Crafting Comforts
Edition 13
Cold Fingers, Warm Stitches
Welcome to February
The month has arrived with its share of blustery days and stormy skies - a reminder that winter isn’t quite ready to loosen its grip just yet. And yet, even in the wet and windy moments, there is a quiet beauty to be found.
A visit to the seafront at the Mumbles last week - my happy place - brought that home for me. The sea was wilder than I’ve ever seen it, the skies grey and foreboding, with rain stinging our faces. And yet, both Andy and I remarked that it simply didn’t bother us at all. It was nature at its most exciting and exhilarating.
It blew away the winter cobwebs and left us both feeling re-energised, ready for the start of what promises to be another busy and creative year here at Family Comforts.
A Time to Pause and Reset
February always feels like a good month to pause and reset. Not to rush, not to reinvent everything, but to look again at how things are made, and why that matters.
At Family Comforts, we’ve always believed in doing things properly. Designs that work. Materials chosen with care. Pieces made to be used, lived with, and relied upon - not just admired for five minutes and forgotten.
This month is about well-made things. Practical ideas. Useful tools. Bags and keepsakes that earn their place in everyday life.
What “Well Made” Means to Me
Some of you may know my backstory already (Our Story | Family Comforts). As a child, I lived with my grandparents. My grandad was a bespoke tailor during and after the war, working from his studio shop at home. He didn’t talk about craft in flowery terms; he simply believed that if something was worth making, it was worth making properly.
Cloth was precious. Time mattered. A suit had to fit, last, and stand up to daily life. There was care in the work, of course, but also grit, determination, and pride in doing a job well.
I think that outlook has stayed with me. Whether I’m designing a bag, making a memory bear, or choosing tools I recommend to others, the question is always the same: Does this work? Will it last? Is it worth the effort?
That’s what “well made” means to me - not perfection, but precision where it matters, considered design, and respect for materials.
What’s Inside This Month....
In this month’s newsletter, I’m sharing ideas and stories designed to inspire calm, confidence, and creativity at your own pace. From a closer look at one of my favourite bag designs and ways to truly make it your own, to reflections on handmade traditions and the beauty of adding personal detail, I hope you’ll find something here to spark your imagination and warm these final winter days.
Pattern of the Month: The Lyon City Bag – Made Your Way
This Lyon City Bag has quickly become one of my favourite designs for exactly that reason. Its clean lines and thoughtful structure make it wonderfully versatile, equally at home as a softly quilted everyday bag or a more structured piece with a tailored feel. But where it really shines is in the freedom it gives you to customise.
Get your February Pattern of the Month here →
Tools of the Month
Sandi’s top pick for tools that she finds everyday in her sewing studio
See Tools of the Month →
Tip of the Month
Blog of the Month
Sandi looks at the history and original meaning behind St Valentines Day.
Read it here →
Coming Soon
Preview our brand-new Handy Guide
Read more →
Our Aurelius Blue bear competition winner is:-
Thank you, as always, for taking the time to read our newsletter and for supporting Family Comforts. Whether you’re making along with us, choosing a pattern, or simply following our work, we really appreciate you being here. We’ll be back next month with more ideas, practical inspiration, and well-made pieces designed for everyday life. Until then, happy making.
With warmest wishes,
Sandi and the Team
Family Comforts
Premium heritage with British warmth and craftsmanship
What do you think?
We’d love to hear your thoughts on the newsletter, and any ideas you’d enjoy seeing in future issues.
If there’s something you’d love to see more of this year-be it patterns, kits, handmade pieces or behind-the-scenes making-I’d love to hear from you.
Email me here →
Pattern of the Month: The Lyon City Bag – Made Your Way
This February brings the Snow Moon, traditionally associated with rest and reflection, a moment to let go of what’s no longer needed and quietly prepare for the changes that come with spring. As we settle into the slower rhythm of the season, it feels like a good time to turn our attention to projects that invite creativity without pressure. The sort of making that allows you to work steadily, enjoy the process, and add personal details that turn a practical piece into something distinctly your own.
Whether you choose to experiment with appliqué, add decorative stitching, play with contrasting fabrics, or adapt the straps and fastenings to suit your style, the Lyon City Bag becomes a reflection of the maker behind it. No two are ever quite the same, and that’s part of the joy.
It’s a design that encourages you to pause, explore new techniques if you wish, or simply enjoy the comfort of familiar ones, all while creating a bag that fits beautifully into everyday life.
Explore for yourself
If you’d like to explore the Lyon City Bag for yourself, the pattern is available now, with clear instructions, full-sized templates and plenty of scope to adapt the design to suit your own style. Whether you’re drawn to quilting, appliqué, or decorative finishes, it’s a pattern designed to grow with you, from first stitch to finished bag.
Bag Of The Month
Tools of the Month: Bags to decoration
When sewing bags, appliqué details, or decorative finishes, a few reliable tools can make all the difference. These are some of the quiet helpers I reach for regularly, tools that simplify tricky stages and help achieve a neat, professional finish.
Magic Seam Wand
The Magic Seam Wand, made of hard wood to help retain the heat of an iron is a simple but incredibly useful pressing tool for seams and areas that can’t be reached easily with an iron. It’s ideal for opening seams, quilting, shaping curves, and pressing small sections of fabric where heat or steam isn’t practical. Particularly useful for bag making, appliqué, and detailed construction, it helps you achieve neat, professional results without disturbing surrounding areas. Especially useful on fabrics such as suede of faux leather where an iron would damage the fabric.
Fabric Glue Sticks
One of those tools that quietly boosts accuracy and confidence. A fabric glue stick is brilliant for holding appliqué pieces, zips, bindings, and trims in place before stitching. It reduces the need for pinning and allows you to sew smoothly and accurately, especially when working on decorative finishes.
If you choose to buy through these links, it helps support Family Comforts at no extra cost to you.
Back to Basics - Tip of the Month
January saw us on Sewing Street with the launch of our brand new Alpine Whisper Bag (look here →)which is a versatile, practical design that works well across a wide range of fabrics. One of my own versions was made using faux suede and faux fur, both of which can feel intimidating and are often avoided because they behave very differently from standard cottons.
We do have a Handy Guide on Sewing with Difficult Materials (Look here →) and once you understand how to handle them, they’re surprisingly straightforward to work with and give a beautifully finished, contemporary look.
While sewing my sample bag, I needed to attach a suede pocket onto the fur outer. Despite my best efforts, the pocket shifted - twice - and I found myself unpicking and starting again. That’s when I could hear my grandad’s voice, gently whispering to remind me:
“Pin. Tack. Sew.”
It’s remarkable how often we skip that middle step. Once I took the time to tack the pocket in place, everything behaved exactly as it should, and the pocket went on perfectly.
Sometimes, the simplest techniques really are the most reliable. Going back to basics can save time, frustration, and a lot of unpicking.
And our bonus blog this month!
The Joy of Finishing: Why Completed Projects Matter
This month’s blog is a gentle reflection on why finishing matters just as much as starting. We explore the quiet satisfaction that comes from completed projects, why so many makes stall near the final stages, and how small, thoughtful steps can help carry them over the line.
It’s not about productivity or pressure, but about confidence, care, and making space - both creatively and practically - for what comes next. A reassuring read that celebrates progress, everyday comforts, and the joy of something well made and truly finished.
Perfect with a cup of tea and a little time to pause.
Sewing Street Update
We’re back on Sewing Street – 17th February
This month Sewing Street is celebrating its 6th Birthday and I shall be celebrating with them on Tuesday 17th February.
I will be demonstrating two beautiful quilts. One is from the fabulous fabric company of Riley Blake, you will absolutely love this, it is a real stunner.
The second show I will also be demonstrating a quilt with material from the William Morris collection. Who doesn’t love a bit of William Morris in the house?
Let me know which one you are drawn to.
Coming Soon
There’s plenty to look forward to over the coming months…
New Quilt Block Subscription
A thoughtfully designed subscription, created to inspire, encourage and gently guide your creativity. It will be something truly special and a little different from anything you may have joined before.
If you’d like to be among the first to hear more, why not subscribe - early birds are always rewarded with something lovely.
Our New Handy Guide (No 8): Appliqué & Decorative Finishes
Adding those final details can often be the most rewarding part of a project and sometimes the most daunting. Appliqué and decorative stitching have a wonderful way of elevating a make, yet many makers tell me they hesitate, unsure where to start or worried about getting it “wrong”.
The Handy Guide to Appliqué & Decorative Finishes was created to remove that uncertainty. It’s a calm, practical guide designed to build confidence, covering approachable techniques, thoughtful design choices, and simple ways to add interest and personality to your sewing, whether on bags, cushions, or other handmade pieces.
It pairs beautifully with projects like the Lyon City Bag, but its ideas can be carried into many makes, encouraging you to experiment gently and enjoy the creative process without pressure.
The Handy Guide to Appliqué & Decorative Finishes will be available this month on the website, offering clear guidance and practical inspiration for adding those thoughtful finishing touches to your handmade projects. Whether you’re just beginning to explore decorative techniques or looking to refine your skills, this guide is designed to support you every step of the way.
N.B. The Handy Guide series are a concise, four-page reference designed to support your sewing practice. They are not project-based tutorials or full instruction manuals, but practical aide-memoirs to keep close at hand.
Winner of the Aurelius Blue Bear competition
On 1st February, we drew the winner of our Aurelius Blue Bear, made especially to mark one year since our very first Family Comforts newsletter — a small milestone we’re rather proud of.
Thank you to everyone who has signed up, read along, and supported us over the past year, whether via your inbox or directly through our website. Creating this newsletter each month has become something we genuinely look forward to, and it’s been lovely to see it grow.
The correct answers were:-
1. Paris
2. Venice
3. Santorini
The lucky winner drawn this time is:- Judy from North Norfolk
Aurelius Featured here looking very happy in their new home
Let’s Sew Together – Book Me for a Workshop, Course or Creative Talk!
Did you know I run friendly, hands-on sewing courses tailored to suit all levels, from beginners finding their way with a needle, to seasoned stitchers looking for fresh inspiration? My workshops are ideal for quilt groups, independent fabric shops, local sewing clubs, and even small groups of friends who love to sew together. I also offer inspiring talks for the WI and other community groups, sharing stories from behind the seams of my design journey (with a few cheeky bears thrown in for good measure!). If you’d like to bring some stitching magic to your group, event or venue, I’d love to chat. Let’s create something special together!
Top Tip:
When booking a sewing workshop, think about the projects your group will enjoy most—whether it’s learning a new technique, making a keepsake, or tackling a skill you’ve always wanted to master. Tailoring the theme to your group makes the day even more inspiring and memorable.
To view upcoming courses or to make an enquiry simple click below.
Our Best Sellers this Month
Spend Over £50 for
FREE P&P
Great news! From now on orders over £50 will qualify for FREE postage. No codes needed - your discount will be automatically applied at checkout.
Happy crafting!
NB Applies to all items sold online.
Consider this.....
before Valentine’s became about cards and chocolates, love was often expressed through making. Hand-stitched handkerchiefs, embroidered samplers, and patchwork gifts were given as tokens of affection - not flashy, but personal, practical, and made to last. Sewing was a quiet way of saying I care, measured in time and attention rather than price, and perhaps that idea of love is still worth holding onto today.
