What says Christmas like a beautiful personally made stocking stuffed with goodies?!  Here’s a few of the stocking patterns available.

The 3 Christmas Stockings Pattern by Bonnie Sullivan of All Through The Night gives you a choice of snowmen, holly, or branches with ornaments.  Better yet, make all three.  Optional hanging “fringe” adds a little pizzazz.

Winter Star Stocking Pattern features a beautiful pieced star with lots of color options as the focal point.  The rest of the stocking is also pieced so this is a great pattern for scraps.  The top section is just a bit larger than the rest of the stocking so you can get that really stuffed look!

The Stockings Were Hung pattern (another by Bonnie Sullivan) has a pieced body, and applique on the cuff.  A little hand embroidery is also part of the pattern.  These old fashioned looking stockings are a bit long – lots of room for goodies.

Snowman Stocking is hanging out at night with his cardinal friend.  This adorable stocking is also available as a kit, with the pattern and all the fabric you’ll need to complete the project.

Make these Stocking Ornaments to hang on the tree, or sew up the window and hang them there. Cute either way!

Some quilt books are useful over and over, for years and years.

Do you dread the words “quilt as desired”?  Here’s help! 501 Quilting Motifs  is a collection of quilting designs from more than 25 years of Quiltmaker magazine.  The designs are indexed by size and style so you can easily find what you need.  Flowers, vines, children’s themes, feathers, seasons, and more are included.  Helpful diagrams for combining designs guide the beginner, and make projects easier for the more experienced. Use the designs as shown, or use them for inspirations.  You’ll refer to this book often.

Brandywine Designs Clip Art for Quilters includes over 75 designs that you can freely use for a variety of projects.  Embroidery, redwork, applique, labels, and stencils are just some of the uses.  Flowers, animals, hearts, baskets, and more! Since they are drawn in the same style, combining several into one project will create a cohesive look.  Combine, separate, or use just the way they are.

If you ever feel like you want to go one step further with your quilts, Embellishment Potpourri will give you the confidence to do so.  Techniques are covered with fabric, thread, beads, and more. Plus there are instructions for two quick and easy fabric embellishment projects so you can “get your feet wet”!

Do you know any quilter that does not have scraps?  We all have them! And they just grow and grow!  Never fear, Scrap Assassin Saves the Day!   Instructions are included for four quilts – and yardage is given just in case you don’t want to use scraps.  You can make these over and over again as each bundle of scraps will give you a different look.  Plus you get the added bonus of using at least SOME of your scraps – that makes room for more new fabric!

If you are looking for a few books to start your quilting library, these might be the ones to choose.  But don’t stop here – check out the rest of the books in our quilting book section.

Margaret Travis creates patterns for useful items . . . handbags, accessories, home decor, special needs items.  The patterns work for all levels of quilters and sewers, from the beginner to the experienced.  If you are a beginner, experience a finish!

Convenient Coupon Caddy, a fat quarter friendly project, has eight pockets for organizing all your coupons.  Save money and look stylish doing it!  Folds to 6.5″ x 4″ so you can tuck it in your purse and have your coupons when you need them.

Large, handy pockets and comfortably placed neck ties will make this a favorite apron.  An easy to make, comfortable, reversible apron, the Eazy Flip Apron pattern fits many sizes and instructions are included for larger sizes. The pretty scalloped hem is optional.

Who couldn’t use another pincushion?! These are super cute…. a “Cutest Cupcake”, a totally unique “Hearts in Hand”, and a handy “Pozie Wristlet”.  Bonus! You also get instructions for making fancy beaded pins.

Got stuff to hold?  Make up the Eeny, Meeny, Miny & Moe Accessory Bags and you’ll have a place to hold it all.  Great for cosmetics, cell phones, IPads & Kindles, sewing tools, anything!  Fat quarter friendly, it would be fun to match the fabric to the items it will hold…. maybe a wordy fabric for an e-reader, or sewing themed fabric for sewing tools.

Check out the Bodacious Brag Bag.  Lots of room and lot of pockets.  Ribbon is used for the handles and for embellishment.  The vinyl pocket on the front holds a photo or an embroidered piece or anything else you’d like to brag about!

These are just a few of Eazy Peazy‘s patterns.  There are many more, including a Spectacular Spectacle Case, Luverly Luggage Tags, a Walker Saddlebag, a Wheelchair Backpack, and more.

Have you been saving old denim clothes just waiting for the perfect project?  Here’s a few projects for denim.  One of these might be just right for you!

Add squares of denim to novelty prints to create a unique Recycled Denim Spy Quilt.  Smaller bits of denim are used in the pieced border.

Recycled Denim Skirt and Purse from Carolyn’s Creative Designs shows you how to make a skirt from the top of your jeans and a purse from the leg.  Hmm, that leaves one more leg…. make a purse for a friend?  Lots of variations with this pattern.  Add lots of length for a modest, really comfy skirt.  Or keep it short and flirty.  Or meet in the middle!

Carolyn’s Recycled Denim Tote or Purse pattern encourages you to add your imagination and creativity to the project.  The generously sized tote can be made from many different shades of denim and you can embellish to your heart’s content.

Here’s another Jeans Tote Pattern.  This one will go together quickly, and can be dressed up with a colorful sash.  Shop the thrift store for different sized jeans and make extra-large-hold-everything sized totes or cute little tiny totes from little kids jeans!

Create a Denim Shirt Jacket by starting with an old denim shirt. Modify the bottom, add some applique for your favorite season, add trim for the collar and cuffs.  Result: a one of a kind jacket that reflects your personality.

Dig out your old jeans or visit a thrift store and do some recycling!  Happy sewing!

Though it’s still warm, summer is over.  The kids are back to school and the weather will be changing soon.  And before we know it Halloween will be here.   Here’s some cute Halloween patterns.

Hang this Trick or Treat Banner on your front porch or in your window to let the neighborhood kids know that you are “open for business” – you have candy and are welcoming ‘trick-or-treaters’!  It’s a felted wool design with hand embroidery…. cute and colorful, and just a little wacky.

There’s quite a dance going on here with the Goofy Ghosts leading the way.  The Circle of Friends includes pumpkins, owls, bats and even the brooms are taking part, dancing around the center of black cats.  The applique can be done by hand or machine – your choice.

October Jacks is a quick, cute 12″ x 12″ project with a 3D look to it.  The button bat, the eyes on the tree and even the rope on the fence give this quilt a unique look.

Would real Bats In The Belfry give you the shivers?  They would me!  I’ll take them contained in this table runner, thank you very much.  Instructions are included for place mats, too.  Perfect for a halloween party.

BFF Trick or Treat is one of a series of Thistledown’s unique “Swap-lique” patterns. The clothing and accessories can be all be changed.  Pattern includes 6 costumes, 5 hairdos and fun accessories.

Grab a glass of cider and browse the rest of the Halloween patterns.  Beware of the goblins!

You certainly wouldn’t want to embellish every quilt you make.  That Dear Jane quilt will all those tiny pieces barely has room for anything else. The Baltimore Album quilt that you spent so many hours painstakingly hand sewing the appliqued pieces can stand on its own.  The favorite family room lap quilt doesn’t need anything but soft cotton fabrics and simple quilting to bring some comfy coziness.  Embellisment isn’t for every project.

But, sometimes you’re looking for an adventure, a little trip off the beaten path of traditional quilting.  When you get to feeling that way, go for it!

If you want to start slowly and not get too outrageous, try yo-yos, fabric flowers, inchies, or prairie points. All fabric, but these will ease you out of the box a little. Then you can move on to other embellishments.

Here’s a few to experiment with:

buttons
ribbon
cording
braiding
beads
yarn
ricrac
embroidery floss
felt
lace
doilies

All these items have been used on quilts with fantastic results. Some can just be added directly, and some you might want to manipulate or play with first, and then add them. Many scrapbooking embellishments would also work.

After that, you can get really crazy and try some unconventional items such as:

mini washers
beaded chain (you know, the kind that was used on old pull chain lights – if you are not old enough to remember these we don’t want to hear about it)
colored telephone wire (this is pretty old too – we used to use this to make spirally rings)

The sky’s the limit. Let your imagination run free. Not everything will work, and you might have to pull some stitches, but we quilters are no strangers to seam rippers.  Pull those stitches and try something else.  Just have fun!