SEW-ALONG, FRIENDS STITCH, AND NEW DESIGNS

i hope you have been able to follow the Crazy Seasons Mystery Quilt Sew-Along.  If not, learn more about it at Farmhouse Threads.  You'll see a schedule of all 12 designer blocks and links to the free pattern downloads.   Here are first 5 blocks.  Our block will be released June 15.

 Aren't they Great?!!

You can use your own fabrics or each designer has a kit available with the flannel background and

the wool appliqué pieces.

 Love this creation stitched up by Kathleen.  She chose this whimsical fabric to stitch up the small case that is part of our Nifty Little Pouches pattern.  Love her choice of fabrics.

I'm working on the instructions for these two new patterns.

Box Bottom Slide Clasp Purse

and

Time To Bloom

They'll be on the website soon.

What are you stitching up?

Hi . . It's me Reets.  Remember?  2018 has been a bit of a challenge so far.  But it's time to get back to creating.  I needed something to make me laugh.  I can always rely on Halloween and a whimsical witch to do that.  There will be a wall hanging and a little pouch.  I'll let you know when this pattern becomes available . . as soon as i write up the instructions.

Fiber on A Whim now has some wonderful hand dyed velveteens.  I'm just finishing up a small project combining some of their wonderful velveteen colors with our wools.  Velveteen is a dream . .so much easier to work with than velvet and just shmoozes up so nicely with our hand dyed wools.  Perfect match!  This pattern will be soon available also.  Keep an eye on our FB page . . or here for it's release.

Ok

Needle and thread in hand . . 

Onward.

Loving the new colors of Linen/Rayon from my talented hand dyer.  Easy fusible raw edge appliqué.  Not a method i usually do but oh so easy.  Will be a new table runner and placemat pattern.  Gotta hurry . . NW Quilting Expo in Portland is almost here.  

Happy Stitching!

STYLIN' IN THE KITCHEN

I like to make aprons for the grandchildren that are two or older.

Never dreamed that they would invite such stylish accessories.

HAND DYED OSNABURGS & WOVEN COTTONS

Loving the new muted shades of hand dyed osnaburg.  They were just what was needed to partner with all of the yarn dyed woven cottons used in so many of our projects and patterns.

The new quilt is off to the quilters and will be waiting for you on the website soon!

Happy Stitching!

THE SUN BROUGHT TULIPS

 At last . . the sun has arrived and so it was time to finish this little block. Love mixing hand dyed osnaburgs and the yarn dyed wovens.

Soon "My Heart & My Garden" (are very old friends) Quilt will be on the website.

If you love the yarn dyeds you are in luck.   I have just added a new line to the website.   Look for "Fabrics" in the Menu.

Cheers!

THANKS - GIVING YOU A FREE PATTERN

Greetings stitching friends . . 

Below is part of an upcoming 2017 pattern which will have additional designs . . but this one is free for you now.  Just a little stitching fun to say thank you for all of your support and inspiration.

Click on the link below the photo to download the pdf pattern for this 4" x 7" Holiday Tag.

CLICK HERE FOR PATTERN AND INSTRUCTIONS

Have fun and i hope that you have . . 

t h e e e   m o s t

W o n d e r f u l   T h a n k s g i v i n g

NEW SANTA PILLOW PATTERN

Working on a new Santa pillow and a framed wall hanging pattern.  Love stitching up holiday stuff.  Will likely be a class end of October.  

What is on your stitching table?

WOOL APPLIQUE CLASSES . . BACK TO IT !!

Part of Saltbox Angel - Class Project

Hope you had some stitching fun today.  I did.  Finishing up this little Saltbox Angel.

I'm part way thru my 3 year plan to reduce vending at so many shows and increase time for design . . .  and to get back to teaching wool appliqué classes occasionally.   Working on some simple projects that can be completed in a one day class.  

This is part of Saltbox Angel, almost done.  At a later date there will also be an expanded version of the pattern and i will put it on the website.  

I used to love to teach classes and lately have been missing it.  I often learn more than i teach . . not to mention the fun.   Possibly i'll announce a class in Northern CA. Santa Rosa area in August but that has not yet been confirmed . . have lost my touch at scheduling things ahead.    

Also finishing up those instructions for Wickedy Jig. 

Make sure you visit us on Facebook.  Link in our side bar.

Have also recently started an Instagram board . . not sure why . . but it's all fun.

Stitch On!

W i c k e d y   J i g

Coming Soon - Wool Appliqué Wall Hanging

Jiggity Jack and the Little Witch that thinks she's a Queen!

A little sneak peek portion of the wall hanging is shown below.

Since the last free giveaway was on our Facebook Page

We'll have this pattern drawing here on the Blog.

Still have to write up the pattern.  This one is guaranteed FUN.

Just a little sneak peek portion of the upcoming pattern Wickedy Jig.

WIN A FREE WOOL PINCUSHION KIT

Pincushion Duo Pattern - WIN IT + THE KIT!

If you would like a chance to win this new PATTERN PLUS a KIT for the Mini Flower Pincushion (shown bottom left in photo),  please visit Reets Facebook Page and look for the Drawing Post.  You will see this same photo in the post.  Instructions to enter drawing will be listed there.   We will still be having drawings here on the blog in the future . .  just in case you do not follow Facebook.

Random drawing winner will be announced Friday morning, 7.8.16 on FB.

Please be so kind as to give our FB Page a "like" if you haven't already.   Just look for the "like" button on our cover photo at the top of the Page.

Click on our FB Badge to the right to get there.

New things have been added to our "Fun Accessories" page on Reets Website  . . as well as some Hand-Dyed Linens.  

Website Shipping  - I have changed our shipping charges to be calculated by weight.  Most of our items are light weight so this should help a great deal . . especially when ordering multiples of small items.  Patterns remain Free Shipping as always.

You can now shop on our Facebook Page.  Order items from our website and Checkout without leaving Facebook.

New pattern coming soon . . Wickedy Jig . . . can you guess?
Sign up to Follow this blog as we usually show new designs here first.

Good luck in the Facebook drawing!

OH MY STARS ★★★

H A P P Y    F O U R T H  !!

TURN UNDER APPLIQUE AND. . . LINEN !!

Because linen does ravel a good bit you might be hesitant to try turn under appliqué with it.    I use the freezer paper/starch method with all appliqué but it works especially well with linen.  In case you are unfamiliar i'll briefly describe.

  

Flip your pattern over on a light box and trace the appliqué piece in reverse onto the dull side of freezer paper.   Cut out on the traced line.   Iron the paper to the backside of your fabric.  NOTE:  On most fabrics you would use an eighth inch measurement but with linen make it almost a quarter inch.

Cut out fabric piece a scant quarter inch beyond the paper edge.  Spray some starch into a small plastic cup and with a paint brush (I use my finger) brush the starch onto the wrong side of the extended quarter inch of fabric.   With your fingers press the starched edge to the back, over the edge of the paper all the way around.   Press with hot iron.  Remove paper and press.   For more detailed information and photos check the internet.  Best appliqué method i have found.

This little bear is part of a new pattern design.  He has a few friends I think you are going to like.  More soon!  

OSNABURG NAPKINS - WING NEEDLE!

Have a new tablecloth pattern just finished and almost ready for next weekends quilt show . . we'll have it on the website in a week or so.  The pattern includes some fun napkins made with Hand-Dyed Osnaburg . . one of my favorite ever fabrics.  Works so nicely with wool too.

 You can use either side of the Osnaburg so it is ideal for making napkins.

Add just a touch of embellishment in one corner and they become giftworthy!

They are all tidy with their mitered corners and hemstitching.

Two years ago i purchased a wing needle at the most wonderful fabric store in Ashland Oregon.

Fabric of Vision 

 This special needle is made in Germany by Klasse.

I used it with a simple decorative stitch.  The wings on the side actually cut tiny holes as it stitches giving the appearance of hemstitching.  Woven fabrics like Osnaburg and linens are ideal for using the Wing Needle.

Can't quite see those tiny holes in the photo below 

but I love that little decorative stitch.

Aren't they nifty napkins?

Lots of wing needle information on-line.  Get one and have some stitching fun!

YARN-DYED WOVEN COTTONS

A fabric company sent some of their newest yarn-dyed woven cottons to me before Quilt Market. 

I stitched up a 3 block table runner in time to ship off to them for their booth.

I love these wovens and they mix well with all of your woolens . . great backgrounds too.
These six taupes and browns have just been added to our website Accessories/Fabrics Page.
You can order them by the half yard.

I couldn't resist adding some whimsical placemats to the table runner . . 
pattern almost ready.
And of course Woolbert will announce a drawing here for the free one we'll be giving away.  I hope you win . . really!

Below is a scan of the basket block I designed for the runner . . just a bit "off" from the traditional.  After the scan, there was some hand stitching added and then some fabulous quilting by my friend
Angie of All Washed Up Quilts.
So what's in your basket today?

MIDNIGHT BLUE TRIES AGAIN

Maybe you remember.  This Midnight Blue background lost out last time.  It was all up to the little snowguy . . and he said Black!

Lovey Dovey was much kinder to this nighty shade of blue.

You can tell they like each other right?

See them fly?

They are on their way to NW Expo in Portland.  They hope that you can come.

September 19, 20, 21.   Love this show.

So . . years ago I started dashing bits of glitter . . which became LOTS of glitter . . on just about everything.  Including almost all of my holiday ornaments.  These new ones will sparkle too, but this time I'm relying on just my stash of flashy flosses.  A little less mess, but just as much fun.

Not all of you can come to Portland.  Woolbert knows that.  So as soon as the finishing touches are completed, he will be giving away a free copy of this new pattern . .  and you can have some fun too.  So stay with us!

Tomorrow or the next day i'll have the Fat Quail Quilt Show up.  A fun slideshow.

See ya then.

BLACK WINS AGAIN.

Black . . or Midnight Blue?   Tried hard to like the Midnight better.  And I DO love Midnight Blue but alas, the little snowman spoke up louder on his Black background.   Well this will be only one ornament in four.  So Midnight still has a chance.   

Needs some snowflakes tho right?

Must have these done soon for the next show in Redmond Oregon.   It is only two weeks away.

Thursday July 11 thru Sunday July 14

It runs for four days and is the same time as the nearby Sisters Outdoor Show.   First year for this vendor-rich expo.  Click on the picture below to go to Oregon Summer Quilt Expo's website . . and there they will provide you with a coupon for a $3 discount - $12 for the four days.   Classes available also.  Please come visit us in our booth and unbury us from our piles and piles of hand dyed wools and bolt wools and wool flosses and yarn dyed woven cottons and hand dyed woven cottons . . and a few other new surprises.   Going to be a fun weekend in Oregon.  Love that place!

Oregon Summer Quilt Expo

Also working on a larger project using some new wool colors.  It is challenging me . . to say the least.

Tweaking this and tweaking that and stir the pot and peek and stir and peek again and in the end will this days tweakiness bring on a happy face or will a pout come out. 

You just never know for sure.

The magic . .  of the hand dyed pot.

MAKE YOUR OWN SHABBY RIBBON

I really do have some other patterns started but i am still finishing up the dolly.  She is of the primitve sort so the lovely hand dyed rayon ribbons from Auntie Em's were not a good fit by themselves.  Yummy tho huh?  I keep them tidy in this yellow French bowl that i picked up in a little shop in not France . . boo hoo.  The hot chocolate cup became chipped and was then discarded.  Someone was silly.

 Her worn muslin dress needed something . . a bit more raveled . . tattered . . . ratty.

So I grabbed from my stash of tacky nylonish type sheers, the kind that freak out when cut . .  and ravel wildly all along the edges.   Isn't this one just so eeeek gaudy?!!

Grab a similar textile from your stash and make some shabby ribbon with me.

 Cut a strip a bit wider than your desired ribbon.

Gently tie knots about every 3 or 4 or so inches.

It is begining to ravel some now isn't it?  In a little plastic cup mix together some liquid matte medium and some brown antiquing medium.   I was too impatient to continue painting it onto the strip with a brush so I added just a bit of water. Moosh the ribbon into the mixture and gently squeeze out the excess liquid. Then dip a couple of fingers into the mixture and dab here and there on the strip. Maybe wear a pair of gloves like I didn't.   Squeeze the strip in a paper towel and hang to dry.

Mellowed to my liking now.  How is yours looking?

Might be added near the bottom of the dress.  Possibly on top of the brown hand dyed ribbon . . that will bring it down a notch.  More befitting to an aged old doll.

Then perhaps a scattering of some small worn buttons??

HORRIFIED FRANCES - MORE UFDBs!

 Poor Frances.

Once again dismayed . . no horrified . . at the site upon the shelf.

More Unfinished Doll Bodies have appeared.

She without her own legs for soooo long now, has lost her faith in me.

Even though, Frances,  I have completed a number of doll patterns since I long ago abandoned you.  

Have a little faith why don't you.

Frances. 

So with all of the patterns I need to complete, I decided to spend my time on a new doll.

I think it will be the goofier one on the left.  Gotta hurry.  

But poor Frances.

Send her your sympathies if you feel so inclined.

Or . . perhaps some legs!

BLUE AND WITCHIE TOO

Maybe you don't know this but we get scorching days in the redwoods.  It doesn't seem fitting but it certainly happens.  It happened today and though not a great day for dyeing wool, I could put it off no longer.  A new Midnight Blue jumped out of the pot.  Do you like it?

OH!  I see it is not appearing true.  Looks so much prettier in person.
So much for the new scanner.  Or I think rather, the scanner person.
That Blue is begging to be a background . .  right?

So then, how about Witchie.  She is a preview to a new Halloween pattern coming your way soon.   Hopefully will be done by the time I leave for the Tacoma show next Tuesday.   Any bets?
If only you just had to design to run a business.  Ok.  Enough boo hooing - I heard ya.

Oh Miz Witchie . . . Will you  will you will you . . have some Spookster friends perhaps?  
I am thinking yes.  And I do so love your Moonglow Halloween Yellow background.
Is that new Miz Witchie?  I say . . . did you drag that in from the depths of the Hollows?
And what more shall you bring My Dearie?