Super Awesome Patchwork Tote Bag

Tote bags come in all shapes and sizes and serve so many useful purposes. The same could be said for patchwork quilts. If you've been following Hooked On Needles for a while, or even if you only pop in every now and then, you might have figured out that I have a thing for tote bags. I do believe it has been mentioned once or twice! I also love quilts or anything that brings together many fabrics and turns them into one beautiful and useful item.

In one of my recent shipments from my new favorite clearance rack place to shop, Connecting Threads, I received a tote bag kit for what was described as a large tote bag that could hold a 13 by 9 inch pan in the bottom of it. It was the first thing I made from that order! I had to see it for myself!

If you want to see it for yourself, keep reading...


This fabulous, super huge and very cheerful tote bag is made with two charm packs and some yardage of Connecting Threads' fabric line called Mama's Cottons 2. The kit is no longer available, but if you have even basic experience making bags, I am sure you could figure out how to make this just from looking at the pictures.


Don't you just love the colors and the prints?


Could you see this oversize tote bag being used for a day at the beach, or to tote your big afghan project with you to a friend's house?


The velcro closure across the top was my own addition to this pattern. I like to be able to close up the top of my project bags to keep things better contained.


To stiffen the bottom of the bag, I cut two pieces of mat board to fit and slid them into a simple sleeve made with some of the leftover fabric. I just tucked the open end inside between the two pieces of board so the sleeve could be removed for cleaning.

See the two large pockets on the inside? This bag would also make a great diaper bag for that first-time mom who feels the need to haul everything x2 every time she takes the baby outside the house!


I think the back is just as pretty as the front.

This kit was fun to work up, and I even have quite a few of the charms leftover to use for some other project. If you're looking for a great place to purchase nice fabric and great patterns put together into complete kits, keep an eye on the Web Specials page at Connecting Threads for some great bargains.

Happy Stitching!

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Hazel Hipster in greens and purples

Remember the red, white and black bag I made a while ago to test Trish's Hazel Hipster pattern? I just loved how that bag turned out, so hip and modern. My daughter really liked it too and decided to make it for one of her friends for Christmas. Elizabeth has not done a lot of sewing - she's more into the yarn arts - but she took on this project with enthusiasm and confidence. I think she did a great job! Take a look...


She picked out these fabrics from Connecting Threads in colors that her friend loves, greens and purples.


I just love how this pattern allows for the lining of the pockets and the bag lining to become the trim at the top of each section. It's a nice detail.


Elizabeth had a good time figuring out which fabric she wanted to use and where on this quick and easy bag. She was very pleased with the finished project, and I am sure her friend is going to love it too!

Coming up soon, I'll be sharing a couple of new video tutorials, a sweater I am knitting for myself - yes, for myself! - and a giveaway to celebrate my 500th post. It's about time I had another giveaway, and I think 500 is a good round number! Stay tuned!

Happy Stitching!

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I Made Pillowcases!

Every now and then, I pop in to the Connecting Threads website to see what kind of wonderful goodies they might have on sale. A few months ago, my timing was fabulous and I was able to scoop up some great deals. One of those deals was their Backyard Fun Pillowcase kit which included enough fabric for two pillowcases and the pattern for a very clever way to sew a pillowcase with trim and leaving no exposed seams. Right now, they only have their Snowy Pillowcase kit available, but the pattern would be the same as the one I received with the Backyard Fun fabric.

I was amazed at how easy it was to whip up two fun pillowcases with this pattern. Take a look and tell me what you think...





I love this fabric and the other fabrics in this line were so fun and cheerful too. I was sad to see that it is no longer available. But they keep coming out with more wonderful fabrics all the time.

If you are interested in this pillowcase pattern, all you have to do is purchase one of their kits, then you can use the pattern with your own fabric to make all the pillowcases you could ever need!

In case you are wondering if I get any kind of commission for promoting Connecting Threads, I do not get compensation of any sort, financial or otherwise. I promote this company because I like to shop there and have always received excellent products and service. Their fabrics are all top quality and they offer a nice variety of collections. I always like to share my good shopping experiences with my friends!

Happy Stitching!

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Pin Cushion Bag Pattern Available Again from Connecting Threads!

Last fall, I made my first pin cushion bag from a pattern I had purchased from Connecting Threads. I loved making the pattern - it was fun and easy and so quick! I also loved using their fabrics - the colors and designs were so soft and pretty and the fabric just felt good. Here is the bag I used as a fall giveaway...


The bag and needle book took altogether less than two hours to make so this is a quick project using just basic sewing skills.



Using the same pattern, but fabric I had purchased at my local shop, I made this pin cushion bag as a gift for my sister. She had seen my first one and loved it, so she asked me to make her one in blacks and whites.

Whenever I checked the Connecting Threads website over the past many months, I looked for this pattern each time. Each time I was disappointed that it was not there. So finally I emailed the company and asked if it would ever be made available for purchase again.

I am very excited to pass on some good news from Connecting Threads about the Pin Cushion Bag pattern that I thought was no longer available. They have brought it back for their new line of fabric called Twilight Frost and you can find it by clicking HERE.

So if you are intrigued by this darling little sewing bag, go check it out at Connecting Threads. For only $11.92, you get the pattern with full size templates and 8 fat quarters of their new Twilight Frost fabric. The only things you have to add are thread, something for the drawstrings, a little bit of stuffing for the pin cushion in the middle and something sturdy for the base of the pin cushion like a circle cut from the lid of a coffee can.

Editor's Note: I failed to mention that this kit includes enough fabric to make 2, yes that's right, TWO pin cushion bags!

It's such a fun little project and would make a lovely gift for yourself or someone special. And just so you know, I have no relationship of any kind with Connecting Threads. I just like to share good news when it comes my way!

Happy Stitching!

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Another Pin Cushion Bag

I am so glad that I purchased the pin cushion bag kit from Connecting Threads when I did, because I have not seen it available on their website since then and I think it's just such a neat little bag. I made the two bags using the fabric that came with the kit and used one as my Fall giveaway last year.

Here is one that I made for my sister using fabric I purchased myself.


She wanted one made out of the leftover fabric from the tote bag I made her for Christmas, but that fabric was canvas and would not have been appropriate for this pattern even if I had enough to use. So I stopped in at Joann Fabrics while I was out of town for the Parent Orientation Day at the college my daughter will be attending in the fall, and I stocked up on some black and white fabrics and a few other fun prints that I found too!


Isn't this a fun combination of blacks and whites? A little pretty, a little crazy and a little plain and simple. Considering she's a nun, I didn't want to get too far out there, but I wasn't about to do just plain black either!


She loved the bag along with the matching needle book, even though it wasn't the fabric she was hoping for.

The little crocheted Rosary case I made for her was a hit too. Now I don't have to worry about making anything else for her until Christmas time, which I read somewhere recently is less than 200 days away now! Yikes!

Coming up soon here at Hooked On Needles will be a requested tutorial on a baby blanket pattern, an idea to make following a pattern easier on the eyes, and a little peek at the afghan I am making for a raffle prize at a golf tournament being held to raise money for a memorial scholarship fund by a local family who lost their son in Iraq in January.

Happy Stitching!

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Huge Fall Give-Away - Don't be left out!

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to all who entered. To see who the winner is, click HERE.

Have you noticed the dapper fellow over there on my sidebar hanging out with that cute little Angel? He's the Fall into Fall Quilter's Giveaway Scarecrow! You'll find him on lots of different sites where you can sign up for some really super fall/quilt themed giveaways. But you have to hurry because October 14 is the end of all this fall fun.

First check out what I'm giving away...


This is the Pincushion Bag and Needle Book that I made from the kit I purchased from Connecting Threads recently. I just loved working with the fabric, and the instructions were very easy to follow. This bag is the feature of my giveaway and would be great for anyone who is a quilter or stitcher of any kind. It has little pockets all around the inside and a generously sized pincushion right in the middle. The strings draw up to form a lovely little bag which can hold all your threads, pins, thimbles, scissors, and what-not.


Along with the pincushion bag and needle book, I am including a few other Fall goodies for the lucky winner: 5 skeins of fall color DMC embroidery floss, 2 fat quarters in red and yellow, a spool of autumn leaves ribbon, a package of apple buttons, a leaf votive candle holder, a six-pack of cinnamon spice candles and a package of cinnamon apple spice tea. I wish I could also package up the breathtaking fall leaves that I enjoy every time I look out any window of my home, but sad to say, those are only here for a short time so I like to keep them all to myself!

All you have to do to be in the running for my giveaway is click at the bottom of this article where it says "Post a comment". In your comment, I would love to know what your favorite thing is about fall, crafty or otherwise.

If you are reading this in your email, you must actually get into my website by clicking the article name at the top of the email. If you wish to comment anonymously or if your profile does not have an email account listed, please make sure you include your email address in your comment so I can contact you if you are the winner.

When you are finished entering my giveaway, hop over to the Fall into Fall Quilters Giveaway and check out all the other great sites that are having similar giveaways. Enter as many as you like by October 14 and see if you can be a winner this Fall!

Good Luck!

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I Got Mail! -- Connecting Threads Package Received

Don't you simply L-O-V-E getting Stuff in the mail? I surely do. I recently discovered a website called Connecting Threads about which I wrote not too long ago. I placed a small order and it came in the mail pretty quickly. I was quite impressed.

Would you like to see what I got?



It's a kit to make 2 of Emilie's Pincushion Bags and matching needle books, one in greens and one in sort of rusty/tan colors. It came with 8 fat quarters of very nice fabric and a full color sheet of comprehensive instructions along with templates for cutting each piece and illustrations to explain most of the assembly steps. It was all packaged very nicely inside a sturdy plastic bag and arrived by regular US mail in less than a week.


Here's a close-up of the fabrics. Aren't they pretty?

Upon reading the instructions for this kit, I realized that I would need to purchase 5 1/4 yards of rat tail for the cords, some sturdy plastic for templates and for the bottom of the pincushions, and I would also need some buttons and batting to complete the project. The buttons and batting are no problem since most crafty people would probably have at least a small supply leftover from previous projects. But 5 1/4 yards of rat tail is not something I usually have just lying around, nor is template plastic, so it would be helpful if those items had been included in the kit.

All in all I would have to say I am pleased with my first purchase from Connecting Threads and I have enjoyed poking around their website to see what other fun things I could find. I really love the feature they have where you can see the actual fabrics included in a kit and how much of each will be included.

The way they have their fabric organized is very helpful too. I like being able to click on a particular collection and see all the fabrics that go together right on the screen. There are also links to kits, threads and patterns that use the particular fabric collection too, so finding things that coordinate with each other just couldn't be easier.

I'm in the process of finishing up a few other projects right now, namely the Basketweave afghan that was too heavy to work on in the hot weather, my second Special Olympics scarf, and my last Angel Swap gift. Once these are completed and I have a chance to pick up some rat tail and template plastic, I am very much looking forward to sewing up these pretty little accessories. Perhaps one will soon be featured in a Fall themed give-away. You just never know!

Happy Stitching!

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Quilter's On Line Resource -- Connecting Threads

A couple of years ago, the only remaining fabric store in our area closed its doors, leaving us with Walmart as our only local choice for fabric shopping. That might be ok for a little craft project here and there, but when you want an endless supply of fabrics in every shade of every color to choose from, you really need A Good Fabric Store.

I was pleasantly surprised to find in my email inbox the other day an email from a site I had never heard of, Connecting Threads. Naturally I had to check them out. The pictures on the email looked very inviting, especially the Charming Totes 3 Kit that was advertised as being NEW and only $25.86. You know how I love Bags! So in I went.

Well, their homepage just made me want to click on Something...Anything...so I chose the Fabric tab. Oooooh...such variety, such potential! How exciting! And all organized by Collection, Scale, Value, Subject and Color. How convenient!

And then I checked out the Kits tab. How was I going to get out of this site with my credit card still intact?

You would be proud of me. I made one small purchase, even though all web orders over $50 get free shipping. But I have to say I was quite surprised to see that my shipping cost was only $3.29. How affordable!

Then I went back to check out the remaining tabs: Books, Patterns, Tools & More, Thread and Web Specials. Oh yeah, I could have done some serious damage here! But I exercised restraint, because first of all I have never ordered from this site before and I was only willing to take a small risk. And also because I have enough projects on the table right now and really didn't need to add anything else to my List of Things To Do! You understand, I know you do!

Check them out and see what you think.

Have you had experience with Connecting Threads? If so, I'd love to hear what you have to say about them.

Don't forget to sign up for my 100th Post give-away which closes Wednesday, September 17th!

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