Category Archives: Quilts & Quilting

Making The Best of It

Hand Quilting In Progress

Oh my, have I ever been sick the last couple of days!

A stuffy nose crept up on me Thursday evening and by Friday morning, I was a sick mess. Stuffy nose, fever, aches and pains.

How fun!

In an effort to not spend my long weekend as a complete lump, I pulled out a hand quilting project I started ages ago. I had to go all the way back to my 2010 UFO list to find where I first started talking about this quilt.

Really? 2010? Come on Jennifer, get a move on!

Grannie's Signature Quilt
This is my granmother’s signature quilt, before quilting and before I added the border.

This quilt inspired the Extra Credit block for the Project of Doom.

You may remember that I’ve worked on other quilt tops that came from Grannie’s house after she passed away.

Grannie's Trunk Quilt
Grannie’s Trunk Quilt

Grannie's Nine Patch
Grannie’s 9-Patch

I did, apparently, at least get the borders on Grannie’s Signature Quilt and start quilting in 2010, as evidenced by my 2010 UFO Round-up.

I’m keeping the quilting super simple. Grannie was not fancy and everything she did or made was practical and frugal, and I’d like the quilting to reflect that. I’m planning to bind the quilt in muslin.

It sure would be nice if this quilt did not make it to my 2012 UFO list!

Back to my tissues…and my hand quilting.

Photobucket

 
Sewhooked Shop | FB | SHFB | Flickr | Twitter | Bloglovin

Heart With A Cause

Heart With A Cause

Today is Veterans’ Day in the United States. I thought today would be the right day to share this special free pattern with you.

Heart With A Cause
Heart With A Cause
a free 6″ paper pieced pattern

Get it on Craftsy!

Heart With A Cause

There are many causes that have a ribbon to represent them. Another one that is dear to my heart is the pink ribbon for Breast Cancer Awareness.

I hope this little pattern will bring a little comfort to someone in your life.

Awareness ribbon color meanings on Wikipedia.

 

Add your Sewhooked-related photos to my flickr group and you might be featured in a future post.

Photobucket

 
Sewhooked Shop | FB | SHFB | Flickr | Twitter | Bloglovin

The Face of Quilting

We Are The Face of Quilting

Maybe it’s just me, but it seems that non-quilters can’t help but generalizing about who quilters are.

I think I’ve read one article too many that puts quilters exclusively in the “50 plus” or in the “retirement home”  and maybe, just maybe, had one too many people mention that I’m too young to be a quilter, or, another favorite, that quilting is “a dying art.”

Not in my world, bucko.

My mother quilts, her mother quilted, my dad’s mother quilts. My great-grandmothers quilted. I have friends, young and young-at-heart, from every demographic and from different geographical locations around the world that all identify themselves as quilters.

So why the pigeon-holing? Does the non-quilty world really think that only one type of person is a quilter and that quilting is really, truly dying?

Jennifer

My name is Jennifer.

I am 38 years old and I am a quilter.

I have been sewing and crafting my entire life. I learned to use a needle and thread when I was a child. Craftiness of all kinds carried over into my adulthood, and by my late twenties, I was quilting.

I would like to challenge you, my quilting friends, to show your face.

We Are The Face of Quilting.

We are all ages and  come from all socio-economic groups, religious backgrounds and political demographics. We live in all countries of the world and we are connected by quilting. It brings us together and gives us common ground. These are our faces.

Take this message, We Are The Face of Quilting, and write about being a quilter. Share it on your blog. Add your photo to our flickr group and tell the world: I am a quilter.

We Are The Face of Quilting

Grab this to share on your blog:

<a href="https://sewhooked.com/2011/11/08/the-face-of-quilting/" target="_blank">
<img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6238/6325665113_06a0e380bb_m.jpg" width="240" height="240" alt="We Are The Face of Quilting"></a>

Use it anywhere you share your quilting story. I’ve set comments for this post to allow trackbacks and pingbacks, which simply means that if you link to this post, it will show up in the comments. It’s a great way to meet new quilting friends.

What will I get from this? Nothing other than the satisfaction of seeing your faces and the affirmation that what I believe is true: quilter’s faces are like quilts themselves. They come in all colors, styles and sizes. They are from all over the world and they are timeless.

Photobucket

 
Sewhooked Shop | FB | SHFB | Flickr | Twitter | Bloglovin

P.S. I love You

ASL I Love You ASL I Love You
ASL “I love you”

Free 6″ paper pieced pattern by Jennifer Ofenstein

The free pattern that I have received some of the most heart-felt emails and comments about over the years is the original 5″ “ASL I Love You.”

For some time, I have been thinking I’d like to update that pattern. For one, I never gave the original a thumbnail, which kind of made me crazy. Details count, you know? I also though this one pattern should be a wee bit bigger.

I present it to you today, version two of ASL (American Sign Language) “I Love You”. This is a 6″ (6 1/2″ unfinished) paper pieced pattern, in both color and black and white for your printing convenience.

ASL I Love You quilt mock up 2b ASL I Love You quilt mock up 2

You know I can’t play with a pattern without creating some fun layouts in EQ7! What’s a girl to do with spiffy quilting software if not share ideas with her friends?

The cornerstones above were inspired by Cat Magraith’s free heart pattern.

ASL I Love You quilt mock up 1A simpler layout, with the block as the center piece. I really like this one. I think it would make a great cushion cover!

More Free Patterns

Add your Sewhooked-related photos to my flickr group and you might be featured in a future post.

Have a very happy Saturday!

Photobucket

 
Sewhooked Shop | FB | SHFB | Flickr | Twitter | Bloglovin

Feeling Harvesty!

maple and pumpkin 4 x 4  quilt mockup
Feeling Harvesty quilt layout created in EQ7

Some days, I just want to try something new.

That, my friends, is what free patterns are great for!

The “something new” in this case, is pattern presentation.

Generally, my free patterns are individual blocks presented as a 5″ pattern. 5″ patterns are easy to fit onto one page and they are easy to enlarge or shrink, if that’s your fancy. I’ve been designing 5″ patterns since the very beginning of my paper piecing adventure.

Most of my patterns are also in color because I like working with colored patterns and it’s simple enough for you to print in black and white if that doesn’t work for you.

So here’s the new part…

I have two free patterns for you today, one brand new, one an updated version of an older one. Both are presented in black in white, using texture instead of color to represent fabrics. In addition to that, each document includes 3″, 5″ and 6″ versions for creating different sized blocks.

Hey, that’s fun!

I can’t promise I’ll do this to all of my patterns, or that I’ll even do it again, but it was a fun little experiment for me and I’d love your feedback on pattern size, color and what you like best.

As ever, my free patterns are for your personal or non-profit use. Please enjoy!

Maple Leaf
3″, 5″ and 6″ Maple Leaf Paper Pieced Pattern

Pumpkin
3″, 5″ and 6″ Pumpkin Paper Pieced Pattern (updated)

Pumpkin
Original Pumpkin Block and pattern

maple and pumpkin wall hanging mock up
The same blocks as a wall hanging.

Layout created in EQ7.

Sewhooked Coupon Craziness…good through Nov. 1!

Holly Jolly for 1/2 price – CELEBRATE
10% off your entire PDF order – QUILTOBER
Free U.S. shipping on etsy – HAPPYHALLOWEEN

Add your Sewhooked-related photos to my flickr group and you might be featured in a future post.

Photobucket

 
Sewhooked Shop | FB | SHFB | Flickr | Twitter | Bloglovin

Let’s Talk Turkey

Turkey Talk from Sewhooked

It’s time to talk turkey, specifically about Turkey Talk!

So, there’s this idea I’ve had for a long, long time. It didn’t really start to take shape until after I learned to embroider for The Project of Doom. Before that time, the design was never quite right.

And then, inspiration!

My turkey was too quiet.

It was simple. He just needed a few words.

Words are a miraculous thing. Once added, I couldn’t wait to get this wall hanging made to share with you!

$8 – PDF Instant Download

paper piecing, strip piecing and embroidery

Turkey Talk from Sewhooked

French Knot eye…see that embroidery is coming in handy!
Turkey Talk from Sewhooked

Gobble Gobble? That’s what he said!

Turkey Talk from Sewhooked

Quilting close-up. Done on my Babylock Quest

Turkey Talk, a veiew from the back.And, from the back. Guess who forgot to add a hanging sleeve? Dang it.

Turkey Talk alternative blocks

Why does this turkey make me so darn happy? I couldn’t say, but he really, really does!

Add your Sewhooked-related photos to my flickr group and you might be featured in a future post.

Photobucket

 
Sewhooked Shop | FB | SHFB | Flickr | Twitter | Bloglovin

Livin’ La Vida Linus

My Quilting Helper

Marie was my helper for the day!

Have you ever had one of those days where you just really, really needed to get things done? Not a “I have to get this done” day, but a “oh, no, I’m running out of time, I HAVE to get this done!” day?

I had one of those yesterday.

You see, The Linus Connection meets on Saturday, and until yesterday, I did not have one quilt completely finished.

Enter the next five quilts.

I free-motion quilted the two Stars For Linus quilts as well as the blendy floral quilt that I’ve dubbed “Oh no, not *that* quilt.”

I bound those three quilts as well as the other two shown below.

Today? I can barely raise my arms after all that free-motion quilting. Who says quilting isn’t exercise?

Stars For Linus

Stars For Linus Quilt #1

Stars For Linus

Stars For Linus Quilt #2

Stars For Linus

A close-up of my free-motion. I fought with my machine all day yesterday, changing needles, thread and changing my bobbin to get this done. I’m still not great at free-motion, but if I can find the right mix to make my sewing machine  (and by default, me!) enjoy it, I think I could get better.

Stars For Linus Tag

The label I put on each of the Stars For Linus quilts. After all, it was a group effort!

https://i0.wp.com/i134.photobucket.com/albums/q115/ofenjen/blog/starsforlinus200.jpg

Stars For The Linus Connection 

a free 12″ pattern

for best results when printing, set scaling to “none”

Remember, I’m also accepting Wonky Stars…if you’d rather! Please makes sure they are also 12″.

Oh No, Not That Quilt

Oh no, not that quilt! I still can’t decide if I like this one or not… Experimentation with fabric samples and the 10 Minute Block.

Zepellin Threads BOM Orphan Block quilt

Zeppelin Threads orphan block quilt. The two house blocks were donated by Cat and Pren. I pieced the rest and did the straight line quilting a couple of weeks ago.

 

Zepellin Threads BOM Orphan Block quilt

I love how the quilting worked out on this, though you can’t quite see all of it. There’s a lot of stitching in the ditch. I tend to do a lot more straight line quilting because my sewing machine behaves better when I do.


Quilt from JoAnn M.

Quilt top donated by JoAnn M. Quilted by my friend Marge, bound by me…yesterday. This was the last quilt I worked on last night before giving up for the day.

 

JoAnn M - quilting close-upClose up of Marge’s quilting, done on a Handi-Quilter.

Today, I am giving myself the morning off to spend with my bee. I’ve worked extra hard every day this week and am in need of a respite!

Add your Sewhooked-related photos to my flickr group and you might be featured in a future post!

Photobucket

 

 

 
Sewhooked Shop | FB | SHFB | Flickr | Twitter | Bloglovin

Hello, Sue!

Sweet Sue Tops The Tree

by liljabs

Sweet Sue has been popping up on flickr, and that makes me one happy girl! I love seeing the different fabrics everyone is using for their quilt-along!

See the original Sweet Sue Tops The Tree post

Pattern link:

–>  Sweet Sue Tops The Tree – a free 12″ paper pieced pattern <–

For best results, print with scaling set to “none.”

New to paper piecing? Visit my Paper Piecing Resource Page!

See this block on Quilting Gallery.

Sweet Sue Tops the tree, by Jennifer, Sewhooked
by accroquilt

blok 11 Jennifer Ofenstein
by tiny1949

IMAG0104.jpg
by k9toyweaer

Fairy Tale Femmes
Did you see my newest pattern set?

Fairy Tale Femmes, now available from the Sewhooked Shop!

Remember, in honor of my participation in the Quilting Gallery’s Celebrate Christmas Quilt-Along, right now through November 1, get Holly Jolly as an instant PDF download pattern for half price using coupon code CELEBRATE or get 10% of your total Sewhooked instant download purchase instead with coupon code QUILTOBER!

Add your Sewhooked-related photos to my flickr group and you might be featured in a future post!

Thank you to everyone that has made Sweet Sue so far.

Happy stitching!

Photobucket


 
Sewhooked Shop | FB | SHFB | Flickr | Twitter | Bloglovin

Seeing Stars

Stars For Linus Quilt Top #1

Well, well, would you look at that fun quilt top! Above is the very first Stars For Linus top, made from your donations, to be quilted this week and donated to The Linus Connection, which in turn will distribute it to a child in crisis in Central Texas.

And boy, has Central Texas been in crisis recently. Drought. The hottest summer on record for any state in the U.S. Ever.  Fires that have left thousands of people scrambling to find a new home.

Isn’t that a good reason to make happy quilts?

Stars For Linus Quilt Top #2

This second Stars for Linus top went together absolutely beautifully, and I still have another stack of blocks that’s just a few shy of having enough for another top!

https://i0.wp.com/i134.photobucket.com/albums/q115/ofenjen/blog/starsforlinus200.jpg

Stars For The Linus Connection 

a free 12″ pattern

for best results when printing, set scaling to “none”

Because The Linus Connection is such an important part of my life, I will continue to collect Stars for Linus indefinitely. Use them for my organization, or your own favorite blanket charity! Get your friends together for a sewing day and bring the pattern along to share! It only takes 12 stars to make a comfort quilt for a child. 20 blocks will make a wonderful teen-sized quilt.

Wonky Star
Wonky Star, by mkissa

donated to the Bushfire Quilt Project

So, you’re not a paper piecer, but you’d still like to contribute? Inspired by WIP Girl, Kristel, known as Clumsy Chord on Talk To Me Tuesday, I will also accept 12″ (12 1/2″ unfinished) Maverick Stars or Wonky Stars (the same technique, different tutorials). To make a 12 1/2″ Maverick or Wonky star, your nine patch units need to be 4 1/2″.

See the video with Kristel’s Wonky Star quilt for Linus.

Check out the updated list of Stars for Linus contributors in this post!

Sew Something in Leander is hosting their first ever Linus Work Day tomorrow, October 8, from 10-1. I will be there, taking photos and helping in any way I can. I hope to see you there!

Add your Sewhooked-related photos to my flickr group and you might be featured in a future post!

Photobucket

 
Sewhooked Shop | FB | SHFB | Flickr | Twitter

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Fairy Tale Femmes

Fairy Tale Femmes

Fairy Tale Femmes

It took me by surprise to realize how long it’s been since I’ve shared a new pattern from the Sewhooked Shop!

These lovelies are my own interpretation of some of Fairy Land’s most popular pretty ladies: Rapunzel, letting down her hair; Little Red Riding Hood, off to visit Grandma; Snow White, contemplating the poisoned apple; The Princess and the Pea, trying to get comfy; A Little Mermaid, dreaming of a human Prince; and Cinderella, fleeing at midnight.

Just a reminder, in honor of my participation in the Quilting Gallery’s Celebrate Christmas Quilt-Along, right now through November 1, 2011 get  Holly Jolly as an instant PDF download pattern for half price using coupon code CELEBRATE or get 10% of your total Sewhooked instant download purchase instead with coupon code QUILTOBER!

Add your Sewhooked-related photos to my flickr group and you might be featured in a future post!

Happy stitching!

Photobucket


 
Sewhooked Shop | FB | SHFB | Flickr | Twitter

Follow my blog with Bloglovin