Author Archives: Jennifer Ofenstein

Unknown's avatar

About Jennifer Ofenstein

Owner of sewhooked.com and fandominstitches.com. #quiltforgood advocate. Quilt designer, instructor, Talk to Me Tuesday founder & contributor, cat mom, and craft enabler.

Revisiting Ariel

Ariel's Blanket

Long ago, in a galaxy far, far away (when my kids were elementary-aged!), I was commissioned to make a crocheted blanket for a little girl. I was to recreate a blanket her grandmother had made for her and her mom was going to make a donation on my behalf to The Linus Connection.

Ariel's Blanket - The original blanket

In the past, I’ve used the expression that her blanket was loved to pieces. That is meant literally. After quite a bit of trial and error, I reverse-engineered the pattern, created a new one, delivered it and she loved it.

Sometime later, and with the family’s permission, I shared the pattern online. This was, oh, maybe 2004, 2005?

The pattern was copied and recopied as I moved from free website to paid website and from website to blog format. Eventually, I offered a printed version, too. I even added the pattern to Ravelry, so the world could share Ariel’s Blanket.

And somewhere in there, something went a bit wrong.

Last week, commenter Michelle got in touch and let me know that something just wasn’t quite right with row 5. Unfortunately, she caught me in the middle of being crazy busy and I just didn’t have time to check it out.

Fortunately, I have Facebook and some of my readers there came to the rescue. With their feedback and a copy of the pattern, I finally had time yesterday to sit down and sort it all out.

So here, for you, is the updated pattern with spiffy new pictures of the block that makes up Ariel’s Blanket.

Ariel's Blanket Block

Queue this pattern on Ravelry!

Printable Pattern

And, because it’s what I do now, you can also get the pattern free on Craftsy!

The original afghan uses Red Heart Baby Sport Pompadour Yarn: small amount blue, yellow, green, peach & pink (approx. 1 – 1½ oz.), 40 ounces white For one square: small amount for center color, approx. 2 oz white).

For the sample block, I used Red Heart Baby Fingering Weight and & F hook. I also changed color on row 10 so you can really see the popcorn stitches. It takes a little more colored yarn in this variation.

  • PC= Popcorn
  • Ch 3 counts as DC in PC st
  • Size “F” Hook
  • Finished Blanket is approximately 44″ x 54″

Row 1: Starting with center color, Ch 6, join with sl st in first ch st. Ch 1, 12 sc in loop. Join with sl st to first sc.

Row 2: Ch 3, 4 dc in beg sc [drop loop from hook, insert hook in top of first dc, pull loop through to make first PC] ch 4, sk 1 sc, 5 DC in next sc, follow [ ], ch 4 around until you have 6 PC, ch 4, join to top of first PC with sl st.

Row 3: ch 1, sc in same st. 7 dc in ch sp, sc in PC join st around. Join with sl to first sc. (6 “Petals”)

Row 4: ch 1, sc in same st, [ch 5, sc in next sc] around, join with sl to first sc.

Row 5: ch 3, 4 dc in first ch sp. [In next sc: Dc, ch 3, dc. In next ch sp: 4 dc. Dc in sc. In ch sp: 3 dc, ch 3, 3dc] Dc in sc, 4 dc in ch sp. Repeat [ ], join with sl st to top of beg ch 3. Finish off. (This seems very odd, but take your time with it and I promise it works out!)

You should now have a square with equal sides, 9 stitches per side with a ch 3 in each corner.

Row 6: Join white with sl st in any corner sp. Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 3, 3 dc in same corner space. Ch 1. {[Dc in each of the next 3 dc. Ch 1] Repeat [] to corner space. In next corner space, 3 dc ch 3, 3 dc,ch 1}, Repeat {} around. Join with sl st at beg ch 3.

You should now have 5 clusters of 3 dc with a chain sp between on each side with ch 3 in each corner.

Row 7 & 8: Sl st to corner sp ch 3, 2 dc, ch 3, 3 dc. {3 dc in ch sp to next corner. 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc in corner}. Repeat {} around. Join with sl st at the top of beg ch 3.

Row 9: (do not sl st to corner) ch 3 (counts as first dc), 1 dc in each dc to corner. {[3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc in corner], 1 dc in each dc to corner}. Repeat {} around. Join with sl st at the top of beg ch 3.
(for added variety, row 10 can also be in a contrasting color)

Row 10: ch 3, PC in next dc, 1 dc, PC, 1 dc, (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc in all corners), 1 DC, pc, 1 dc, PC around. Join with sl st at the top of beg ch 3. (13 PC per side)

Row 11: ch 3, DC in each st around, (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc in all corners). Join with sl st at the top of beg ch 3.

Row 12: ch 1, sc in each st around, 3 sc in corners. Finish off.

FOR BLANKET PATTERN
Make 20 squares. Join squares 4×5 either with whip st or sc. Add border.

Border:

  • ch 3 counts as first stitch
  • cluster = 3 dc, ch 2, sc in 1st ch, 3 dc
  • Here, your cluster is 3 double crochets with 2 chain stitches, then you single crochet in the first chain stitch you just made. This makes a point in the middle of the cluster. You then make 3 more double crochets to finish the cluster.

Join white in second sc of corner, ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, sc in first ch, 3 dc, skip 1 sc, sc in next ch, (cluster, sk 1 sc, sc in next ch, cluster), around.

Each square should have 6 clusters, not counting corner clusters.

Join with sl st, finish off, weave in ends.

Ariel's Blanket Block

Center block from the front. Row 5 is the last colored row before the color changes to white.

Ariel's Blanket Block

Center block from the back.

Ariel's Blanket Block

Popcorn border.

Blog Hop Party with Give-Aways

Join me later this week for the Blog Hop Party with Give-Aways hosted by The Quilting Gallery!

REMINDER!  I’ll donate $1 to Movember for every Mustachio! pattern set sold during November!

Photobucket

Craftsy | Etsy | Facebook | SHFB | Flickr | Twitter | PinterestBloglovin

An Anniversary

The Linus Connection Banner (& Me!)The Linus Banner & Me in 2006

Yesterday’s Linus Connection meeting was just lovely. You should stop by and see some of the GORGEOUS show & tell photos.

This meeting was a little extra special for me because it was my 11th anniversary as a Linus volunteer.

I didn’t make a thing of it while I was there, but I thought about it all day.

Eleven years ago, I remember walking into my first meeting with my heart pounding. Another mom, who was to become my good friend, invited me after she found out that I crocheted.

November 2002

The first blanket I donated, November 2002.

We’d lived in Austin almost four years at the time and I still didn’t feel really connected. Believe it or not, I was shy and more than a bit introverted and I was so nervous to walk in that first day because I had no idea what to expect. I was welcomed with open arms, despite obviously being the youngest volunteer there.

By March the next year, I’d taken over the website. Six months after that, I was nominated to be a board member and had started learning to quilt. Linus became a very important part of my life, one that I could not now imagine living without. My longest local friendships all started at Linus meetings. Sucking up that courage to walk into that first meeting literally changed my life and I am a better person for it.

Stars For Linus

2011, Stars for Linus is born

In  December 2010, I participated in The Project for Awesome and talked about The Linus Connection

I’ve chronicled my years at Linus through photography.  The following are Flickr albums for each year I’ve volunteered. Most of the years before 2010 are pictures of my blankets. Eventually, I invited the online community to contribute to my favorite charity and began sharing photos of the blankets and quilt blocks you all shared, too. I’ve lost count of how many blankets I’ve personally donated since those first few!

This is not by any stretch of imagination all the photos I’ve taken for Linus. With a few exceptions, every photo taken and posted on the Linus website since 2002 was taken by me!

Or, you can click to see an epic mishmash of Linus photos I’ve taken!

IKEA bags for Linus

At each month’s meeting, I help sort blankets for distribution. We use a lot of IKEA bags for this!

The Linus Connection Heart

The Linus Heart, a free paper pieced pattern by yours truly.
 

Thank you for indulging me as I think back over my years with Linus. There aren’t enough words to explain how important this organization is to me. Being part of this extraordinary group of volunteers has given me more by far than I could have ever anticipated.

Do you volunteer? I’d love to hear about it in comments!

Blog Hop Party with Give-Aways

Join me later this week for the Blog Hop Party with Give-Aways hosted by The Quilting Gallery!

REMINDER!  I’ll donate $1 to Movember for every Mustachio! pattern set sold during November!

 

Photobucket

Craftsy | Etsy | Facebook | SHFB | Flickr | Twitter | PinterestBloglovin

 

Lots of Linus!

And NOW, I'm ready for tomorrow's meeting!

I have two IKEA bags stuffed with donations for The Linus Connection thanks to many wonderful online friends and participants in Stars for Linus.

Because I can’t keep the quilty goodness to myself, how about some fabulous Friday fiber before I turn all these gorgeous blankets in for distribution tomorrow?

One more Stars for Linus!

Stars for Linus quilt,  made from blocks donated by Sewhooked readers as well as two blocks from my orphan block bag.

Click here to find out how you can help.

Stars for Linus ready to donate tomorrow!

Another beautiful Stars for Linus made from donated blocks and as well as one of my own.

Won’t you make a star block for a good cause?

Simple Crochet Ghan by me

Simple crochet afghan made using DC  across working in the back loops only. Made by me!

Afghan by Margie

Gorgeous afghan made and donated by sweet friend Margie.

Eep! Almost forgot the afghan made from Marissa's blocks!

Afghan made from blocks donated by Marissa. Bonus points if you can spot the ones made from my patterns!

Blocks by Mary, assembled by Linda Blocks by Mary, assembled by Linda

EIGHT beautiful afghans made with blocks donated by Mary.

Assembled by my wonderful friend and Linus volunteer, Linda.

Blocks by Mary, assembled by Linda
Blocks by Mary, assembled by Linda Blocks by Mary, assembled by Linda
Blocks by Mary, assembled by Linda
Blocks by Mary, assembled by Linda Blocks by Mary, assembled by Linda

REMINDER!  I’ll donate $1 to Movember for every Mustachio! pattern set sold during November!

Photobucket

Craftsy | Etsy | Facebook | SHFB | Flickr | Twitter | PinterestBloglovin

 

TTMT #236 – Hand Jive

In this video:

Contessa's Canoe  - 2013 Update

Contessa’s Canoe, a free, updated pattern!

Something I forgot to share: awesome FREE classes from Craftsy:

And now, the winners of my two drawings for the Blogger’s Quilt Festival are:

Ladies, I’ve replied to your comments in the original posts. If you didn’t receive my message, please email your mailing address to sewhooked@gmail.com. Thanks to everyone that commented and congrats to my two winners!

Photobucket

Craftsy | Etsy | Facebook | SHFB | Flickr | Twitter | PinterestBloglovin

 

Contessa’s Canoe, a revisit

Contessa’s Canoe, free on Craftsy

Back in August 2010, I shared a pattern named Contessa’s Canoe.

This pattern was designed for, surprise surprise, Contessa, who had a drawing from an old magazine. There was no designer or pattern, just this black and white drawing.

When I originally shared this pattern, it was uncolored and had no seam allowance.

See the original post

See the 7″ uncolored pattern

Seriously, I know, I never do that!
contessas canoe pieced by shae
Earlier this weekend, Fav Quilts shared the original Contessa’s Canoe (above, pieced by Shae) on Pinterest.

And then this happened: I woke up this morning to several messages letting me know the pattern link in the original post was broken.

Oops!

You see, this pattern existed before my blog and website were one in the same . I’ve spent oodles of time updating Sewhooked to try to ensure that all my pages are up to date, but with almost a thousand posts, occasionally one pops up that has a broken link or two.

I am sorry about that!

As I was correcting the links and contacting those people looking for the pattern, I decided it was time for an update.

Contessa's Canoe  - 2013 Update Contessa's Canoe  - 2013 Update  Contessa's Canoe  - 2013 Update

When inspiration hits, I like to go with it, so I opened EQ7 and got to work! One of the best parts of designing in a software intended for quilts is being able to simply and quickly see what the blocks will look like in a variety of colors and fabrics.

Aren’t these just lovely?!

Get the new 6″ version of Contessa’s Canoe right here on Sewhooked

or download it from CraftsyBoth are free!

Contessa's Canoe  - 2013 Update

And of course, while I was at it I had to create some EQ7 quilt mock-ups!

It seems I almost always have a quilt done in all blues. Favorite color? Why yes, it is!

Contessa's Canoe  - 2013 Update

Wouldn’t this make a beautiful baby blanket if made with 12″ blocks?

Contessa's Canoe  - 2013 UpdateTis the season, in red & green! I love how lacy and floaty this looks.

Reminder! During November 2013, I will donate $1 from EVERY sale of the Mustachio! pattern set to Movember!

Don’t forget about the free classes I told you about last time on Craftsy. They are STILL free today!

If you make Contessa’s Canoe (or any other pattern, tutorial, etc. from Sewhooked!), please share it with the Sewhooked flickr group for a chance to see your project right here!

Photobucket

Craftsy | Etsy | Facebook | SHFB | Flickr | Twitter | PinterestBloglovin

Remember Movember!

Mustachio! (12 mustaches to paper piece) on Craftsy

Woo-hoo, you know you need some facial hair!

This is a gentle reminder that this month, November 2013, I will donate $1 from EVERY sale of the Mustachio! pattern set to Movember!

What this heck is Movember, you ask? This is from the official website:

As an official global charity, Movember’s vision is to have an everlasting impact on the face of men’s health. During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of millions of moustaches on men’s faces around the world. Through the power of the Mo, vital funds and awareness are raised to combat prostate and testicular cancer and mental health challenges.

It’s easy…just click on the image above or the link at the end of this sentence and go straight to the Mustachio pattern on Craftsy!

December 1, I’ll donate to Movember. You’ll have your mustaches and will have helped a good cause, too!

Don’t forget about the free classes I told you about last time on Craftsy. They are STILL free today!

Have a fantabulous, quilty weekend!

Photobucket

Craftsy | Etsy | Facebook | SHFB | Flickr | Twitter | PinterestBloglovin

Oh, lookie, free classes!

Please allow me to shout a bit about Craftsy here!

Craftsy Logo

There are two Craftsy classes that are FREE, today, right now that you guys have got to know about!

Like I said, these are FREE. All you need is a Craftsy account (also free!). Once you’ve got an account (and you can sign up using Facebook or by setting up a new account…sooooo easy!), just click on the links below and then “enroll” and the class is yours to watch anytime you want!

Seriously, how cool is that?!

The first (FREE!) class is Piece, Patch, Quilt: Basic Quiltmaking Skills. If you are a beginner and have been dying to learn to quilt but don’t have time and/or money to invest in a class, this is the perfect class for you. You learn simply everything you need to make your first quilt from beginning to end. That’s right. Prep, rotary cutting, piecing, the quilt sandwich, tying or piecing all the way to binding. For FREE. Seriously, why not? Even if you’ve done some quilting already, there’s always something to learn! Need I mention FREE again?!

The second class will teach you how to take Professional Family Portraits. How perfect a class is this for this time of year? ou will learn to wow everyone with professional quality pictures. I’ve already enrolled and plan to take full advantage of what this class has to offer. For years now, I’ve taken our family portraits myself with my camera’s timer and a tripod. I’m hoping to learn some new tips that will help make our pictures even more awesome! I’m especially excited because the instructor is Kirk Tuck, a commercial photographer based in Austin, Texas, which is where I live, too!

Go, sign up! Even if you don’t use them today, you never know when you might like to give them a whirl. If you’ve been thinking about trying an online class, trying a free class is definitely a good way to start. 🙂

AmysCreativeSide

Today is the LAST day to vote for your favorite quilts during the Blogger’s Quilt Festival! You’ll find my entries under Wall Hangings and Bed Quilts.

 

Anyway, that’s enough for me today! I just couldn’t let you miss these AWESOME FREE classes.

Photobucket

Craftsy | Etsy | Facebook | SHFB | Flickr | Twitter | PinterestBloglovin

Featured Pattern: Turkey Talk, just $8 on Craftsy!

TTMT #235 – Poisoned, I say!

In this video:

Don’t forget to vote for your favorite quilts during the Blogger’s Quilt Festival! You’ll find my entries under Wall Hangings and Bed Quilts.

Halloween Bats

During the month-long Crafts of Halloweens Past, I shared an invitation to make projects from any of my Halloween themed patterns for a chance to win a prize!

Thanks to abbiedans, TweLoQ & Aalia for the FUN pictures!

The prize goes to TweLoQ! Thanks for your enthusiastic participation!

102_3455

Trick-or-Treat Sue by abbiedans

CraftOfHalloweensPast-5

Trick-or-Treat Sue by TweLoQ

CraftOfHalloweensPast-4

Pumpkin by TweLoQ

 CraftOfHalloweensPast-3

Jack-o-Lantern Finger Puppet by TweLoQ

 CraftOfHalloweensPast-1

Easy Felt Bats by TweLoQ

Master and Student

Potion Maker + Hogwarts Sue by Aalia

(While this one was not technically entered for the contest, I couldn’t resist sharing!)

Photobucket

Craftsy | Etsy | Facebook | SHFB | Flickr | Twitter | PinterestBloglovin

Featured Pattern: Turkey Talk, just $8 on Craftsy!

Name That Mustache – Mustachio!

Mustachio 2.0

Welcome to the final Name That Mustache post!

It’s been a month of fabulous and funny mustache names!

Thank you to every single person that submitted a name. Whether your submission was chosen or not, I loved reading them all and sincerely appreciate your ideas!

Today, I have our Week 4 WINNERS to announce!

Each winner receives a free pdf copy of the mustache pattern he or she named, a free fat quarter and his or her name included in the new version of the pattern! 

If you were chosen as a winner, please email sewhooked@gmail.com with your mailing address so you can receive your prizes.

In the case that a name was suggested more than once, the first commenter to suggest that name wins the prize.

name that mustache 10 name that mustache 11 name that mustache 12

Mustache #10 – “Reginald” – submitted by Gwen

Mustache #11 – “Clarke” – submitted by Michelle Thompson

Mustache #12 – “Gus” – submitted by Gwen (two in one week, way to go, Gwen!)

Mustachio! Now with fabulous names!

Get the entire Mustachio! set from my Craftsy shop!

Once I hear from today’s winners, Mustachio! will be updated with the winning names. If you purchase Mustachio! from Craftsy prior to the name update, you will receive a notification from Craftsy that the pattern has been updated.

Just want one mustache? For the first time ever, all twelve mustaches will be available for the first time ever! The first nine are already on Craftsy! The last three will be up as soon as I hear from the winners.

But hey, why not buy the whole shebang and help a good cause? During the month of November, I will donate $1 to Movember for the sale of each Mustachio! pattern set! 

AmysCreativeSide

Don’t forget to vote for your favorite quilts during the Blogger’s Quilt Festival! You’ll find my entries under Wall Hangings and Bed Quilts.

Stay tuned for a Crafts of Halloweens Past flickr roundup and winner! Another big thanks for all of your recent participation! See you tomorrow for Talk To Me Tuesday!

Photobucket

Craftsy | Etsy | Facebook | SHFB | Flickr | Twitter | PinterestBloglovin

Featured Pattern: Turkey Talk, just $8 on Craftsy!

Learn to Paper Piece with Sweet Skating Sue!

Learn To Paper Piece with Sweet Skating Sue

This one is by request!

Learn to Paper Piece with Sweet Skating Sue is now available as a printable PDF download.

AND IT IS FREE.

What do you get?

The step-by-step tutorial includes 23 pages of paper piecing goodness perfect for beginners.

You get photos and easy-to-understand instructions for paper piecing one of my most popular free patterns, Sweet Skating Sue!

The pattern is also included in the tutorial, so you get everything you need to get started on your own Sweet Skating Sue!

Once you learn the basics using Sweet Skating Sue, you can tackle any project that includes paper piecing. There are thousands of patterns out there, making the possibilities of creating a special quilt project just for you absolutely endless.

signature-2016

Posts on this blog may contain affiliate links. Thank you for your support. ♥