Summer Swan -- Free Pattern

I have to admit this has been finished and ready to post for a few days.  Sorry :( 

I've had to wait for enough time to post, add a link to my Free Patterns page, and upload the file to Google Docs.  All of that actually only takes a few moments but even that has been difficult to come by lately.  I've heard people speak of "lazy Summer afternoons".  I, myself, have yet to experience one.  No matter what the temperature my children never slow down, I just lack the energy to keep up with them.

Enough excuses, I've made you wait long enough.  This is simply my interpretation of the swan motif commonly found in antique Dutch samplers.  This was just a small piece of linen in my scrap basket, I'd received it as part of a swap package, but I can't remember from whom.  I wanted a design that could be stitched entirely in off-white thread.  I love the contrast of light colored thread against a dark linen background. 

If you would like to download the pattern simply visit my Free Patterns page, scroll all the way to the bottom and click on the link under the photo of the pattern finish.  As always, if you have any trouble, just e-mail me and I will be happy to send you the PDF pattern as an e-mail attachment.   

Enjoy!

xoxo

Jennie Lynn

Prim Bunny (A Free Sewing Pattern)

Can you spot the burlap rose on my little prim bunny? I ended up painting, staining and then baking my burlap strip before making the rosette. I wanted it to more closely match the bunny itself. The osnaburg and burlap both have such wonderful textures but I wanted them the same color. I think it makes just the perfect bushy bunny's tail, don't you?

There are many prim bunny patterns like this one, especially this time of year. This is just my interpretation. I contemplated little french knot eyes or a stitched nose (both of which would look very sweet) but at the end I always choose less.

I love the way she came out, especially her lines. I was a little concerned sketching the pattern. Sewing curves is not my favorite thing to do and I don't think there's a straight line anywhere in there. Her curves are soft though and I had no problem whatsoever stitching her up. I think they give her such a graceful look and are most likely the reason I've decided that she is a she. Of course yours can be a boy. You can leave off the tail entirely, if you wish. Or perhaps some wool roving? I think she would look sweet with a little rusty bell tied around her neck or a burlap saddle over her back. My bunny is painted white then tea stained but how about a brown or black bunny?

If you would like to download the free sewing pattern you can do so from my Free Patterns page. As always, if you have any trouble downloading the pattern just send me an e-mail at appleseedprim@yahoo.com and I will e-mail you a copy of the pattern. I'd love to see what you guys come up with so be sure to send me photos of your finishes. For now, it's time for me to put away the sewing machine and get back to stitching. I'll share my progress with all of you soon enough but now my stitching and I are in much need of some quality time :)

xoxo

Jennie Lynn

Samplermakers Spring Stitcher's Challenge

Some of you might remember the Samplermakers Autumn Stitcher's Challenge that I hosted awhile ago. It was so much fun I decided to host another. Now, Spring is not my favorite time of the year, so designing the motifs was a challenge in and of itself. The photo above are just a few of the free patterns offered for the challenge. What do you think?

Now this challenge is open only to members of Samplermakers. I know quite a few of you are already members and I hope you download the free patterns and give it a try. I loved seeing what you came up with for the Autumn Stitcher's Challenge and I'm hoping your new designs help me get in the spirit of Spring.

If you're not a member of Samplermakers just e-mail me at appleseedprim@yahoo.com and I'd be happy to send you login information. Just sign in and start socializing! It's a wonderful group of stitchers that, though they have been quiet as of late, are a real hoot once they get going.

For all of my blogger friends I have a sewing pattern coming in a day or so, perfect for Spring, so be sure to check back. Most people (I've been told) feel rejuvenated by Spring. I get lethargic, but am trying to stay motivated. The more projects the better but without all of you to share them with I'd probably be sulking on the sofa with all the blinds pulled down. So thanks for being my own personal cheering squad. I don't know what I'd do without you guys.

xoxo

Jennie Lynn

Free Tulip Pattern

This is just a little tulip I stitched during my daughter's nap yesterday. I adore tulips but am not really a fan of Spring patterns. I find it particularly difficult to design or stitch for Spring given I don't enjoy the pastel colors so commonly associated with the season. I do like pale green and struggling to find a color for the tulip itself I finally happened upon orange. I usually consider this color reserved for Autumn but just a shade or two lighter than a pumpkin tipping slightly towards yellow and I think it makes a lovely Spring color.

If you would like to download the free pattern simply visit my Free Patterns page and click on the link below the photo of the stitched piece. As always, if you have any difficulty downloading the pattern please e-mail me at appleseedprim.blogspot.com and I will send the pattern to you as a file attachment.

Things have quieted down here (at least for a little while) and I am patiently waiting for the new Gentle Arts threads I ordered to arrive. I am considering using one of them in a new design and I will be sure to share pictures of them as soon as the postman gifts them to me. I adore new threads and feel a bit silly being driven by anticipation to check the mailbox a few (dozen) times a day. But you understand, don't you?

xoxo

Jennie Lynn

A free pattern and extreme aging technique

I've had an idea for awhile now . . . I wanted to stitch a sampler that looked old . . . really old. I began fussing with some scrap linen and a block of sandpaper. Yes, sandpaper, 180 grit. I use the same block when sanding my make-dos and dolls and what have you. I figured it would work on cross stitch linen just as well. After some trial and error I finally happened upon a technique that gave me the look I wanted. I lightly sanded the entire piece of linen in a single direction. I didn't want to put any holes in it (yet) I just wanted to thin the linen so it looked more worn. I then focused my attention on a few spots. I sanded in a single direction (either up or down or side to side, but not both) until I began to wear through the linen. Fair warning, my table looked as though a large dog had shedded its' entire coat onto it :)

Here is a closeup of the tears in the linen.

I continued sanding until I was happy with the amount of wear on the linen. I found that the side I sanded looked "fuzzy" no matter how many times I took my lint roller to it so I chose to use the backside. I sat down and began stitching, keeping the design simple. I intentionally avoided stitching too near to the holes in the linen but couldn't avoid it when I began stitching the border. I simply kept stitching until I reached the hole and then left the thread hanging. Of course I could have stitched a design first and then sanded but I like to look of "missing" stitches. When the sampler was finished I gave it a light wash in my black walnut dye and then brushed on more dye focusing around the worn areas. I thought ahead and stitched using DMC thread, fearing that the hand dyed threads might bleed. Now that I think on it, that might have given it an even more aged appearance. Hmmmm, perhaps next time.

Now, I wouldn't do this to a sampler that I had spent a great deal of time working on, but personally I adore the look of this piece. It looks lovely displayed. Throughout the day it's followed me from my bedroom, into the living room, and is now resting in the family room. It looks so sweet no matter where I toss it. I wouldn't drape a genuine antique sampler over a box on my mantel or lay it across a few books on an end table but this piece just belongs nestled amongst other prims.

I charted the little sampler and am offering it as a free pattern. Of course you are welcome to stitch it however you like, but I would suggest trying this technique if you enjoy the look, and be sure to let me know how it turns out.

If you would like to download the free pattern you can find it on my Free Pattern page, simply scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the link below the photo of the finished piece. As always, if you have any trouble downloading the PDF file simply e-mail me and I can send it to you.

Our youngest is turning two next weekend so it will most certainly be a busy week, but hopefully I'll have a finish to show you soon. Until then, happy stitching.

xoxo

Jennie Lynn

My Tattered Suitor

He's a scraggly little man, dingy and worn.
His heart (along with some of his stuffing) is bare for his love to see.
Perhaps not the most striking suitor to be seen, but adorable nonetheless.
We can only hope the object of his affection agrees.

This is a very simple pattern. My original idea was much more . . . elaborate. On days I feel particularly creative all my ideas get jumbled up with one another and I have a tendency to focus them all on a single project. Once I get to working, though, I am always drawn to the simplest expressions. The single appliqued heart said exactly what I wanted to say in the plainest way possible and when it comes to prim isn't that always best?

I'm offering the doll pattern to you as a free pattern. It's a design that lends itself well to virtually any embellishment for any occasion. If you're interested in the free pattern you can download it from my Free Pattern page. If you have any trouble downloading the pattern in the newer format let me know and I'll be happy to e-mail you the pattern as a PDF attachment.

Feel free to use the pattern any way you like and be sure to share with me your finishes. I hope you enjoy him and I can't wait to see what you come up with.

xoxo

Jennie Lynn

Apple Tree Free Pattern

I adore apples and not just apples but apple orchards as well. Growing up in Upstate New York I have the utmost appreciation for the beauty of apple trees year round. Even in Winter the bare branches are beautiful covered in snow. The bark is almost black and the trees have such a striking shape contrasted against the snow. When I was younger they would bring to mind the writhing limbs of a tortured soul, but I was a morose teenager. Now they look to me as if they are dancing.

In Spring the blossoms can boast the most lovely shade of pink I have ever seen. I have such fond memories of the Apple Blossom Festival every year in the town I grew up in. And of course in Autumn they bear such a wonderful fruit even as the leaves on the branches begin to change.

Where we live in Maryland there are no apple orchards and though cherry trees can be quite beautiful they do not (to my mind) hold a candle to apple trees. I do miss my hometown, apple trees being just one of many reasons. In their honor and in honor of the town I grew up in, here is this month's free pattern. It was originally meant to be part of a larger sampler but in the end I opted for a tree with a slightly different shape. The two apples depicted here are Macintosh and Red Delicious, two of my favorites stitched using Gentle Arts Mulberry and Gentle Arts Limited Edition Plum Pudding. The tree is stitched with Weeks Dye Works Bark and the leaves are Gentle Arts Endive. If you would like to stitch this pattern for yourself you can find it on my Free Patterns page. I hope you enjoy this pattern and just in time for the start of apple picking season.

xoxo

Jennie Lynn

Hollow Wreath Free Pattern

I do know that in fact the wreath is not hollow :)

But it was when I designed it. I only added the year after I had finished stitching the wreath. I had a little of the linen left over from Blest Art and designed this in order to practice my stem stitch. I wanted to know if I could stitch a circle. Perhaps a little more practice . . . but I'm happy with it. I could not have managed to place that one leaf over the stain in the linen if I had tried and to have had it been stitched with that little bit of brown in the thread. It looks just as if the thread has bled over time.

It was stitched over two on 30ct R & R Reproductions American Chestnut using Gentle Arts Espresso Bean. When choosing a black for Blest Art I considered almost every black colored thread I owned. There are more than one might have thought. Dark Chocolate, Tin Bucket, Blackbird, Onyx, Kohl, Mascara . . . and Espresso Bean which was my second choice for Blest Art. I decided to use it here intead and it had the perfect amount of brown for this particular cut of the linen. The free pattern shows a backstitch where I put a stem stitch. A backstitch would look lovely too as would initials in place of a date. You can find the free pattern here or use the link on my sidebar.

Only two days until Emma and Jem return from New York and only two weeks now until school starts again. I think I have enough #2 pencils, lined paper, composition notebooks, binders and school glue to start my own stationary store. Of course I'll have completely run out by December. There is something equally sad and exciting about the end of Summer . . . but I have to admit I am eagerly anticipating the arrival of Autumn.

I hope all of you enjoy this month's free pattern and remember I love to see everyone's finishes. Before the children return I am hoping to have finished stitching the border on Blest Art and I'll post a picture as soon as I do.

xoxo

Jennie Lynn

Sharing some finishes . . .

These finishes were kindly sent to me by Connie (no blog). First is my French Letters Bluebird pattern which can be found here. She resized the pattern for 36 count linen and stitched the letters using Crescent Colours Old Blue Jeans. I meant to ask if she had a photo of the backing fabric but it completely slipped my mind. I love the little bow she added around his neck.

Connie also used several of my free patterns to create a lovely little needle book.

Connie's stitching and sewing is gorgeous but I have to admit I can't take my eyes of that little strawberry scissor's fob. I'm going to have to ask her about that . . . isn't it so sweet?

I love the way she stitched the Peahen's Valentine Freebie. The colors are so different than what I envisioned and looks completely different than what I stitched. I love that! Most of the time when I design something I see it one way only. I adore seeing my designs interpreted by other people and most times I think you guys do a better job of stitching it than I did!

Thank you so much Connie for sending me pictures of your finishes. They're beautiful and seeing them truly did make my day.

I'm redesigning my page for purchasing patterns, or at least trying to. I have a very clear idea in my mind of how I want it to look and function and it's getting there . . . slowly. There have been several times this past week I've just had to walk away from my laptop in order to maintain my sanity! So thank you for your patience as I wrestle with blogger. As always if you are interested in any of my patterns you can always e-mail me at applseedprim@yahoo.com.

xoxo

Jennie Lynn

Samplermakers Autumn Stitcher's Challenge

I am hosting a Stitcher's Challenge through Samplermakers, a wonderful group created by Lori Brechlin from Notforgotten Farm. If you're not a member yet but are interested in joining contact Lori at not4got@aol.com. It's a remarkable community of stitchers.

The Autumn Stitcher's Challenge starts on August 1st, when I'll be sending a message out to all members and ends October 1st. So if you'd like to join hurry up so you don't miss it. Those participating will recieve patterns for several motifs. You can create any size design, alter the designs, use all or some of the motifs, add your own designs, change the colors . . . the options are limitless. For those you who don't have access to a pay design program there's this wonderful program called KG Stitch you can download for free. I've had it on my laptop for years and never had any problems so no worries about viruses and the like. Of course you can also stitch without a pattern. Just start stitching and see where it takes you.

The only requirement of the challenge is that you share your work on Samplermakers. Discuss your design choices, ask for input from the other members, share inspiration, post pictures of your work . . .

If you're already a member or plan on becoming one just check your e-mail on August 1st for the pattern. I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!

xoxo

Jennie Lynn

Budding Wreath Free Pattern

I have to say this one took a lot longer than I had expected to finish. It's not even finished yet. I still haven't decided what to put in the center of the wreath. A date? Initials? A verse? It took so long to stitch the wreath I have to put it aside for awhile. Normally with the smaller patterns I stitch without a chart. With borders, however, I am never able to get them to match up without charting first. Silly me to think that would make it easier. This one was charted first and I still had to frog my stitches three times before I could get the wreath to match up. To look at it you wouldn't think it was that challenging a stitch. But a word of advice for those of you (like me) who are stitching in the middle of the night with less than ideal lighting and perhaps are a little tired . . . stitch the ring first then go back and add in all the little stems.

The colors are WDW Molasses and GA Summer Shower and was stitched on a piece of 30ct scap linen. Once I've gotten it completed I'm thinking of using it to cover the lid of a paper mache box. That's a finish I have yet to try. If you'd like the free pattern you can find it here. Feel free to put whatever you would like inside the wreath and share with me. Perhaps what you choose to stitch will inspire me. I'm desperate to get back to the sampler I was working on. It's been calling to me in the evenings, I just couldn't pick it up again until I had finished this darn wreath. Now that it's finished I have to admit that I am happy with how it came out (so far) and proud of myself for sticking with it until it was done! There was a time that after pulling out stitches for the second time I would have simply given up. This time I just couldn't let that pattern get the best of me :)

I hope you enjoy the pattern and remember I love to see your finishes!

xoxo

Jennie Lynn

June Blooms Free Pattern

I do enjoy designing and stitching these truly primitive designs. It's not a conscious choice but I always tend towards them this time of year. While my life takes a decided shift towards complete and utter insanity during Summer Vacation the simplicity of these designs are a welcome respite. I'm still waiting on the fabric to sew this into a little pinkeep. Click here to see it. Isn't it lovely?

I can't keep a garden for anything. A few years ago I stopped at a garden center and asked for the most resilient, hardest to kill plants they had. I bought a few and only one lasted longer than a month. I joke the only think I can grow is children. The closest I'll ever get to a garden of my own is a stitched one, which is fine by me.

The flower stems are done in a stem stitch that I freehanded; a simple backstitch would work well too. The colors are GA Garden Gate, GA Copper and CC Khaki Mocha and the linen was a R & R 30ct from my stash. If you would like to stitch it for yourself the pattern can be found here. Let me know what you think . . .

xoxo

Jennie Lynn

Basket of Flowers Free Pattern

Another free pattern I won't get the time to stitch. At least not while flowers are still blooming. They'll be snow on the ground again by the time I get around to it.

Most of my free patterns were designed to be a component of a larger pattern, but ended up not fitting into the final design. Perhaps at some point they'll find a home in another design, but in the meantime it seems too much of a waste to let them sit in a folder on my desktop. Hopefully you ladies can find a use for this little guy. You can find the pattern on my Free Patterns page. Let me know what you come up with!

xoxo

Jennie Lynn

Another Butterfly Free Pattern

I had promised this buttefly months ago. I stitched her brother back in February and shared pictures and the pattern. If I don't stitch things the moment I'm finished designing them they tend to get lost in the shuffle. That's what happened to this little lady. I had planned on stitching her with GA Picnic Basket and GA Roasted Marshmallow (like her brother) but use a peach thread rather than the teal. I never even got so far as to pick the thread color :)

In the way of an apology for having made you wait so long I've also included the border that was meant to go with the butterflies with perhaps a name or the date inside. All three patterns can be used together or seperate but at least someone will get to stitch them since I can't seem to find the time. All three patterns can be found on my Free Patterns page. Enjoy!!!


xoxo

Jennie Lynn

Prim Alphabet Pincushion Free Pattern

I've seen patterns such as this at prim shows and antique marts and just had to make one of my own. It's the lowercase version of an alphabet I designed years ago to put into samplers or use as initials. The whole project was so blessedly simple; just what I needed while waiting for my wool to arrive in the mail. I even stitched it on 28ct linen which is unusual for me. I'm surprised I even had any in my stash. This one I aged with much better success than my last attempt (at least to my eyes) and it makes the perfect little prim pincushion. I finished it days ago but finally got it sewn together today. The pattern is oh so simple but I put it up as a free pattern anyway. The alphabet can be used for so many things; I'd love to see what you ladies come up with. I hope you enjoy!!!

xoxo

Jennie Lynn

Butterfly Free Pattern

Here's the butterfly again. I was going to wait to put out the pattern until I had stitched both. Alas that will not be for awhile and I see no reason to make you wait.

Finished into a little pincushion? Combined with some pretty stitched flowers? I haven't decided what I'll do with it yet but I'm sure I'll think of something. Let me know what you do with this little flutterby and don't worry his sister will be along soon enough.

Click here for the free pattern.

xoxo

Jennie Lynn

Keeping Joy Sewing Book

Let a joy keep you . . .

Even the simplest of joys can carry you through the most difficult of times. Sometimes that tiny pleasure is all you have to see you through a hardship, so keep that joy and let it keep you.

That sentiment has helped me through more than few tough times in my own life. There are times things are so dark there seems to be no path to the light. This little sewing book is a reminder to myself to find and keep that joy.

It is a tiny little pattern that on and off took me the better part of a month to stitch; it spent most of that month untouched. For such a short month February has an awful lot packed into it in our house. I finally finished it yesterday morning; I was just waiting for some sunlight to take the pictures. I have to say I think it was worth the wait. I finished it into a little sewing book using some civil war reproduction fabric. I just adore that shade of pink; it has a wonderful age to it. I lightly tea stained it as well. The book when open measures 6 inches by 12 inches and has four pockets inside each of which is 3 inches square.

The pattern itself is stitched over two on 40 ct R & R Reproductions Park City Blend and measures approximately 3 inches square. It was stitched using Weeks Dye Works and Gentle Arts threads. The black thread in the design made me a little nervous so I chose not to tea stain the finished stitching, but of course you could. I chose the pink thread to coordinate with the fabric, but it is a lovely color. The skein I had of it was highly vareigated pink and cream. I wanted only the pink so I had to "fussy cut" the thread to get just the bits I wanted. There are times I've done that and ended up with only a couple of inches to stitch with; that can be quite a hassle. This skein worked much better though since half of every 18 inch length was pink.

The pattern includes finishing instructions to make the sewing book (it's really quite easy). A printed pattern is $7.50 which includes shipping and an e-pattern is $6.00. If you'd like to purchase the pattern simply e-mail me at appleseedprim@yahoo.com or use the link on my sidebar. The pattern will also be available in my Etsy Shoppe.

I do hope you like the pattern. Tomorrow I'll be posting another free pattern for the little butterfly I showed last week so be sure to check back.

xoxo

Jennie Lynn

St. Valentine's Day Free Pattern

I promise you I had every intention of stitching this by now . . .

What's that expression? Man plans and God laughs . . . after this past week I have no problem believing that.

It's a tiny pattern, only 1.5 inches by 2 inches when done over two on 40 count. With any luck I'll have it done by St. Valentine's Day but I wouldn't be at all surprised if some of you had it done before me.

If you'd like to download the pattern simply click on the Free Patterns link on my sidebar. Maybe pictures of some of your finishes will compel me to get started on it.

xoxo

Jennie Lynn

Seek Thy Love -- A Pattern to Purchase

Seek Thy Love is finally finished and ready to be purchased. My valentine to you. If you wish to view more pictures of or information about the finished design and pattern simply click on the link on my sidebar.

If you would like to purchase the pattern for $6.50 which includes shipping charges simply send me an e-mail using the link on my sidebar or directly at appleseedprim@yahoo.com. The pattern is also available on etsy, simply click on the link on my sidebar.

The pattern booklet includes a color photo, easy to read charts, as well as suggested thread colors and linens. It also includes a printed chart of the free pattern Peahen's Valentine. If you would like to download that pattern seperately please click on the Free Patterns link on my sidebar. The peahen was originally designed as part of the 1805 Valentine panel of Seek Thy Love but I opted instead for the Queen's and King's crowns. Of course the design is still lovely and complements Seek Thy Love well and you could easily incorporate a third panel if you choose or make a seperate little pincushion.

I hope you enjoy the pattern. Let me know what you think and remember I love seeing finishes of any of my patterns.

xoxo

Jennie Lynn

St. Valentine's Day Free Pattern -- Cross Stitch

Here is the St. Valentine's Day Free Pattern. It's a complement to the pattern for purchase Seek Thy Love which I will post tomorrow. The pattern is entitled Peahen's Valentine. Year after year my husband complains that Valentine's Day is a "woman's" holiday, that men are primarily ignored in the area of recieving gifts and being pampered. I'm not sure that's entirely true but even if it were I, personally, have no problem with that. The peahen (rather than the more traditional peacock) is in honor of that spirit. The colors used are GA Pumpkin Patch, GA Dark Chocolate, GA Heirloom Gold, GA Grecian Gold and GA Shaker White and it is stitched on 40 count Weeks Dye Works Angel Hair. (The same colors and one of the linens used in the Seek Thy Love pattern.) If you would like print the free pattern simply click on the link on my sidebar. I hope you enjoy the pattern and consider purchasing Seek Thy Love. The two patterns really do look quite lovely together.

xoxo

Jennie Lynn