Sue Spargo pin cushion and needle rolls

On Sunday night I was cleaning up my sewing table and I stumbled across a cute little pattern.  I'd bought it back in May, at the Great New Zealand Quilt Show in Christchurch. I'd also bought a little bundle of wools that I planned to use on it.  So I decided to start it there and then.  

But my background piece wasn't a wide as in the pattern, so I had to consult another book and turn my pin cushion into a jumbo pin cushion.  Or maybe it's more of a "pillow" like cross stitchers make. 

I had fun making my version of the Canna Blossom pattern.  I even used some of my precious Kaffe Fassett buttons for the flowers.  

While I was hand sewing up the gap on the side, I realised that my new pin cushion matched the Sue Spargo needle roll that I made earlier in the year. 

I used Sue Spargo's Tranquil Garden needle roll pattern but I did my own embellishment on the cover based on a thistle image I saw in a book.  I can't remember if I got the pre-printed labels with the needle roll pattern or by purchasing a complete set of Sue's needles.  But it's very helpful to have all my needles labelled in this way.

The wool felt applique piece is one I made before I taught at Coastal Quilters back in 2022 and it matches too! You can read about it here.   I wouldn't even say these are my favourite colours, but somehow I've made three matching pieces.  

Funnily enough I have made another Sue Spargo sewing roll and it's in a similar colour way.  I don't use this one alot, but it's still in my cupboard.

Holiday Sewing Part 4 - Sue Spargo sewing roll

This is the last last item from my holiday (Christmas) sewing with Mum.  We were very productive, but we did also go out and enjoy the outdoors.

Last year Sue Spargo shared a gorgeous sewing roll pattern in Inspirations magazine.  Here it is on the cover of Issue 94.

Mum and I bought supplies to make our own versions back in May last year.

Mum finished hers long before I started mine, so when she was here for Christmas, I plucked up courage and made a start on mine.

I designed my own cover and I quite like it.  I used similar colours to Sue Spargo, but changed it up.

On the back I used two different ribbons plus ric rac - as per Sue Spargo's instructions.

the inside

Inside there's a pin cushion and a needle book, plus lined zip pockets on either side.

the outside

My own tricky enhancement was to include some of the measuring tape ribbon I've had for ages.  I often need to check measurements when I'm sewing, so now I'll always have a tape measure handy.

There's a place for pens and pencils (and gluesticks!) on the the back cover.

I'm very happy with how this turned out and I'm sure I'll use it a lot.

from Inspirations magazine