Threadfulart's Weblog

Java Jacket by Morning, Beer Cozy by Night

threadfulart — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:41:18 +0000

So, I needed a good gift for my brother-in-laws birthday. But what do you make for someone who has everything? How about a java jacket. I went retro and stitched up a java jacket/beer cozy. This way he isn’t throwing out a piece of cardboard every morning. Yep… let’s reuse people! I just sandwiched two pieces of felt together with some insulated batting, blanket stitched around the edges to hold it together. In hind sight I would have made my stitched smaller, but I think the result was fun and worked well. I embroidered a cassette tape.. haha… remember those? Ahhhhh… the good old days:) It’s held together by some hook and loop tape (velcro). This helps to make it adjustable. Java Jacket by morning… Beer cozy by night! The best of both worlds! I made mine by making a pattern from an exisiting cardboard java jacket from a coffee shop. Which is what I suggest doing. That way it is a perfect fit. There is a TUTORIAL here if you need/want one on Flickr:

Java Jacket Tutorial

Happy Stitching!

Little Bunny FooFoo

threadfulart — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:37:35 +0000

Hoppping through the forest…

Hiding plastic eggs on his little pink belly…

This little guy will soon be accompanied by several little friends in an early attempt at this year’s Easter preparations. He holds a plastic egg for filling. This was so fast and super easy to do! I think the kids will love em! I can’t wait to see tthe look on thier faces when they find these little guys hiding around the house.

The pattern is easy to follow. I did change my ears to be something that I thought was easier (for me). ch 5, sc in 2nd ch from hook and all the way down to end. Then I just sc all the way around until I was happy with the shape. I think they turned out fine.

The designer, Betty Waldbieser, also sells pattern books that are super cute!

I used this pattern (which I found through crochet pattern central)

Crochet for Kids

New Crochet Projects

threadfulart — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:10:47 +0000

A couple of new crochet projects…

Some new mary janes for Maggie. The shape isn’t quite right on one of each set. I’ll have to keep trying. They are super quick to whip up. I’ll try and figure out where I found this pattern and post it.

Here are some other links to Free crocheted baby bootie patterns:

This is a huge collection of patterns on one of my favorite sites. They have a pattern for just about everything crochet. And they are organized very well.

Crochet Pattern Central

These are super cute booties with a button closure from New Thing Crochet.

Mary Jane Pattern

Crocheted Baby Sneakers

Baby Sneakers Pattern

These little sneaker are really cute and the above link has an easy to follow tutorial.

Summer’s coming, crochet your little one a pair of these super easy and cute sandals.

Baby Sandals Pattern

Baby booties are a great way to use up left over yarn. It whipped these up while being held prisoner to the couch by my very finiky sleeping newborn. If you have any other patterns you like. Just comment me and I’d love to post them.

What!? You don’t crochet but want to support handmade. Hurray for you!

Here are some of my favorite Etsy crocheted baby bootie finds:

Krafty Lady Kreations has these adorable booties for sale. You can support handmade by buying them from her here:

Krafty Lady Booties on Etsy

Looking for the perfect Easter Shoe?

teenywahine has got em at:

Teenywahine on Etsy

This particular pattern stays on really well. And Look how cute!

Find them on etsy here:

Valentine Mary Janes

Frogs? Yes!

The Baby Galleria has them here on etsy:

The Baby Galleria on Etsy

Babies

threadfulart — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 04:36:40 +0000

It’s the little things that matter most….

Meet Molly

threadfulart — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 04:31:34 +0000

Molly, Molly… so sweet and lovely, t’was bittersweet to see you go. Stitched up out of love and a little vintage fabric… some modern trims, she really got my heart.

I stitched up this pattern: Black Apple Doll

To make this doll for my sister-in-law to give to her niece (thanks Kate for supporting handmade!). I think she probably made a little girl very happy!

An Emily Martin original, the Black Apple Doll.

Thanks Emily, I’ve used this pattern to spread joy several times now.

I hope you do too!

Refashion Passion

threadfulart — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 04:35:33 +0000

So I must admit, I am addicted to blogs. Crafty art blogs, can’t get enough. They inspire and motivate me. And mostly, trap me at my computer greedily searching for more. My love affair with these blogs runs deep and now, I think I’ll share some of my favorite finds with you. All of which fall in the category of refashion.

Chances are if you are reading this, you too share my obsession. So here’s a little candy for you. Enjoy!

And oh yah, many thanks to the artists who’s ideas I am about to share!

Repurposing an old t-shirt

on this blog they turned an old tshirt into a pair of really aewsome pants.

T-shirt Surgery

I found this tutorial via This Mama Makes Stuff’s blog (yum!)

All kinds of great ideas here!

This Mama Makes Stuff

Wardrobe Refashion

Thank you, thank you, thank you, for you creative genius and willingness to share! This blog rocks!

Wardrobe ReFashion

I love Instructables! It’s too bad I didn’t see this one when I was prego.

Maternity jeans from old jeans and a tshirt! Wonderful!!

Maternity Jeans from Regular Jeans

Old Sweater? New Tote!

Great

Great tutorial from Cindy Gert: Cute Bag Tutorial

And best of all, she’s in my hometown (well, the town I grew up in).

Men’s shrit? New skirt!

Great Pics in this easy tutorial.

Thanks to label-free: Men’s Shirt Refashion

Stitch lounge has great tutorials for modern re-purposing!

Stitch Lounge

Turn a muumuu into a drape neck top thanks to stitch lounge’s tutoiral!

Big t? Gathered Yoke Top!

Restyle a T-shirt into yoke top

Cute right? See how this can become addicting?

I found it through: T-shirt Refashion

A nice little blog worth checking out! Good toddler legging tut!

Seven ways to reuse an old T shirt

Check out all seven here:

7 Things to with an old T-shirt

Well peeps, hope this will keep ya busy a while. I feel I should try and create something now… Enjoy.

A Little Lamb

threadfulart — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:45:39 +0000

So I got the pattern on Pattern Bee’s site http://www.patternbee.com/FREELAMBKIN.html (thanks pattern bee!) and made my own version for little Maggie’s room. I left a little room for improvement.

My Monster

threadfulart — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:51:17 +0000

My very own design

So after searching over tons of cute softies and plush. I got brave and made my very own monster pattern. the best part of this softies stuff is that if the pattern isn’t spot on it adds to the little guys charm, I think so anyway. I’ve had a Halloween itch lately, so this little pumkin man is obviously inspired by my love of Halloween.

If you want the pattern let me know and I’ll try to figure out how to post it.

My baby shoe addiction

threadfulart — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:46:24 +0000

What girl or boy for that matter doesn’t love a cute pair of shoes. I am certainly prone to them in any form, especially little, teeny, tiny baby shoes. And I struck gold while searching for a pattern. Stardust shoes has a free tutorial on her blog for download.

www.stardustshoes.blogspot.com

They were super easy to do and the possiblities seem endless. So thanks a bunch for sharing stardust shoes. I love em!!

She used suede for the bottom, I just used fabric because these shoes are for such a young baby. Suede would be nice however for the big kids.

Places to find free embroidery transfers/patterns

threadfulart — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:28:32 +0000

Annie Oakleaves:

Find more here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/annieoakleaves/2588786032/

More fun patterns with a modern spin:

She has lots more here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jacquedavis/3205913611/in/set-72157605615689465/

Amazing Art!

It seems that there is a free pattern every month in the free pattern section here. Wow! Thanks!!

http://zuill.us/andreablog/category/embroidery/free-patterns/page/2/

Valentines Patterns and More!

Find this pattern set and two thers here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/55778408@N00/3173757488/in/set-72157612183029403/

Plus much more in PDF form here:

http://www.siblingcraftery.com/category/free-bees/

Thanks Ladies!!

I think the words free and experiment go hand in hand in my life. If iI can try it for free first, I am more likely to make the investment in my own equiptment and supplies. so if you’re like me, frugely creative, I thought I’d put together this little gathering of free embroidery transfer sites and stuff. Some are just pure inspirational loveliness. Enjoy.

So let’s start with a free stitch tutorial from craft and fabric links. Useful? yes. Esp. if you’re just starting out.

http://www.craftandfabriclinks.com/stitches/free_embroidery_stitches.html

Here’s another good site for stitches. I found this one really useful. Enjoy!

http://www.fidella.com/webstitch/index.html

Her transfers are nicely organized and even nicer, free!

http://mytransfers.blogspot.com/

This site is full of embroidery goodness. I could just live here for a day or two enjoying every waking minute in creative bliss…

http://www.feelingstitchy.com/

Wonderful, Fun, and oh so FREE! This site has a nice library of hand embroidery patterns. I just love the cute little cottage patterns. I might just have to take a break and start one.

http://www.needlecrafter.com/patterns.html

This next one has some amazing free patterns to share, but also, some great investment oppurtunities. Really cute vintage patterns and projects.

http://www.patternbee.com/FREEPATTERNS1.html

I like this blog a lot. She has some really great finds and links.

http://sweetbevintage.blogspot.com/

To add another:

Jessilynn on Flickr has some really cute modern patterns. Find them here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/vol25/sets/72157607735624272/

One Sweet Pattern!

It is a forest scene with animals watching over a new baby. Too cute!

I can’t get the pic to upload so you’ll have to trust me and check it out here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chezbunny/3206761371/?addedcomment=1#comment72157612882596552