Want to join in? Just click the banner! It’s completely free, and most certainly fun!

The idea for the Stitch Along came to me in the fall of 2012 during a conversation about the 50th Anniversary of Doctor Who.

Woah…definitely something to celebrate! I was working full time and didn’t have two minutes to rub together, but still the idea percolated. It niggled and irritated and then eventually…I was not working full time anymore! I threw some confetti and then invited some of the most talented hand embroiders I know to help design a 12 block quilt. I told them my idea and we immediately got to work.

The idea, from concept to today, has been about a 7  month process. Before I ever approach anyone to work on a project like this, I do my utmost to think it through. Will it work? Is it a good idea? Who will want to make it? Which blog should it be featured on (I run both Sewhooked and Fandom In Stitches)? What designers (or in many cases, potential designers) should I approach?

And of course, most of all, bigger than anything else…will it be fun?

The answer to the last question should always, ALWAYS be yes!

My version of our Doctor Who quilt is going to be a gift for my daughter. She graduates at the end of May and will be going off to university in the fall. She is by far the most serious Whovian in our house and is super excited at the idea of having a Who-themed quilt!

Hello there, Doctor!

This is the very first incarnation of The Doctor, looking very proper. My version is worked entirely in backstitch.

Embroidery pattern designed by Aalia from Joy of Stitches. If you haven’t seen Aalia’s stitching, you have got to visit her blog. Her work is absolutely stunning!

The quilt for my daughter will be made all out of blues with scrappy fabrics. Something like this…

I love how the different blues create a pinwheel effect. Lovely!

Quilt layout designed by me in EQ7 and available on Fandom In Stitches.

These are our fabrics, all pulled from my stash. It seems I have a thing for stars and swirls…in case anyone was unsure about that!

Love Doctor Who? These are my other Who-Themed patterns…all paper pieced and available on for free on the Doctor Who page over on FiS.  If you love DW, be sure to check the Doctor Who page for other fun patterns by some of Fandom In Stitches‘ talented designers!

Click on the image to go to the free pattern.

There are still a couple of spots in my Sunday class. Won’t you join us?

Beginning Paper Piecing @ The Stitching Studio 1- 4 pm;  $35 per person, limit six students; You will receive the class handout and pattern upon registration. 

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I hope you’ll join us!

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You can win this quilt by making a donation to The Linus Connection and forwarding your receipt toofenjen@fandominstitches.com. You get one entry for every dollar spent. Money orders made out to The Linus Connection will also be accepted. Email me for info. Donations accepted through June 17, 2013. Winner to be announced Tuesday, June 18.

Please note that the winner will receive a finished quilt. Only the quilt top is shown…we’re working on it!

Safe, secure online donations.Read more about The Project of Doom for Charity project on Fandom In Stitches!

Banded Star, a pattern to paper piece!

Click for 12″ pattern or 6″ pattern

Both patterns also available on Craftsy

Inspired by the recent blog hop, I am rebooting Stars for Linus! Make and donate any 12″ (12 1/2″ unfinished) star block by sending it  to me and I’ll make them into quilt tops for The Linus Connection!

Check out this page for all the free star patterns from Marie’s blog hop. Want to send a star? Click here for mailing information!

Check back for the winners of my Marie Bostwick Between Heaven & Texas Blog Hop Giveaway later this week. I’m just waiting to hear back on some final details before the announcement. Sorry for the wait!

Add your Sewhooked-related photos to my flickr group and you might be featured in a future post!

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Well howdy, y’all!

I can say that…I’m a Texan!

Welcome to Sewhooked and the Between Heaven & Texas Blog Hop for Marie Bostwick‘s newest novel by the same name! Each blog participating in this fun event is sharing a free 12″ star pattern made in a variety of techniques. You’ll find mine below.

Banded Star, a pattern to paper piece!

>>> Click for 12″ pattern <<<

..and because I can’t help myself, here’s the 6″ pattern!

Both patterns also available on Craftsy

This is an extra special post for me because just a couple of days ago, I had the opportunity to meet Marie in person at my local quilt store. She was signing copies of her books and very generously agreed to sign giveaway goodies for the blog hop!

As one of the bloggers for this special event, I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of Between Heaven and Texas. This is Marie signing my copy. For you. That’s right, I’m giving away my autographed copy! Woo!

In addition to the autographed copy of Between Heaven and Texas, I will also be giving away a brand new copy of the book, straight from the publisher, a door hanger from Marie’s book signing tour AND, possibly my favorite thing, a 6 1/2″ signature block, signed by Marie!

There will be three winners (two books and the door hanger with signature block)…just answer these questions: Have you ever visited or lived in Texas? Where do you live now? (state or Country okay, no need to share your address!)

Winner to be announced Tuesday, May 14. You must include contact information to win. The book coming directly from the publisher can only be shipped to addresses in North America. Sorry, their rules!

Marie signing the block to be given away here on Sewhooked. Do you see my Banded Star peeking out?!

Marie showing off one of her quilts.

Be sure to visit all the wonderful bloggers participating in this fun event for free star blocks and great giveaways!

Monday, April 29 – Marie Bostwick, free pattern on The Quilting Gallery
Tuesday, April 30 – Michele – Quilting Gallery
Wednesday, May 1 – Bonnie – Quiltville
Thursday, May 2 – Pat – Pat Sloan (interview with Marie)
Thursday, May 2 – Kim – Persimon Dreams
Friday, May 3 – Melissa – Happy Quilting
Saturday, May 4 – Jo – Jo’s Country Junction
Sunday, May 5 – Wendy – Ivory Spring
Monday, May 6 – Victoria – Bumble Beans Inc.
Tuesday, May 7 – Vicki – Quilting Lodge Blog
Wednesday, May 8 – Melissa/Jake – Generation Q Magazine
Thursday, May 9 – Jennifer – Sewhooked (you’re here!)
Friday, May 10 – Jackie – Canton Village Quilt Works

Find all the stars here with direct links to each Blog Hop post.
Between Heaven and Texas Blog Tour Flickr Group…makes blocks and share your photos here!

Want to help out a great cause while enjoying the great free patterns from Marie’s Blog Tour? Make an extra star block and donate it the The Linus Connection! Any and all 12″ star blocks are welcome!

I have been an active volunteer for The Linus Connection for over 10 years. To date, I have made and donated approximately 300 quilts and blankets since 2002, many of them made from orphan blocks donated by quilters from around the world from generous quilters like you!

The Linus Connection is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Austin, Texas whose mission is to make and deliver handmade security blankets for children in crisis situations in the Central Texas area. The blankets go to children in hospital emergency rooms, in crisis centers, in foster care, battered women’s shelters, to any child who is in need of a little extra security in their lives.

Contact me for mailing information at sewhooked@gmail.com or visit The Linus Connection blog to find out other ways you can help!

About Between Heaven and Texas (from the publisher):

In this luminous prequel to her beloved Cobbled Court Quilts series, New York Times bestselling author Marie Bostwick takes readers into the heart of a small Texas town and the soul of a woman who discovers her destiny there…

Welcome to Too Much–where the women are strong-willed and the men are handsome yet shiftless. Ever since Mary Dell Templeton and her twin sister Lydia Dale were children, their Aunt Velvet has warned them away from local boys. But it’s well known that the females in Mary Dell’s family have two traits in common–superior sewing skills and a fatal weakness for men.

While Lydia Dale grows up petite and pretty, Mary Dell just keeps growing. Tall, smart, and sassy, she is determined to one day turn her love of sewing into a business. Meanwhile, she’ll settle for raising babies with her new husband, Donny. But that dream proves elusive too, until finally, Mary Dell gets the son she always wanted–a child as different as he is wonderful. And as Mary Dell is forced to reconsider what truly matters in her family and her marriage, she begins to piece together a life that, like the colorful quilts she creates, will prove vibrant, rich, and absolutely unforgettable. . .

About Marie Bostwick:

Marie Bostwick is the New York Times Bestselling author of eleven books, including the popular Cobbled Court Quilt series of novel.  She lives in Connecticut with Brad, her husband of thirty-one years. When not writing or volunteering for her church, she enjoys quilting, gardening, reading, watching movies, spending time with her friends and family, and especially playing with her grandsons. Marie travels extensively, speaking at libraries, bookstores, quilt guilds, and at quilt shows. She has been a featured speaker at the Paducah Quilt Festival and the Houston International Quilt Festival. In 2013, she will be the keynote speaker at Quilt Nebraska.

• Marie’s Web Site
• Marie on Facebook
• Marie on Twitter

More places you can find me:

Look for me on pages 10 & 33! I have a limited number of copies available in my ETSY shop.

Doctor Who? Stitching? Free patterns? What’s not to love?! Only on Fandom In Stitches!

We’re giving away a quilt to support The Linus Connection! Click the banner for details!

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• Project of Doom for Charity - deadline extended to May 10…mail those blocks now!
• 100 Blocks in my ETSY shop - get your latest Quiltmaker 100 Blocks directly from me!
• Doctor Who Stitch Along - starts next week on Fandom In Stitches!
• Quilt Assistant - free quilt drafting software
• Inkscape - free drawing software (great for drafting patterns!)
• Between Heaven and Texas Blog Hop - stop by this Thursday, May 9 for my free 12″ star block and a chance to win a copy of Marie Bostwick’s newest novel!

Giveaways you say?

I’m thrilled to announce the two winners from my 100 Blocks Vol. 7 Blog Tour Giveaway! There were 457 entries in the 100 Blocks, Vol. 7 giveaway and over 1,000 in the Craftsy class giveaway. How wonderful!!

Quiltmaker 100 Blocks Winner:

Craftsy Class Winner:

mandmgail

Both winners should have received emails from me. Thanks to everyone that entered!

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Just visit THIS POST and make sure you click on the link in that says “just click here and you are registered to win.”

Only those that click the link are entered to win…winner to be announced tomorrow!

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Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks, Vol. 7 Blog Tour - Lemonade block & TWO giveaways, be sure to check it out and enter to win both drawings!

Other fun stuff:

We’re collecting blocks for a great cause…you can help, too!

Deadline extended to May 10!!

Click for full Blog Tour details! Visit Sewhooked May 9 for my post! Wanna win a book? I know you do!

Doctor Who? Stitching? Free patterns? What’s not to love?! Only on Fandom In Stitches!

Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks, Vol. 7 will be available at your local quilt shops and bookstores and I will be selling a limited amount of signed copies in my etsy shop, so be sure to check back for that!

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Welcome to Sewhooked and thanks for stopping by for the Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks Blog Tour! I’m thrilled to get to share my newest Quiltmaker offering… Lemons Into Lemonade!

Be sure and stick around to the end…I have TWO fantastic giveaways!

Lemons into Lemonade was inspired by one of my favorite warm weather drinks. Mmm…lemonade!

You can make it too… block #623 on page 33 of Vol. 7!

I design most of my quilt patterns in EQ7, but I still tend to start with a doodle!

EQ7 rendering of Lemons into Lemonade.

You’ll also find this fun table runner, Make Lemonade, on page 10!

Here’s a fun close up…hand embroidered and free motion quilted.

Now…let’s GIVE STUFF AWAY!!

I am absolutely thrilled to announce that as part of this very special day, I’m giving away a FREE Craftsy class!

One lucky winner will win Mastering Foundation Paper Piecing with Carol Doak!

It’s super easy … just click here and you are registered to win! The winner will have Carol’s Craftsy class added right to their account! Classes never expire and you can access them anytime.

Important stuff: Must have a Craftsy account to enter (it’s free!). One entry per person. Having trouble seeing the entry page? Try using Firefox.

There’s always something to learn over on Craftsy…be sure to check out all the great patterns (here are mine!) and don’t miss the fun quilting classes!

In addition to giving away an awesome free Craftsy class, one lucky commenter will win a FREE copy of Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks, Vol. 7. All you have to do is tell me what your favorite warm weather drink is in comments and you’re entered to win!

Winners to be announced Tuesday, May 7! 

Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks, Vol. 7 will be available at your local quilt shops and bookstores and I will be selling a limited amount of signed copies in my etsy shop, so be sure to check back for that!

Love fun blog events? Here are some more:

We’re collecting blocks for a great cause…you can help, too!

Click for full Blog Tour details! Visit Sewhooked May 9 for my post! Wanna win a book? I know you do!

Doctor Who? Stitching? Free patterns? What’s not to love?! Only on Fandom In Stitches!

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We have a winner for the Spring Fling Blog Tour Pink & Yellow Scrap Bag drawing! Congratulations, Kate!

There’s a lot going on during the next few weeks! Check out these fun events that I’m participating in:

We’re still collecting blocks for a great cause… have you sent yours?

Click for full Blog Tour details! Visit Sewhooked May 9 for my post! Wanna win a book? I know you do!

Fandom? Doctor Who? Stitching? What’s not to love?!

Only on Fandom In Stitches.

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