Category Archives: Hand Crafts

TTMT #788 – Well, It’s Not Chairs

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This week, I share a minor misadventure in the finishing of my new-to-me dining chairs, a new Sherlock Holmes-themed paper pieced quilt block designed by me for my husband’s bookcase quilt (pattern coming later this month), some tiny sewing machines made by my son, and a tiny bit of progress on my eldest’s Doctor Who quilt repair. Big thanks to my Ko-Fi supporters, with a special shout out to crankyrat for TEN coffees!

♥ 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. ♥

TTMT #787 – Surprise Finish with Some Quilty Progress

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Join me for today’s Talk to Me Tuesday Show & Tell as I talk about hanging out with a special TTMT friend, share progress on my #ttmtbom, a surprise UFO finish, an update on the Doctor Who quilt repair, and more bird feeder action, plus special thanks to my amazing Ko-Fi supporters! ♥

Sherlock Holmes’ Deerstalker Bookcase Block

designed by Jennifer Ofenstein

10″ paper pieced

free for personal use only

(machine embroidery not included)

My July 2024 #ttmtbom Blocks!

♥ 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. ♥

Tutorial – How to Lengthen Front Jeans Pockets

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Hello, my friends!

As promised in a previous video, let’s lengthen those jeans pockets!

For some horrible reason, the pockets in women’s jeans are often unusable. This is a quick & easy tutorial to lengthen your pockets using scrap fabric. You can make them as simple as I did here, or spend a bit more time to achieve a more finished look.

You will need two pieces of non-stretch fabric (quilting cotton works great) at least 1/2″ wider than the pocket you want to alter.

The length will depend on the jeans you’re working on. A good rule of thumb for me is a finished pocket size of 8″ – 10″ long. I find that I usually add around 4″ in length to get the depth I am looking for. You’ll want to double that number if you fold your fabric as I show in this tutorial.

This is an easy project to eyeball, so don’t feel like it has to be perfect. These pockets are on the inside and no one will see them but you, though you may get asked where you found jeans with real pockets!

Let me know if you have any questions!

Supplies I Love!


♥ Jennifer O

Where did my retired patterns go? Read all about that here.

Posts on this blog may contain affiliate links to help cover the cost of my website. I thank you for your generous support. ♥

Raggedy Rescue: Q & A #1

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What do you do when a button eye is missing? How do you deal with rips in the face?

It’s the first Raggedy Rescue Q & A!

In this video, I’m taking some of your questions and comments and sharing what I can to hopefully help in your Raggedy Rescue adventure!

All opinions are my own and I’m always happy to learn! If you do it differently or have other advice, I’d love to hear about it.

Have questions I didn’t answer? Leave them in comments and I’ll help if I can.

As mentioned in the video, I primarily use McCall’s Crafts Pattern 8377. The pattern is out of print but you can find it on Etsy or Ebay. If you have sewing friends, it’s worth asking if they might have a copy. I’ve had several gems come my way from friends!

Other McCall’s Numbers for Raggedy Ann & Andy: 5499, 2447, 846, or 713 (10″, 15″, 20″ & 25″). The patterns include the doll pattern, clothing pattern, and instructions.

Simplicity pattern 8043* is in print and certainly less expensive in most cases, but I haven’t personally tried it yet. The clothes and dolls look almost identical to the older McCalls patterns. Simplicity owns McCalls now, but I do not know if their pattern predates the merger. If you’ve already compared the two patterns, please let me know.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions. ♥

Looking for a different video. Check out all of my Raggedy Rescues here!

I have a new page here on Sewhooked where I will be keeping a list of my favorite supplies. I listed the ones used in this video below, and you can see the full list here.

♥ Jennifer O

Where did my retired patterns go? Read all about that here.

Posts on this blog may contain affiliate links to help cover the cost of my website. I thank you for your generous support. ♥

Free Pattern Friday: Cat’s Chook Plushie (Guest Designer)

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free-pattern-friday

Hello, my friends, and welcome back to Free Pattern Friday!

Today’s pattern comes to you from a special guest, my dear friend, Catherine Magraith!

For those of you who don’t know, Cat has a number of free patterns available right here on Sewhooked.

In addition to being an engineer, and brilliant mom to four amazing kids, Cat is also a chicken, or chook, mom!

Today she shares this sweet little hand held chook pattern, perfect for the chicken lover in your life.

“Little Chook” photo and sample by Catherine Magraith

Little Chook

by Catherine Magraith

tested by Jennifer O

PRINTABLE PATTERN

You will need small amounts of 7 fabric colors as shown.

Use 1/4” seam allowance throughout.

Print pattern.

Cut out all pieces as listed on pages 3 & 4.

Tip: Use freezer paper for your pattern pieces OR a small piece of double stick or masking tape on the back of the paper pieces to hold them in place.

Tip: A glue stick works great to hold pieces in place before stitching in place.

Applique the following in the order listed below using the technique of your choice. All pieces start with left or right body.

wing on top of body

head on top of wing+body

pupil on top of eye (use photos for reference)

eye on top of head (use photos for reference)

Stitch comb right sides together, turn, clip, & add a small amount of stuffing. Stitch closed using a scant 1/4” seam.

Fold beak in half. Stitch one side closed. Clip end, turn, add a small amount of stuffing, stitch closed with a 1/4″ seam.

Layer feet with a piece of batting. Stitch around, cut away excess batting. Details are optional. I used a Frixion pen to mark the foot shape. (affiliate link)

Pin beak & comb in place, stitch.

Stitch gusset to one side of body. Press out, align other side of body to body + gusset. Stitch. Leave a 2” opening to turn.

Clip curves.

Turn and hand stitch closed.

Hand stitch or glue feet in place.

Jennifer O’s Chook

Did you enjoy this pattern? Be sure to give Cat some love in comments!

Thank you for stopping by for this very special Free Pattern Friday!

If you enjoy my free content, please considering buying me a Ko-Fi. Your support is greatly appreciated.

♥ Jennifer O

Where did my retired patterns go? Read all about that here.

Posts on this blog may contain affiliate links to help cover the cost of my website. I thank you for your generous support. ♥

TTMT #776 – 15 YEARS of Talk to Me Tuesday!

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Happy 15th Anniversary Talk to Me Tuesday! We’ve got two giveaways and two winners today.

We’ve come a long way together and I appreciate each and every one of you. When did you find TTMT? I’d love to hear from you!

COMING SOON!

♥ Jennifer O

Where did my retired patterns go? Read all about that here.

Posts on this blog may contain affiliate links to help cover the cost of my website. I thank you for your generous support. ♥

TTMT #775 – ACR Andy & Two Giveaways

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Today I share the final update for ACR Andy and announce TWO giveaways to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Talk To Me Tuesday. There is a giveaway for TTMT video makers and a separate one TTMT viewers as a thank you to everyone who has participated in this little project over the years. ♥

And now, just for fun…

My very first vlog, April 21, 2009
Talk to Me Tuesday is born on my 36th birthday. April 28, 2009.
COMING SOON!

♥ Jennifer O

Where did my retired patterns go? Read all about that here.

Posts on this blog may contain affiliate links to help cover the cost of my website. I thank you for your generous support. ♥

Raggedy Rescue: Dressing Raggedy Andy (Making New Clothes with McCalls Crafts Pattern 8377)

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Welcome back for a new Raggedy Rescue! Today, we’re finishing up the doll I’ve come to call ACR Andy.

I made a pretty glaring mistake while making his outfit, but I didn’t notice until I was editing the video, and the clothes still went together just fine. I explain in the video what happened, but rest assured all the steps are correct despite my inability to notice my mistake until it was too late! I’m human, after all, and find that the older I get, the more okay I am with mistakes. Live and learn!

We’ll be making clothes for Raggedy Andy from McCall’s Crafts Pattern 8377. This is the same pattern I used to dress the Raggedy Ann I’ve paired this fella with. The pattern is out of print but you can find it on Etsy or Ebay. If you have sewing friends, it’s worth asking if they might have a copy. I’ve had several gems come my way from friends.

Other McCall’s Numbers for Raggedy Ann & Andy: 5499, 2447, 846, or 713 (10″, 15″, 20″ & 25″). The patterns include the doll pattern, clothing pattern, and instructions.

Simplicity pattern 8043* is in print and certainly less expensive in most cases, but I haven’t personally tried it yet. The clothes and dolls look almost identical to the older McCalls patterns. Simplicity owns McCalls now, but I do not know if their pattern predates the merger. If you’ve already compared the two patterns, please do let me know.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions. ♥

Looking for a different video. Check out all of my Raggedy Rescues here!

I have a new page here on Sewhooked where I will be keeping a list of my favorite supplies. I listed the ones used in this video below, and you can see the full list here.

Asterisk* indicates an affiliate link.

More stuff:

♥ Jennifer O

Where did my retired patterns go? Read all about that here.

Posts on this blog may contain affiliate links to help cover the cost of my website. I thank you for your generous support. ♥

TTMT #774 – Axolotl-ing

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Today I share a clear vinyl concert bag made for my eldest kiddo as well as some treasures found at the soon-to-be-gone Austin Antique Mall.

If at all possible, there will be a new Raggedy Rescue on Friday, if not, definitely next week.

Axolotl fabric by Timeless Treasures (currently out of stock at Missouri Star, but available elsewhere).

COMING SOON!

♥ Jennifer O

Where did my retired patterns go? Read all about that here.

Posts on this blog may contain affiliate links to help cover the cost of my website. I thank you for your generous support. ♥

TTMT #773 – Raggedy Wrap-Up

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Today I talk about last week’s livestream, getting my Juki back, a finally finished Raggedy Ann, my GIANT thrift store fabric haul, and our upcoming TTMT Internet Sampler Block of the month!

COMING SOON!

♥ Jennifer O

Where did my retired patterns go? Read all about that here.

Posts on this blog may contain affiliate links to help cover the cost of my website. I thank you for your generous support. ♥