New Pattern from Burda

Today I found this cute tote bag pattern from the good folks at Burda.. The bag is adorable! The pattern calls for leather strips and a scarf (if you can part with one of your scarf…fabric is always good).

Click HERE for the pattern.

You’re welcome.

Happy Sewing!

Post by Eileen Patterson of GoofingOff Sewing

Free Teddy Bear Cross Stitch Pattern

I uncovered this cute little teddy bear cross stitch pattern in my stash yesterday. I’m not much of a cross stitcher but I know a lot of people are and he is just too cute to throw away. The bear was first published in McCall’s magazine back in 1988. The bear pattern was designed by Marsha Evans Moore and is from her book “The Teddy Bear Book.”  It is shown on guest towels but I’m thinking it would be cute on a baby blanket or on a onsie (sp?), or maybe even a tote. Maybe use gingham for the fabric instead of aida cloth (or whatever you like to cross stitch on). The sky’s the limit. Here he is.

Bears-and-hearts design for hand towels.

Materials: One 20” x 30” cotton or cotton-linen blend blue-and-white windowpane check dish towel; embroidery floss (before you begin, separate six-strand embroidery floss, and use four strands) 1 skein each brown and red floss, 1 yard each blue and black floss, embroidery hoop and needle.

To center hearts on windowpane check, figure out if the spacing between the motifs needs to be adjusted to fit your piece of fabric.

1. Start with brown floss one thread above border, about 2” from the 20” end of towel, with the right foot of the bear on the left. Continue stitching bear according to chart below.

2. Stitch the second bear to the right of the first one.

3. With the red floss, embroider hearts on either side of the bears.

4. Following features diagram, below, embroider eyes and nose on each bear with black floss, using satin stitch, and mouth with red floss, also in satin stitch.

5. With blue floss, stitch loops of bows with lazy daisy stitch. Stitch ends and center of bow with straight stitch.

Have fun and Happy stitching!

Free Tatting Flower Pattern

Do you tat? Are you thinking of taking it up? Well, here’s a pattern I found in that old loose leaf notebook I bought at a thrift shop a while back.

Cute little white flowers with yellow centers. The pattern originally came from the March, 1979 issue of Better Homes and Gardens. The flowers are oh-so-delicate and sweet. Here’s the pattern as it was in the magazine. It includes abbreviations, a brief history of tatting, and a pattern for the doily, too. Enjoy…..and don’t forget to drop me a line to let me know how the flowers come out. I’d love to hear from you.

 

Eucerin Give Away: Take the Pledge and Be Good to Your Skin:

You know I have to do this. You know, nursing advice. It is my job, my lot in life to share information important for your health.
This weekend I went fishing. I love to fish. I put on my sun block and still fried….to a crisp…red as a tomato…sore as hell. I even brought along a shirt to cover up from the rays. Thank goodness I did. Imagine if I didn’t. So, here’s the nursing advice.
I won’t say “Don’t do that.” Let’s be real. What’s the alternative? Stay inside? Not an option at least not one acceptable to me. So here’s some realistic advice.
Use sunscreen. Reapply (my oops). Take along a cover-up. Wear cover-up (another oops). Shade would be good, too (red faced and embarrassed now). It is easier (and more comfortable) to prevent a burn than to deal with the after effects. Once burned, keep the area moisturized and cool. Aloe gel is good.
Did you know that if you use sunscreen you are interfering with your body from getting Vitamin D? True. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, “Our bodies manufacture Vitamin D when the sun’s ultraviolet B (UVB) rays interact with 7-dehydrocholesterol (7-DHC) present in the skin.”  Don’t want to fry to get Vitamin D? Eat foods enriched with nutrients (several cereals fall into this category). Drink some milk (though you would have to drink lots to get a little). Another option is to take calcium supplements with D.
On a daily basis, use a moisturizer with SPF. Less wrinkles and sun protection….always a good thing. Oil of Olay is a good option. Another one is Eucerin. The Eucerin people are giving away stuff, too. Always a good thing. Just click the link and take the pledge….then get a freebie. So sweet, and free is for me. You can “Like” Eucerin on Facebook, too. That easy.