project // jam jar cat toy

Giving a jam of the month club for Christmas is a bit of a cliche, but I'd like to think that your kitty might still enjoy it if it's filled with catnip! I used the cranberry conserves embroidery pattern to create a little felt jar that's also a cat toy.

I mean, it wouldn't need to be a cat toy. You could use these to make a little ornament or a gift topper! But even furry friends like gifts at this time of year. AND it's super fun to watch your kitty play and go crazy!

The assembly is fast and easy which means you can make a whole set of jars, each in a different color or flavor!



Here's what you need:

Felt in two colors
Embroidery floss in matching colors + black
Catnip
Scissors
Needle

DOWNLOAD THE JAM JAR CAT TOY PATTERN PDF



Cut two jar pieces and two topper pieces.



Embroider a face on one of the jar pieces.

< Stitch around the two sides and the bottom with matching embroidery floss.

Fill the jar with catnip.



Sandwich the top of the jar between the two topper pieces, then stitch around edges with matching embroidery floss.



For an extra touch, use the jam color thread to stitch a line of running stitch across the topper.



Now you can gift some jam to your kitty! If they're anything like my cat Darcy, they might just go a little crazy...






When I tried to take it away, Darcy showed off her crossed eyes, but super crazy style!



Happy kitty catnip toy crafting!

pattern // december's jar of cranberry conserves

Twelve months of jam embroidery patterns? YES! We did it! I mean, almost. It's December and the last pattern, cranberry conserves, is here. You can now finish off your Jam of the Month embroidery and EPP (if you opted to stitch the mini quilt).

Mine isn't quite stitched yet because I also wanted to make a little cranberry conserves felt project that will be posted shortly. So once again you get a picture of my Sulky Sticky Fabri-Solvy pattern all printed and ready for me to stitch. But you also get a pattern so you can stitch yours before I even thread my needle. Hooray!

DOWNLOAD THE CRANBERRY CONSERVES EMBROIDERY PATTERN

If you listen to the Very Serious Crafts Podcast, you may have heard us talk about the Train of Shame, and that's a little like what I'm sharing here now. These are my still unstitched patterns from the Jam of the Month Club. Yikes! But if you also listen to the latest episode, you'll hear what happened to my plans for making progress on the EPP portion of this.

Let's just say I'm really behind and that feels like the story of my life. I'm not going to dwell on it though.

The big question is now, will I finish or simply get distracted by my (super cute!) plans for 2020? I think we all know how this will go...

pattern // hot pepper jelly and cranberry conserves cross stitch charts

What's this? The last charts for the Jam of the Month Club cross stitch design? It's true. Today I'm sharing both November and December's designs for hot pepper jelly and cranberry conserves. You can stitch them individually or use them in the giant shelf pattern, which is also here as one large chart.

It's just in time for all the free space in your December calendar. What's that? December is super busy? Ah yes, so it is. Or so it can be! But maybe you'll find a few quiet moments to get in some stitching.

DOWNLOAD THE HOT PEPPER JELLY CROSS STITCH CHART

DOWNLOAD THE CRANBERRY CONSERVES CROSS STITCH CHART

DOWNLOAD THE UPDATED SHELF CROSS STITCH CHART

One of the things I was surprised by this year is how much I've come to enjoy doing cross stitch. I liked it in theory, but in practice, I was so slow that I lost interest partway through stitching a pattern. Now I'm loving it and wish I had worked on this version all along. Mind you, I'm behind on stitching and assembling embroidery version that I'm doing so maybe it was for the best. And hey! If you liked having a cross stitch version this year, I might do it again for 2020 and I can stitch that!



Speaking of stitching, did you see this free Christmas Quilt Sampler pattern I designed for The Spruce Crafts? It's simple and modern and easy to stitch quickly. I hope you'll give it a try!

calendar // december's cranberry conserves

Whoa. How is it already December and our 12th Jam of the Month? The days flew by once again this year. It's full-on holiday mode now through the end of the year around my house, and that includes lots of cranberries! I've already cooked up two batches of cranberry sauce and soon I'll be making other seasonal treats with this classic flavor.

So for our last jam, I chose Cranberry Conserves. What are conserves? They're like a super chunky jam, which usually includes some dried fruits and nuts along with the fresh fruit. I haven't made one like this before, but I think I may just try. Here's a recipe I'm eyeing!

Ready for the last calendar of the year?

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And if you're cross-stitching along and wondering if there was a November pattern...it's still coming! You'll find it here soon along with the December chart.

pattern // november's jar of hot pepper jelly

It's that time again...time for another new Jam of the Month Club pattern! This photo looks a little different than usual, and that's because I brought my stitching with me on a road trip. I was stitching along in the back seat and HAD to share a bit of my progress here with you. The embroidery for this month is all finished now, but my vacation isn't, so I'm posting it in an unfinished, but still cute state.

DOWNLOAD THE HOT PEPPER JELLY EMBROIDERY PATTERN

Happy stitching!

Want something to listen to as you stitch...or perhaps as you take a road trip of your own? There's a new episode of the Very Serious Crafts Podcast out today!

calendar // november's hot pepper jelly

Not all jams and jellies are sweet. Some are savory or even spicy, which is why November's Jam of the Month is one of my favorites: Hot Pepper Jelly! If you haven't tasted this delight before, I hope that you go out and find some this month. It's so yummy!

Before we get to the calendar wallpapers, please allow me to tell you about how I came to love this spicy spread so much.

When I was little, my family used to go to a store nearby that sold dishes and epicurean treats. They often had samples around and they showed off their hot pepper jelly by pouring it over cream cheese and letting you try it on crackers. My dad LOVED it.

Because my dad loved it so much, a family member started making the hot pepper jelly for him and we would have it regularly. At some point, and I know this sounds crazy, my dad tried it on pizza. And it was an instant classic.

When you're a kid, you often look up to your parents and try the things they like and I now LOVE hot pepper jelly on pizza. So much so that I once made my own batch of this jelly. But that's a story for another day!

Now it's time for some calendars!

Download the Desktop Wallpaper

Download the iPhone Wallpaper

Download the iPad Wallpaper

Have a spicy November, Jam Friends!

pattern // grape jam cross stitch chart

October is nearly over, but I'm squeezing in this month's free Grape Jam cross stitch chart! You can stitch this little jar on its own or add it to the Jam of the Month Club shelves that are very nearly full.

If I'm fully honest, I felt a little lost on how I wanted to present these grapes because I've tried to limit the number of floss colors in here. Another shade of violet might have changed this look, but I stuck with the simple. And just a bit of extra backstitching for the jar shaping.

DOWNLOAD THE GRAPE JAM CROSS STITCH CHART

DOWNLOAD THE UPDATED SHELF CROSS STITCH CHART

When I started these cross stitch designs this year, I knew that I wouldn't have time to stitch them all, so they are only in chart form. I've been a very slow cross stitcher and a project of this scale felt far outside of my abilities. Or at least outside of my time constraints. Seriously, for all the cross stitch patterns I'd designed, I don't think of myself as a cross stitcher. Or at least, I didn't until now.

I've actually been stitching more Xs for some other designs I created and I've been LOVING it. I changed from the stabbing method to the sewing method (a topic we'll be covering in episode 22 of the Very Serious Crafts Podcast), and it's changed my whole experience. Now I have more plans for patterns, trying out patterns by other designers, and maybe even tackling the giant shelves. Or at least planning to stitch whatever I go for next year...ha!

Speaking of things that I stitched...



As I'm posting this, it's just a couple days before Halloween, which means you probably won't be finishing this Happy Halloween design I did for The Spruce Crafts this year. But you can still start this and have it ready for next Halloween! Of course, you may be a speed stitcher or use some sort of spooky spell that finishes things fast...and I say go for it!

pattern // october's jar of grape jam

Since I never gave an official welcome to this month, helloooooo October! It's time for a new pattern for a jar of Grape Jam!

I'll be upfront and say that this felt like a controversial decision to make it grape jam instead of jelly. After all, a PB&J is traditionally made with grape jelly. (I mean, that's not my favorite, but it is a classic). As silly as this sounds, it came down to having too many jellies in a row. I needed a jam. And grape jam is an actual thing, which I'd like to think is a little fancier than it's relative, the jelly.

Can you tell that I overthink this sometimes?

Let's get to this pattern, which is already a little late.

DOWNLOAD THE GRAPE JAM PATTERN PDF

If you've been following along with all the Jam of the Month goodness here on my blog this year, you may have noticed that there wasn't a calendar wallpaper for October. This bugs me because I like a complete set. But it was the thing that I had to let go in order to keep everything else going. That's also why I have another unstitched pattern. Sigh.

Thankfully I have a road trip coming up and I plan on stitching so much! I'll be embroidering more and stitching together the mini quilt shelves.

Woohoo!

pattern // apple jelly cross stitch chart

I don't think you're ready for this jelly...but maybe you are? If you're cross-stitching the Jam of the Month Wild Olive Stitching Club, then I bet you ARE ready to stitch some apple jelly!

Let's get right to the downloads this month...

DOWNLOAD THE APPLE JELLY CROSS STITCH CHART

DOWNLOAD THE UPDATED SHELF CROSS STITCH CHART

Whether you're stitching these as individual designs or working on the giant shelf pattern that's steadily filling up, I hope you're having as much fun stitching them as I am making them.



I'm also super excited to show you my latest cross stitch charts for Cross Stitch Crazy Magazine. They're celebrating 20 years as a magazine, so I made some party animals to join in the celebration. This is technically the kids' section, but I'm an adult and still want a guinea pig stitched coming out of my pocket! Find these, plus some adorable Christmas patterns, in issue 260.

pattern // september's jar of apple jelly

Who is ready to stitch some apple jelly? I know I am! Well, actually, I already stitched the apple jelly embroidery pattern today. Obviously, because I was ready!

Most of these have kept to the absolute basics, with only my three go-to stitches: back stitch, French knot, and scallop stitch (a fly stitch variation). For this one, I used those and a few more. Most things are back stitch. Here are the others:

Face: French knots and scallop stitch
Ridges at the top of the lid: straight stitch
Thick line at the bottom of the lid: chain stitch
Scallops around the tag: scallop stitch (note that these lines aren't on the pattern, I just stitched)
Bow loops: lazy daisy

They're still simple stitches, but they do get a little layered up around the top of the tag!

DOWNLOAD THE APPLE JELLY EMBROIDERY PATTERN

I hope you have as fun stitching this one as I did! Oh, one other thing. I used a darker shade of gray for my lid (169 instead of 168) because I'm working on light gray fabric. Use what you like best for yours!

But now I have a question for you. This month's design was a toss-up for me. Apple jelly or apple butter. Which one is your favorite?

calendar // september's apple jelly

I maaaaaayyy be in denial that September is here. But since people keep talking about September things, I figured I had better just go with it and finally make and post the new calendar wallpaper...with Apple Jelly!

Each new Jam of the Month Club design is always my favorite, and that's true this time around too. I mean, seriously...just look at those little tags? I think they may be inspiring a printable for this month.

But now, so I don't fall behind on even more things this month, let's jump to the wallpapers!

Download the Desktop Wallpaper

Download the iPhone Wallpaper

Download the iPad Wallpaper

And since September means thinking about making things for fall, why not listen to the latest episode of Very Serious Crafts? A new episode is coming sooooooon!!!

pattern // august's jar of peach jam

I could not wait to stitch this month's free peach jam embroidery pattern! This latest pattern in the Jam of the Month Stitching Club was calling to me with its pretty colors and kawaii peach. It look me a little longer to get it finished, but it's actually stitched for you to see!

The golden peach jam color (both in this pattern and in real jam) feels like a jewel to me. Almost like the better version of topaz, which is my birthstone, which was also last year's free stitching club.

But let's get to this latest pattern!

DOWNLOAD THE PEACH JAM EMBROIDERY PATTERN

As a side note, one of my favorite ways to enjoy peach jam is on a wafflewich. I don't know where I originally learned this yummy sandwich recipe, but it's easy, fun, and tasty. Here's the summary:

1. Toast two toaster waffles, then butter one side of each.

2. Spread one waffle with peach jam and the other with honey mustard.

3. Add turkey or ham and your favorite cheese (I love cheddar or provologne).

4. Heat on a griddle until the waffles start to brown and crisp and the cheese gets melty.

Yum! (This is also tasty with raspberry jam, but we're all about the peaches this month!)

pattern // peach jam cross stitch chart

Special delivery for all my Jam of the Month Club cross stitchers! This month you get your free cross stitch chart before the embroidery pattern comes out. Just because.

I'm absolutely crazy about this peach jam and the colors in it. If you're stitching these as individual designs or the ever-filling shelves, I think you'll love this bright and cheery jar too.

DOWNLOAD THE PEACH JAM CROSS STITCH CHART

DOWNLOAD THE UPDATED SHELF CROSS STITCH CHART

Cross stitch has been creeping into my design work more and more and I'm not mad about it. The only thing is just that I'm really slow about the actual stitching. It's why I'm thrilled that Cross Stitch Crazy has speedy stitchers to help with that part. You can see their amazing work in these two recent patterns I made for issues 258 and 259.




Meanwhile, I'm working on another Halloween chart that I'm stitching myself to share elsewhere and this is as far as I've gotten in three evenings:



I think I had better get busy if I want to finish in time! How about you? Are you a fast or slow stitcher? And if you're speedy, what's your secret?

calendar // august's peach jam

At this very moment, there is a bag of "Georgia Fuzzies" sitting on my kitchen counter. I'm not sure who decided to give fruit such adorable names, but I'm so glad they did. The Georgia Fuzzies peaches won't be turning into peach jam this time around, but that's okay because I already have kawaii cute jars drawn up for this month. Obviously, illustrations and patterns aren't as tasty as the real deal, but they are super sweet.

I'm really into the colors for this month's calendar, and I hope you enjoy them too. They're still screaming "summer", which is nice when back-to-school comes early for so many. At least we can hold onto some of the summer bits!

Now, whether you're heading back to school, sending kids off for first days of school, enjoying the last days of summer, or all those things, spread some peach jam fun on your favorite digital device!

Download the Desktop Wallpaper

Download the iPhone Wallpaper

Download the iPad Wallpaper

Oh, and for a bit of extra fun that I made in the last month or so, and that you really shouldn't miss, check out these projects on other sites. I used some of my favorite colors of Benzie felt for these!



Summer Seashells Pattern for embroidery and applique at The Spruce Crafts.



Pastel Sloth Pencil Toppers at Handmade Charlotte.

What are you planning to make in August?

pattern // strawberry rhubarb cross stitch chart

Who has their cross stitch supplies ready? I hope you do, because I have a Strawberry Rhubarb Jam cross stitch chart for you! And just like all the Jam of the Month patterns, this is a free cross stitch pattern/stitching club. Will it always be free? I'm not sure. But it is right now.

When I'm making embroidery patterns, I love adding some fun angles in the design. If you know anything about cross stitch, and if you're excited about this pattern, you probably do, then you know that slight angles don't always work so well on a grid. At least on a small grid!

This was definitely one of those designs where, because of the size, I needed to make the fruit a little less jaunty than on the embroidery version. It may not be something you ever think about, but I find these kinds of things interesting. It makes it fun to see how I can take my designs in different directions, even when they are mostly the same!

DOWNLOAD THE STRAWBERRY RHUBARB JAM CROSS STITCH CHART

DOWNLOAD THE UPDATED SHELF CROSS STITCH CHART

If you're just finding my Jam of the Month patterns for the first time, well...welcome! And thanks! Each month this year I'm releasing a free cross stitch design for a jar of jam, marmalade, etc. They come as individual charts, but you can also make them into a large shelf filled with the jars. You can grab both versions above.

And whether you're new or have been stitching along the whole time, you know I want to see your stitches. Tag me on Instagram (I'm @molliejohanson) or use the hashtag #wildolivestitchingclub.

Oh, and if you want to support my work, I'd love it if you tell your friends about my patterns, share my posts on social media, or buy me a coffee via the link in my sidebar (because I pretty much run on coffee and Jesus!).

pattern // july's jar of strawberry rhubarb jam

My latest Jam of the Month Club embroidery pattern is printed out and attached to my fabric, and I have full intentions of starting the stitching. But I know me and I know you, and I don't want this to wait any longer. Even just a day or two.

And so rather than delaying this post more, I'm sharing the newest free Wild Olive Stitching Club pattern today! With my still unstitched sample!

Like all of the previous jars, I'll be using back stitch for the majority of the design, with my favorite stitches for faces. But I'm also going to use chain stitch for the thick line that is the jar seal. I think that will look perfect there.

DOWNLOAD THE STRAWBERRY RHUBARB JAM EMBROIDERY PATTERN

And in case you missed it, all these jam jars I'm (we're!) stitching will come together in a mini quilt that looks like shelves. I'm equally behind on my EPP for that too, but I'm hoping to carve out some time for progress soon. Because I've seen lots of great progress from folks on Instagram at the #wildolivestitchingclub hashtag!

Okay, now I'm off to try and do some stitching. Not for this just yet, but for something else fun. Why must there be so many projects that I'm excited about?

calendar // july's strawberry rhubarb jam wallpapers

July, July...halfway through the year! It's hard to believe it. But I've been excited for the July calendar wallpaper because I decided to make this jam of the month strawberry rhubarb.

My grandpa always grew rhubarb in the garden and so I have fond memories of all the rhubarb recipes my grandma would make. This seemed like a fitting way to honor Nanny (and Papa!) within this year of canned jams.

So grab a calendar for your favorite device and enjoy this taste of summer!

Download the Desktop Wallpaper

Download the iPhone Wallpaper

Download the iPad Wallpaper

And while we're checking in for a new month, I thought I should share the latest Very Serious Crafts Podcast episode with you! Season 2, episode 13 just dropped today and it's even a strawberry rhubarb kind of color...

Head to Very Serious Crafts to download and listen!

pattern // pineapple marmalade cross stitch chart

Hey, cross stitch friends! Are you ready for your version of the Pineapple Marmalade Jam of the Month pattern? I hope so. Because this month's free cross stitch chart is here.

Some of these patterns have taken me a while to set up and post, but I don't know what it is about summer and pineapples that gets me so excited...I just couldn't wait! That summer tropical fruit motivation made it happen.

When I design cross stitch patterns, I try to keep the back stitch to a minimum. This is funny because, in embroidery, back stitch is my favorite! But for this design, it does have a little back stitch to make the markings on the pineapple. If you LOVE to back stitch and want these designs to "pop", you can always outline the jars and some elements like my friend Jess.

DOWNLOAD THE PINEAPPLE MARMALADE CROSS STITCH CHART

DOWNLOAD THE UPDATED SHELF CROSS STITCH CHART

With summer designs, I think it's best to go outside for your stitching. (I say this as I have yet to stitch outside at all this year.) Get out in the shade (yes, I'm a shade girl...), breath in the fresh air, and stitch.

If you're stitching the individual designs or a whole shelf, I'd love to see. Bonus points for backyard, porch, poolside, or beach pics! Tag me on Instagram or use the hashtag #wildolivestitchingclub.

pattern // june's jar of pineapple marmalade

Who's ready to make some pineapple marmalade? Because it's time for another Jam of the Month embroidery pattern!

As I typed that, I just realized that this may be the only jam of the month club where you have to make the jam yourself. I'd think that was weird, but you're probably here for the making, so I'm just giving you what you want!

Anyway, this month's jar is filled with embroidered pineapple marmalade, and there's a tiny kawaii pineapple on the jar.

I've been using three strands for all of my stitching for these patterns, and mostly keeping to back stitch plus the faces. This one has two small changes to that plan. First, I used only two strands for the lines on the pineapple and I could have even gone with one strand. Everything else is three strands. And then I also added a bit of satin stitch for the pineapple bits because they're just cute that way!

DOWNLOAD THE PINEAPPLE MARMALADE PATTERN PDF

Stitch this pattern, add it to your growing shelves filled with delicious jams and jellies, and then share it! Tag me on Instagram (@molliejohanson), use the #wildolivestitchingclub hashtag, or send me an email (molliejohanson at gmail dot com).

And for my cross stitch friends, your pattern is coming soon!

calendar // june's pineapple marmalade wallpapers

It's an extra-quick post for today! I'm just dropping in to drop off these new wallpapers for you. For June, it's a pineapple marmalade kind of month.

Grab a calendar and then make a batch to enjoy!

Download the Desktop Wallpaper

Download the iPhone Wallpaper

Download the iPad Wallpaper