Love Story Patchwork Stockings : :

Holiday making is well underway and my goodness, I do LOVE these days of non-stop making!



Last year this time my Love Story collection had just arrived at my studio and I was brimming with ideas for using these pretty prints for some surprising holiday themed handmades. I made so many bags that I never finished these Love Story stockings that were at the top of my to-make list, until now...



Making unique Christmas stockings have become one of my favorite things to make! Years ago, before I knew yet how to sew, I purchased our family's stockings from Pottery Barn. Their shape and size are the style I still like best all these years later, so when it came time to try making my own to gift and to sell, I traced one of those stockings to be the template that I continue to use for each one. The extra large size is just perfect for stuffing with all kinds of small gifts and treats!



These Love Story Patchwork Stockings include all twenty quilting cottons that make up the collection. And to add a special boho touch, I embellish each with handmade flower & fabric twine cluster!



Aren't they pretty?! I love them so much!! So much so that I made eight!

*UPDATE* All Love Story Stockings have sold out, but I would still love for you to check out my other Ready To Ship bags, pillows, quilted journals and quilts of mine, you can visit my new Instagram Pop-Up Shop --
https://www.instagram.com/shopMCH/



Thanks for looking! xo Maureen

Little Town + Les Petits Stockings : :

When it came time to begin my holiday sewing I had to include my friend Amy Sinibaldi's beautiful winter themed collection for Art Gallery Fabrics, Little Town, an adorable collection that captures so perfectly the joy and beauty of the season!



Isn't this such a sweet collection for holiday sewing?! Right when these fabrics arrived I envisioned using Little Town & Amy's Les Petits collection of blenders that she designed to coordinate effortlessly with her lines, to make a set of new stockings and I'm so glad that I made time to stitch a few up!



I couple of years ago I created my go-to stocking pattern by tracing an x-large stocking that I had purchased before I began sewing. The shape and generous size of this style of stocking is by far my favorite that I've seen. I don't mind one bit using the same pattern over and over again, year after year because the fun comes from the different patchwork that I use for each. For these Little Town stockings I used the new Friendship Braid qayg that I've been experimenting with lately. I really love how these turned out!



For each stocking I made one of my flower cluster ornaments using Amy's fabrics, wool blend felt, AGF linen, ric rac and handmade fabric twine. These extra embellishments take some time to make, but I love the way the look hanging from each stocking loop!





I ended up making four more of these Little Town + Les Petits stockings and this morning added them to my Etsy shop. I'm so glad I wasted no time to begin my holiday sewing this year, because now I have time to make lots more of these pretty stockings!



Now through December 5th I'm offering free shipping on all domestic orders in my Etsy shop with coupon code: FREESHIP! This includes these new holiday stockings, handmade pillows & quilts, 1yd scrap bundles, birthday crowns, etc.. I plan to add new items daily throughout the sale, I hope you'll stop by!

xo Maureen 

Denim Patchwork Stockings : :

Making holiday stockings are right up there with my favorite things to make! I LOVE patchwork and unique, dreamy, homey décor with a bohemian feel is without a doubt my style for decorating each room in our home, so why not make holiday stockings with the same feel for holiday decorating!



This week on my Instagram I shared a little peek of the denim patchwork I've spent the last couple of days making, and today I'm so excited to share this new handmade holiday item with all of you!









I started my own stocking assembly line using the pattern I created last year by tracing one of my favorite extra-large sized stockings purchased several years ago before I had learned to sew, to use as my template. I pulled out my collection of AGF Denim Studio solid smooth and printed denims, first I sewed together strips and then added my patchwork using my Quick Quilt As you Go method to create these double-sided stockings that can be hung whichever direction you choose!



Each stocking is lined with my navy & white Wild and Free Woven Path quilting cotton and the hanging loops are made with a thick & sturdy heavyweight AGF denim!



With each stocking comes a beautiful denim + fabric + felt flower cluster with handmade denim twine that I made, as well. I had so much fun making these and love how they turned out! Each is finished with a vintage ricrac loop so they can be easily removed to double as a pretty ornament, as well!









You can find these new quilted denim patchwork holiday stockings and my other handmade gift items in my Etsy Shop https://www.etsy.com/listing/492775063/quilted-denim-patchwork-stocking

I hope you love them as much as I do!!  XO Maureen

Handmade in Buffalo Plaid : :

For me, the most festive holiday fabric has to be the red and black Buffalo Check! I have loved this particular plaid since I was a young teenager working at a local shop that carried mostly Woolrich, the company who created and trademarked The Original Buffalo Check in the mid 1800's. Late last week I decided to make my own modern version of this print for a new holiday stocking to hang and I LOVE how it turned out!



Using a combination of AGF's heavyweight Scarlet Brick Texture Denim with Pure Element solids in Caviar and London Red I made just enough patchwork to finish this Quick Quilt As You Go Stocking!



For the lining I used a lighter weight AGF Denim in Wicked Sky, and my hanger is made out of felted red wool. I'm not sure I'd use the wool again and much prefer a denim loop for hanging, like I added to my previous stockings. I will absolutely be making several more of these, using the same fabrics as soon as they arrive, just with different embellishments.



This was my first attempt at using the very popular Buck Forest print for an ornament to adorn my stocking with. It's not without flaws but what a perfect pair!



This holiday I have enjoyed making all of these new handmade stockings the most of all!

How about you, have you been making handmade to decorate or to gift these past few weeks? I always love reading what you're up to!

♡ Maureen 

Garden Dreamer Sewing : :

Today I thought I'd pop in to share a few more of my recently finished Garden Dreamer projects! I've been working on some very fun sewing for the upcoming LookBook which I'll be sharing in full very soon.

Using all twenty pieces in the quilting cotton collection I had to whip up a patchwork holiday stocking. I love making these so much, how could I not treat myself to one in Garden Dreamer!



Always searching for a way to make use of my collection of knits, I chose to line this one with my Diamond Fragments knit. I love the way this substrate works for lining both these stockings and the bags I've been making lately. While making these projects I've noticed that I'm becoming more and more comfortable sewing with knits, so hopefully I'll be ready to tackle some garments soon enough!



Perhaps my favorite thing about making these stockings are the flower clusters I dress them up with! This one is a combination of Garden Dreamer, wool blend felt, and recycled sari twine purchased years ago from Anthropologie that couldn't be more perfect!



I also made a set of cozy pillowcases using my Twinkle star and Bumble prints in both of their colorways to showcase how well these work for sewing for both boys & girls. This first one features Twinklestar Blue with Bumble Buzz!



And this one is Twinklestar Berry with Bumble Beez!



Such a sweet pairing for bedding! I'm really looking forward to seeing these used in garments, as well!



Finally I have just a peek of my Garden Dreamer Herringbone Quilt. I offer this pattern in my Quick Quilt As You Go Craftsy Class and it will forever be a favorite of mine. I can't wait to see this one photographed as a whole!



I'm pretty certain I added in every color of AGF Pure Element solids that matched Garden Dreamer that I had in my stash and then I finished it with my yellow plaid, Terra Firma in Sunlit print for the binding. I'm so happy to finally have such a sunny yellow to sew with, it's one of my most favorite colors!



If you're looking, Fat Quarter Shop,  Llama Fabrics,  Lady Belle Fabric, and  Circa 15 Fabric Studio are all selling full collection stacks of Garden Dreamer in a variety of cuts! I'm so excited that AGF releases such beautiful LookBooks to celebrate the launch of each new collection. I'm really looking forward to sharing it with all of you and I hope you love these fabrics as much as I do!

♡ Maureen  

A Holiday Sample Sale : :

I'm having a special Sample Sale for holiday gift giving! Now through Friday use Coupon Code: FLASH20 for an extra 20% off ANY purchase in my Etsy shop --quilts, pillows, scrap bundles, stockings & more! Here are just a few of my favorites!

















Thanks for looking and have a great day! ♡ Maureen  

Quilted Patchwork Stockings!

These stockings are right up there with my favorite things to have EVER made! I LOVE patchwork and unique, dreamy, homey décor with a bohemian feel is without a doubt my favorite style!

Yesterday I shared a little peek of the fabric & felt flowers I spent the last couple of days making to dress up my first ever stockings-for-sale, and today I'm so excited to share this new handmade holiday item with all of you!





I started my own stocking assembly line by tracing one of my favorite extra-large sized stockings,  purchased several years ago before I had learned to sew, to use as my template. I picked out a collection of fabrics with a "wintry theme" in mind -- low volumes, shimmery solids, with some traditional holiday jewel tone prints mixed in.



I added my patchwork using my Quick Quilt As you Go method to create these double-sided stockings that can be hung whichever direction you choose!



Each stocking is lined with a Fleet & Flourish knit and the hanging loops are made with AGF denim!



With each stocking comes a beautiful fabric & felt flower cluster with recycled sari silk fringe. I had so much fun making these and love how they turned out! Each is finished with a vintage ricrac loop so they can be easily removed to double as a pretty ornament, as well!





You can find these new quilted patchwork holiday stockings and my other handmade gift items in my Etsy Shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/maureencracknell

I hope you love them as much as I do!!  XO Maureen