Hooked on Needles

Learn to Crochet - Decreasing in Broomstick Lace Video Tutorial

2009-11-12T05:00:00.002-05:00

Broomstick Lace can be used to make a variety of items such as vests, scarves, blankets, sweaters, hats...patterns are available free on the internet or in books and pamphlets where you buy your yarn and needles.

Recently I offered a video tutorial on the basics of crocheting Broomstick Lace which you can find by clicking HERE. Today I have a short video showing how to decrease in Broomstick Lace. Take a look and see how easy it is...

Decreasing in Broomstick Lace might be necessary when making something that requires shaping such as a sweater or vest, or a shawl that would be made in a triangular shape.

Soon I'll be sharing a video on how to increase in Broomstick Lace too, so stay tuned for that.

Happy Stitching!

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No Sew Fleece Blankets

2009-11-11T05:00:00.002-05:00

Today in the United States, we celebrate Veteran's Day, taking time to thank all those who have served in our military through the years for the sacrifices they have made for us.

I thought I would share with you a little project that our local Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts are working on with the Blue Star Mothers. They are making no-sew fleece blankets which will be sent over to Germany to the soldiers who are on their way home because of injury or illness.

Here are a few in the works...

Each blanket will be worked on by two or three scouts, then they will sign a card to go with that blanket so the person receiving it will know who made it for them.

These fleece blankets are so quick and easy, and they don't require any sewing at all, so they are the perfect project for young people, or anyone, to make for someone special. Besides that, they are super warm and cozy too!

Here's how to make a no-sew fleece blanket:

Cut two pieces of fleece the size you want your blanket to be plus about 8 to 10 inches extra in the width and the length. Lay the pieces flat on your work table, one on top of the other with their wrong sides together. Using safety pins, pin these two layers together about 8 inches away from the edges in about two or three spots for each edge. This will keep the layers together while cutting and tying the fringe.

Cut a 4 or 5 inch square from each corner of the double layered fleece. Using your straight edge and rotary cutter and cutting through both layers at the same time, cut the fringe along the outside edges 1 inch wide and about 4 or 5 inches long. Tie the corresponding fringe pieces from each layer to each other, one piece from the top layer and one piece from the bottom layer, until all fringe pieces are tied and the two pieces of fleece are connected all the way around.

Here are two different ways to tie the fringe:

Hold both fringe pieces together and tie one knot. When using this tie method, it is better to have longer fringe so you might want to cut your corners 5 inches square and cut the fringe 5 inches long. That will make it easier to tie this type of knot. This method of tying results in the fringe pieces staying together, giving the edge a more finished look.

Or you can tie the fringe pieces the same way you start to tie your shoes, then do it again to make the knot. This can be done with a shorter fringe so you can cut your corners 4 inches square and cut your fringe 4 inches long. This method of tying results in the fringe pieces being apart from each other, giving the edge a more scrappy look.

Another way to connect the two pieces of fleece is to cut slits and run a ribbon in and out of the slits along each edge. For this blanket, I cut a scalloped edge in both pieces of fleece at the same time, then I cut the slits evenly spaced along each edge. I weaved a length of grosgrain ribbon through the slits, leaving extra at each corner. When all the weaving was done, I tied the extra at each corner into a knot for security and then into a bow for decoration.

So if you're looking for a quick and easy gift to make someone for Christmas or any occasion, and you don't have time for something too involved, two pieces of fleece and your scissors or rotary cutter are all you need...and a little bit of time!

Happy Veteran's Day and a big thank you to all who have served in our military!

Happy Stitching!

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Barb is giving away a Quilt - and other giveaways!

2009-11-10T09:42:00.003-05:00

Click over to Bejeweled Quilts by Barb and check out the Ginger Jar quilt she is giving away.

Hawthorne Threads is also giving away some nice prizes so click over HERE to join in their fun. Check out their fabulous variety of fresh new fabrics while you are there too!

And while you are entering giveaways, don't forget to sign up for mine (click HERE) by this Friday, Nov 13th for a chance to win the newly introduced Hazel Hipster bag pattern. It's fun and easy to make and would be a great project for Christmas gifts!

Happy Stitching!

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Another fun giveaway - this time from Lynn

2009-11-09T05:00:00.001-05:00

Lynn from Painting Thyme Needfuls is celebrating her 100th post with a wonderful fall giveaway. Hop over there and say hi and check out her beautiful handpainted things. That's a talent I always admire because I cannot do it myself.

Be sure to enter my giveaway too while you are here. It ends the same day as Lynn's - Friday, November 13, so hurry up and get your name in. I'd hate for you to miss out on a chance at this quick and easy bag pattern.

Happy Stitching!

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Learn to Crochet - Broomstick Lace Video Tutorial

2009-11-08T05:00:00.000-05:00

Here's an oldie, but a goody, for you crocheters out there...Broomstick Lace! This method of crochet got its name because back in the day a broomstick would have been used to hold the large loops on the loop row. These days there are so many different sizes of large knitting needles made of so many different materials that it really is not necessary to use something as large as an actual broomstick, unless of course you are making something extremely wide such as an afghan.

To work Broomstick Lace, you will need a large knitting needle such as the size 19 which I use in my video below, whatever yarn you want to use, and a crochet hook in a size to match the yarn you are using. You can use a smaller knitting needle or a bigger one, or a sanded wooden dowel or broomstick, or anything that gives you the size loops you want for your piece and won't snag your yarn.

In this sample piece, I have shown what Broomstick Lace looks like when it is worked with five loops, three loops, through both loops of the previous row stitches, through the back loop of the previous row stitches, and combined with other stitches such as double crochet.

Starting from the bottom of the picture, the first row is worked using half double crochet in groupings of five loops. The next row up was worked by pulling the large loops through both loops of the previous row half double crochet stitches resulting in no horizontal line between the two rows. The third row up was worked by pulling the large loops through only the back loops of the previous row half double crochet stitches resulting in the horizontal line between the two rows. The fourth row from the bottom was worked by stitching through five loops for the first and last sections and three loops for the sections in the middle resulting in the same overall stitch count, but having more sections on the row. After two rows like this, I added in two rows of double crochet, chain 1, then worked one last row of Broomstick Lace.

Broomstick Lace is always worked from the front, so you never turn your work. It is similar to Tunisian Crochet in this way. There are two parts to a row of Broomstick Lace, the loop row where you pick up a loop in each stitch and put it onto your knitting needle or broomstick, and then the crochet row where you work the same number of crochet stitches into a group of loops as the number of loops you pick up. You can work single, half double, double crochet or any type of crochet stitch on the crochet row, depending on the look you want to achieve. You can also pick up any number of loops for each section as long as you work the same number of stitches into each section as the number of loops you pick up.

If you've never tried Broomstick Lace, this all may seem very confusing, so here is a video demonstrating the basics of Broomstick Lace so you can see how easy it really is.

Broomstick Lace would be a nice stitch to use for a scarf, shawl or wrap. It would also make a thick and cozy lap blanket. Working Broomstick Lace in finer yarns will produce a lighter fabric with a lacier look, and using heavier yarns will produce a fabric that is quite thick and warm. Try experimenting with different yarns, different size loops and using different stitches on the crochet row to see what fun results you can get.

Happy Stitching!

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Quilt Kit Giveaway at Green Fairy

2009-11-07T16:32:00.002-05:00

Here's another fabulous giveaway to share with you, although I'd rather you just ignore this so that I have a better chance of winning! Judi over at Green Fairy Quilts is giving away one of her own quilt patterns along with the fabric to make it! What a fun mail day that would be when this package arrives! Oh I hope it's my mailbox it ends up in!

Happy Stitching!

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The Hazel Hipster - pattern giveaway!

2009-11-06T05:00:00.000-05:00

Who doesn't love bags? Anyone who knows me knows I love bags of all kinds. Just yesterday I showed you the wonderful bag Marit made for me in the Stitcher's Angel Swap. I've shown many other bags that I've made along with tutorials on how to make them here at Hooked On Needles.

Recently I had the opportunity to test a pattern for a new bag designed by Trish Preston over at Two Peas in a Pod. The bag is called The Hazel Hipster and the pattern is ready for purchase, but Trish is sending me one that you could win for yourself in my giveaway so keep reading!

Take a look at my test bag and see what you have to do to win a free pattern so you can make your own...

This bag was quick to make and used basic sewing skills. I had two half-yard pieces of fabric and some fusible fleece on hand which is what I used. I did have to go hunting for a magnetic snap, and was surprised to find it right at my local Michael's store.

The strap on this bag is quite long so that you can wear it over your shoulder and across to the opposite hip.

There is a divided pocket on the outside of the bag...

...and a divided pocket on the inside of the bag. The pattern that you could win in this giveaway has ideas for many different ways to make this fun bag. Here's what you have to do for a chance to win your own pattern...

Leave a comment here on this website post (if you are reading this in an email, please click through to the website post to comment) describing the ideal bag for you. Do you like a plain and simple bag with one big pouch and two handles? Do you prefer a fussy bag with lots of pockets and trim and zippers and tabs and snaps? Do you enjoy having a bag for every season, project, event, outing and purpose? What is a bag to you...a necessity, a luxury, a functional item? Tell me how you really feel about bags.

Entries that I cannot reply to will be discarded. Feel free to share this giveaway with your friends. I will choose a winner by random draw with the help of one of my favorite winner-drawers (my children!) on Friday, November 13 and the winner will be announced that day.

Perhaps Friday the 13th will be your lucky day!

Happy Stitching!

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Angel Swap 2009 gifts received - Wow!

2009-11-05T05:00:00.002-05:00

Don't you just love it when the mailman shows up with something other than the usual bills, junk and more junk? George surprised me the other day and I wasn't even home to enjoy it! This past Tuesday was an election day here in our city so I worked down at my local polling place from 6:30 in the morning until 8:30 that night. It's a long day of mostly sitting and waiting, but I brought my crochet bag and was able to whip up a few more cotton floor duster covers in between visiting with neighbors.

When I got home, here's what was waiting for me...

This package came all the way from Norway from my Secret Stitcher's Angel, Marit of Marit's Hobbyblogg!

Look at all the wonderful things she sent me!

This bag is so different from anything I've seen before. It's a Norwegian design by Annaka called Byveska (Townbag) which Marit improvised a little to include the hand stitched piece with roses.

Inside the bag on one side are open pockets and on the other side there is a zippered pocket. This bag is very generously sized and has long straps so it can be carried comfortably over the shoulder and hold plenty of stuff...I'm thinking of course of knitting or crochet stuff!

Around the top of the bag are little loop tabs with a very heavy rope through them. When you pull the ends apart, the bag closes up. Very clever design! I just love it!

Also included in my package was this hand stitched bookmark, a darling little pin cushion, and the softest skein of yarn I have ever owned! I'll have to make something nice out of that for sure!

Marit and I seem to have many things in common, among them our love of bags and knitting. Did she spoil me in this swap or what?

Happy Stitching!

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Some Fabulous Giveaways!

2009-11-04T09:16:00.003-05:00

You don't want to miss these:

Terri at Sew-Fantastic is hosting a fabulous giveaway in association with the new Hawthorn Threads website.

Home Sweet Home Quilt Co is offering a great charm pack and yardage giveaway too, so go check that out.

The Penny-Pinching Mama is offering a $20 gift certificate for Sew Fantastic! What a great way to start your Christmas shopping!

Sheri Howard Designs is celebrating her One Year anniversary with a giveaway of a signed copy of her own book Ruby Red Dots and some fabric. Go say hi and tell her I sent you!

Good luck to all of us!

Happy Stitching!

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Disappearing 9 Patch Scrappy Quilt Finished

2009-11-01T18:21:00.005-05:00

A few months ago, I participated in my first Disappearing 9 Patch block swap which was hosted by Aunt Pitty Pat. I had never made that particular quilt block before, so I really enjoyed putting together my charm squares and seeing them come apart again into this fun and easy block.

Over the past week or so, I have been working on putting together all the blocks I received back from this swap, and yesterday I finally completed the quilt. With 40 different people participating and no theme specified, the variety of blocks was very interesting, and the resulting quilt is colorful and scrappy. I really like it. What do you think?

It turned out to be a nice lap quilt or baby quilt size, approximately 60 by 45 inches, which includes the scrappy border I added using fabric from my stash.

To arrange the blocks in a totally random way, I simply took the pile of blocks out of the bag as I had received them and started laying them out in five rows of eight. I liked the overall arrangement except for exchanging the places of two blocks so that one section would not have so much of the same color. Then I started sewing them together. Once the piecing was finished, I realized that a border would be needed, so in keeping with the scrappiness of the quilt, I fished through my stash and pulled out a variety of fabrics. I cut them into various width strips and sewed the strips together. Then I cut the resulting fabric into five inch strips and sewed them to the edges for the border. This made the quilt the perfect size for a leftover piece of batting I had and a piece of fabric for the backing that was leftover from a wedding quilt I had made for one of my sisters a very long time ago.

After layering the three together with the right sides facing each other and the batting on the top, I stitched around the edges, turned the whole thing right side out, closed the opening and topstitched around all four sides. I've been looking for opportunities to practice my machine quilting, so I dug out my walking foot and got to work, quilting along the straight lines of the blocks.

I have not yet decided what to do with this finished scrappy quilt, but I think it would make a great little floor blanket for a baby with all the colors and designs. It would also make a good picnic blanket, or a colorful lap quilt. This one may stay in my personal collection, or I may decide to donate it to our local CareNet Pregnancy Resource Center for a new mom to share with her baby.

Coming up soon here at Hooked On Needles will be an introduction to Broomstick Lace with video tutorials showing some of the techniques used for this fun and different type of crochet. I will also be sharing with you an item I made while testing a pattern for a fellow blogger, along with a giveaway of the pattern once it is available to the public. Fun stuff ahead, so stay tuned!

Happy Stitching!

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Canton Village Quilt Works - Fabulous Giveaway!

2009-10-29T05:00:00.000-04:00

Stop over and see all the wonderful goodies that Jackie from Canton Village Quilt Works brought home from Quilt Market to share with some lucky people. You'll be glad you did!

Happy Stitching!

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Crocheted or Knitted Cotton Floor Dusters

2009-10-28T09:40:00.004-04:00

Cotton yarn is wonderful to work with and can be used for so many different things. If you've been following Hooked On Needles for a while, you might remember that I made quite a few cotton dishcloths and washcloths. Some of you have even received them in packages from me or made them yourselves.

After making so many of the cotton cloths, I have accumulated quite a collection of leftover cotton yarn. This is what it looks like at the moment...

What a mess of yummy cotton! But have no fear! I have a way to use it all up in practically no time at all!

If you have wood floors in your home, chances are you have one of those name brand floor dusters which require the matching name brand disposable cloths that you use once and then throw away. Then you have to remember to buy more when you run out.

Here's an inexpensive and reusable solution that works just as well...

These cotton floor duster covers were made using the free pattern from Michael's website with some minor adjustments. The top one is crocheted and the bottom one is knitted. They both fit my name brand floor duster and they do a great job picking up dirt and dust (and lots of other things too!) from my wood floors. And since these also have cotton wrapped around the edges, they do a much better job on edges and in corners than the name brand disposables do.

The crocheted duster is made using single crochet in the back loops only, giving the duster these great little ridges for trapping dust and dirt.

The knitted version is made with small sections of garter stitch alternating on the front and back to produce these bumpy strips which also trap the dust and dirt very well.

The pattern from Michael's calls for stitching both the knitted and crocheted versions of these dusters in three pieces - one large piece measuring about 10 inches by 4 inches, and then two smaller pieces measuring about 2 inches by 4 inches. I decided to save myself some time and stitch both of my samples in one long piece, combining the numbers for the 3 pieces to get my cast on or chain stitch beginning numbers.

Then I just folded over the two ends and stitched the edges together to make my super easy, fabulously functional, and very frugal crocheted or knitted reusable cotton floor duster cover!

Much more colorful than the name brand disposables, don't you think?

It looks nice and clean right now, but after I use it on my floors, it will be ready for a spin through the wash. Just throw it in the wash along with towels or socks or whatever else you want, then hang it over a hook or shower curtain rod or clothes line to dry, and it will be ready to work for you again!

These handy dusters work up so quickly that I am making up as many as I can for my son's upcoming school Holiday Fair. Two other moms have also joined in on the fun and picked up their knitting needles after many years to make some for the fair too. With everyone trying to pinch pennies these days, I am hoping they will be good sellers at the fair and help to bring in a little bit of money for the school.

Happy Stitching!

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A fun Halloween Giveaway over at Laura's

2009-10-25T11:38:00.002-04:00

Go visit Laura at Decor to Adore for a fabulous and fun Halloween giveaway! And check out her clever fall hair accessories while you're there. They are very cute and would be so fun to wear this time of year.

Happy Stitching!

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Moda Jelly Roll Giveaway from Blueberry Buckle

2009-10-24T16:16:00.003-04:00

Here's another fabulous giveaway to share with you. But you better be quick because it ends Sunday morning. Check out Blueberry Buckle Quilt Studio for a delicious Moda jelly roll giveaway just for sharing some information about your own fabric preferences...

I'm already dreaming of the wonderful things I will make when I win this prize! What would you make with it?

Happy Stitching!

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Super Awesome Giveaway !

2009-10-22T09:15:00.004-04:00

Brenda over at Pumpkin Patch Primitives is hosting a super awesome giveaway right now that I really really want to win! I found out about it through Jane at Sew Create It and I'm so very glad I did. I have recently been bitten again by the quilting bug and have been enjoying lots of time at my sewing machine, so getting my hands on this fabulous fat quarter bundle would be a real treat for me. Take a look at what I'm talking about...

I love the muted colors and the fun patterns on this fabric. Table runners, place mats, tote bags and other fun project come to mind!

Depending on the number of entries, more than one prize may be drawn! Doesn't that just look delicious? Go check it out!

Happy Stitching!

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Ma Ingalls Half-Granny Crocheted Shawl finally complete!

2009-10-21T09:46:00.006-04:00

The half-granny crocheted shawl that I started recently is finally finished! I do believe Ma Ingalls from Little House on the Prairie would be pleased.

This was the perfect project to use up the leftover Bernat yarn from the Sweet Liberty afghan because it is such cozy yarn and I just love the colors.

Take a peek...

I had to get pictures this morning before the sun hit the back deck and all the ladybugs started swarming again! It's that time of year here in New England!

These dining room chairs are high backed so the length of this shawl is very generous.

I worked a little picot edge with the blue which consists of a single crochet in each double crochet, a single crochet in the next space, 3 chains, another single crochet in the same space. Continue that pattern all along the lower edges of the shawl. I actually ran out of blue about 10 inches from the end, so I ended the border right there. I was determined not to have even a scrap of this yarn leftover! It is still a lovely and cozy shawl without those last few inches of border.

I don't think there is a nicer color combination than red, white and blue!

A fun and easy stash busting project! Anyone want a nice shawl?

Happy Stitching!

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Beading, acorns, fire and snow...a cozy New England fall weekend

2009-10-18T17:10:00.005-04:00

It's been a busy time around here lately with all the usual family stuff, but I have been working on a few projects, some of which I've finished and some not. But this weekend we took advantage of Saturday's cold but clear weather to rake the front yard of the thousands of acorns dropped from our huge old oak tree. That was quite a project but a good one to get done before the Nor'easter came blowing through on Sunday.

I am sorry to say I did not have the presence of mind to take a picture of the wheelbarrow full of acorns before it was dumped down the back hill, but here's a little peek into the activities of Sunday at our house, after going to church early and out to breakfast...

I spent a good portion of the day sitting at the dining room table working on a Christmas project using one of my favorite methods for making a wall hanging. You've seen similar projects here at Hooked On Needles.

Here is what the day looked like inside and outside...

...very cozy inside! The fire was going all day long, using up just a tiny portion of the wood we cut and split from the trees that came down last December in the big ice storm. But outside the snow and rain and more snow and more rain and wind and cold were furious. The perfect combination for staying indoors and getting things done, don't you think?

Happy Stitching!

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Halloween Apron Swap gift received - so cute!

2009-10-16T05:00:00.001-04:00

George the mailman was my friend today. Just as I was sitting down to work on a Christmas project, he brought me a little Halloween something from Micki who was my swap partner for the Halloween Apron swap. Here's what I pulled out of the package...

...a nice little bundle of softness all wrapped up in a piece of fun pumpkin fabric and black ribbon. I was liking it already! But wait until you see what was inside...

Check out that very fun and fancy Halloween apron! The picture really does not do it justice. It is a half apron with a wide orange waist panel, then the main body of it is the candy corn fabric with a black pocket. The bottom ruffle is orange fabric with sheer black spider fabric over it and it is so darn cute, I can't even think of words to say how cute it is! The black grosgrain bow finishes off the fancy look perfectly.

Also in the package were some happy pumpkin socks, a candy corn kitchen towel and a Halloween hot mitt that will very quickly replace my old one that keeps burning me!

Here's a close-up of the spider fabric. Isn't that just so fun and festive? Even my husband noticed and commented on it - and that's saying something! You can't see it in the picture, but the spiders have sparkles on them which just adds to their appeal.

What a fun swap this was for me on both sides of it. I thoroughly enjoyed designing and making the apron I sent to Micki. And the apron I received is so unique and fun and far beyond my expectations. I think I'll wear it when I answer the door on Halloween night!

Thanks Micki! Thanks also to Aunt Pitty Pat for organizing this fun Halloween swap to get us all into the spirit (pun intended!) of the season.

Happy Stitching!

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Red and Aqua D9P blocks are finished!

2009-10-14T13:22:00.003-04:00

This is what happens to 25 red and aqua 9 patch quilt blocks when you cut them into quarters...

Oh my! What a crazy table full of bright and cheerful red and aqua fabrics!

I made each of the 25 9-patch blocks unique, mixing and matching the fabrics so that some of the blocks had one of each fabric and others had only one red and one aqua fabric repeated. The variety of blocks that resulted in the cutting of the 9-patch blocks is really amazing! What fun to see it all come apart like that!

I'll be mailing these blocks to Jane very soon, and then I'll be waiting anxiously to see what wonderful variety I receive in return. These blocks will certainly make an eye catching quilt!

What is the wildest color combination you ever used in a quilt? I'd love to know!

Happy Stitching!

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My Friendship Bag arrived, and I love it!

2009-10-13T05:00:00.001-04:00

Late last week I received a package in the mail from Betsie over at Red Dirt Mama and this is what she made for me...

It's the cutest little bag in the most perfect colors just for me! Betsie was my secret partner for the Friendship Bag swap which was so fun to be involved in.

Aren't these fabrics just lovely? The greens are so soft and beautiful, like something I would use to decorate my home. Perfect.

Thank you again, Betsie, for the wonderful job you did on this pretty little bag just for me. I love it!

Happy Stitching!

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Red and Aqua D9P blocks coming together

2009-10-12T05:00:00.001-04:00

Not long ago I showed you the yummy fabrics I received from Fabric.com for two swaps I signed up for. Well, today I finally got a chance to sew some blocks together for Jane's Red and Aqua Disappearing 9-patch block swap. I had a house full of company this weekend - two sisters from out of town - and was it ever fun! One sister was here from Wisconsin with her husband for his niece's wedding, and one sister was here from Pennsylvania with her four children just for the fun of it, so we all surprised our oldest sister (the nun I made this fabulous tote bag for) by showing up at her school's Columbus Day fair on Saturday. What fun that was!

So anyway, I spent this afternoon in my sewing room putting together 10 of the 25 9-patch blocks I need for this swap and here is what they look like before pressing or cutting...

What a color combination! Certainly not one I ever would have chosen, but I'm having fun with it!

I was able to get all my squares cut during the week, knowing that the weekend would be full of fun family stuff.

I have plenty of reds and aquas cut for the remaining 15 blocks, so perhaps this week I can lay them all out on the pool table and then stitch them all up. It's amazing the different combinations that can be made with so many fabrics. The first 10 are all different from each other and I am going to try to get the last 15 to be unique as well. I know there are lots more fun ways to put these fabrics together!

I'm also still working on my crocheted half-granny shawl which is just about finished. I decided to gather up all the leftover yarn from the Sweet Liberty afghan and just crochet each color until it was gone. I have just a little bit of the blue left now, and when that is gone the shawl will be complete. I should be able to show it to you very shortly.

Happy Stitching!

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The making of the Halloween Apron

2009-10-08T05:00:00.001-04:00

Yesterday I showed you the finished apron I sent for my Halloween Apron swap gift, and today I'm going to show you how I came to that finished design. It all started with the fabulous variety of fat quarters I received from Grace Full Creations this past summer. With so many fun fabrics and colors to choose from, I could create just about any scene I wanted, but this one of course would have to be a spooky Halloween scene. I had asked Micki what she liked about Halloween, then tried to incorporate some of that into the design. I knew she was very much into the spooky aspect of the holiday, so the graveyard scene seemed appropriate, and perfect for the bottom of the apron. Then of course there must be a full moon for a bat or witch to be flying in front of.

Here's how I started...

Just as I had done with some of my other aprons, I cut the leg off a pair of old jeans and opened it up. The hem edge became the top and armholes were cut out. Then I began drawing the scene right onto the denim using my air-erase marker. I had printed out lots of different elements for this design so I could choose whatever I thought would look best as I went along.

I had to get a skull in there somewhere because Micki said she liked them!

And every graveyard scene needs a scary ghost or two just to set the mood!

Then I went through my fat quarter collection and picked out fabrics for each element. None of these fabrics had a Halloween-specific theme, just great colors and interesting designs.

The pumpkins and the bat were traced from the graphics I printed out from various free clip art sites. I had planned to use a witch silhouette in front of the moon, but in the end decided I liked the bat better.

The tombstones and cross and ghosts were drawn freehand along with the sections of the hilly ground. The moon was drawn with my handy dandy school compass to get that perfect full-moon shape.

Then all the fabric was cut into the appropriate shapes and fusible web was added to the backs to adhere the pieces to the denim. I've decided I really like fusible appliqué!

I used a loose zig zag stitch on my sewing machine to stitch around the edges of all the shapes using black thread. I also added some details on the pumpkins and the leaf using the walking foot on my sewing machine.

The ghost faces were hand embroidered using black embroidery floss, along with the year on the cross tombstone.

The bat's eyes were just little straight stitches of white perle cotton...

...and the RIP was backstitched using the same white perle cotton. The spider web was machine stitched using the walking foot, after I drew it freehand using the air erase marker. That is one of my favorite elements on this apron!

I wanted to add a pocket to this apron because Micki said pockets are very important to her, so I found this darling fabric panel that had many different little blocks of Halloween scenery on them. I thought this one would make the perfect pocket for the middle of this graveyard scene. I lined it with the same orange fabric of the pumpkins, leaving just a little strip visible at the top edge of the pocket.

There's a cute little pumpkin just sitting there on that hill waiting to be scooped out and carved into something frightening!

The skull design was worked in backstitch using white perle cotton and a little piece of stitch and tear stabilizer with the design drawn onto it. I did not have a marker that would show up on this dark fabric, and this method worked great on the Irish Step Dancing dresses I used to embroider, so I used it here. It worked great!

Once the front of the apron was finished, I cut out strips of fall fabric for the neck and waist straps, and I made the fall apron for the reverse side to match the shape of the denim. Then I stitched them together with the straps in between and the right sides together, leaving an opening for turning. Once the apron was turned, I pressed the edges and top stitched around the whole apron to close the opening and finish it off.

The reverse side of the apron was simply a piece of fall fabric cut to the same shape as the denim, with a pocket of coordinating fabric stitched onto it. This makes the apron useful for a whole season instead of just the time around the end of October.

Next time you want to decorate something with a one-of-a-kind scene, pick through your fabrics and start cutting out shapes. Heat up your iron, practice you zig zag stitch and get creative with your walking foot. You just never know what you'll come up with!

Happy Stitching!

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Halloween Apron Swap gift revealed!

2009-10-07T05:00:00.001-04:00

Is there anything more fun than wrapping up a few little gifts specially made or chosen for the recipient and then finding out they were received and enjoyed? I think not! I just got an email today from Micki who was my swap partner for Aunt Pitty Pat's Halloween Apron Swap. She received a package in the mail with all of this in it...

I had such fun picking out a few little Halloween themed gifts to go along with the apron I made for her, and then wrapping all of them up in this fun Halloween tissue paper with long, reusable pieces of black and yellow ribbon. Besides the apron which was the main item in the swap, I sent Micki a little ceramic jack-o-lantern, a fall scented candle, enough Halloween candy bracelets to share with her whole family, and some fun Halloween stickers.

When she unwrapped the apron, this is what Micki found...

...an apron that looked perfect for fall with colorful leaves and a large, functional green-leaf pocket across the front. But when she opened it up and really looked at it, this is what she would find on the other side...

...a one-of-a-kind original Halloween themed apron, designed and executed by me especially for her! I cannot tell you how much FUN I had making this apron!

Halloween is not exactly my favorite day of the year, mainly because it has become so much more than just a day and I think some people take the gory, bloody, scary aspect of it much too far with their decorating and such. There are some places here in my own city that I try to avoid driving by at this time of year because I don't like my children to see some of the stuff people have out on their lawns from mid-September all the way until November.

However, I can certainly see the fun in having a practical and useful themed apron for the occasion, and that was the point of this swap. So I jumped into the project with both feet and both hands, and when I came out the other end of it, I was quite pleased with the effort! I used some familiar methods of needlework and some not so familiar, so I went outside my comfort zone to put this together.

In my next post, I'll show some close-ups of the finished apron along with a few photos of the creative process that led to this fun Halloween graveyard scene on an apron.

Happy Stitching!

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Scrappy Love Quilt Block finished

2009-10-03T05:00:00.000-04:00

Laurie asked for quilt blocks with a country scrappy love theme to be used in the project she is putting together for a friend. I had the perfect block pattern to use for this and lots of country scraps to choose from.

If this block design looks familiar, it is because I used it on this quilt that I made for my friend Nancy when she was expecting her first baby. The block is paper pieced just like the originals for the baby quilt, which made it so quick to put together. For this project though, I had to make the block a little bigger, and I hand embroidered the blanket stitch around the heart.

I love blanket stitch. I love how it looks. I love stitching it. I love everything about it. It's so useful and versatile. And it's fun to do besides!

So this quilt block will be mailed off to Laurie as soon as I have her address. If you would like to read about this project, click HERE for links to it. I hope the family receiving this quilt will know that each block was made with love and best wishes for a quick recovery.

Happy Stitching!

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Friendship Bag Swap package ready to mail!

2009-10-02T05:00:00.001-04:00

My Friendship Bag Swap package is finally on its way to someone. I can't say who that someone is though because this is a secret swap. As soon as I know she has received it, I'll let you know. In the meantime, take a look at what I wrapped up and tucked into the box...

You can see a few hints about the person who is receiving this...scrapbooking supplies, dog treats, some fabric, ribbon, of course the bag itself...

...I don't consider the chocolate a hint since I believe that everyone in the world loves chocolate!

If you participated in this swap, I sure hope you like the looks of this package. It could be coming to you!

Happy Stitching!

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