Category: Pattern

FREE Quilt Pattern – A Framed Life

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“A Framed Life” Photo Quilt

Finished Quilt Size – Approx. 93” X 115” (Queen)

This is a great gift for a graduate – the quilt is designed to hold 48 pictures, imagine it with pictures of your grad from birth to cap and gown! For the story of how this quilt came to be, and pictures from the quilt made by my daughter using this pattern, see the post A Framed Life.

Materials
24 sheets June Tailor Colorfast Computer Printer Fabric™
1 2/3 yards brown – 1st picture border
3 yards lt. blue – 2nd picture border
3 yards dk. blue – 2nd picture border
1/2 yard 1st border fabric
1 1/3 yard 2nd border fabric
2 1/3 yard 3rd border fabric
3/4 yard Quilt Binding
Batting
Backing Fabric

Suggested Tools
Rotary Cutter
Cutting Mat
12 1/2″ square ruler

  1. Choose 48 images for the quilt – you can repeat pictures if you want, but it’s more fun if you have 48 different images!
  2. Size pictures on computer to 5” square, you should be able to get two pictures on each sheet of printer fabric. Make sure to leave 1/2” between the two pictures so you will be able to have a 1/4” seam allowance around each picture.

  3. Process the pictures onto the fabric according to instructions on the packaging. Cut fabric pictures to 5 1/2” square, leaving the 1/4” (seam allowance) around each side of each picture.
  4. Create the first frame around your each of your pictures following these steps:
    • Cut fabric WOF (width of fabric) 4 strips 5 1/2”
    • Sub-cut these 4 strips into 96 strips 5 1/2” X 1 3/4”
    • Sew to both sides of 48 pictures
    • Each of your picture blocks will now be 8” wide, by 5 1/2” long
    • Cut WOF (width of fabric) 4 strips 8”
    • Sub-cut these 4 strips into 96 strips 8” X 1 3/4”
    • Sew to both top and bottom of pictures
    • You will now have a block that is 8” square
  5. Create the second frame around each of your pictures following these steps
    • Cut WOF from each of the two different blue frame fabrics
      • 4 Strips 8” WOF – Sub cut to 48 8” x 3 3/4”
      • 4 Strips 15” WOF – Sub cut to 48 15” x 3 3/4”
    • NOTE: when you are finished, you will have 96 sub-cuts that are 8” long, and 96 that are 15” long (48 from each of the two blue fabrics)
    • Sew 8” strips to sides of bordered picture
    • NOTE: Sew side borders on first 1/2 of blocks with one fabric and the other 1/2 with second fabric.
    • Sew 15” strips to top and bottom of the picture blocks. If you used fabric A for the side of the frame on a picture, use fabric B for the top of the frame.
    • You will now have 48 blocks that have light blue fabric at the top and bottom, and 48 blocks that have dark blue fabric at the top and bottom.

  6. Using the 12½” square ruler, you will be cutting an 11½” square on the angle as shown with the bold line n the image below. (I find it helpful to put blue masking tape on the ruler for a visual of the 11½”.)

  7. Make sure your block is square on your cutting mat before you lay the square ruler over it. The square should not cut into the brown borders at all, and the corners of the ruler will touch each of the edges of your blue fabrics.

  8. OPTIONAL – When cutting your blocks at an angle, you may want to alternate the rotation of the photos on the blocks (this provides another bit of visual interest and breaks up the pattern slightly). The easy way to do this is to cut two blocks at a time.
    • Lay a block with the dark blue fabric with the photo (right side) face up.
    • Lay a block with the light blue fabric on top of it, with the photo (right side) face down.
    • Cut through both squares at the same time. Your photos will be at different (mirror) angles to one another.
    • If you choose this method, make certain you are consistent. You want all of the blocks with dark blue tops angled one direction, and all of the light blue tops angled the other direction.
  9. Sew the quilt together 6 blocks across by 8 blocks down. (The image of the quilt that follows shows a quilt that was made using the optional step 8.)

  10. Add your quilt borders –
    • 1st border cut 8 strips 2” wide
    • 2nd border cut 9 strips 5” wide
    • 3rd border cut 10 strips 8” wide
    • Binding 10 strips 2 1/2” wide

If you would like a PDF copy of this pattern, click here. But be sure to read the fine print below! Thank you!

Pattern by: Sheila Reinke, 2008
All rights reserved. A copy of this pattern may be made for personal, home use. You may not copy for commercial use without prior written permission. If you are a teacher who wishing to use this pattern for quilting instruction, please contact Sheila Reinke at https://sheilareinke.wordpress.com/

Sheila Reinke, Heart of Sewing
Sheila

FREE Pattern – Pure Appeal Baby Blanket (Crochet)

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I am so excited – today I have been given permission by the Lion Brand Yarn company to post one of their current pattern downloads as a free pattern for my readers!

I choose the Pure Appeal Baby Blanket, a crochet pattern, not only due to it’s traditional look, but it is also a great pattern for those who are just beginning to crochet.

This project is made using the “Nature’s Choice Organic Cotton” yarns by Lion Brand. What makes these yarns organic? The yarn is grown and spun without the use of pesticides, herbicides or other chemicals. The dyes used on the yarn are certified organic.

In addition, Nature’s Choice is a very soft yarn, it’s considered easy to work with, and is a great choice for projects that you want to give that extra special touch that shows that you’ve taken extra care to use a natural product in making your gift.

You will need the following supplies:

  • Color A: 5 balls of Nature’s Choice Organic Cotton Yarn (color Strawberry was used in pattern)
  • Color B: 5 balls of Nature’s Choice Organic Cotton Yarn (color Macadamia was used in pattern)
  • Color C: 5 balls of Nature’s Choice Organic Cotton Yarn (color Walnut was used in pattern)
  • Lion Brand Crochet Hook – Size K-10.5
  • Large-Eye Blunt Needles (Set of 6)

And here are the Abbreviation definitions that Lion Brand uses in their patterns:

  • beg = begin, begins or beginning
  • ch-space = space previously made
  • rep = repeat, repeats, or repeating
  • sl st = slip stitch
  • ch(s) = chain(s)
  • dc = double crochet
  • rnd(s) = round(s)
  • sp(s) = space(s)

Gauge

One Square = 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (9 x 9 cm). 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.

SQUARE 1 (make 71)

  • With A, ch 4; join with sl st in first ch to form a ring.
  • Rnd 1: Ch 3 (counts as a dc here and throughout), 2 dc in ring, (ch 2, 3 dc in ring) 3 times, ch 2; join with sl st in top of beg ch – 12 dc. Fasten off.
  • Rnd 2: Join C in any ch-2 sp, ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in same sp, ch 1, *(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch-2 sp, ch 1; rep from * 2 more times; join with sl st in top of beg ch – 24 dc. Fasten off.

SQUARE 2 (make 72)

  • With A, ch 4; join with sl st in first ch to form a ring.
  • Rnd 1: Ch 3 (counts as a dc here and throughout), 3 dc in ring, ch 1, 5 dc in ring, ch 1, 4 dc, ch 1, 5 dc, ch 1; join with sl st in top of beg ch – 18 dc. Fasten off.
  • Rnd 2: Join B in any ch-1 sp, ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in same sp, ch 1, *(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch-1 sp, ch 1; rep from * 2 more times; join with sl st in top of beg ch – 24 dc. Fasten off.

FINISHING

  • Strip 1 (make 5)
    • Beg and ending with Square 1 and alternating Squares 1 and 2, sew 13 Squares into a strip.
  • Strip 2 (make 6)
    • Beg and ending with Square 2 and alternating Squares 2 and 1, sew 13 Squares into a strip.
  • Sew strips together along long edges, alternating Strip 1 and Strip 2.
  • Edging
    • From right side, join C with sl st anywhere along edge of Afghan. Ch 3, dc evenly around, working 3 dc in each corner; join with sl st in top of beg ch. Fasten off.
    • Weave in ends.

Voila! You’re done! And isn’t it beautiful and soft?
But of course, not everyone is a baby blanket fan, or perhaps you have too many baby blankets around? In that case, you may want to check out some of the other free patterns that Lion Brand has! Below are some pictures and the names of a few of their current downloads, click on the pattern name to take you to the pattern. (Please note, if you haven’t registered for Lion Brand’s free patterns, you will be asked to, but don’t worry – they don’t email you a bunch of nonsense when you sign up!)
Crochet V Stitch Blanket, a crochet pattern that uses Babysoft Yarn
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Extra Easy, Fabulous Sweater, A knitting pattern that uses Wool-Ease Thick & Quick Yarn
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Baby Kimono a knitting pattern that uses Wool-Ease Thick & Quick Yarn
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Coming Home Poncho a crochet pattern that uses Homespun Yarn
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Easy Does It Blanket a crochet pattern using Jiffy Yarn
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Child’s Coming Home Poncho a crochet pattern that uses Cotton-Ease yarn
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Simple Earthy Squares Afghan a crochet pattern using Wool-Ease Thick & Quick yarn
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AMIGURUMI Chocolate Bunny a crochet pattern that uses Vanna’s Choice Yarn
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Little Lamb a crochet pattern that uses Homespun Wool-Ease yarn

Of course, if none of these pattern suites you, Lion Brand has hundreds of other free patterns on their website – check them out!
Sheila Reinke, Heart of Sewing
Sheila

FREE Pattern – Chenille Placemats

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For today’s chenille project, I used osnaburg.

What is osnaburg? Well, dictionaries define it as “a type of coarse, heavy cloth, originally of linen and now of cotton; used in making sacks, work clothes, etc.”
It can be found in the muslins of your local fabric store, it is a loosely woven cloth that works very nicely for making chenille. Many sewers consider it an inexpensive alternative to linen in home décor projects.

    1. I began with 6 layers of osnaburg, 45” x 28”, layered on top of one another.

 


Picture of osnaburg, after channels have been stitched.
    1. Next, I cut 8 blue stars and 8 red stars (there will be four stars on each placemat) out of a solid cotton fabric.
      • Note: Make sure to cut the stars from your fabric so that when you lay out your placemat the channels will run along the bias of the star pattern. If your channels don’t run along the bias of the appliqué – it will fall apart in the wash.
    2. I kept my fabric in one large piece (all four placemats will be made from this one piece), so before placing the stars I wanted to determine the size of the placemats. My small Olfa rotary cutter mat is 12” x 18”, with a ½” edge around the mat. I decided this 13” x 19” size would be perfect, so using a washable fabric pencil, I marked out my placemats with the mat as a template. (The lines do appear in this picture, but may be difficult to make out.)
    3. Determine the layout for your stars, and place them onto each of the placemats – don’t forget that the channels need to run on the bias of the stars as well as the osnaburg fabric.
    4. Pin your stars down onto the layers of osnaburg, do not use any type of wonder-under or quilt basting spray to hold the stars in place, that will only cause you to gum up your chenille cutter when cutting the channels.

The picture above shows the layout of the stars, please note that in this picture I have already stitched the channels and begun cutting them.

    1. You are now dealing with 7 layers of fabric, which can be a bit difficult for many machines.
      • To keep the fabric from shifting too much as you work, I suggest using a walking foot. The walking foot has a set of feed dogs just like you have on your sewing machine. This enables you to have a set of feed dogs under the fabric and a set over the fabric helping to feed the fabric more even. Hancock Fabrics carries these both a low shank and a high shank option.

walking foot
  1. Now that you have the walking foot on your machine (hopefully!), you can begin the channel stitching. As with all my other projects, I began by drawing one line that ran through the center of the fabric along the bias. I stitched along that line, and then used the edge of my walking foot to follow the line of that stitch and when placing the next line. This made my channels approximately ½” apart.
    • After all the channels are stitched, use your Olfa Chenille Cutter to cut through four layers of the osnaburg and the star appliqués.
    • Now it is time to cut your placemats apart and bind them.
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    • Wash – Dry – Enjoy!


Once again, a picture really doesn’t show how very soft this finished piece is

Note: if you want a more ‘full’ look for your appliqués, you will need to put three layers of the appliqué fabric down on top of the osnaburg (and yes, you would still use 6 layers of osnaburg – so you would be channel stitching through 9 total layers of fabric in places where your appliqué appeared).

What are some other ideas for this type of chenille? I’ve seen a beautiful jacket made from chenilled osnaburg, and just think of the look of a chenille quilt square in a quilt made with fabrics of different textures, and of course you could do all sorts of different appliqués and get a great look. Just imagine, chenille trees on placemats, chenille birthday presents on placemats, chenille flowers on placemats…
Sheila Reinke, Heart of Sewing
Sheila