Umbrella Prints Trimmings Competition 2014

You all know how I love the challenge of making fabric remnants work. The Umbrella Prints Trimmings competition is right up my alley -- purchase a packet of randomly-packed trimmings from Umbrella Prints, then make something, anything, to enter the competition.

How is this competition not designed for me? (Ha.)

For this competition I bought a Dark trimmings packet.

Today I got to arranging the pieces immediately after the morning coffee. (Just so eager.)

After a few attempts at other arrangements, the first try proved to be the lucky one, with the best fit. So glad I took a photo of it; trying to arrange it back from memory would have been impossible...

Because I wanted to use every precious bit of print, I went ahead and did a haphazard patchwork. I lack the finesse and precision of someone who sews quilts, so quilters, you may find the images below terrifying.

Just going where the seam flows.

To give it a more handmade touch, I hand-stitched some matching rust-coloured dashes.

Finally, there was a brown border to "frame" it all up.

And because this is a competition, I will be showing you the finished product in due time... But you have seen the exciting bits!