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Knitting A Cheery Christmas Stocking

12/14/2022

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Follow along as I show the steps to knit the Cheery Christmas Stockings. If you have a couple days available this season, you will be able to get one of these done and it will be ready for Santa on Christmas Eve. Maybe he will drop off more yarn 🥰

In the tutorial, I was knitting on the 3 stripe stocking. 
This stocking used 4 colors of yarn total. Three colors for the stripes and one contrast color for the cuff, heel and toe. Have fun choosing your colors! I am currently making a blue variation of the 3 stripe stocking. I will post on the stocking page in a couple days. 

3 different needles were used. US7 and US8 (or 9 if you knit tight) and US7 DPN's for finishing the toe.
Gauge is not very important for this project. Finished stocking is 17 inches from cuff to heel. 11 inches from heel to toe. 


It was a cold snowy December day. Perfect for knitting. Three feet fell this weekend! I finished this stocking while snowed in. After storm started to let up, I had to get bundled up and spend hours clearing a path to get out. Good exercise after sitting for hours!
Below are the photo's and a video of heel turn stitches. I hope you enjoy making this stocking as much as I did!

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​Casting on 60 stitches with green yarn for cuff. This yarn color will also be used for the heel and toe. Setting off the pretty Christmas red and pink candy stripes.
​Use the smaller US7 needle for the cuff. 

After casting on 60 stitches, place a marker to mark beginning of rounds. Make sure your stitches are not twisted on the needle! I check before I insert the right needle into the first stitch and again after I insert the needle into the first stitch. Then, I pull the new stitch for the first round. 

The cuff pattern is Knit 2, Purl 2 ribbing for 5 inches.


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​After finishing the 5 inches of cuff, the striping begins using the larger needle.

In this photo, I have finished the striping for 11 inches. I am ready to start the heel. This is the tricky part of the stocking so I will spend more time on it.

You can see I have two needles in use. The larger needle is holding the striping stitches. I used the smaller needle to start the heel. I am beginning my heel flap. I have added the green yarn for the first 26 stitches. I left the remaining 34 striping stitches on the larger needles AND kept the yarn alive. This means I have not cut any yarn colors. I stuck the three balls of red, pink, and light pink inside the stocking to keep out of my way during the heel portion.
You may see a lump. The red yarn dropped out while adjusting for photo. 


Heel Turn.
​I have added a little video for you to follow. In this video I am on Row 5 (a knit row) and then turn to start row 6 (a purl row) I jumped into the middle so you could see the triangle gusset starting to form. Please pardon my working hands! I have been stacking lots of wood and finishing some pottery gifts (shh..)
Sometimes reading a knitting pattern doesn't make sense. Just jump in there and trust the pattern by doing it. Then it will all come together. I love the shaping process. I find myself knitting faster. Anxious to see the results. 

And there on the right photo, results! Heel turn. Sounds a lot like a dance class move! 👯‍♀️

​Next, picking the stitches and joining it all together.


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The next photo's show the picked up stitches. This is always a bit confusing. Turning the work, figuring out where to start. There are 4 needle points, different colors of yarn. Ack! It can be a bit confusing. I hope these photo's help you find where to start, what stitches to work back in and complete a round circle once again.
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Using the needle holding the pink yarn, use red yarn for next stripe, pick up 10 stitches along heel flap. I like to mark with a clip the mid point so I can evenly divide the 10 stitches. 

After 10 stitches picked up, you are at the heel stitches on the smaller needle. Knit across those. Now you have 34 pink stitches, 10 picked up stitches, and 16 heel stitches. Ready to pick up last 10 stitches on the other side of the heel flap.







All stitches picked up.

Two markers placed. You cannot see the second marker in this photo. Markers are placed on either side of the heel to mark where decreases will occur. 


As you proceed with your decreases, keep the striping pattern going. I love the flow of stripes radiating off the heel. It is my favorite part of the stocking.

Continue with these beautiful stripes including decreases until you have 56 stitches left on the needle. You can drop the second marker now. But knit all the way back to the first marker. This is still the beginning of your rounds.

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When the foot part of your stocking reaches 8 inches, It is time to change to the Double
Pointed Needles (DPN's) and yarn color for the toe. 

Cut your striping yarn colors. I cut and leave long lengths so while weaving ends in I can pull up and snug any little gaps that may have occurred while picking up stitches.


Here on the right is my toe started with DPN's. And a shot of the snow building up outside. 
So happy to be warm, safe and pleased with this project. 

I hope you have enjoyed this little tutorial and you knit with confidence and joy.

May your stockings be filled with love this Christmas. 💗
Happy Knitting,
​
Barri Sue Gaudet

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Finished!

Sweet Yen Yen loves stockings too!
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Everything Nice Christmas Ornaments Sewing Tips For Makers.

7/7/2022

1 Comment

 
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I have assembled some tips and hints for making Everything Nice Christmas Ornaments. I enjoyed making these very much. They are easy to make but, I have discovered a few hints for making them even easier.
I have hints for Sweet Stitched Easter Eggs in an older blog. Easter Egg hints cover freezer paper template making and appliqué. This tutorial covers in more detail sewing and finishing the ornaments. Follow along. I hope these ideas help you become a confident maker. Barri Sue Gaudet

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In the photo of the finished Santa and Reindeer Ornament, you can see my stitches closing up the end of the rolled part
of the ornament top. I prefer stitching the rolled end to glueing. 

These ornaments are fun, and versatile. I hope you enjoy making these and creating many different variations. Look for more for designs coming in this 2022 Christmas season. :)  Enjoy!
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Favorite Things Making the Memories

4/8/2021

2 Comments

 
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   From time to time, we see sewing rooms, sewing organizers and creative ways stitchers, knitters, and sewers store their stash. It is always fun and creative to see the fun ways people use  large sewing rooms, small dining rooms, kitchens, and closets. 
I started out as a young wife with a tall shelf in the corner of my bedroom. My Pfaff was on a folding table. Eventually, I would move the sewing machine to the dining room table. 
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This worked out well for a very long time. I remember the dining room is where my mom did her sewing. We kids would be sent to bed and now I know she would stay up late sewing. In the morning there would be a dress hanging from our dining room overhead light. I remember a particular dress very well. It was blue velveteen with chiffon sleeves. And it was for me. I had picked it out of the Simplicity or Butterick book and it was my dress for the first day of school. By far the prettiest dress I ever had until my Prom days. By 15 years old, I was making my own dresses.

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When I left home at 19, my mom bought me my own Pfaff.
It is still in my use. I will never give this machine up.
Still good for repairs to Carrhart jeans and snow clothes for
my boys and their friends. Still sews through just about anything.
There are sweet stars carved into it by my son Eric when he
discovered pins made great lines into the enamel.
I like to think the stars were for me but, I think he just
discovered how to make five-pointed stars around the same
time as playing with my pins.
He used to stand by my machine and ask me to tell stories for hours.
​A very sweet memory.

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Where I keep my floss is a special story. I was going to try to sell my little patterns at a retail sewing show (around 1996?) in Phoenix, AZ. I was single and trying to support myself and my boys. I was going to meet my friend Kathy Campbell of Heart to Hand there with her husband. She asked for my cell number. I didn't have a cell phone I told her. (I couldn't afford one.) She and her husband Bill, insisted I drive and follow them the whole way. That I would never be alone. I received so much help from them during this trip. I will never forget it.
The show was fun and successful. We left Phoenix and to an Antique Mall Kathy liked to visit. She has the best flair for design in everything! I found a little slide case. I loved it and wanted it for what? Kathy said, embroidery floss bobbins! This is exactly what it became. 

​This little slide projector case makes me feels creative and loved. It has been with me for 25 years. Now, it is opened, sticker decorated, teaching colors and carefully petted by my "Darling" Harlin granddaughter. And I finally received a cell phone. An amazing gift from a caring friend. 
As if the things we make aren't memories enough, sometimes the items we use to make these memories keep our hearts full.

2 Comments

No More Tracing?

7/21/2020

1 Comment

 
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7/21/2020

  •   Hello To All Embroiders!
         I added a new product to the "Favorite Notions" category.
    Stick N' Stitch by Sulky.
    Some of you find tracing designs to fabric difficult.
    This transfer paper will eliminates tracing!
    I am using Here Comes the Sun Embroidered Dishtowel pattern as an example. This towel is available as a kit in the "Embroidered Dishtowels" Category of the site.

    Use an inkjet printer copy your embroidery design to the sticky transfer paper. Cut away any excess Stick n' Stitch.
    Have projects you are waiting to start? Add these to your printer area. Try to use up the whole surface of one 8.5 x 11 sheet. You can cut away and stick the designs in order on your fabric.




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     Cut away any excess Stick n' Stitch.
  • ​Peel backing away and stick in place ​sticky side down to your fabric.  
    Now you are ready to embroider. Things to consider if you choose Stick n' Stitch:
  • There is an extra layer to embroider through. I needed to use my leather thimbles to help push the needle through. But, I did not need a layer of stabilizer sometimes added when I am stitching quilt squares. Stick n' Stitch added that layer of stabilizing I like to have.
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​Embroider through fabric and paper.  
I found it helpful to anchor the ends of Stick n' Stitch so no accidental lifting occurred. I did this by doing my embroidery stitches on both ends of the design.  And see where the little flowers are there by themselves? I stitched those up at the beginning so I did not accidentally lose them when I packed up my stitching to take along with me.
After stitching is done, you will rinse away all
the sticky paper residue. I soaked mine for a while to get the process going. Then ran under water several times until I couldn't feel the residue any longer.

There are more hints and instruction included with your sheets of Stick n' Stitch.


This product works great with the embroidered dishtowels. Make sure to wash the towels before any tracing or sticking!
The dishtowels just get softer with every rinse!  

I hope you enjoyed learning about this new way to transfer embroidery designs. 

Have a wonderful summer!
Stay Safe and Stay Stitching,
​
​Barri Sue Gaudet
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Revised Facemask Pattern

3/28/2020

1 Comment

 
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1 Comment

Sweet Spring Sewing

3/4/2018

2 Comments

 
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Happy Spring!

Time for sweet colors and sweet stitches.
In my corner of the world we just received our biggest snow storm of the season. I have four feet of beautiful new snow in my yard. We welcome the precipitation any time it comes in California!

Springtime is my favorite. The colors, the flowers and all the cute little baby animals associated with it! I put all my loves into these sweet little stitched eggs. 
​
Thank you for the many comments and emails from all of you. Often, they are questions on how to do techniques. So, I have decided to add some how-to's to my blog. Today, it will be Sweet Stitched Easter Eggs! These sweet eggs are fun and easy!
Follow along below, and I hope you learn something new! 
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​Step One.
Collect your supplies.

I have a kit available on this site that contains all the wool felts and floss. There are still some extra's you need: Embroidery needles, freezer paper, glue, pen (with removable ink is preferred, I like a Frixion pen for wool felts), pencil, stuffing, and wonder clips are a big help!

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​Step Two.
 Trace all the motifs onto freezer paper. Trace on the dull side of freezer paper with a pencil. Each freezer paper template can be reused up to five or six times so trace extra egg shapes, leaves, and flowers. One each of the motifs (lamb, chick...) will be enough all the eggs. 


Step Three. Press the freezer paper templates. Rough cut the freezer paper templates out and place onto corresponding wool felt colors with the shiny side down. Press with a hot, dry iron. Cut out on the traced line. Peel freezer paper off the cut out wool felt piece. Reuse the freezer paper template to cut out more egg shapes, flowers and leaves. 
One wonderful advantage of wool felt and felted wool appliqué is the you can use either side of the wool! This means, I only need to trace one chick wing and I can cut two wings and flip either one to face which ever direction I need!
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Step Four. Glue.
You need four egg petal shapes for each egg. So there are four sides. I put a flower cluster on opposite sides of the egg and a motif on opposite sides. You can change this up of course! This arrangement will be in the example used. In this how-to, I will be making a chick egg.
One great hint I can share here is shown in the example.
I always include the finished design in my pattern pages. This way, you can use this pattern page to build your chick or lamb. Put your pattern page right onto your ironing board. Then I put the body of the chick on the pattern page, then I add a small dot of glue where the head and wing will overlap. Place these shapes onto the body matching the outside edges of the head and wings from the pattern page. Then I hit them with the iron to help dry the glue.

At this point, I scoot them of the pattern page and build another chick in the same manner. After the second chick is done, I can pick up a whole chick turn it over add a couple spots of glue and place it on the egg shape. Let the glue dry before starting step five. 

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​Step Five.
 Whipstitching.
I whipstitch all the motifs in place. I use one strand of floss that matches the wool color I am going to sew in place. I do not do a blanket stitch. You can if you want  but it is not necessary. I let the pretty wool felts or wools be the star and delicate light whipstitch holds them on. 
In each pattern is an example of how to do the whipstitch.
Note: On this pattern I do not whipstitch the flowers or leaves. They are held on with french knots and backstitches. See the next step...

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Step Six. Embroidery.
I use three strand of floss for most of my embroidery work on wool felts. The wool felts or wools tend to absorb the stitches so I use more strands and do not pull too tightly so my stitches stay on top of the wool. 
Most embroidery on the wool felts is simple. So I recommend drawing your embroidery lines by your own hand. No need to trace. If you use a removable pen ( Frixion - heat removable or, blue water removable pens) you can take your bad lines off and re-do!
​The flowers all get a french knot in the center to hold them down The french knot is three strands and I wrap the needle three times to make a significant knot for the center of each flower. The leaves are backstitched veins holding them on. Just tuck a leaf under the flower and back stitch in place with three strands of green floss.
Eyes on my little characters are three stranded french knots in black floss but only two wraps of the needle. The eyes tend to get leaning if there are two many wraps. I like my eyes to be tight little perfect knots. 
When embroidery is done, remove your guide lines.
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​Step Seven.
 Sewing.
Here you get to see my messy backs! I do not worry about it. It is all inside on the step 8!
Now, lay two egg shapes right sides together. Clip or pin to hold in place. A flower cluster shape on top of a chick shape. Starting 1/4 inch from the top, sew along the right side only.  Stop 1/4 inch from the bottom. Repeat for the next two egg shapes.
Open up your joined halves. Place right sides together and clip or pin. Make sure your tops match at the joined seams. I had one seam going to the right and one seam going to the left to minimize bulk.
Sew around leaving an opening for turning and stuffing on one side only at the point shown on the pattern page. ​

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Step Eight. Turn and stuff.
Turn your egg inside out. Being careful not to catch embroidery threads and pulling on them.
I always check before stuffing in case I have pulled on a french knot and it needs a little touch up!
Stuff with small bundles of stuffing at a time. While stuffing, I am kind of shaping the egg  as I go. 
When you have sufficient stuffing, Turn the raw edges into the stuffing and sew closed by hand with a single strand of matching floss.

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​Step Nine.
Finishing

With two strands of floss I made big X's down the side seams. I thought it gave fun little extra stitches.
You can make it more fun with crazy stitches going down the sides!

I hope these sweet stitched eggs make you smile and reading this how- to helps you feel more confident to create and fill your home with sweet spring things!

Happy Stitching,
Barri Sue

2 Comments

Things we love

2/13/2018

5 Comments

 
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Happy Valentine's Day to all you fabric lovers!

I decided months ago to fall involve with fabric again. I thought about how a few years ago it seemed I was having a secret affair with fabric!
I would plan time around her (I can't tell you why fabric is a female, but she is in my heart), I would sneak in alone time with her, and pine away for vacations with her and my girlfriends!

When I started a little pattern design company and then ultimately Sierra Cottons & Wools, I found fabric starting to add a little pressure. She was becoming a responsibility in my life. I still got a pitter-patter in my heart when I saw a new line of fabrics, but I began to worry about sales and need rather than how she made me feel. So easy how we let work take over our lives.

These past few years have been filled with new added responsibilities. Fabric was absolutely not in the foreground of my thoughts. I even considered a new occupation? I was missing my husband. A companion. And I was feeling quite unlovable. Then I remembered how I used to love fabric. I used to have to be called from my sewing room to join my husband for some activity. Ugh! So frustrating. Just one more stitch please. 

I knew I had to fall in love again. All over again. With fabric.
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So, I began dating fabric again. I remembered how she filled my mind with new ideas. Exciting things to be made. Fun with friends in sewing groups and excursions to find new amazing projects. Fabric fills my heart and time again!

Today, I can say, I spend lots of time in my sewing room. Fabric is there to greet me in the morning and there to say, "Goodnight, good work Barri." in the evenings. My heart is filled with joy and appreciation.
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In this season of love, I would like to give love to my favorites! Fabrics I cannot live without, backgrounds!

They are not pretty or exciting until they get a bit of stitchery on them! I have added 1/2 yard cuts to the website to celebrate these faithful friends! They have one thing in common, they are light in color. Other than that, they can be a muslin, an aged muslin, a yummy soft flannel or a tone-on-tone polka dot. Go to the Favorite Necessities page to find these.
Also on Favorite Necessities Page are my favorite notions! Lots of lovely notions to make our sewing lives easier like, embroidery needles in several sizes, thimble pads to keep my fingers safe, and marking pens to trace darling designs to a background.

I wish you and your loved ones a very Happy Valentine's Day!

As I hug my sewing machine a little tighter, I wish you Happy Stitching!

XOXO
​Barri Sue Gaudet
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5 Comments

Happy New Year!

12/27/2017

7 Comments

 
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Welcome 2018!
I am energized and sewing and knitting fiercely!  Lots of new things going up in the shop. Lots of new fabrics to sew with and new yarns to tangle with!

I am starting the new year with a stitchery gift to you. This cute stitchery pillow is a free download on the site. Visit the Newest Things or the Downloadable Patterns pages to find this pattern. You can be making it today!
​I am awfully proud of myself as I so prefer having a needle in my hand rather than a keyboard at my finger tips. But, I persevered last year and am proud to say, there are lots of patterns to download on the site. I am finally liking and understanding the tech work! 

The shop is looking rather furry this winter! Faux fur is everywhere including SCW!  We are full of fur pom-poms for hats and things and lots of new fur Minkee/Snuggle. I cannot pass it by without giving it a pet and am dreaming of new ways to use it!  Keep checking our Facebook page and Instagram page to keep posted on how fur will show up!  Kinda purr-fect for Valentine's Day maybe? 

Sierra Cottons & Wools is looking forward to a new year full of new cozy warm and wonderful things!
I hope your new year finds you loving, laughing, stitching and visiting the mountains!

Happy Stitching,
​Barri Sue


7 Comments

On the Go...

6/28/2017

11 Comments

 
Sierra Cottons & Wools
           2017 Row
Available June 21-Sept. 5
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Summer time is here, people are on the go!
Lots of quilt shops to visit. Lots of Row by Row patterns and kits to collect! The theme for Row by Row this year is especially fitting for Sierra Cottons & Wools since The Eastern Sierra is an "On the Go" destination.
The Sierra Nevada Mountains have purple mountain majesty in abundance. Our beautiful alpine lakes are full to the brim this summer with the record amount of snowfall this year. The waterfalls are spilling into the creeks and creating amazing sites. The wildflowers are springing up along every trail soaking up all this extra water!

​The water that is bringing new life to the Sierra must be pouring into my brain in the past month! I have created a downloadable pattern category and hope to make every pattern downloadable in the near future! I have created a new pattern line called, "Sierra Stitcher". These patterns will be fun woodsy patterns inspired by my surroundings. Please check often to find these patterns on the site!

I am also creating a new line of little pillows for my pattern line, "Bareroots" the Fourth of July Pillows seen in the photo's are offered on Bareroots.com and Sierra Cottons & Wools. Keep checking to find new little pillows to fill up your favorite corner of the house. 


If you are not able to visit the shop in person, I am working on the website daily. I love all the contact I get from those of you who visit the site, Facebook and Instagram posts. It is very encouraging. I am excited about having new things in the shop and on the site.


 We hope you are able to visit California and its many sites. We hope you can make it to our shop, pick up our Row and fall in love with our shop!

Happy Stitching and Happy Travels,
​Barri Sue Gaudet

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11 Comments

New Year, New Hopes, New Wishes, New Stitches

12/31/2016

34 Comments

 
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 A new year marks a new beginning. New hopes, dreams and wishes and for Sierra Cottons & Wools' new stitches!
My New Year hopes are that you are a friend of the shop, enjoy reading this blog, and have fun following the shop here and on our facebook and instagram sites. I hope you share my journey and my walk through navigating businesses, social media sites, creating new designs, and life as an independent woman in the Sierra Nevada.
Also, I hope this blog will encourage you to sew, knit, crochet, applique, embroider, love fibers, love color, and especially love what you make.

My New Year's wishes are that you and I are encouraged to make new things, to try something new, to face new challenges with strength.
I will do my best to bring you exciting new ideas in the sewing and knitting world. I promise to try new adventures in sewing, traveling, friendships, and grandmotherhood. I will face this challenging opportunity of opening up my world to you with excitement.

Here is a little story about me,
I thought about having a shop soon after I moved to the Eastern Sierra. I wanted to meet friends and creative people who loved stitches as much as I did. My dauntless husband pushed me forward until it was a reality. I still remember us driving on 395 tossing out names for the new little business. I couldn't have imagined then how much I would need all of you now that he is gone. My heart is so thankful.  

Now that we are on this journey, lets get our needles and floss ready for New Year Stitches! I have a new block of the month I have been making for my company Bareroots Designs. Twelve new little quilties each with there own little stitchery. Here is a peek at February. You may sign up for these by calling the shop (760) 872-9209 The Block of the month cost is 24.00 and it includes a pattern, fabric for the quilt top and floss for the stitchery. These will be ready to send on February 1st.  There are more Block of the months to add! I will post here and on our social sites.
 
So now in this bright and shiny new year I will face the challenge. I will write, design, create, sew, stitch, knit, package, kit, find and make new things, and bring them here to you. I hope you will comment, share, create, and visit often.  I am ready to see what my heart and hands can do.
Happy New Year and New Beginnings,
Barri Sue Gaudet
Sierra Cottons & Wools/Bareroots Designs

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34 Comments

117 East Line Street      Bishop, CA 93514