Fat Quarter Pumpkins!

Hello everyone!  This is Heather, Sheila’s assistant, again.  And I thought I’d drop you a quick project that even a non-sewer can do in no time.  Just in time for Halloween (and you even have time to still make several before Friday)!

First – , for those who want to know what a fat-quarter is, it’s a term used by quilters. It’s a ‘fat’ quarter of a yard. Which means that instead of the ¼ yard being cut only along the width of the fabric – it’s actually first cut as a ½ yard, which is then cut in half along the length. This gives you a piece of fabric 18” x 22”
Need a picture? Check out this link.

Now, what can you do with a fat quarter? Well, some quilts are made up entirely of fat quarter cuts of fabric – and in most fabric stores you can purchase fat quarters as single pieces or in color- or pattern-coordinated packs. But I’ll leave more on fat quarter quilts to Sheila and other experts in quilting.  (Trust me, you don’t need me to confuse you!)

Since I work around fabric, and I’m a crafter – I’m always on the hunt for little scraps of brightly colored things I can use in crafting, and fat quarters (which can occasionally be purchased for less than a dollar with a good sale) naturally attracted my attention. And when I first saw these pumpkins – well, I had to have a few.

The steps are simple. Here’s what you need:

  • An average roll of toilet paper (mine are the ‘jumbo’ size, and so my pumpkins came out a bit more squared looking at the top)
  • A few leaves cut out of green felt or fleece (or your leaves could be fall colors)
  • A coiled pipe-cleaner, brown or black makes a great stem – and holds the fat quarter in place
  • An orange colored fat quarter (red ones make good apples!)

Wrap the toilet paper in the fat quarter – start with it centered on the fabric as shown here, then pull one side of the fabric up and tuck into the top of the roll.

Match with the second side, and then tuck in the corners, be careful to pull the extra fabric so it will hide under the edges that are securely tucked in (unless your roll is VERY small, not all the edges of the fabric will reach to be tucked into the tube of fabric).

Press in your coiled chenille stick and one or more leaves.

Voila! A pumpkin! Okay, so a few of you are wondering what to do with a fat quarter pumpkin… Why not use this method to disguise that extra roll of toilet paper that you have out in the guest bathroom?


Sheila Reinke, Heart of Sewing
Heather

Free Pattern: Crochet Candy Corn

As promised in my last post, here’s another great Halloween pattern from Lion Brand® Yarn!

In the last post we looked at felting a yarn pattern – and today I have another term that may be new to many of you ‘amigurumi’. The term comes from Japanese, and means ‘knitted or crocheted doll/toy’ (this is a loose translation based on information from a variety of websites. Here is what Wikipedia has to say on the subject: Amigurumi.

Technically, amigurumi dolls or toys all have been given some anthropomorphic features (such as an ice cream cone that has eyes and a mouth). But for some yarn sites this has evolved to include stuffed toys even without the face or arms and legs. Such is the pattern I’m about to share with you – for those ‘purists’ who want a true amigurumi figure, please scroll down to the bottom of this post, where there are links to some other patterns from Lion Brand.
What makes this particular pattern an amigurumi is the spiral construction method.

Amigurumi Candy Corn

Pattern Difficulty
Easy (and here is a link to the pattern difficulty chart used by Lion Brand)

Size
Approximately 3 inches

Supplies Needed

  • 1 skein of Wool Ease Yarn: White/Multi (620-301)
  • 1 skein of Wool Ease Yarn: Gold (620-171)
  • 1 skein of Wool Ease Yarn: Pastel Yellow (620-157)
  • Lion Brand Crochet Hook – Size G6
  • Large Eyed Blunt Needle

GAUGE:
EXACT GAUGE IS NOT ESSENTIAL FOR THIS PROJECT. BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR GAUGE. When you match the gauge in a pattern, your project will be the size specified in the pattern and the materials specified in the pattern will be sufficient. If it takes you less stitches and rows to make a 4 in. [10 cm] square, try using a smaller size hook or needles; if more stitches and rows, try a larger size hook or needles.

STITCH EXPLANATION:
sc2tog (sc decrease) Insert hook into st and draw up a loop. Insert hook into next st and draw up a loop. Yarn over, draw through all 3 loops on hook.

NOTES:

  • Work in continuous rnds; do not join or turn unless otherwise instructed.
  • Yarn is sufficient for multiple Candy Corn.

CANDY CORN

  • With A, ch 2.
  • Rnd 1: Work 4 sc in first ch. Place marker in first st for beg of rnd; move marker up as each rnd is completed.
  • Rnd 2: Work 2 sc in each st around – 8 sts.
  • Rnd 3: Sc in each st around.
  • Rnd 4: *2 sc in next st, sc in next st, rep from * around – 12 sts.
  • Rnd 5: Sc in each st around.
  • Rnd 6: *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 2 sts, rep from * around – 16 sts.
  • Change to B.
  • Rnd 7: Sc in each st around.
  • Rnd 8: *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 3 sts, rep from * around – 20 sts.
  • Rnd 9: Sc in each st around.
  • Rnd 10: *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 4 sts, rep from * around – 24 sts.
  • Rnd 11: Sc in each st around.
  • Change to C.
  • Rnds 12-16: Sc in each st around.
  • Fasten off.

FINISHING
Lightly stuff Candy Corn and sew lower edge closed.
Weave in ends.

Just imagine a bowl full of these delights on your coffee table! (Nice to have a non-breakable decoration there isn’t it?) For those looking for something else, check out the links below.

Candy Bags
Pumpkin Candy Bag – Pattern #80750AD – Yarn: Lion Wool – Crochet Pattern, Felted – Level: Easy

Felted Candy Corn Bag – Pattern #70462AD – Yarn: Lion Wool – Crochet Pattern, Felted – Level: Easy

Amigurumi
Pumpkin Pal – Pattern #70446AD – Yarn: Wool Ease – Crochet Pattern – Level: Beginner

Pirate Pal – Pattern #70445AD – Yarn: Wool Ease – Crochet Pattern – Level: Beginner

Wigs these patterns do not require knowledge of knit or crochet
Cowgirl Wig – Pattern #60446 – Yarn: Wool Ease – Level: Beginner

Cleopatra Wig (but it would also make a good witchy wig!) – Pattern #60445 – Yarn: Festive Fur and Glitterspun – Level: Beginner

Rag Doll Wig – Pattern #60444 – Yarn: Wool Ease – Level Beginner

Pattern and links reprinted by permission of Lion Brand Yarn.

Sheila Reinke, Heart of Sewing
Sheila

FREE Pattern – Prayer Shawl (knitting)

I have just gotten a link to another great pattern from Lion Brand® Yarn , and have been given permission to post it for everyone on the blog. I have posted other patterns from Lion Brand® in the past, and those can be found at this link.

Lion Brand® Yarn has hundreds of free patterns and ideas on their site – it’s a great way to fire your imagination if you are looking for a new yarn project to create!

The pattern I am going to post today is called the Comfort Shawl – but it has also been called the Prayer Shawl. As Gina Basich from Lion Brand® said in her email to me:

The Comfort Shawl (Prayer Shawl) is one of our most popular patterns. It uses Homespun yarn and is soft, cozy and can be made in any one of the beautiful Homespun colors. Comfort Shawls (Prayer Shawls) are often made to comfort someone who is ill, suffering loss or even celebrating a happy life event such as a marriage, birth, or friendship. This beautiful shawl, featured in Homespun Meadow will be a special gift for both the giver and the receiver.

Even if you are not looking for a shawl to make for someone who is ill – this shawl really is a beautiful finished piece, and the length makes it perfect for both practical use (protection from the cold) and decorative (dressing up a fall jacket or outfit). The pattern calls for Lion Brand’s Homespun yarn, which can be washed and dried, making care of this shawl very simple for anyone receiving it.

Please note – the instructions below will allow you to create a shawl that looks exactly like the one pictured on the right side of this page. Any of the “painterly” category of Homespun yarns (which can be seen at this link) will create this striped look. If you use one of the solid, heathered, or tweed colors, your results will differ.

Shawl

Comfort Shawl

Comfort Shawl
Pattern Difficulty: Beginner
Finished Size: One Size – 20 x 60 in. [51 x 152.5 cm] not including fringe

Supplies Needed

  • 4 balls of Homespun Yarn: Meadow (790-395)
  • Lion Brand Knitting Needles – Size 10.5 [6.5 mm]
  • Large-Eye Blunt Needles
  • LION BRAND crochet hook, any size D/3 – L/11 [3.25-8 mm], for attaching fringe

Pattern

  • GAUGE

12 stitches across and 20 rows down should measure 4 in. [10 cm] in garter stitch (knit every stitch on every row. BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR GAUGE. When you match the gauge in a pattern, your project will be the size specified in the pattern and the materials specified in the pattern will be sufficient. If it takes you less stitches and rows to make a 4 in. [10 cm] square, try using a smaller size hook or needles; if more stitches and rows, try a larger size hook or needles.

  • SHAWL

Cast on 60 stitches. Work in garter stitch (knit every stitch on every row) until the first skein of yarn is almost finished. At the beginning of the next row, attach a new skein of yarn, leaving a tail of both skeins. Continue working in garter stitch, attaching the third and fourth skeins in the same way. Continue until Shawl measures 60 in. [152.5 cm]. Bind off all stitches. Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread the tail into a large-eyed blunt needle, and use the needle to weave the tail through the Shawl. Trim end of tail. In the same way, weave in the tail from the beginning of your work and the tails from where the second, third, and fourth skeins were joined.

  • FRINGE

Cut 248 strands of yarn, each 13 in. [33 cm] long. For each fringe, hold 4 strands of yarn together and fold in half. Use crochet hook to draw fold through edge of piece, forming a loop. Pull ends of fringe through this loop. Pull to tighten. Make 62 fringes along both short sides with 8 strands of yarn in each fringe. Trim fringe evenly.

Enjoy – share with a friend or loved one – or keep it for yourself!

Some other great patterns by Lion Brand® Yarn:

Hats
Easy Stripes Hat – Pattern #70732 – Yarn: Vanna’s Choice – crochet patterns – level: easy
Textured Beret – Pattern #80005 – Yarn: Wool-Ease Thick & Quick – crochet pattern – level: easy

Scarves
Meandering Rib Scarf – Pattern #70539 – Yarn: Wool-Ease – knit pattern – level: easy
Intarsia Polka-Dot Scarf – Pattern #70529 – Yarn: Lion Wool – knit pattern – level: easy
Two-Color Tango Scarf – Pattern #70661 – Yarn: Vanna’s Choice / Lion Cashmere Blend – knit pattern – level: intermediate

AmigurumiWhat is Amigurumi? I’m glad you asked! Click here.

Amigurumi Doughnuts – Pattern #80113 – Yarn: Vanna’s Choice / Homespun / Lion Cotton / Microspun / Lion Cashmere Blend – crochet pattern – level: easy

Amigurumi Momma Chicken – Pattern #80104 – Yarn: Wool-Ease – crochet pattern – level: easy
For more Amigurumi patterns from Lion Brand®, click here

Other Items
Garter Ridge Baby Cardigan – Pattern #70301 – Yarn: Lion Cashmere Blend – knit pattern – level: easy
Crochet Sampler Afghan – Pattern #20124 – Yarn: Fisherman’s Wool – crochet pattern – level: intermediate
Striped Thigh Highs – Pattern #70691 – Yarn: Vanna’s Choice – knit pattern
Basket – Pattern #80096 – Yarn: Vanna’s Choice – crochet pattern
Sheila Reinke, Heart of Sewing
Sheila