Thursday 19 July 2012

An introduction and a giveaway...

I would like to introduce you to another of my fab new sponsors.

Backstitch is another great British online fabric store born out of an enthusiasm for fabric and sewing. Backstitch is run by Alice who brings us a wonderful selection of the best from around the world.


One of the latest collections to hit Alice's virtual shelves is Cloud 9's wonderful Simpatico. I am chomping at the bit to get hold of this. But a little more about this later...


As well as Alice stocking a sought after range of modern designers, she also stocks a fantastic collection of solids in the form of Klona (yes, that's right, Klona not Kona) cottons and also a Linen/Cotton blend range at a very reasonable £10.50/m


Alice has a huge amount of fabulous sewing patterns on offer, ranging from Beginner to Advanced. I've been eyeing up The Schoolhouse Tunic for some time but still not sure if my rudimentary dress-making skills can be classified as "Advanced Beginner"...I'm thinking not. 
And if they could be classified as "Intermediate" and if I had someone to sew them for, I would so be buying and making this.


Keep an eye out at Backstitch, as Alice is always adding to her collection on offer. Very soon we'll be seeing the arrival of Riley Blake Chevrons, Lotta Jansdotter Bella, along with a selection of 24 of Liberty Lifestyle fabrics.

 To the giveaway...

You have probably already realised that the fantastically generous giveaway involves Simpatico. Alice is offering the chance to win a full fat quarter bundle of all 12 designs. I'm palpitating at the thought of that...and deeply saddened that I can't actually enter. Well, it wouldn't be right, would it?



So how can you win?...
I would ask you to guess which design in which colour-way I am most hankering after, but that wouldn't be too challenging would it? So let's stick to making it straight-forward...
1 entry for telling me your favourite design and colour-way and what you would do with the bundle if you won...
another entry for following my blog before or now...
another entry for following Alice's blog before or now...
another entry for signing up to Backstitch's Newsletter before or now...
a final entry for tweeting (you need to come back here and tell me!)
You have until next Weds July 26 2012...good luck!
(I am really sorry that this giveaway is limited to UK and Europe only...but don't worry there'll be something very soon for all you further overseas stalwarts)

150 comments:

Unknown said...

Gimme. I love it all. I like the triangles. A lot. Might make some burlap baskets for the sitting room.

Gilly Tee said...

I love the green and grey colours together. I need a cover for my sewing machine and That would look great. I am one of your regular followers.
Gillx

Linda said...

Like them all. The aqua, mustard and grey colours are good and the HST style fabric is great. Love your Giveaway.
Linda on travjonuk@yahoo.com

Linda said...

Great Giveaway. I particularly like the aqua, mustard and grey colourway and the HST style design. All great stash builders though.
Linda on travjonuk@yahoo.com

Kristys Stitches said...

I love the aquare stripes! think it would make a lush clutch bag!

Helen Lay said...

I love the blue and purple chevons best - I'd use it to make some jenib320 drawstring bags.

Helen Lay said...

I subscribe to your blog

Helen Lay said...

and I also subscribe to Alice's blog

Helen Lay said...

and I get the Backstitch newsletter too! phew

Pinkadot Quilts said...

It is beautiful I need to buy some of this too! It would be useful in a lot of projects!

**nicke... said...

i bet you want them all equally but i am going to guess that you want the aqua and grey colorway the most....

i love the chevron... tons!

**nicke... said...

and i follow you and have for a LONG time! xo

Roberta said...

I love them all but the ultimate for me is On Point in Golden it's the classic yellow and grey combo with triangles I love.

Roberta said...

I follow your blog.

Roberta said...

I also receive the Backstitch newsletter

Roberta said...

Oh and I follow Alice's blog too - whoop

Unknown said...

I've retweeted and started following your blog. Now gimme.

Martina said...

I love the aqua stripes very much!And I think I would sew some lovely pillows for my daughter's room.

Martina said...

And I am a follower of your blog!

Nicky said...

I am a devoted follower

Nicky said...

I am a devoted follower

Nicky said...

Loving the minty on point!

Nicky said...

oops forgot to say what I'd do with it! Thinking some snazzy 241 bags and one of the co-ordinating stripes!

Vonnie said...

I absolutely adore the On Point range and if pushed, I'd say I would pick the 'golden' colourway. The colours really POP!

If I won, I'd probably make myself lots of little accessories - a handbound journal for starters, a new pencilcase for when I go back to uni in September, a case for my phone. I *might* let my girls pick some for a project that they've been asking about.

I follow your blog and Alice's thanks to google reader, I retweeted you and I have signed up to the backstitch newsletter :)

Archie The Wonder Dog said...

I love the aqua/grey colourway but I'm afraid I can't decide on a favourite pattern so I'm choosing two - the aqua stripe and the aqua/grey zigzags!

Archie The Wonder Dog said...

I'm a follower of your blog!

Gill said...

I like the yellow and grey colourway and the stripes!

Gill said...

I follow Alice's blog!

Gill said...

I signed up for Alice's newsletter!

Kay said...

I love aqua colours and particularly the aqua and grey chevrons. I would probably make myself a summery bag if I was lucky enough to win. Thanks for the giveaway.
ks(dot)eyles(at)yahoo(dot)co(dot)uk

Kay said...

I follow Backstitch on facebook.
ks(dot)eyles(at)yahoo(dot)co(dot)uk

JAKandGEEGEE said...

Yes please, I will happily take these of your hands ;) If I had to choose it would have to be the minty chevrons. Think I'd like to make a new quilt to show these bad boys off!

I follow yours and Alice's blog, am signed up to the newsletter and have just tweeted.

Thanks for the great competition x

Cherie said...

I really love the echo fabrics, they have such great colours on prints.
I would make some large pillows if I won this fabric =D

Cherie said...

I also follow your blog too. =D

WandaFish said...

I adore Simpatico - the whole lot! If pushed I guess I'd go for Golden On Point as my absolute fave:)
I definitely see bags and cushions in my future if I'm the lucky winner of this gorgeous bundle! Thanks for the chance.

WandaFish said...

I've been following your lovely blog for a very long time now :)

WandaFish said...

I follow the Backstitch blog too :)

WandaFish said...

Yes, I get the Backstitch newsletter too!
Thanks again for the lovely giveaway.

moira said...

I like the grey/yellow combo. I'm making a quilt for my sister in those colours

moira said...

I subscribe to your blog x

moira said...

...and get the backstich newsletter

Justine said...

I already follow your blog!

Justine said...

I already follow the backstitch blog!

Justine said...

I already get the backstitch newsletter

Justine said...

My favourite colour way is the orange & pink one and if I was lucky enough to win I'd treat myself to some Hope Chest FQs as they play so nicely together and I'd make a quilt!

kbzelazny said...

Love this whole line! Specially the triangles and the chevrons. This would make a fabulous quilt for me! Thanks so much.

Elisabeth said...

I love all of simpatico but especially the stripes in all the colours.
Thank you for a fantastic giveaway!

eli(at)sharksdinner(dot)com

Elisabeth said...

I'm a follower.

Liz DandeliondD said...

I am a Follower here.

Liz DandeliondD said...

And a Follower of the Backstitch blog too.

Emma said...

I like the pink and orange combo - my favourite colour combination :) Especially like the zigzags...

Emma said...

... and I've just become a follower ...

Julie said...

Oooh, I lovelovelove the aqua / grey chevrons, they're exactly my colors right now. I'd have to use it immediately for a pouch or something. But for the rest, I'd pull the pink / yellows aside right away for a baby quilt I'm getting ready to start - the mother and I picked pink / orange / yellow as the color scheme and these would fit right in! Thanks for the giveaway chance! ( julie at button - button dot co dot uk )

Emma said...

... started following Alice's backstitch blog (didn't realise backstitch had a blog!) ...

Emma said...

... and signed up for the newsletter :)

Mack and Mabel said...

Stripes are my favourite, and I follow your blog

Mack and Mabel said...

I follow Alice's blog too!

Mack and Mabel said...

And I subscribe to Backstitch!!

Cally said...

Hi Karen, I love the minty designs but I think my favourite would have to be straws in golden! Versatile and sunny :)

Cally said...

I follow your blog too!

Cally said...

.. and I've just signed up for the backstitch newsletter. Thanks for a great giveaway!

Strawberry Patch said...

I am a follower of the backstitch blog

Strawberry Patch said...

I am signed up for the newsletter

Strawberry Patch said...

I am a follower of you :-)

Strawberry Patch said...

I have to make some stackable storage bowls and Id definitely use the grey/blue chevrons, they are lush!

Lucy | Charm About You said...

I love the orange and pink! The triangles are my favourite! I need some storage and cushions so I would go crazy :)

Michala said...

I tweeted! (@MichalaThake)

Michala said...

I signed up for their newsletter.

Michala said...

I follow your blog.

Michala said...

I follow Alice's blog.

Michala said...

I love this fabric. I'd use it to make a quilt for my friends unborn baby girl!

Anonymous said...

I love the blue colour ways. I would love to do some patchwork with them. Yum!

Rachel said...

I LOVE the triangles in yellow/grey. Yellow is my favourite colour ;)

Rachel said...

I follow the Backstitch blog

Rachel said...

And I signed up for the newsletter too!

Amy Christian said...

Love the grey and yellow triangles - it would make a perfect non sugary sweet quilt for my sister-in-law's new baby.
Have followed the backstitch newsletter x

runciblespoon said...

Oooh - hard to choose, I love them all - maybe the aqua is my favourite. I'd do something patchwork-ish and make it into a shopping bag for me, or perhaps just use the whole lot for a super-twirly skirt for my daughter.

runciblespoon said...

(and I follow Alice's blog)

Gem said...

I adore this bundle. My favourite is the chevrons, in the pink/reddish (peachy) tones. I'd use it to make many, many things including numerous zippy pouches and possibly a smallish lap-sized quilt. Oh, and I'd make a sewing roll too, if there was anything left! Lush.

Gem said...

Oh, and I follow the Backstitch blog on Facebook

Gem said...

Oh, and I already am subscribed to the Backstitch newsletter!

Gem said...

And finally I now follow your blog too! (Fingers crossed!)

Caroline said...

Green and grey for me - I'd use it for a beginner's sewing workshop in my new shop which is just about to open in Totnes, Devon!! Planning lots of fun workshops to introduce peopel to the sublime art of sewing

Nathalie Taylor said...

Done all of the above and I Love the yellow and grey colourway and the stripes and i would use it to make a quilt for my daughter. xx

Mrs Flying Blind... said...

I love the oranges, especially the stripes x

Mrs Flying Blind... said...

I follow Alice, like a puppy x

Mrs Flying Blind... said...

I receive the Backstitch newsletter x

Michael said...

I love the multi colour triangles especially the gold, aqua, and grey ones. Would be a great start to my sister in-laws new baby. Due in Dec. so I probably should start soon.

Chloë said...

Ooh yes please. What a beautiful bundle.. oh how do I pick a favourite? The pink and mustard triangles are pretty special.. I'll use it to make beautiful things for my new flat and if I'm feeling generous, I'll make some presents too. PS- I did all the entries ;) x

Sam @ Polka Dot Dreams said...

wow so pretty! I love the chevron designs! not sure what I would make at the moment but there is no harm in adding to my stash is there?

Sam @ Polka Dot Dreams said...

i also follow your blog

Sam @ Polka Dot Dreams said...

and i follow alice's blog

Brooke Crook said...

I love the chevrons in the minty colorway!! And I love this fabric so much that I would hoard some of it and use some to make bags and maybe part of a quilt?

Brooke Crook said...

I tweeted!!

Unknown said...

Hello, I love it all! But especially the yellow / Gary triangles I think. I've been wanting to make some dining room seat covers for some time and these would be perfect. Thanks!

Unknown said...

Great competition! I have been hankering after these for some time -I especially love the yellow / grey triangles but love them all. I've been meaning to make some dining room chair covers so this bundle would be great for that.

Polly Primrose said...

I love the pink colourway and I'd mix it with the orangey/mustard for the wow factor! I need a new bag - please!!

Polly Primrose said...

I follow Alice's blog.

Polly Primrose said...

I get the newsletter too!

Polly Primrose said...

I'm a follower of your blog now

Georgia said...

I love the aqua/mustard/grey triangles - but they all look great. Great giveaway too.

Wendy said...

I love the aqua and purple colourway, and the aqua stripes are just delicious!

Claire Trevor said...

I love the stripes! I really want to make a patchwork quilt and these would look great.

Claire Trevor said...

I am following your blog via gfc as Claire Trevor.

madebymaike said...

I love the grey, blue and green color combination, the fabric with the triangles. I think that would be my "safe" color combination, since I always lean toward greens and blues. The fabrics with orange could also become my favourites, because they seem very lovely and bright.
I would use these fabrics to create some fresh new pillows on the couch! Some happy colors with the gloomy summer!

Unknown said...

Hi, Love the peachy on point. Thinking of bunting for my neices and daughters x

Unknown said...

Have become a follower! Sharon (Shmum)

Unknown said...

Have follwed Backstitch blog too. Sharon (Shmum)

Unknown said...

I have signed up for backstitch newsletter :) Sharon

Jane said...

Love the duck egg blue and grey combinations and would like to make a patch worked table runner for the dining room that I've been hankering after doing for a long time!

Jane said...

Now following your blog. Thank-you

karen said...

I think mine would have to be the yellow and grey combo - love it! Kxx

karen said...

Wow I subscribe to your blog Kx

karen said...

I do get backstitch newsletter Kx

karen said...

i'm following alices blog. X

karen said...

i'm a backstitch newsletter reader. Kxx

Nati said...

I would love to win this bundle!!! the colours look perfect for my new bed!

JoyceLM said...

I like the aqua & the orange colorways the best - I'd use them together. I like the HSTs design, but I also love the chevrons & the stripes. If I'm lucky enough to win, I'd make a quilt for myself - haven't done that yet. Thanks for the chance.

JoyceLM said...

I'm a new follower. Thanks for the great giveaway.

JoyceLM said...

I signed up for the newsletter. Thanks.

JoyceLM said...

I'm a new follower of Alice's blog. Thanks for the giveaway.

Bossymamma said...

I like the blue and grey chevrons - they'd look great as a table runner.

Margareth said...

I like the aqua triangles. I'd make a huge bag!
lohman(at)debitel(dot)net

Anonymous said...

I like them all! Don't make me choose please! I would have to make the 241 tote, I think the boldness of this collection would work perfectly.

Anonymous said...

Please don't make me choose! I like all of them! The 241 tote would be perfect with this fabric.

claire-hillyard@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

I love the classic combination of yellow and grey - beautiful! If I won this I'd make my first ever quilt, and it would be epic.

lolastitches said...

Gourgeous! Yellow and Grey all the way! If I am feeling very generous I might share the other colours around my sewing group!

Hilary said...

I love love love the yellow/grey colourway ~ which would make a gorgeous shoulder bag to cheer up autumn ... all the colours together would make a beautiful quilt :)

Kathryn said...

Love the mustards and greys, perfect colour combination. Love the blog too!

barbara woods said...

i love that grey and yellow together

Deborah said...

What great patterns- I love all the colours, especially the aqua and grey chevrons! They would make a lovely timeless baby quilt or bag, or purse......

Sarah Emms said...

Eek. Not sure I've added my comment properly! My favourite is the yellow and grey triangles though they're all fab! I'd use them with some of Alice's solids to make my first ever quilt. I've been lusting after some of the beautiful ones that I've seen in blog land recently and these would be a great excuse to get started.

Unknown said...

I love Minty Straws- I would make a wrap dress for my friend Rosie as the colour would really suit her.

Jo said...

I'd make some bunting and maybe a nappy stacker for my friend's nursery - turqoises would be great as they don't know the sex yet :)

Anna said...

I'm really into the turquoise chevrons. If I won these they'd be a great start for my FQ collection, I've only just started quilting so I don't have much fabric for it yet (dressmaking fabric is another matter and a different stash of course!)

annabholt at gmail dot com

Anna said...

I am now following your blog in Google Reader!

annabholt at gmail dot com

Anna said...

I tweeted about the competition (well, retweeted!) my username is finallywakingup

annabholt at gmail dot com

Sarah PingsAndNeedles said...

Totally love them all but aqua triangles hit the spot for me... How great are the stripes though?!
Thanks for the chance to win such a bumper prize!

Sarah PingsAndNeedles said...

I follow your blog with delight

Sarah PingsAndNeedles said...

I follow Alice too

Sarah PingsAndNeedles said...

... And I get backstitch's newsletter

Sarah PingsAndNeedles said...

And I tweeted xx

Linda Simon said...

My fave is the pink and blue but they are all so lovely. What a great give-a-way. I would make some gorgeous cushions and matching bunting.

Linda Simon said...

My fave is the pink and blue colour way but I love all of them. What a great give away. If I won I would make some gorgeous cushion covers and matching bunting.

Linda Simon said...

I'm now following you and Alice and signed up for the newsletter.

EasyStitcher said...

Hello got so excited at reading your blog and that of backstitch that I posted my entry on the wrong blog oops so here goes second time lucky I love the pink chevrons I'd like to make a summer dress for my neice or a draw string bag for nursery I follow on twitter blogs both you and backstitch also her newsletter. Great giveaway !

Anu said...

I love the yellow and gray triangels.
anu(dot)sorvali(at)luukku(dot)com

Anu said...

I love the yellow and gray triangels.
anu(dot)sorvali(at)luukku(dot)com

Anu said...

And I follow your blog.

Anu said...

And I follow Alice's blog, too.