It's the most wonderful time of the year...FREE alphabet PDF for a Christmas banner!

Cute, right? I know, I really love it! This weekend my goal is to have my house somewhat decorated for Christmas. You can download the PDF for the alphabet here. It is reversed and ready to go (you're welcome). I made a banner, but honestly, the possibilities are endless.
So here goes with the tut....

You need:

• Felt I had a piece that was about a yard, it was oodles. Depending on what word or phrase you use will determine your quantity needed.
• Fabric for the applique. I used 1/3 yd., but again you might need more or less.
• Fabric for the thingamadingy at the top (can't for the life of me think of what it is really called...must be late). I bought enough to cut the strips on the bias. Bias tape would work also.
  
• Heat-N-Bond Heavy. I used this because I was lazy and didn't want to stitch around my letters, but you certainly can if you want :o)
• Ric rac, ribbon, pompoms and any other doodad you wanna put on these beauties.
• Jingle bells, I bought the big ones, because my banner is quite large.
• The PDF.
• Basic sewing supplies.
  

Trace your letters onto the Heat-N-Bond. We reversed everything already (your welcome yet again).

Iron the pieces to the WRONG side of your fabric.

Cut it out and peel off the back. Iron the letters to the pennants. Make sure you use the acrylic setting, felt melts, unless you are using real wool or bamboo felt. I hit mine with a little steam.

Now this is how I cut out my pennant, listen and read carefully. (Sorry the image isn't rotated). If you are not going to change the size of the letters then do what I did. If you do change it, good for you and good luck figuring out how big to make your pennant. I took a 10" strip of the felt, found the center and measured and marked down 17". I took my ruler and lined it up at the top of the 10" strip and the mark, then I cut it and repeated it for the other side. Then I used that triangle to make the other six I needed. Was that awesome geometry or what?!?! Hey, it worked. Mr. Anderson would be so proud...not.

Line up your pennants right next to each other. Cut your thingamadingy strips 2.5" inches wide, piece them together if needed. Iron the strips in half with wrong sides together, like binding for a quilt. Yes, you are looking at another banner, this is my bratty little sister's (nah, she's sweet).

Lay the thingamadingy strip on the right side of the pennants with the raw edge lining up with the top of the pennants. Pin well. Sew with 1/4" seam. Iron the strip up and away from the pennant. Topstitch, you can see my gorgeous topstitching below, I love to topstitch, weird huh?

Cut your trims to the right length and attach them. I chose to put mine all right under the fabulously top stitched thingamadingy. Then for the finishing touch, stitch your jingle bells on the ends and hang that baby up! Your done, it's purdy isn't it? I love it and so did Jack :o)

Merry Almost Christmas (36 days left)!!!

XOXO,
Shasta :0)

Tell us what's on your sewing to do list this next week and we'll randomly pick someone for a free pattern bundle of all our bags!!!

FREE Halloween Skirt Tutorial

Isn't this the cutest Halloween skirt ever!!!

When I saw Riley Blakes new Halloween fabric line, Boo to You, and all their fabulous pom poms I had to come up with something to make with them. Then something really great happened...we were asked to design an applique for UCreate! That's a big time gig ladies.

So Kari, thank you, thank you, thank you!

This is what I came up with!

Seriously, three layers! Heaven help us, hee, hee!

Button spider...how cute!

Go here to get the skirt tutorial. The witch hat applique is here. Remember this? It would complete the fabulous look, afterall one must accessorize, accessorize (least that's what granny said).

We would love to see your Halloween skirts made from this fun tutorial, don't forget to download them to our flickr group. Gracie Lou's has a sale going on now you can everything you need to make this skirt for 20% off! How fun, how fun, how fun!!!

Happy Halloween!!

Mr. Fox...another FREE APPLIQUE for you!

We mentioned we like applique right? Henrietta has been downloaded ALOT and we thought it was only fair to give her a forest friend. Meet Mr. Fox. He is sly, quick and really cute, perfect for that little man. You can get his download here. My sister at themotherhuddle, made this version for a bag of blocks. I will be putting Mr. Fox on a onesie, pics tomorrow. I also have my wool version of Henrietta almost ready, it is a.d.o.r.a.b.l.e! What will you do with Mr. Fox?

Don't forget to post your Henrietta pics, I was thrilled to send out my first Abbie Applique today!

Shasta :o)

P.S. While I am flattered that someone on etsy loves Henrietta, it kinda bums me out that she added an extra row of quills and is now selling it as her own. Here's the deal...we are offering it for free, so it shouldn't be sold. Please play fair and don't make me turn this car around!!!

Henrietta the Hedgehog...FREE applique

I love Hedgehogs! Seriously, I think they have to be the cutest critters ever! I adore the fact they always seem to be smiling, and those feet, goodness gracious those feet...so sweet! My hubby is crossing his toes that this little obsession of mine soon passes, do hedgies stink? He is certain they do, but I can't imagine anything so precious smelling bad, can you?

Anyway, the other day I saw a little girl with the most adorable hedgehog appliqued shirt, of course my Bella Bug (isn't she beautiful?) HAD to have one immediately (says me). I rushed home and got to work. It turned out so sweet that I had to share, I can think of a million ways to use this template, I hope you can too! In celebration of my first ever tutorial we are going to have some fun with Henrietta with a little giveaway for you all.

Here are the rules:

Better yet, put a pic on our flikr using Henrietta on your project before the end of the month and get a free Abbie pattern just for playing along! Be sure to email us with your address.

This is what you need:

• Download Henrietta Template (click on template)
• Soft-fuse or Heat-n-Bond Lite
• Ballpoint needle (VERY IMPORTANT IF APPLIQUEING TO KNIT)
• Open foot is very helpful
• Scraps, thread, basic sewing kit
• Two buttons
• Water soluble marker
• Embroidery floss

Step 1...

Trace template onto wrong side of fusible product. Make sure you number the pieces. Cut them out, but just roughly. You'll cut them out exact later. Download template above in supply list, click on "template".

Step 2...

Follow the manufacturers instructions and fuse pieces to WRONG side of fabric scraps. Cut them out and peel off paper back.

Step 3...

Using diagram and following numbers, put your pieces onto item. I ironed it all at the same time when I was finished with the placement.

Step 4...

Use a blanket stitch, zigzag, or satin stitch to secure all edges. If I had this to do over again, I would have used a raw edge applique on the "quills".

Step 5...

Sew on buttons. Mark eye, and smile and embroider with a basic backstitch. I used dark brown floss.
That's it! Your done! Isn't that simple and so sweet? I can't wait to see what all you amazing crafters do with my little hedgehog. Gracie wants me to put one a messenger bag for her, I am using wool and corduroy. Can't wait to show it off to all of you :o)

Remember, you can get the download by clicking on the word "template" in the supply list.

Happy Sewing!

Shasta

P.S. Next week Mr. Fox will be coming your way for all the little men we know :o)