Category Archives: Hand Crafts

2010 UFO Round Up

I’ve decided 2010 will be the year I finish some long-standing UFOs.  I’ve made a list and added to the dry erase board I keep in my sewing & craft room.  Here’s a more visual version to keep me inspired!

To Be Quilted:

  • 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).
  • Friendship Quilt by Jen's Grannie & friends

  • 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.
  • Lost & Found Flour Sack Quilt

  • 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.
  • in progress quilts for Linus

  • 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 by Jen

Tops to Finish:

  • 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.
  • Bear Paws in progress

  • 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.
  • HP block swaps all together

  • 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 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

  • 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 for Linus

  • 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.
  • New York Beauty Block

Sewing:

Crochet

  • 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.
  • Black & Red Swap - Received

  • 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!
  • In Progress - jeweled "Turn Around Granny"

Do you have a list of UFOs to finish in 2010?  I’d love to see!

vlog #38 – TTMT – Resolute

In which I talk about Christmas crafties given and received, think about 2010 and have a hatterific slideshow.

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.

Recycled Gift Bags from Paper Bags

The holiday head cold has grabbed me with both hands!  Fortunately, I finished my gift making and wrapping before I could spread cooties along with my Christmas cheer.

I did something I almost never do and *gasp* bought pre-made gift bags for holiday treats.  When I opened the packages, they all had a bottle neck.  After I forced my eyebrows down out of my scalp, I realized the cute little bags were practically useless unless the entirety of my holiday giving included M&Ms.

Without any time to spare, I started digging around in my “keep just in case” drawer and came up with a stack of paper wine bags that I’ve been holding on to forever.  Jackpot!

To make your own holiday gift bags/wrap from recycled wine bags, you’ll need:

  • paper bags (any size)
  • tape or glue
  • hole punch
  • ribbon
  • iron
  • Something to cut the bags (paper cutter, rotary cutter, decorative or plain scissors)
  • stamps, stickers, or other embellishments

If your bags are like mine, they’re likely to be in all different states of crumpled-ness.  So, first things, first, iron those bags if needed.  Medium heat works.  Ironing on a paper bag will also clean your iron, so you might want to start with a sacrificial bag, just in case your iron has any Ghosts of Craft Projects Past lurking around.

Much better!

I happen to have a snazzy wavy blade for my rotary cutter. Try scissors, decorative or plain, or fun rotary blades.

Each wine bag will make 2 gift bags.  Determine how big you want each side to be, leaving about 1″ for folding for each bag.

Bottom and top (L-R)

If you’re making more than one gift bag out of your original bag, you may need to seal the bottom. Glue works for this, but so does tape or a cute sticker.

This is also a good time to embellish your gift bag with stickers, stamps, or doodles.

Top finish off, fold the top down and punch two holes through all layers.  Insert your gift and tie a ribbon through to close.

Repeat the steps for all bags.  The bottom half of your recycled gift wrap will only need the tops folded and punched since the bottom is already sealed.  I stamped mine, but you can embellish your bags any way you like. Now, fill with holiday goodness and gift it!  If you’re stuffing your gift bags with edible homemade goodness, I suggest wrapping it in plastic or wax paper before placing it in the bag.

Find my free patterns on Sewhooked & Fandom in Stitches.

♥ Jennifer O

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vlog: TTMT – Hats, Blocks & Sue

In which I share lots of hats, Christmas Cottage Swap blocks, a few ornaments and an update on Operation Save Sue!

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.

TTMT – Brown is the new Brown

Brown yarn and big feet!

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.

It’s starting to look a lot like slippers!


Big Foot Slippers

You know what they say about a guy with big feet?  He needs big slippers!

The the first sign in my house that colder weather is coming…The Big Guy needs new slippers!  This is the only kind of slippers he’ll wear, made by me and designed years ago just for his size 13s.

In about two weeks, it’ll be a year since I posted this little gem of a pattern, which itself was designed in 2000.  This year’s pair was made with my favorite new yarn, I Love This yarn.  I love how the earthiness of the colors all come together for the finished product.

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.

vlog – TTMT: CinnaYum

In which I talk about swaps, gum, paper piecing classes, Batiks on Black and crocheting for The Linus Connection!

Honey Bee Quilt Store
The Linus Connection
Twilight Crafts

vlog – TTMT: Swaps, Super Secret Guest and Halloween!

Lots of updates on completed swaps as well a Super Secret Guest and some Halloween photos!

Cauldron Pin Cushion Tutorial

Honey Bee Quilt Store

Honey Bee Blog post mentioned in the video

Maylee’s Garden for vegan natural soap

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.

Jennifer Rogers Ofenstein

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vlog: Teeny Tiny TTMT

My shortest TTMT ever, in which I direct you straight to my video interview with The Leaky Cauldron’s Crafty crew as part of my Crafter of the Month honor!

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.