Category Archives: quilting

Free Pattern Friday: Bicycle (comes out of retirement!)

Well, friends, with the spring weather and lots of people outside, I thought it was a good time to bring my Bicycle pattern out of retirement!

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

This formerly-for-sale pattern is 6″ or 10″, both sizes are paper pieced. It’s been made many times over the years, and it’s always been one of my favorites. It’s now free for you to make and I genuinely hope you enjoy it!

Bicycle
6″ or 10″ paper pieced
now a free pattern for personal & non-profit use
© Jennifer Ofenstein
sewhooked.com

Find more Free Pattern Friday Posts!

Need help with paper piecing? I’ve got you!

You’ll find more free quilt patterns in my Quilt Pattern Archive.

Looking for my fandom content? You’ll find it on Fandom in Stitches!

If you would like to support my free content like videos, patterns, and more, you can also find me on Ko-fi!

Thank you for stopping by. I’m really enjoying the opportunity to share free patterns again. If you make this or any of my other patterns, let me know! Drop me an email or tag me on Instagram @sewhookedjen.

I hope to see you for my next Talk to Me Tuesday vlog! If you haven’t joined me for TTMT, be sure to stop by to say hello to yours truly and catch up on what I’ve been working on. Want to join the TTMT community? Find out how here!

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

Enlarge & Reduce Patterns, an update

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Hello, friends!

It’s rare that I share a post on both Fandom in Stitches & Sewhooked, but today is one of those days!

By popular request, I’ve updated the Enlarge/Reduce information for rescaling your patterns. Originally, I created a chart using our most common sizes with our most commonly requested adjustments. It’s been almost 9 years since I shared that original post and the variety of sizes available through Fandom in Stitches has changed immensely!

This is not new information by any stretch of the imagination, but I did try to simplify it as much as possible and save it in a format you can come back to over and over. I’m not a math person, but I am married to one, so we had a consultation to make sure I was sharing this correctly!

For the full tutorial, including other helpful print hints, check out my post on how to Enlarge & Reduce patterns.

Most of all, happy stitching!

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: Fairy 2023, or, Evolution of a Fairy

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I could have called this Evolution of a Fairy.

Let me explain.

I designed my first foundation paper pieced pattern back in 2005. During that first year or two, I attempted a fairy pattern. She was a little complicated, but I didn’t know what I didn’t know, and complicated has never really stopped me anyway.

Well, as you can see, she doesn’t look great. What is even happening with that arm? 😐

While I don’t remember making the block, my much more experienced eye can see all the design mistakes as well as where my seam ripper and I spent some quality time together. I still rip seams, but I’m much better at it now. Practice, after all, makes perfect.

Fast forward a few years later, and I had another go.

She’s definitely better, but she’s still not quite right. A couple of friends tested her for me, and I was reasonably happy with this pattern, at least enough to share on an earlier version of this website.

Fast forward to 2015, and I redrafted her yet again. I was working on the reboot of The Project of Doom at the time, running my pattern company, I had a kid at home, was volunteering with the high school, and honestly, I have no idea what else. With everything else going on, I think I just forgot about her.

See my retired patterns here.

Until last week. While I was organizing some files, there she was. Just waiting for some finishing touches.

I’m pleased to present Fairy, 2023. Much like me, she had no idea where she’d be today!

You can see the bones of the original design in this pattern, but she’s more, well, airborne. More defined. And definitely more 2023.

I hope you like her!

Fairy 2023
10″ paper pieced
a free pattern for personal & non-profit use
© Jennifer Ofenstein
sewhooked.com

Find more Free Pattern Friday Posts!

You’ll find more free quilt patterns in my Quilt Pattern Archive.

Looking for my fandom content? You’ll find it on Fandom in Stitches!

If you would like to support my free content like videos, patterns, and more, you can also find me on Ko-fi!

I hope to see you for my next Talk to Me Tuesday vlog! If you haven’t joined me for TTMT, be sure to stop by to say hello to yours truly and to catch up on what I’ve been working on. Want to join the TTMT community? Find out how here!

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: String Pieced Picnic

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Hello, dear friends!

It’s been a long while since our last Free Pattern Friday and I am delighted to have something new to share!

My last non-fandom freebie was Virtual Hugs back in March 2020. I’m sure no explanation is needed. You can find it, and many more free patterns here.

String Pieced Picnic is based on an old photo I discovered in January while digitizing my photo collection. The quilt shown was made by one of my great-grandmothers. My version is not an identical replica but is close enough that I know, and now, you know!

Say hello to String Pieced Picnic, named by YouTube viewer Julie T (thank you, Julie!)

String Pieced Picnic
83” x 83” as shown
a free pattern for personal & non-profit use
© Jennifer Ofenstein
sewhooked.com

My quilt top is complete, but I won’t be able to quilt it just yet as I’m waiting to be cleared for normal activity after foot surgery back in December.

My quilt back is also pieced and ready to go. I plundered my collection of whites + brights, including some fun fat quarters from trips and gifts from friends to make a wild and crazy patchwork back! I hope to have this on my frame very soon!

Now, I’m sharing String Pieced Picnic for free so you have the chance to make your own heirloom-inspired picnic quilt! The design is very versatile and can be string pieced with or without foundation or it can be foundation paper pieced for a more precise design. Instructions for both are included.

As shown, the quilt is 83” x 83” but the size can easily be increased or decreased as desired. I’d love to see what size you make!

I hope you enjoy String Pieced Picnic. If you make it, feel free to share! You can find me at sewhooked.com and on Instagram & YouTube as @sewhookedjen. Looking for community support or just want to share your work in progress? Join the Sewhooked Facebook group!

You’ll find more free quilt patterns in my Quilt Pattern Archive.

Looking for my fandom content? You’ll find it on Fandom in Stitches!

If you would like to support my free content like videos, patterns, and more, you can also find me on Ko-fi!

Thank you for stopping by. I hope to see you for my next Talk to Me Tuesday vlog! If you haven’t joined me for TTMT, be sure to stop by to say hello to yours truly and to catch up on what I’ve been working on. Want to join the TTMT community? Find out how here!

A note about previously for sale patterns: I’ve recently had a lot of requests for patterns formerly in my pattern shop. I retired from selling quilt patterns on December 31, 2019. If you would still like one of my retired patterns, I will offer it in return for a small donation to a food bank, non-profit, or other similar charity in your area. Volunteering your time, of course, counts! Email your receipt to me or send a photo of yourself donating or volunteering (for me only, I won’t publish or) and I’ll gladly send the pattern. One pattern per donation.

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

TTMT #672 – Stack O Quilts

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In which I share a very quick video about what I worked on last week.

Find my free patterns on Sewhooked: Free Patterns, Free Fandom Patterns, Free Harry Potter Patterns.
The Linus Connection is the local blanket-making charity I volunteer for.
Quilt along with us on Fandom in Stitches

Posts on this blog may contain affiliate links but I have no control over “sponsored posts” which are the price I pay for a less expensive website. Thank you for your understanding & support. ♥

TTMT #668 – Kindgom Hearts Quilt!

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In which I share the finished Kingdom Hearts quilt that I’ve been working on for my son! This extra-special quilt could not have been made without a gift of beautiful KH blocks made by Jeanie Payment. I also share a small garden decoration I made yesterday.

You can find these Kingdom Hearts patterns and more free for personal & non-profit use on Fandom in Stitches.
Find Jeanie at Talk To Me Tuesday & on her blog.
Find my free patterns on Sewhooked: Free Patterns, Free Fandom Patterns, Free Harry Potter Patterns.
The Linus Connection, the local blanket-making charity I volunteer for.
Quilt along with us on Fandom in Stitches

TTMT #667 – Backyard Quilt Show

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In which I share the stack of quilts that went to Linus on Saturday, a small home project, and some amazing mail!

Want to become part of our TTMT community? Found out how here
Find my free patterns on Sewhooked: Free Patterns, Free Fandom Patterns, Free Harry Potter Patterns.
The Linus Connection, the local blanket making charity I volunteer for.
Quilt along with us on Fandom in Stitches

TTMT #665+1 – Waxed Canvas

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In which I share the final water bottle bag made from waxed canvas (purchased from sailrite.com), a stack of quilts in progress for The Linus Connection, and a chat about what I want to work on next!