Author Archives: Jennifer Ofenstein

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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.

Guest Designer Spotlight: Jennifer Tanner

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designed by Jennifer Tanner
click on image for pattern

After a long time without a Guest Designer Spotlight, I’m proud to say that I have a brand new sewhooked Guest Designer to introduce:  Jennifer Tanner!  Jennifer answered some questions about herself for us so fans of her patterns can get to know her a little better.

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First name and where you’re from: Jennifer Tanner; Zimmerman, Minnesota

Website/blog/online store or other place where your patterns or photos of your work can be found? I do not have a website & I hardly think you could call my Live Journal account a blog! But I am going to do my best to learn how to use it. I will keep passing on new designs to Jennifer though, so you can always find them at www.sewhooked.org on the Guest designer page! (Many thanks to Jennifer for creating this part of her website!)

How long have you been paper piecing and/or quilting? The first quilt I made was a baby quilt for my husband’s cousin. I do not remember the exact year but I think it was somewhere in 2001 – 2003. I didn’t start paper piecing until November of this past year (2009). I decided that I was going to get going on the Harry Potter quilt I had wanted to make since 2001. I started to get pretty downhearted when looking for Harry Potter material because it was OUTRAGEOUSLY priced on eBay. I then did a Google search & found Jennifer’s website. (HURRAY!) I had only heard of paper piecing once before so I wasn’t sure this would work either. With the help of Jen’s tutorial & another gal’s YouTube video, I gave it a whirl. Needless to say, I loved it!

What do you use own your blocks for? I am using my HP themed blocks for my Harry Potter quilt top. I designed a Christmas tree for a table runner, a Mickey Mouse outline for a pillow for my son, & a pirate square that hasn’t been tested yet. Once I am done with my HP quilt I would like to make a book bag using some of the HP patterns.

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click image for pattern

When did you start designing? I designed my first block December 2009.

Was there a particular inspiration to draw your first pattern? Do you remember what your first design was? Seeing the fulfillment Jennifer got from her own designs inspired me to just go for it. My first block was a Christmas tree. My next block was a train engine that I drew up for my sister after not being able to find a pattern I liked online. That is what led me to design my Hogwarts Express. I just kept going from there.

Do you have a favorite among your own designs? I am equally in love with my Hogwarts Castle & Durmstrang ship. The ship is available for download on Jennifer’s website, www.sewhooked.org, but I decided to keep the castle as my own block.

How has the online community changed the way you craft/quilt/design, etc.? Where do I begin!?! God just blessed me with the crafty online community this fall & it has helped me so much! I would not be designing today if I had not discovered this community. Not to mention I probably would not be making my HP quilt right now either! I can go to YouTube & watch tutorials if I’m stuck on something; Jennifer has been amazing in answering so many questions that I’ve had about paper piecing & designing. The compliments people share with each other is so encouraging. It has inspired me to be a better crafter. I enjoy being able to share something I love with others who share the same passion! And I’m so happy to have found paper piecing. 🙂

What do you use to design your patterns?  Paper and pencil, a specific software, etc.  I hand draw all of my patterns using pencil & a ruler. I’ve tried & tried to get the computer drawing down. I can get the picture drawn, but can’t figure out how to get the seam allowance in there so old fashioned drawing it is for me!

find more of Jennifer Tanners’ patterns on the sewhooked Guest Designer page

Happy Quilting!

vlog #44: TTMT – The Cat Came Back

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Intro To Paper Piecing Class, Feb 20
Layer ‘Em Up
Twilight Crafts & BOM
Honey Bee Triangle Swap
Triangulations

If you make a Sew Awesome Craft or any pattern, craft or recipe from sewhooked,  I’d love to see a photo.  Email me or add it to the sewhooked flickr group.

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Photobucket Log Cabins for Linus / Go Get Granny

Hot Dog, A Pillowcase!

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HOT DOG PILLOWCASE TUTORIAL

Isn’t it a beauty?

Printable PDF Tutorial!

Now available as a free video tutorial!

This is the easiest, fastest, and cleanest-looking pillowcase method I’ve tried. So easy, so fun…and excellent for stash busting!

Honey Bee Quilt Store is participating in American Patchwork & Quilting’s 1 Million Pillowcase Challenge. The first batch of gorgeous handmade pillowcases that Honey Bee has collected is going to the Texas Baptist Children’s Home, located in Round Rock, Texas.

I knew as soon as I heard about it that I wanted to participate.

Read more on the Honey Bee Blog.

I was asked by the store owner to share instructions online so they could easily direct customers to them. This is my version.  I hope you enjoy the tutorial, make lots of pillowcases, and give them to friends or charity!  (Oh, okay, you can keep one or two for yourself!)

You’ll need:

Three lengths of fabric in three coordinating colors.  Makes one standard-size pillowcase.

  • BUN (cuff) – 12″ x WOF (width of fabric ~ 44″)
  • MUSTARD (flange) – 2″ – 3″ x WOF (optional)
  • HOT DOG (body) 24″ – 26″ x WOF (for longer pillowcases, lengthen here)

You can vary the bun/hot dog size up or down, just make sure that the total yardage between those two is 36″ – 38″. 9 – 12″ for the bun is ideal.

If you use two yards of coordinating fabric, plus 6″ of a third, you can make two coordinating pillowcases with opposite colors!


My colors for this tutorial – a pre-cut kit from Honey Bee.  Isn’t the fabric just delicious?


Hot Dog, Bun & Mustard!   Once your fabric is cut and pressed and you’re ready to go!

Roll out your BUN, right side up.

Press the MUSTARD in half

Place MUSTARD with raw edges matching along one side of the BUN.

Place HOT DOG on top of MUSTARD, face down.  Align raw seams.  Add a few pins to hold in place.

Roll the HOT DOG (hey, now it looks like a hot dog!) to within a few inches of the pinned edge.

Fold the BUN over the HOT DOG and pin along the raw edge, making sure to catch all layers of fabric.

Stitch along the raw edge using a 3/8″ (or scant 1/2″) seam allowance.

Remove any pins and birth your HOT DOG!  Roll BUN back, gently tugging the HOT DOG out of the center.

Continue tugging and rolling until the HOT DOG is all the way out.

Your pillowcase should now look something like this.

Smooth out the fabric, then press the BUN and MUSTARD, tugging gently so it’ll lie flat.  I like to press on both sides.

Square up your pillowcase by removing the selvage.

With WRONG SIDES together, align the MUSTARD and corners of the pillowcase.

Pin in several places.

Stitch around raw edges using a 1/4″ seam allowance (yes, yes,  really, right sides out, wrong sides together!).

Turn the corner and sew across the bottom.

Trim corners (raw edges only, please!).

Turn the pillowcase wrong-side out. 

Look how nice the BUN looks next to the HOT DOG!

Press the side and bottom seams flat.

Stitch using a 1/2″ seam allowance.

Look at that, you made French Seams…no raw edges!

Turn right side out and press.

See how nicely the MUSTARD lines up?   Did you notice that your condiment made a lovely little flap, too?

It looks good outside and in!

Delicious!

Now, let me know if you’re as addicted to these as I am!  This beauty is number 11 and I know I’ll make more.  In addition to donating to the 1 Million Pillowcase Challenge, they also make great gift bags for quilts!

Need a hard copy? Printable PDF Tutorial!

 Find my free patterns on Sewhooked & Fandom in Stitches.

♥ Jennifer O

Posts on this blog may contain affiliate links to help cover the cost of my website. I thank you for your generous support. ♥

Charity: Go Get Granny and Log Cabins For Linus

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Log Cabins for Linus / Go Get Granny

For many years now, I’ve been a volunteer for The Linus Connection*, a small local non-profit charity that makes blankets for children in need in Central Texas. I’m a blanket maker, sorter and volunteer Webmistress for linusconnection.org.  I’ve served a term on the Board, and was the newsletter editor for a time.  Suffice it to say, Linus is very important to me!

Just as many other charities are suffering due to the current economy, Linus is suffering, too. Our demand has risen, while the number of blankets has decreased. When our numbers decrease, that means children that need a little extra security in a difficult time are going without. It’s a very hard call to decide who doesn’t get the security of a handmade blanket. If I had my way, every child touched by severe illness, injury, abuse, homelessness or other crisis situations would know the comfort and love of a handmade blanket.

My blog is a place I share my ideas, patterns, recipes and tutorials with the world for no charge, but this time I’d like to ask for a little something back.  Throughout 2010, I will be collecting quilt blocks and yarn squares through my craft blog to assemble into Linus blankets.

If you are a quilter, please consider participating in Log Cabins for Linus!   Make 12″ log cabin blocks (12.5″ unfinished) in 100% quilting cotton of any log cabin pattern, any color, any style you like.

Here are some patterns to get you started:

If yarn is your forte, then Go Get Granny is for you! I’ll be accepting 12″ knit or crochet blocks made in acrylic yarns of any color or style and will join those into afghans.

When you’re ready to send your block, email me for my mailing address and I’ll send it your way. Donations to The Linus Connection are tax deductible, so if you need a receipt, please include a note with your block and I’ll make sure one gets to you.

All blocks donated will be shared here on the sewhooked blog and on Talk To Me Tuesday as completed blankets before being donated to The Linus Connection.

I encourage you to post photos of your blocks to the Go Get Granny & Log Cabins for Linus flickr group.  You can also see blankets I’ve donated since 2002.

Anything you can do is greatly appreciated.

For more information about The Linus Connection, please visit our website or blog or become a fan on Facebook.

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Disclaimer: This is my effort to increase blanket numbers for my own favorite blanket making charity, The Linus Connection, located in Austin, Texas.  This effort is not in any way organized by TLC.  All blankets will be donated to The Linus Connection by me, Jennifer Ofenstein.  If you have any questions please contact me or leave a question in the comments.

*The Linus Connection is a small, local non-profit located in Central Texas and is not affiliated with Project Linus.

Paper Piecing: Custom Pattern Auction For Charity

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The awesome organizers over at help_haiti on Livejournal have found a great way to get fandom (all fandoms!) involved in raising money for charity while getting fun stuff in return.

Crafters, graphic artist, writers and all sorts of other awesome people are donating their time and talents in return for charitable donations.   You can bid in the comments of the item you’re interested in and once the auction is closed on noon (EST) January 20, 2010, the items will be paid for by donating to charity!  Share your receipt and get awesome goodness in return.  The charities win and you win, too!

I’m offering up one Custom Designed 5″ Paper Pieced Quilt Pattern. You can read the full details here.  Be sure to bid in the comments at this link.  I cannot accept bids here.

Also check out these awesome auctions by two of my crafty friends:

Amber (hp5freak) is auctioning off a 3’x3′ custom crochet blanket. She makes gorgeous and unique HP-themed blankets. You can see those here.

Mary (dragonsinger954) is the maker of many a fine Molly Weasley sweater.  She’s offering a custom-made one up right here. You can see examples of her many lovely Molly sweaters here.

Also, the Queen of The Leaky Cauldron herself is auctioning off one autographed copy of Harry, A History.  It’s a good thing, too, because you can’t have mine!

Happy bidding and thanks for supporting this wonderful cause!

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