Category Archives: Hand Crafts

Holmes Has A Look

Holmes Has A Look
a free pattern to hand embroider
7″ finished using backstitch and stem stitch

One of the best parts of running a fandom website is getting to indulge in the things I love best! I’m a huge fan of Jeremy Brett in the 1980s version of Sherlock Holmes.

This summer, Fandom In Stitches is hosting The Summer of Stitching and encouraging our quilting community to contribute designs in a variety of themes.

First up is Sherlock Holmes, which is what inspired today’s design. The first installment for The Summer of Stitching is June 11, 2014 on Fandom In Stitches, so be sure to stop by!

While I’m not eligible for the prize (it doesn’t make much sense to give it to myself!), I couldn’t resist participating and hope to design at least one new pattern for each theme over the next few months.

Find more of my Free Fandom Patterns (including more Sherlock Holmes!) right here on Sewhooked!

…and even more quilty fandomy goodnes on Fandom In Stitches!

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Featured Pattern: Poppies From The Past, now only $7 on Craftsy!

How can evil be so cute? And Cats, just because.

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Happy Saturday!

Yesterday, I crocheted the dark green Cthulhu you see her for my hubby to take to work.

Baby C has lived in on his bedside table for quite a few years now and he really wanted another to geek up his desk at work, so I obliged. Big C was relatively fast to make and just so cute! Baby C was Caron Simply Soft, and Big C was made from worsted acrylic. It was a cake of yarn, so I’m not sure what brand, could have been Bernat.

The free pattern is here.

Our new baby, Rose, is doing well. She is still mostly hiding, but I can coax her out with treats and when I do, she is so, so sweet and snuggly. For some reason, some loves my big toes and will lay in my lap with her paws on either side of one toe, like she’s holding on to it. That’s a new one on me!

She has met both Merlin and Marie, and while there had been very mild hissing, there was an initial 5 seconds of tail poufing and that was it. M & M have pretty much ignored her since becoming aware of her existence. I think once she comes out of my bedroom, they will take more interest. The door has been wide open for three days, but Rose hasn’t ventured past the door yet. I carried her to the top of the stairs and she was pretty much scared silly, so I put her down and she dashed back under my bed.

This is Merlin in a sunbeam, just because. At 16 1/2, he’s the old man of the house now. He’s had a few health issues recently, but as my wonderful vet said, he’s doing pretty good for a guy his age.

Our beautiful Marie is no longer the baby of the house, but the sassy lady. She’s very curious about Rose and I have a feeling that once the Miss R settles in, they will be excellent playmates.

PPV Prize April 2014

Share your Paper Piecing Vintage photos with the Sewhooked flickr group in April and you’ll have a chance to win a copy of Quilts From 100 Blocks, Fall 2013 (includes a pattern designed by me!) as well as copies of my patterns Poppies from the Past and My Kitchen Window!

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Sign up for Paper Piecing Vintage
and get a new pattern in two sizes each month during 2014!
That’s 24 patterns for just $12!

2013 To Do List…Recap (at last!)

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At the beginning of the last few years, I have recapped the UFO projects accumulated at the beginning of the previous year to see how much progress I made on each one. These lists do not include new projects that popped up over the year, though newbies often make an appearance on the following year’s list! When 2013 began, and I made my 2013 list, I was working full time outside of my home. After half a year of burning the candle not only at both ends, but in the middle too, I realized the life I was leading was not working for myself or for my family. When I left my full-time position, I fell right back into Sewhooked and, most importantly, back to my family.

2014 UFO List coming soon
2013 Recap – You’re here!
2013 To Do List
12 for 2012 recap post
12 for 2012 Project List and 2011 Follow-Up Post
2011 UFO list
2010 UFO list and the follow-up post

Definitions of some initialisms used in this post:

UFO = UnFinished Object – a project that has been set aside and allowed to collect dust. Chances are it’s existence has been forgotten until it’s pulled out of whatever dark hole it was stuffed into. While there, it probably multiplied like Tribbles, leaving many more UFOs than you remember putting there in the first place.

USO = UnStarted Object – a project that has yet not made it out of it’s incubation period. Often comes in the shape of a stack of fat quarters, a jelly roll or other similarly delicious fabric apparition. Can also appear as a pattern or book with little hearts doodled on the cover. Hopes to be a…

WIP = Work In Progress – Always in danger of becoming a UFO, a WIP is a project that is currently being worked on, and will hopefully become a…

FO = Finished Object – What all projects dream of being. The object of much blog activity and excitement and a good source of personal pride. The Ultimate Destination of a UFO and WIP.

Project – 2011 Five @ The Hive block of the month, designed by Sue Carter January 2013 – Need to add top & bottom border, quilt and bind. Have border, backing and binding fabric.

Status – FO and Gifted! Discussed in this TTMT (6:40 or so). Quilted by my friend Osie and given to my in-laws last year.

Project – Harry Potter Alphabet Quilt, designed by me. January 2013 – To be quilted & bound. Have back/binding fabric.

Harry Potter Title Font Alphabet Quilt

Status – FO! I talk about it in this TTMT. Quilted by Osie. She practiced pebbles on this and I LOVE the way it came out! I’m keeping this beauty for myself. I started designing and piecing the blocks in 2005 or 2006 and they sat in a shoebox for years.

Project – Hand applique wreath. January 2013 – Needs to be bound with green fabric (shown).

Status – FO! Done and gifted to my best friend, Jewells!

Project – Harry Potter swap block quilts (1 & 2) January 2013 – Quilt 1 needs a border, back and binding. To be quilted & bound. Quilt 2 needs to be pieced, quilted & bound.

Status, HP Swap Quilt 1 – WIP. Border added. needs to be quilted and bound. Have batting & backing fabric.

Status, HP Swap Quilt 2 – FO. These were blocks that didn’t quite fit the layout I worked out for the HP blocks. This one was pieced, free-motion quilted, bound and donated to The Linus Connection

Project – Vintage quilt top. January 2013 – To be quilted, possibly by hand. Needs a back & binding. I’m thinking muslin for the back. Status – UFO. No change. 😦

Project – Vintage churn dash & reproduction fabric snowball quilt top. January 2013 -Needs borders, back and to be quilted & bound.

Status – WIP. Has borders, backing and batting. Needs to be quilted & bound.

Project – Green/Purple 10 minute block quilt. January 2013 – Needs borders and to be quilted and bound. To be saved for a baby gift.

Status – WIP. Borders added, have backing and batting. To be quilted/bound.

Project – There and Back Again signature blocks January 2013 – To be pieced into a top. Will need fabric for sashing and possible center piece. Status – UFO. No change. I’m missing a block from one of the designers, so I have put off working on this.

Project – Misc 2 1/2″ & 4 1/2″ half-square triangles. January 2013 – To be pieced into a quilt top. Have taupe fabric for solid blocks to include in piecing.

Status – FO. 4 1/2″ half-square triangles pieced into quilt top. Free-motion quilted and bound, donated to The Linus Connection April 2013. Blogged about here. Still have lots of 2 1/2″ half-square triangles.

Project – There and Back Again (TABABOM). January 2013 – Needs a back and to be quilted, bound.

Status – WIP-ish. Have backing, batting and binding. Not yet quilted.

Project – Project of Doom Signature Quilt January 2013 – Finish the hand embroidery in the border, needs a back and to be quilted & bound. Will read “The Project of Doom 2011 Participants.”

Status – WIP. Embroidery finished, quilted by Shannon Shaw of Rock Creek Quilts. Needs binding.

Project – Embroidered block quilt top. January 2013 – Needs a border, back and to be quilted, bound. To be saved for a baby gift.

Status – WIP. Borders added, have back & binding. To be quilted & bound.

Project – Topsy Turvy Trees January 2013 – Needs a back and to be quilted, bound. Status – No change.

Project – Orphan block collection (mine and many many collected from others) January 2013 – Make into a quilt (or several!) for The Linus Connection.

And now it's a star again! #linusconnection

Status – FO/WIP – Finished one quilt and two quilt tops for donation to The Linus Connection and still have more orphan blocks! The second quilt needs a border, backing, quilting and binding. The third (star) quilt needs a backing, batting & binding.

Project – Flannel quilt top (I have NO idea when I pieced this, most of these fabrics have been gone from my stash for years!) January 2013 – Needs a back and to be quilted, bound, to be donated to The Linus Connection.

Status – FO. Quilted & bound, donated to The Linus Connection. Blogged!

Project – Monkey fabric from Jewells January 2013 – NEW PROJECT – Make into a quilt for The Linus Connection.

Status – FO. Made into a quilt top during Retreat 2013 and donated to The Linus Connection. Donated to The Linus Connection. This is only ph0to of the top I could find and it’s on the wall at the very beginning of this TTMT. I won’t lie, watching this video brought on the tears. My beloved Tackett is giving me some serious snuggles at the beginning which reminded me of why I miss him so much every day.

Project – Australia fabric from Cat January 2013 – NEW PROJECT – Pick a pattern and make top, hopefully king size!

Status – UFO. (Actually, USO…UnStarted Object!). I’ve picked a pattern I like, and that’s as far as I’ve gotten. I need to find an accent fabric and cut this puppy out!

Project – Fabric collection from Kristel, won from one of her TTMT drawings. January 2013 – NEW PROJECT – I would like to make this into a new bag for myself! Fancy that!

Status – Not even a UFO. I picked a bag pattern and then changed my mind. I’m considering sharing the love and passing this on as a prize.

Summary – Not bad, not bad! That’s seven completed quilts, one quilt that just needs a binding, several completed tops and a couple of projects that just need to get a little closer to done. I’m always equally surprised by A) how much I finished and B) what I forgot completely about.

Now, to work on my 2014 list!

Feel like being challenged to work on your UFOs in 2014? Pren, from The Convivial Crafter, a long time crafty friend of mine, has started a crafty support group Facebook group for just that reason! Her goal: One finished UFO per month! Totally doable, right?! Join UFO Project 2014. There are drawings and stuff!

Piece with me! Paper Piecing Vintage BOM, $12 on Craftsy!

Holiday Favorites

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It’s actually cold in Austin today. We had ice, which is so rare, I can’t even tell you!

Today seems like a great day to share some of my favorite things to make for Christmas.

Above, we’ve got Smiling Santa Gift Bag. I’ve been making some variation of this bag since my daughter was in kindergarten. She’s a college freshman now!

Click on the photo above or right here for the tutorial.

Candy Cups were shared with me YEARS ago by my aunt. These are wonderful gifts for teachers or anyone else you’d like to give something extra special to.

Tutorial!

These gift tags made from recycled cereal boxes weren’t originally a Christmas craft, but I’ve used them for Christmas many times over the years. This is a fun craft for kiddos, too. Make sure you use non-toxic stamps when working with little ones.

Tutorial

This is a little stocking ornament I came up with to teach my kids to blanket stitch. There are several of these on my tree. It’s an easy craft to make and share and no special tools are needed!

Tutorial & pattern

You can find more crafts and tutorials right here.

Reminder! Pre-registration for Paper Piecing Vintage is now live!

Have a wonderful, crafty weekend!

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Featured Pattern: Tree Trimming, $8 on Craftsy!

Easy Crochet Stocking Ornament

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A couple of weeks ago, while searching for a crochet pattern, I unearthed a hand written pattern dated Christmas 2000 with a note “adapted from an ornament on Mom and Dad’s tree.”

I had a vague memory of what the ornament was, but decided to pull out some yarn and work it up.

As you do!

This makes a 5-sided Granny Square, which is then folded in half to create a stocking. It’s SUPER EASY and only takes a teeny tiny bit of yarn.

I will not take credit for the original pattern but will share my reverse-engineered version.

Free Printable PDF or Get it on Craftsy (also free!)

Add it to your Ravelry queue:

You will need:

H hook
small amount of worsted weight yarn

I made mine from worsted yarn, but because gauge isn’t so important here, you could use another weight and a smaller hook and it would work just fine.

Start: Ch 4, sl st to form ring (sorry, no picture for this step!)

Row 1: Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2. [3 dc, ch 2] 4 times. sl st to top of ch 3 to join.

Row 2*: Sl st to next corner. ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc, ch 1. [3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc, ch 1] in each corner. sl st to top of ch 3 to join.

Row 3: Sl st to next corner. ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc, ch 1. [(3 dc, ch 1 in ch space) (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in corner), ch 1] around. sl st to top of ch 3 to join.

Joining**: Sl st to corner then fold in half, wrong sides together.

Joining, continued: This is the toe of the stocking. Making sure the two sides line up (spaces, corners, etc), 2 sc in the first stitch and 1 sc in each stitch and sp up the side, 3 sc in corner (heel).

Hanging chain: Ch 15, sl st in sc at start of ch. Finish off. Embellish as desired!

*For a smaller ornament, finish off after row 2.

**If you’d prefer, you can also whipstitch the sides together.

For added variety, make each round in a different color, add pompoms, bells or buttons for even more cuteness!

Two of these cuties together. Love!

I love to see your Sewhooked projects…and there’s a flickr group for that!

A picture of my cat Marie, just because.

Paper Piecing Vintage: Sign-ups start TOMORROW!!

Be sure to comment on this post for a chance win a free copy of the January pattern!

Did you miss Crafting The Holidays? I posted lots of places you can my crafty wares (both free and for sale!) online.

Don’t forget to shop with small businesses and independent artists for the holiday season: Use coupon SHOPSMALL now through Dec. 15 in my Etsy Shop for 15% off your total purchase!

See you tomorrow with TTMT and Paper Piecing Vintage sign ups!

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Featured Pattern: Tree Trimming, $8 on Craftsy!

Revisiting Ariel

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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.

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.

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.

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

Center block from the back.

Popcorn border.

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!

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Learn to Paper Piece Sweet Skating Sue, just $3 on Craftsy

Crafts of Halloweens Past: Candy Corn Hat

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A hat that looks like Candy Corn? Well, it’s more the spirit of Candy Corn, but it does the trick!

From the wayback machine of 2009, enjoy this simple sweet crochet pattern created in homage of one of the most delightful, delicious and downright bad for you treats of all time.

The pattern is free, just click here!

To make reliving the Crafts of Halloween Past even more fun for you, I’m offering a challenge with a prize!

Make any of my Halloween projects or patterns posted during the course of the month and post a photo to the Sewhooked flickr group tagged “halloween.”

At the end of the month, I’ll draw a winner to receive a free copy of Quiltmaker’s Quilts from 100 Blocks, which includes my pattern Corn Maze! Heck, I’ll even sign it, if you like!

Don’t Miss Week 3 of Name That Mustache, posted this Monday!

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Featured Pattern: A Little Haunted, $8 on Craftsy

you have no idea how utterly unprecedented you are

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Left: TFiOS Clouds, 7″ Hand Embroidery or Applique

Right: TFiOS Clouds, 8″ Paper Pieced

While organizing the #TFiOS Design Challenge over on Fandom In Stitches, I could not resist designing a couple of patterns myself.

Ehem.

The Fault in Our Stars has been one of my favorite books since the first time it was placed into my hot little hands.

As well as being a beautifully written, it is also an extremely quotable book. With that in mind, I created two versions of the same image, both just waiting for Your Words Here.

The design on the above left will work either for applique or for hand embroidery.

The design on the above right is paper pieced, but will also work just fine if you’d like to embroider the clouds after piecing.

And now, a couple of my favorite quotes, grabbed from GoodReads.

“As he read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.”

★

“Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book.”

★

“Some people don’t understand the promises they’re making when they make them,” I said.

“Right, of course. But you keep the promise anyway. That’s what love is. Love is keeping the promise anyway.”

★

“The world is not a wish-granting factory.”

★

“You are so busy being YOU that you have no idea how utterly unprecedented you are.”

― John Green, The Fault in Our Stars

★★★

I know, right?

Go Vote! Winner announced Tuesday on Fandom In Stitches.

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Featured Pattern: A Little Haunted, $8 on Craftsy

Crafts of Halloween Past: Cauldron Pin Cushion

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From the way back in 2008 Tutorial machine comes a craft I’ve been making for probably 10 or more years; the Cauldron Pin Cushion!

Anyplace you shop that has Halloween supplies will have 6, 8, or 12 packs of these wee cauldrons.

And, because we can never have enough toys in our sewing spaces, why not a cauldron pin cushion?

For some added magic, use wool instead of polyfil to help keep your needles sharp!

Go to the tutorial!

To make reliving the Crafts of Halloween Past even more fun for you, I’m offering a challenge with a prize!

Make any of my Halloween projects or patterns posted during the course of the month and post a photo to the Sewhooked flickr group tagged “halloween.”

At the end of the month, I’ll draw a winner to receive a free copy of Quiltmaker’s Quilts from 100 Blocks, which includes my pattern Corn Maze! Heck, I’ll even sign it, if you like!

Don’t Miss Week 2 of Name That Mustache tomorrow here on Sewhooked!

Do you design paper pieced, embroidery, applique or other quilt patterns? Love John Green books? Join us for the #tfios Design Challenge, happening now on Fandom In Stitches!

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Featured Pattern: Wizard with Snake, $2 on Craftsy

part of the Friendly Familiars Set!

Crafts of Halloweens Past: Easy Felt Bats

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Here’s another fun craft from Halloweens Past!

What better way to decorate for Halloween than a flock of adorably spooky felt bats?

These guys are about as easy as it gets, needing only a few supplies and maybe half an hour of your time! We have lots of these cute little guys and have used them to decorate both inside and outside our front door.

The Easy Felt Bats Tutorial dates from October 2008. Enjoy!

To make reliving the Crafts of Halloween Past even more fun for you, I’m offering a challenge with a prize!

Make any of my Halloween projects or patterns posted during the course of the month of October and post a photo to the Sewhooked flickr group tagged “halloween.”

At the end of the month, I’ll draw a winner to receive a free copy of Quiltmaker’s Quilts from 100 Blocks, which includes my pattern Corn Maze!

Heck, I’ll even sign it, if you like!

Do you design paper pieced, embroidery, applique or other quilt patterns? Love John Green books? Join us for the #tfios Design Challenge, happening now on Fandom In Stitches!

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