Sweet gifts.

Lovely pillowcases are such a nice gift. For a baby shower, for a little girl or for your Grandmother, all women seem to love them when they are special and pretty. It is a personal and sweet gift.

Previously I showed soft floral ones with crochet edges. This time I've made ones with flourishes of lace and embroidery. They are so soft and delicate. I made mine from scratch but you can cheat and buy some and add lace, embroidery, monograms etc yourself to personalise them.

Another day I'll show how to do some by adding lace to a ready made pillowcase.

For shadow work (above) you need a fine voile as the stitches need to show through. Voile is inexpensive and beautiful! It tends to come in gorgeous soft colours.

Ribbon embroidery is quick and easy. Country Bumpkin have a lovely magazine and I really taught myself from those. But you can learn on You tube. That's the way to learn anything for free, it's fabulous.

Embroidery is a beautiful summer thing for me. Keeping a little supply of things for gifts is so handy and making something especially to suit someone in their favourite colour is perfect. Even if someone is unwell or in hospital a pillowcase is the sweetest gift.

In the summer sales picking up some soft voiles means a divine pillowcase for a present is going to cost  a tiny amount and probably become something cherished!