Category Archives: Hand Crafts

The POD BOW Cometh

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Tomorrow is the big day – the day I will post the very first pattern for the Harry Potter Paper Piecing Project of Doom.

This project is months in the making and has been created for all my fellow crafty HP fans as a spanking big THANK YOU for all the support I’ve received since I started designing and sharing patterns online over five years ago.

It’s also the last HP paper piecing project I plan to do. I’ve put everything I have into making this project truly awesome and I hope it will be fun, fun, fun both for me to present and for you to play along.

I’ve been teasing about this for weeks in my Talk To Me Tuesday videos and have even shown off my background fabric on Fabric Friday. I’ve been stitching up a storm and I cannot express how EXCITED I am about this quilt!

If you love, or even just like Harry Potter, if you paper piece or you want to learn, this is the time and the project for you! There will be lots of us playing along and at the end we will have a completed quilt top. Not just a stack of blocks, but an entire quilt. I’ve designed the layout as well as the blocks and will give instruction on how to complete the top once all the blocks are made. A whole, complete Harry Potter quilt!

Are you excited yet?

If you are, visit hp_paperpiecing on Livejournal. That’s where all the fun will be taking place! If you’re not a member of the community yet, it’s easy to sign up for a free Livejournal account and then join the community. All Project of Doom (POD) patterns will be posted there first, so be sure to sign up!

If you’re part of the hp_paperpiecing community and you share your photos with me either via email or through our flickr group, you will be eligible for the monthly prize drawing for participating members! The prizes are fantastic this year and have been donated by a variety of community members. I’m waiting for a last couple of prizes to arrive in the mail and then I’ll post a photo of the awesomeness.

I can’t wait to get started!

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2010 UFO – How’d I do?

On January 2, 2010, I posted UFO Round Up with photos and descriptions of UFOs I hoped to complete in 2010, or at least make some progress on in 2010.

Here’s how I did! Current status of each project is in red.

To Be Quilted:

Friendship Quilt by Jen's Grannie & friends
January 2, 2010 – Grannie’s Autograph Quilt – This was my Grannie’s and was previously a tied quilt. I’d like to hand quilt it, but I’ve been reluctant to start until I finish my Electric Amish project (see below).

January 5, 2011 –  This top has borders and is in the process of being quilted.


Lost & Found Flour Sack Quilt
January 2, 2010 – Lost and Found Flour Sack Quilt – A quilt top my mom found when she inherited my Grannie’s house. It was originally much longer with holes in several of the squares. I removed a few rows across the bottom (which is not how it was pieced, so it was a pain!) and the damaged fabrics, then replaced those with some of that fabric salvaged from the bottom. The border is muslin, which is also what I’d like to put on the back.
Grannie's Trunk Quilt
January 5, 2011 – Renamed Grannie’s Trunk Quilt. This top was quilted by my friend Linda and then returned to my mom. Read all about it here.


in progress quilts for Linus
January 2, 2010 – Yellow/Green Linus X-Quilts (from fabric donated by Laci L) – made from the Layer ‘Em Up book by Sharyn Craig. Easy peasy tops made from just 2 yards of fabric, both are baby-size. To finish by the next Linus meeting, January 16, 2009.

2 of 2, made from fabric given to me by Laci Donated January 2010

January 5, 2011 – Both quilts were finished and donated to The Linus Connection in January and February of 2010.

Electric Amish by Jen

January 2, 2010 – Electric Amish (hand quilting project, about 1/3 complete) – modified Storm at Sea pattern. This is the first large quilt top I completed that I intended to keep for myself. I’ve been quilting on it for at least five years.  To say that hand quilting is not my strong point is an understatement!

Electric Amish

January 5, 2011 – Done, done, done and VERY happy about it! Blogged about here and vlogged here.

Tops to Finish:

Bear Paws in progress
January 2, 2010 – Brown Bear (blocks are done, need more borders and to be pieced) – from a pass around with my bee. We made the bear paws for each other.  I’ve pieced the units, which still need borders.

January 5, 2011 – Sadly, no progress at all on these. They look exactly like they did a year ago.


HP block swaps all together

January 2, 2010 – HP swap received (blocks are done, need layout, piecing) – from various online quilt block swaps 2007-2008.  Not all of these will go in the finished quilt because a few were the wrong size.  I’ll save those for something else.

January 5, 2011 – No progress here, either, though I have thought about these blocks a lot over the last year. I’ve come to the conclusion that I need to split them into two groups and make two different quilts. Now, I just have to decide how to do it!

Christmas Cottage Swap, blocks rec'd Christmas Cottage Swap, blocks rec'd Christmas Cottage Swap, blocks rec'd Christmas Cottage Swap, blocks rec'd Christmas Cottage Swap, blocks rec'd

January 2, 2010 – Christmas Cottage swap received (blocks are done, need layout, piecing) – blocks received from the 2009 All About Paper Piecing Christmas Cottage Swap. I’m not in a huge hurry for these since I just got them all, but they’re officially a UFO, so they’re on the list.

Christmas Cottage swap blocks with whimsical Christmas trees
January 5, 2011 – I pieced the top, added the trees and the first border at my bee’s annual retreat in March last year (photo taken there on our portable design wall). I plan to do piano keys out of my stash of sparkly Christmas fabric for the last border. The original idea was to be done by this Christmas that just passed, but that didn’t happen!

Layer Em Up for Linus
January 2, 2010 – Layer ‘Em Up 2 for Linus (blocks are pieced, need to be squared and top pieced) – To finish by the next Linus meeting, January 16, 2009.

Layer 'Em Up made at Linus Work Day

January 5, 2011 – Top finished in January and then quilted by my friend Marge and donated to Linus in February 2010. I love the way this quilt turned out. As a bonus, I got to meet Sharyn Craig in October and tell her how much her patterns have meant to our organization!

New York Beauty Block

January 2, 2010 – Batik Beauty (finish blocks) – this will likely be my quilt retreat project for March. I’d like to have this top done by April in order to show the NYB class I’m teaching at Honey Bee.

January 5, 2011 – I have a whole stack of these blocks done, which I did take to my class, but the top has not yet been pieced. The class was fun to teach,  mainly because I had awesome students, but New York Beauty blocks are not my favorites and I doubt I’ll teach them again any time soon. For now, this project is staying in the bag.

Sewing:
January 2, 2010 – Pillowcases to donate to Honey Bee for the 1 Million Pillowcases Challenge.

Pillow made with the "hot dog" method...so cool! 10 Pillowcases

January 5, 2011 – Not only did I make a stack of pillowcases to donate (over 10 total!), I wrote a tutorial to share with Honey Bee, which was posted both here and on the Honey Bee website. The Hot Dog Pillowcase Tutorial was my most viewed post on the Sewhooked Blog in 2010!

January 2, 2010 – New Bag with pockets for BB & camera

Monk's Bag 2.0 Tutorial

January 5, 2011 – Done in form of Monk’s Bag 2.0, completed February 2010. I’ve been carrying this bag ever since and am constantly having people ask where I got it. This was another popular tutorial from last year.

Crochet

Black & Red Swap - Received
January 2, 2010 – Twilight Crafts Black & Red Swap Received (layout and finish) – knit and crochet squares.  I might make a few more, or I might just border these and make them into a lapghan.

January 5, 2011 – In progress as my “carpool crochet” project. I’m making simple white squares to set between each of the red & black ones. I will likely donate it to Linus when I’m done, though I hate to say goodbye to these blocks!

In Progress - jeweled "Turn Around Granny"

January 2, 2010 – Turn Around Granny Square ‘ghan (more rounds? and finish) – Oh geez, these have been sitting for at least a year. I’m uninspired as to what I need to do next. More rounds? Just put them together? No idea!

Jewelled Granny Ghan

January 5, 2011 – Completed and renamed Jewelled Granny Ghan. Gifted to my in-laws for Christmas 2010 because they are awesome.

That’s it for the 2010 UFO Round-up update. Would you like to see a 2011 version? Let me know and I’ll get to work on what needs to be done this year!

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Fabric Friday

Fabric Friday

One of the weaknesses I’ve acquired over the last couple of years is for vintage flour sacking.  Part of the reason for this new found love has a lot to do with inheriting quilt tops and blocks from my grandmother. Grannie’s 9-Patch is a work-in-progress, currently on my machine being quilted. Grannie’s Trunk Quilt was finished earlier this year and returned to my mom, who now lives with my dad in her mother’s, my grandmother’s, house.

I’ve been acquiring more flour sacking in bits and pieces and I think I will eventually create a sampler quilt using these fabrics. It’s something I’ve had on my mind to do for quite some time and I can’t think of a more  appropriate fabric choice!

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My Friends Make Stuff 2010

You may remember Handmade For The Holidays 2009, where I talked about my crafty friends that make and sell handmade awesomeness.

I started posting this list originally on Livejournal back in 2007 and each year I collect names from personal friends who are crafty and awesome, making all kinds of great things to sell. This year, I’m including an author friend because he is a very talented artist and self-published, which is, of course, awesome!

I personally own stuff made by everyone on this list. It’s ALL amazing, and made with skill and love, and in the case of the books, beautifully illustrated and a joy to read.

Also, I will happily continue to add the names of my friends to this list until the end of 2010, so if you should be on here and aren’t, just drop me an email!

Also be sure to check out my shop and etsy store for quilting, paper pieced patterns, crochet hats and buttons!

Listings are in alphabetical order by first word. 🙂

Convivial Crafter

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What you sell: this year will be hats, and aprons and maybe a few bags

Price Range: $10-$50Int’l Shipping Available?: yes but shipping will be charged differently.

Fateful Fiber


Neon Delirium (Sandman) Handspun, DFTA Yarn, Blazing Baby Hat

What you sell: Handspun yarn, fingerless gloves (coming soon but I do take custom orders), baby hats, adult hats. Right now the shop has yarn and 1 baby hat

Price Range: $10-30

Last date to order before Christmas: I’ll do my best to ship as close to Christmas as I get orders. Mail takes at LEAST 3-4 days so I can’t offer guarantees, but I promise to do my best!

Int’l Shipping Available?: Yes, just convo me for a shipping quote.

Von Allan Studios

What you sell: writes/draws graphic novels

Price Range: In the $15 range.

Int’l Shipping Available?: If you would prefer not to order from an online retailer AND your local stores aren’t carrying the books and won’t order them…please e-mail.

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Classic Film

Classic Film

Get Classic Film

Whew.

What a relief that this pattern is finally created for your enjoyment!

When I first drafted this pattern back in 2008, it was strictly as a prop for my then-book. Once my contract was canceled, this piece sat in closet with the rest of the finished Magical Friends projects.

When I made the decision to literally bring them out of the closet and add the patterns I had worked so very hard on to my infant Sewhooked shop, showing off Saturday Morning Monster Movies garnered an immediate response. You wanted the layout pattern and you wanted it yesterday! Well, of course I couldn’t find my original notes anywhere. So, guess who drafted this pattern all over again, just for  you?

I am so excited that I can finally share the newly drafted, tested and altogether fun-to-make Classic Film pattern. I hope you have as much fun making it as I had drafting it…both times!

Classic Film was created specifically to display 5” (finished) quilt blocks, which is by far my favorite size block to design. All the Magical Friends are 5″ in their original size, as are most of the free patterns available on Sewhooked.

Use your favorite paper pieced patterns, applique or fussy cut to create a striking film layout to show off your favorite blocks!

Finished size – 12″ x 31″
Techniques – Traditional and Strip Piecing

 

Want to learn to paper piece? Check out my free paper piecing resources and text tutorial!

Shop Sewhooked and help keep the free patterns free!

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

Happy crafting!

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Super Long Spiral Boa

Spiral Rainbow scarf for Wendy

Every once in a while, I get an idea that will not leave me alone. I have a friend named Wendy. She loves rainbows. LOVES. Like loves adores worships…you get the picture. I had wanted to make her something rainbow-worthy for a while, when I came across a skein of Red Heart Kids in Crayon, which inspired me to create an awesome, HUGE scarf for her.

Super Secret Project sneak peak
I wanted the project to be a surprise, but I also wanted her to know I had a project in the works. Yeah, I’m funny like that. I shared this photo as a teaser!

This is part guidelines, part pattern. It’s super simple and works up really quickly.

Super Long Spiral Boa

  • ~4 oz of worsted weight yarn
  • Size H or I hook

Loosely cochet an RLC (Really Long Chain). Mine was about 6′ long and reached to my knees. Yours can be shorter or longer.

Row 1 – sc in to the third ch from the hook, and in each ch across. Chain 3, turn

Row 2 – 4 DC in the same st as the turning ch, 5 DC in each st across.

Finish off.

See, I told you it was easy!

Spiral Rainbow scarf for Wendy

When you get done, your spiral is likely to not be 100% spirally. Not to worry! Find a place to hang your scarf…a hook, a clothesline, your bff, etc. Working from one end of the scarf to the other, make sure all the spirals, well, spiral! It might take a few minutes, but it will be worth your effort.

Did you watch today’s TTMT? I made a matching hat using Amber (of Amber’s Originals) Bella at the Beach (on ravelry).

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

 

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Busy Bodies

Broomstick Witch

Potion Maker Fortune Teller

Oopsie Daisy Witch Green Thumb Witch Old Wise Wizard

My journey creating Sunbonnet Sue’s Magical Friends, while frustrating at times, was overall a good experience. I learned a lot about publishing and layout, despite not seeing my book in print.

I’ve had many people suggest that I self-publish the book. It’s something I definitely haven’ t ruled out, but for now, I’m very happy to own my own small pattern company and to continue to share both my for sale designs and  free patterns designed both by myself and my talented Guest Designers on Sewhooked.

This is the last “official” set of Magical Friends, meaning only that these cute little characters are the last of the patterns that would have been part of the book.  Like any other project, there are often tangents that occur that may or may not make the final cut. Those design will be presented as supplemental sets. Those sets were, in my own opinion, not quite obviously magical enough or they have other elements that aren’t very Sunbonnet Sue, or they got away from the basic theme I was following. They’re still fun patterns that I believe captures my my style and enjoyment of the work.

Sunbonnet Sue’s Magical Friends (Set 5) – Busy Bodies includes Broomstick Witch, Fortune Teller, Green Thumb Witch, Old Wise Wizard, Oopsie Daisy Witch and Potion Maker.

Sunbonnet Sue’s Magical Friends are inspired by the classic Sunbonnet Sue and Overall Sam blocks, with a fun, whimsical twist!

Complete paper pieced patterns and sewing order for each. Pattern can be printed in color or gray scale.

5″ finished
patterns can be printed in color or gray scale

Included: 5  paper pieced block patterns with sewing order.

These patterns and others are super-easy to buy from the Sewhooked Shop as an instant PDF download with PayPal payment – completely secure shopping through E-junkie! If you feel more comfortable shopping through e-junking, you can go straight to my storefront there.

With your PDF download, you receive a 6 paper pieced patterns with seam allowance and stitching instructions.

Sunbonnet Sue’s Magical Friends

Set 1 – Monster Madness

Set 2 – Wand Wielders

Set 3 – Fanciful Fairies

Set 4 – Friendly Familiars

Want to learn to paper piece? Check out my free paper piecing resources and text tutorial or take my Introduction To Paper Piecing class at Honey Bee Quilt Store (new dates coming soon)!

Shop Sewhooked and help keep the free patterns free!

Add your Sewhooked-related photos (that includes my patterns posted to Fandom In Stitches!) to my flickr group and you might be featured in a future post!

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Friendly Familiars

Wizard with Rat

Witch with Owl Wizard with Snake

Wizard with Toad Witch with Cat

There’s just something a little extra magical about a story with animals in it. Perhaps it’s how they seem to perceive our needs and be our friends, without ever being able to verbally communicate. Maybe it’s because they’re cute or maybe, just maybe, it’s because we see something simple and appealing when we look at our cat curled up in a spot of sunshine.

Enter Sunbonnet Sue’s Magical Friends (Set 4) – Friendly Familiars: Wizard with Rat, Witch with Owl, Witch with Cat, Wizard with Snake and Wizard with Toad.

Sunbonnet Sue’s Magical Friends are inspired by the classic Sunbonnet Sue and Overall Sam blocks, with a fun, whimsical twist!

Complete paper pieced patterns and sewing order for each. Pattern can be printed in color or gray scale.

5″ finished
patterns can be printed in color or gray scale

Included: 5  paper pieced block patterns with sewing order.

These patterns and others are super-easy to buy from the Sewhooked Shop as an instant PDF download with PayPal payment – completely secure shopping through E-junkie! If you feel more comfortable shopping through e-junking, you can go straight to my storefront there.

With your PDF download, you receive a 6 paper pieced patterns with seam allowance and stitching instructions.

Sunbonnet Sue’s Magical Friends.

Set 1 – Monster Madness

Set 2 – Wand Wielders

Set 3 – Fanciful Fairies

Want to learn to paper piece? Check out my free paper piecing resources and text tutorial or take my Introduction To Paper Piecing class at Honey Bee Quilt Store (new dates coming soon)!

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.

Happy crafting!

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TARDIS Treat Bag

TARDIS TREAT BAG TUTORIAL

Being the Doctor Who obsessed family that we have become, I suppose it’s no surprise that one of my kids is going as The Doctor for Halloween. My eldest has their Ten costume all ready to go, courtesy of a day of thrifting. Because I can’t not be involved in costume making, I asked if there was anything I could do.

“Mum, can you can you make a TARDIS bag for my treats?”

You better believe I can!

Despite it’s awesomeness, the TARDIS Treat Bag is super simple.

You need:

  • 9″ x 12″ acrylic felt sheets – 5 dark blue, 1 white and 1 glitter black
  • scissors
  • thread (I used navy blue)
  • ruler (rotary, if you’ve got one)
  • rotary cutter (optional)
  • sewing machine (optional)

You can definitely do this project without a rotary cutter and ruler and even without a sewing machine, so those items are optional. If you do hand stitch, make sure you make tight, even stitches and use heavy-duty knots so you don’t lose your candy!

Cutting Instructions:

from 1 sheet of blue felt (the other 4 sheets of felt stay 9″ x 12″), cut:

  • 9″ x 9″ square  -bag bottom

from 1 sheet of white felt, cut:

  • 8 – 2 1/2″ x 3″  – Windows
  • 1 – 1/2 x 2″ – Notice
  • (optional) 4″ x 5″ – cell phone pocket

Using your ruler, arrange the window pieces on the 9″ x 12″ sheets of felt so that they are 1 1/2″ in from the sides and 2″ down from the top.  For the TARDIS front, center the notice under the left window, leaving about 1/2″ in between.

Arrange window pieces on remaining three 9″ x 12″ blue felt.

Stitch windows in place, 1/4″ in from outside of white felt. The TARDIS windows have six panes. My windows are estimated, but you can measure and divide your stitching if you choose. Repeat for the two sides that are NOT the front of the TARDIS.

For the Notice on the front, sew some random stitching onto the  1 1/2″ x 2″ piece of felt (as shown). This gives the illusion of writing from a distance. Stitch on each of the four sides with a short zig-zag stitch in each corner (forgot to take a close up…look about three photos down and you can see what I mean!).

Cell Phone Pocket

OPTIONAL – After stitching all the windows on, choose a blue side that is NOT the TARDIS front. Align the 4″ x 5″ piece of felt under the window stitching. Straight stitch on the two long sides and across the bottom, making sure to backstitch at the start and stop. This is your cell phone pocket.

For handles – Fold in half lengthwise and zig-zag down the open side.

Your TARDIS is now ready for assembly!

Find the front (windows with notice) and back (cell phone pocket – or without if you didn’t make one) and bag bottom.  With the insides facing/right side out, place the bottom of the front piece along one side of the 9″ x 9″ bottom piece. Stitch across, leaving 1/4″ at the beginning and end of the seam unstitched (see below).

Seam allowance will be on the outside of the bag.

1/4″ unstitched on the end of the seam (both ends).

Repeat stitching for the back side, making sure the bottom of that side meets the bottom of the bag.

Sew the remaining two pieces on opposite sides, continuing to leave 1/4″ open at each end of the seam.

Find the front and the piece immediately to the left. Bring the two long sides (wrong side) together, right side out.

Stitch from corner to corner.

Repeat for the remaining three corners.

You now have a TARDIS with no handles. That’s the last bit and then you’re done!

The handles attach to the front (windows + notice) and back of the bag. Use a ruler to line up the handles 2 1/2″ in from each side of the bag, with about 2/3″ inside. Pin in place.

Starting at a corner seam, stitch all the way across the top of the bag, backstitching when you get to the handles. For added strength, continue stitching all the way around the bag, flattening out the seam allowance with your fingers before you stitch across it.

Handles…and you can see the cell phone pocket, too!

Snip above and below the top stitching to make the little notches (optional).

The TARDIS Treat Bag is easy to fold, just fold in the bottom and it will fold in on itself.

And… DONE!

Front detail.

FREE Doctor Who Quilt Patterns!
5" Dalek, paper pieced 20" TARDIS block TARDIS 

Happy crafting!

♥ 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. ♥

Fabric Friday – Scraps

Jewells' Birthday Gift 2010

For Fabric Friday this week, I want to talk about one of my favorite kinds of fabrics… Scraps! Scraps come in all shapes and sizes. They are they leftovers, consider tossable by many that sew, scraps are my preferred palate for many projects, including paper piecing and a fun technique I’ve been enjoying lately passed on my by friend Osie and the book, It’s A Wrap.

fabric friday (1)

Purple scraps became a gorgeous tote that I made for my best friend, Jewells’,  birthday.

Jewells' Birthday Gift 2010

Many of these fabrics were purples used in the quilt I made for a previous birthday gift for Jewells.

fabric friday (2)

Another type of scrap I’ve become increasingly fond of is selvage. Selvage has been turned into all kinds of things and there’s a whole blog dedicated to it! I saved mine up, with the help of my quilty friends, and made a bowl.

Selvage Bowl

Selvage Bowl

So, for Fabric Friday, rethink your scraps…there is treasure lurking in there, if only you’re willing to look for it!

See photos from the It’s A Wrap class I taught this week!

Happy crafting!

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