Category Archives: Quilts & Quilting

TTMT #382 – Galaxy 1824

This week, I brave the rain and humidity to share my biggest finish of the year! Watch my makeup slowly melt off of my face as I talk about the quilt I made for my son’s dorm room: Galaxy 1824.

Happening NOW on fandominstitches.com

Coming October 2016 to fandominstitches.com
Jack's Lanterns, 9 Patterns to Paper Piece by Jennifer Ofenstein

The August 2016 sewhooked.com participation prize is a digital copy of my pattern set, Jack’s Lanterns: 9 Halloween Patterns to Paper Piece!

Entering to win the 201 6 monthly prize is easy, just share your photos with the Sewhooked flickr group, making sure your photos are set to share. You’ll have one chance to win for each photo you share!

Want to sponsor a prize? Please drop me an email!

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My Favorite Things. a Block of the Month by Jennifer Ofenstein

Free Pattern Day is the first of every month during 2016!

Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks, Vol 13!

Posts on this blog contain affiliate links. 🙂

Vol13-blog-tour-this-week-socialmedia

Welcome to my EIGHTH Blog Tour for Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks! I’m excited to be back yet again for this very fun event!

Be sure to keep reading to the end to find out how to be entered to win today’s prize!

Paddlin by Jennifer Ofenstein

And here we are: You’ll find Paddlin’ on page 20 of Vol. 13!

twitterpated with embroidery

These birds were inspired by a design I created some years ago, but never published. It wasn’t quite right, but I loved the birds! If you look closely, you’ll see the “Momma” bird from Paddlin’ is sitting on the ground, while the “babies” are up on the line.

mock up quilt.JPG

Just for fun, I put together a small quilt idea using four blocks,, two of which are in mirror image. I just love the wreath-inside-a-window effect!

Just like all of my patterns, Paddlin’ was designed in EQ7.

100 Blocks Vol 13

And now, I have the pleasure of giving away a free copy of this issue of Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks!  

To enter to win, simply comment below! It doesn’t get easier than that. 😉

Only comments that include contact information will be eligible to win.

Get a personalized copy of Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks Vol 13 from my Etsy shop. My supplies are limited, so order now! Please note that my copies haven’t arrived yet, so this is a pre-order. I’ve been assured they will arrive no later than early next week. Your copy will ship as soon as I have the magazines in my hot little hands!

Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope you enjoy the rest of the Blog Tour!

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Crafts Pattern Shop ♥ Etsy Shop

Facebook ♥ Sewhooked FB ♥ Sewhooked Facebook Group

Instagram ♥ Flickr ♥ Twitter ♥ Pinterest ♥ Bloglovin

My Favorite Things. a Block of the Month by Jennifer Ofenstein

Free Pattern Day is the first of every month during 2016!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

irish flag 2016 Irish Flag

6″ x 8″ paper pieced pattern

Happy St. Patrick’s Day, my friends! Enjoy two free patterns on me…and don’t forget to wear green!

 

Sharmock

Shamrock

5″ paper pieced pattern

sewhooked.com March Flickr Prize
Our March drawing is for a fun set of fabric from the fabulous Vanda, all the way from South Africa!

The prize includes 20 cotton fabric pieces ranging in size from 5.5″ x 8″ to 10″ x 11″.

Visit Vanda at Quilt in Piece.

Entering to win is easy, just share your photos with the Sewhooked flickr group, making sure your photos are set to share. You’ll have one chance to win for each photo you share!

Want to sponsor a prize? Please drop me an email.

Join the Sewhooked Facebook Group for community, fun and support!

Have a great day!

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My Favorite Things. a Block of the Month by Jennifer Ofenstein

 

I Want To Believe: An X-Files Quilt & Stitch Along coming 2016 on fandominstitches.com

I ♥ Spring!

Home again. There appears to be spring in my garden.

It’s starting to look a lot like spring!

Spring is by far my favorite season.

It’s cool weather, but not too cool. Warm, but not too warm. The world starts coming to life again.

The photos above were taken in my garden just last week. Spring is definitely here!

To celebrate my favorite season, I thought it would be fun to feature some of my favorite Spring-themed free patterns.

Each pattern is 100% free and can be downloaded directly or via my Craftsy Pattern Shop.

I hope you enjoy!

EQ7 Seasons RAL - Spring Row by Jennifer Ofenstein

♥ E7 Seasons Row Along (2015): Spring ♥

♥ Get it on  Craftsy! ♥

Includes four mix and match 6″ paper pieced patterns.

Peeps Bunnies

  ♥ Bunny Peeps! ♥

♥ Get it on Craftsy! ♥

Make one or make a bunch!

Garden Party Blog Hop - Day 28: It's My Birthday

 

Garden Party Blog Hop - Day 28: It's My Birthday

 ♥ Perennial Pleasures  

 ♥ Get it on Craftsy! ♥

Two versions for your Springy pleasure!

Lamb 2014 update

♥ Lamb ♥

♥ Get it on Craftsy! ♥

Sitting Hen 2014 update

♥ Sitting Hen ♥

♥ Get it on Craftsy! ♥

Eggs, 2014 update

♥ Three Eggs ♥

♥ Get it on Craftsy! ♥

 

sewhooked.com March Flickr Prize
Our March drawing is for a fun set of fabric from the fabulous Vanda, all the way from South Africa!

The prize includes 20 cotton fabric pieces ranging in size from 5.5″ x 8″ to 10″ x 11″.

Visit Vanda at Quilt in Piece.

Entering to win is easy, just share your photos with the Sewhooked flickr group, making sure your photos are set to share. You’ll have one chance to win for each photo you share!

Want to sponsor a prize? Please drop me an email.

Join the Sewhooked Facebook Group for community, fun and support!

Have a great day!

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My Favorite Things. a Block of the Month by Jennifer Ofenstein

 

I Want To Believe: An X-Files Quilt & Stitch Along coming 2016 on fandominstitches.com

TTMT #355 – Birthdays & Surprises (and a free pattern)

Today, I share some gifts made for the hubster as well as hinting at some secrets in progress and talking about an upcoming DIY project.

full_8160_12956_CrossMyHeartspaperpieced_1  full_1155_12956_CrossMyHeartspaperpieced_2

 

In honor of the memory of my mother-in-law, Carol, who we lost one year ago today, I please enjoy my pattern, Cross My Hearts. ♥

This block is 6″ paper pieced (6 1/2″ unfinished).

Want a different size? I have a tutorial for that. 🙂

Cross My Hearts

Quilt idea using Cross My Hearts

Our February drawing will be for a custom quilt label professionally embroidered by Sarah’s Sewing Studio (photo soon!). Entering to win is easy, just share your photos with the Sewhooked flickr group, making sure your photos are set to share. You’ll be entered to win for each photo you share!

Want to sponsor a prize? Please drop me an email.

Join the Sewhooked Facebook Group for community, fun and support! This is absolutely optional and not required to participate in the BOM.

Happy stitching!

signature-2016

Posts on this blog may contain affiliate links. Thank you for your support. ♥

My Favorite Things. a Block of the Month by Jennifer Ofenstein

I Want To Believe: An X-Files Quilt & Stitch Along coming 2016 on fandominstitches.com

2015 UFO To Do List Report Card!

My #finish2015 #ufo list. The oldest on this list is 2007!
For quite a few years now,  I’ve begun January with a To Do List for UFO projects that I would like to tackle and hopefully finish or at least move to The Next Step for the year.

You may have seen that my 2016 list is done and it is a doozy!

This is my 2015 Report Card.

See my 2015 To Do list, including photos of where each project stood at the beginning of last year.

Today’s recap doesn’t include every project finished in 2015 such as stuff made for tutorials or my new patterns (there were loads last year!). These are just the projects from last year’s To Do List and a couple of unexpected big finishes.

Progress! #AsYouWish #princessbride #fandominstitches

As You Wish (Princess Bride Quilt) –

January 2015 Status: WIP – From the quilt along on Fandom In Stitches in 2014. I have just under half of the letters hand stitched in place and then it needs to be quilted. I have backing and batting ready to go.

Current Status: AT THE QUILTER – My AYW top was completed in March of last year. It’s at a friend’s who is a long arm quilter with a promise date of April. Once it’s home, it’ll need binding and a label.

Frogger quilt for The Linus Connection

Frogger

January 2015: UFO. Designed in 2014 for fandominstitches.com, I’d like to make this bigger (it’s currently 24″ square), finish it up and donate it to The Linus Connection.

Current Status: COMPLETED and donated to The Linus Connection in Februar 2015. I forgot how much I loved this quilt!
Donated orphan blocks. Finish number 3 for donation at Saturday's meeting of #TheLinusConnection. #charityquilt #nonprofit #donation Orphan blocks + Stars for Linus. Finish number 1 for donation at Saturday's meeting of #TheLinusConnection. #charityquilt #nonprofit #donation Orphan blocks + Stars for Linus. Finish number 2 for donation at Saturday's meeting of #TheLinusConnection. #charityquilt #nonprofit #donation Donated strip sets cut into blocks. Finish number 4 for donation at Saturday's meeting of #TheLinusConnection. #charityquilt #nonprofit #donation  Orphan Block Quilt - Misc Animals and Fun Prints Done! This #StarsForLinus will go to Linus tomorrow. Whew! #blanketcharity #charityblanket #nonprofit #quiltforgood #TheLinusConnection This was given to me as an unfinished project because it's paper pieced. I completed the top and friend Marge quilted it. It's now bound and ready for donation to thelinusconnection.org. Unfortunately, I don't know the quilter that started it. Whoever the

Orphan Blocks For Linus

2015 Status: ONGOING. While not technically a UFO, I’m including these here as a reminder to myself to work on quilts for Linus from donated blocks. I collect blocks from anyone that might like to donate and save them until I have enough to make a quilt to donate to The Linus Connection. Want to donate? Drop me an email (sewhooked@gmail.com).

Current Status: ONGOING PROJECT, 7 COMPLETED IN 2015! – I continue to collect and work on orphan block quilts as well as Stars for Linus. Last year, I created a flickr album to track my progress with these quilts.

Untitled
Harry Potter Swap Quilt

January 2015: WIP – This is the second of two quilts made from Harry Potter quilt block swaps from way back in 2007 or so. This quilt is basted and free motion quilting is in progress, The borders are quilted. Each block still needs quilting and then it needs to be bound and labeled. On hold while I have my sewing machine serviced.

Current Status:  COMPLETE! – Borders were added in March. I started quilting this one and my previous machine started having timing issues and I set it aside. After months not working on it, I picked it back up, ripped out the first attempt at quilting, and finished the whole thing in November. It now lives in my living room with our other family snuggle quilts.

2013 Project To Do List

Vintage Quilt Top

January 2015: UFO . My hubby bought this for me for our anniversary several years ago. I have a back and batting for this quilt, but it still needs basting and quilting. It hasn’t happened yet because I’m still undecided on how to finish it. Fingers crossed for inspiration!

Current Status:  Inspiration did not strike. Boo.

TABABOM top

TABABOM

January 2015: WIP. 2012 Hobbit-themed Block of the Month on Fandom In Stitches.  This quilt is now basted and ready to FMQ. It’s in the queue after my Harry Potter Swap Quilt (above).

Current Status: Mostly Unchanged. The quilt is still basted. I dropped down the list of things to do when I started having sewing machine issues while fmqing early last year. I have a Juki now that quilts like a boss and TABABOM is  back on the menu! I’ve changed my quilting plan and am going to unbaste it and piece the signature blocks (below) into the back before quilting.

2013 Project To Do List

TABABOM Signature Quilt

January 2015: UFO. Similar idea to the Project of Doom signature quilt. I’m missing a block from one of the designers, but I have a plan for moving forward, so hopefully this will change to WIP very soon!

Current Status: To be included as part of the back of the TABABOM (see above).

Hand embroidered flower quilt

Embroidered Flower Quilt

January 2015: WIP. This was a 2011 BOM by a blogger that is no longer online. Borders added, have back & binding. To be quilted & bound.

Current Status: Unchanged.

First #finish of 2016 for #TheLinusConnection. The pattern is Topsy Turvy Trees, available in my pattern shop. This top has been on my "to quilt" list since 2012. #ufo2016 #charityquilt #quiltforgood

Topsy Turvy Trees

January 2015: UFO. Needs a back and to be quilted, bound. One of my original designs.

Current Status: Complete! To be donated to The Linus Connection later this month. I finished this up after making this year’s list, so it does show up there, but it was officially finished earlier this month.

First #finish of 2016! I started to make my #ufo2016 list yesterday and couldn't bear to have this one on there once again. Beautiful Australia themed fabrics were a gift from my friend Cat. I paired them with #benartex Fossil Fern and used my Chocolate B
Australian Fabric Quilt

Australia Fabric Project

January 2015: USO.  Fabric gifted over several years from my friend Cat. I picked the pattern a couple of years ago.I plan to pre-cut all the pieces before I go on Retreat with my bee in March.

Current Status: Complete! I completely changed plans on this quilt after designing the Chocolate Box block for another project. I’m including the pattern I originally planned to use for reference. This baby was basted, quilted and bound by me. It now lives on my bed and I LOVE it.

Project of Doom for my sister, bound, labeled and ready to gift! Quilted by sarahssewingstudio.com. Designed by me. Free patterns on sewhooked.com and fandominstitches.com. So happy to see this completed! #projectofdoom #fandominstitches #harrypotter #pod

I had another BIG finish last year that wasn’t on this list. Early last year, I started a Harry Potter Bookcase Quilt (aka, The Project of Doom) for my sister. It was pieced during the 2015 Project of Doom Quilt Along on Fandom in Stitches. All patterns designed by me and free both here and on FiS. Quilted by the very talented Sarah from Sarah’s Sewing Studio. Go, have her quilt a thing for you!

Quilt For Amelia, completed 2015 Quilt For Amelia, completed 2015
A bonus finish, added to my To Do list after the list was originally made in January, is Amelia’s Quilt. The original quilt top was machine pieced by my mother-in-law Carol’s mother. Carol started adding a border and had hoped to have this completed for her granddaughter, my niece. We lost Carol in February last year before she had the chance to finish stitching the border on. She’d talked to me at length about this project and I knew she wanted it done in time for Amelia’s birthday. I brought it home and it sat for months because I couldn’t face working on it. A few weeks before Amelia turned 6, I got it out, consulted some friends and got to work. There were a lot of emotions while I worked and it was somewhat cathartic to have it complete and in Amelia’s hands by her birthday.

2015 UFO Report Card

Completed – 11

Unchanged – 4

Bonus Big Finishes – 2

Thirteen complete? I’ll take it!

Here’s to a VERY productive 2016!

I’ll see you tomorrow on Talk to Me Tuesday! ♥

 

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My Favorite Things 2016 Block of the Month sewhooked.com

I Want To Believe: An X-Files Quilt & Stitch Along coming 2016 on fandominstitches.com

TTMT #350 – Bring it on, 2016!

This video is a wee bit jumpy from all the cutting to get it down to under 15 minutes. Grab a cup of tea or coffee and enjoy my antics!

Watch last year’s video…report card for 2015’s UFO To Do List coming later this week. 🙂

Below is the full recap of everything I showed you (plus one!) on my 2016 To Do list!

Definitions of some initialisms used in this post:

UFO = UnFinished Object – a project that has been set aside and allowed to collect dust. Chances are it’s existence has been forgotten until it’s pulled out of whatever dark hole it was stuffed into. While there, it probably multiplied like Tribbles, leaving many more UFOs than you remember putting there in the first place.

USO = UnStarted Object – a project that has yet not made it out of it’s incubation period. Often comes in the shape of a stack of fat quarters, a jelly roll or other similarly delicious fabric apparition. Can also appear as a pattern or book with little hearts doodled on the cover. Hopes to be a…

WIP = Work In Progress  – Always in danger of becoming a UFO, a WIP is a project that is currently being worked on, and will hopefully become a…

FO = Finished Object – What all projects dream of being. The object of much blog activity and excitement and a good source of personal pride. The Ultimate Destination of a UFO and WIP.

project of doom 2015
Stonehenge PoD (2015), UFO – My personal quilt from the 2015 reboot of The Project of Doom, a Harry Potter Bookcase quilt. Five blocks (one row!) left to piece before it can become a quilt top. Fabric and patterns are standing by.

Paper Piecing Vintage Signature Quilt - UFO
PPV Signature Quilt (2014), UFO – Signature quilt from PPV. Needs a border and to be quilted & bound.

Hand embroidered flower quilt

Embroidered Flower Quilt (2011), UFO – This was a BOM by a blogger that is no longer online. Borders added, have back & binding. To be quilted & bound. I forgot to show this one in today’s video. Oops!

TABABOM top

TABABOM (+ Signature Quilt Blocks) (2012), UFO – The Hobbit Block of the Month on Fandom In Stitches.  Needs to be unbasted and rebasted with new pieced back to include Signature Blocks.

First #finish of 2016 for #TheLinusConnection. The pattern is Topsy Turvy Trees, available in my pattern shop. This top has been on my "to quilt" list since 2012. #ufo2016 #charityquilt #quiltforgood

2013 Project To Do List

Vintage Quilt Top, UFO . My hubby bought this for me for our anniversary several years ago. I have a back and batting for this quilt, but it still needs basting and quilting. It hasn’t happened yet because I’m still undecided on how to finish it. Fingers crossed for inspiration!

Project of Doom 2015 Signature Quilt
PoD 2015 Signature Quilt (2015), UFO – Signature quilt for last year’s Project of Doom on Fandom in Stitches. Needs backing fabric & to be quilted/bound.

Chocolate Challenge Quilt (Chocolate Box)
Chocolate Box Quilt (2015), UFO – Made for my sewing group’s Chocolate Challenge. We all started with the same fabrics and each made a different quilt. Has backing. Needs to be quilted & bound. Free pattern.

Progress! #AsYouWish #princessbride #fandominstitches

As You Wish/ The Princess Bride (2014), UFO – From the quilt & stitch along on Fandom In Stitches in 2014. At the quilter!

#projectofdoom for #TheLinusConnection. Blocks by the Project of Doom Facebook group. #charityblanket

Charity PoD #1 for The Linus Connection, UFO (2015)– Made from blocks donated by The Project of Doom Facebook Group. To be donated to The Linus Connection.

That's probably enough for today! #projectofdoom #thelinusconnection #charityquilt #harrypotter
Charity PoD #2 for The Linus Connection, UFO (2015)– Made from blocks donated by The Project of Doom Facebook Group. To be donated to The Linus Connection.

Orphan blocks sorted for quilt making for #TheLinusConnection! #quiltforgood

Orphan Blocks For Linus, WIP. While not technically a UFO, I’m including these here as a reminder to myself to work on quilts for Linus from donated blocks. I collect blocks from anyone that might like to donate and save them until I have enough to make a quilt to donate to The Linus Connection. Want to donate? Drop me an email, sewhooked@gmail.com.

Halloween Quilt, USO – New personal project. Make a Halloween quilt by October! Oodles of fabric already collected.

Quilt for my son, USO – New personal project. Make a quilt for my son to take to college with him next fall.

My Favorite Things. a Block of the Month by Jennifer Ofenstein

My Favorite Things – My 2016 Block of the Month right here on Sewhooked. Click here for details.

I Want To Believe: An X-Files Quilt & Stitch Along coming 2016 on fandominstitches.com

X-Files: I Want to Believe a Quilt & Stitch Along – My Jan – March Quilt & Stitch along on Fandom in Stitches. Starts tomorrow! Click here for details.

WHEW! I think that is QUITE enough to be getting on with!

How did I do with my UFO list from 2015? Check back later this week for my report card!

signature-2016

Posts on this blog may contain affiliate links. Thank you for your support. ♥

 

 

My Favorite Things – January!

My Favorite Things. a Block of the Month by Jennifer Ofenstein

Welcome, welcome to 2016 and the very first day of My Favorite Things, my 2016 Block of the Month!

My Favorite Things includes 12 brand new patterns to paper piece in both 6″ and 12″, as well as a number of bonus blocks to mix and match your own favorites!

These patterns are MY Favorite Things, but I hope you will find some of your favorites along the way, too!

***IMPORTANT INFO ABOUT HOW THIS BOM WORKS***

The first day of each month in 2016 is FREE PATTERN DAY. At that time, you can download the monthly BOM pattern for free from 8am CST on the 1st to 8am CST on the 2nd.  After that time, each pattern will be available for a $2 from my Craftsy Pattern Shop. The the set will available for sale by December.

My Favorite Things BOM: January (Sewing Machine)

First up in My Favorite Things might be a bit obvious, but it’s an absolute necessity: A Sewing Machine!

I had a great deal of fun designing each and every pattern for My Favorite Things. My goal is fun, cute, versatile patterns that are are easy to piece.

***GET THE JANUARY PATTERN***

(valid 8am CST on the 1st to 8am CST on the 2nd day of the month)

Pattern included 6″ & 12″ fully color paper pieced patterns with My Favorite Things details as well as sewing instructions.

From January 2 on, get this pattern from my Craftsy Shop!

My Favorite Things: January Block made into a wall hanging (sewhooked.com)

FABRIC AMOUNTS (this info is in the pattern)

  • Background Fabric for 12” blocks only = 3 ½ yards
  • Background Fabric for 6” blocks only = 1 ¼ yards.
  • Small amounts of other fabrics needed to complete each block.
  • (yardage includes bonus blocks).
  • Suggested sashing/border amounts will be shared with final (optional!) layouts in December.

NEED PAPER PIECING HELP? I have a page for that!

Every pattern for this BOM has been tested by both myself and Amber Lowery, friend and awesomesauce pattern tester!

January 2016 Flickr Prize for sewhooked.com

Want a chance to win a fun, free prize each month during 2016? It’s easy! Make today’s pattern (or any pattern designed by me) and share it with my flickr group. You’ll be entered to win for each photo you share! Winners to be announced on the first Friday of each month.

Want to sponsor a prize? Please drop me an email.

Join the Sewhooked Facebook Group for community, fun and support! This is absolutely optional and not required to participate in the BOM.

Happy stitching!

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I Want To Believe: An X-Files Quilt & Stitch Along coming 2016 on fandominstitches.com

Happy Holidays, My Friends!

2015 card for sewhooked

Hello, my friends!

As you may have guessed, I have decided to forgo Talk To Me Tuesday today.

Even so, I wanted to stop by and wish you all a very happy holiday season!

Whatever holiday you and your family are celebrating during this lovely time of year, I hope it is full of family, friends, fun and laughter.

Still hot butter toffee covered in chocolate.

In case you missed it, I shared my family’s favorite Chocolate Covered Butter Toffee recipe last week. It’s one of the easiest and yummiest candies to make!

Need a free festive pattern or two? Here are some of my favorites! Just click on the image to go to the pattern download page!

Sweet Sue Tops The Tree

Holiday House

Sweet Skating Sue, Purple and Green

Find all of my free holiday-themed patterns here!

Holly Jolly Set

Need more holiday happiness? Get Holly Jolly on Craftsy OR Etsy!

SALE! SALE! SALE!

Treat yourself! Now through December 31, everything in my Etsy shop, patterns, magazines & original handmade items, are 20% off your total order over $6.99!  Just enter coupon code HAPPYDECEMBER when you check out to receive your discount.

 

Coming in January 2016!

My Favorite Things 2016 Block of the Month sewhooked.com

I Want To Believe: An X-Files Quilt & Stitch Along coming 2016 on fandominstitches.com

Two New Freebies!

The very lovely and talented Jennifer Rowles put together the amazing Smartphone Quilt Along, now in it’s entirety over on Fandom in Stitches.

As with many of our events on Fandom in Stitches, we ended this one by throwing out an invite to our community to share supplemental designs for the project.

I thought it would be fun to design two of my favorite crafty apps to share with our community.

Both of these patterns are free and can also be found on Fandom in Stitches today as part of the #SMQAL Design Invitational!

Robert Kaufman Quilt Calculator is my go-to app for calculating binding. It has oodles of other features, but that is definitely my favorite!

This free pattern is 10″ Paper Pieced.

Robert Kaufman App pattern tested by Vanda

Tested version by Vanda Chittenden. Thanks, Vanda!

The Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft Store App has been a lifesaver! I used to always forget my coupons, but now they are always available at the touch of a finger. Woo, technology!

This free pattern is also 10″ Paper Pieced.

Jo-Ann App pattern tested by Vanda

Tested by Vanda!

Want to make a Smartphone quilt? Find more awesome patterns here:

smartphone quilt along

 

Coming in January 2016!

My Favorite Things 2016 Block of the Month sewhooked.com

I Want To Believe: An X-Files Quilt & Stitch Along coming 2016 on fandominstitches.com