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.

BD Chessboard 6″ Square

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BD Chessboard pattern

This was written for the Twilight Crafts Black & Red Swap.  It’s a basic pattern and there are a million and one variations on this theme.  This is written to be 6″ with a simple sc edge.  It’s super-duper easy and, I think, makes a fun black & red square!

Red/Black swap block #2


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printable version

  • Color A – Black (worsted weight)
  • Color B – Red (worsted weight)
  • Size H Hook
  • Gauge – 4dc = 1″

Notes:
BD Chessboard pattern

BD Chessboard pattern
Throughout the pattern, you will be working across the strand of yarn that you are not using.  This means you’ll only have ends to weave in at the beginning and end.

BD Chessboard
When changing colors, pull the new color through the top of the last dc.  Do not cut the last color worked with (see above).

With Color A, ch 22

Row 1:  dc in 4th ch from hook and in the next 3 st, change to Color B, working 1 dc in each of the next 4 st, change to Color A at the top of the fourth st, rep the pattern of 4 dc, change colors at the top of the fourth st, across, joining Color B at the top of the last dc, ch 3 turn.

Row 2: continuing to work Color B across Color A, dc in the next 3 st, change to Color B, continue pattern (4 dc, change color) across, joining Color A at the top of the last dc, ch 3 turn.

Row 3: continuing to work Color A across Color B dc in the next 3 st, change to Color A, continue pattern (4 dc, change color) across, joining Color B at the top of the last dc, ch 3 turn.

Row 4-9: Repeat 2-3, finish off

Finishing:  join Color A in any st.  Sc in each sc, and in the back loops of the first row, 3 sc in the sides of each dc and two in each corner,  around.  Finish off.

More free crochet patterns from sewhooked

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Eye of the Vampire 6″ Square

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Red/Black swap block #3


add to your ravelry queue

printable pattern

Maybe I just have a silly imagination, but I swear there’s a red vampire eye in this block. Do you see it? I think if I do another, I will make the last two rounds solid black and then it will definitely look like an eye!

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This particular block was made for the Twilight Crafts Black & Red Swap, hence the vampiric name!  I hope to have a few more new patterns to offer up as I go along during the swap.

You Need:

  • Size G hook
  • Small amounts of two colors of yarn (A & B), I Love This Yarn used in sample.

Makes a 6″ square

With Color A, Ch 8, join with sl st into ring.

Round 1:  Ch 3, 15 dc into ring, joining Color B in top of first ch 3.

Round 2:  Ch 4, (dc in next dc, ch1) 15x, joining with a sl st in 3rd ch of ch4.  Finish off.

Round 3:  Join Color A with a sl st in any sp, ch 3, 2 dc in same sp, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 1) in each ch sp around; join Color B with a sl st in top of ch-3.

Round 4: * ch 5, (sc in next sp, ch 3) 3x, sc in next sp; repeat from * 3x, sl st in 1st ch.  Finish Off

Round 5: Join Color A with a sl st in any ch 5 corner.  ch 3, 2 dc, ch 3, 3 dc in same spc. [3dc in ea of the next 3 sps (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc in corner)] 3x.  Join Color B with a sl st to top of ch 3.

Round 6: ch 1, sc in same sp, and each st across, (1 sc, ch 2, 1 sc in corners) around.  Join with a sl st to first sc.  Finish off.

More free crochet patterns from sewhooked

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Chained Compass Motif with variations

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Chained Compass Motif

9″, 12″ and three color variations of Chained Compass

Add to your Ravelry Queue:

Printable Pattern

After stumbling across a cool chain technique in Donna Kooler’s Encyclopedia of Crochet, I knew I had to work it into a motif…somehow!  This was my second try at a design using the chains and I love all three variations.  I’m thinking a black and white and red afghan would be stunning.

Chained Compass Motif
9″ one color variation

You need:

  • worsted weight yarn
  • H hook (or size needed to obtain gauge)

Notes:
gauge – round 1 = 2″ square
Ch 3 = beg dc throughout
Keep ch 12 loops on the front as you work. These will stay loose until round 9.

Chained Compass Motif
12″ one color variation

ch 5, join with a sl st to form ring

Round 1: ch3, 3 dc, (ch2, 4 dc) three times, ch 2, join to top of ch 3 with a sl st

Round 2: ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next st, ch 12, sc in next 2 st, [(sc, ch 2, sc in corner), sc in next 2 st, ch 12, sc in next 2 st] 3 times, sc, ch2, sc in corner. Join to first sc with sl st.

Round 3: ch 3, dc in each sc across, [(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc in corner), dc in each sc across] around, join with a sl st at the top of beg dc. (40 dc and 4 ch 2 sps)

Round 4: ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next st, ch 12, sc in next 5 st, [(sc, ch 2, sc in corner), sc in next 5 st, ch 12, sc in next 5 st] 3 times, sc, ch2, sc in corner, sc in remaining st, Join to first sc with sl st.

Round 5: Rep Round 3 (64 dc and 4 ch 2 sps)

Round 6: ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next st, ch 12, sc in next 8 st, [(sc, ch 2, sc in corner), sc in next 8 st, ch 12, sc in next 8 st] 3 times, sc, ch2, sc in corner, sc in corner, sc in remaining st, . Join to first sc with sl st.

Round 7: Rep Round 3 (88 dc and 4 ch 2 sps)

Round 8: ch 3, dc in each st, (2dc, ch 2, 2 dc in corners) around. (104 dc and 4 ch 2 sps)

You will have three loops on each side of the block. Join sections of loops by pulling the middle loop through the first loop, then the top loop through the middle loop.

Chained Compass Motif
first loop through the middle loop

Chained Compass Motif
middle loop through the top loop

Round 9: ch 1, sc in same st and in next st, sl st in ch 12 loop, sc in next 13 st to corner [(sc, ch 2, sc in corner), sc in next 13 st, sl st in ch 12 loop, sc in next 13 st to corner] three times. sc in remaining sts, join with sl st in first sc.

For 9″ block, finish off here.

Continue for 12″ block:

Chained Compass Motif
12″ one color variation

Round 10: ch 1, sc in same st and each st across, skipping sl st on previous round (sc, ch 2, sc in corners) around

Round 11 & 12, ch 1, hdc in same st and each st across, (hdc, ch 1, hdc in corners) around

Round 13: ch 1, sc in same st and each st across (sc, ch 2, sc in corners) around

Finish Off.

Chained Compass Motif
three color variation (which I’m secretly calling Bella’s Compass because I ❤ Twilight!)

For three color variation:
Color 1 – odd number rows to row 7, row 8, 9 & 13
Color 2 – even number rows to row 6
Color 3 – rows 10-12

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vlog: TTMT Just Another Tuesday

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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.

stencils & stamps: Saving My Shirts

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I’m not exactly clumsy, but I am a really busy girl with a tendency to not be careful.

Messy, clumsy, stuff on my shirt…call it what you will!

My favorite shirts all seem to have taken the same abuse.  A paint stain, a bleach spot or an unfortunate tear.  The number of shirts in my closet that weren’t being worn because of one of the above was getting completely out of control.

So, time for some quick and dirty fixes…and to haul out the fabric paint!

Shirt fix #1 – stenciling stars

supplies:

  • sad damaged tee
  • freezer paper
  • marker or pen for drawing
  • Exact-o Knife
  • fabric paint
  • sponge brush
  • cardboard or t-shirt form



My poor Dumbledore’s Army shirt, with a bleach stain right on the tummy. What to do, what to do? I thank my sister for the idea for this fix: stencil some stars on!



Freehand stars on freezer paper, then cut out with the Exact-O Knife – instant stencil!




Iron the stencil on and insert a pieced of cardboard or shirt form inside the tee. Procure some paint and a sponge brush for instant repairs.




Sponge that paint on!




Peel off the stencil after a few minutes and….




Instant shirt fix!






My Evile Crafts tee, made by superfriend Kadi, had a big ole blotch of bleach, too, so it also received the star treatment, along with a little glitter spray paint.

Shirt fix #2 – stamp it!

This second shirt fix was inspired by Stampin’ On Stained Jeans.  Same problem:  A favorite tee gets hit by something that leaves a mark, bleach, paint, or something else that’s super-duper permanent.

You need:

  • oopsie tee
  • fabric paint
  • stamp(s) large enough to cover the spot(s)
  • foam brush
  • cardboard or t-shirt insert



Use the sponge brush to add paint to the stamp.  Don’t dip the stamp in the paint or you’ll end up with a blob of paint on the fabric.



Stamp on the spot that needs to be covered.  It looked awkward to me like that, so I just kept stamping until I felt like I had enough!



Another shirt, back in rotation!

Shirt Fix #3 = mask it!

This fix was a bit more complicated.  I had a cute girly shirt that got caught on something (no idea what) and I ended up with a hole right in the tummy.  After trying to stitch it and not liking the artificial belly button I received for my efforts, I decided to repair it with an iron on.  Great idea, until I realized I went from artificial belly button to giant round dot on my tummy.

For this fix you’ll need:

  • damaged tee (this works for spots, too!)
  • masking tape
  • cardboard or t-shirt form
  • fabric paint
  • foam brush or roller



Giant dot, as illlustrated by my left hand.



Mask out a large triangle with the apex at the top, with the damaged part of the shirt on the inside.  Make sure your cardboard or t-shirt form is inside the shirt.  Fill in the space with fabric paint.

Hint:  If you’re working on a stretchy fabric, iron freezer paper on the inside of the shirt for stability while painting.



Fill in the entire space.  Allow to dry a few minutes and the remove the tape.



And another dead shirt returns to ciruculation!  Pretty cool, too, if I do say so myself.




Allow all your awesomely repaired tees to dry per manufacturer’s instructions and then add them right back in to your wardrobe!

More t-shirty goodness:

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.

Recipe Review: Emergency Chocolate Cake

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Chocolate Cake in a Coffee Mug

I made this from an email recipe that was going around.

It’s called Minute Chocolate Mug Cake, but I like Emergency Chocolate Cake. 😉

I sprayed one coffee mug with cooking spray and it definitely came out better than the rest…less mess in the mug afterward. For best results, eat it while it’s warm. It gets a little too dense after that.

Minute Chocolate Mug Cake

  • 1 Coffee Mug
  • 4 tablespoons AP flour
  • 4 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 tablespoons baking cocoa
  • 1 egg
  • 3 tablespoons milk
  • 3 tablespoons oil
  • 3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
  • Small splash of vanilla

Chocolate Cake in a Coffee Mug
before baking

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well .. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla, and mix again. Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don’t be alarmed! Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.

Serves 2…or 1, if you don’t mind a bit of a tummy ache!

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.

Paper Piecing: Happy Halloween Challenge

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Sewhooked and the sewhooked blog are the proud sponsors of the Livejournal Community paperpieced‘s  Happy Halloween Challenge.

Visit the community and participate in the challenge to win a fun prize donated by myself on behalf of sewhooked!

Also visit paperpieced’s sister communities:

vlog: TTMT – Squee!Mail

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Where I squee about Squee!Mail from archerpren, caitirin, elaby, hardhatcat and laci_l, show my finished green crochet block from last week, a sneak peek at a new project and my mom’s birthday gift.

Mom's House - paper pieced wall hangingMom’s House – original paper pieced wall hanging made for my mom

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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