crafty

Perfecting the Tote Bag–Part 2, the Sheep in Sweaters Tote from Art and Quilting in Camden

So FINALLY we get to the Sheep in Sweaters Tote! When I started the previous post, I discovered I’d never blogged about the turquoise tote, which is the forerunner and partner of this one! I will say now that I have finished this post (Part 2), it is LONG–but I wanted to be sure you got ALL the good info. If you’re here for just the totebag part, skim the embroidery bits! Thanks for reading!

Those of you who get my newsletter (sign up in right sidebar on this blog or the bottom of all the other ...

added by Sarah Ann Smith 1 year, 2 months ago. under #byanniepatterns , #corkfabric , #cottonfabric , #fabricfunhouse , #janome , #janomeamerica , #janomeamerica @janomesewingmachines , #janomesewing , #machineembroidery , #oesd , #sarahannsmith , #sarahannsmithartist , #totebag , #tulapink , @janomeamerica , @janomesewingmachines , applique , crafty , creativity , edge finishes and bindings , embroidery , favorite products , free tutorials and patterns , janome , janomeartisan , knitting , machine applique , machine embroidery , machine quilting , presser feet , sewing , sewing hints , techniques , tools of the trade , tutorials (Comments)

Odds and Ends from Becca's Crazy Projects

Don't let anyone tell you that craft doesn't have value. It has value just like other things that take time and dedication to learn and master. This is my very favorite tote. I use it to hold a current project because I'm crafty and proud. I bought this machine embroidery design from Urban Threads Embroidery.

What is this? Evidently, something way more important than I could have imagined. This little wire tie was holding a bundle of cables on the back of my long arm. Evidently, it was stressed enough to give up. Most of the time ...

added by Becca 3 years ago. under 2021 , crafty , embroidery , long arm , longarm

Perfect Pattern Weights free pattern! from Art and Quilting in Camden

These just-perfect sized pattern weights, 3″ on a side, are not only just the thing for YOUR sewing room, but they make quick and easy gifts for anyone you know who sews!

PerfectPatternWeights by SarahAnnSmith.com — Can you tell how much FUN I had? Lookit the doggie as a Halloween Ghost (top row) and the goofy Space Alien (center right) and those fantastic Garden Pindots (middle and lower rows)! See free PDF for pattern and Michael Miller Fabrics fabric details.

Early in my year as a Michael Miller Fabrics Brand Ambassador for 2020, I decided to use some Marbles (MMF Basic collection) for a ...

added by Sarah Ann Smith 4 years ago. under #artistauthorquilterteacher , #janomeamerica @janomesewingmachines , #janomeartisan , #learnwithsarah , #makingitfun , #michaelmillerbrandambassador2020 , #michaelmillerfabrics , #sarahannsmith , @sarahannsmithq , crafty , fabric , favorite products , free tutorials and patterns , garment sewing , michael miller fabrics , patterns , sewing hints , tools of the trade (Comments)

Mosaic Crochet from Becca's Crazy Projects

I've been working on this mosaic crochet blanket for a couple weeks. It might look a little wonky but blocking will fix that.

The fabric is very nice and has a nice weight to it. This is Knit Picks Wool of the Andes. I'm just changing colors a I come to the end of a ball of yarn. It's so nice to not have to think about it too much.

If you want to check out mosaic crochet I recommend watching some of Tinna's videos on YouTube. She is very patient and has so much to ...

added by Becca 4 years, 3 months ago. under 2020 , aunt betty , book , crafty , crazy , crochet , design , project , projects , yarn

Odds and Ends from Becca's Crazy Projects

This lily (I think it is a lily) was blooming in my front garden recently. Right there next to the weeds. We like all the plants here, even the dandelions.

I carried my latest crochet project (that I have yet to share) around in this awesome tote I made using an embroidery design from Urban Threads and too many Sharpies.

I made fococcia bread for dinner one night using this recipe.

It came out great! We added it to the list of things to make when we host dinner and games with friends.

I finished this fun pair of stripy ...

added by Becca 4 years, 5 months ago. under 2020 , bread , circular sock machine , cooking , craft , crafty , crochet , embroidery , machine , outdoors , socks , yarn

Snuffle Mat from Becca's Crazy Projects

Somewhere I saw someone had made a snuffle mat, or mentioned one, and had to see what it was about. I found a tutorial by The Honest Kitchen so I decided to make one for my dog. First, I ordered this dish mat from Amazon. It cost about $6. The edges are a little curled because we put it through the dishwasher before I added the strips. It had a smell when it arrived.

I reached into my fleece scraps bin and cut a bunch of pieces roughly 1" wide by 6-7" long and sat down to make the snuffle ...

added by Becca 4 years, 6 months ago. under 2020 , craft , crafty , dog , fleece , project , projects , random , sew my stash

Never Too Much Yarn from Becca's Crazy Projects

Sometimes I realize I've made a mistake and follow it up with another mistake. Well, maybe not another mistake. Just more yarn. When I ordered yarn for a project I picked a yarn that would be on back order until September and that just wouldn't do. So I picked another yarn (that dark blue on the right) and filled the rest of the cart with other things to meet the minimum for free shipping because I like free shipping. This is what I got in that order from Knit Picks.

The most exciting thing in here is this ...

added by Becca 4 years, 6 months ago. under 2020 , crafty , crazy , crochet , design , knit , knitting , project , projects , yarn

Easy Peasy meets Soft ‘n Stable from Art and Quilting in Camden

In my last post I shared the Clam Up bag from byAnnie.com, and earlier I shared my AWESOME Running With Scissors bag made for her patterns. I love bags and baskets and boxes and things to organize. One of my favorite classes to teach is my Easy-Peasy Inside-Out Bag, which makes a great 3 hours quickie class for a bag (or two if you are fast) or full day class where you can learn more details and extras. I decided to try Annie’s Soft ‘n Stable stabilizer instead of batting to see how it would work in MY ...

added by Sarah Ann Smith 4 years, 6 months ago. under #artistauthorquilterteacher , #artquilts , #byannie , #byanniepatterns , #janomeamerica @janomesewingmachines , #janomeartisan , #janomegirl , #maine , #makingitfun , #michaelmillerbrandambassador , #michaelmillerfabrics , #sarahannsmith , #sarahannsmithphotographer , @janomeamerica , @michaelmillerfabrics , @sarahannsmithq , classes , color , crafty , fabric , favorite products , michael miller fabrics , patterns , teaching , techniques (Comments)

Crochet Crazy from Becca's Crazy Projects

I've been working through this Mandala yarn that Aunt Betty gave me. The Granny Hack shawl works up relatively quickly and is easy to pick up and put down.

This is the colorway Sprite.

Each cake gets you a full run of the colors. Mine started with yellow and ended with orange. Then it was on to the second cake for another repeat.

Such a simple design that turns out looking more complicated than it is.

This is a free pattern on my Ravelry. Check out the Granny Hack and share what you're making on Ravelry by linking ...

added by Becca 4 years, 6 months ago. under 2020 , aunt betty , book , crafty , crazy , crochet , design , project , projects , yarn

Yarn, yarn, yarn! from Becca's Crazy Projects

I dyed this yarn years ago and it was still sitting around waiting to become something.

I caked it up along with the leftovers from the other one I dyed. I'll have to think of something fun to make.

This shawl has never made me happy. The yarn is fun, but I just don't like the resulting piece.

I unwound it and got it caked up, too. I have no idea what I'm going to make with it. This cake is 200 grams of DK (I think) yarn we dyed using Kool-Aid.

This, along with several hanks ...

added by Becca 4 years, 6 months ago. under 2020 , crafty , crazy , crochet , design , knit , knitting , project , projects , yarn

Found in Paradise: a clam! from Art and Quilting in Camden

OK, that’s a bit punny…. I’ve used some of the fun Michael Miller Fabrics Lost in Paradise fabric to make a byAnnie.com pattern called Clam Up. Before COVID hit, I was thinking about my travel teaching, and I made the Running With Scissors tote and blogged about it, here. I wanted a companion bag for bulky stuff I needs to schlep with me. Both of these bags are good for use in your sewing space, retreats or a whole bunch of other things!

The Clam Up bag pattern allows you to select various sizes. I chose a ...

added by Sarah Ann Smith 4 years, 6 months ago. under #artistauthorquilterteacher , #artquilts , #gardenpindot , #janomeamerica @janomesewingmachines , #janomeartisan , #janomegirl , #maine , #makingitfun , #michaelmillerbrandambassador , #michaelmillerfabrics , #sarahannsmith , #sarahannsmithphotographer , @janomeamerica , @michaelmillerfabrics , @sarahannsmithq , crafty , fabric , favorite products , machine quilting , michael miller fabrics , patterns , sewing hints (Comments)

Embroidered Tote from Becca's Crazy Projects

This has been the view of my embroidery table for weeks. So much clutter and so little room for new ideas. The first step in the project was finding my table.

After a little while, sorting things, storing things, and admitting somethings would never get done, I could again find my desk. I hooped up some stabilizer and a tote bag.

This design is from Urban Threads.

The design is called Cattery Border.

Aren't they cute!

This is great medium-size tote to carry books, groceries, or some yarn and your current project.

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
BLACK ...

added by Becca 4 years, 6 months ago. under 2020 , bag , brother , craft , crafty , crazy , embroidery , maryland , urban threads

Crochet Crazy Granny Chevron from Becca's Crazy Projects

Last week I shared my progress on this granny ripple shawl.

I reached the end of the yarn, so that means the end of the shawl. 22" wide and 60" long.

I must admit I like this fabric more than I thought I would when I started.

Two cakes of Lion Brand Mandala resulted in this substantial shawl.

This is a pretty simple design and you can find the basic directions for the stitch in several crochet stitch dictionaries. I used my copy of Crochet Every Way Stitch Dictionary: 125 Essential Stitches to Crochet in Three Ways to design this ...

added by Becca 4 years, 7 months ago. under 2020 , aunt betty , book , crafty , crazy , crochet , design , project , projects , yarn

Crochet Crazy Granny Chevron from Becca's Crazy Projects

I've been eyeing this stitch pattern in my copy of Crochet Every Way Stitch Dictionary for a while now. I decided it was time to make a swatch and plan a project. This was my first swatch. Very good start. So I ripped it out and cast on for a shawl.

That got me to here, five happy little chevrons and the certainty that I would run of yarn well before I got to a suitable shawl length. So I ripped back again.

I cast on for four happy chevrons and I think this will work out so much ...

added by Becca 4 years, 7 months ago. under 2020 , aunt betty , book , crafty , crazy , crochet , design , project , projects , yarn

A sweater-hug from Art and Quilting in Camden

Talk about COZY and warm! I fell in love with the relaxed and comfy look of the Sunday Cardigan (on Ravelry) mohair edition and regular edition immediately and knew I wanted a slouchy, oversized hug-of-a-sweater. So I made one! And then I made another. Here’s the second one, which is what I was craving:

Now I KNOW many of you are thinking “mohair…ITCHY!” I agree. But this one is made with Rowan’s Kidsilk Mohair, a blend of mohair and silk and it is heavenly soft and doesn’t itch me!

BUT ...

added by Sarah Ann Smith 4 years, 8 months ago. under #cascade220 , #heavenlyyarnsbelfastmaine , #knittersofinstagram , #knitting , #rowankidsilk , @heavenlyyarnsbelfastmaine , crafty , knitting , pandemic-at-home (Comments)

Dealing with the achy parts…a quick project from Art and Quilting in Camden

Sarah Ann Smith's easy peasy arm support

How to deal with aches, be thrifty and creative

So in January I was diagnosed with bursitis in my right elbow. Seemingly overnight a big bubble popped up on the outside of the elbow–like half a golf ball big. ( I hear my father saying Keep your elbows off the table! Remember that?) It didn’t really hurt, but if I leaned on the table it was annoying. For a long while I used an empty squeeze bottle (one I use for dyeing). I had first brought it up to support my wrists at the computer instead of buying an ...

added by Sarah Ann Smith 4 years, 9 months ago. under #arthritishack , #artistauthorquilterteacher , #crafty , #freetutorial , #sarahannsmith , #wristsupport , crafty , home , techniques , tutorials (Comments)

Everyone’s a Kid Floor Cushions and Toss Pillows (part 2 of 2) from Art and Quilting in Camden

Today it’s time for part 2 of 2 in the “how to make cushions” tutorial! In this image, I’ve sewn the boxing strip–the bit on the edges/sides (black Galaxy fabric from Michael Miller Fabrics, Spring 2020) to one of the squares (top and bottom) to make sure I’ve got the fit right. Looks pretty good! The top on this one is the SuperFred fabric in gray (with this fun fox named Fred and a robot named Mike). Those glorious solids (SWOON) are part of the Cotton Couture collection. Colors are Acid (left), Yellow (top), Apricot ...

added by Sarah Ann Smith 4 years, 9 months ago. under #cottoncouture , #cottonfabric , #fabric , #handmade , #ilovesewing , #instasew , #janome , #janomeamerica @janomesewingmachines , #janomegirl , #janomem7continental , #janomesewing , #michaelmillerfabrics #makingitfun , #quilting , #sewersofinstagram , crafty , creativity , fabric , favorite products , home dec , janome , michael miller fabrics , patterns , pdfs , piecing , sewing , sewing hints , studio pics , techniques , tutorials (Comments)

Everyone’s a Kid Floor Cushions and Toss Pillows (part 1 of 2) from Art and Quilting in Camden

Today’s projects are floor cushions and toss pillows from Michael Miller’s adorable new fabric line, SuperFred and Space Pals. As soon as I saw them I knew I’d love to make some floor cushions for my daughter-in-law’s Kindergarten classroom! You can find part 2 here as of March 12, 2020.

Pigwidgeon was asleep in front of the wood stove but allowed me to move him to another comfy spot to be my model. I am a Michael Miller 2020 Brand Ambassador for 2020, for which this is a monthly project. I’m also a Janome Artisan ...

added by Sarah Ann Smith 4 years, 9 months ago. under #cottoncouture , #cottonfabric , #fabric , #handmade , #ilovesewing , #instasew , #janomegirl , #janomem7continental , #janomesewing , #makingitfun , #masteringtechnique , #michaelmillerbrandambassador2020 , #michaelmillerfabrics , #quilting , #sewersofinstagram , #sewingblogger , crafty , fabric , favorite products , home dec , janome , janomeamerica , michael miller fabrics , patterns , pdfs , piecing , sewing , sewing hints , tutorials , videos by sarah (Comments)

Rockin’ Retro Apron, Part 3 from Art and Quilting in Camden

Today we’ll wrap up the last steps in this fun apron. Get ready to make a Kitschy Cocktail wearing the cutest apron ever to cover a frock. Enjoy a nice sip, preferably with a little paper umbrella! Make mine a pina colada, please!
For the blogpost for Part 1 of this pattern, click here.
For the blogpost for Part 2 of this pattern, click here.
To download a Free-in-2020 PDF pattern with ALL the instructions and images, click here.

The Rockin’ Retro Apron in Kitschy Couture by #MichaelMiller Fabrics. The fabric was provided as part of the Michael Miller ...

added by Sarah Ann Smith 4 years, 10 months ago. under #artistauthorquilterteacher , #cottoncouture , #garmentmaking , #janomeamerica janome sewing machines , #janomegirl , #janomem7continental , #janomesewing , #kitschycocktails , #makingitfun , #michaelmillerfabrics , crafty , fabric , garments , michael miller fabrics , patterns , pdfs , sewing hints , techniques , tutorials (Comments)

Rockin’ Retro Apron in Kitschy Cocktails, Part 2 from Art and Quilting in Camden

For Part 1, go here.

Today we’ll continue constructing your fun and funky Rockin’ Retro Apron. Fabric requirements, layout/cutting instructions and making the apron skirt are all in Part 1, here. You can download a formatted and numbered pattern–free in 2020!–with ALL the instructions and requirements at Rockin’ Retro Apron in Kitschy Couture. The fabric was provided as part of the Michael Miller Brand Ambassador 2020 program, and my brilliant Janome M7 Continental is provided to me as a Janome Artisan. Thank you!

Make the Apron Ties and Neck Strap

Spray starch the bias-cut plaid for ...

added by Sarah Ann Smith 4 years, 10 months ago. under #artistauthorquilterteacher , #cottoncouture , #garmentmaking , #janomeamerica janome sewing machines , #janomegirl , #janomem7continental , #janomesewing , #kitschycocktails , #makingitfun , #michaelmillerfabrics , #sarahannsmith , crafty , fabric , garments , janome , michael miller fabrics , pdfs , techniques (Comments)

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