C&T Publishing is a group of quilters and crafters dedicated to publishing products tailored to our audience. This blog is where we break away from book schedules and marketing campaigns to focus on what drives us to be creative and how this creativity manifests itself in our every day lives.
Category Archives: Sewing
Heartfelt Valentine sachets—free project
Today I have a very special Valentine…just for you! It’s a fabric envelope filled with sweet-smelling heart sachets stuffed with some of last summer’s lavender from my garden. Super easy and super fast – your favorite fat quarter, a fast2fuse® Craft Pack, and a couple sheets of Lutradur® will get you started.
These would also make great party favors or thank-you gifts. And don’t forget the men in your life…just swap out the lavender for some cedar shavings.
(Continue Reading...)
Free projects to kick off the New Year
Ahh, the bulk of holidays have passed, and now it’s time to prepare for the New Year…maybe even make some resolutions. Here are a few free projects you can download from PatternSpot.com to help!
Resolution #1: Keep those toys and awesome new techy gadgets that Santa brought you safe. Those little devices are known to take a tumble now and then, but an embroidered gizmo cozy by Shiny Happy World will keep each one protected and pretty darn cute.
Resolution #2: Always (Continue Reading...)
Free projects for last-minute gifts
What child wouldn’t be thrilled to see this pachyderm peeking out from under the tree? I know I’d hug it. Click here to download a free pattern for Charlie the Patchwork Elephant designed by Bustle & Sew.
Angie Padilla has a free pattern for you to make this fun game called an I Spy Bag. Great for keeping kids entertained during car travel!
I’m pretty sure this season sports more bows than any other. If you (Continue Reading...)
Fast & free ePatterns for the giving
The holidays are just about here. I know there are some people out there who are done with their gift-giving list (not me), but even the super organized folks can get caught off guard with an overlooked recipient.
So here’s my last-minute gift giving tip. Last weekend I was in search of a holiday party hostess gift. It occurred to me to check out our own PatternSpot.com. Not only did I find a quick and simple project, but I filled (Continue Reading...)
Santa is on his way! A free project from Possibilities
Sometimes the holidays bring unexpected guests…“Quick, we need a stocking for cousin Max!” Or maybe you’d like to fit in one last “make the house merry” project?
The super sweet Santas and lettering on these stockings are fusible web appliqué patterns from Christmas with Possibilities by Lynda Milligan and Nancy Smith. They are perfect for not only stockings, but also for a small wallhanging, an embellishment for your front door, or even a holiday table runner.
Click here to download the FREE appliqué patterns along with instructions for (Continue Reading...)
Caged Creature—free Halloween project
Halloween is just around the corner and I can’t wait to get the house decorated for all the spooky festivities. This year when I have the “ghouls” over, I want to send each of them home with their very own pet crow…just what everyone needs, right?!! So after rummaging through my craft room, here is what I came up with. They go together so fast, I’m sure you’ll want to create some treasures for your own group of (Continue Reading...)
Nothing gets wasted!
I have bags of strips from old projects that I think I’ll use for scrap log cabin blocks, and sacks with batting pieces I’m convinced I can use for hot pads, and bins full of 2-1/2″ squares I can’t bear to toss. I even have a jar with rolled up selvages.
Then I found that my coworker Mary also likes selvage edges, so I used some to upcycle an old canvas tote for her (which has since become Mary’s young daughter’s (Continue Reading...)
Free project: fast2fuse flip-flops
Ah…the long days of summer. As we roll into September and warm breezes still caress our skin and sunny days linger, what could symbolize the season better than flip-flops! More often than not, they’re the shoe of choice whether hanging at the ice cream parlor, lazily making your way for a dip in the water, or strolling (peach pie in hand) to the neighbor’s BBQ.
They’re the closest thing to being barefoot and really… who doesn’t love that floink-floink (Continue Reading...)
A Basket Case
I am always looking for new and better ways to organize the treasures in my studio. Every time I go thrifting, I am drawn to baskets, drawers: large and small, old relish dishes with compartments, various sized jars and bottles, even doll trunks and dressers.
Lately, I’ve needed a way to store larger things like my extra yarn for current knitting projects. I find myself trying to move supplies from one end of the house to the other while I work (Continue Reading...)
Sewing and needlework keeper
I wanted to make a gift for a friend of mine that likes to do needlework. While she usually has several projects going at once and some are quite large, she often has “take-a-long” items she keeps in a plastic bag in her purse. I thought if I made her something decorative and useful, she just might be able to stop using the plastic bags.
I started with a project I’d made as a promo piece for my book, Make (Continue Reading...)
