Martingale & Company, a publisher known for quilting and craft books, offers a selection of free pattern downloads through its online shop. These resources provide quilters and crafters with access to project instructions at no cost, covering various techniques and items such as aprons and quilting designs. The availability of these downloads is often tied to promotional events, book launches, or general community support for the crafting hobby.
Free Pattern Downloads via ShopMartingale.com
According to user reports on quilting forums, Martingale maintains a dedicated "freebies" section on its website. The URL provided for these resources is https://www.shopmartingale.com/freebies-all.html. This page serves as a central repository for various downloadable patterns.
Apron from a Shirt Pattern
One specific pattern mentioned in community discussions involves transforming a men's shirt into an apron. This project is highlighted as a practical way to repurpose unused clothing. The pattern is reportedly available for free download on the Martingale freebies page. Users have noted that these aprons make suitable gifts for men and have also been successful items to sell at craft shows.
The process involves using a standard men's shirt. An additional suggestion from a community member involves creating a "cobbler's apron" variation. This method entails removing the sleeves and utilizing the bottom 6 to 8 inches of the shirt, starting from the cuff, to create large pockets for the apron. Contrasting fabric can be used to bind the pockets and the sleeve openings for a professional finish.
Quilting and Embroidery Designs
Beyond garment construction, Martingale's free resources include quilting and embroidery designs. These are often distributed in partnership with other industry entities, such as Sulky, a thread manufacturer.
- Free-Motion Quilting Practice Printable: A free practice printable is available to help quilters improve their free-motion quilting skills. This resource is associated with the book 180 Doodle Quilting Designs: Free-Motion Ideas for Blocks Borders and Beyond by Lori Kennedy, published by Martingale. The design, featuring a "Spool of Thread," can be printed onto Sulky Stick 'n Stitch Stabilizer. This allows users to practice "painting fabrics with thread" by dropping the sewing machine feed dogs.
- Fuzzy Bunny Embroidery Design: Martingale has also facilitated access to free machine embroidery designs, such as the "Fuzzy Bunny" 3D brushed design. This design measures 4 11/16″ x 6 3/8″ and is intended for Easter and springtime projects like Easter baskets, pillow blanks, and wall hangings. The design utilizes Sulky Filaine Thread, a heavyweight acrylic thread that fluffs when brushed with a specific wire brush. Successful stitching requires a MAXI SPOOL of Filaine Thread and a needle size of 100/16.
Promotional Events and Giveaways
Martingale utilizes blog tours and social media events to distribute free content and engage with the crafting community. These events often feature giveaways of books, prize bundles, and exclusive patterns.
Holiday Celebrations and Blog Tours
In conjunction with the release of the book Holiday Celebrations, author Jacquelynne Steves hosted a blog tour. Martingale participated in this tour by offering a "ginormous prize bundle." Entries for this grand prize were accepted via Martingale's blog and Instagram account.
During the blog tour, individual authors also hosted giveaways. For example, Jacquelynne Steves offered a copy of the Holiday Celebrations book to a winner chosen at random from comments on her specific blog post. The giveaway required participants to share their favorite season or holiday for making sewing or quilting projects. The rules specified that the giveaway was open to U.S. and International entrants, with a print copy provided to U.S. residents and a PDF to international winners. No purchase was necessary to enter, and the winner was responsible for any taxes or fees.
Book Launch Promotions
Martingale promotes its authors and books through industry trade shows like the International Quilt Market. For instance, during the promotion of the book Machine Quilting With Style, Martingale organized events where the author presented to quilt shop owners. One such event was the "Schoolhouse Series," where the author educated shop owners on the benefits of carrying the book, noting it serves as a reference for 18 different machine quilting designs. Suggestions for selling the book included bundling it with kit purchases or offering it as a "freebie" with sewing machine purchases. Additional demos were held in the Martingale booth at the trade show.
Sourcing and Reliability
When accessing free patterns and offers, it is important to distinguish between verified sources and third-party aggregators.
- Verified Sources: The Martingale official shop page (shopmartingale.com) is the primary source for their free patterns. Blog posts from the publisher or verified authors (such as Jacquelynne Steves) provide accurate information regarding current giveaways and book promotions. These sources often include specific terms and conditions, such as eligibility requirements and entry deadlines.
- Third-Party Sources: Quilting forums and deal blogs can be useful for discovering offers, but information found there should be cross-referenced with official sources. For example, forum users sharing links to the Martingale freebies page provide a helpful starting point, but the official page contains the definitive list of available patterns.
Conclusion
Martingale & Company provides a variety of free crafting resources, including patterns for aprons and quilting designs, accessible through their official website. These freebies are often supported by promotional activities, such as blog tours and trade show events, which may also include giveaways of books and prize bundles. Consumers interested in these offers should monitor Martingale's official channels and verified author blogs for the most accurate and up-to-date information on availability and entry requirements.