Stitch On (Free Pattern!): Flamingo Toes

When I came across this really cute free "Stitch On" embroidery pattern from the Flamingo Toes website, I knew I wanted to feature it here!

Click on this link for the free pattern - and full stitching instructions - including DMC thread color suggestions.

For more from Bev at Flamingo Toes - check out her Instagram, and the Flamingo Toes website for all things embroidery, sewing, crochet, etc.

Oh - and the Flamingo Toes Designs shop for embroidery and quilt patterns!

Free Halloween Sampler Pattern by Amy

Halloween Sampler by Amy Byrne a.k.a. Random Acts of Amy

Hello, Stitchers! Our regular Friday Instagram Finds author, Amy from Random Acts of Amy, is offering a free Halloween Sampler pattern over on her blog. This is her very first pattern and it is wonderfully detailed - with a full guide to colors, stitches, and number of strands to use. She'd love to see you stitch it up! Follow the link above to get the pattern.

MooshieStitch Monday: Little Chick Embroidery

** Free Easter Embroidery Pattern Alert **

This post is to let you know about this adorable free little chick embroidery pattern  I found on the Shiny Happy World blog.

Here is how I stitched it:






I followed her idea of stitching over an appliqué - so I stitched over yellow felt and then added some flowers!

Isn't this little chick the cutest pattern??


FYI:

If you are looking for another project for Easter, check out this Embroidered Felt Easter Egg pattern on Shiny Happy World also (for FREE and with tutorial!)

Friday Instagram Finds No. 41 with Bloom and Sew

Hello Stitchers! We're coming to the end of February in a Leap Year, which means we get an extra day on the 29th. What will you do with your extra day this year? It's on a Monday, so I will go to work at the Library as usual, but maybe I'll take a half day off so I can head home after lunch to spend it stitching and planning for the year ahead; 2016 will be over before I know it.

@bloomandsew

Today I'm sharing with you Jenny from @bloomandsew! Jenny is a Scottish textile artist who creates embroidery kits and patterns. Her soft toys are absolutely adorable - I can't get enough of them! You have to head over to her IG feed and blog to check out her Sentimental Stitching. I was sad to see in her last post on IG (at the time I wrote this) that she has to hang up her needle for a bit because of carpal tunnel syndrome. I had carpal tunnel surgery on my left hand back in 2008, and it's no fun. I wish you a speedy recovery! I discovered @bloomandsew because Jenny used #feelingstitchyig. Take a look at Jenny's embroidery and sewing artwork!

A photo posted by Jenny Blair (@bloomandsew) on Feb 19, 2016 at 8:57am PST

A photo posted by Jenny Blair (@bloomandsew) on Feb 18, 2016 at 3:41am PST

A photo posted by Jenny Blair (@bloomandsew) on Feb 12, 2016 at 3:24am PST

A photo posted by Jenny Blair (@bloomandsew) on Jan 31, 2016 at 3:09am PST

That's it for this week's edition of Friday Instagram Finds! Join in the conversation by commenting below. While you're on Instagram checking out Jenny's work at @bloomandsew make sure you follow Feeling Stitchy! We'd love for you to stop by and say hello. You can find Feeling Stitchy on Instagram at the handle @feelingstitchyish. You can find Amy @randomactsofamy on Instagram.

Want to be featured in Friday Instagram Find? Tag your best stitch-related photos with #feelingstitchyig!

Thimblenest Thursdays: Make a Bag for Mismatched Socks

New socks always look so nice hanging on the racks in the store--the bright colors and perfectly matched pairs always tempt me to buy more than I need. The story changes, however, once those pairs of perfection make it home--especially with kid-sized socks. Almost instantly, lonely socks start collecting in forlorn piles waiting to be reunited with their perfect match. Who knows where all of those socks go, but often they turn up again. I wanted to create a permanent spot to corral the "present" socks while they wait for the "absent" socks to return.

The tutorial below shows you how to make your own sock-collecting bag. For a fun twist,when you're finished embroidering, your hoop isn't done working. Later it returns as part of the framework for hanging the bag.

MATERIALS

• 10" embroidery hoop
• Medium weight cotton fabric 33.5" x 15.5"
• 1 yard fold over elastic
• Embroidery floss
• Needle
• LOST embroidery design or one of your own

TRANSFER DESIGN AND EMBROIDER

Transfer the embroidery design to the center (horizontally) of your fabric. Place it a little lower than the vertical center (closer to the bottom edge than the top).

Embroider your design.

SEW SIDE SEAMS & BOTTOM EDGE

With right sides facing, sew the side edges together, using a 3/8" seam. Then sew the bottom edges together using a 1/4" seam. Depending on your fabric, you may want to finish the seams with a serger, overlock stitch, or use pinking shears.

HEMS & TIES

Sew a 1/2" hem around the top edge of the bag. Again, because my fabric frayed quite a bit, I serged the edges. You could also use pinking shears or turn the raw edge under 1/4" before sewing your 1/2" hem.

Cut the yard of fold over elastic in half. Sew one piece to the wrong side of the bag at the side (center back) seam and the other to the center front (above the embroidery design). Be sure these seams are strong--they will hold most of the weight of the bag.

HANG BAG & BEGIN COLLECTING SOCKS

"Hoop" the finished bag, so that the hem extends above the edge of the embroidery hoop and tighten well. Make sure to keep the elastic ties free.

Hang the bag in a handy spot like the laundry room or a closet by tying the elastic ties over a closet rod or hanger.

Start collecting socks who are missing their perfect match; don't forget to check the bag whenever you do laundry and pair up socks from time to time.

What do you do with socks without mates?