Category Archives: Holidays

Crafting The Holidays

It’s officially the day after Thanksgiving here in the U.S.!

The leftovers are in the fridge and the countdown to gift giving for many people has begun.

Black Friday? Nah, I don’t do that. I advocate a Handmade Holiday season!

Want to shop handmade? Etsy is a great place to start. There are loads of talented crafters, makers and artisans selling their wares.

You can even find a few goodies made by yours truly. I’ve got quilted items I made myself, magazines my patterns have been featured in and I’m regularly adding scrap bags of fabric from my own stash that are perfect for paper piecing (for a limited time, of course…even Tribbles stop breeding eventually!).

Here are a couple of the goodies currently in my Etsy shop:

Sweet Skating Sue
Sweet Skating Sue is just $19.99 and comes ready to hang.
OR you can make her yourself for free.
Never paper pieced? This $3 tutorial includes complete instructions and the pattern to make Sweet Skating Sue yourself!

In A Castle + Fairy Tale Femmes
Fairy Tale Femmes + In A Castle, $99.95
This sweet quilt is 30″ x 37″ and come ready to display or snuggle. Includes a sleeve for hanging.
OR You can buy the Fairy Tale Femmes and In A Castle patterns and make your own!

Find more ready-to-gift items right here in my Etsy shop!

 

Still have plans for making lots of gifts but aren’t sure where to start? Check out all the awesome projects and patterns here on Sewhooked and my fandom website, Fandom in Stitches!

Free Quilt Patterns

Tutorials and More (this page is undergoing an update, so it’s a little crazy over there!

Yarn (mostly crochet) patterns

HP Snitch

By popular demand, all of my Harry Potter patterns are now back on Sewhooked! The people have spoken and I listen. 😉

For more fandomy goodness, including even more Harry Potter, be sure to visit Fandom In Stitches. You’ll find designs by myself that are not here on Sewhooked and lots of awesomesauce stuff from many other talents designers.

I'm a Craftsy Designer

Many of my Sewhooked patterns and a few of my tutorials are now available on Craftsy for easy access! One of my goals for 2014 is to get ALL of my patterns and tutorials, both free and for sale added to Craftsy so you will always have an easy way to find them!

Go straight to the Sewhooked goodies on Craftsy!

Craftsy

Want to learn something new and WOW your friends and family with your awesome craft-ability? All Craftsy classes are on sale for $19.99 or less. Woo-hoo! Remember, the super cool thing about Craftsy classes is that once you buy a class (and remember, some of them are FREE), it’s yours forever. Watch any time, day or night, as many times as you like. Cool, huh?!

Do you sell your handmade goodies? Share a link to your shop in comments and I’ll put together and epic post next week to share with all my readers!

Paper Piecing Vintage: Sign-ups start December 3!

Make this one for yourself or as a gift and have it done by the end of 2014!

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Coming January to Fandom In Stitches!

Only two more days! Remember, I’m donating $1 to Movember for every Mustachio! pattern set sold during November! You’ve got until Saturday to buy your copy and help with a great cause!

That’s it for me for today! I have a full day of spending time with my family and enjoying the heck out of having my daughter home from college to look forward to. 😀

Happy crafting,

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Featured Pattern: Tree Trimming, $8 on Craftsy!

Happy Halloween!

#TTMT sneak peek!

A very happy Halloween to you from me!

Ready for tomorrow! #Halloween #candy

My hubby and I are celebrating our favorite holiday by watching The Goonies together while we pass out Halloween candy!

Halloween Bats

Don’t forget to check to Crafts of Halloweens Past!

If you haven’t already and have a few minutes today, whip up one of my fast and easy Halloween crafts to post to the Sewhooked flickr group! There’s a prize up for grabs for one lucky winner!

New to Sewhooked? Here’s what you missed!

TARDIS treat bag tutorial Easy Felt Bats

Pin Cushion CauldronJack-O-Lantern finger puppets

Pumpkin Earring Tutorial Candy Corn Crochet Hat

Trick or Treat Sue

There’s always something going on around Sewhooked!

Mustachio 2.0

Don’t miss your chance to Name That Mustache! Final winners announced Monday!

Are you dressing up for Halloween? I’d love to see photos!

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Featured Pattern: Zombie, $2 on Craftsy

…part of the Monster Madness pattern set!

Crafts of Halloweens Past: Quilty Goodness!

Trick or Treat Sue

Let’s be honest, most of you are here because of the quilts.

I’m totally okay with that.

While I do have many for sale patterns, I have many, many free ones.

Whimsical, fun, happy patterns are my favorite to create. To be frank (or Jennifer, as the case may be!), I make what I like. It’s as plain and simple as that. Making what I like makes me happy, and hopefully, you will feel that when you’re working on a pattern that I designed. If not, then I’m clearly doing it wrong!

Trick-or-Treat Sue, up at the top of this post, was created for a blog hop hosted by Soma over on Whims & Fancies last October.

She’s 10″ paper pieced and can be downloaded right here or over on Craftsy. This sweet Sue is just one of the over 50 magical Sunbonnet Sues that I’ve designed over the years. You can find all of her Magical Friends right here!

If you’re looking for even more quilty goodness for Halloween, try one of these blasts from the past, designed by me and available on the Harry Potter page over on my other site, Fandom In Stitches (click the image for the free pattern!):

Pumpkin cauldron

There are many, MANY more where these came from!

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

Quilts from 100 Blocks, Fall 2013

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! ;)

Mustachio 2.0

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

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Featured Pattern: Two Little Hooters

Crafts of Halloweens Past: Candy Corn Hat

Candy Corn Crochet Hat

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

Halloween Bats

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!

Quilts from 100 Blocks, Fall 2013

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! ;)

Mustachio 2.0

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

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Featured Pattern: A Little Haunted, $8 on Craftsy

Crafts of Halloweens Past: Pumpkin Earrings

Pumpkin Earring Tutorial

Inspired by the fabulously delicious, dangerous and definitely not-nutritious Mellowcreme Pumpkins, I created super cute earrings for a Halloween swap I participated in back in October 2008.  

Halloween Bats

pumpkins

Pumpkin Earrings Tutorial, inspired by sugar!

Pumpkin Earrings

Make a pair for yourself or a batch for all of your friends!

 

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

Quilts from 100 Blocks, Fall 2013

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! ;)

Mustachio 2.0

Don’t Miss Week 3 of Name That Mustache coming up tomorrow!

 photo tfioschallengebadge_zpsa5762687.jpg

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: Monster Madness $6 Craftsy

Crafts of Halloweens Past: Jack-O-Lantern Finger Puppet

Jack-O-Lantern finger puppets

With all the fabric-related goodness that I share here on Sewhooked, it can be easy, even for me, to forget about all the fun crochet projects I’ve both created and designed over the years.

Halloween Bats

Jack-O-Lantern Finger Puppets, October 2000
My Jack-O-Lantern finger puppets were originally designed for my daughter’s kindergarten class. Instead of candy, she passed these out as pencil toppers on fun Halloween pencils. This is the original photo from October 2000. I’m guessing I didn’t have the pencils when I took the photo, but I do remember the fun orange and black pencils!

This is the same daughter that’s a college freshman now, so this really is a craft from the past!

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

Quilts from 100 Blocks, Fall 2013

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! ;)

Mustachio 2.0

Don’t Miss Week 2 of Name That Mustache!

 photo tfioschallengebadge_zpsa5762687.jpg

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: Monster Madness $6 Craftsy

Crafts of Halloween Past: Cauldron Pin Cushion

Pin Cushion Cauldron

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!

Halloween Bats

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!

Quilts from 100 Blocks, Fall 2013

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! ;)

Mustachio 2.0

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

Nominate me for Craftsy's blogger awards!

 photo tfioschallengebadge_zpsa5762687.jpg

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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Crafts of Halloweens Past: Easy Felt Bats

Easy Felt Bats

Here’s another fun craft from Halloweens Past!

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

Halloween 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.

Halloween Bats

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!

Quilts from 100 Blocks, Fall 2013

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! ;)

 photo tfioschallengebadge_zpsa5762687.jpg

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: Frankie, just $2 on Craftsy!
part of the Monster Madness set

Jack Leaves The Light On

Jack Leaves The Light On, $6 on Craftsy

How about a fun new Halloween-themed table runner pattern? This set is SUPER easy to piece and crazy versatile!

Just need the blocks? Use them for whatever you like!

Want a quick table runner? Piece the three blocks, add borders as shown in the pattern and you’re good to go!

Jack Leaves The Light On

I shared a Jack-O-Lantern block in my video yesterday and mentioned that the pattern was coming soon.

How’s this for soon?!

I originally designed this fun piece for a magazine. They passed on the pattern and it’s been collecting dust in my sewing room ever since.

Jack Leaves The Light On
Tis the season for Trick-or-Treat and what better way to decorate than a fun table runner?

Jack Leaves The Light On Jack Leaves The Light On
Pattern includes two, full-color 8″ block patterns and instructions to create the table runner shown above.

Jack Leaves The Light On - Vertical Option Jack Leaves The Light On - Vertical Option with added sashing
Want a wall hanging instead? Simply piece the blocks vertically! The same instructions will apply to the wall hanging shown on the left as the original table runner. Slightly more fabric will be needed for the example on the right.

Jack Leaves The Light On
How about a longer table runner? Just add more blocks! I love a little versatility!

Mustachio 2.0

Don’t miss Name That Mustache every Monday in October!

See you tomorrow for another Halloween craft blast from the past! Woo, that’s some serious rhyming!

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Crafts of Halloween Past: TARDIS Treat Bag!

TARDIS treat bag tutorial

TARDIS Treat Bag Tutorial

Halloween Bats

I love October and everything the Halloween season has to offer and thought it would be fun to dust off some old favorite crafts and feature them during the course of this month.

Through Time and Space, or at least from October 2010, it’s the TARDIS Treat Bag Tutorial!

I made this fun bag for my daughter back in her freshman year of high school. This year? She’s a freshman in college and the proud owner of the Doctor Who Stitch Along quilt I completed in August of this year.

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

Quilts from 100 Blocks, Fall 2013

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! 😉

 photo tfioschallengebadge_zpsa5762687.jpg

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: Fortune Teller, $2 on Craftsy
part of the Busy Bodies pattern set!