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Happy October! It's time to reflect on what I worked on in the month of September and check in with my crafty goals and stash tracking. See past monthly reports here.


This month's report is jam packed! I did a lot of sewing in September! I finished two quilts, one I've already posted about (here: Floral Chain Quilt). The other quilt I finished was my Vintage Sheet Bear Paw Quilt, which I'll hopefully be posting soon. I just need some sunshine so I can photograph it. It felt good to finish not one but TWO quilts! I can't remember the last time I finished two quilts in one month. Very fancy!


I also started a new quilt. I dyed some more lawn fabric and cut out a lawn indigo quilt. I haven't started sewing it yet, but everything is cut!





I made four lined drawstring bags this month. I shared details about all four of them in this post. It was fun to play around with some different variations from the expansion pattern.

Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern + Expansion Pattern


To keep myself accountable for my stash goals, I track my yardage for fabric and yarn each month. Read more about how I track here. Here is how I did in September:

September Fabric
Used up: -28.25 yard
Brought in: 3 yards
Net: -25.25 yards
Year to date: -46 yards

September Yarn
Used up: 0 yards
Brought in: 0 yards
Net: 0 yards
Year to date: -1000 yards

I bought fabric this month! I finally made it to Cate's Sew Modern in Guilford, CT. Picked up a few fat quarters and some holiday fabrics to use in the drawstring bag sew along later this year. Thankfully I used up a lot of fabric this month, so that more than offset what I brought in.


I started a crochet project!! I am crocheting a scrappy yarn basket using this tutorial. I used this skillshare class to help me get started. It's using up so much leftover yarn, which is making me so happy!


Let's check in my with 2022 crafty goals. This month I:
- Completed a TWO term WIPs this month!!
- Knitted a little on my mitten WIP.


Kitty enjoying the sun and a quilt :)

Have a Great Month!

*Note: Any links marked with an asterisk in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click through and buy something, I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.]]> Wed, 05 Oct 2022 11:30:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQKion-0YlPiqeGrEXdXG_66 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQJZyZAoqxFnC9KEpFgimKzx
Happy Monday! Today I have a bunch of finished drawstring bags to share!

First up is this cute pencil drawstring bag that I finished this past weekend. I used the easy going (2 fabric) variation from my expansion pattern for this one, in the Everything size.

Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern + Expansion Pattern


I was cleaning in the sewing room on Saturaday and I found the pieces for this bag already cut out! It was a leftover from when I was writing the expansion pattern. I felt like I needed quick finish, so it seemed like the right time to finally stitch it up. This pencil print is one of my favorites, it's an old Erin McMorris* collection called Noteworthy. The lining fabric is even older from Girl Friday by Cosmo Cricket*.


I was so excited to use this super bright neon pink paracord*. It is so hard to photograph, it glows! I love how it pulls the pink out of the print too. I finished it off with some 3/4" beehive wooden beads.


I felt a pull to use a black background print for the main exterior of a bag, so I chose this Rifle Paper Co print from Strawberry Fields*. For the rest I used a coordinating solid and a favorite print from Doe* by Carolyn Friedlander.


I love how this one turned out! It is almost a little Halloween-y with the black and orange. I have been trying to make more reels on Instagram and I ended up making one while I made this bag. You can see it here. This is a project size from the drawstring bag pattern. I finished it off with some black ruler twill tape.

Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern


I've only ever made 1 or 2 diagonal string drawstring bags and I was itching to make a new one! So I dug into my scrap bin for this one and went with a sherberty color scheme.



This is probably my favorite drawstring bag in this bunch! I love that each side ends up being different, it's like two bags in one! This is the foundation pieced variation in the expansion pattern, made in the Everything size. I finished it off with antique ruler twill tape and 3/4" beehive wooden beads.

Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern + Expansion Pattern


This next drawstring bag was the result of a personal challenge. I have a tough time getting things done at the end of the day, especially from about 4:30pm onwards. Michael comes home at 6:00pm, so I often struggle to stay focused on work and end up cleaning, prepping dinner or just relaxing instead. Well, 5:00pm rolled around and I decided to see just how fast I could make a Tiny size bag from choosing fabrics to finishing it. It took me 30 minutes, which included taking some photos and posting progress on instagram as I went!

Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern


I made the entire bag from scraps, featuring this adorable vintage fabric for the main bag body. It's just a small swatch and I've had it for years, not knowing what to do with it. I used every inch of it for this bag! It feels so good to finally use it up. I finished it up with some white paracord and 3/4" beehive wooden beads.

Phew! That's a lot of bags. I am just trying to get into top form ahead of my annual Lined Drawstring Bag Sew Along! Coming in November :)

Happy Sewing!

*Note: Any links marked with an asterisk in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click through and buy something, I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.]]> Mon, 03 Oct 2022 11:30:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQJZyZAoqxFnC9KEpFgimKzx https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQLG_pM-MPiNVkTXPGaG87AR
Happy Friday! It's time for another Friday Favorites post! Catch up on previous posts here: Friday Favorites Archives

- Absolutely love this Crossroads quilt by Victoria Findlay Wolfe.

- These vintage pyrex stickers* are just too cute! If only there really was purple pyrex!!

- I love these garments made with different black and white gingham or plaid fabrics.

- This zipper pouch by Arounna Khounnoraj makes me want to dig into my ice dyed fabrics.

- GIANT POM POM ALERT! This video by Karyn Lao is pom pom goals!


- Blueland has new fall scents for their hand soap* and I'm already obsessed with the vanilla chai!

- I started watching this show at lunch and I love it! It's so different from any other cooking show I've watched.

- The calendar that I ordered for myself arrived this week!

- We have been making the roasted sesame green beans from this cookbook* all summer long and still aren't tired of them!


- Kitty helping me work on the computer. :)

Have a Great Weekend!

*Note: Any links marked with an asterisk in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click through and buy something, I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.]]> Fri, 30 Sep 2022 11:30:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQLG_pM-MPiNVkTXPGaG87AR https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQIU4mMcf7eXUwBC78OgjhDM
Happy Wednesday! Today I want to chat about my newest pattern, the Keep Turning Quilt Pattern.

You can find the new pattern for sale here: Keep Turning Quilt Pattern


I'm so excited to be releasing this pattern in particular, because I think the design would look so cute in lots of different fabric and color combinations! I originally designed this quilt for Quilts & More Magazine in 2020, and it has been a requested pattern ever since then.

Read more about this quilt here: Keep on Turning Quilt


This pattern is a real stash buster! It was written for fat quarters or jelly roll strips, but I've included instructions for cutting from lots of other yardage sizes too, so that you can cut from your stash or your scrap bin. I had Fall in mind when I was choosing fabrics for my quilt. I wanted to work with some nice rich, Fall inspired colors. That season also makes me want to reach for more textured fabrics, so I choose Essex Linen in Natural for the background fabric. The prints are a mix of new and old from my stash.


The quilt takes advantage of strip piecing, so it comes together really fast. The pattern includes six sizes, hooray! The cover quilt is the Small Throw (48"x64"). All six quilt sizes have the same size finished blocks.


As I mentioned this pattern includes SIX sizes, including: Baby (32"x40"), Small Throw (48"x64"), Large Throw (64"x80"), Twin (72"x96"), Full/Queen (96"x104"), King (112"x104")

Think of the print fabric requirements as a minimum. Feel free to mix in even more prints for a scrappier look. I recommend using quilting cottons or other medium-weight fabrics for this quilt. For the sample quilt I used quilting cottons along with some Essex Linen for the background. You could even choose to use multiple fabrics for the background too, and go really scrappy! I think that could be really fun.


I made the cover quilt in the very beginning of quarantine in Spring 2020, so it was all about using what I had on hand. I mixed new and old fabrics from my stash for the top. The backing fabric was something I had held onto for nearly 10 years, and it was so fun to finally use it. Being able to mix it in seamlessly with new fabrics was really satisfying.


Making quilts just from stash can sometimes feel a little unexciting if you're only using older fabrics. I find that including a few prints that are newer keeps the quilt looking fresh and helps me stay motivated to finish it!


You can find the new pattern for sale here: Keep Turning Quilt Pattern

Happy Quilting!]]> Wed, 28 Sep 2022 11:30:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQIU4mMcf7eXUwBC78OgjhDM https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQJUoe7VpY9JBAX50KYzL9tX
Happy Friday! It's time for another Friday Favorites post! Catch up on previous posts here: Friday Favorites Archives

- I recently repurposed a cute planter as a little trash can on my sewing table. Perfect for containing trimmings and threads!

- I took a Skillshare class this week: Bullet Journaling: Life Management for Creatives by Dylan Mierzwinski. It was really inspiring and I immediately started my own bullet journal! (You can get a free month of Skillshare by using my link, if you're interested!)

- These Halloween drawstring bags that Sarah made with my Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern are so cute!


- I bought fabric! In person, at a new-to-me fabric shop here in CT, Cate's Sew Modern. I've bought so little fabric this year, I didn't want to go overboard. It was a super cute shop, I'll be back for sure!

- This logcabin quilt top by JB is what vintage sheet dreams are made of!

- This lone star quilt by Coulter Fussell made "entirely of thrown away/discarded/donated/used fabric, threads and notions" is incredible.


- It was our 7th wedding anniversary this week! We celebrated with a special dinner out. (photo by Dennis Crider)

- I want to try out this cute heart mani.

- This video on Midwest pot luck salads had me cackling!


- Sweet, sleepy kitty.

Have a Great Weekend!
]]> Fri, 23 Sep 2022 11:30:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQJUoe7VpY9JBAX50KYzL9tX https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQL9iediBiKvs8fGo0LrnZNO
Happy Wednesday! I have a finished quilt to share, hooray! This quilt has been a long term work in progress (WIP), so it feels extra good to get it done and give it a proper post.


I started this quilt back in the summer of 2018. I originally intended it to be made with only green fabrics. I cut tons of green strips and the plan was to use low-volume prints with the green to make a simple irish chain quilt. Well the fabrics sat untouched after I cut out most of the quilt. I pulled it out a few times over the years, but it wasn't until summer of 2021 that I really started to work on it! By that point I decided to go back to the drawing board, because I wasn't as excited about my original design choices.

Find previous posts about this quilt here: July 2021, August 2021, September 2021.


I ended up deciding to add some pops of color to give a little more interest! I stuck with the irish chain design for the most part, but used the color pops of turquoise and purple to create a secondary design. This change wasn't without it's hiccups. I managed to sew all the green nine-patch blocks with the green and low volume print in the wrong spots! Nothing a little seam ripping couldn't fix. Since the green parts of the quilt were so scrappy, I also decided to choose a single low-volume print to pair with it. I used a print from my Dreamin' Vintage* collection.


Not only did I change the design of the quilt last year, but I also decided to make it bigger! I am really glad I did! The finished quilt is 68"x80".


I love love love the print I used for the back of this quilt. I have been saving it for years! It's from Luxe in Bloom* by Sarah Watson. I'm so glad to get this cut of fabric out of my stash and into a project. Feels good. It was the perfect match for this project, which feels even better!


I've managed to end up with a surplus of Quilter's Dream Orient Batting*, so that's what I used for this quilt. It gives it a lovely drape!



The quilting was done by Katie Gouwens of Autumn Moon Quilting, and she did a fabulous job! I choose the design "065. Agate" from her catalog. I love to pair organic quilting designs with geometric quilt patterns. I feel like it helps soften up all the straight lines a bit.


I bound the quilt in a print from Nordika*, the same print I used on the quilt top. I remembered to use one of my woven labels again!


I am thrilled with how this quilt turned out. I think adding in those pops of color really made it special. It helps take it beyond just simple patchwork (not that there is anything wrong with that!). Mostly, I'm just so happy it is done. I think I've put it on my goals list to complete every year since I started it. It's always nice to cross a WIP off the list!

Pattern: Personal pattern (if there is interest, I'm happy to write it up!)
Fabrics: Stash, Dreamin' Vintage*, Luxe in Bloom*, Nordika*
Quilting: Autumn Moon Quilting

Happy Quilting!

*Note: Any links marked with an asterisk in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click through and buy something, I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.]]> Wed, 21 Sep 2022 11:30:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQL9iediBiKvs8fGo0LrnZNO https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQK1SqXyaTuX5FT72x6uxjiK Happy Friday! It's time for another Friday Favorites post! Catch up on previous posts here: Friday Favorites Archives

- We went pear picking over the weekend! I don't think I had ever even seen a pear tree before then, they were so pretty. I want to try making this recipe with pears. We make dutch baby's so much I have our regular recipe memorized, but I like the idea of baking fruit right into it!

- The artwork in this picture book* looks adorable!

- How beautiful is this quilt by my friend Erika? She used this free pattern from Tilda to make it.


- The Expanse Quilt Pattern is now available in print! You can find it in my online shop here.

- It's that time of year, time to order calendars! I ordered this one* for Michael's side of our office.

- These Halloween blocks by Sarah make me want to use black as a background in a quilt!


- We made these cauliflower toastadas for dinner this week and they were a hit! We topped them with our favorite cashew queso.

- I have to give a shoutout to our blender*. We never had a powerful blender until we picked this one up this past May. We have used it SO much, and it's been awesome. I love the auto-clean mode to safely clean the blades. I use it to make smoothies, muffins, and the queso!

- I love this patchwork shower curtain by Sarah Gagnon, such pretty colors.


- Dusty kitten has been so snuggly lately. It makes me happy!

Have a Great Weekend!

*Note: Any links marked with an asterisk in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click through and buy something, I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.]]> Fri, 16 Sep 2022 11:30:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQK1SqXyaTuX5FT72x6uxjiK https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQLwuHgrvyjOEmnhpmeYcemU
I mentioned in my last post that I had done some indigo dyeing recently and I thought I'd share more of that dye session today. I wasn't originally intending to, but I've always documented all my dyeing here, so it didn't seem right to gloss over it without a proper post! Especially since I haven't done much dyeing the last few years!

The main reason I wanted to dye this summer was to dye some pieces of lawn fabric for a quilt. I used Cambridge Cotton Lawn* for these pieces. I've dyed lawn many times over the years, but have used very little of it. They are some of my favorite pieces I've made, the lawn takes the dye so well! I originally meant to use it for clothing, but that just never happened. So now my plan is to make an all lawn indigo quilt! I only needed to dye about 2 yards worth to have enough for the quilt.

If you're interested in trying out indigo dyeing check out my tutorial: DIY Indigo Dyeing


If you've ever dyed with indigo, you'll know it's more fun with friends! Last year I did some ice dyeing with our neighbor and her daughter so I thought they might be game to try indigo, and they were! We made a day of it and dyed all kinds of things: fabric, tea towels, t-shirts, and even a sweatshirt and jeans. A big thanks to my neighbor for most of the in-action photos in this post! :)

We used these indigo dyeing kits*. They make it so easy!



Introducing people to indigo dyeing in particular is so fun because it's a pretty magical experience. When you first pull the pieces from the dye vat, they're neon green! Slowly over about 20 mintues the dye oxidizes and turns deep blue.



Unwrapping the resisted pieces is like opening little presents. You don't know what you're going to get! Still so fun, even though I've been doing this for about 10 years!


It was a very successful dye day! The weather was perfect and we all came away with pieces we liked.


I tried dyeing a pair of really light wash jeans that I had picked up on clearance last month. I couldn't get them quite dark enough for my taste (even after a few dips), so I did end up overdyeing them with RIT dye. But it was a fun experiment!


Here are the pieces we made with shape resists! The one with the circles was made with plexi circles* by Rossie Hutchinson.. Rossie created a coupon code (Jeni20) to use through the end of September to save 20% off her itajme shapes in her shop*.

Here are my four pieces of lawn, and after you can see them each alonside the resisted fabric:






Fabric was scrunched into big messy balls and then resisted with rubber bands.


Accordion folded into a square and secured with circle resists and clamps.


Long skinny tucks of different sizes tucks secured with several rubber bands each.


Accordion folded into a rectangle and secured loosely with twine.


I love to use white sheets as drop cloths when dyeing because then they become a bit of a magical dyed piece too! This sheet has seen some ice dyeing and some indigo!

Happy Making!

*Note: Any links marked with an asterisk in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click through and buy something, I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.]]> Wed, 14 Sep 2022 11:30:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQLwuHgrvyjOEmnhpmeYcemU https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQIPmTd_W05z-EZPHFZJLI3I
Happy Friday! It's time for another Friday Favorites post! Catch up on previous posts here: Friday Favorites Archives

- I did some indigo dyeing over the weekend with our neighbors which was so fun! I used some plexi circles* by Rossie Hutchinson to make the above print. Rossie created a coupon code (Jeni20) to use through the end of September to save 20% off her itajme shapes in her shop*.

- On a similar note, I spent a few hours updating my DIY Indigo Dyeing Fabric post. Added better photos, updated the instructions and just generally refreshed the post.


- I've been working through our bumper crop of tomatoes from the garden and our CSA program. I like to keep it super simple, just chopping them up (not removing the skins), and freezing them. We have a small freezer in the basement and love having it stocked with summer tomatoes for making tomato bisque over the winter.

- This fussy cut trip around the world quilt by Rita Hodge stopped me in my tracks. And it's hand pieced!! So impressive.

- These patchwork blocks by Caitlin Bentley make me want to dip into my ice-dyed fabrics.


- One of our favorite treats that we've been indulging in this summer has been a frozen mochaccino from our local coffee shop (Common Grounds). We share half of it right away and then freeze the other half. A quick trip in the microwave and we've got a coffee slushie!

- How perfect is this stubby pencil quilt pattern* by Berene Campbell for back to school? So cute!

- I've been trying to make an effort to regularly listen to our vinyl collection and this week we've been playing a live Simon & Garfunkel album* that I picked up for a few dollars last summer. It's really good!


- When I placed an order with Blue Q at the holidays, I picked up this sew-it bag for myself. I'm currently using it to hold my crochet project and it's been great for keeping kitty awat from the yarn! (see it in photo above)

- Kitten has been so sweet lately, always getting involved in whatever we're doing!

Have a Great Weekend!

*Any links marked with an asterisk in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click through and buy something, I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.]]> Fri, 09 Sep 2022 11:30:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQIPmTd_W05z-EZPHFZJLI3I https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQITO_CzwFLZL4fjc6hd5eWF
This time of year always has me thinking about sewing retreats! Before the pandemic, every August I'd go away on a retreat with friends to sew, laugh and dye fabrics for four days. It was such fun, and I really miss it. Over the years, I figured out exactly how and what I liked to pack for these trips, so I thought I'd share those with you all today! Hopefully this makes it easier for you, next time you're headed to a friend's house to sew, a guild retreat or even to a big event like Quilt Con.

Label Your Tools

I would highly recommend labeling your sewing tools, especially if you're headed somewhere where there will be a good amount of people. It can be so easy for tools to get picked up by accident or for half a dozen people to have the exact same rotary cutter! If you've got a label maker*, that works great but no need to run out for one if you don't. A sharpie marker or even just some cute stickers work just as well.

Leave Your Favorite Tools at Home if Possible

On a similar note, I try to leave my very favorite tools at home. If you happen to have duplicates of some of your tools this might be a good opportunity to break them out. I keep a backup rotary cutter and pair of scissors around for this reason. Be sure to put in a fresh rotary blade and get your scissors sharpened regularly. Dull tools can be just as dangerous as sharp ones.

Have a Variety of Projects to Work On

For retreats, I try to always bring of variety of projects. I never know what I'll really feel like working on until I get there. I typically bring a quilt (or two) in progress, supplies for some drawstring bags or tote bags, and some type of handwork project. This gives me plenty of different things to do, depending on my mood and how late at night it is!

Bring an Easy Win

I love to bring a quilt that's pretty far along or supplies that I can easily turn into a finished quilt top by the time the weekend is over. This always makes me feel good and often keeps me motivated to keep sewing! I often get distracted and just end up talking (nothing wrong with that), so this little trick helps me a lot! I also find I am not able to concentrate on something tricky or new when I'm on a retreat, so I keep the projects themselves pretty simple and straightforward.

My friend Brianne and I holding my Double Gauze Plus Quilt Top.

Use a Tool Organizer

I don't use these in my everyday workflow, but I love having a tool organizer when I travel! I have a few different organizers I choose between (sometimes I use two). The first is actually a bag from Target (5+ years old) that is sold as a toiletry bag. I find it perfect for sewing supplies though! It folds open and lays flat. If you'd like to DIY something similar check out my friend Anna's Road Trip Case Pattern.


I love to have something that sits on my table too. My favorite is the #10 Caddy Pattern* by Sew Can She. The pattern comes with two different sizes, and I like both! I tend to use my small one more though (shown above).

Bring Supplies to Share

At our annual retreat we always had a share table, which was so fun. Everyone would bring fabric, scraps or other crafty supplies that they wanted to share or get rid of, and anyone could take them! It was a great way to swap supplies and get them used. We often would make things over the weekend from the share table. It became a fun little souvenir in the project, knowing this print or that came from the retreat. I would spend time the week before a retreat going through my stash and pulling fabrics to bring with me!

Travel Handmade

Going to a sewing day or workshop is a great excuse to travel with a handmade bag! I am a big fan of using totebags for carrying around my supplies and projects. You'll usually find me with bags made from two of my patterns: a Sew Portable Travel Tote and a couple Workshop Tote Bags.

Smart Snacking

I am a big snacker, so I have a snack with me pretty much all the time! I always pack my own snacks when I travel. For sewing retreats in particular I try to minimize messy snacks as much as possible to avoid getting stains on my projects. My personal sewing snack go-to's: pretzels, goldfish crackers, wheat-thins, wrapped mini chocolates, chocolate chip or trail mix cookies, smarties.

Don't Forget the Personal Essentials

I stick a few personal care items I don't like to be without in my sewing bag when I travel: lip balm, hair ties, and a nail file. It would be a bummer for something as simple as chapped lips or a hang nail to ruin your sew day!

I hope these tips come in handy next time you're going to be sewing on the go! I have lots of other tutorials for everything from quilts, pillows, bags, and holiday items to informational series and techniques. Find all my tutorials here: Tutorials. My online shop is filled with patterns for quilts and bags. Find my patterns here: Jeni Baker Patterns

Happy Sewing!

*Any links marked with an asterisk in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click through and buy something, I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.]]> Wed, 07 Sep 2022 11:30:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQITO_CzwFLZL4fjc6hd5eWF https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQLkWHqveeNoAjHgrmwRGUK6
Happy Friday! It's time for another Friday Favorites post! Catch up on previous posts here: Friday Favorites Archives

- I am itching to make a fabric garland for our living room. I had this photo saved to my pinterest, it's inspiring me to go colorful!

- How cute is this quilt by Emilie Truong!? She used my Triangularity Quilt Pattern to make it!

- Loving this patchwork quilt in progress by Rachel Denbow.

- My friend Jacey sent me a link to this scrap yarn crochet basket tutorial this week. I'm going to try making one too!


- I baked bretzel this week! It had been a while, so it was a nice treat. This is possibly my favorite bread of all time. I wrote a tips post and filmed a video of making it which you can find here.

- I've been using one of these tumblers* everyday for the last year or so, and I finally ordered a second one (I went with pale orchid!). I was surprised when it came with a flip lid and a straw lid. I'm excited to try the flip lid with warm drinks.

- I'm on a Sandra Bullock movie kick at the moment. So far this week I've watched Miss Congeniality, and The Lake House. Next up is Practical Magic!

- I spent an afternoon this week giving my houseplants some attention. Cleaned out some pots with dead plants, repotted a few things, and just generally spruced things up. I also added some mosquito bits* to all the newly potted plants to keep away fungus gnats. It works so well!

- This ladybug video made me smile.


- Sweet Dusty kitty sleeping in the library :)

Have a Great Weekend!

*Note: Any links marked with an asterisk in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click through and buy something, I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.]]> Fri, 02 Sep 2022 11:30:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQLkWHqveeNoAjHgrmwRGUK6 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQJjwtvoP4eINyuZukmJ4mr4
It's time for the August monthly report! See past reports here.


I did quite a bit of sewing in August, mostly on my vintage sheet bear paw quilt! I finished the top, hooray! And I've got enough block parts to make a baby quilt too. I still need to put those blocks together into a quilt top, but at least the main top is done. Now I just need to choose a backing sheet for it. Which is tough because I have so many that would be good for it! A good problem to have, for sure. I made a little video of Instagram where I show all thirty blocks one at a time. You can find it here: Bear Paw Blocks Video



I stitched up a drawstring bag for the first time in what feels like a while! I wanted to make something Fall/Halloween inspired and I had these adorable Kitty Corn* fabrics that I picked up last year. I love how soft the colors are, and the little hidden spiders and moons. I just went with the Everything size. I even made fabric ties, which I rarely do anymore. I am so spoiled by the twill tape! I finished the bag off with some 1" wooden beads. You can find the pattern and beads in my online shop:

Pattern: Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern
Notions: Round Wooden Beads


I finally got my all green quilt top (it needs a new name now!), in the mail for longarm quilting! I finished the top a few months ago, but never ironed the row seams or made a backing for it. So I got those things checked off the list! I'm excited to get this quilt done, it's been a work in progress for way too long. See more of this quilt here.


The other sewing I did this month was make a new seat cushion for Dusty's litter box cabinet. I wrote a whole blog post about it, which you can find here: Update to the Hidden Kitty Litter Box Cabinet

To keep myself accountable for my stash goals, I track my yardage for fabric and yarn each month. Read more about how I track here. Here is how I did in August:

August Fabric
Used up: -1.5 yard
Brought in: 0 yards
Net: -1.5 yards
Year to date: -20.75 yards

August Yarn
Used up: 0 yards
Brought in: 0 yards
Net: 0 yards
Year to date: -1000 yards

I'm not exactly crushing my yardage goals lately, but that's okay. I'm still in the negative! At least I used up something this month, that feels good. And I'm not bringing anything in, so that helps too. I need to finish up some quilts so I can really make some progress!


Time to check in my with 2022 crafty goals. This month I:
- Sent my all green quilt (long term WIP) off to be quilted!
- Pieced all the blocks and top for my vintage sheet bear paw quilt (long term WIP).
- Finished the body of one colorwork mitten.


Kitty supervised my work, getting that quilt top out the door! So thoughtful.

Have a Great Month!

*Note: Any links marked with an asterisk in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click through and buy something, I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.]]> Wed, 31 Aug 2022 11:30:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQJjwtvoP4eINyuZukmJ4mr4 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQJ6YDayZ8DFzH-fx8LWuXng
Happy Friday! It's time for another Friday Favorites post! Catch up on previous posts here: Friday Favorites Archives

- I've been working on my vintage sheet bear paw quilt all week and I got the top put together on Wednesday! I'm so excited to pick a backing sheet and get it finished.

- Pinterest has been showing me all kinds of vintage sheet projects, and this pink/yellow quilt by Marit really stood out!

- I ordered some new stamps this week for shipping pattern orders. I think these ones are my favorite that I picked up! It's hard to choose though!!

- I love this quilt by Luke Haynes made from repurposed textiles.


- We tried the corn butter farro by Smitten Kitchen and it was a winner! I used a total of 3 Tbs of butter but I think next time I'd reduce that to 2.

- I made spaetzle recently, which I usually don't do during the summer. I really need to upgrade my spaetzle maker to stainless steel, mine has a few rust spots. I have my eye on this one*.

- I tried out the technique in this video to pre-crack the spine of a paperback book, so far I think it is making a difference!

- How cute are these little patchwork pincushions by Tami Gray Voth? I have a bunch of those aluminum molds hanging around, I need to use them for something like this!

- My favorite porcupine Rico eating some corn on the cob!


- A few months ago someone left an anonymous comment (if it was you, thank you!!) recommending this under $2 cat toy*. I Dusty goes absolutely wild for it. Loves it so so much. I tried to get a photo of her playing with it, this is the best I could get!

Have a Great Weekend!

*Note: Any links marked with an asterisk in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click through and buy something, I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.]]> Fri, 26 Aug 2022 11:30:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQJ6YDayZ8DFzH-fx8LWuXng https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQLjafVklEcagzHgrmwRGUK6
Happy Wednesday! Today I have another new pattern to share, the Indigo Steps Quilt Pattern!


Earlier this year I released a tutorial for my indigo courthouse steps quilt, but I knew I wanted to eventually release a pattern to include more sizes for the design. Well that day has come! My new pattern has five different size quilts ranging from Baby to an Extra Large Throw! These super sized blocks give the traditional courthouse steps design a modern twist.


This quilt comes together in a flash and would look good in so many different fabric and color combinations! For the cover quilt I've used a single background fabric along with my indigo dyed fat quarters for the prints. Each block uses only 1 fabric, but there are so many possibilities with this design. You could go completely scrappy, or just choose a few colors to feature! I want to make one from my scraps next I think!


As I mentioned there are FIVE quilt sizes to choose from! Here are the included sizes: Baby (36"x36"), Small Throw (54"x72"), Square Throw (72"x72"), Large (72"x90"), Extra Large (90"x108")


This pattern was written for fat quarters, but it can be made from your stash, jelly roll strips or even scraps! There are piece count tables included with each size to make it easier to use what you'd like!


I've had so many ideas for patterns tucked away over the last few years, but I've hesitated from writing them up and releasing them. I tend to overthink my way out of writing them. On the other hand I often get questions about patterns for older designs or designs that have appeared in magazines. It seems silly to keep them to myself when there is interest in the instructions! I'm hoping to release patterns more often for a while to get through my backlog of designs. Next I'm working on writing up a pattern for my Keep On Turning Quilt!


Find the pattern in my online shop here: Indigo Steps Quilt Pattern.

Happy Quilting!]]> Wed, 24 Aug 2022 11:30:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQLjafVklEcagzHgrmwRGUK6 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQKXgBSYHiFxRQVLTsI7B9NX
Happy Friday! It's time for another Friday Favorites post! Catch up on previous posts here: Friday Favorites Archives

- I bought these mason jar inserts* last year but only got around to trying them out this season. They're awesome for making quick and easy bouquets with my dahlias.

- How fun is this wreath of hexi flowers quilt top by Tree House Textiles?

- My latest instagram follow is @aww.sam, which is full of retro eye candy!


- I thrifted this large all white quilt from the Goodwill Outlet this week. I plan to dye it and cut it up to make a quilted coat or two. Just need to decide what color.

- I've been looking for a small egg crate to hold a few hardboiled eggs and I finally ended up ordering this one*.

- We started watching this show over the weekend and are loving it!


- For the longest time I've wanted to try making puppy chow with Crispix, and I did that this week! It's a bit more fragile than Rice Chex, so it broke up a little more, but it still turned out good! I also froze it after making it.

- This is such a fun idea for a snack box. Would be great to take on a picnic!

- We don't have a dog, so I have no need to make dog treats, but this video is so adorable!


- Sweet kitten keeping my company while I sew.

Have a Great Weekend!

*Note: Any links marked with an asterisk in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click through and buy something, I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.]]> Fri, 19 Aug 2022 11:30:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQKXgBSYHiFxRQVLTsI7B9NX https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQIn3fk0No3GfDHgrmwRGUK6

In the last couple of weeks I've completely disassembled my vintage pyrex and vintage enamelware displays in our dining room for cleaning. Since the shelves are open, they collect a good amount of dust and need to be completely dusted about once a year. I like to spread out the work over a few weekends since it's a bit of a time commitment. To be honest I had been putting this task off, but I'm so happy with the clean and tidy displays I've got now. I took photos as I was working this time and thought I'd share a few tips for how I dust and display my vintage dish collections. These tips would apply to any displayed dishes though, not just vintage!


First of all, with any deep clean I'd highly recommend moving everything off the shelf (or wherever your display is) that you're working on. This makes it so much easier to clean the surface. You'll need some space to work, I usually do this task either on the floor or on our dining room table.

My Dry and Wet Dusting Method

You don't need a lot of supplies, they main thing you'll need is a stack of microfiber cloths and an all purpose cleaning spray.

For the display surface I designate one cloth to remain dry and one wet. I first dust the surface with the dry cloth to remove the bulk of the dust. Then I spray the surface (of the display) with an all purpose cleaner and wipe it clean with a second cloth.

For the dishes themselves I do the same initial steps. I use a dry cloth to wipe away the bulk of the dust. I don't use any cleaning products on the dishes when I dust. Instead I wet a second cloth and keep it in a plastic container as I work. I wipe down the dish with the wet cloth, and then wipe it dry with a dry cotton towel to avoid any water marks on the surface.

Oil Wood Handles

I take this opportunity to treat any wood pieces too. After dusting, I apply a food safe wood oil (I use this one*) with a soft rag. After I few minutes I wipe it down with a clean rag to remove any excess oil, or reapply if it's really soaked in and needs more!

Remove any Price Stickers

I also found a few price stickers that I never removed so I went ahead and did that too. I like to use adhesive remove (I prefer this brand*) and a plastic scraper. I avoid using a razor blade because it can leave scratches or metal marks.


Once everything is wiped down and clean, it's time to put the displays back together! Here are a few tricks I've learned for making my displays look nice.

Tips for Stacking Dishes

To arrange stacking bowl sets so that you can see each bowl, I use small plastic deli containers* (we've gotten most of ours from takeout food!) in between each bowl. For the bottom bowls I set the container with the top facing up, as if I was about to fill the container with something. For the top bowl I place the container upside down. For me, I find this feels the most secure and looks good too!


For smaller bowl stacks I'll use whatever clear plastic I can find that's destined for the recycling bin. For this little bowl stack I used a dome lid that we got on a small container of soup!


Whenever I'm stacking pieces like these vintage pyrex casserole dishes that have lids, I make sure to flip the bottom lids upside down before stacking the next pieces, so that they're a little extra stable. You'll want to be careful anytime you stack things, since they'll be more prone to tipping over.


That's it! Pretty simple. I love having my vintage dish collections on display. I don't find a ton of pieces anymore, but I still love these collections so much. I two shelves dedicated to colored vintage pyrex. The display at the top of this post is most of my vintage enamelware collection, which includes Cathrineholm, Dansk Kobenstyle and Arabia Finel pieces. Did you know you can actually buy new Dansk Kobenstyle now? It even comes in new colors that they never previously made like pink and purple. I'd be super tempted it my shelves weren't already bursting!!

I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial, or at the very least enjoyed the photos of my collections! I have lots of other tutorials for everything from quilts, pillows, bags, and holiday items to informational series and techniques. Find all my tutorials here: Tutorials. My online shop is filled with patterns for quilts and bags. Find my patterns here: Jeni Baker Patterns

Have a Great Day

*Note: Any links marked with an asterisk in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click through and buy something, I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.]]> Wed, 17 Aug 2022 11:30:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQIn3fk0No3GfDHgrmwRGUK6 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQI3SNsP073_12Fk24e89-qg
Happy Friday! It's time for another Friday Favorites post! Catch up on previous posts here: Friday Favorites Archives

- These solid log cabin blocks by Matthew Friesz are so striking!

- Very tempted by the double wedding ring cheater prints in this collection*.

- The siloutte of the new Corin pattern from Grainline Studios is really nice. I need to get back into garment sewing!


- I had some decent luck at the thrift stores this week. My favorite thing I found were these three vintage floral napkins. I love finding any kind of vintage tablelinens, but I have a soft spot for napkins in particular! They will need a good soak in oxi-clean, then they'll be ready to be put into rotation!

- Speaking of thrifting, I started this puzzle* that I thrifted over the weekend!

- Made this corn salad from Pinch of Yum and loved it! We made the dressing and quinoa as is, but did a slightly different bowl. We used raw corn, black beans, raw cherry tomatoes, raw peppers, and avocado. So fresh and very little cooking involved!


- Last weekend I finally spent some time resetting and dusting my vintage pyrex collection. I had pushed back all the sets against the walls when Dusty arrived, so that she wouldn't be able to knock them over. She seems completely uninterested in them so I think (hope!) it's safe to put them back. Way back when I wrote a whole series on vintage pyrex which you can find here: Vintage Pyrex Series.

- In love with this rainbow patchwork bag made by Joy using my Lined Drawstring Bag Expansion Pattern!

- Opened a new bottle of my favorite perfume* this week. It's not super strong, which is exactly what I like.


- Kitty is always nearby when I'm working :)

Have a Great Weekend!

*Note: Any links marked with an asterisk in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click through and buy something, I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.]]> Fri, 12 Aug 2022 11:30:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQI3SNsP073_12Fk24e89-qg https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQLmfgJlNymH9YeLGixeGJZp
Happy Wednesday! Today I wanted to share an update that I completed this week to the hidden litter box cabinet that I made for Dusty earlier this year.


You can read more about the cabinet itself in this post here: DIY Hidden Litter Box Cabinet


When I originally finished the cabinet, I made a really quick cushion for the top. I only used materials that I had on hand, which in this case meant I had to compromise on the size and quality of the cushion. I wasn't sure how much Dusty would sit on it, so I didn't want to put a lot of time and money into the cushion at that time. Fast forward 6 months and I can report that she sleeps on it almost every day! She loves it in the afternoon when it gets sun. It was officially time to upgrade the cushion for something larger and more permanent.


I decided to use the same 1" black and white gingham fabric that I used on the first cushion, but this time I added some interfacing to give it extra thickness. For the actual construction of the cushion base I followed instructions for an upholstered bench project in Anna Graham's Handmade Style Book*. I used 2" high density foam*, 1/2" plywood and some cotton batting.


The cushion cover consisted of five pieces: a top and four sides. I was extra careful when cutting the top and front side to ensure that the gingham pattern matched up nicely along the edge. I didn't worry too much about the other sides, since they aren't very visible. Once I had the cover sewn, I wrapped it around the cushion base and stapled it in place. I used one of my favorite tools quite a bit on this project, my cordless stapler*. I wish I had taken some photos in progress! My only defense is that it was 94 degrees when I was working on this project!


The cushion is attached to the cabinet with 8 screws, going from the inside of the cabinet into the cushion base. I am really happy with this attachment because it means I can still easily remove the cushion if I want to replace the fabric down the road, but in the meantime it's super sturdy.


I'm so happy with how this new cushion turned out. It not only looks way better, but it's so much bigger than the original cushion! This means Dusty has even more room to sprawl out and have naps in the sun. I know she's going to get a lot of use out of it. I did not expect it to be such a visual upgrade, but I think it looks great. I was kind of winging it as I went, and I didn't make a muslin of the cushion cover, so that makes me even happier with the finished result!

Happy Sewing!

*Note: Any links marked with an asterisk in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click through and buy something, I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.]]> Wed, 10 Aug 2022 11:30:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQLmfgJlNymH9YeLGixeGJZp https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQK8nf4oxALzshKeetMRuZbW
It's time for the July monthly report! See past reports here.


This month's report is going to be extra short. I finished exactly zero sewing projects in July! This isn't all that surprising, I typically don't sew that much in the middle of the summer, and this July was especially hot for us here in CT.


Even though I didn't finish anything, I did work quite a bit on my vintage sheet bear paw quilt. I posted a progress check in late in July, you can read that here. I'm actually going to end up with more blocks than I need for this quilt, because I accidently over cut two of the colors (pink and green). My plan is to finish them all and make a baby quilt in addition to the throw quilt I had planned to make. I'm very glad to be done with the half-square triangle trimming and am just building blocks at this point.


To keep myself accountable for my stash goals, I track my yardage for fabric and yarn each month. Read more about how I track here. Here is how I did in June:

July Fabric
Used up: 0 yard
Brought in: 0 yards
Net: 0 yards
Year to date: -19.25 yards

July Yarn
Used up: 1000 yards
Brought in: 0 yards
Net: -1000 yards
Year to date: -1000 yards

No fabric went in or out in July, but I did destash some yarn. I was very happy to sell 5 skeins of worsted weight yarn on Ravelry!! I had bought it to make a sweater, but never got around to it. Felt good to let it go to someone who will use and enjoy it!


Time to check in my with 2022 crafty goals. This month I:
- I worked on my vintage sheet bear paw quilt which has been a long term WIP.
- I let some yarn go, which helps with my yardage goal!
- I knit a few rows on my mittens in progress.


Kitten is always near by to help me when I'm working. :)
Have a Great Month!
]]> Mon, 08 Aug 2022 22:08:20 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQK8nf4oxALzshKeetMRuZbW https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQLXBBx1v2yNLFyOSYGFl6uu
Happy Friday! It's time for another Friday Favorites post! Catch up on previous posts here: Friday Favorites Archives

- I hit the jackpot for vintage sheets this week! My sweet neighbor Halina grabbed a box filled with sheets for me while helping a friend clean out their house. They're all flats, which is extra awesome!

- This incredible selvedge quilt by Allie McCathren really caught my eye!

- Love this solids quilt by Ashley too!


- We went to the beach this past weekend for the first time in years! I bought these kid's shoes* to wear in the water and they were perfect. Here is a women's version* too.

- My friend Anna's beautiful new fabric line Around the Bend* is arriving in stores now!

- This collaboration* between Hello Kitty and Baggu is SO cute. If I didn't already have too many bags, I'd snatch some up!


- One of the dahlia varities that I have been the most excited about growing this year has started blooming! It's called Valley Tawny and it's blowing me away so far. The color is so pretty and it has a ton of buds!

- This post has made me think about color in my home.

- This meme is so acurate for me!


- Despite how hot it gets in the sewing room these days, Dusty is still very into sleeping in this storage basket on my cutting table!

Have a Great Weekend!

*Note: Any links marked with an asterisk in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click through and buy something, I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.]]> Fri, 05 Aug 2022 11:30:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/h7XsnPnQvQLXBBx1v2yNLFyOSYGFl6uu