Here are three free cross-stitch patterns for St. Patrick’s Day projects – time to break out the green embroidery floss…  Just click on the photo to get the pattern.

image: Clare’s Celtic Cornucopia

image: Free Patterns Online

This pattern is simple enough that it would work for a child’s cross-stitch project:

image: Cross-stitch.About.com

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Free St. Patrick’s Day cross-stitch patterns

• Angels can be tiny
  Noreen has designed some tiny spool knitted angels that are easy and charming.
• Layers Upon Layers
  Cyndi explores making small quilts from rusted fabric.
• Painted Valentine Hearts Champagne Flutes
  Make two of these romantic Valentine flutes for a special couple. Add a bottle of bubbly for a complete gift!
• Photo Phun!
  Some photos to use for your journals any way you choose.
• Should We Brand or Not Brand Our Quilting?
  Mary Emma at Quilting and Patchwork discusses the latest buzz word in business…branding.
• What to Do With Used Disposable Pens
  Don’t send your old pens to the landfill. The Pen Guy wants them for his art cars and pentings!
• What to do when your sewing machine says “no!”
  Is your sewing machine acting up? Here are a few basic trouble-shooting tips to that can get you back sewing.

image: Stock.xchg

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Artsy bloggers link round-up

Do you need to make a last minute for Valentine’s Day?

Why not check out some of the free vintage Valentine’s Day printables that are available online?

Print them onto inkjet fabric (cotton, silk or organza will all work).  Cut them out and sew a backing fabric onto the front.  Stuff it with lavender to make a sachet, or just plain old poly-fil stuffing to make a softie.

Add a piece of ribbon as a hanger and you’re good to go!

Of course, you could always personalize it by writing on the back with a permanent marker…

image: Stock.xchg

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Need some last minute ideas for Valentine’s Day?

b5media’s Lifestyle channel bloggers are a crafty – and romantic bunch!  Check out some of these great ideas for Valentine’s Day crafts for the whole family!

• Junk Creation has 10 different ideas for Valentine’s Day crafts and activities.
• Junk Creation also has an awesome tutorial for make-your-own candy message hearts!
• Layers Upon Layers has pretty mixed-media art ideas to give as gifts for your special someone.
• These heart-themed pieces of jewelry are sure to make some smile on Valentine’s Day from Jewelry & Beading.
• Tree Hugging Family has some great eco-friendly Valentine’s Day ideas for your kids.
• Tree Hugging Family also has some fun recipes, activities and crafts for the whole family.
• Want to make your own Valentine’s Day cards this year?  Play Library has found a bunch of free printables online.
• And don’t forget that I’ve got free Valentine’s Day crafts for kids, as well as free patterns for cross-stitch, hand-sewn and machine sewn Valentine’s crafts.

image: Stock.xchg

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Valentine’s Day ideas from the Lifestyle channel

• Free Valentine’s Day crafts for your kids
  Celebrate Valentine’s Day with your whole family and have fun with these easy free craft patterns.
• Layers Upon Layers
  Cyndi is looking at snow-themed art this month. Got any you want to share?
• Monogrammed Mug Filled with Charm – and Goodies
  This sweet candy-filled and monogrammed mug is perfect for Valentine’s or any other gift occasion. If you’ve never painted on ceramic, here’s the easy how-to.
• Upcycled Flatware Jewelry
  Junk Creation is highlighting some flatware turned unique jewelry from Tempest in a Teapot..
• What do yarnies want from indie designers?
  Noreen was the guest on the blogradio show, ‘Getting Loopy’, the other evening. She asked the listeners a few questions. The host of the show, Mary Beth Temple really liked that and has made a quick survey up to give feedback to designers. She’s also offering a cone of Lion Brand’s new superfine Wool Stainless Steel yarn as a prize.

image: Stock.xchg

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Artsy bloggers link round-up

My woven heart bag is a great project for kids – younger ones may need a little extra help though   I’d recommend using felt or another non-fray fabric instead of the fused cotton I used during the tutorial.

image: © C Findlay-Harder

Family Fun has a free pattern for a cute little hand-sewn heart tote.  It’s made from stiff felt (available in sheets from most craft stores) – and perfect for tucking something yummy into.

image: Family Fun

Red roses are traditional for Valentine’s day.  Kaboose recommends using foam sheets to make these easy chenille-stem roses, but felt should work as well:

image: Kaboose

Amazing Moms has come up with this cute little heart pouch necklace.  They’re small enough that your child can make them as gifts as well:

image: Amazing Moms

Happy crafting!

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Free Valentine’s Day crafts for kids

I’ve been making these woven heart bags since I was child and wanted to share them.  They’re a fun way to package up little gifts and trinkets – and of course, if you change the colors, it will work for any season.  To see the whole tutorial, just click on the photo

image: © C Findlay-Harder

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tutorial of the day: woven heart bag for Valentine’s Day

Are you making crafts for Valentine’s Day?

Did you know that there are lots of free patterns and tutorials for Valentine’s Day crafts, sewing projects and even cross stitch charts in the Tangled Thread archives?  I decided to make things easier for you and have got a bunch of the patterns for you here:

♥ Three patterns for hearts & roses cross stitch.

♥ Try sewing your own lingerie for Valentine’s Day.

♥ Here are two of my easy hand-embroidered felt “Heart Felt” cards.

♥ This is another Heart Felt card - this time it’s accented with French knots.

♥ I made these cute little embroidered felt “Sweethearts” last year for Valentine’s Day, here’s part one, part two and part three of the tutorial.

♥ Here’s a pattern for a free heart cross stitch bookmark.

♥ This project is for my machine sewing friends – Heart Softies!  Here’s part one and part two.

Happy crafting!

image: Stock.xchg

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free patterns for Valentine’s Day crafts

While Tangled Thread isn’t a quilting blog (go to Quilting & Patchwork for that one!) making art quilts is one of my great passions.  I seem to create at least one art quilt as a Christmas gift for someone in my family every year.

Last year it was my brother & sister-in-law’s turn – this year it was my parents:

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay

My brother took the photos of my parent’s pets and I Photoshopped them.  The photots were then printed directly onto specially treated silk sheets (the silk sheets are fused to paper and are treated so that you can run them through your printer).  I appliqued the photos onto fabric, stitched them onto the background (which was created by appliquing more strips of fabric onto a “sandwich” of fabric and quilt batting).  I then mounted it onto a stretcher frame and covered the back with more fabric.

I also enjoy giving home-made candy at Christmas.  I bought some yummy black organza that had been printed with silver snowflakes – which I thought would make a great way to wrap the candy:

image: C Findlay-Harder

I cut rectangles of the fabric, wrapped the cellophane-bagged candy in it and then topped it all off with a matching silver ribbon.  The organza tended to fray a little so I trimmed off the ends with my pinking sheers.

Voila!  Quick, easy and festive wrapping – just the way I like it

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The final Christmas projects round-up

I’d like to wish you all a Happy New Year!  May all your wishes come true… and have a safe and joyful one

image: Stock.xchg

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Happy New Year!