Craft Stew

81 Free Quilting Patterns

admin — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:25:43 +0000

Description : 81 Free Quilting Patterns are available from Timeless Treasures. Most of the patterns tend towards a contemporary look.

Craft Link : 81 Free Quilting Patterns

Read More : Quilting or Home

Free Starboard Skirt Tutorial

admin — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:11:40 +0000

Description: You’ll need to be able to do some simple math to figure out the dimensions for this sporty Starboard Skirt Tutorial.

Craft Link : Startboard Skirt

Read More : Sewing or Home

Interview With Autie From iCandy

admin — Sun, 19 May 2013 18:44:49 +0000

Hey! I’m Autie (It’s Autumn, but I’ve always gone by Autie) and I’m one of the two hands behind iCandy handmade. I grew up crafting with the encouragement of my mom. She’d always leave little projects for me to do while she was at work, latch-hook, paint by number, cross-stitch, etc. I loved anything and everything crafty, and now as a mom of three, I still love it. Not only do I LOVE to make things for my home, my family and my kids, but I also love to see their motivation and their creativity. I love it when my 4-year-old says: “Mom, I need to work on a project.” (I have that need, too!)

Most of the projects that I do, like I said, are for my home or for my family… so when I post a project on my blog, most of the time it’s something I would have been working on any way…whether I had a blog or not. iCandy just happens to keep me accountable for my list of things to do. I do it because it makes me happy!

Auti took the time to answer three questions for Craft Stew’s 3X3 Quickie Interview. Here goes……

Autie, what are your three favorite craft books and why?

I have a couple of sewing books that have fun projects that I like to look at and be inspired by:

1) Amy Butler’s In Stitches
Has a jillion and 1 fun and simple projects that I like to oogle.

2) A Is for Apron: 25 Fresh & Flirty Designs
The bible on Aprons with tons of fun ideas.

3) Sew What! Skirts: 16 Simple Styles
Has a bunch of fun and basic skirt ideas, my favorite of which is the Tablecloth skirt

All three of them have inspiriting projects and fun pictures that make you want to just get up and sew!

What are your three favorite online crafting resources? Why?

To be honest, I don’t have any one place that I go to on the blog to be inspired or for direction…OK, definitely, Pinterest! but, I generally don’t have time to sit at the computer and peruse! However, I do have a few favorite tried and true bloggers that if I see their name in my reader, I’m there and that will ALWAYS come through with a fun and inspiring project that I can’t help but try out:

Simply {Kierste}

eighteen25

Lolly Jane

What are your three favorite blogging tips?

1) Don’t procrastinate! When you procrastinate you run out of time, you get stressed out, you put un-needed pressure on yourself, and it takes the fun out of it…it’s work, but it’s supposed to be fun, too!

2) Take good pictures…I love to look at blogs with clean and bright pictures…I’m working on this, but no one wants to look at images that are too busy.

3) Create things that you will love and the rest will fall into place.

Thanks so much Autie! We appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts.

Read More : Interview or Home

Interview With Jen From iCandy

admin — Sun, 19 May 2013 18:41:46 +0000

Today there is a second interview, with Jen, also from iCandy…

My name is Jen and I am a stay at home mom of two kids – a three-year-old and a seven-year-old. I grew up with an artist father and a musical, crafty mother and luckily inherited some creative genes, which help me stay sane in my {neverending} job.

Fabric is my medium of choice, though very infrequently I dabble in other types of craft. I love to design, make and remake clothes – mainly for my daughter and myself.

I learned how to sew when I was fifteen, a skill that came in handy when formals and prom came around. It was so fun to make my own dress just the way I wanted it, and my date got a matching bow tie and vest! {Whether he wanted to or not…} I thought it looked pretty cool, especially the lacy flowered ones.

I started a fashion design program in college, but it didn’t work out, and ended up graduating in English instead. After all these years, my fashion designing dreams never went away, and so now in a small way, I am reviving them.

Jen took the time to answer three questions for Craft Stew’s 3X3 Quickie Interview. Here goes……

Jen, what are your three favorite craft books and why?

This might sound horrible but I don’t really buy a whole lot of crafting books! Since most of my creating time is spent working on projects for my blog, I have to come up with new ideas. Unfortunately right now I don’t really have time to make projects from books- maybe someday! With that said, I really love a book I just bought, Fabrics A to Z: The Essential Guide to Choosing and Using Fabric for Sewing by Dana Willard from the blog MADE. It is a great reference tool for anyone who sews.

What are your three favorite online crafting resources? Why?

1) I would say Pinterest is a great online crafting resource! It provides me so much inspiration and a way to organize it.

2) I also like fashion blogs for inspiration since my craft is apparel sewing.

Some of my favorites are….

Merrick’s Art

Kendi Everyday

Atlantic – Pacific

3) Finally, I enjoy online stores such as JCrew, Anthropologie, ModCloth, etc. They are also a huge source of my inspiration for the clothes I design.

Other than that, I usually just Google tutorials and techniques for what I need.

What are your three favorite blogging tips?

1. Photography, photography, photography. No you don’t need to be professional, but you need to have nice, big, clear photos. It is what makes or breaks a blog. I am constantly trying to improve my photos and have a long way to go!

2. Be consistant. Decide how much/how often you are able to post and post on those days. That way your readers know what to expect from you.

3. Blog about what you love, not what you think other people want. Otherwise you will get burned out very quickly!

Thanks so much Jen! We appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts.

Read More : Interview or Home

Free Printable Mini-Poster

admin — Sat, 18 May 2013 20:00:34 +0000

I’m a strong believer that the more we do for others, the more we benefit ourselves. This quote, from Mary Anne Radmacher, mirrors my own belief. The mini-poster makes a great reminder of this important idea.

To print, left click on the poster and you will be taken to an image page. Press file, then print. This mini-poster takes less than one standard sheet of computer paper to print.

The source for the photo is PD Photo and I used PicMonkey to add the quote.

If you’d like to repost the poster on your own site, feel free, but PLEASE link back.

Read More : Sewing or Original Printables

52 Free Dress Patterns

admin — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:59:14 +0000

I’m a firm believer that sewers can never have too many free patterns.

With that in mind, here are 52 Free Dress Patterns, divided by style. Keep in mind the categories are not set in stone. With a fancier fabric, a different closure or a change in hem length, a pattern can easily change from fancy to work day to casual. You are the one to make the ultimate decision.

Free Dress Patterns - Casual Dresses

Free Dress Patterns – Office Dresses

Free Dress Patterns - Dress-Up Dresses

Read More : Sewing or Home

Oversized Tribal Cardigan

admin — Mon, 13 May 2013 21:09:01 +0000

Description: I love this Oversized Tribal Cardigan from Elle Apparel. It may just be the next thing I sew for myself.

Craft Link : Oversized Tribal Cardigan

Read More : Sewing or Home