Category Archives: Hand Crafts

Birthdays and BFFs

Just over a week ago, I got to do something that I look forward to all year around – see my best friend, Jewells. We live hundreds of miles apart and with our kids still in school, we’re lucky to get one visit a year.

I’ve talked about Jewells here before, when I shared the quilt I made for her 2008 birthday.

Jewells always shares amazingly thoughtful handmade gifts. She’s knitted socks for me, made “snowballs” for my kids (who rarely see snow here in Texas) and just generally shared her talent, creativity and thoughtfulness with my family.

Due to a variety of circumstances beyond her control, my birthday gift for this year was belated. Parts on back-order and such created one delay after another for her. Due to the delays, she was able to do something that I can’t remember happening in many years – hand deliver my birthday gift!

I’m so excited to share this truly wonderful gift here. This gorgeous perpetual calendar was an idea from a craft store flier than ended up morphing into a whole new design that Jewells made especially for me.

She pieced, stitched, stamped, glued, stenciled, covered buttons, crocheted and oh my gosh, I don’t know what else! Look and be amazed. I am truly a lucky girl to have had such an amazing friend for almost half of my life.

Oh, and? It was her FIRST QUILT ever!

Jewells talks about this project here and even more here!

The whole Kit And Kaboodle! Why coffee? Because it’s been one of our favorite past times since our time as college roommates and we still enjoy sitting over a cup o’ Joe and chatting the day away.

The months are stamped on felt which sticks right to the velcro. Each month is customized with coordinating ribbon!

The months have their own nifty little pouch for storage.

Each date was stamped on fabric, which was then used to make custom velcro-back buttons.

The set includes the calendar and two pouches (one for the months, one for the days). Even the back is coffee themed!

I repurposed a cafe rod and hooks for hanging this beauty in my foyer. The cafe rod and hooks were cream and brass and have been primed and spray painted black.

Thank you, Jewells, I can’t even express how much I love the time and thought that went into this gift. Even better was getting to open it in front of you!

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Honey Bee Open House for Summer 2010

Ravelry Shoppe: Bubble Cloche

TTMT 56: Birthday Bliss

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Want your own? Get the stencil here!

In which I share birthday gift goodness and the project for my upcoming freezer paper stenciling class.

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Way Back Craft: Name Tees

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Talk about Way Back…I’m slightly embarrassed to say that it’s been almost a year since I posted a Way Back Craft!

Way Back Crafts are crafts I made ages and ages ago. Usually, they were posted on my very first craft site, Jen’s Crochet and Crafts (1998 – 2006), but they have not been posted to the sewhooked blog or were only posted to sewhooked in a very basic way.

Today’s craft comes to you from around 2001 or 2002. I made these cute t-shirts for holiday gifts for my nieces, daughter, and several children of my friends (that’s an original, old school pre-digital photo there!). These were made around the same time t-shirts embellished with “Princess” were really popular. The shirts were a huge hit with the bonus of being easy and inexpensive to make!

Supplies

light colored t-shirt
Fabric Paint (Tulip Slick Glitter used in picture)
safety pins
masking tape
polyester glitter (optional)
well-lit window or light box

Prepare your t-shirt by washing and drying without fabric softener.
Using your word processing software, print the name you want to paint in a large, bold font. This paper will go inside the shirt as a guideline.
Position the name you printed inside the shirt where you want to paint, securing with a couple of safety pins or masking tape.
Using masking tape, tape the t-shirt to a clean, dry window. If you are lucky enough to have a light box, use that instead.
Trace the letters with chalk or pencil.
Place a t-shirt form or box (Priority shipping box works well) inside the t-shirt to make it easier to paint.
Trace the text again with the fabric paint. It is important not to touch the tip of the paint to the shirt, which can drag the paint and make it smear. Take your time, as it this can be tedious, but it’s worth it!
When you’re done, find a safe place for your shirt to dry flat 24 hours.
For an iridescent effect, sprinkle iridescent polyester glitter on wet paint before allowing to dry.
Wait 24 hours, then shake off excess glitter.
Wash & dry inside out.

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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5 Minute Baby Booties

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Well, okay, you’ve got me. Five minutes might be a bit of an exaggeration. Even so, I’d say 10-15 minutes tops to make these sweet little booties that I designed to accompany some loom knit baby hats I’ve been making to donate to a hospital where a friend works.

Make them for a baby you love or a baby in need!

queue on ravelry

printable version

You Need:

small amounts of 1 each – baby yarn and worsted weight yarn. I used I Love This Yarn and Bernat Baby Jacquards. You can also use two stands of sport/medium weight yarn.
K Hook

Ch 3, join in first st to form loop.

Round 1: ch 3, 8 dc in loop, join with sl st at top of ch 3.

Round 2: Ch 3, dc in each st around. Join with sl st at top of ch 3.

Round 3: Ch 3, dc in each st around. Do not join.

Round 4 – 5: ch 3, turn, dc in each st around.

Cuff: Continuing from round 5 and working along the side of the previously worked stitches which make the opening of the bootie:

Ch 3, 2 dc in each of the next three dc. Dc once in each of the next two dc from round 2 that the beginning and ending sts of round 3 are worked in. 2 dc in each of the next three dc. Join with a sl st to the top of starting ch 3. Cut, leaving about an 8″ tail. Whip stitch the back closed and finish off.

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sew awesome: The Princess

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Being blessed with friends the way I am, I guess it’s no surprise that I have royalty on my side! This sewhooked Sew Awesome award is looong overdue and well deserved.

When I put the call out for for help with blankets for Linus, The Princess, aka Amber of Amber’s Originals, not only made and donated blankets to The Linus Connection, my favorite charity, she designed this brand new pattern just for Linus!

And then she posted it for everyone to share…for free.

The Texas Brick Blanket, from Amber’s Originals

I’ve been working on my very own version of this awesome blanket. The technique is different than anything I’ve ever crocheted and I just love the way it’s turning out!

My version, in progress.

Amber, you ROCK, thank you for sharing! See more of Amber’s original, creative and downright cool work here.

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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vlog #49 – TTMT – Something Old

Strawberry Ice Cream Baby Blanket goes Knit Picks!

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Strawberry Ice Cream Baby Blanket, made by Knit Picks

Some days, the good news can’t get any better!

On Friday, Knit Picks, a site that any yarn lover will know, published one of my crochet patterns, Strawberry Ice Cream Baby Blanket!

How exciting is that!?

Download the pattern free from Knit Picks

The original Strawberry Ice Cream Baby Blanket was donated to The Linus Connection in March 2009, blogged.

Thank you Knit Picks, for publishing my pattern and making my day! Thanks to Stacey for making it easy as ice cream!

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Quilting: Design Wall!

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What, you might ask, does this vinyl Christmas tablecloth have to do with a design wall? Well, let me tell ya!

A little birdie told me that I could use a flannel-backed tablecloth for a design wall. Okay, it was Marge (hi, Marge!), who has one in her sewing room, and it works great for her.

The idea has been at the back of my mind for months, but I didn’t have a spare wall. After debating with myself, and lots of cleaning and re-arranging in my sewing/craft room (including giving up a table…GASP!), I am the proud owner of an absolutely free design wall, courtesy of an upcycled tablecloth pulled out of my Christmas stuff!

I love that I’ve been able to put the otherwise unused tablecloth to good use!

The tablecloth was very wrinkled, so I put my iron on the lowest setting and gently ironed the flannel side, leaving the iron on the fabric as little as possible. It smoothed the tablecloth out great, now it has no wrinkly bits!

I applied the tablecloth to the wall just like you’d cover a frame or a seat cushion. One pin in the top and the bottom, then one in each side, smoothing and pinning around until it was taut. It was literally about a 5 minute job.