Patterns, patchworks and projects
Image from Eileen's Attic
Eileen of Eileen’s Attic blog made this adorable baby quilt top of elephants holding a flower with their trunks. So cute.
The block is an original design from Milk and Honey Quilts. Get the free block here.
I’ll be completely honest before we even start.
Hand sewing has never been my strong point. In fact, I have almost zero patience for hand quilting. I love the look of it, I admire the tradition of it, but sitting still long enough to stitch an entire quilt by hand has always felt like a test of endurance for me.
That’s exactly why I was curious when I started flipping through Hand Sewing: A Journey to Unplug, Slow Down & Learn Something Old. The title alone suggests something a lot of us probably need more of these days — a chance to slow down and reconnect with the craft itself.
After browsing through the book, it feels less like a strict instructional manual and more like an invitation to rethink how we approach sewing.
One of the first things I noticed while browsing through the book is how calm and thoughtful the layout feels. The photography, the pacing of the instructions, and the tone of the content all lean toward the idea that sewing by hand is meant to be a slower, more intentional experience.
Instead of rushing through projects, the book encourages you to treat stitching as a quiet process.
And honestly, that might be exactly what makes it appealing.
Even for someone like me who usually gravitates toward a sewing machine and quick finishes, the book made me pause and consider the idea that hand sewing might actually be a way to slow my mind down a bit.
The book explores traditional hand-sewing techniques and projects that are designed to help you reconnect with slower sewing methods.
Rather than focusing only on large quilts, it introduces smaller projects and techniques that build confidence with hand stitching.
As I browsed through the pages, the emphasis seemed to be on:
It feels very much like a return to the roots of sewing before everything became fast, digital, and machine-driven.
What stood out most while flipping through the book wasn’t just the projects themselves — it was the mindset behind them.
There’s a clear theme running through the book that sewing doesn’t always have to be about speed or productivity.
Sometimes the act of stitching itself is the point.
For quilters and sewists who enjoy hand work, this philosophy will probably resonate immediately. For those of us who are used to finishing quilts quickly with a machine, it offers a completely different perspective.
And I’ll admit… even though hand quilting still tests my patience, the idea that it could be a way to quiet a busy mind is pretty appealing.
The projects inside the book lean toward simple, timeless designs that highlight the beauty of hand stitching.
Rather than complicated patterns or heavy piecing, many of the designs focus on techniques that allow the stitches themselves to become part of the visual design.
This makes the projects feel approachable, even for someone new to hand sewing.
You get the sense that the goal isn’t perfection — it’s enjoyment of the process.
This book will likely appeal to:
If you already love hand sewing, this book will probably feel like a natural fit. If you’re someone like me who usually relies on a sewing machine, it might just encourage you to try a few hand-stitched projects and see how it feels.
After spending some time flipping through Hand Sewing: A Journey to Unplug, Slow Down & Learn Something Old, I can see why the slow sewing movement has become more popular.
It reminds us that crafting doesn’t always have to be about finishing quickly. Sometimes it’s about enjoying the quiet rhythm of the stitches themselves.
Will I suddenly become a dedicated hand quilter overnight? Probably not.
But the book definitely made me think about giving hand stitching another try — if only as a way to slow my mind down for a little while.
And honestly, that might be the real value of a book like this.
Elephant block. Have stumbled at the first hurdle. Tried to piece I onto H. But I is 2.5 inches and the rectangle H is only 4.5. I can’t make them fit. Clearly I dont understand the principle behind this. Also when it says trim seam, is the left hand corner two material pieces thick or does H get trimmed right back as well?
If someoe could explain this I can get stuck in. I am a good seamstress but a novice quilter – but I thought they would all fit together easy peasy. Help!!!!!!!
this is a way of making triangles without having to cut the triangle. lay I at the lefter corner of H. sew your seam from the corner to corner of I starting with the bottom left of I and sewing to the top right corner of I. then you trim both I and H at a 1/4 inch and press seam. It should only be one layer. then lay another I square over the right end of H. this time sewing corner to corner of I square from the top left corner to the bottm right ocrner. this makes the triangle of the elephant head. /\ then trim this one and press the I back open. I hope this helps.
Loved loved loved this little quilt. Enjoyed piecing it and the entire process. I am new to quilting and this was a nice challenge. I will make it again. Thanks for being so generous to share this cute idea.
So glad you enjoyed making this pattern Cloey! Welcome to quilting. Scarlett