Cross Stitch: Christmas All the Trimmings SAL by Fat Quarter Shop plus FREE pattern changes

Hello!

Long time, no blog! Life has been full of all sort of surprises and challenges lately. Can I get an "amen"? 

In 2018, I tip-toed back into cross stitching and last year, I dived right in the deep end. I've completed a handful of adorable projects and have met so many amazing new friends on Instagram. Come visit me over there!

So last month I jumped right into the free, mystery stitch-along from Fat Quarter Shop titled All the Trimmings. You can see the gorgeous, full pattern HERE on their blog. So adorable and fun. The original calls for black aida and since I stitch mostly in the evening, my eyes weren't happy about that!

Well I wanted to start with everyone but needed to use stash that I had on hand. Early in the summer I randomly went to a garage sale and snagged 2 huge bins of cross stitch stuff (patterns, floss, fabric, hoops) for $20!!!! I dug through the fabric and there was a brand new piece of pink aida. Could I make it work? The pattern was traditional red and greens with turquoise. Hmmm.... maybe if I change the red to dark pink? And put it on the pink fabric?

Why not give it a try?

Sweet people on the Instagram seemed to like the pink and FQS even shared one of my posts!

DMC color numbers

The DMC colors I selected were 603, 906, 907, 964, 169, 168, and B5200 white. 

 

I made made a gingham stocking

I made a few changes on the stockings, but when I got to the rows of bows and trees, I knew I needed to put the bows on the trees just like my mom did. She was the best bow maker! I added "Joy to the World" in the middle because we desperately need it right now. The font I used to design that is from Lord Libidan and his font collection found HERE. So many good ones there.

Joy to the World

A sweet, new friend and I tried guessing what the design would be each week and she thought there might be a row of ornaments. Well I HAD to add those. After a few evenings of pencil and graph paper, I came up with a design and stitched it up. I think it turned out cute! 

old school graph paper

Here it is if you want to try! (Free, but still copyrighted by Ann Dreyer Designs please.) 

 

CLICK HERE for PDF link for ball ornament garland.

And lastly, I tried my hand at making snowflakes. Haha! One day, I'll learn to not complicate things and leave well enough alone. 

 

CLICK HERE for PDF link for snowflake pattern.

 

Let me know if you try them! Now to figure out how to fully finish this one!!!

:) Ann

 

Simple Market Bag free crochet pattern

I ventured out to the Walmart a few weeks ago to wander around. The craft section looked like it had been hit by a tornado. Understandable. There were a handful of skeins of yarn, but mostly thick, wooly, wintery ones. 

Tucked in the back of a lower shelf sat hidden 3 bright yellow balls of sunshine! I didn't know what I was going to do with them, but I needed a little crafty pick-me-up and these did the trick!

happy yellow color

When I got home, I thought, "hmmmm, I should make a mesh-like tote bag to take to the store when I only need a few things. That way I won't have to touch the cart cooties!" 

A quick PINTEREST search came up with a few patterns, but on closer inspection, they were complicated. I needed easy. So I made my own pattern. Here it is! 

Let me know if you make one or if you see any mistakes. I just kinda winged it and wasn't fussy about gauge, size, numbers, etc. 

It's a great size (12" x 16") and should work well at the store tomorrow.

*Affiliate links* the links below are affiliate links which means I earn a small commission if you purchase an item through them at no additional cost to you. 

vintage daisy button

Simple Market Bag

By Ann Dreyer Designs

Materials:

• Yarn: 3 skeins of Peaches & Cream cotton in Sunshine (it would also be super soft in Lion Brand Yarn's 24/7 cotton)

• Hook: size H (I'm loving my new Clover Soft Touch hooks!)

• Needle and embroidery floss or thread to sew on handles
• 2 decorative buttons

Notes:

• Pattern is in US terms.

• Bag is worked bottom up.

• I recently learned how to make a foundation cord from THIS video from Outstanding Crochet. It’s so easy and is a great strong, hole-free way to begin the bottom of this bag as well. My market bag begins with a foundation cord and then single crochets are worked across 1 edge, then the piece is rotated 180 degrees (not turned like in normal row crochet) and single crochets are worked across 2nd edge.

• Handle is worked separately and then sewn on with embroidery floss.

• Bag is worked in rounds and handle is worked in rows.

mesh detail

Stitches:

• SC = single crochet

• SL ST = slip stitch

• Ch = chain

• BLO = back loop only

• DC = double crochet 

For bag (measures approx. 12" wide by 16" tall):

Make a foundation cord of 40 chains (see video linked above).

Round 1 - SC across, 3 SC in last stitch, rotate 180 degrees and SC across, 3 SC in last stitch, SL ST to 1st SC, Ch. 1.

Round 2 - SC around in BLO, SL ST to 1st SC, Ch. 1.

Rounds 3-5 - repeat round 2. At the end of round 5, Ch. 3.

Start of “mesh”:

Round 6 - [skip 1, DC in next stitch, Ch. 1] repeat around ending with SL ST in top of 2nd chain of Ch. 3, Ch. 3. 

Rounds 7-24 - [DC in next Ch. 1 space, Ch. 1] repeat around ending with SL ST in top of 2nd chain of Ch. 3, Ch. 3 (on round 24, only Ch. 1). (In the pic below, the arrow shows where I put the DC after the first Ch. 3.)

place DC IN chain 1 space

Top border:

Round 25 - SC in each DC and Ch. 1 around, SL ST to Ch. 1, Ch. 1.

Rounds 26-29 - SC around in BLO, SL ST to Ch. 1, Ch. 1.

Finish off. Weave in ends.

Handle (measures approx. 30" long):

Make a foundation cord of 105 chains (feel free to adjust number to make handle longer or shorter).

Rows 1-4 - SC in BLO across, Ch. 1, turn.

Finish off. Weave in ends.

Attach handle:

With coordinating embroidery floss or sewing thread, sew handle to bag. Add embellishments. Enjoy!

finished bag

I hope you liked this pattern and found it simple and fun. Click on an image to Pin for later! Thanks!

:) Ann

Journaling Bible Sweater free crochet pattern for book cover

About a month ago, my daughter demanded that I open the little packs of yarn I had been hoarding in my stash for years. I like sets and collections of things kept in tidy order. She likes to throw things around the house. 

Needless to say, I gave in and she loved holding and throwing and retrieving the tiny balls of yarn. After I collected them all back and stored them away safely, I began to think of projects I could make with them. Maybe a set of Christmas ornaments? Colorful crocheted flowers for a spring wreath? A neat scarf? 

On one of her retrievals, she brought back 4 or 5 colors that went beautifully together and I knew I had to make something with stripes in those colors. That night I began to make a little cozy sweater for my journaling Bible. I had made one years ago for my study Bible out of Lion Brand's discontinued Microspun yarn, but it didn't fit my ESV journaling Bible.

It took me a few days to finish it and when I did I posted it to the Illustrated Faith Bible Journaling Community on Facebook (click HERE to join) and it kinda became a hit! I think the pictures have over 1,100 likes and so many wonderful comments. Wow!

I would absolutely love to make these and sell them, however, I just haven't worked out a time-sensitive way to do that. There are sooooo many journaling Bibles on the market now and they are all different sizes, so each cover or sweater would have to be a custom order and as a full-time mom, I just can't work that into my schedule right now. Perhaps in the future.

Until then, I thought I would share the super simple pattern if you were inclined to make one for yourself.

So here we go... 

This post contains affiliate links which means I earn a small commission if you purchase anything through the links I share. This is at no additional cost to you. Please see my Privacy Policy for more details. 

Notes:

• These instructions are in U.S. terms. 
• This is my first time blogging a crochet pattern. Be kind as I'm sure I've probably made some mistakes. I've tried to be as clear as possible.
• I did find my original version was a little too loose and stretchy. After some of my initial pictures, I removed a row and made the "pockets" deeper. These changes are reflected in the pattern below.
• This pattern assumes you know the basics of crochet. If you don't, it is a super easy hobby and there are lots of great beginner tutorials on YouTube. For this pattern, you will need to know how to make a chain stitch and a half double crochet, as well as a single crochet for the joining at the end.
• The pattern is written to fit the ESV double column journaling Bible by Crossway. Instructions in purple and in parentheses are to customize it to fit your Bible.

Supplies:

• 1 pack of Lion Brand Bon Bons (Note: there are 8 balls in each pack. I used 7 balls, BUT I chose 5 colors from the Nature pack and 2 plus a little more purple from the Beach pack. You can pick as few or as many colors/packs as you would like. The packs I used are 100% cotton while the others are acrylic and will produce a different feel and may stretch a little more.)
• Size F/3.75mm crochet hook like Clover Soft touch HERE or Lion Brand HERE
• Tapestry needle for weaving in ends
• Scissors
• Your Bible

Pattern:
Chain 86 (or length = width of front cover + width of spine + width of back cover + 7" for the 2 "pockets").
Row 1: half double crochet (HDC) in 2nd chain from hook and in each chain across to end. Chain 1. Turn.
Row 2. HDC in each stitch across.
Repeat row 2 for a total of 27 rows (or for how many rows to = the height of your Bible when fabric slightly stretched). My stripe color sequence is below.

Finishing:
Weave in all ends! Yuck!
To make "pockets" or sleeves in which to insert the cover:
This is a difficult explanation to type, but it is super easy to do! Sorry the pics are dark... dreary rain today!

With wrong side facing you, count and mark 16 stitches from each end (or approximately 3.5") and fold in both ends. 

With right side facing you and on the top edge of your rectangle, insert hook in the back loop of the 17th stitch and the 16th stitch (or where you marked 3.5") and pull up a loop of edging color (I used pink). Chain 1. Single crochet (SC) in the back loops of stitches across. Don't forget to SC the last 16 stitches together (pic below). 

Rotate work and repeat on bottom edge. 

Weave in ends and try your new sweater on!!!

** You can also simply whip stitch the tops and bottom of pockets in coordinating color if you don't want to SC across.

Color sequence:
Foundation chain and first 3 rows: purple
1 row = light purple
2 rows = pink
1 row = beige
3 rows = blue
1 row = brown
3 rows = green
1 row = purple
3 rows = light purple
1 row = pink
2 rows = beige
1 row = blue
2 rows = brown
1 row = green
2 rows = purple

leftover yarn

finished #biblesweater

For years, I have had a stretchy fabric book cover on my Bible just to protect it and make it cute (before painting the covers became a thing). I found that keeping that cover on under my new sweater allows it to sit smoothly if that makes sense. It doesn't stretch weird or slide around. And the pink cover gives me an extra pocket to store photos or whatever.

before

with pink stretchy cover

with new sweater

inside front cover

I hope you enjoyed this. Let me know if you have any questions. And if you make one and share it on social media, tag me or use the hashtag #BibleSweater 

Keep creating,
Ann :) 

Bible Journaling Psalm 119 flower tutorial

Psalm 119: 49-50

Remember Your word to your servant,

in which You have made me hope.

This is my comfort in my affliction,

that Your promise gives me life.

The other night, I just needed some time to play with my watercolors. After making a few mistakes on my little hot air balloon and having green run into the background (see below), I decided to dabble on some "sunset" colors on the facing page.

It was fun and allowed time for the hot air balloon to dry enough for me to add another layer of blue to the sky. And it turned out good enough! Now the "sunset" page was drying and I had no idea what to do with it so I let it sit overnight. 

Yesterday, I had more time to play and thought I'd try a floral piece inspired by the super-talented Megan Wells. Please check our her website HERE... full of inspiration, video tutorials, classes, and amazing books. And give her a follow on Instagram... so colorful and fun!!!

I went about things a little differently (because I have a hard time painting "loosely" and because of the supplies I typically use) so hopefully she won't mind if I share a brief tutorial on how I created this page! :) xoxo

Steps (with affiliate links to products I used below):

1. Paint the background with watercolor paint. Allow to dry.

2. Sketch flowers or whatever you want (maybe your word of the year!) in pencil. 

3. Trace over sketch with waterproof pen. Gently erase pencil lines.

4. Paint entire background with white acrylic craft paint. Allow to dry.

5. If you're like me and got a lot of white on the black pen, then re-trace over pen lines. See below picture for the before and after of this step!!!

6. Add fine details/touch up with smaller black pen and white pen.

7. Done!

Possibly my favorite page so far!

Supplies:

favorite supplies

The below links are affiliate links. this means I receive a small percentage if you make a purchase using these links. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Bible - ESV double column journaling Bible
(mine has a black cover, but look how cute this one is!)

Watercolors - Prima Marketing tropical palette

Paint - Folk Art acrylic craft paint in Wicker White 
(best prices can be found at Wal-mart, Hobby Lobby, or Michael's Craft stores)

Black Pens - Faber-Castell PITT pen (sizes 1,5 and S)

White Pen - Signo Uni Ball UM-153

And check out Megan's latest book on painting animals! Too cute! And her Bible Journaling book and online classes will be released later this year!

Keep doodling,
Ann :)