A Time of Joy, A Time of Peace Kit (designed by Fig ‘n’ Berry) product review

Our Poppy Patch Posse member Deborah has completed a super review on ‘A Time of Joy, A Time of Peace’ kit designed by Fig ‘n’ Berry and you can find her at Instagram at #theneedleworkersbarn

This kit comes with pattern, fabric and Cosmo thread to create a beautiful Christmas embroidery with English paper pieced appliqué Christmas trees.

I traced the design using an A3 light box. To do this pin the fabric into the pattern so that it doesn’t move an trace using a pen of your choice. I used a pigma micron pen in brown. These pens are permanent they do not wash or iron off.

The next step is to add a stitchery stabiliser such as a medium weight iron on vilene. This ensures that if you carry threads across the back of your work they do not show through at the front.

I always use an embroidery hoop to keep my work neat and I wind my thread onto bobbins which I label with the make of thread and colour number for future reference. Then it’s time to embroider.

The embroidery in this design consists of back stitch and satin stitch.

The next step is to sew the English Paper pieced Christmas trees. The hexagon shapes are not included in the kit although there is a template in the pattern you can use.

I used templates from my own supply which are iron on templates. These also wash away so you do not need to remove them. Simply iron onto the fabric and cut out around the shale leaving enough fabric to fold over. There are two ways you can secure the fabric around the hexagon template, one is to tack it, the other is to use a glue pen. I used a glue pen for this project, it’s quick and easy .

Simply glue around the edge of the hexagon and fold the fabric over to secure it. The hexagons are stitched together using whip stitch. I prefer to use Aurifil 80wt thread and a milliners needle which allow me to create fine little stitches.

Once the Christmas tree shapes are created I secure them onto my embroidery using Roxanne glue- baste- it . This enables the appliqué to stay in place without using little pins.

Then the shapes are appliquéd into place.

Now the embroidery and appliqué is complete it’s onto the next step. The instructions in the pattern are very open at this point, you can make whatever you wish.

I cut 2.5 inch strips from my fabric and bordered the finished piece.

Then using 505 spray I basted it onto wadding and using a star template I drew and machine quilted a star quilt design around the border.

Once the quilting was finished I used spare fabric from the kit and made this into a cushion. With a simple envelope back. I hemmed one side of two different pieces of fabric and laid them overlapping. Then I placed the finished embroidery on top on top of this and pinned them into place wrong sides together. I cut teaming fabric into 2.5 inch strips and made a folded binding. I then stitched this into place as I would when making a quilt top.