julia wiatr Archives

Announcing More Crochet Patterns: I Like Crochet

July 17, 2014 by AllFreeCrochet

Our friends at AllFreeCrochet have some exciting news to share with you all – the launch of a brand new digital magazine, I Like Crochet!

I Like Crochet is a bimonthly subscription-based magazine that promises to give you the newest and best crochet patterns that you won’t find anywhere else. Each issue includes 25-30 projects that range from wearables and accessories to afghans and other home decor. It also offers articles that showcase tips, tricks and step-by-step tutorials.

You can access this subscription on your home computer or laptop, or you have the option of getting a tablet-only edition (iPad only, currently). Take I Like Crochet with you wherever you go and never miss a stitch!

As for the selected patterns, have I mentioned how stunning they are? Take a look at the Mint Breeze Cardigan, as featured on the cover of our August launch issue. A simple half-sleeve button-up cardigan, this sweater is perfect to protect you against the unexpected chill of those long summer nights. The lace inserts worked all over the body and sleeves of the cardigan make this lightweight sweater the only one you’ll need this season.

Maybe cardigans are a little too tricky for you – no worries! I Like Crochet also features many beginner and easy crochet patterns that will have you working up accessories in no time. Do you want to crochet the most adorable little baby booties you’ve ever seen? You just have to make these darling Little Rose Booties that are perfect for keeping little feet warm. Their small size ensures a quick work-up time, but the intricate flower detail makes them simply divine.

If you’re more interested in afghans and babyghans, we’ve got you covered, too! Take a look at the Caribbean Shells Afghan in our launch issue; its pastel striped pattern evokes a calming Caribbean environment. Brighten up any room with this easy-to-make afghan. The pattern repetition means less to learn, so it’s perfect for a beginner.

Another exciting feature of I Like Crochet is our Stitch School, a bimonthly tutorial and pattern feature. Step-by-step instructions, both written and photo-illustrated, will walk you through a new or challenging stitch or technique. Once you learn the basics, put your new skills to the test and stitch a great design that features what you just learned.

Join us at I Like Crochet for all your crochet needs – subscribe today!

What’s the first thing you’ll make when you subscribe?

Quilting for Life: How to Sew a Quilt

April 18, 2014 by AllFreeSewing

When people hear the word “quilting,” most automatically assume that it’s an all-encompassing term for the art of sewing together patchwork blankets and nothing more. We over at AllFreeSewing know that isn’t the case and that quilting is so much more than blankets. “Quilting” is the art of sewing together layers of fabric to create a thicker and padded material, and blankets happen to be the most common quilting project. You can make many varieties of home decor and accessories with quilting fabric!

Blankets are the most popular and common, of course, and with good reason. They’re basically one large rectangle that you an create as big or as small as you want, and blankets are always handy in a house, no matter the season. With some sturdier fabric, you can also create a picnic blanket! You can also create smaller quilted pieces, like table runners, place mats, tablecloths, oven mitts, pot holders, and coasters. If you’re also looking to create some great quilted accessories, try your hand at some sturdy quilted bags; they provide the durability of fabric but with added strength.

Quilts

The classic quilted project – an actual quilt. Whether you’re looking to make a smaller baby quilt or a larger one to fit over an adult bed, you can find all the inspiration you need with these classic quilting squares and patterns.

Butterfly Garden Quilt

Adorable Pinwheel Quilt

Starflower Block Tutorial

Spin on the Pinwheel Block

Home Decor

Does your kitchen need a makeover? Sew up some great DIY home decor pieces with these easy quilting projects. Choose between table runners, over mitts, and pot holders for a fab new look!

2 Hour Stack and Slash Table Runner

Tea Time Mug Rug

Scrap Happy Table Runner

Reversible Quickie Coaster

Scrapbuster Fall Pillow

Quilted Bags and Purses

A fabric bag is very durable, and it’s very easy to make. In order to be sturdy enough to carry, say, groceries home from the store or market, the fabric needs to be thick and strong. You can even make smaller cosmetic bags to contain all your makeup when traveling.

Fat Quarter Bag

Chevron Purse

Quintessential Quilted Bag

Quilted Clutch Purse

Quilted Cell Phone Pouch

BONUS – Can’t get enough quilt block patterns? AllFreeSewing and Martingale are teaming up to give away A Quilter’s Ark! Full of animal quilt block patterns, A Quilter’s Ark is the perfect pattern book for the animal lover in your life. With over fifty animals to choose from, the quilt possibilities are endless! Enter daily from 4/14 – 4/28 to win!

What’s your favorite quilting project?

Link Love: Craft to the Future!

March 29, 2014 by AllFreeSewing

A new year doesn’t just mean a new you – it also means new craft products to look forward to! Are you excited about starting up new projects or maybe learning a new technique? Get inspired with some of our favorite new products from top sewing companies. We were thrilled to see some of these products up close at the Craft and Hobby Association Trade Show in January, and we were excited still to hear about what was going to be popular and trendy in the coming year.

For starters, how about a new ironing set? The awesome folks at Clover have just announced a new line, the Press Perfect. Right now, they’re offering a 10-piece essentials set, which comes with everything you need to give your ironing process a complete makeover. If sewing isn’t your thing, Clover also has new products out in the realms of jewelry making and crocheting with their large Tatting Shuttle and steel crochet hooks.

The paper crafters out there might be familiar with various types of cutting machines, but the Scan n’ Cut from Brother is also perfect for sewists, quilters, and anyone that loves appliques. This first-ever combination scanner and cutter can easily cut fabric to use as quilt blocks or intricate appliques without needing a computer or any additional software. This all-in-one tool is just what you need to create perfect one-of-a-kind projects.

Next up – faux quilting! Now you can create quick and easy custom designs on fabric. Ann Butler of Creativity Stirs the Soul and Kelly Craft have teamed up to create a line of fabric ink stamps. With these stamps, you can choose the look and color of each of your quilting squares, guaranteeing a unique project every time! Each package of designs comes in various shapes: squares, rectangles, triangles, etc. so you can better perfect the perfect look. There’s also a set of letters to use for monogramming or personalizing your finished work.

Finally, we have conductive thread. If you aren’t familiar with it, it’s a type of thread that can conduct electricity. With this type of thread, you can easily make gloves that will work on any touchscreen device, for example. There are many different varieties, all with varying thickness and price, but you can find some at CutRateCrafts!

Press Perfect 10-Piece Essentials Set from Clover
SensaThread Conductive Thread from CutRateCrafts
Large Tatting Shuttle from Clover
Steel Crochet Hooks from Clover
EZ-De’s Stamp Line from kellycraft
Scan ‘n Cut from Brother

What new product are you excited to try?

Oscars 2014: How to Sew a Red Carpet Dress

February 21, 2014 by AllFreeSewing

The Oscars are a time each year to honor Hollywood’s biggest names for their work, but they’re also the best time to see some of the best (and worst) in fashion walk down the red carpet. The awards themselves are very important, but the fashion choices almost always overshadow the winners. People will share their reactions to the awards, but the conversations will ALWAYS veer towards, “Yeah, and did you see the dress she was wearing?!”

For me, it’s a night where I get to get all dressed up in my Target-chic glitzy outfit and go to my friend’s apartment for her annual Oscar party. Everyone gets red carpet ready, and we have our own little photoshoot before gathering around the TV in time for the actual red carpet. For us, the awards themselves are important, but they do take a backseat to what everyone is wearing and how everyone looks.

Oscar style is always glamorous and indulgent; some celebs choose to go with a long and sleek silhouette while others take advantage of the event to rock something more outrageous and a bit less “safe.” If you’re looking to create your own Oscar-worthy ensemble for your own Oscar party, AllFreeSewing is the place for you! We’ve sought out our more glitzy projects to share with you for some inspiration.

Mix and Match

If you aren’t ready to take your look to full-blown Oscar-level and want to look a little more subdued, you can still look stylish and fancy. The best part about these outfit pieces is that you can mix and match them with anything. You can wear the black peplum top with the white lace skirt, and you have a timeless look that works for both an Oscar party and a work outfit. Incorporate these pieces with what you already own for even more styling options!

15 Minute Lacy Blazer

Elizabeth Taylor’s Favorite Lace Skirt

Gold Trim Cardi Detail

Enchanting Tulle Skirt

Ravising Peplum Refashion

Sequined Mini Skirt

Glam Accessories

Don’t forget the accessories! As you’re getting yourself all dolled up, don’t forget a clutch to hold a mirror and your emergency lipstick and the appropriate scarf or wrap to keep you warm this chilly winter. The right accessories can add the proper Oscar glitz to just about any accessory, so don’t be shy!

Purses

On the Go Designer Purse

DIY Fancy Lace Clutch

Lined Sequin Clutch

DIY Envelope Clutch

Scarves and Stoles

Infinity Bow Wrap

Faux Fur Collar

How to Sew a Faux Fur Stole

Red Carpet Ready!

Are you ready to go all out with a fabulously fancy dress? These dresses are all fit for a fantastic party. Depending on the mood of the night, choose a sleek and simple long gown, or you can go shorter and tighter to have a dress with a little more party in it.

DIY Little Black Dress

Tiered Gown

Golden Goddess Gown

Bachelorette Party Dress

New Year’s Resolution Party Dress

Draped Maxi Dress

Putting on the Glitz LBD

Femme Fatale Cocktail Dress

Plus!

Check out these gorgeous dresses and amazing glitter pumps I came across while looking up Oscar inspiration? They all come from Suzannah from Adventures in Dressmaking!

DIY Christian Louboutin Glitter Pumps // Red Skater Dress // Silk Party Dress

Are you more excited for the awards or the fashion of the Oscars?

How to Sew Pincushions: Adorable Fabric Patterns

February 17, 2014 by AllFreeSewing

Pincushions: For any sewist, they’re super useful and highly essential. Without them, you would lose track of your pins, or you wouldn’t have them at hand when you needed them the most. Can you imagine placing them near your machine and having them just roll off the table? You could easily prick your foot with one, and you certainly would have a hard time finding it amidst your carpet threads. Really, they’re one of the unsung heroes of the art of sewing. Wouldn’t you agree?

A pincushion, much like a family pet, takes on the characteristics of the sewist who owns one. Ranging from simple and basic to more elaborate and quirky, there are countless options in terms of pincushion style. There are some sewists who just want something simple to sit near their sewing machine, something that simply holds the pins they need – being practical about your pincushion is totally fine. There are also the sewists on the other end of the spectrum, those who don’t want a simple pincushion, those who treat the creation of their pincushion like an art masterpiece.

For those in both camps, we at AllFreeSewing have found our favorite pincushions to make. If you haven’t given much thought to a crazy-cute pincushion before, maybe these adorable designs will inspire you! I mean, why have a boring spherical pincushion when you can have one shaped like a sunny-side up egg or a zombie?

Exactly.

Simple and Practical

These are basic pincushions – no frills or anything too complicated.

Quirky Designs

For those who want a challenge, or who want their own little pin-friend next to them as they sew, here are our favorite quirkier designs.

We also came across these adorable animal pincushions online! How cute are they?

Turtle Pincushion from Craft Passion
Birdie Pincushion from Sharon Holland designs

Book Giveaway

Have I convinced you to try and make a cute pincushion yet? You can also enter an exciting giveaway for your own copy of Pincushion Appeal: Patterns for Pincushions to Make You Smile. This book of eight unbelievably cute pincushion patterns has full templates and color photos to walk you through the steps needed to make your own pincushions. Enter between 2/17 and 3/3 here for your chance to win! Good luck!

What does your pincushion look like?

Sew Mad: Mad Men Inspired Free Sewing Patterns

February 2, 2014 by AllFreeSewing

I’m obsessed with Mad Men. It took a while for it to grow on me, but when it did, I marathon-watched the seasons day after day to get caught up. Like everyone else, I’m in love with all the fashions of the time; the pencil dresses and made-up hair and makeup on the women and the perfectly tailored suits and slicked back hair on the men so classy and glamorous.

With the first half of the seventh and final season airing in the spring of this year (the second half doesn’t air until 2015 – if you can possibly wait that long), it’s time to start getting excited for the beginning of the end of an era. We at AllFreeSewing have found some great 1960s vintage, Mad Men-inspired sewing patterns. Whether you’re on the hunt for some great throw-back skirts and dresses or headbands and clutches, we have a pattern that will suit your needs. If the home decor of the time has inspired you, we’ve also included some great curtain and kitchen patterns for you.

For the Ladies

Ladies of the 1960s enjoyed both snug-fitting pencil dresses and skirts and flared out floor-length dresses. They would adorn their hair and hands with properly placed headbands and gloves to always look perfectly put together. Bring out your inner Joan, Peggy, or Betty with these vintage sewing patterns. There are even some patterns for the little Sally Draper in your life!

Bow Belt Tutorial
Elizabeth Taylor’s Favorite Lace Skirt
Mulberry Style Paperbag Skirt
Polka Dot Skirt
The Perfect Peggy Skirt
Graceful Dress Pattern
Marilyn Pencil Skirt
Vintage Heirloom Dress
DIY Fancy Lace Clutch

For the ‘Gents

Men, don a finely tailored suit and slick back your hair and you’re good to go. The go-to style for men and boys is prim and polished suits and vests with neat ties.

How to Sew a Single Placket
The New Yorker Boys’ Peacoat
The Boy Vest
Handsome Rob Necktie
The Eddie Cap
The Man Cowl

DIY Accessories for the Home

Do you want to transform your kitchen to one of the ’60s? These home decor choices have that perfect throw-back vintage feel that will do just the trick!

Betty Draper Inspired Hostess Apron
Mad Men Embroidered Kitchen Towel
Kitchen Curtains with Gingham Bows
Easy Ruffle Apron
Reversible Breakfast Tablecloth

Which character’s style do YOU most envy?

How to Embroider: Learning About Embroidery Stitches

January 25, 2014 by AllFreeSewing

The art of embroidery is an intricate and delicate one. Using a needle and a string of yarn or thread to slowly hand-stitch a design can be daunting to grasp. Some designs can be fairly simple, so a beginner can easily fumble around and slowly practice. Once you’re comfortable in the more basic areas of embroidery, you can move on and try more advance patterns, which can be more intricate and time-intensive. The more elaborate the design, the more careful you have to be. AllFreeSewing is a great resource for all types of embroidery projects, so you can sharpen your hand-stitching skills no matter your current level.

You can embroider pretty much anything out there that’s fabric! You can personalize pillowcases, washcloths, and even clothes with a single needle and thread. Whether you hand-stitch directly into the fabric or you create an applique to attach later, embroidery is a great way to learn the finer points of sewing. Check out some of our favorite embroidery projects and make a few today!

Needle Organization

Once you get the hang of embroidery, you’ll probably want to own a few needles of different sizes, and then store them in a way so you don’t lose them. These needle cases are just that!

Matryoshka Needle Case Tutorial

Embroidered Needle Book

Storybook Needle Case

Around the House

Many people take very simple items around the house, like dish towels or pillowcases, and add some embroidery to them. That way, you have a unique and decorated fabric piece that you crafted to your specifications.

Patriotic Summer Ruffles Set Dishtowel

Embroidered Recipe Card Holder

Ribbon Embroidery Pillow Cases

Embroidered Apple Tree Pillow

Bird Lover Embroidered Coaster

Grandmother’s China Embroidered Pillow

Embroidered Box Curtains

Embroidered Envelope Pillow

Clothing and Accessories

Just like with items around the house, you can take any accessory or piece of clothing and add your own stitched embellishments to it. Take a bag or purse and use your needlepoint skills to add a fun design, or add some flair to a fuzzy pair of tights. The possibilities are endless!

Dotty Embroidered Tote

Don’t Shoot the Messenger Bag

Embroidered Dog Tee

Bunting Inspired Winter Gloves

Embroidered Fabric Wristlet

DIY Embellished Tights Tutorial

Hand Embroidered Baby Bib

Hoop Stitching/Wall Art

You can easily create a hangable work of art using embroidery, so let these great projects show you how! All you need is a piece of fabric to stitch your design into and a way to hang it; you can frame these projects with a typical photo frame or with a circular hoop.

Embroidery Hoop Art

Baby Name Embroidery Pattern

Delicate Flowers Embroidery Pattern

Labor of Love Freezer Paper Embroidery

Bonus giveaway!

Let Leisure Arts help you learn to embroider with their Learn to Embroider with the Best of Leisure Arts! Full of full color photographs and easy-to-access templates, this book will show you how to hand-embroider fantastical designs onto your everyday items. Enter to win a free book that’s full of embroidery patterns and inspiration. The contest runs from 1/20/14 – 2/3/14. Enter today!

What are you going to embroider?

14 Gold Medal Sewing Patterns

January 24, 2014 by AllFreeSewing

The XXII Winter Games, in Sochi, begin on February 7th and go until February 23. With just over two weeks of winter sports and athletic showmanism, it’s hard not to get excited. Though I’m mainly looking forward to the hockey games, especially since so many of my beloved Chicago Blackhawks are representing their various countries, there is also a slew of solo events to get your pulse racing, like skiing, ice skating, or snowboarding.

In honor of the 2014 Winter Olympics, AllFreeSewing is here to inspire you with a fabulous collection of gold metal projects! Whether you want to show off your patriotism as you root for America, or you want to work on getting yourself in tip-top shape at the gym, we have something for you to create.

Show Your Pride

Cheer on Team America with these festive and patriotic sewing projects! These clothing and home decor items are sure to inspire a sense of camaraderie. If you’re visiting us from another country and would be rooting instead for another team, you can easily change the fabric to reflect your country’s colors!

Seeing Stars Pillow Tutorial
All Americana Stars Pillow Tutorial
Patriotic Pillowcase Dresses
Red, White, and Blue Dress
Learn to Sew Star Pillow
America the Beautiful Skirt
Easy Applique Star Tee

Train for It!

Have the competitive events inspired you to become more active and fit in your life? Whether you’re a gym newbie (no shame! We all have to start somewhere) or you’ve decided to finally return to the gym after a short break, these projects are meant to help and inspire you in your journey to the gold!

Exercise Pedometer Armband
Comfy and Secure Jogging Armband
Don’t Sweat It Headband
Superhero Gym Bag
Arm Band Pouch
DIY Yoga Mat

Let the Games Begin!

With all the prepping and training you’ll be doing to gear up for the winter games, why not be inspired to host your own mini games? Invite some friends and family over and hold your own contests and events to replicate those in Sochi; you can all go to an ice-skating rink and see who can circle the rink the fastest, or sled-race down an especially big and snowy hill! Or you could gather in a large backyard and come up with relay races and agility tests! At the very end, you can give out DIY medals and awards to the winners.

How cute is this Plush Torch and Medal? This great sewing pattern set was created by Cheryl from Sew Can Do!

What event(s) are you most anticipating?

The Most Important Sewing Tool

January 21, 2014 by AllFreeSewing

Everyone has their own go-to tool for sewing, that tool that they can’t sit down without. No one wants to get all ready to go into the sewing zone and then realize that they don’t have their trusty seam ripper or their handy scissors. For some people, that ultimate go-to item might be something else, something that isn’t even sewing related. Maybe it’s your favorite beverage, some good music to listen to, or a good show to watch.

We asked our Facebook fans, “What tool do you ALWAYS make sure you have before beginning a sewing project?”

Common Threads

Scissors: 40
Seam Ripper: 31
Scissors AND Seam Ripper: 9
Sewing Machine/Needles/Thread: 11
Pins: 5
Bobbins: 4
Glasses: 4
Caffeine: 4
Music: 4
Rotary Cutter: 3

Sewing Tools

Celia W. – measuring tape – measure twice cut once
Jenn R. – Enough fabric LOL
Mara P. – tailors chalk (and scissors, they’re necessary too)
Brenda H. – All of them. It’s the one area that is completely organized in my house.
Bernadine N. – new rotary blade and a diet coke
Holli R. – Other than a seam ripper…music to listen to is a must!
Chris H. – Coffee, and my sewing box
Lauri C. – seam ripper, iron, ironing board, good scissors
Ursula Z. – seam ripper, needles, thread, scissors
Anne R. – Small scissors, classical music and big glass of water.
Kathy P. – My bright lamp. Need to see what I’m doing. Second is my cup of coffee.
Nell K. – a razor blade (Single edge)
Nareida B. – Scissors and measuring tape
Susan D. – Seam ripper and drink and TV!!
Joyce W. – My rotary cutter and mat, my sewing machine, my rulers, my embroidery scissors and my seam ripper. I actually have all of my things available to access when I start a project but when I am sewing I always have my embroidery scissors there to cut threads, etc.
Connie B. – Long Tweezers
Andrea T. – pins, scissors & seam ripper
Diana L. – Scissors and a radio
Julie K. – Transparent rulers
Shannon T. – Rotary cutter and cutting board with paper and pencil close by for making my own pattern
Barbara H. – Pins, scissors, pattern. Seems they all hold the same value.
Sharon P. – Scissors, ott light , seam ripper and Pepsi!!!
Cynthia M. – Thimble!
Andrea F. – My snips and pin magnet
Paula S. – glue Stick and colored chalk (and a seam ripper)
Charlotte C. – seam ripper and glasses
Bj H. – tape measure

And All the Rest

Wendy M. – My glasses!!! and sad to say that a magnifying lamp is becoming quite useful 🙂
Jayne C. – a glass of tea and the remote to tv! lol
Camille B. – Chocolate. No kidding. And throw in some coffee for good measure.
Claire S. – Sanity
Mary F. – Good light and good cutting supplies….
Jackie L. – Time:)
Shirley M. – My coffee cup and glasses!
Kathy W. – an idea
Judy V. – a glass of wine
Phyllis D. – My tablet hooked up to my tv to see my tutorials on YouTube or pinterest
Kimberly K. – My ice tea!!! 🙂
Cindy W. – Is wine a tool?!

Those are all some great must-haves! I have to agree with all of those: music and something to drink are both something I need around me as I craft… and I’ll make an executive decision here and say that, yes, wine IS a tool. 😉

What else do you need before you start sewing?

Spring Forward 2014: 12 Spring Fashion Patterns featuring Peplum

January 4, 2014 by AllFreeSewing

Peplum is a popular trend that resurfaced a few years ago. Even though it isn’t exactly “new,” it still manages to top the trend reports season after season. The best thing about peplum is that it’s very versatile; you can have peplum tops and tanks, peplum skirts, and even peplum dresses. If you’re so inclined, you can even find peplum-style jackets and coats! The reason for its popularity is that it’s a style that can look good on anyone! The peplum flare can be more or less structured, so depending on how much extra flare you want to add to your silhouette, you can find something that fits. Because of its versatility and flattering fit, we at AllFreeSewing dub Peplum as the top trend of 2014.

Peplum can be tough to pull off, true, but only if you don’t know how to make it work for you. If you want to give yourself an exaggerated silhouette and hips, a more structured and more flared cut is your best bet. If you don’t want that extra fabric jutting out, you can still rock the trend. There’s a gathered peplum cut that doesn’t flare as much and simply flows around your midsection. If you’re hesitant to try the trend, go for that style. Once you’re a little more comfortable, you can venture out into the more extravagant pieces.

There’s no better time than right now to jump on board the peplum trend. Whether you already have a few pieces or you’ve been waiting for the right time to try it out, there are plenty of ways to sew your own version. We’ve pulled some of our favorite patterns and tutorials for you to try, so check them out!

Peplum Tops

We’re also so thrilled that we’ve stumbled across some amazing peplum top tutorials online: