The new Embroider Me™ Collection 2 has full size patterns for 23 dolls. They are presented in their antique form just as they were stamped on fabric and sold in kits during the early 1900s.

Can you imagine how much fun it would have been to pick up one of these little packages and make a doll? I hope to make a few of them this summer. The kits pictured came with clothes to dress the dolls. Sorry, Collection 2 doesn’t include any clothing patterns, just dolls.

The little flower girl is one of the smaller designs and the Dolly Dingle style doll is one of the larger ones. Here’s a look at their front and back -

Please remember these are antique dolls and have signs of age……..stains, broken threads, etc but I still love them to pieces.

Don’t you just love the little fish she’s holding?

I don’t think her feet could be any cuter. This little girl is included in Collection 2 and there are others her size. Most of the embroidery is done with 3-6 strands of floss. On the larger dolls you could use pearl cotton if you wanted.

These two look like they’re ready for a parade. No back side to these designs. A few of the smaller dolls have oval bottoms and can be weighted to stand on their own.

This exact doll isn’t included in Collection 2 but I wanted you to see how much detail is included on the dolls that were intended to wear clothes. They have sweet little undergarments embroidered on them. They’re cute even without clothes. They really thought of everything!

If I haven’t teased you enough with these sweethearts – you can CLICK HERE for a sample page from the pattern.

If the dolls are the same size you can…………

mix and match them putting a girl on one side and a boy on the other. These dolls are larger than those in Collection 2 – watch for them in future patterns.

You can purchase either a digital download or a traditional printed pattern of Embroider Me™ Collection 2 in the Online Store. Both Collection 1 and Collection 2 will be on sale at an introductory price until the end of April so get your summer embroidery stitching ready now. You’ll need to use the coupon code NEWDOLLS during checkout to receive the special pricing. I’ll bet you won’t be able to make just one!

I’d like your help in putting together the next set of patterns. What would you like?
Flowers
More dolls
Animal dolls (bunnies, kittens, etc.)
Clothes for dolls
Border and corner designs
Animals
People

The next pattern is up to you so leave me a comment or send an email. Clutch and I will tally the results and get to work.

We set it on point and I filled my triangles with more of the vintage embroidery designs from the my Dad’s kit quilt company. Many of these were used as corners on tablecloths and dresser scarves. We’ve given you several choices if you want to add embroidery to your block. The Optional Redwork Embroidery Pattern can be purchased as a digital download HERE. There are 9 designs to choose from and they’re sized perfectly for triangles in this block.

Just Takes 2™ Blocks for April 15 – Click here to visit Dear Jane

Enjoy this special day and when you’re ready to get back to stitching, put needle and thread to this adorable little Easter bunny all decked out in her Easter bonnet. She’s another cutie from the Embroider Me™ series.

If you’re already working on this quilt you have something special to look forward to with the next installment. If you’re not making this quilt…….you’re going to miss out on a really wonderful project. Click here catch up on past blocks and optional embroidery designs.

“In honor of International Quilt Day (March 17, 2012), The Quilt Show will unlock all of the shows from the first nine series. You’ll be able to watch shows from 100 through 913 for the entire weekend (March 16 -18). Everyone will be able to see 117 shows for FREE. Be sure to share this information with all your friends. It’s a fantastic opportunity to enjoy three days of wonderful teachers, beautiful quilts and great fun. While I’m sewing today I know I’m going to take advantage of the opportunity to watch some of the episodes I’ve missed.

It’s been unseasonably warm in Michigan and today is no exception. It’s had me thinking of springtime flowers and I’ve always loved the sentiment on my little Sue’s Blossom quilt. I decided today was the perfect day to share it with you. For the rest of the weekend (until March 19) you can get a free copy of the pattern to celebrate quilting day!

If you didn’t get the newsletter that went out this week (sign up is under the Facebook box in the right sidebar and at the end of this post) and love embroidery, please take a look at the new Embroider Me™ Pattern. It’s the first in a series of vintage design collections for applique and embroidery. There are 108 designs in a variety of sizes from 3″ to 11″ including flowers, fruit, animals, household items, people, children’s designs and more in Collection 1. If you use the coupon code QUILTDAY during checkout you can get the pattern at the introductory price of $18.26 so check it out. Click here to see Embroidery Me™ in the Online Store

More on this new series later – today is a day for quilting!

Okay, I heard that gasp all the way over here in Michigan! We don’t want you to be nervous or intimidated. We have step by step instructions for you.

 Block 19

I changed the red center on this block to white and added redwork embroidery. If you’ve never made a Feathered Star block this will be a great learning experience. It’s a 15″ block so the pieces are small enough to be delicate but large enough so you don’t feel too overwhelmed. If you’re in love with some of the embroidery on my block (which we hope you are) there’s an Optional Redwork Embroidery Pattern you can purchase as a digital download HERE. There are 14 designs to choose from and they’re sized perfectly for the squares and triangles in this block.

• Take your time! I can’t stress this one enough. Work slowly and you won’t have any trouble putting this together.
• If your fabrics have a soft feel to them I suggest using Magic Sizing or some spray starch on them before cutting your pieces. I like Mary Ellen’s Best Press Clear Starch Alternative 16 Ounces-Lavender Fields. It’ll make a big difference in the stability of your fabric pieces when working on this block.
• Make sure you’re sewing an exact or slightly scant 1/4″ seam.
• Press seams open where suggested in the instructions. I know this goes against almost everything we’ve ever learned but trust me it helps.

There are some additional tips on the pattern sheets and here are a few pictures I took while sewing my block.

 Block 20

 Block 21

 Block 22

If you fall in love with Feathered Stars you might want to check out the pattern for the Feathered Star Redwork Wall Quilt in the Online Store.

*** We have found an error on the foundation patterns for the Flying Geese on Blocks 20 & 22. The beak of the last goose has fallen 1/4″ so the angle is incorrect on pieces A14 and A15!

The pattern file has been corrected…….

Just Takes 2 Blocks for March 1 – Retired Click here to purchase

Get out your foundation paper because both blocks are constructed that way. As a combination block and sash design we found the easiest way to make the blocks accurately was to foundation piece them. The 12″ square is a traditional block called Tumbling Blocks by Comfort Magazine or Rocky Mountain Chain by Hearth and Home Magazine. The second block is Flying Geese. Have you noticed? There’s only two blocks this time! Get these finished because on the 15th you’ll be busy again. Scroll down to the bottom of the post to get your blocks.

Check out this little cutie. He or she is part of an adorable little group called Snowbabies! I was working on these at the Dear Jane retreat last November.

They have been fun and easy blocks to work on. The snowy stitching on their little clothing goes really fast.

When you’re ready to sit back and relax with a little embroidery check out the new Snowbabies pattern. There’s 12 blocks and a great setting for a 52″ x 65″ lap quilt in the seventeen page pattern set.

Just Takes 2 Blocks for February 1 – Click here

P.S. If you had your own personal quilt geek to answer computer tech questions what would you ask him?

Set up your ironing station!

Fire up that sewing machine!

It’s January 1st!
We’re off and running – it’s time for the first blocks in the Just Takes 2 quilt!

The response to the Just Takes 2 mystery quilt has been fantastic. Brenda and I are glad you’re as excited about this quilt as we are. You see, we’ll be making the blocks right along with you and sharing our progress on the Just Takes 2 blog.

We are beginning with six blocks. Five of them are 6″ blocks and one is a 12″ block. One is an applique block. One is a combination of piecing and applique and four are pieced blocks. Have you noticed there is redwork embroidery on two of my blocks? If you know me you know I love redwork and embroidered quilts. There were several in the Infinite Variety exhibit and I wanted to include some in my own Just Takes 2 quilt. From time to time throughout the year you’ll see it on different blocks whenever I think it looks nice. If you don’t like embroidery – no problem. It’s not a required part of the quilt. If you do like it you can add your own designs if you want. It you’d like to use the same designs I did you can do that too. We have an instant download in the Online Store you can purchase for (go ahead and laugh) Just $2!

Block 3

Block 4

Block 5

Block 6

I won’t take up any more of your time with details or reminders. I’m sure you’re anxious to download and print the patterns so you can start sewing. There are tutorials for many of the techniques mentioned in the Instructions section and I’ve also put links on the Just Takes 2 page. You can also review techniques in the Dear Jane software. We have fourteen days before you head over to Dear Jane on January 15 to get the next set. I hope you’re as excited as we are and will have a fantastic 2012 with Just Takes 2. Don’t forget to share your blocks on the blog. All you need to do is click on the big red Share Your Quilt button! We’re still working out a few bugs so let us know if you have any problems.
 

Just Takes 2™ Blocks for January 1 – Click here

The pattern was presented in three parts and you’ll find a link to each one below –