This whole post includes projects that are made from panels. That means cut and sew, maybe quilt and embellish and you're done! These panels look like a lot of difficult piecing and hard work but they're easy! And I'm not saying easy as pie because we all know pie is not easy to make... Here's some beautiful stockings from the staff at our SODO store .

This stocking is from the collection Joy from Moda . This stocking panel comes with enough fabric to make 2 stockings and a bunch of cute embellishments!

 These next stockings are from the collection Snoel which comes with 3 different stockings.

Pacific Fabrics also has lots more stockings and advent calendars .

 If you're looking for some more holiday inspriation come see us this week, in store for Creative U . This months Creative U theme is Last Minute Gift Ideas and Wrapping it Up. Here's a sneak peak of some of what you'll see-

  Creative U is a great way to see whats new and whats going on at your local Pacific Fabrics store . If you can't visit at the seminar times feel free to drop in the day of and we can fill you in on what you missed. Our Creative U host , Crafty Chris is super knowledgeable, helpful, and knows most things crafty. Hope you can join us!

-Janissa

 I've never been much of a Holiday Seamstress, nothing really caught my eye, things get too busy, I run out of time-but this year has been very different. There are so many cute books, choices of fabric, easy patterns, I had a hard time choosing which project I would start first!

The cuteness just kept coming... and if you're looking for something to use up your scraps this little pillow has your name on it!

You can choose to use larger strips or even one solid piece of fabric, I did one inch strips. This  Strippy Little Christmas Tree pattern doesn't take very much fabric and you get to use burlap and that fun pom-pom trim.

I also found this stocking pattern that I just had to have, its called Merry by Thimble Blossoms .

 I made one solid stocking and the hexagon stocking.

Here are my little hexagons ready to be sewn together, I love the colors!

The Merry pattern uses English Paper Piecing for the hexagon stocking but doesn't go into detail about what you do step-by-step. If you want to try it have the book Hexa Go-Go by Tacha Bruecher nearby, she goes into detail about what stitches to use and how to get your hexagon project done efficiently from the beginning of your project to the end. I had this book by my side the whole time.

Megan at the Bremerton store made this awesome twister stocking, too.

This stocking is the pattern Stocking Sweet Stocking . I just love the way these turned out!

Here are all our pretty stockings together (I love that chevron fabric !)

 I also made the Hexagon Tree Skirt from Nite Owl Quilting.

No project is complete until Honey Bear rolls allover it. I made this tree skirt from Nancy's Holiday Favorite s fabric. It is full of dots stripes and happy colors! If you want to see this skirt in action its on display at the Bremerton store.

This year I could not pass up all the fun fabrics and patterns, I also cannot think of anything better to do when it's wet and cold outside, so get sewing!

Stay tuned for more fun holiday projects!

-Janissa

The holidays are upon us and it is time to get the spirit going with some easy fun crafts. So grab some supplies, friends and family, have lots holiday treats on hand and have some fun!

Just recently I taught a class at the Bremerton store and taught how to knit and crochet ruffle scarves , which would make great holiday gifts. In a two hour session I had a knitter convert to crochet and make a scarf all in one class! These scarves are so easy!

I call this yarn the softest scarf yarn ever or Circulo Sensual Classe . You will be so happy if you touch this yarn. These ruffle scarves knit or crochet so quick, you'll be churning out gifts and even have time to have a sassy little scarf for yourself.

Mara at the Bremerton store also made this awesome ruffle scarf from Lion Brands Quick and Cozy yarn . She let me know that this scarf was easy as pie-just increases and decreases and your on your way to fabulous! It is a free Red Heart Pattern called Scarf with Frills .  Quick and Cozy is also a great yarn for quick, last minute gifts. I made a baby blanket in a few hours and it was so nice and soft!

If you aren't in the mood for knitting or crocheting, use some of our awesome furry yarns to create one-of-a-kind holiday decor. I had a furry friend help me with my wreath.

For the wreath I just pinned through the wreath to hold the one end of the yarn and wrapped and wrapped until the entire wreath was covered, this project took about two skeins of Martha Stewart Eyelash yarn .

I also covered cardboard trees (you can use foam too!) with some Martha Stewart Eyelash yarn to make a sparkly new addition to my holiday set up. To wrap the trees use some glue as you work to keep the yarn from slipping. My favorite glue for all my projects is E-6000, this stuff is amazing ( and you can find it at all of our stores )! Grips fast and doesn't let go, but has a nice flexible hold if you need it. These projects are no-sew and all-fun.

Happy Holiday Sewing!

-Janissa

I must admit that I've never thought about where my thread comes from.

I know how important good thread is to the quality of my end product and my sewing experience. You know - things like, cheap thread frays and breaks and balls up in your sewing machine, go with a shade a little darker than your fabric if you can't find a good match and don't keep cotton thread around for 2 or 3 decades because it fades and disintegrates and doesn't work very well eventually.

But, I've never really thought about how it's made and where the "ingredients" in my thread come from.

I do think a lot about the incredible number of PET (plastic) beverage bottles that pile up in my home recycling bin and at the city recycling centers. So, I'm always excited when I hear about new ways to use those bottles and, Gutermann's rPET Thread has me VERY excited.

Here's the essential scoop straight from Gutermann's web site:

 100 % recycled polyester from PET bottles

 For all fabrics and seams

 For sewing machines and sewing by hand

 Recommended needle and needle size: Universal needle 80 - 90 (medium weight fabrics)

I'm not going to start buying more PET beverage bottles just so Gutermann can turn them into thread when I'm done with them, but I'm glad to know I can help with the waste a little by buying recycled thread when I can. Seems like a sew sweet deal to me!

You'll find Gutermann's rPET thread at all our stores . Go on - put down that water bottle and give it a try!

~ Annette

This  Divided by 3 Table Runner  was created by some super crafty teamwork. Wendy from our  Northgate  store used stencils to make one-of-a-kind blocks and Audrey, our manager from the Bremerton store, pieced and put together the runner. The stencils are avaliable in all of our stores but the Martha Stewart paints are only avaliable in Everett and Northgate  (You can always ask for anything you see in this blog and have it shipped to a store near you with free pick up or pay shipping and we'll ship it to you!).  This runner features fabrics from Stonehenge Woodland .

It really did turn out great! The Woodland line goes perfect with those tree stencils. Just too cool!

If you want to see more Divided by 3 , revisit our Best Friends Forever Blog Post .

-Janissa