Printables + Downloads

Learn more quilting by doing! Check out these Printables + Downloads for inspiration and ideas for learning new skills.

FREE Quilt Planner!

Ah! Can you feel it? The anticipation of a new year is right around the corner. This year I’ve accomplished a lot but I think I could do better at getting around to my WIP (work in progress) quilts. I say this all the time, but this time I mean it, I swear!

I’ve been working on something special that I knew I would want to share with you!

I created a quilt planner! And it is a FREE Quilt Planner! I’ve been testing it out myself over the last few months and I must say that I think it has really helped me keep my quilting thoughts together.

I’ve been tweaking it as I go and adjusting because I want this to be the most useful quilt planner out there.

You know I’m not one to promise the moon and not deliver, right? So, I’m pretty excited to share this with you finally! 🙂

No fluff, no extra wasted space, just pure potential to take the away chaos in your brain and allow you to do what you do best. 🙂 Which is, of course… create.

Let me tell you a little story…

Christen (me) Pre-Quilt Planner Days:

Literally, like 5 spiral notebooks with chicken scratch drawings of random ideas I would have throughout the day or if I was out and about. I always have a spiral with me… and my phone, but often the spiral works better for quick notes. They’re full of checklists and notes to myself so I don’t forget.

You get the point…

Christen with the new (and improved) FREE Quilt Planner:

Oh yes…. so productive. So fancy. All my quilt notes, target due dates, fabric swatches and supply lists as well as pattern names and project ideas live in one little binder. It is GLORIOUS.

Seriously, when you find a system that works for you, you can hear the thread in the sewing room sing like an choir of angels!I’m on a bit of a productive high today because I also organized the kid’s play room. Oh yes, momma did!

So if you’d like to also be organized in your sewing/quilting room, download my FREE Quilt Planner. (there is just a “sewing projects” version as well!)

And be sure to let me know what you think, won’t you? If there are any tweaks that would work better for you, I would love to hear it.
14 Winning Last Minute Sewing Gifts

Hey there! Christmas is just around the corner and if you’re like me, the calendar timeline is beginning to feel a lot shorter than I would like it to be! If you’re looking for some great last minute sewing gift ideas, I’m here to rescue you!

Each one of these ideas is a super winner gift that will leave your recipient feeling loved and leave you with a few more ticks to your clock!

1. ONE HOUR Zipper Box Pouch

You can see the original tutorial here and the slightly alternate ending tutorial here. I made a bunch of these up for my kid’s teachers and stuffed them with goodies I found in the cosmetics section at Target. They were a really big hit and easy to customize to individual likes and personalities!

2. Cute Fat Quarter Bags!

Aren’t these precious? Amy over at Diary of a Quilter shows step by step how to sew up these cute little bags using fat quarter fabric. These would be darling to sew for tween girls! You can check out the tutorial here.

5 Minute Pin Cushion

This pin cushion is one of my favorites to give. 1) We all could use an extra pin cushion, right? 2) This one is super easy to customize to each individual person. I have re-purposed chipped china cups found in a thrift store, cheap dollar store mugs, fancy mini teacups, even the travel souvenir shot glass… you name it! Add a little scrap fabric and voila!

For the Homemaker

In my head right now I can see so many possibilities for this kitchen towel and hot pad set from Crazy Mom Quilts. Happy spring colors, soothing neutral colors, a bright pop of yellow in the summertime…. I could go on!

She also has a recipe for hot fudge sauce that I have made multiple times and totally puts the icing on the cake for this gift!

Quick Table Runner

This Quick Table runner tutorialfrom SewMuchAdo has 4 steps…. yes you read that right. 4 easy steps. Wrap it up with some scented pine cones or a plate of cookies… yummy and pretty!

You can also check out this tutorial that I created this year for a quilted table runner – Again the color options are endless to go with any occasion or holiday. (Edit: a reader of mine even mentioned how she made the table runner reversible!)

Little Cutie Pouches

I absolutely adore these little cutie pouches from Noodlehead. They are the perfect way to dress up a gift card. The tutorial is really detailed and lays out everything step by step. Make a few extra while you’re at it as quick grab and go gifts in a pinch!

The Perfect Catch-All Fabric Bin

I’ve made so many of these fabric catch-all bins around my own house I can’t even count them all. My kids develop these little “collections” of the most random things they can find. (Who collects acorns and is not a squirrel? My son, that is who. But that is beside the point.)

What I mean to say is these little fabric bins are absolutely endless in versatility. They sew up fast too. Win-win.

Mod Messenger Bag

This is another one from Diary of a Quilter – This mod messenger bag takes a little bit of extra time the first time you sew it, but after that you’ll be a pro and can whip these up and customize them to your own liking super quickly.

OMG Aprons!

I never get tired of the usefulness of a good apron. To your favorite creative baker or chef, you’ll be a godsend of a hero. I do a lot of baking and my aprons are always dirty or in the wash. And often I just like to wear it because I’m feeling a little spunky or maybe I like how I feel like a retro housewife when I wear one? 🙂

Anyways, here are a few really fun tutorials.

Crazy Little Projects has a super simple apron tutorial that walks you through step by step and gives you a few ways you can make it your own (See cute bow)

And even Pint Sized Aprons for the tiny Chef’s in your life. Aesthetic Nest has a pattern and tutorial to cover all your culinary geniuses.

Wine Bottle Bags

I wrote up a post recently that had links to my favorite tutorials for wine bottle bags. If this is something you’re interested in making (and why not? because they’re super fast a cute way to dress up a bottle of wine for a dinner party) you can check out that post here.

Easy Peasy Fleece Blanket

I don’t know how your house is but sometimes I have more “help” than I know what to do with on my projects. 🙂

This project is one that lots of little hands can help with for the majority of the steps.

Easy Peasy Fleece Balnket from The Polka Dot Chair

Quilt Block Oops to Zipper Pouch

Honestly, why have I never thought of this before? – I said to myself when I came across this tutorial. I had cast away several blocks that we’ren’t just right for whatever reason and said I might make a few mug rugs eventually.

These Zipper Pouches are much more useful! I also love the tassel addition that she added. Check out this tutorial on The little Mushroom Cap.

If you simply do not have time to whip up a few of these gifts or you are shopping for another quilter, don’t forget to check out my post with the 20 Amazing gifts for quilters.

What are your favorite last minute sewing gifts? I’ll be adding to this post as I find myself in a pinch (as I often do!)

Good luck to us all in the last few weeks of the year. Slow down when you can and soak up the simple moments of creativity when you can get them 🙂

Also, check out my free e-book download below for my best tips on Quilting for the busy girl!
Crafty Christmas Gift Tags!

Hey hey hey! I have something fun for you today! I designed some Crafty Christmas Gift tags! These are perfect for quilters and all those little homemade little goodies that you’ve been working on in your sewing spaces as the holidays get closer!

I’ve been working my tail off on a few gifts, myself. Every year I start with high ambitions and a clear calendar and then by December 5th I realize my to-do list is a mile long and ‘oh, no… I’ve done it again!’ (does anyone want to take a guess at today’s date? lol… oops I did it again)

But hopefully, you’re ahead of me and are already wrapping your lovely handmade crafty DIY gift goodies! You just need that tiny little extra bit to finish it off… the perfect gift tag!

I’m super excited to pull these out this year and dress them up with a little twine… I still crack myself up with the Honest (sassy) gift tags that I designed earlier this year (Hint: Go check them out! You can download them here for free!). Is that weird that I find myself funny??

Anyways, the freebie version been such a huge hit that I decided to whip up some Christmas themed tags for the fun of it!

I created 12 different designs that you can print and use again and again with all your crafty gifts!

You have your Holly-Jolly-Christmas-Fun tags, and then you have a few that are just a little sassy!

… because honestly, aren’t we all just a little bit sassy? 😉

I say embrace it and have fun with it!

You can download these tags by clicking here to visit my shop!

Use Code: HOLLY for 25% off your order.

*ahem* Did you see that? Don’t forget to USE THE CODE! 🙂

Merry Christmas my sewing and quilting friends!

What I think really kicks these tags up just a smidge are these versatile tags that I found on Amazon. You can get them in a lot of different sizes and colors. I use them all year long on gifts for friends, teachers, labels for baskets around the house, etc. etc. etc. Easily adds that handmade touch and no fuss.

I’d love to see how you use your Christmas gift tags! Do me a favor and tag me (@Iseestarsquilting or #Iseestarsquilting) or send me a quick picture! Hope you have a Merry Christmas and soak up some good memories!

You can check out some more ideas for Quilty Christmas decor in this post! You won’t believe how simple this decoration is with glass Christmas ornaments.
A Sweet Baby Quilt Pattern (FREE PATTERN!)

I had the pleasure of making another sweet baby quilt recently! And I’m sharing the sweet baby quilt pattern with you! It is super simple. You’re going to love it!

I just fell in love with everything from the fabric to the quilting while making this one. It was simple and perfect, just like the little baby that this quilt will be going to live with soon.

Just look at this darling flamingo pattern! – A random find while I was shopping for something else… Subtle and so sweet. It was just the very beginnings of this pretty little quilt!

I paired it with several other aqua and speckled prints. A little grey, a little black and white polka dot, and some graphic black and white.

You can see my choice in quilting style in the picture below. I kept it straight and simple to accentuate the geometric shapes. (I also haven’t trimmed off my thread yet because I got excited and it was sunny outside… yeah, ignore those little eyesores, won’t you?)

If you haven’t guessed… Hi, my name is Christen, and I’m obsessed with stars. I don’t know what to say, they just show up everywhere in my designs. I don’t seek them when I’m designing, it is just what comes out of my soul 🙂 So they star pattern was a fun discovery to mix in around the flamingo pattern.

I think my one of my most favorite parts of this quilt is the fabric choice on the binding. Is there anything more lovely than a perfectly stripey binding?

And one more picture because I’m kind of obsessed with the stripes right now…

I decided to share the easy pattern with you because I fully believe we all deserve one of these in our arsenal of patterns!

You can download my FREE Pattern HERE:

…And one last photo! Because you should never just settle for a boring back to your quilt… Make it fun! Make it unexpected!

Hey! I just recently wrote a post about how to wash your quilts and stop the fabric colors from bleeding. If you’re making quilts to give away, its a total must read! Help! How to stop the Bleeding in your quilt fabric.
Snowman Wall Hanging Quilt

Check out this little Snowman Wall Hanging Quilt I made for my mom! Ack! I’m in a cute snowy daze just looking at how happy he looks!

If you follow me on Instagram, you got a sneak peek at the work in progress this past weekend.

My mom has been “hinting” several times that she has a blank wall in her dining room that is perfect for decorating seasonally with a quilted wall hanging. Fall flew right by with nothing to cover the blank wall… even when I had the best intentions of making something for her.

After a lovely Thanksgiving, I had a spark on inspiration, and I knew I had the scrap fabric to make it happen! If I don’t have to get out and go shopping, there is a 95% better chance of me actually getting something started and finished in a timely manner.

And my cute little snowman came to life overnight! Look at his little nose! I love the little touch of the Minky fabric.

Also, remember on my custom DIY sewing machine cover how I used several buttons that were from a collection that was gifted to me from my grandmother? I pulled them back out again and added a few to the snowman because I knew my mom would appreciate the sentiment as well.

This fluffy little snowman took about two days from start to finish.

Normally, I would tell you to space it out a little more and not let the process consume all of your time.

Normally, I would tell you not to get so involved in a quilt that it takes away so much precious time from your family.

Normally, I would tell you to not just assume that everyone is good with holiday leftovers for the 3rd night in a row and then order pizza when someone complains because… score! Now you don’t even have to heat up the leftovers. (win-win) I mean, I totally have this dinner thing down by this point, right?

Normally, I would tell you not to power through a project like this because it might drive your spouse crazy… but today…

Today, I am telling you that we are all still alive. Everyone made it and life is back to normal.

…and it feels really good to have it finished and hung in my mom’s house 🙂

To make a snowman wall hanging quilt of your own, check out this pattern link.

Hey, If you’re in the Christmas-y spirit mode, make sure and check out these super adorable Christmas gift tags that I created to go along with your crafty gifts!
10 FREE Patterns to Grow your Skills as a Quilter

This is a post that I’ve wanted to share for a while. I’ve got 10 FREE patterns to grow your skills as a quilter.

Why am I itching to share this with you? Because the #1 thing I hear people tell me when I talk about quilting is “I love it, but I could never create something like that… its way above my skill level.” or “I can barely even sew on a button… I could never make a quilt!”

Just stop it. Stop it right now.

We’ve all been there before… staring at an intricate and beautiful quilt… suddenly feeling less than worthy of ever creating anything that can come anywhere close to the greatness of the quilt that lies in front of us. I’m here to tell you that you totally can!

With the quilt show coming up this week (eeeeee! I’m so excited!) I need to share this. I’ve watched the girls that I admire and think are some part quilt wizards stare in awe of another quilter. We’re all huge fans of each other’s works.

But we all started somewhere…

…and then one day we decided to put in the work to learn more.

Now, I make no promises that your very next quilt is going to be on display at the Smithsonian museum one day… but I can promise that you’ll grow your infinite number of skills as a quilter just a little bit more. Soon, you’ll find yourself a little bit better and better with each quilt you make!

It’s amazing and so so so satisfying.

Ok, no more talk, let’s get on to the 10 FREE Patterns to Grow your Skills as a Quilter!

I’ve pulled together 10 FREE Patterns from my favorite stash (patterns that I have designed myself [because yes] and patterns designed by other quilters) that I have used to grow my own skills.

First, ask yourself a few questions…

What is it that inspires you right now? Right this very second? Is it a piece of fabric that you want to feature in a quilt? Is it a quilt you saw on Pinterest or are you suddenly obsessed with (but still intimidated by) triangles?

I know I’m not a rocket scientist here, but pick something that leans heavily toward what you’re really into right now. You won’t want to work on something that doesn’t get you all excited. And if you get frustrated, well you can just kiss it goodbye. Trust me.

Choose something that when you’re finished you know it’ll be front and center in your home and be your favorite snuggle cover in the house! (at least until you make the next one 😉 )

Then, kick it up just a bit and choose something that scares you… just a little bit. Something just slightly out of your comfort zone.

10 FREE Patterns to Grow your Skills as a Quilter!

If you want to work on your very beginner skills, check out the first few patterns… If you’ve been quilting for a little while, check out the rest of the list.
1. Windy Days Quilt Pattern – This one is designed by yours truly, and I LOVE the way this one comes together! It is seriously so fun and easy. There are some HST (half square triangles) involved, but don’t let that scare you! There are no tears involved. I promise.
2) The Stack and Wack Pattern – Seriously. It doesn’t get easier than this. Focus on getting those blocks and those sharp corners to line up properly and get those quarter inch seams to perfection!

3) Rainbow Strip and Flip Pattern – Yes, It is simple but its also classy and if you’re just starting in the quilting world… do a few of these before you move on to the bigger stuff. Work on perfecting your sewing and your seams. Be meticulous with your cutting and parallel lines.

4) Fresh Diamonds – It is time to get those crisp pointy corners! Work with your seam allowances and get it right. If its not right when you sew it… use your seam ripper and do it again. Learn to perfect as you create.

5) Pineapple Quilt – This one is going to help you with piecing. Work on getting it just perfect and then do it again. And again. A lot of little steps and block lead to one big beautiful quilt top! I love how summery and happy this one feels!

6) Bravo Indigo Quilt – I love this quilt. It turns out so impressive and lovely! Work on keeping those lines perfectly parallel and your corners just perfect! You’ll be so pleased with the geometric results of this quilt!

7) Foundation Paper Piecing – Yep. This is totally something you could (and should) jump into to master. Oh, those lovely perfect intricate shapes give you such a feeling of accomplishment and look so impressive. I like that this blog links to 11 different free patterns you can print yourself to practice on.

8) Art Gallery Fabrics Collection of FREE Patterns – Seriously, do you just need something to light that fire in you and make you go “WOW!” ? This is it. Browse it and take a look… You’ll love it and are sure to find soemthing that will keep you hooked and interested to finish your next quilt asap!

9) Hexagons – Ever wondered just HOW they do those seams? Isn’t it hard?… nope. This tutorial is really great and has LOTS of pictures!

10) Triangles – I’ll be the first to admit these scared me when I first started quilting. I wouldn’t honestly avoid them at all costs and say… Nope. I’m more of a square kind of girl… Yeah, no I’m not. I love triangles, and something about overcoming that silly fear still makes me happy sewing triangles now.

Don’t forget to PIN this image so you can come back to this article when you need some ideas!

There you have it… what do you say? Are you ready to step out of that comfortable circle you keep yourself in and explore something else in the quilting world?

What is it that you would love to try to learn but are too afraid to dive in?

If you ever have any questions, you’re welcome to contact me. I’m happy to help in any way that I can. 🙂

Happy sewing!