By Betsy Sue Sews, a member of the CreateForLess Craft Crew, who spends her time sewing, reading about sewing, or blogging about sewing!

My kitchen has white cupboards, walls and stove top. I wanted to add some color and accessorize my oven with some fun color and prints. To start I made pot holders. You don’t need much fabric for this project, fat quarters work great to make these. You can even use fleece, an old pot holder, or a small piece of batting to line this cute and practical kitchen accessory!

Start with 4 pieces of fabric that are 6″ by 8″, and 2-4 pieces of an inside insulator material. I used 2 pieces of fleece. With RIGHT sides together sew around 3 sides leaving a small side open for turning.

After sewing around the edges, turn you pouch so your pattern is facing out. Lay down and straighten your insulator material inside.

Next press the open seems inside your pouch so there are no raw edges. You can either sew this seem shut now, or after you’ve quilted your this side of the pot holder.  I just did straight lines, be creative, quilt how’d you like.

Now for the top 2 flaps of the pot holder, repeat above stops with fabric pieces 4″ by 6″ and line, quilt and finish the edges. Make a loop to hang your pot holder by cutting a piece of fabric 1″ by 3″ and sew so right sides are out and there is a pretty seam.

I’d suggest sewing the loop to the large quilted piece first, before sewing on the small flaps. Sew the loop to a corner on a diagonal. After the loop is attached all that’s left if sewing on the top flaps so the pot holder stays on. Just match edges so the small flaps cover the bottom and top half.

By Guest Blogger, Betsy Sue Sews. Look for Betsy Sue Sews on Facebook and join the fun of socializing with other crafters.

I’ve been a fan of the Stitchin’ Post since I first started sewing. I especially like their quilt kits and patterns. It’s located in Central Oregon, and most quilters are familiar with the Stitchin’ Post and their products. If you are ever in the Sisters, OR area they offer sewing and quilting classes and have a huge selection of quilting and craft notions. Plus the most quilting fabric I’ve ever seen in one place! I’m fortunate enough to have a vacation home in Central Oregon that my parents maintain year round (and the house I grew up in!) so I try to stop by to see what’s new any chance I get.

I told you the fabric selection is huge, and that’s just one corner of this store! I just got the Messenger Bag and Quilted Lap Top Pattern by the Stitchin’ Post. I’m excited to pick out fabric and get started on my bag! I’ll let you know how my bag turns out.

At the Stitchin’ Post website they have free quilt patterns to download. Additional patterns for other bags and purses, wallets, skirts and more are sold at CreateForLess.

Congratulations to Judi who was randomly selected as the winner of Free Stuff Friday and the 8 Pieced Tree Tiny Patterns!

These little 3 1/2″x 5 1/2″ laminated pattern card are such a quick and easy way to start a project! Each pattern design is on the front to view and the directions are on the back. Each pattern design is on the front to view and the directions are on the back. You will love these little pattern cards to create quilt kits with fat quarters and leftover fabrics. These tiny patterns make table toppers or table runners.  

Judi’s winning answer to “What is favorite Halloween candy” was…

“Chocolate of course but not those nasty Halloween themed chocolates wrapped in foil. The real stuff like M&Ms!!”

Enter to win 8 Pieced Tree Tiny Patterns! These little 3 1/2″x 5 1/2″ laminated pattern card are such a quick and easy way to start a project! Each pattern design is on the front to view and the directions are on the back.

Each pattern design is on the front to view and the directions are on the back. You will love these little pattern cards to create quilt kits with fat quarters and leftover fabrics. These tiny patterns make table toppers or table runners.  

Every Friday we’ll post a giveaway on Think Crafts and all you have to do is comment on the blog post answering the question of the week. We’ll pick the winner and contact them via email. Deadline is midnight tonight and the winner will be announced Monday. One entry per person please.

Question of week: What is favorite Halloween candy?

If the comment box is not below, scroll to the top and click “comments”.

Congratulations to Laura Keane who was randomly selected as the winner of Free Stuff Friday and the Quilting Designs Books!

With the Ricky Tims Celtic Fantasy Book add drama to your quilts with flowing Celtic appliqué designs like knots, trees, flowers and more. You get a full-size freezer paper pattern, plus 9 bonus quilt “skeletons” and 25 Celtic appliqué designs.

Adaptable Quilting Designs has quilting patterns were made specifically to address the need to do more than stitch-in-the-ditch in problem areas such as strips, squares, corners, and triangles. This much-needed addition to any quilter’s quilting pattern library is formatted for ease of shrinking or enlarging every design to fit the tricky spaces that happen on all quilts. Minimal text provides maximum space for inspiration or tracing. Over 2 dozen color photos provide additional visual instruction for the quiltmaker.

Laura’s winning answer to ”What is your favorite summer time treat was” …

“I love the red, white and blue popsicles that used to be called “bomb pops.”

Calling all quilters! We’ve got a giveaway for you! Enter to win two quilting design books, the C&T Publishing Ricky Tims Celtic Fantasy Book and  Adaptable Quilting Designs by Sue Patten.

With the Ricky Tims Celtic Fantasy Book add drama to your quilts with flowing Celtic appliqué designs like knots, trees, flowers and more. You get a full-size freezer paper pattern, plus 9 bonus quilt “skeletons” and 25 Celtic appliqué designs.

Adaptable Quilting Designs has quilting patterns were made specifically to address the need to do more than stitch-in-the-ditch in problem areas such as strips, squares, corners, and triangles. This much-needed addition to any quilter’s quilting pattern library is formatted for ease of shrinking or enlarging every design to fit the tricky spaces that happen on all quilts. Minimal text provides maximum space for inspiration or tracing. Over 2 dozen color photos provide additional visual instruction for the quiltmaker.

Every Friday we’ll post a giveaway on Think Crafts and all you have to do is comment on the blog post answering the question of the week. We’ll pick the winner and contact them via email. Deadline is midnight tonight and the winner will be announced Monday. One entry per person please. Contest opened to all US residents.

Question of week: What is your favorite summer time treat?

Congratulations to Lindzie and Valerie who were randomly chosen as the winners of Free Stuff Friday and the Simplicity Studio Simpli-EZ Rulers!

They win the Simplicity Studio Simpli-EZ Ruler rectangle set or the square set. Markings around all edges at 1/8″ intervals and at 1/4″ and 1/2″ intervals inside square as well a 45 deg. diagonals from corner to corner. Leftie-Rightie friendly. Black markings for Right-handed and Red for Left-handed.

Their winning answers to “What would you write for a Free Stuff Friday question? ” was…

Lindzie H. – What do you have too much of? Ribbon, buttons, inks, etc

Valerie – What is the most ambitious craft project (successful or otherwise) that you’ve ever taken on?

Check back every Friday to see if we used your Free Stuff Friday question!

Please welcome guest blogger Tracey from “Imagine That Quilts” and the blog “Peppermint Patcher”.

Have you ever considered using photographs as a means to personalize a quilt?

There are products on the market that allow you to use your own home printer to print directly onto special fabric sheets. You can print any photograph from your computer onto these fabric sheets. Once you’ve done that you can use the fabric like any other and cut it, stitch it into or appliqué it onto a quilt.

There are several points you should consider before printing your photos onto these fabric sheets.

1. Check the size of your photographs. The fabric sheets generally come in the same sizes as paper that can be fed through a printer. Make sure that your photograph is not bigger than this size. You may need to take the photo file into some photo manipulation software to do this.
2. Look at the contrast levels in your photo. If your photo is very dark or very light you may not be able to see it well once it prints onto the fabric sheet. Again using photo manipulation software can help with this. It may also help to make the photograph black and white. This allows you to easily see the contrast.
3. If you plan to stitch the photograph into a patchwork make sure you leave plenty of seam allowance around the photograph. Don’t just leave the traditional quarter inch as this doesn’t leave any room for error. Give yourself at least half an inch, just to be sure.
4. If you are using a fussy, patterned fabric around the photo consider adding a border around your photograph before printing. Most photo manipulation software will allow you to add a border around your photos. You can add a narrow border before printing to give the outline of the photograph definition. It’s easier to do this before printing than it is to stitch a narrow strip of fabric around the photo.

Now don’t just assume that because cameras take rectangular photos that you have to put rectangles into your quilt. Why not think outside the square and unleash your creativity? You can fussy cut around a photo printed onto fabric.  In the same way that you might fussy cut around a print on a quilting fabric to create an appliquéd scene you can create an appliquéd scene around a photo.

I take photos of children’s faces and print those onto fabric. At Imagine That Quilts you can see how I use appliqué those faces onto bodies and create imaginary scenes around them. My nephew becomes a pirate, my niece a fairy. This makes a highly personalized quilt. These quilts are loved and adored by their recipients!

So why not give it a try? Follow the directions provided with the fabric sheets and make some quilts that are truly unique!

I thought an electric, automatic bias tape maker was such a cool idea. I had to learn more!

“With Simplicity® Bias Tape Maker you can fold and press 12 yards of bias in 60 seconds. No more tediously trying to press bias tape into shape and burning fingertips. Several folder sizes are available, depending on the finished width you need, and the temperature of the pressing unit is adjustable for various fabrics. There’s even an auto-shut-off (after 10 minutes of non-use) for safety”.

Welcome Guest Blogger and Designer, Phyllis Dobbs.

Phyllis Dobbs began her creative career 20 years ago designing in the needlework and crafts industry. Phyllis’ designs reflect a sense of whimsy and she is driven by her passion for color. Phyllis has created over 1500 designs that have been published in books for cross-stitch and quilt designs.

Phyllis' new fabric collection - It's a Dog's Life

For the past two or three years, a big trend has been “retro” with various decades being a hot trend influence.  When I see remembrances of these decades in fashion or home décor, I also recall the crafts that I was doing when I was wearing the original versions of these fashions. (Yes, even bell-bottoms!)

I started crafting at an early age and learned cross stitch, sewing and quilting from my mother and aunt.  Although needlework has remained my “craft specialty” and the medium that I have devoted most of my designing career to, I have tried and loved them all. 

Because of my great love of crafts, I started designing.  My career started in the 80′s during the height of another craft dynasty – counted cross stitch.  At that time, there was a cross stitch shop on nearly every corner.  I jumped in with both feet and self published cross stitch books and leaflets.  I was successful and enjoyed my new career. 

When cross stitch began losing its popularity, I also began designing quilt patterns and started a freelance design career. Giving up self-publishing, I designed for other publishers for magazines and books.  I continued trying new craft mediums and created designs using these mediums.  I designed with beads, creating jewelry, tassels and adding them to cross stitch and quilting. I loved ribbon embroidery and authored several ribbon embroidery books.  In hard crafts, I loved to design mosaics. 

For the past 8 years, I have been painting.  I have translated my painting into product design through art licensing.  With my love of quilting and fabrics, I have been thrilled to have my art licensed for fabrics with Quilting Treasures.  My newest fabric collection, It’s a Dog’s Life is debuting next week at the International Quilt Market.  Throughout all my years of crafting, my style has evolved into whimsy combined with brilliant color.  My career as a designer started with seeds – all those seeds of being taught by my mother and aunt, and then from all those various crafts I loved over the years.  If you love something, it can take you on a path you never anticipated. 

It's a Dog's Life Fabric Collection

Happy crafting,

Phyllis Dobbs

Click here to read more of Phyllis’ posts.

This kit is just too too cute! You can’t help but smile when you open the box up and find all the precious surprises inside! The projects are on beautifully done cards with a photo on front, open to the instructions, and some project’s instructions conclude on the back of the card.  You are given most of the supplies needed to create each of the 15 little projects!  You will need to gather some basic crafting tools from your own stash: embroidery needle, hand sewing needle, fabric scissors, fabric marking pen, tape measure, ruler, pencil, straight pins, and fiberfill.  Patterns are included full size.  Once the kit’s supplies are done, you can just add your own scraps of fabric and felt and continue to make the cool projects!

Small plush creatures and minatures are so hot right now in all crafting categories!  And who doesn’t fall in love with tiny little treasures?  This kit is just plain fun!  It can also travel well and makes a great gift. My favorite project was the Party Cake.  I made several to give to my sewing friends as a pin cushion!  

The Party Cake front card cover is inspiring.

I give The Softies Kit the CreateForLess 5 Star Glue Gun Award! 

Would you like to win this kit?

Be the first person to e-mail me at Maria@thinkcrafts.com and this kit will be yours.  Please put the name of the kit you want to win in the subject line of your e-mail to me. I will reply back to the first e-mailer requesting a mailing address.  Please don’t post any personal information on Think Crafts!

This contest is closed, a winner has been shipped the kit.