We are such fans of Minki Kim‘s work! There is a sweetness to her designs that we simply adore and her ideas are all presented with beauty and grace. We were thrilled to be invited to take part in the project tour for her latest book, Zakka Wool Appliqué from C&T Publishing. Minki created a beautifully presented guide to wool appliqué, including a variety of project ideas and a full gallery of stitching motifs.
We hope that reading this post today leaves you feeling inspired to create something of your own. We’ll even be giving away a free e-book to one lucky winner!
“Enjoy carefree embroidery and colorful wool felt appliqué anytime, anywhere! Admirers of Minki Kim’s machine-sewn illustrations will adore her new Zakka motifs in wool, perfect for hand stitching and easy enough for beginners. Sixty-three impossibly cute designs celebrate the best of everyday life, from morning rituals to nature’s beauty. Display your work on six heartfelt projects, including a pretty purse, patchwork coasters, and a boxy sewing case. A robust gallery shows ideas for handmade gifts and even more fun ways to decorate your space.” (from C&T Publishing book description)
In these days of continued quarantine, there is something calming about the practice of hand stitching. It’s often tough to find the time, but my goodness, if you can carve out a moment or two, it’s worth it. Hilary (Aurifil’s Social Media Maven) and I both have small children, so moments of peace are few and far between! We both jumped at the chance to find a motif, pick out some fabrics, and settle in for a bit of self care.
Hilary was immediately drawn to the florals of Dogwood in Bloom. She’s been working on her quarantine garden (complete with caterpillars that will soon be butterflies!) She chose a sweet pink felt for the flowers partnered with a range of coordinating prints to create an adorable little zippy pouch. She even managed to find the absolute perfect hot pink/metal zipper to finish things off! Hilary opted to machine stitch her appliqué, proving the versatility of these patterns. One of our favorite things about Minki’s book is that she provides the framework and inspiration for a wide variety of projects but leaves room for creative expression and individuality!
As for me, if there’s one thing that keeps me on the move these days, it’s my morning coffee. I’m sure that I’m not alone here. Once a little pick me up, that first cup now feels a little like a lifeline! When I spotted Minki’s sweet Mug of Love and On the Go motifs, I knew it was a perfect match. Knowing that I’d only have a short bit of time to pull something together, I chose to turn both into key fobs — one for myself and one for my husband (a fellow coffee lover).
I shrunk the motifs to a height of 2″ for a smaller fob, chose a handful of Farm Charm by Gingiber prints and grabbed my go-to Essex Linen from Robert Kaufman for the background. I used 2 strands of Aurifloss for the accent stitching and 4 strands to make the outline of the On the Go cup.
THANK YOU to Minki and to C&T for giving us the opportunity to play around with such sweet designs in this stunning, incredibly helpful book. Hilary and I are both looking forward to working with more of the motifs!
If you’d like your own copy, check in with your local quilt or book shop OR click HERE to order a print or digital copy from C&T. We’re also hosting a giveaway over on our instagram — one lucky winner will receive a digital version of by Minki Kim.
We would encourage you to visit all of the stops along the way to check out projects, tips, and more!
Host: Minki at @zeriano
July 8: Lauren at @mollyandmama
July 13: Aurifil at @aurifilthread
July 15: Elise at @eliseandemilie
July 20: Svetlana at @sotakhandmade
July 22: Larisa at @stitchingnotes
July 27: Nicole at @lillyellastitchery
July 29: Riley Blake at @rileyblakedesigns
August 3: Sarah at @what_saysie_makes
August 5: American Patchwork & Quilting at @allpeoplequilt
August 10: Ayda at @cafenohuts
ABOUT MINKI
Website — Instagram — Pinterest — Pattern Shop
Minki Kim is a formally trained artist and self-taught sewist. She discovered sewing as a creative outlet when her children were small and she wanted to capture the beauty of ordinary moments, first with hand embroidery and later recreating them with her sewing machine and fabric—literally drawing with thread. Originally from Korea, Minki now calls Southern California home, where she lives with her husband and three young daughters. On any given day you can find her in her sewing room creating projects to share on her blog, in her pattern shop, and on Instagram.
** Images Minki Kim, Aurifil, and C&T Publishing.