Getting started

Broderie Perse has a long history and is seen in quilts and bed covers dating back to the 1700s. The literal translation means ‘Persian embroidery’ and, while historic examples are often seen embellis

■ Background Fabric A PE408 – 4yds ■ Fabric B FE511 – ½yd ■ Fabric C BLC11105 – ½yd ■ Fabric D BLC21108 – ⅜yd ■ Fabric E BLC31105 – ⅞yd ■ Fabric F BLC31108 – ½yd ■ Fabric G PE443 – ⅜yd ■ Fabric H BLC3

■ Background fabric – Moda Chambray linen in grey – 2yds ■ Blue stripe ticking fabric (borders A and B and binding) – 1yd ■ Beige/blue print for borders D and E – 2¼yds ■ Light mixed prints – Nine (9)

Sleeves are fun to experiment with and quick to sew up as a toile, as they have fewer pattern pieces and no darts to consider. It can be very difficult to gauge volume on a flat sleeve pattern, so I a

After illness forced Louise Watson to give up her job as a teacher, she turned to embroidery. Now, she embraces the slow art of sewing as part of a more meditative way of life

YOU WILL NEED ■ Main fabric, see instructions for size ■ Elastic, 0.5cm wide and long enough to fit around your cover ■ Ironing board padding (optional), see instructions for sizing ■ Matching sewing