5 things to do when your stitching gets frustrating

Has this ever happened to you? You're going along, stitching normally, and then the mother of all knots appears. You try to remove the knot, but what happens after this can only be described as catastrophic. The floss frays and splits, more knots appear, you start crying, and then the scissors or seam ripper comes out.

I'm here to tell you that you're not alone.

I've been stitching for a while now, learning from books, videos, blogs, and much of my own trial/error/practice. I've blogged, taught online classes, worked with people one-on-one, and even written a book. In my mind, I should never have trouble with stitching. Ever.

My mind doesn't know what it's talking about.

You see, it's normal to think that when you're just getting started with a new craft or technique that you will run into problems. That you'll make mistakes or struggle for a bit. But the expectation is that you'll reach a level of mastery where mistakes don't happen.

I think that's a lie.

Lately I've been doing all the same things that I've been doing that have been working well for so long. But I've run into issues. Far more than I have had for a long while. Threads knotting or pulling through. Needles catching and floss fraying. Or maybe the embroidery just doesn't look like I want it to. And maybe this is a new lie that I'm telling myself, but I think that these things just happen sometimes. No matter how long you've been at it. Sometimes you just get in a stitching funk.

But there's hope. Any time that these issues come up, I have a few ways to be able to press on.

1. Try it again. But not too much. It's good to not give up, but the more you run into the same problem over and over, the more frustrated you'll get, and that usually makes it worse.

2. Look for an alternative. If a particular stitch or material isn't working, see if you can substitute another.

3. Ask for help. Going to an expert is great, but even just putting the question out there to your crafty friends will help you get ideas for fixing the issue.

4. Stop. Just stop and work on something else for a while.

5. Take a breath and move on. This can be hard, but learning to accept that these are just little blips is the best thing you can do. Keep stitching because it's going to be okay.

Remember, this post comes to you because I've been working through my own stitching struggles. Seriously, you're not alone. Keep on stitchin'!

printable // kawaii imessage sticky notes

Because I was homeschooled, I rarely had times when my mom needed to pack a lunch for me. When I got older (as in going to work or college), my mom looked for opportunities to send special notes along with me. I like to think of them as old-fashioned text messages.

There's still something nice about a real note, written by hand, no matter how short it is. So I thought it would be fun to combine a text with a Post-It, and then make it kinda cute too.

Printing on sticky notes is so easy and fun. Prepare a few pages to have them on hand for school lunches, or to leave around for your favorite folks!



DOWNLOAD THE iMESSAGE NOTES PDF

First, print the pages you want on plain paper. You'll use those as print templates. Then, grab some 3x3-inch sticky notes.



Place a sticky note on each square of the template. Center the notes within the light-gray squares so that the printing will land on the notes accurately.



With the sticky notes in place, print the template page a second time.

It's VERY important that you feed the paper through the same direction that it went through the first time, and so that the sticky side of the notes feeds in first. Otherwise the notes may not feed well, and I know you don't want them all bunched up. If this is a problem, try sticking the loose edge of the notes down with a tiny tab of washi tape.



Peel the notes off the paper, and put them to use!




You never know when you might need to leave a paper text message. You could even print these off in a few colors to have a conversation on paper with a co-worker!

I know that digital is where it's at, but sometimes a paper iMessage is the way to go. Yay for #kawaiinotes!

cute tips from brandi & brent of kukubee

It's time for another Cute Tip! This week I'm incredibly happy to welcome a super cute couple that makes super cute things.

Kukubee is the home base for Brandi & Brent, but I most enjoy following them on Twitter because they share the cutest things! Most recently I've become addicted to the game Alphabears (look for it in your app store), which Brent did the art for. And Brandi is forever making adorable things from felt, and more. I might have a kawaii crush on them.

Here are two new friends with an awesome tip!

Brandi & Brent of kukubee here with our “cute tip!”

Did you know there’s a science behind cuteness? That’s right, you can make your characters 86.4%* cuter by finding the Goldilocks Zone of mouth placement. Too low? Still cute, but not exactly squee-inducing. Too high? Hm…something is a bit off. Juuuuuust right? “OH MY GOODNESS, I MIGHT CRY FROM ALL OF THIS CUTE!”

Imagine if the great Leonardo da Vinci had applied this rule to his famous Mona Lisa. Would humanity still be trying to unlock the secrets of her mysterious smile? We think not!

*percentage is completely made up in the name of cute art.

Seriously, Brandi & Brent? You couldn't be any cuter. Thank you for giving us a lesson in science and cuteness!

A note to all my bloggy friends: Cute Tips contributors are generously sharing their cutest secrets with us. Be inspired by them, but please, please, please don't try to steal their style! Be your own cute self!

wanted: embroidery hoop bracelet

Nearly every time I pull out my 3-inch embroidery hoop, I slip it around my wrist. Actually, I do this with almost all of my hoops as a way to carry them alongside all my other supplies. But with this small hoop, I always think about how much I wish I could wear it as a bracelet.

Sadly, it's just a bit too big. It also hangs with the screw part down because of its weight. And I'm quite sure that I'll end up getting caught on things.

But that doesn't stop me from wanting a bracelet that looks like an embroidery hoop. It doesn't have to be functional, but I want it to be immediately recognizable. So I'm putting this out there.

If you know of where I can find something like this, or if you know someone who I could talk with about making one, or if you are someone who wants to figure it out...let's talk!

If you think I'm crazy, and that this just won't be possible, please don't dash all my dreams of an embroidery hoop bracelet.

project // tumbler-shaped rainbow felt key covers

True confession: I have no idea where my keys are. They have been somewhere for the last couple of years probably, popping up now and again, only to be lost once more. Undoubtedly this says a lot about me, but above all it says that I'm someone who rarely leaves the house.

It's not that I leave THAT seldom, but when I am out on my own, I can borrow someone else's keys. It all works out. Anyway, when I find my own set of keys the next time, I'll be adding these felt covers to my key ring.



I made them in the tumbler shape that I'm playing with this month, and loving already. And of course, putting them in rainbow order was a must. Seeing things in rainbow order, and how pleasing those colors are, reminds me of God's great promise and I treasure that.



To make a set of key covers, you will need:

Felt (wool-blend is a good choice)
Embroidery floss
Leather, suede, or faux-suede cord
Keys
Key ring

Tumbler Key Cover Template



Use the template to cut two pieces of felt for each key cover.



If you have an especially wide key, you may need to widen the template a little. The easiest way is to cut the top and bottom to match the template, then cut just outside the template on the two sides.



Stitch the two sides with running stitch. Or actually, you could use blanket stitch or whip stitch. Choose your favorite! I went with three strands.



Cut a 6" piece of cord and thread a key onto it. Slide the two ends of the cord up through the bottom (wide) part of the key cover and through the top.



Tie each key onto the key ring with an overhand knot. If you are making yours rainbow, be sure to put them on in the correct order!




I love the idea of having your keys color-coded. It's also really helpful for if you have keys for other folks' houses. For example, that neighbor you help out with pet care, or your friend who gave you an emergency key.



Now if I could just find my keys, I could have the prettiest set of anyone in my whole family!

stitch-love-along // round one

I'm so very excited to officially kick off the Wild Olive Stitch-Love-Along!

Faith, Becca, and I have been organizing a stitch-along to go with my book Stitch Love, and we'd love for you to join us! The Stitch-Love-Along begins today, but if you don't have the book yet, this first round is pretty easy to make, so if you want to pick up a copy, you'll still have time.

Round 1 // August 4-18
Stitch a Pocket Pal (any Stitch Love embroidery motif with the Pocket Pal project on page 53)

Round 2 // August 18-September 1
Make an Animal (choose a project that creates an animal...examples to come!)

Round 3 // September 1-15
Stitch a Critter (embroider any Stitch Love motif on a handmade item...ideas to come!)

At the end of each round everyone who participates will receive a free Stitch Love pattern designed just for that round of the Stitch-Love-Along!



This round is to stitch a pocket pal! I love this project and its flexibility. It's also a good way to get your feet wet for the Stitch-Love-Along, or even for embroidery.

To participate in this round, look to page 53 in Stitch Love, choose your favorite motif from the book to stitch in a pocket, and get started!

Share your progress on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, or your own blog. This is all about stitching along together and sharing with each other, so be sure to tag your posts #StitchLoveAlong. We all want to see your materials, your process, and of course...the finished project!

Details for getting the special round one pattern will come when the round is done.



I mentioned that this project is flexible, and here's the tip about this. You don't have to make a shirt, although shirt pockets are adorable with a friend popping out! Just about any pocket will do, and soooo many of the embroidery patterns will work with this.



For mine, I'm using a pre-made tote bag. I grabbed some fabric and trim so that I can customize it a little...I'm thinking slightly girly for me! And I'll let you follow along on social media to see what I start stitching!

If you have any questions, just ask Becca, Faith, or me. We tend to be most active on Instagram, but anywhere you track us down will get you an answer.

We can't wait to see what you're stitching in your pocket! Ready? Let's Stitch Love!

thread bits // fabric bits

I've said it before and I'll say it again. I'm a frugal sort of gal. I don't like unnecessary spending* and waste. This can make for interesting crafting.

The other day I starting working on some new English paper piecing and as I was trimming my hexagons, diamonds and rhombuses, bits of fabric starting appearing. The little pieces that I was cutting away were sitting there on the table, looking like they were ready to be discarded.

Or were they?



These tiny bits are too tiny to use in anything normal, so throwing them away wouldn't truly be unnecessary waste. But I couldn't help but think that I needed to keep them. Honestly, this can be a problem for me...keeping things that I don't use.

So I want to use them.

Someone recently told me that she often keeps pieces like this and uses them for stuffing. So smart! Some folks collage them to make handmade cards. I love that too! I can even picture saving up more of them to sew into a itty bitty garland.

I do EPP often enough that I could probably try all of these. Oh goodie...more reasons to save up scraps!

How would you put these fabric bits to use?

*Buying new fabric is always necessary spending. It just is.

calendar // print & post for august

Okay, seriously. How can it be August? August means summer is going to be over soon! It also means that I'm going to play with an EPP shape that I've never tried before: Tumblers. These trapezoids really do look like little plastic cups, which is perfect for end of summer parties, right?

I'd like to think that I'm not sure where the days have gone, but I know that I've been busy, busy. In addition to the things you've seen around here, I've also created a few posts for Handmade Charlotte and Hello Bee. See them here:

Printable Nature Bingo & Printable Snail Racers
Hooped Fabric Art & Peg Doll Travel Pack

After that quick look back, now let's look ahead to a new month with new wallpapers for your computer, tablet, or phone!

Download the 2560x1440 Wallpaper.
Download the 1920x1280 Wallpaper.
Download the 1280x800 Wallpaper.
Download the iPhone Wallpaper.
Download the iPad Wallpaper.

For your home screen, these have tumblers, but no calendar:
Download the iPhone Tumblers Wallpaper.
Download the iPad Tumblers Wallpaper.

For iPhone 6+, choose the iPad version. To use the iPhone and iPad versions, click the link for the wallpaper you want. When it opens, touch and hold the image until it pops up with the option to save. After you've saved the image, go to your settings, choose wallpaper, then find the image you've just saved.

To PRINT a calendar page (with a place for notes), download the August 2015 calendar page PDF. The dates are lighter print so you can write over them if you want, or let your little ones trace over the numbers for practice!

Cheers to an awesome August!

pattern // you are my lucky star

Have you seen the movie "Singing in the Rain"? One of the songs from the movie that I love is "You are My Lucky Star." It's such a beautiful song and when I was thinking about stars for this month, I thought it would make a sweet pattern.

And I NEEDED to have a pattern to share with you today because it's World Embroidery Day! A day dedicated to my favorite craft? The only thing that could come close would be World EPP Day.

So grab some fabric, a hoop, a needle, and your favorite colors of floss and start stitching and celebrating!

DOWNLOAD THE YOU ARE MY LUCKY STAR PATTERN

new spoonflower fabric // hexagon tinies

The more that my 10-year-old sister gets into crafting, the more she takes notice of the things that I work on. The other day she discovered that making things is actually my job (as in, I get paid to do this!). Then yesterday she looked at the new fabric I just ordered.

My sister: Why does this fabric have faces on it?
Me: Because I designed it.
My sister: How did you do that?

The discussion faded away, but I just know that she is now thinking about what this means for her. I’m fully expecting special fabric requests soon.

All of this to say, I designed some new Spoonflower fabric, and it’s officially available for anyone to purchase. Hooray!




The collection came about because I was thinking about how great it would be to have some super cute kawaii low-volume fabric. I never seem to choose low-volume when stash-building, and when I do, it’s usually pretty basic.

Then it occurred to me that I could design my own! So I started with the Hexagon Tinies that I designed in June. And since I entirely agree with Stacey’s Cute Tip that making things rainbow is cute, I chose a rainbow palette.

And there’s some gray in there too for a nice neutral low-volume. The houses are my favorite!




I scaled all of the prints so they could be fussy cut to fit on 1-inch hexagons…some will fit smaller hexies! And if you’re going to use prints like these to make EPP hexagons, why not have some of the designs actually be EPP hexagons?

Again, these are each in a single color, but with a rainbow of color choices.




And while we’re talking rainbows, I HAD to make the rainbow into a mini collection of its own. The full color version reminds me of fabrics from my childhood.

Is it strange to have single-color rainbows? Maybe. But even if it’s in all blue or yellow or gray, it still looks like a rainbow, and that seemed like it could be useful to me. Actually, on all of the gray prints, I think you could stitch over the lines like a pre-printed pattern.

The samples that I had printed are on Kona cotton, so for the most part, Kona's basic white is the color you have for the fabric…just with a bit of color for the designs. I’m pretty smitten with these swatches!



Now, here’s where I need your help!

If you were to order these fabrics, would you be most likely to…

A) Order fat quarters or yardage of individual prints as needed? (You can already do this!)
B) Order a yard that has a small sample of every print?
C) Order a fat quarter or yardage that has a sample of a particular print (i.e. hexagons)?
D) Order a fat quarter or yardage of a particular color (i.e all the reds)?

I’d love to make it easier for folks to buy more than one design. Buying a yard at $19.00 (and getting several designs), rather than than buying separate fat quarters, is more cost effective for you. But to make special panels available, I need to order them first and I want to have options that you want!

See all of my Spoonflower fabric here.

Notes on color: I tried to have these photos come as close to the fabric as possible, but all computer monitors are different. Also, take notice that in the rainbow collection, other than the red, the colors are deeper than the other fabrics while still coordinating.

cute tips from stacey from freshstitches

Welcome to the second installment in the Cute Tips series! Today we get a very colorful tip from a maker who is completely adorable.

Stacey from FreshStitches describes her site as "cute. crafty. fun." and that couldn't be more accurate. She designs the super sweet amigurumi crochet patterns, and on her blog she shares some really great helps for learning crochet and adding new techniques.



Her tip is simple and so much fun to use in crochet or just about anything: Make it rainbow!

Here are a few of her most rainbow creations!

Does this remind you of the rainbows we loved from Lisa Frank while we were growing up? I bet you can put this cute tip to use right away. Thanks, Stacey!

A note to all my bloggy friends: Cute Tips contributors are generously sharing their cutest secrets with us. Be inspired by them, but please, please, please don't try to steal their style! Be your own cute self!

stitch love // six months and a stitchalong

Today marks six months since my book Stitch Love: Sweet Creatures Big & Small came out. Six months! I can hardly believe it.

Big thanks to everyone who has already purchased a copy! If you have a moment, I'd love it if you leave a review on Amazon (especially), Barnes & Noble, or elsewhere.

If you don't have a copy yet, you may want one soon, because next week I'll be sharing the details for a stitch-along to go with Stitch Love! A Stitch-Love-Along, perhaps? We'll have three rounds, with each one focusing on a specific type of project, and special gifts for participating. I'm so excited!

@molliejohanson look what they have at Mitsuwa! #stitchlove #mitsuwa

A photo posted by Rebecca (@hugsarefun) on Jun 17, 2015 at 9:44am PDT

The first day Stitch Love came out I ran over to my local Barnes & Noble and found a copy to take crazy pictures with. Since then, I check my local JoAnn every time I go, and have still never found it (although yesterday someone spotted it at their JoAnn!). But my favorite "in the wild" Stitch Love moment was when my friend Becca found it at the Japanese book store near us.

Japanese craft books were a huge inspiration for me as I was working on Stitch Love, so having my book on the shelves at the store where I go to grow my collection? Well, that was the best compliment I could receive!

I've been loving (stitch loving?) this journey so much, and I can't wait to see what will come next!

project // embroidered felt stargazing zip pouch

Do zippers intimidate you when sewing? I've sewn them with success, but I still get nervous. This is a zip pouch that is completely the opposite of scary. The zipper is stitched in by hand, so it's practically an extension of the embroidery on the front!

I saw a pouch similar to this once, but it required buying die-cutting templates to cut the pouch. This is something you can embroider with a starscape or your own favorite design...then cut it out and stitch it up. Easy peasy!



You will need:

Wool or wool blend felt
Embroidery floss
Sulky Sticky Fabri-Solvy or tissue paper
Cotton fabric
Fusible interfacing
6-inch zipper

Stargazing Zip Pouch PDF Template

Note: Be sure to print the pattern at 100% so that the zipper will fit the opening. Measure the 1-inch test square to check for accuracy.




Print or trace the starry embroidery design onto Fabri-Solvy or tissue paper, then attach it to the felt so you can stitch through it. Embroider the stars and constellation with three strands of embroidery floss. I used french knots, straight stitches, running stitch, and the star stitch featured in this tutorial from Hands Occupied.



Soak away the Fabri-Solvy or tear away the tissue paper. If you're soaking it, remember that wool and wool blend felt will shrink in hot water. I used barely warm water and mine still shrunk just a bit. Blasting it with cool water was a better option.



Iron the fusible interfacing to the cotton fabric that will be your lining. Then iron it to the back of your embroidered felt. I like using paper-backed fusible interfacing, so that's what you see here. If yours doesn't have a paper back, you'll iron it to both pieces in one step.

Adding the "lining" will cover and protect the back of your stitching, which will keep it pretty longer.



Cut out the paper pattern, pin it to the embroidered felt, then cut out the shape.



Pin the zipper into the cut out opening.



Stitch around the zipper with running stitch. Take care to get a stitch or two into each side of the ends.

If hand sewing isn't your thing, you can do this part with a sewing machine. If you use matching thread for sewing, you can go back and add some hand stitched details just for cuteness' sake.



Trim the zipper ends so they are at least 1/4 inch in from the edges.



Fold the pouch in half and pin or clip the edges so they are aligned.



Stitch around the edge with running stitch. Again, you can do this on a sewing machine if you'd prefer.



Check that everything is secure and that your knots are hidden between the layers, and your pouch is finished!



The pouch is large enough to hold pens and a small note pad...





...or even some stitching supplies!



Of course, necessities like a phone, keys, and cash are always good for a little pouch.

Stitch one or stitch a bunch...use the star patterns or your favorite embroidery motif. You could make yours plain or add some felt applique. You could even reverse the pouch so that the felt is on the inside and the fabric is on the outside. So many ways to customize!

What will you keep in your pouch?