Ahh! Summer is upon us! My daughter has mere days left of school before summer break is officially here! That means all three kids home all day, every day, which in turn means time to take lots of day trip adventures! Summer also means lots more opportunity for slow stitching, and a need to have some hand stitching available at all times. We all know that the day I forget my handwork will be the day all three kids somehow fall asleep in the car on the way to some adventure!
My portable hand stitching kit this summer consists primarily of English Paper Piecing (EPP) hexies and some experimental embroidery-quilting projects.
After a lull in my Carolyn Friedlander modern hexies project progress, I’m ready to pick it up again and baste more hexies! While 2 1/2″ squares work just fine for EPP hexagons, I really enjoy the neatness that starting with a hexagon of fabric provides.
This is another time when the Sizzix die cutting machine comes in handy. It doesn’t take long to cut a whole bunch of fabric and cardstock hexagons for slow stitching on the go. I use the BigZ Hexagons with 1 1/2″ sides die to cut fabric and BigZ Hexagons with 1″ sides die to cut cardstock hexies and I’m ready to roll.
A lovely stack of fabric hexagons ready to baste. I need to cut a few more cardstock templates, but this will do for now!
I am also continuing to add embroidery quilting to my Rainbow Hex Star mini, as well planning a couple small embroidery quilting experimental projects. My goal is to find a way to get the back to look as neat as the front. Practice, right?
Slow stitching on the go is not the only slow stitching I’m looking forward to this summer! I’m also officially registered for the Slow Stitching Retreat hosted by Sam at A Gathering of Stitches this August. I can’t wait to slow down and sew with Sam, Chawne Kimber, and Alison Glass. I’m doubly excited since I will also be leading yoga on the retreat! Just imagine… slowing down, breathing deeply, stretching out, learning from amazingly talented and inspirational quilters, and slowly stitching in the sun, rocking on the rocking chairs out on the porch in the calm, cool woods of Maine. You can read about my experience dropping in on a day of this retreat last summer HERE. I am very much looking forward to spending the full four days rejuvenating my soul with some slow stitching in inspired creative company. Are you coming!? I sure hope so!
What are your summer stitching plans?
Night Quilter 
I love my hand stitching projects, and I think hexies are still my favourite EPP shape. The retreat sounds absolutely amazing! Enjoy (and share lots of pictures with the rest of us afterwards!).
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How exciting that you can go to the full 4 days of the slow stitching retreat this year, Kitty. And I think you will add so much by teaching yoga; that sounds very delightful!
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Your summer sound wonderful – wish I could join you for the retreat but alas too far! I have always just cut scraps for my hexagons but I have to say I am rather admiring your stack of neatly cut hexagon fabrics!
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It’s been a while since I’ve done any slow stitching myself. Have a wonderful time at the retreat.
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Enjoy your retreat!
You teach yoga? I tried it for the first time this year. Until May, it seemed a bit easy – a lot of lying on the floor and breathing, which, strangely, I felt I could do quite well on my own – but I am trying a different teacher now and appreciating it more.
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If by some freak of nature I win the lottery, I shall be slow stitching with you at that retreat! Do you have all the Carolyn Friedlander you needed for your project? I scored a chunk of Ledger recently if you need it.
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