but then my eyes landed on the blue and white coaster, and I like it so much. I am pleased to make an acquaintance with your creative blog. Alexine

    Reply
    • Lauren at Molly and Mama says

      November 23, 2020 at 10:16 am

      Thank you for your lovely feedback Alexine. It’s great to have you here!

      Reply

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mollyandmama

Studio For Pretty Stitches
🐝🌸 You’ve seen my pretty floral Serious Se 🐝🌸 You’ve seen my pretty floral Serious Sewist’s Set, but here’s a sweet Liberty Wiltshire version. I love @libertyfabrics tana lawn, especially when it’s paired with linen.

Find out more about this new pattern in the listing details. Tap the photo or head to the shop link in my profile. 

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I’m loving @mabletandesigns new collection ‘B I’m loving @mabletandesigns  new collection ‘Birds & Blooms’ for @pbsfabrics. And hand quilting with @aurifilthread embroidery floss is a dream! Can you guess which of my patterns this will become? 

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🐝🤍 It’s here! Thank you so much to those w 🐝🤍 It’s here! Thank you so much to those who have already purchased the Serious Sewist’s pin cushion and scissor charm pattern set. Tap the photo for a direct link, or head to my profile. 

#mollyandmama #serioussewistsset #felt #woolfelt  #feltapplique #appliquebee #feltbee #scissorkeeper #scissorcharm #hexies #hexagons #englishpaperpiecing #epp #handstitched #slowsewing #missrosesisterviolet #rileyblakedesigns #iloverileyblake #rileyblake #roseandvioletsgardenfabrics #aurifil #aurifloss #aurifilfloss #embroideryfloss #aurifilartisan #fatquarterbundle #roseandvioletsgardenfabric
🦜🌼 On the cutting table this week is this su 🦜🌼 On the cutting table this week is this summery fun Australiana collection called Birds & Blooms from @mabletandesigns for @pbsfabrics. It’s described as combining classical botanical illustration styles with a modern, trend-worthy colour palette. And it’s so true! Check with @pbsfabrics for stockists near you. 

I love all of Mable’s designs, this one especially! What should I make? 

#mollyandmama #mabletandesigns #birdsandbloomsfabric #pbsfabrics #australianflorafabric #australianafabric #cockatoo #parakeet #parrot #gumblossom #fatquarterbundle #fabriccollection #fabricpull #aurifulthread #aurifloss #aurifilartisan #embroideryfloss #aurifilfloss
How sweet does Miss Maisie Pin Cushion look sittin How sweet does Miss Maisie Pin Cushion look sitting here on this cute ‘I Spy’ style doll’s quilt?  It’s based on the Rising Sun mini quilt pattern from @blossomheartquilts’ book ‘Mini Masterpieces’. You can see more photos and find links to the book on my latest blog post (there’s a link in my profile). 

Miss Maisie is part of the Miss Molly And Friends Pin Cushion Pattern in my store. Tap the photo for a link. She’s quick to stitch, lots of fun to make and comes with two other friends; Miss Molly and Miss Kitty. 

#mollyandmama #missmollypincushion #missmollyandfriends #missmaisiepincushion #felt #woolfelt #feltpincushion #applique #appliqué #appliquequilt #ispyquilt #minimasterpiecesbook #blossomheartquilts #aurifilartisan #aurifilthread #aurifilfloss #aurifloss #blanketstitch #rawedgeapplique #quiltersofinstagram #makersgonnamake
🪡✂️💗 Thank you so much for your wonderfu 🪡✂️💗 Thank you so much for your wonderfully positive response to my Serious Sewist’s Set. The pattern is now live! Visit the link in my profile to head to the store 🐝💕.

#mollyandmama #serioussewistsset #serioussewistspincushion  #felt #woolfelt  #feltapplique #appliquebee #feltbee #scissorkeeper #scissorcharm #hexies hexagons #englishpaperpiecing #epp #handstitched #slowsewing #missrosesisterviolet #rileyblakedesigns #iloverileyblake #rileyblake #roseandvioletsgardenfabrics #aurifil #aurifloss #aurifilfloss #embroideryfloss #aurifilartisan #fatquarterbundle #roseandvioletsgardenfabric
💗 Have you started the year with some English p 💗 Have you started the year with some English paper piecing? The weekly #sipteaandepp party is continuing with the lovely Larisa from @stitchingnotes and this year I’m making way for the very talented Irina from @nordiccrafter to become the new co-host. Please go and visit the profiles of these clever creatives to learn all about what 2021 holds for #sipteaandepp. The girls have some exciting plans in place and I know you’re going to love it!

This week’s theme is all about Introductions, where you’re encouraged to share a few random facts about yourself. So here’s a little about me. 

🤍 Before starting this wonderful journey into sewing, I was a primary school teacher

🤍My first degree was a bachelor of Behavioural Science / Psychology

🤍 I’ve been crafty for as long as I remember but I also love art, illustration, gardening and baking

🤍 I’m not a traditional tea drinker (which was a little strange as the co-host of #sipteaandepp 😂 

🤍 I’m inspired mostly by colour and nature. I’m drawn to anything muted, delicate, pastel, pretty, dainty and floral. Yet nothing in my home or wardrobe would give you that impression! 

With so many new followers joining me in the new year, I’d love to know more about you. And if you have any questions for me, feel free to ask! Lauren 💗
🌸💚 I’ve had lots of requests for informati 🌸💚 I’ve had lots of requests for information about pattern releases and more. The best way to stay in the loop is to sign up for the fortnightly newsletter. That way you’ll also get the new release discount code. And you’ll even get this embroidery design as a FREE PATTERN! 

It’s just a friendly space where I share previews of my current projects, a tutorial or pattern, and some of your makes for added inspiration. I’d be thrilled to have you join me. I’m also working on the next free pattern, which gives you a taste for what my projects are all about - beginner techniques with beautiful finishes, so everyone can experience sewing success! 

Head to my profile for the sign up link. There’s a new felt freebie coming soon 💗

#mollyandmama #embroidery #freeembroiderypattern #freeembroiderydesign #handembroidery #handstitched #freepattern #freeproject #floralwreath #floralwreathembroidery #flowerwreath #flowerwreathembroidery #aurifil #aurifilthread #aurifilartisan #aurifilfloss #embroideryfloss #spoolofthread #embroiderersofinstagram #embroideryhoop #embroideryhoopart #stitchersofinstagram #makersgonnamake #makersgonnashare #craftersgonnacraft #happystitching #slowstitching
Honey bees are so amazing! I really wish I wasn’ Honey bees are so amazing! I really wish I wasn’t allergic. So while we gave my father in law a hive, we keep native Australian stingless bee hives instead. And they are the friendliest little creatures. I love finding sewing inspiration from our garden 🐝💐

This scissor fob is part of the Serious Sewist’s Pin Cushion Set. Find it in the store or tap the photo for a direct link 🥰

#mollyandmama #felt #woolfelt #feltapplique #appliquebee #feltbee #scissorkeeper #scissorfob #scissorcharm #hexies hexagons #englishpaperpiecing #epp #handstitched #slowsewing #missrosesisterviolet #rileyblakedesigns #iloverileyblake #rileyblake #roseandvioletsgardenfabrics #aurifil #aurifloss #aurifilfloss #embroideryfloss #aurifilartisan #fatquarterbundle #serioussewistsset #roseandvioletsgardenfabric
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