When I bought my sewing machine, I put together a list of all the features I wanted it to have.

Having been sewing for ages and knowing exactly the sort of things I wanted to sew in future, I found it quite an easy task. Long-ish arm, for quilting – check. “needle down” capability – check; etc etc.

One thing I didn’t have on my list was fancy embroidery stitches.

But as it turned out, they were there on my new machine, nonetheless.

“Pah!” I thought. “What’s the point of those?”

“I’ll NEVER use them” I thought.

But I was wrong.

And now, I find I rather like them, despite still having a nonsensical feeling that I disapprove of machine embroidery a little.

It feels to me a bit like cheating, which is daft, I know.

I used a couple of the stitches when I made my entry for the Umbrella Prints competition (which, by the way, I didn’t win).

You can spot one on the finger puppet mouse – that little row of asterisk-like flowers along the bottom:

And I’ve been at it with the embroidery stitches again this weekend, on a couple of elements of the thank you prize I’ve been making.

It’s for the sender of my favourite suggestion of what to make for my stall this week.

I found it really hard to choose a winner!

But, eventually, I decided that I liked the suggestion of making up some little gift/scrap bags the best. And that’s what I’m going to do, as I have clear cellophane bags and a veritable mountain of scraps.

Although I am also, at some future point in time, going to make / do some of the other things that were suggested too, excellent as they were.

Congratulations to Kate Chiconi, who as the first person to suggest scrap bags will be receiving the following package of goodies…

A handmade scrappy flower garland – to hang up, or wrap around a lampshade, or even stitch onto a cushion, or pillowcase, or curtain hem.

A machine-embroidered flower circle, which could either be made into a brooch with the addition of a pin, or stitched onto something (bag? purse? pocket?)

Plus a fabric button brooch and a tiny ric-rac flower. And a vintage embroidered hankie in it’s original box.

I am also going to send a little something – not sure what yet – to Welsh Mountain Sue.

Sue is specially commended for her bunting suggestion – I LOVE the idea of a garland of cats chasing mice, but I won’t have time to work out how to make it for this stall. Message me with your addresses via my contact page Kate and Sue!

Thank you to everyone who commented, I wish I could send you all something.

But then I’d never get round to making anything for my stall, would I?! ♥