Category Archives: Quilts & Quilting

Free Pattern – Chocolate Box!

Chocolate Box, a free 14

Download Free Pattern or Get it Free on Craftsy!

Twice now, I’ve shared fun projects made with this very simple traditionally pieced block above. I’ve had several requests to share this free pattern, and you know I love to share, so here you go!

This pattern is absolutely free because I think it is perfect for charity quilts. I designed it to be used with novelty prints, which make absolutely wonderful quilts for children. I plan to make several out of fabric I have on hand for The Linus Connection.

During my research to make sure this was indeed my own design, I did discover a similar free pattern from McCall’s called Garden Path.  The McCall’s block is made with different sized fabric cuts but creates a similar effect. Their version is also free. You can find it here.

Just like all of my patterns, Chocolate Box was designed in EQ!

Included in the free Chocolate Box pattern are the instructions for the traditionally pieced 14″ block (14 1/2″ with seam allowance) and a 6″ paper pieced version, because that’s what I do!

Also included is a chart and fabric amounts for making the Australian Quilt (shown below).
Chocolate Challenge Quilt (Chocolate Box)

Download Free Pattern or Get it Free on Craftsy!

The Chocolate Box pattern started with The Chocolate Challenge, a friendly challenge between my local sewing friends taken up at our 2014 Quilt Retreat. We all swapped a variety of chocolate themed fabric and brought back a completed project for 2014. This one is mine (still to be quilted!)

Australia Quilt

I loved my Chocolate quilt so much that I decided to use the same pattern to create a quilt with a collection of Australian-themed patterns that were gifted to me by my friend Cat from Adelaide, SA, over the course several years. With the help of some Fossil Fern fabric, I created this 70″ x 84″ quilt top (also to be quilted!). The layout instructions and fabric amounts for this quilt are included for free in the Chocolate Box pattern.

Download Free Pattern or Get it Free on Craftsy!

Find more free patterns right here on Sewhooked!

Please use Chocolate Box with my blessing for your own personal use or even better, to make a quilt for your favorite blanket charity!

Vol11-blog-tour-coming-socialmedia_66016It’s almost time for another wonderful issue of Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks and I’m excited to once again be included amongst some of the most talented designers in the world! Look for the blog tour coming May 5 -8!

Have a wonderful, quilty day!

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A Very Special Monday

Alida (tweloquilting.blogspot.com) recreated one of my later mother-in-law's stained glass pieces as a quilt for my birthday. I'm absolutely overwhelmed with emotion. #paperpiecing #gift #tweloq

Over the weekend, I received an unexpected parcel in the mail from Alida over on Tweety Loves Quilting.

There were many wonderful things in the parcel, with one very special one tied with a ribbon. When I opened it, there was a beautiful wall hanging inside:

Stained Glass Quilt by TweLoQ

I looked at the gorgeous quilt and I knew it reminded me of something, but I couldn’t put my finger on it right away. It was only after I walked away and into my kitchen that I realized.

Alida recreated one of my mother-in-law, Carol’s, stained glass pieces that I had shared in this post the day after Carol passed away.

The original piece looks like this:

Stained Glass by CarolTo say I was gobsmacked is an understatement. I immediately raced up stairs to pull the photo up so I could compare. The gorgeous birthday gift is a recreation of this piece, there was no doubt about it.

Made for Linus by AlidaMade for Linus by Alida

Not only did Alida send me this beautiful piece she obviously worked long and hard on, but she also included two wonderful quilt tops for donation to my favorite blanket charity, The Linus Connection.

Color me speechless.

After the private thank you I sent, I had to share a huge public one. Thank you, Alida, for your thoughtfulness and generosity.

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A Few of My Favorite Things

A few of my favorite things...

There’s been fairly regular conversation over on the Project of Doom Facebook group about favorite tools for different aspects of quilting and paper piecing.

I thought I’d take that idea and share a list of some of my personal favorites.

Disclaimer: These are my favorites.  I personally use and recommend every single one of things. This is not a paid ad, though there are affiliate links below.  If you have a tool that you like better, or one I didn’t include, I’d love to hear about it!

I have included Amazon and other links for easy reference, but if you have a favorite local quilting store, please give them your business. ♥

I love my rotary mat, rulers, etc., which are all fairly basic quilting supplies, so I’m not including those here. I have a variety of different ruler brands and I enjoy them all. These are my special favorites, all used for paper piecing, and are the things that I wouldn’t want to live without in the sewing room!

  • Add-A-Quarter 6″ Ruler &  12″ Ruler  (the 12″ is by far my most used ruler) – for trimming seams to 1/4″ as you go. These are ideal for paper piecing and make quick work of trimming as you go! More about paper piecing here.
  • Add-An-Eighth Ruler – also great for paper piecing, especially when there are lots of overlapping seams that need to be graded to avoid bulk.
  • Olfa 45mm Ergonomic Rotary Cutter – great for constant cutting and for anyone that forgets to close the blade on their standard rotary cutter. My first rotary cutter was not ergonomic, which I found harder to deal with as I began using it more and more (and let’s be honest, as I got older!). The Olfa is easy to use and has a squeeze grip that closes the blade when not in use.
  • Mary Ellen’s Best Press – Excellent starch alternative to get out stubborn wrinkles and to give fabric body without flakes or stickiness. Use sparingly when paper piecing if the paper is still attached to your block or you will end up with a soggy mess. I love the lavender, it smells just lovely!
  • Superior Top Stitch Needles or Organ brand Top Stitch Needles I’ve had excellent results with both brands. Paper piecing dulls needles faster, so having spares on hand is a must!
  • Havel’s Ultra Pro Seam Ripper – ideal for serged seams, but it also cuts like butter through seams that need to be “unsewn,” including the small stitches that are best for paper piecing. Do be very careful with this, though. It’s a super sharp blade that will pierce your fabric (or you!) if you’re not careful! Refillable blade, which is a bonus! 
  • Mini-Seam Fix Seam Ripper – this is my all time favorite. I keep several on hand because seam rippers get dull and occasionally need to be replaced. This little guy is a champ! It’s great at getting those tiny paper pieced stitches. The eraser end rubs away all the bits of leftover threads!
  • Fiskar 5″ Softgrip Scissors – I keep these handy little guys hanging on a 3M Command Wire Hook right on the side of my sewing machine. I always know where they are and they are useful for everything from trimming threads to snipping corners.
  • Black & Decker Classic Iron – The Black & Decker has a nice heft to it, which I find I really prefer to lightweight irons when pressing. I use it without steam to press when piecing (nothing will kill an iron faster than actually putting water in it!). It has a safety feature that will turn the iron off when it hasn’t been picked up after about 10 minutes, but turns on and heats up quickly once it’s moved again. That’s a great safety feature if you, like me, tend to get distracted and forget that the iron is on!
  • Steamfast Iron – This palm sized iron is a CHAMP for paper piecing.  Originally my “to go” iron, when I have RSI flare ups, this is a much better choice for me to use. As much as I love the Black & Decker classic, I definitely use this one more.
  • Variera Iron Holder from IKEA – keeps the iron off the ironing board and safe from jumping and grabbing critters like cats and kids. I have had my iron holder for years and I couldn’t live without it. My iron stays safely mounted and out of the way when not being used and is a safe place to keep the iron even when it’s on. Sadly, this Iron caddy doesn’t appear to be currently available. This one is similar, though I haven’t used it myself.
  • Recycled Printer Paper – The number one supply question I’m asked is what kind of paper I use for paper piecing. There are a number of products out there specifically for paper piecing, and if those work for you, that’s absolutely brilliant. My personal favorite is recycled printer paper. It comes in reams, is reasonably priced, it runs easily and smoothly through my printer, it’s easier to remove than regular printer paper, but it has enough body that it stays in tact while you sew (and occasionally rip!) seams. After paper piecing, I recycle it again, making the circle complete! You can also use newsprint (also avaiable in printer-size) if you prefer a lighter weight paper.

Is your favorite tool not listed? I’d love to hear about it!

My patterns can be found on sewhooked.comfandominstitches.com,  & various Quiltmaker Magazines.

Thanks for stopping by!

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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. ♥

2014 UFO To Do List Report Card

Making it real. #finishin2014

For the last several years, I’ve started January with a To Do List for projects past that I would like to tackle and (hopefully!) finish for the year.

This is my 2014 Report Card!

See my 2014 To Do list, including photos of where each project stood at the beginning of last year. Today’s recap doesn’t include projects started and finished in last year, just UFOs from previous years.

2014 UFO projects in an IKEA bag

The entire list in one bag,  sorted by project and ready to work on as of January ’14.

1. HP Swap Quilt

Harry Potter Swap Quilt

January 2014 Status – WIP.  This is the second of two quilts made from Harry Potter quilt block swaps from way back in 2007 or so. Pieced with border. Have batting & backing fabric.  Needs to be quilted and bound. I’m planning on binding in red so the pale blue border has a solid stop.

Current Status – WIP, with progress – 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.

2.  Vintage quilt top

2013 Project To Do List
January 2014 Status – UFO. My hubby bought this for me for our anniversary several years ago. In needs to be quilted, possibly by hand. Needs a back & binding. I’m thinking muslin for the back.

Current Status – UFO with progress. I now 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!

3. Vintage Churn Dash Quilt
Finished Quilt - Vintage Churn Dash + Snowballs

January 2014 Status – WIP. Vintage churn dash blocks with supplemental snowball blocks made with replica fabrics. Has borders, backing and batting. Needs to be quilted & bound.

Current Status – Complete! This was my last UFO finish of 2014. I free motion quilted and bound machine bound it. It washed up beautifully and is now my favorite snuggle quilt.

4. Green/Purple 10 minute block quilt

Did I also mention I finished a #ufo today? For donation to #TheLinusConnection.  #finish2014

January 2014 Status – WIP. Green charm swap from TTMT 2011 or so, I think. Borders added, have backing and batting. To be quilted/bound. Made using the 10 minute block quilt tutorial on YouTube.

Current Status – Complete! Free motion quilted, bound and donated to The Linus Connection in March 2014.

5. Project of Doom Signature Quilt
Project of Doom Signature Quilt
January 2014 Status – WIP. Blocks from the 2011 Participants of The Project of Doom. I love this quilt. Adore it. Quilted by Shannon Shaw. It needs binding. Seriously, I’ve gotta get on that!

Current Status – Complete! Bound with scrappy binding in Hogwarts House colors. I’m so pleased to have this one done! It’s even more gorgeous (and more special!!) in person. It’s the prefect companion to my 2011 Project of Doom Quilt.

6. There and Back Again Block of the Month (TABABOM)

TABABOM top

January 2014 Status – WIPish. 2012 Block of the Month on Fandom In Stitches. Have backing, batting and binding. Not yet quilted.

Current Status – WIP. This quilt is now basted and ready to FMQ. It’s in the queue after my Harry Potter Swap Quilt (above).

7. Project – There and Back Again signature blocks.

2013 Project To Do List

January 2014 Status – UFO. Similar idea to the Project of Doom signature quilt. I’m missing a block from one of the designers, so I have put off working on it. To be pieced into a top. Will need fabric for sashing and possible center piece, possibly the name of the event with dates in embroidery.

Current Status – UFO. I’m still missing a block for this quilt, but I have a plan for moving forward, so hopefully this will change to WIP very soon!

8. Embroidered block quilt top

Hand embroidered flower quilt

January 2014 Status – 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 – UFO. No change since January 2014.

9. Topsy Turvy Trees

2013 Project To Do List

January 2014 Status – UFO. Needs a back and to be quilted, bound. One of my original designs.

Current Status – UFO. No Change since January 2014.

10. Australia fabric from Cat

Australia Fabric Project

January 2014 Status – UFO. (Actually, USO…UnStarted Object!). I’ve picked a pattern I like, and that’s as far as I’ve gotten. I need to find an accent fabric and cut this puppy out!

Current Status – UFO. No change since January 2014, but I do have plans to decide on accent fabric and pre-cut all the pieces before I go on Retreat with my bee in March.

11. Flannel Quilt Blocks.

Quilt as you go with raggy edge.

January 2015 Status – UFO. These were unearthed during the same archaeological dig that found the Flannel Quilt included in my 2013 Recap. I have no idea why these weren’t on last year’s list. No matter, they are on this year’s! These fabrics are from pajamas my kiddos had when they were small. As in pre-school and elementary small. Yeah. Anyway, to be made into a quilt for donation to The Linus Connection.

Current Status – Complete! I used a Quilt As You Go technique, and completed the quilt with raggy edges instead of binding. I had very little flannel to work with and decided to not add borders. Donated to The Linus Connection in March 2014.

12. Mustachio! quilt

Mustachio!

January 2014 Status – UFO. Has backing and batting. Needs to be quilted. One of my original designs.

Current Status – Complete! As of June, my Mustachio blocks are finally a quilt! I fmq’d it, complete with “hair” quilting in the mustaches. Mustachio now lives at the top of my stairs and never fails to illicit a chuckle or two when visitors first see it.

13. Misc. Published Blocks

Misc. Published Blocks

January 2014 Status – UFO? WIP? Kinda Both. This is the bag where I stash blocks I’ve designed for magazines, blog hops, events, etc., when I don’t have a project in mind for them. I’d like to do, I don’t know…something…with at least some of these this year. I have another bag just like this of unpublished designs. Mayhap I’ll do something with those, too!

Current Status – UFO. No change since January 2014, except that this bag now has more miscellaneous published designs in it and no plan for what to do next! I may remove this from the list in 2015.

14. Garden Party Blog Hop Blocks
2014 04 April Linus Donation (14)
January 2014 Status – UFO; 8 of 30. Way back in 2012, I hosted the Paper Pieced Pattern A Day Garden Party Blog Hop (the link goes to a round-up of all the designs). It was an amazing events, with 30 designers and 30 designs, one for every day in April, 2012. Between hosting, running three blogs, and having my first pattern published in a magazine, I kind of got lost and my blocks ended up in a bag collecting dust. I would love, at the very least, make some progress on these this year.

Current Status – As Complete as it’s going to be! I ended up using 7 of the 8 blocks I originally made during the Paper Pieced Pattern A Day Garden Party Blog Hop, added two Stars for Linus blocks that I received in the mail (sorry, I don’t remember who they came from!) added sashing & borders, free motion quilted the top and donated it to The Linus Connection in April 2014. I love the way this came out, even thought it’s only a fraction of the original designs intended for the quilt. Incidentally, swirls are one of my favorite things to fmq!

15. Not All Who Wander Are Lost

Not All Who Wander Are Lost blocks My Northcott Stonehenge collection

January 2014 Status –  UFO. 2 of 29. NAWWAL was hosted by Lilja on my fandom quilt blog, Fandom In Stitches. I had every intention of making this quilt. See that on the right? That’s my collection of Stonehenge fabric kept specifically so this project will match my There and Back Again quilt. Despite my best intentions, the only blocks I made for these event are the two I designed for it. Like the Garden Party quilt, I would like to make some progress this year.

Current Status – Removed from To Do list. While I really would like to make this quilt someday, I just have not felt inspired to work on it. I’ve removed it from my To Do list for the time being to work on other things. My Stonehenge stash is being used for my 2015 Project of Doom instead.

16. Orphan Block Quilt 2013, #2
March 2014 - Orphan Block Quilt
January 2014 Status – UFO. One of three made from orphan blocks for donation to The Linus Connection. These were slice and dice 9 patch blocks left over from a quilt I made for a friend’s wedding way back in 2007. Needs borders, backing, batting & binding.

Current Status – Complete! Free motion quilted, bound and donated to The Linus Connection in March 2014.

17. 1980s T-Shirts

1980s t-shirts

January 2014 Status – Something. UFO. I’ve saved the most dubious project for last. Many years ago, before I ever held a rotary cutter or knew anything about squaring up, paper piecing, half-square triangles, batting, free-motion quilting or any other quilting term you might like to throw out, I got the crazy idea to cut up my favorite t-shirts from high school for a quilt-type project. Maybe a bag or pillow? I don’t know what I was thinking, but I can tell you I chopped without impunity, leaving very little seam allowance to work with. After years… And Years… And a few more YEARS stuffed in a bag on a shelf, I brought these memories of high school out into the light. This year, I will do something with them. I have no idea what, but something. It’s high time to get them off my self. Besides, I like a challenge. Ehem.

Current Status – Removed from List. As sad as I am to do it, I’ve removed this project entirely from the list. Many of the t-shirts had dry rot and weren’t worth saving. I kept a couple for nostalgia reasons and let the rest go to the great T-Shirt Store In the Sky.

18. Bonus! Orphan Block Quilts
2014 04 April Linus Donation (6)2014 04 April Linus Donation (8)

2014 04 April Linus Donation (11)Orphan block quilt for #TheLinusConnection! Feel free to tag yourself if you contributed blocks. Quilted by Marge. #blanketcharity #orphanblocks #craftforgood
January 2014 Status – Orphan Blocks. While these were not originally on the list, they were in my stack To Do for 2014. I have an ongoing collection of orphan blocks made both by myself and donated by other quilters all over the world (want to donate? just email me! sewhooked@gmail.com). Many of these blocks were donated prior to 2014 with a few newer blocks thrown in.

Current Status – Four Completed Quilts, Block Collection Still Ongoing. Four completed quilts, donated to The Linus Connection in 2014. I finished the top three at quilt retreat last year and donated them in March & April as I finished the fmq and binding. The fourth one was quilted by my friend and fellow Linus volunteer Marge and turned in later in the year.

2014 UFO To Do List

2014 UFO Report Card

Finished – 7

Unchanged – 4

Removed from List – 3

WIP – 3

Bonus Finishes – 4

Well, well, that’s not too bad, especially considering all I had going on in 2014, including Paper Piecing Vintage, As You Wish (look for my Princess Bride quilt on this year’s UFO list…oops!), two Quiltmaker Blog Tours and a number of other small events, deadlines, swaps and new projects! It was a very productive year and I’m quite happy with my progress.

Hardest of all, I think, was assessing what I had done and what I was likely to do and actually removing items from the list. I’d like to be more realistic about what I want to do in future and hopefully not drown myself in a list of new projects that end up on yet another UFO list!

How did you do in 2014? Did you keep track? Do you have a recap that you shared online? If you do, please do share a link in comments!

Now, to assess what I have to do for 2015 and make a brand new list! Let’s hope this one is a bit shorter…

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Hoppity Frog

Frogger Pixel Quilt

 

Today is Make it Mosaic over on Fandom In Stitches. There was HUGE excitement when I first posted the Challenge, but it we only had a tiny turn out. Even so, the entries received were super cute and I appreciate each one!

Make It Mosaic quilt block challenge on fandominstitches.com photo makeitmosaic_zps6c1e54e9.jpg

Most of the time when we have a Challenge or Event on FiS, I’m the organizer. I still like to participate even though it would be silly to award myself, so if there are enough minutes to squeeze out of the day, I’ll whip something up to share.

Frogger Pixel QuiltWith that in mind, I created this fun Frogger design! I didn’t play video games much as a kid, but when I did, I tended to play Frogger. My game abilities are limited, as was my pocket money as a kid, so I focused every quarter on the same game in the hopes that I would improve and not completely waste the dollar bills I had to spend at the Putt Putt!

Also, Frogger is just cute.

Frogger Pixel Quilt
Frogger (free pattern!)
12 x 12 Grid
24″ as shown
Made from 2 1/2″ squares. You can adapt it to your own needs by increasing or decreasing the patch sizes.
There is also a possibility that I spent a bit of time getting splatted by cars as I tried to safely navigate my frog across the road. It was research, I swear it was research! Play Frogger for free here.
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Stop by Sewhooked on November 20, 2014 for more about my block and a fun giveaway!
Looking to buy Quiltmaker Magazine? Here’s an easy link for current and past issues! I will also have a limited supply of signed copies for sale in my Etsy store once this issue has been released.

Tree Trimming

 

In November, share ANY project designed by me (from Craftsysewhooked.com,fandominstitches.com, Quiltmaker, etc.) with the Sewhooked flickr group and be entered to win a free copy of one of my most popular patterns, Tree Trimming!

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Hello, boys!

Monster Madness!

While working on another project this morning, I needed to delve into one of my many sample boxes.

The gents from Monster Madness were on top and I could not resist getting them out for an impromptu photo!

Originally intended for a book that I wrote in 2008 – 2009, these handsome fellas are available as the Monster Madness set or as individual patterns on Craftsy!

I Want My Mummy

Also be sure to look for their bonus buddy, I want my Mummy!

Stop by on Saturday to see the November installment of Paper Piecing Vintage! Still haven’t signed up? You can do that now! Don’t forget to share your photos for a chance to win the October prize:

sewhooked.com October 2014 Pick 3 Giveaway!

Stop by the Sewhooked flickr group and share photos of your quilt blocks & projects made from Sewhooked patterns, including Paper Piecing Vintage or any other pattern (free or for sale) designed by me. You will each photo you share (one entry per project), you will be entered to win your choice of THREE individual block patterns ($2.95 or less each) from my Craftsy Shop!

Click on the banner to go Sewhooked flickr group. Winner to be announced November 3, 2014!

 

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Don’t stop…designing!

Oodles of Harry Potter Pattern Updates!

 

Well, I suppose a better way to say that would be “don’t stop updating!”

The above images are all my original Harry Potter paper pieced designs, the ones that inspired my now-defunct group Harry Potter Paper Piecing and were the petri dish for Fandom In Stitches.

 

Harry Potter Quilt

My Magical Lens, my first Harry Potter quilt, completed in 2007. I started designing these patterns in 2004.

I’m giving all of my pre-2010 patterns a facelift to make them easier to read and current with where my design style has evolved to. Back in 2010, when I was designing The Project of Doom, I started using EQ7 to draw my patterns. It changed the way I design and while I still use multiple softwares for entire patterns, all of my drafts start in EQ7.

With very few exceptions, I draw all of my patterns entirely from scratch and I’ve had a complete blast going back through images I created years ago and updating them to share with all my fellow Harry Potter fans that are still creating their quilts.

All I ask in return is that you not make items to sell from my patterns. These are free for your personal and non-profit use. Use them for charity or yourself, but not for sale, please.

You can find all my my updated Harry Potter patterns right here on Sewhooked and on Fandom In Stitches under Harry Potter. I started at the top and am currently through the Quidditch patterns. Here on Sewhooked, looked for “updated 2014” for those patterns that have been recently improved for your sewing enjoyment.

 

I'm a Craftsy Designer
 If you love my free patterns, then I’d ask if you’d very kindly considering buying a pattern or two from my Craftsy shop. Selling patterns is how I am able to continue to do and share all the things I do and I appreciate each and every purchase!
Share your projects made from any Sewhooked pattern with the Sewhooked flickr group in September, including Paper Piecing Vintage, and you’ll be entered to win a free copy of Sunbonnet Sue’s Magical Friends, Set 1: Monster Madness. The set includes 5″ patterns for all the classic monsters shown…just in time for Halloween! Winner coming soon!

Jack and Few Other Thing

Union Jack, paper pieced

Union Jack

5″ x 8″ paper pieced

a free pattern designed for Fandom In Stitches

 

One of the great joys of running a fandom website like Fandom In Stitches is the never ending variety of requests. On any given day, there are over 100 requests in the spreadsheet that the FiS Designers share.

This freebie is one such pattern.

I have to admit, the Union Jack, as well as a whole slew of other flags, is included in the patterns that come with EQ7, the design software that I use to design most of my patterns. There are actually a ton of patterns in the software that can be used, adapted, etc. What I did with this was to change the size, color and number the pattern and make it available as a PDF so it’s free and easy to use.

The Union Jack is just the tip of the iceberg for my recent free design work. I’ve been furiously going through my older patterns and updating them one at a time. You’ll find those under Free Patterns with the notation “updated 2014.”

I started designing at the end of 2004 or so, and many of my patterns haven’t been updated since then. Back in those days, I drew everything out in Photoshop. Those early patterns are still quite usable, but they aren’t as clean and easy to read as my current patterns. I suppose it’s obvious to say that I’ve improved a lot in the ten years I’ve been designing quilt patterns! With that in mind, I’m updating everything to fit with my current style and to make it much easier for you to use.

Here are just a few of the updates you’ll find. Click on the image to go to the pattern. For even more updates, check out Free Patterns . These will also be added to Craftsy, as time permits.

Sea Turtle 2014 update Bats 2014 update Happy Bee, 2014 simple apple 2014Turtle inspired by queenmlv
There are more pattern updates on the way, posted as I have time to get them online!
I'm a Craftsy Designer
If you love my free patterns, then I’d ask if you’d very kindly considering buying a pattern or two from my Craftsy shop. Selling patterns is how I am able to continue to do and share all the things I do and I appreciate each and every sale!
Share your projects made from any Sewhooked pattern with the Sewhooked flickr group in September, including Paper Piecing Vintage, and you’ll be entered to win a free copy of Sunbonnet Sue’s Magical Friends, Set 1: Monster Madness. The set includes 5″ patterns for all the classic monsters shown…just in time for Halloween!

How to Enlarge & Reduce Quilt Patterns with Adobe Reader

how to enlarge reduce patterns

Edited to add: This tutorial was written in 2014. It may not work with all versions of Adobe Reader. You can also use the chart below to enlarge patterns on printers that include that feature. Thanks!

Today, I’m sharing a rare mirror post with my fandom site, Fandom In Stitches, but this is more than worth posting twice.

I read and answer a lot (and by a lot, I mean tons!) of email for both Sewhooked and Fandom in Stitches and the question I answer most often is this: How do I resize a quilt block pattern?

The easiest way to ENLARGE or REDUCE a quilt block pattern is to print it as a poster using Adobe Reader and the chart below.

If I don’t have the size you need, I’ve got you covered! Here’s the formula used to get the size you need:

enlrage formula sewhooked

ENLARGE OR REDUCE PATTERNS USING THIS SCALE
Pattern Size Needed
4″ 5″ 6″ 7″ 8″ 9″ 10″ 11″ 12″
Pattern Size
4″ 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 225% 250% 275% 300%
5″ 80% 100% 120% 140% 160% 180% 200% 220% 240%
6″ 67% 83% 100% 117% 133% 150% 167% 183% 200%
7″ 52% 71% 88% 100% 114% 128% 143% 152% 171%
8″ 50% 62% 75% 87% 100% 112% 125% 137% 150%
9″ 44% 55% 66% 77% 88% 100% 111% 122% 133%
10″ 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 110% 120%
11″ 36% 45% 54% 63% 72% 81% 90% 100% 109%
12″ 34% 42% 50% 59% 67% 78% 84% 93% 100%

Follow these steps and use the chart below to make it even easier:

  1. Download the PDF quilt block pattern file.
  2. Open pattern in Adobe Reader.
  3. Open the Print dialog (shown below) by clicking the printer icon.
  4. Choose which Pages to Print. In the example “All” is chosen, but if there is an instruction page, skip that and just enlarge the pattern pages. It may be least confusing to enlarge one page at a time.
  5. Under Paper Sizing & Handling, choose Poster (see image).
  6. Determine the starting Pattern Size and the chart below to determine what percentage to enlarge to Pattern Size Needed. For example, to print a 5″ pattern at 10″, Tile Scale (see below) will need to be 200%.
  7. Print these instructions for easy reference.

Big thanks to Fandom In Stitches Designer Addie Clark for sharing the poster printing tip over on the Fandom In Stitches Facebook Group.

 ♥

Join the Sewhooked Facebook Group for community, support & occasional prizes! I’m there, as are many friends of Sewhooked.

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Paper Piecing Vintage – August

August Paper Piecing Vintage Block

 

Welcome to August!

It’s hard to believe, but after today’s update, there are only four more blocks to go in Paper Piecing Vintage!

Today, I bring you a slightly different take on a very classic block, the Spider Web. I call mine Caught in the Web!

As with all the blocks from PPVCaught in the Web is entirely paper pieced and both 6″ and 12″ patterns are included.

Your August PPV update includes a surprise Bonus Block (not pictured)!

August Paper Piecing Vintage Block

 Caught in the Web, by Jennifer Ofenstein (sewhooked.com)

Already registered? Download your updated BOM file now!

August PPV, helpful hint
Save some time by following these bonus directions:

  • The 12″ pattern includes only one page. Make four copies and lay out the pieces following the included lettered units and using the 6″ pattern as a guideline.
  • For simple pre-cutting, use a strip of fabric and alternate pieces for triangles (see photo). This works on either size block and for many other PPV designs, too!
  • Save time by chain piecing like pattern pieces.
  • Have fun!

Paper Piecing Vintage Signature Block
Thanks to your generosity, I have already received many wonderful 6″ signature block for the Paper Piecing Vintage Signature Quilt!

If you have not yet shared yours, I will be accepting Signature Blocks until December 31, 2014. See your pattern for details and check out our Facebook Group for photos of blocks received so far!

Haven’t signed up for Paper Piecing Vintage yet? Registration for the entire year is just $12. That’s 12 patterns in two sizes (plus the occasional bonus!), entirely paper pieced for one awesome price! All patterns for the year to date are included when you download. Upcoming patterns will be added for you to download the first of each month in 2014.

There is still time to win this month’s Sewhooked flickr prize!  In July, ALL photos of projects made from Sewhooked patterns, including Paper Piecing Vintage and College Days, that are shared with the Sewhooked flickr group will be entered to win a copy of my pattern Topsy-Turvy Trees! Winner to be announced Monday August 4, 2014.

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Featured Pattern: Wee Lil’ Penguin (2 sizes, paper pieced), just $2.95!