Have you ever made doll clothes or accessories?  They are so cute, and are relatively quick to make, and they sure make the dolls’ mommies happy!

My Camping Gear has instructions for a zippered sleeping bag and a backpack, both sized for an 18′ doll.  The backpack is so cute!  It has a zippered top, pockets on the side and a flapped pocket on the back.

The Backwoods Bungalow works for “camping trips” in the backyard or for pretending in the bedroom.  Window flaps roll up for “air circulation” (and so you can peek inside).  There’s room for two, so dolly can invite a friend to go camping with her.

For the more style conscious doll, here’s a case that will hold her wardrobe when she travels.  It measures 20.5″ x 12″ x 8″ and has an elastic pocket for those loose items.  Also included in the pattern are instructions for an accessories bag with 12 pockets for shoes, purses, etc. and instructions for a garment bag.  Again, so cute!

You’ll find several patterns in Child’s Play.  The doll sized wall hanging boasts (in embroidery) “My First Quilt”.  Two more quilt patterns are sized at 22.5 x 26.5 and 11.75 x 15.75.  Plus there are instructions for pillows, a rope bed, mattress, and tea party napkins.  Lots of little projects to delight the little ones in you life!

So many of us learned to sew by making doll clothes, before graduating to full sized clothes and quilts.  Have fun with these patterns, reminisce about your first sewing days, and share the fun with a new sewer.

One day winter WILL end and spring WILL arrive!  We’re trying to hurry it along by thinking about, and working on, spring patterns!

Soon the birds will be courting and building their nests.   Spring Row Quilt pattern by Carolyn Beam of Colorado Quilts has 11 birdhouses, 28 flowers, and three birdhouse poles covered in ivy leaves and vines….a bird’s paradise!

Foundation piecing, applique, and traditional piecing are all used to create this beautiful spring quilt that measures 62″ x 80″ when finished.

Brush up on old technique skills or learn some new ones with Linda Zokan’s Ode To Spring sampler pattern. Paper foundation piecing, broderie perse, hand embroidery, and applique make this fun for experienced quilters and it’s great for beginners to sample new techniques. Birds, bees, bugs, and bunnies all dance around the flowers to remind us of spring. Finishing at 31″ x 35″, it’s the perfect size for a wall hanging to celebrate the season.

Remember Spring? A dozen butterflies pose amidst bright, cherry, spring fabric and entice us to look a little closer at their beautiful designs.  This 52″ x 64″ pattern is available in either hand embroidery or machine embroidery. You could also use the patterns individually on tea towels or throw pillows.

Bright colors in log cabin blocks frame four large spring themed appliques, all bordered by smaller Pieces of Spring.  This one finishes at 44″ square and would look great on a wall or tossed on a couch or easy chair.

Shake off the winter blues and bury yourself in some spring projects instead of snow!

Sue Pritt of Sweet Season Quilts released her Holiday Ladies earlier this year.

Like her other patterns, they are AMAZING! Beautiful building scenes dressed in snow and holiday spirits, the designs come to life with all the detail she includes.  The above quilt is all four patterns combined, or you can make each one separate, or two pairs, or ???

The Sleigh Barn features a sleigh, with a comfy quilt for warmth, on the first floor.  The presents are all loaded in a giant sack on the second floor.  A pair of penguins stroll across the bottom of the quilt.

The occupants of the first floor of the Reindeer Shack are checking out the apples (yum!). Three hens on the second floor are chattering away, and the shovel is ready for the falling snow.

The Holiday Ladies Trees & Greens building features a couple of cardinals admiring a beautiful wreath decorating the second floor window, while down below several trees wait for their embellishments, and several poinsettias are blooming for the season. Oh, and look at the bunnies checking it all out!

The Milk & Cookies are ready for Santa.  All the decorations are up, the snow is falling, the cake is ready ….. time for celebrating!

Simple piecing and fusible applique make these patterns suitable for quilters from beginners to advanced.  These will be treasured holiday decorations for years to come.  If you can bring yourself to part with one after you’ve made it, any one of them would make a wonderful gift, too.

Don’t you just love the fall colors. Bring them inside with table runners.

Fall Table Quilt from Kathie’s Kreations measures 26″ square.  Use reproduction prints in several shades of autumn colors with a neutral, warm background, or go for the splash with bold batik autumn colors.

Fall Into Winter offers two table runner patterns.  The Dresden pieces for the winter pattern are pre-cut and included!

Paper pieced candy corn and buttoned down 3D triangles combine to make A Corny Runner.  Perfect for the season!  Finished runner measures 14″ x 25.25″

Medley of Leaves looks like a beautiful piece of art, doesn’t it?   Make this one as colorful or as subdued as you like and it will be an eye catcher either way.  Use as a table topper or as a wall hanging.

Check out the rest of the table runners…. there are eight pages of them!  Some are seasonal, some are not but can be made seasonal by the choice of fabric.

Until November 1st, all quilting books by The Quilt Branch are available for 10% off! We all love our patterns, but books offer so much more.   Except in the case of larger, more complicated patterns (like samplers or intricate piecing), most quilt books contain several patterns.  You will also benefit from the designer’s experience as the author/designer ofter shares helpful tips and shortcuts for the piecing process, suggestions for fabric selection, and sometimes even quilting ideas instead of the dreaded ‘quilt as desired’.

The Six Halves Make a Whole book series contains patterns that can be made from bundles of six half yard cuts of fabric.

Six Halves Make A Whole Sampler not only has instructions for a 62″ x 72″ quilt, but also patterns for using the blocks in a table runner and to make a tote.  Any of the blocks would look good by itself as a mini- quilt.

Six Halves Make A Whole Christmas quilt book has instructions for six different projects using six half yard cuts of fabric.  Make Christmas stockings, a tree skirt, pillow shams, and lap quilts.

Other titles in the series are Six Halves Make A Whole Quilt (6 projects), Six Halves Make A Whole Lot More (6+ projects), and Six Halves Make A Whole Starburst Quilt (Quilt and Table Topper).

Cottage Creations Quilt Book gives complete instructions for using the Creative Grid Cottage Ruler to make 45 degree patterns.  The book includes three quilts, pillow shams, a table topper, and placemats.

And then there is the Table Topper Series with 4 books…. one for each season.

Table Topper Series Book #3 Fall has patterns for three octagon shaped table toppers, one each for September, November, and December.

Choose a book (or two, or three!) and take advantage of the discounted price.  Use coupon code CB2013 at checkout.

Happy reading and happy sewing!