For years I've wanted a light box… not the kind for taking photographs, but rather for tracing designs. As a designer, I am always tracing, while putting together a finished product. I don't like using the thin tracing paper because it smudges… I'm not a neat drawer… and I tend to be a vigorous eraser …
Several weeks ago a reader asked me for a applique block for a cardinal. I finally got it done 
Although we have cardinals in our backyard year round, they look their loveliest in the winter world. Here, we have a male cardinal perched in a tree. I’m sure he has his eye on …
When I first started blanket stitching, my corners were… how shall I put this… unique, interesting, inconsistent… in other words, a mess! Messy is okay for some projects, but I did want my corners to look better and to stay looking good after a project was finished. Time and trial brought me to the point …
Part 1 – Think Before You Stitch – can be found HERE Part 3 – Corners and Sewing 2 Pieces Together – can be found HERE I more or less taught myself to blanket stitch by looking and doing. It was after I had been using the blanket stitch for a while, that I went in search of “how …
Before we even pull out our needles and thread, let’s talk a little bit about the purpose and structure of a blanket stitch. Blanket stitches are often used to finish an edge. The stitch creates an interlocked thread that runs on the edge of the fabric. Think of a serger sewing machine. Sergers overcast a seam’s …
How would YOU like to become a Blanket Stitch Whiz? One of the most common questions I receive is, “How do you get your stitches so even?” Well, my normal reply is practice, practice, practice, and although that is true, over the years, I have developed some habits that have helped me improve my blanket …
With the 4th of July just days away, here in the USA, many streets and buildings proudly display our flag and many flag based decorations. Today we are sharing our version of the flag… an applique with lots of "heart" for our nation My plan was to turn this into a wooden plaque to hang …
This Tea Wallet Pattern combines our Perky Note Card Holder with the smallest birdie from our Stacked Birdies Block with minor adjustments. In addition to the materials required for the Perky Note Card Holder you will also need a piece of 5 1/2″ X 7″ fusible interfacing to give the wallet more structure. And if …
Easily turn our Autumn Harvest Pumpkin applique into a Halloween Jack-o-Lantern applique. You have heard us often talk about the many uses for our applique blocks… that’s why we create so many of them. We’ve talked about enlarging them, reducing them, turning them into wood, stuffies, stencils or cross stitch. What we really haven’t talked about, though, is …
The Woven Spider Wheel Stitch is a versatile stitch that I use often. It makes a circular, raised stitch appropriate for flowers, apples, polka dots, etc. It winds up being raised, giving it a wonderful 3-D effect. Obviously, I love this stitch, and although it might seem difficult, with a couple of tricks, you’ll be …
Follow the koala bookmark pattern to sew and embroider an adorable felt bookmark that serves double duty as a reading pal! Koala Bookmark Pattern Materials: wool felt embroidery floss yarn pattern Koala Bookmark Pattern Directions: 1] Make copy of pattern. 2] Cut out materials as follows: 1 back – gray 1 body – gray 1 …
Use our handkerchief bandana pattern to make a simple bandana for keeping your hair out of your eyes or add embroidery to make it extra special. The directions below are for a plain handkerchief bandana pattern, but options are given for making the handkerchief bandana featured above. A note about sizing: We found using the …
