project // pentagonal epp magnet frame

Back in January I made a mug rug that has become one of my favorite things I've made. I say that a lot, but I'm completely sincere. The quilted mat featured a circle formed out of pentagons, and since May is pentagon month, I thought I would bring back that ring of shapes.

Instead of stitching them onto something else, this time I looked for a way to use the pentagon circle on its own. And it occurred to me that the circle in the middle would make a nice frame. There are probably plenty of ways to make this shape into a frame, but I went for something magnetic.



And it's also reversible! The magnets are hidden between the layers so you can easily flip it over to better suit your decor, the picture in the middle, or even your mood for the day. It's perfect for on a refrigerator, a file cabinet, or anything else magnetic.

Little Mollie (in the frame!) and grown-up Mollie like both sides of this one!



You will need:

Fabric scraps (use as many or as few fabrics as you want!)
4 Strong, thin magnets (I used 1/16" thick neodymium disc magnets)
Thread
Embroidery floss
Scissors
Glue stick (optional)
Needle
Craft glue (I used Fabri-tac, simply because it was around and easy)
Card stock

Pentagon Templates PDF



Print the templates onto the card stock, then cut out the pieces. You will need all 20 pentagons.

Each ring consists of 10 pentagons, so use basic EPP methods to baste them. I use a dab of glue stick to hold the template to the fabric, trim around with 1/4" seam allowance (sometimes a little larger), then tack the corners with a stitch or two.

My first ring is a mix of fabrics, while the second ring is all one fabric. You could also do both sides the same!




Join the pentagons. Hold two pieces right sides together and stitch one side, catching just a tiny bit of fabric.

To prevent the tails of thread from the knots from showing, I anchor the knot in from the edge a bit. Look closely at the photo above and you'll see the knots near the seam.




Continue adding pentagons on so that they form a ring. When you've completed the first ring, make another!



This is important: Leave the templates in the rings!

Use a tiny bit of glue to attach the magnets so they are semi-evenly spaced on the ring. The glue doesn't need to hold them long term, because they shouldn't go anywhere once this is sewn together, but you don't want them shifting as you finish up your frame.

You can also use a few dabs of glue to help hold the two layers together.



Of course, Wonder Clips are also your friend! Place the two rings wrong sides together.



Using two strands and a large, sharp needle, stitch through the layers with running stitch. You're going through the fabric and the card stock templates, so it takes a little effort, but it shouldn't be too difficult if you have a strong needle.

Stitch around the center circle, and the points around the outside.




Try to keep your stitches as even as possible, and be sure to hide your knots between the layers. That way it looks pretty from both sides!



To use your frame (or to gift it to someone with a little photo enclosed), trim the photo to a circle, or just round the corners so it will fit completely behind the frame.



You'll hardly be able to resist a big smile when you put this frame to use!




It'll be instant happiness.

I also happen to know that this little frame makes a very good Frisbee too. Just sayin'.

eventually this will be a blanket

Remember that Simply Bound Blanket I showed a couple weeks ago? I've been planning to make another one, and this is as far as I've gotten.

Fabric purchased? Check.
Binding prepared? Check.
Embroidered patch made? Check.
Attach the binding and patch? Um...no.

I thought that since the fabric has butterflies on it, how nice would it be to have an embroidered butterfly on there? Since I didn't want the back showing, I stitched it on quilting cotton, then made an EPP pentagon to stitch on one corner. When it's finished. Which could still be awhile!




The butterfly is one of the motifs from Stitch Love: Sweet Creatures Big & Small. I stitched it with colors to match the knit fabric, and with a few different stitches than I used in the book. Because it's fun to change things up!

And I just LOVE this purple fabric that I'm using for the binding. I keep finding places to use it and worry that I'll run out far too soon.

Even though this particular project is temporarily stalled, I've been starting a few more things, and moving through others. Perhaps this is why I have so many WIPs and such a big crafty mess around here?

thread bits // extending the markings on your cutting mat

Yesterday I had been sitting and prepping some English paper piecing, cutting diamonds and snipping away at fabric. And then it was time to go out for dinner with the family. As I was on the way to the car, I noticed that I had evidence of my previous activity all over the front of me.

"I'm covered in thread bits!" I exclaimed as brushed myself off and climbed into the car.

My brother told me that "thread bits" sounded like a blog. Or like something you'd put on a blog. Like, "Now it's time for Monday Thread Bits!" And I kind thought he was right. And in a perfect world, this would be an every Monday sort of thing. But I'm just calling it Thread Bits, and we'll see when and how often it comes around. I'm living with grace here!

I picture Thread Bits as little tips and ideas, as well as some fun things I find to share with you. Sound good? Here's our very first Thread Bit!



If you follow me on Instagram, this one isn't new to you. It's an idea I had the other day and shared as soon as I discovered it. But it was too good to keep only for the IG crowd.

My cutting mat has markings for up to 21 inches the long way, even though the mat is more like 23 inches. When you're cutting the width of fabric, most quilting cottons are over 21 inches folded in half. How are you supposed to cut it accurately when the fabric covers the markings?

Sometimes I fold it again (cutting through four layers), but that invites more chance for error. After fussing with it a bit, a light bulb went off. It's probably gone off for many people before me, but it sometimes takes me a while to catch on.

Anyway, here's the simple solution: Use washi tape to extend the markings to the edge of the cutting mat.

You could do this for all of the markings, or just what you're cutting that particular time. I was cutting 10-inch strips, so to be able to just have one set of markings (each edge!) to line up with made it even easier. And you can peel away the tape just like that!

For a very helpful series (that is certainly an inspiration for Thread Bits), check out Terrific Tip Tuesdays from May Chappell!

caregiver kits // we did it!

In February I told you about how I wanted to help World Vision build Caregiver Kits for those work working Ebola patients. They have an urgent need for these kits, and yet I wasn't sure that we would be able to meet the minimum number of kits required for a supply drop off.

You can read more about it here and here, but the news today is that we did it, the kits are packed, and have been sent off to be distributed! THANK YOU!!!



Last week this truck pulled up in front of my house. And they dropped off a pallet that looked like this...



It was so big that it didn't fit in the picture. Seriously, it was taller than me!





We unwrapped the pallet and checked each box to make sure that everything was here, and that it was all in good condition. One of the boxes was a little crunched, so I was worried, but everything was as it should be.



The front porch was full, and yes, people stared. A parent of one of my sister's students asked her what was going on. My brother's friend stopped by and listened to us tell him about the project.

My whole family has taken every opportunity to tell people about what happens when a bunch of people pitch in with orders and gifts and generosity and prayer.




Typically when people pack Caregiver Kits they are doing it as part of a big event. Churches and businesses often do this. The set up they recommend is a 24-foot row of tables, and that just doesn't work in a house. Not in our house anyway!

So we set up around our kitchen island.

Every person in my family helped. There were eight of us, and while each of us packed some of the kits, a few of us also had other special jobs: taping boxes, checking kits, refilling supplies, and hand writing notes. You can see one through the bag here:





When they were all packed up, they made a nice stack of boxes in the living room (this picture isn't even all of them...there were 20 in total!). We all gathered around, and we prayed for the people who would receive the kits. We prayed for the caregivers and the patients. And we will continue to pray. If you're someone who believes in prayer, would you join us?

Thank you once again to every person who jumped in to be part of what God was doing here. I thank you, and so does World Vision.

project // pentagon mouse pad

For a family that has fair number of computers, we have a severe lack of mousepads. Seriously, we rarely use one. It used to be that a computer mouse NEEDED a mousepad to work. Now they aren't as necessary.

But when you have an optical mouse and a table mat that is uneven, you start getting frustrated.

I considered buying a mousepad, but then an idea struck and I decided to try making one. Actually, I've now made two of them!



I've seen mousepads covered with fabric, but I just had this feeling that it would get FITHY in no time. And so I grabbed what has become one of my favorite magical supplies: Pellon Vinyl Fuse. This way you can choose your favorite fabric AND keep it looking pretty!

Ready to make your own? Here's what you need:

Fabric for front: 9 x 9 inches
Vinyl Fuse (or other fabric lamination): 9 x 9 inches
Fabric for back: 9 x 9 inches
Fabric for binding: 2.5 inches by width of fabric
Batting: 9 x 9 inches
Basting spray
Double-sided tape
Perle cotton

You'll also need basic sewing tools, including a sewing machine and iron.

Pentagon Mouse Pad PDF Template



First, follow the manufacturer's instructions to laminate the fabric for the front of the mousepad.




Make a quilt sandwich with the front, batting and backing. Use spray baste to hold them together so that the right sides of the fabric are facing out.

Don't use pins, because they'll leave holes in the laminated fabric. Of course, the downside to not pinning is that you may end up with a mousepad that has a little bit of ripple. Working with Wonder Clips helps a ton.



Use double-sided tape to hold the template onto the quilt sandwich (again...no pins!), then cut around the shape adding a seam allowance.

At this point, I'd like to say that you can make this any shape you want. Square? Sure. Rectangle? Yes. Hexagon? Definitely. Circle? Of course...just be sure to use binding cut on the bias. I made a pentagon because it's pentagon month!







Take the strip of binding fabric and iron it in half the long way. At one end, press the short edge under about 1/2".

Attach the binding strip to the mousepad using your favorite binding method.

I sew my binding to the back, then wrap it to the front and sew it down with perle cotton and running stitch. I found that this worked well because even if I brought the needle through at not-quite-the-right-spot, any hole was hidden under the binding.

But if you attach it to the front and wrap it to the back, that will also work.



And that's all there is to it! A simple mousepad that is very functional, completely customizable, and easy to wipe off!





They're so quick and easy to make, you can make one for every computer! Or every season! Or maybe make one for work and one for home. Or if you work from home, use one for when you're working and one for when you're playing.

I think the point here is that you can make a bunch of mousepads...just because you can!

made // patchwork death star

Happy Star Wars Day!

I'm a big fan of the original Star Wars trilogy, especially, and I love the opportunity to make projects that go with these films. If you look back in my archives, you'll find a few things I've made in the past.

This year for my brother's birthday, I made him a mini quilt featuring the Death Star made with English paper piecing. When I saw the pattern, I knew I HAD to make it. With life and other deadlines creeping in, the project took me a bit longer than I expected. Thankfully my brother waited (no so) patiently.

Also thankfully, some lovely folks on Instagram helped me gather the many gray fabrics I needed to put this thing together. It's all those fabric and the little details that make this special.





I had the mouse fabric in my stash, and I thought it would be fun to have that little guy on there. The embroidery on that section of the Death Star is all by hand, but then, pretty much everything on here is by hand.

Hand stitched piecing, hand embroidery, hand applique, and hand finishing on the binding. The only thing done on the sewing machine was attaching the binding strip to the mini quilt.

The "stars" were all done with metallic thread french knots. I'm not sure what the thread brand is (I got it on clearance and there was only a price sticker on it), but I'll tell ya...it was great thread! Instead of being twisted, it was woven, and I think that made all the difference.

My only regret is that I stitched them through the front and batting (but not the backing fabric). When I pulled the thread through, it pulled some of the batting fibers, and the fuzz will not go away. Still, I like the quilted look it has.

You'll also notice that I added a little face...it's sort of how I sign my work now.



The original pattern for this has you create an upper and lower background piece that gets joined to the Death Star itself so that the entire piece is English paper piecing. I opted to applique the Death Star onto my backing fabric. I'm not sure that it was any easier (I had to make sure all little flaps of fabric were tucked under), but I do like the look.

This was a big project, but it was also so much fun. And I'll tell you what...I'd make it again in a heartbeat. Is there a bigger compliment for a pattern? Oh, and my brother like the gift! Even better!

Find the free pattern for the Patchwork Death Star on Quirky Granola Girl's Blog.



May the Force be with you!

calendar // print or post purple pentagons for may

The fifth month calls for a shape with five sides...a pentagon!

In the 50 States Stitching Club, the center of the stars (which is where the embroidery goes) is a pentagon, and I'm eager to try working with pentagons for more English paper piecing this month. I've also started on a few other five-sided projects. Hooray!

But we can't get the month started without a new calendar, so here we have May for your desktop and mobile devices.

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 raindrops, but no calendar:
Download the iPhone Pentagons Wallpaper.
Download the iPad Pentagons 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 May 2015 calendar page PDF. Even when the wallpaper calendars have a color background and white shapes/dates, I always make the printable one so it will use less ink. And I gotta tell you, I really like this month's page! Reversing the color scheme turned into purple pentagons that remind me of rock candy!