A perfect pre-holiday pouch

Before I went away I had what seemed like an ever growing list of things I wanted to do before I went, which at times got revised down so it was shorter, and then again to include just the essentials. But one of the things that stayed on the list was completing my new pouch, and spoiler I did it - I was thankful that there was a sewing group morning the day before we travelled so if I needed to I could devote those three hours to finishing it. I didn’t need the three hours in the end, but I did finish it the day before I went. Phew.

This pouch was in the Day 14 box of my Advent Calendar last year, and after moving a pile of projects in my craft room I rediscovered it, so I thought why not get it done.

The instructions were good, but I hit a small stumbling point early on. The kit was supposed to have four pieces of fabric, but I had only three - I knew this when I opened it in December, and well let’s be honest, I knew I’d have some fabric that I could substitute for the missing piece.

What I didn’t realise until my focus was on making this pouch was that I’d pulled a piece from my stash that worked, and used that earlier in the year to practice some quilting on with one of the variegated cottons I’d bought.

It was perfect, and just what I wanted - although it was about an inch smaller than the other pieces. Problem solved, my pouch would be an inch smaller. And so I followed the instructions (which were clearly written) and all was well until I got to the line which said: ‘quilt as desired’.

In my head that turned out to be hand quilt this with tiny chain stitches in three different coloured cottons, and follow the wavy design. I shared this picture in my This May post, so you’ll be pleased to know that progress happened, and the pouch actually got made!

And yes, I then did decide to hand embellish the substitute side as well, clearly I’m a glutton for punishment.

But they do look good!

The kit also came with a navy zip, but as you can see I opted for an orange one from my stash instead, I think it helps tie both sides together - and it’s far more interesting than navy!

It’s the first time I’ve added a tag on the side, and that worked well - the fabric is fussy cut from remnants from the lining fabric. I even added a custom sized internal pocket with three individual spaces to hold smaller items, which were just the size I needed them to be.

I’m really pleased with how this new-shape-to-me-pouch worked out, and I can see that I’ll be making some more. I love the finish the zip tabs give the pouch, and the boxy bottom means it stands up too.

So that’s another pouch to my repertoire, and a pretty and practical one at that.

The Cascade Circuit

In this last in the series of posts from Scampston Hall in North Yorkshire join me for a walk around the parkland, and the Cascade Circuit, which is about a mile and takes in the wooded gardens and lakes around the Hall, with plenty of vistas along the way.

The parkland was redesigned by Capability Brown following a request from the 5th Baronet in 1771 replacing an earlier eighteenth century garden. Capability Brown continued to visit over the years to monitor the progress as his plans were brought into fruition.

He designed the landscapes to be both practical and elegant, and the expansive lakes were made to appear as if they were a river running through the landscape. Similarly by using a ha ha and avoiding fences’ the parkland also appears to be indefinite. The house wasn’t open when we visited but it’s said that the views from the windows are spectacular and even today you can clearly see how he created vistas across the landscape, frame carefully by trees and other natural features.

Which is amazing really, as given how long ago the parkland was designed and how much nature tends to grow, as I’m discovering with my own garden after returning from holiday!

The views from the Palladian Bridge were spectacular; the bridge itself stands at the end of three linked lakes in the park it was designed by Capability Brown in the style of the renaissance architect Palladio and makes a great statement as well as acting as a dam for an existing stream.

It looked like it might rain as we set out along the side of the lake towards the Cascade, but thankfully it held off.

We couldn’t resist a peek into the Old Ice House which dates from 1759 and has recently been restored. The building’s walls are multi-layered which kept the ice from the lake insulated, it was then crushed and moved to a deep shaft beneath the Hall for use in the kitchen.

We crossed the bridge, pausing mid way to enjoy the replacement Cascade; the original was destroyed with the dam further upstream burst in the 1950s. And it was quite a view.

At this point we headed through a field of sheep watching carefully where we walked - hence no photos! - and back towards the Hall. After a snack and a cup of tea in the cafe (well worth a stop) we were soon heading back to our hotel and wondering at how we’d managed to book somewhere so close to this fabulous garden completely unknowingly!

But we’re ever so glad we did.

A quilting triangle challenge

The Exe Valley Contemporary Quilt Group displayed their triangle challenge quilts at the 2026 Newark Quilt Show, and the results were thought provoking as perhaps not all of the triangles were quite what you’d think. Many quilting blocks use triangles, notably the half square triangle, which is pretty self descriptive. But the group’s challenge allowed any medium or technique, and the only criterion was that the quilt should include at least one recognisable triangle of any size.

I loved to see how the individual quilters interpreted the challenge, and I hope you do too. The challenges are set by members and quilters from across the region from North Dorset to South Cornwall participated.

Here’s some of the ones I loved from the display:

LET’S GO FLY A KITE BY SALLY HARRADINE

If triangles were the challenge my mind wouldn’t automatically go to kites, but the inspiration for this one came from looking out the window on a blowy day and thinking that it would be fun to fly kites with the grandchildren - and so the triangles are incorporated in amongst the kites, in what I think is a really effective and dreamy looking quilt.

I’ll admit that the next one is my favourite from this display, I love its contemporary-ness, plus it uses scraps and simple stitches, and hand sewing - all of which appeal to me.

TWELVE TRIANGLES BY JANE SYERS

TWELVE TRIANGLES BY JANE SYERS

But look at the detail, and how the triangles are included. So very clever, meets the brief in a quiet and understated but also impactful way. Bravo!

NOT SO TRADITIONAL HALF-SQUARE TRIANGLES BY PENNY KUROWSKI

NOT SO TRADITIONAL HALF-SQUARE TRIANGLES BY PENNY KUROWSKI

I mentioned half square triangles at the top of this post, and this quilt uses them in a not so traditional way, again with scraps but also the plain triangle is organza, which is way harder to sew with so I take my hat off to this quilter and her shimmery creation.

COLOURS OF ANDALUCIA BY MANDY WINTER

I love the colours and patterns in this quilt which is inspired by visits to Spain, and influenced by and created in the style of artist Poul Webb. The triangles form the sky and the grassland, but also the mountains are kind of triangles too right?

So it just goes to show, not all triangles are equal, or even equilateral!