Category Archives: free patterns and designs

Free Patterns~Quickie Summer Top and Puffy Pocket

Posted on July 1, 2014 | 6 comments
VR school

Vivian Rose having fun at pre-school wearing her easy-peasy play top and her beloved pink crocs

 

Now here is a GREAT modern project for old fashioned Nanas.   The free pattern, available at The Purl Bee, consists of only simple directions/measurements so there are no pattern pieces.

 

summer top all

 

It requires just a bit of elastic and 1/2 yd. of fabric—and who doesn’t have cute scraps that are too small for another project?   It’s quick–the basic top can be made in about an hour.  And better yet, it is a blank canvas that can be gussied up with applique’ or embroidery or whatever–or not! Continue reading →

6 Comments

Posted in Basic no-embroidery Machine Projects, free patterns and designs, girls

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Free Big Bunnies Design

Posted on April 24, 2014 | 146 comments

3 bunnies

 

As a self-described Only-When-Absolutely-Necessary digitizer/machine embroidery designer, I worked up this design for a Children’s Corner Callie.   It was made in a huge hurry for my granddaughter to wear to the Bunny Lunch at church the day before Easter.

 

VR ball basket Continue reading →

146 Comments

Posted in free patterns and designs, girls, Holiday Projects, machine embroidery, uncategorized

FREE Thanksgiving Designs Alert and Thankful Sewing

Posted on November 21, 2013 | 10 comments

3 aprons

Precious, decades old friendships are near the top of the list when I count my blessings.   So when Catherine (one of the PlayGroup Mamas) asked me to embroider three apron blanks for Thanksgiving, I was happy for the opportunity to do something for her. Both of her sons and her only grandchild live in far-off Colorado where she will be spending Thanksgiving.  The aprons are for her two daughters-in-law and one of their sisters, all three of whom will  be cooking.  All the while, Catherine will be grinning ear to ear as she revels in the joy of grandmotherhood with one year old Jay.

 

Apron Hildie

The FREE wreath design (plus a cute FREE turkey through November 30) design is available at Embroidery Library.  I enjoyed playing with different colors, including some variegated threads so each apron is a little different from the others.  The alphabet used for the names is Loralie’s Loralesque.   Continue reading →

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Posted in boys, embroidery blanks, free patterns and designs, Holiday Projects, machine embroidery

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New Little Sewing Enthusiast and Free ME Design

Posted on October 15, 2013 | 76 comments
aurel encouraged Alyssa. The girls sewed in their pajamas until long past bedtime.

Laurel encouraged Alyssa. The girls sewed in their pajamas until long past bedtime.

 

What a fabulous weekend we had!   Two grandchildren are a bundle of fun, but including a third child added so much to the equation.

Additionally,  I had that pleasure of introducing that child to the wonders of sewing!

When my granddaughter learned that her good friend Alyssa had been asking  for sewing lessons,  Laurel asked if she could invite her to spend the weekend with us. We all had a grand  time.

 

A N finished emb

If you would like this Scripture, post your request as a comment. The design will be e-mailed to you.

 

We started with embroidery because she had a specific project in mind for her pastor father.  He recently answered a call to another church and she wanted to embroider one of his favorite Scripture verses to hang in the new office.

Psalm 19:14 was not in my now very extensive collection of Bible verse designs—thank you Designs by JuJu and Sew Bird’s Stitches–so I worked up the text quickly and easily with my Brother PE-Design.   It certainly is appropriate for a preacher. Continue reading →

76 Comments

Posted in church projects, free patterns and designs, Kids Sew, machine embroidery, Nana fun

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Signs and Free Designs

Posted on September 24, 2013 | 14 comments

“I believe in signs….what we need to learn is always there before us, we just have to look around us with respect & attention to discover where God is leading us and which step we should take….”
― Paulo Coelho, The Zahir

 

All ScriptureCR

There are all kinds of signs–signs of spring, signs of aging, signs of indigestion.   I especially like real, tangible signs that give directions, advice, entertainment or important information.  It’s funny how sermons, a box in the garage, and free embroidery designs set me off on a binge of sign-making for our church.

Within two weeks,  I  (1) heard our pastor preach on the importance of daily scripture reading, ( 2) found a box of picture frames in the garage, and (3) discovered more than 40 FREE scriptural machine embroidery designs at  Designs by JuJu .  Hmm…..

 

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Always eager to make my husband happy by using up and moving out stuff stored in the garage, I downloaded the free verses from JuJu, gathered up the frames, matched them size-wise to the designs I had in mind, and pulled out neutral colored fabric scraps.  I was on a mission. Continue reading →

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Posted in church projects, free patterns and designs, machine embroidery

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Free Pattern for Must-Try Teepee Bags

Posted on November 16, 2012 | 11 comments
1st aid bagsX

You can’t tell from the photo, but the fabric shows a variety of Girl Scout badges. I was tickled pink (ha!) to find this fabric on-line.

These FIRST AID bags were made for my 8 yo granddaughter Laurel. Next week, she will do a presentation to her Girl Scout troop as part of the first aid badge the girls are working on. At that time, she will hand out the bags and the girls will stock them with supplies.

UPDATE: Girl Scouts with bags:

girl scouts

You can’t tell from the photo, but the pink fabric is printed with images of Girl Scout badges. I had only 1/2 yd. which should have been enough. But there was a wide, brown border with text and numbers to be sewn on for troop identification. That didn’t leave enough badge print to make 6 suitably sized totes. So the pink fabric was serged on the short sides and then centered and zig zagged onto a piece of a homespun sort of muslin.

After I got that done, I realized that the muslin created a plain strip on either side of the zipper, suitable for text.The border hoop for my Brother Quattro made this quick and easy, by hooping just stabilizer, basting the fabric to the stabilizer with the baste feature, embroidering the text, then moving the stabilizer in the hoop for the next bag.

The design is too large for the 4 x 4 hoop, yet by using the 5 x 7 there would have been so much waste of stabilizer–not to mention the time involved in hooping 6 times.The border hoop was a wonderful time saver. Continue reading →

11 Comments

Posted in bags, free patterns and designs, Kids Sew, party accessories and ideas, school accessories

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Sew Kindness–free design

Posted on July 31, 2012 | 52 comments

 

for you--design from Fil Tire' and Fancywork Frames and Phrases, shown on a greeting card

for you–design from Fil Tire’ and Fancywork Frames and Phrases, shown on a greeting card

 

For some time now, I have been awed by the inherent kindness and generosity of stitchers.  There might be one bad apple in a basket, but the rest of the needleworker bushel is all sweet Honeygold.  The “Sisterhood of the Needle” spreads goodness indiscriminately to friends, loved ones and strangers.

 

I bet YOU are a good apple, a sweet Honeygold.

I bet YOU are a good apple, a sweet Honeygold.

 

Lately, examples of this goodness keep popping up in front of me.  Let me tell you about a few…… Continue reading →

52 Comments

Posted in free patterns and designs, patterns, uncategorized

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Free Precious Preemie Patterns

Posted on July 26, 2012 | 31 comments

as shown in Sew Beautiful issue #118

 

NOTE:  The link for the free pattern from Southern Stitches has been updated.  If you were unsuccessful before, try again.  It works now.

I was just delighted to find free patterns for preemies from Laurie Anderson of   Southern Stitches.  The patterns are included in issue #118 of Sew Beautiful magazine but are also available here at Laurie’s Southern Stitches web site.

 

More preemie garments from Laurie Anderson’s free patterns, as shown in Sew Beautiful issue #118.

At that web site you will find her lovely machine embroidered shadow work designs and lots of other goodies.  By clicking on Sew Beautiful Published Freebies you will find the free downloads of the preemie patterns, as well as free hand embroidery bullion knot designs for bunnies.  Laurie even offers free machine embroidery designs. Continue reading →

31 Comments

Posted in free patterns and designs, infant clothing

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Fil Tire’ and Fancywork Combinations + Free Design

Posted on February 6, 2012 | 115 comments
FTOvnrz

fil tire’ oval surrounded by pinwheel roses and greenery ~~situated above serpentine entredeux woven with threads used for leaves…5.12″ x 7.9″

The Fil Tire’ and Fancywork machine embroidery collections created by Suzanne Sawko and me have been mentioned in several posts.

There are three sets, Elements, Combinations and Frames and Phrases. The stitched samples make the post very image intensive, so each collection will be posted separately. They will appear in succession,as quickly as I can scan sew outs and write the descriptions.

A few of the free designs offered here have been from one of the three sets.I am sorry this is more tedious than the one click purchase option on other upscale sites. This is more like yard sale bargain prices, changing inventory, and limited quantities. You might be surprised at some of the unique items I have in my stash/hoard/collection!

These designs are from the Fil Tire’ and Fancywork Combinations Collection.The cost is $25 if delivered electronically or $30 + postage if delivered on a cd.

3.85" x 2.07"

3.85″ x 2.07″

For sale:  Fil Tire’ and Fancywork Combinations machine embroidery collection. $25 downloaded or $30 + postage on CD. Designs require hoop sizes from 4 x 4 to 6 x 10″. This is the second of three Fil Tire’ and Fancywork collections.

FThrtswagflr

6.63″ x 2.02″ ~~very sweet on a baby blanket with a monogram or name above the swag.

See a Swiss flannel blanket with this design.

NOTE: These sew-outs were stitched to card stock and kept in a notebook. This caused  the puckers in the fabric.The designs stitch out perfectly flat.

frongarchflr

3.94″ x 3.94″~~nice under monograms or names

This collection was designed and digitized by my close friend Suzanne Sawko and edited by me.

6.75" x 1.92" Baby pillowcases are so pretty with this design.

6.75″ x 1.92″ Baby pillowcases are so pretty with this design.

Suzanne is an innovative digitizer with a great sense of design.

FTbasketrz

2.68″ x 2.69″~~~fil tire’ basket

See this design on a tabletopper.

She was the first to digitize fil tire’ and, in my opinion, no one has ever duplicated the crisp, light, hand stitched look of her machine embroidered version of this classic hand stitching technique. Continue reading →

115 Comments

Posted in free patterns and designs, machine embroidery

Free ME Fil Tire’ Heart Design

Posted on January 28, 2012 | 124 comments

To receive the free machine embroidered heart design, state your request as a comment at the end of this post. The .pes design will be e-mailed to you.

fil tire’ hearts on Swiss flannel baby shawl

The previous post which showed Judy Day’s Valentine outfits for her granddaughters reminds me that this celebration of affection is just around the corner.

For Laurel, my 7 year-old granddaughter, I am smocking a pink bishop nightgown with a matching one for her AG doll.  But I have left a small section at the center front with no pleats.  Machine embroidered in this area is the fil tire’ heart.

 

I’ve used this design several times for Laurel, most recently on last year’s Easter dress.

My overly ambitious plan was to have these nighties finished by now, feature them in this post and offer the design free to readers.  I thought this might give you enough time to use it on some Valentine project.

This is just a very small token of my gratitude for those of you who read this blog, those who have made purchases to help me in my de-stashing efforts, and those who have offered your friendship.  I do so appreciate each one of you.

Well, neither gown is done but ….tick*tock*tick*tock…time passes by.  So I am re-running this  Pink Diamond Baby Pillow post and a photo above from the Heart Swag Baby Shawl post to show you what the heart looks like.  It also includes detailed instructions for stitching it out.

fil tire’ heart in winter colors, 1.56″ x 1.92″

So, Dear Readers, happy Valentine sewing to you.  Just leave a comment requesting the design and I will e-mail it to you in .pes format. Continue reading →

124 Comments

Posted in baby accessories, free patterns and designs, heirloom sewing, Holiday Projects, machine embroidery, techniques

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