Yep…I am ahead of schedule in my quilting…so I threw one of mine on…the quilting will look pretty familiar (remember the “pretty baby quilt”?) I figured I would work o…
Do you want to make a memorable keepsake for a new baby boy? Find lots of inspiration in these baby quilts for boys.
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#100Days100Blocks2019 has come to and end and all that’s left is to vote on the finished quilt tops that have...
The Streak of Lightning quilt block is a great block for using up those skinnier strips you’ve been saving and finishes at 10″ square! It is similar to a Log Cabin block.
Want to learn how to quilt? Here are 15 Free Quilt Patterns that Use Precuts for beginning quilters! Try them all this weekend!
Explore sukie80's 1269 photos on Flickr!
Hi Everyone, I had so many lovely comments about the blocks I made last weekend that I thought I would write a little tutorial for you. I have to admit am I kind of in love with them myself. Some people are calling these feathers and that is fine... I choose to call them leaves because that is what I set out to make :) Updated pictures as of 4/29/17 and here is a downloadable PDF This Tutorial Makes Two 9” (unfinished) Blocks Supplies: 14 - 2” x 9 1/2” Strips for Leaf 4 – 3 ½” Squares for Background 1 – 1 ½” x WOF Strip for Stem Instructions: Lay out 7 strips for each side of your leaves. I chose to do one side in warm tones and one side in cool tones but you can choose whatever you like of course. If you decide to add a low volume piece try to put it in a different place on each side. Sew the strips together to form two rectangles as shown. Square these units to 9 ½” by cutting approximately 1/2 “ off each end. Lay the units out so that the strips are horizontal. Cut units on the diagonal. Make sure to cut from left top to right bottom on one and right top to left bottom on the other. If you are making more than 2 blocks just be certain to cut half one way and half the other. Lay out your two halves so that the stripes form a chevron in the center. This is the sort of tricky part but not really… just look closely at the picture. Lay the left side of the leaf on the stem fabric strip so that the bottom of the leaf is next to the left edge of the bottom of the strip and the top edge of the leaf is ¼ inch from the right edge of the strip at the top. Sew ¼ from the edge of the stripped piece. Trim close to the edge of the stripped piece. Press toward the stripped piece Lay the right side of the leaf on the stem fabric strip so that the bottom of the leaf is next to the right edge of the bottom of the strip align along the edge of the stem fabric so that the stripped pieces overlap at the top. Sew ¼” seam. Press toward the stripped piece. Square the block to 9” keeping the 45 degree angle line on your ruler somewhere in the stem fabric. It doesn’t have to be perfectly down the center because leaves are organic (and so are feathers). Draw a line diagonally on the back of each of the background 3 ½” squares. Line up your squares on the outside corners of the leaves as shown. Sew down the marked line and trim. Press and Voila... your blocks are done! Please, if you use this tutorial all I ask is that you give me credit and link back to me. You are welcome to make things to sell with it as well. Every once in a while I do something I am extra proud of and want a little credit :) Thanks so much! Also if you make some we would love to see them please post to Instagram with the hashtag #featherleafblock Here is the original picture: and the original quilt I am adding 2"sashing between the blocks so they look like this.
Your Favorite Colors are Wonderful, Too! Easy piecing and 5″ charm squares combine for a charming quilt. It’s wonderful in any color palette or give it a scrappy look by using up leftovers from your stash. Show off fabrics for any season or choose charm packs from a fabric line you love. This is a …
Bust through your fabric scraps with the Scrappy Starry Night Quilt Block of the Month series with The Sewing Loft. Block 2 is the Scrappy Snowflake.
Grandma Denise made a “Bricks” quilt top for baby Maggie, and my friend, Maggie’s mother, asked me to quilt it. Neither the fabrics nor the size are particularly baby-ish, but app…
I will be presenting this artwork to a Year 4 class later this Term so I will definitely make a post of their artworks. This info...
A couple of nights ago, I woke up in the middle of the night, and, in that semi slumber state when I was letting my mind wander while trying to go back to sleep, I thought of a solution to a puzzle…
Hi Everyone, I had so many lovely comments about the blocks I made last weekend that I thought I would write a little tutorial for you. I have to admit am I kind of in love with them myself. Some people are calling these feathers and that is fine... I choose to call them leaves because that is what I set out to make :) Updated pictures as of 4/29/17 and here is a downloadable PDF This Tutorial Makes Two 9” (unfinished) Blocks Supplies: 14 - 2” x 9 1/2” Strips for Leaf 4 – 3 ½” Squares for Background 1 – 1 ½” x WOF Strip for Stem Instructions: Lay out 7 strips for each side of your leaves. I chose to do one side in warm tones and one side in cool tones but you can choose whatever you like of course. If you decide to add a low volume piece try to put it in a different place on each side. Sew the strips together to form two rectangles as shown. Square these units to 9 ½” by cutting approximately 1/2 “ off each end. Lay the units out so that the strips are horizontal. Cut units on the diagonal. Make sure to cut from left top to right bottom on one and right top to left bottom on the other. If you are making more than 2 blocks just be certain to cut half one way and half the other. Lay out your two halves so that the stripes form a chevron in the center. This is the sort of tricky part but not really… just look closely at the picture. Lay the left side of the leaf on the stem fabric strip so that the bottom of the leaf is next to the left edge of the bottom of the strip and the top edge of the leaf is ¼ inch from the right edge of the strip at the top. Sew ¼ from the edge of the stripped piece. Trim close to the edge of the stripped piece. Press toward the stripped piece Lay the right side of the leaf on the stem fabric strip so that the bottom of the leaf is next to the right edge of the bottom of the strip align along the edge of the stem fabric so that the stripped pieces overlap at the top. Sew ¼” seam. Press toward the stripped piece. Square the block to 9” keeping the 45 degree angle line on your ruler somewhere in the stem fabric. It doesn’t have to be perfectly down the center because leaves are organic (and so are feathers). Draw a line diagonally on the back of each of the background 3 ½” squares. Line up your squares on the outside corners of the leaves as shown. Sew down the marked line and trim. Press and Voila... your blocks are done! Please, if you use this tutorial all I ask is that you give me credit and link back to me. You are welcome to make things to sell with it as well. Every once in a while I do something I am extra proud of and want a little credit :) Thanks so much! Also if you make some we would love to see them please post to Instagram with the hashtag #featherleafblock Here is the original picture: and the original quilt I am adding 2"sashing between the blocks so they look like this.
#100Days100Blocks2019 has come to and end and all that’s left is to vote on the finished quilt tops that have...
Hola! The block of the month is wrapped up and as you are all working on finishing your 12 or 13 blocks I want to share a few layouts that I created while considering how to finish my own quilt. If…
5 Favorite Paper Piecing Quilt Patterns animals and flowers. By professional quilter Janeen van Niekerk shares her work.
Alright, my friends! I've shown you three of my Deco sample quilts so far, but before I show you the fourth, I want to take a moment to show you pattern tester quilts! In case you missed it, the Deco Quilt pattern is now available! If you haven't already read my initial blog post about the two-color Deco quilt that I made, be sure to check that out here. You'll find my inspiration, pattern sizes fabric requirements and other details about Deco. Every time I release a new pattern into the world, I love to do a blog post all about my pattern testers! This talented group of quilters generously give their time, energy and precious fabric to help me make the best patterns possible! Deco was especially technical, so I had a lot of dialogue around certain topics. We went back and forth on certain sewing instructions, diagrams and overall how the quilt comes together. Let's take a look at their beautiful Deco quilts! First, let's take a look at the testers who are carrying quilt kits. Many of my pattern testers conveniently have online fabric shops, which makes it really easy for you to quickly pick your fabrics and know how it will look before it's finished! QUILTS KITS Mary of @rosiegirlquilts used gorgeous jewel tones to create this masterpiece! They have kits in their shop to recreate this exact quilt, which can be found here. . Laura of @finleyfabric created the most stunning combination of fabrics. I absolutely LOVE the emerald background. I *almost* did something similar for my cover quilt, but I ended up going a different direction. I'm so glad that she took the plunge with this! It really paid off. You can find her kits here. . Claire of @thestitchsaloon is an Australian based shop that ships worldwide! She made a bright and cheery baby quilt and has kits for them in her shop! . LONG ARM DISCOUNT I was extremely excited to have a long-arm quilter test Deco for me! She is so generously offering a 20% off discount to anyone who sends a Deco quilt to her before July 9th. The coupon code is DECO20. Check out her Instagram, @browneyedquilter and/or website for more details. And isn't her quilt stunning? . . Next, we have Katie of @katesmakesandcreates created this gorgeous, kind of moody throw size Deco quilt. She used Kona Leather and Telio Swiss Dot in Rose. An alternative would be Essex Linen in Rose. I absolutely love how this turned out! . Now let's look at Cat, of @workinghandsstudio. She created this really fun baby quilt for the newest addition of their family. :) I really love how the subtle background print adds a little extra *sparkle*! . .Erin, of @lovesewmodern really knocked it out of the park with these colors! That darker background really makes everything else POP. . Claire of @claireandhercrafts helped me do a trial run of a certain concept that I was considering for the pattern. You might notice that her baby quilt includes only Block 3B, where as the final pattern calls for Block 3A. Essentially this means that her quilt is missing one of the tiny squares at the very corner of one of the blocks. I ended up changing my mind on this to add more drama to the quilt, and Claire was so kind to do a test run of the first version so that I could see how it looked. Her quilt is still equally stunning! . Now let's look at Nuria of @fabricstork's baby Deco quilt! She briefly had kits for this but they sold out within a day or two. And rightfully so, isn't this fun?? . . Robin of @seamedtobe created a gorgeous Throw size Deco quilt that is just STUNNING! I loveeee how this looks! She used Kona Leaf and Kona Haze as the background. . Next up, we have Nicki of @wovenandwoolly! She sewed up her quilt before I made a pretty big change in the pattern. If you can see where the corner of her little square are chopped off....that's totally my fault!! (sad day). If you make the baby size, notice that the solid background squares are 1/2
Patchwork patterns.
Like most fabric addicts, I have a hard time throwing away scraps of fabric. It’s almost embarrassing the tiny pieces that I find I need to save. I mean really tiny. If it’s much bigger…
Good morning to you!!! My 4-H friend from years ago made a layer cake out of some of her fabrics and challenged me to make something. This is how I am using her fabrics. It seems like 1930's to me, so I am adding my 1930's prints to the mix. It seems old fashioned and just soft and lovely to me. I got a bug to make some blue blocks, and so I did. These are 12 inches finished, so large ones for me. I have taken this project out of the quilt vault (closet) and have actually added another row to it. Hurrah!! Super simple blocks, and kind of modern looking sampler. I have started to use up my browns with these blocks. Someone on the blogs made a quilt like this!! Please shout out if it was you, please, so I can credit you!!! I made four so far. I am so lucky to have good help, although Lucky the kitty seems to be nocturnal, and likes to party all night and sleep during the days. His eyes are so lovely to me!!! This is my hand quilting project...Wagon Wheel, a long-ago pieced top. I made good progress on it, and enjoy the slow, contemplative movement of the needle pulling thread through the layers. Just good fun!!! Hope each of you is having a lovely quilting day, or a lovely time with whatever you are up to!! Julie
Top US quilting blog, Diary fo a Quilter, features their Lattice Baby Quilt Tutorial and Pattern, perfect for using 5" charm squares. Click here now!!
I taught a Birds class yesterday at Quilted Threads. It was a fun day of birdmaking, and the students made a lot of terrific looking birds. Here is a sampling: I don't do pastels or soft colors, but DAMN, this bird is stunning! Donnie and Laura drove from New York State to take the class and stayed in the local B&B the night before. Before they left they asked for a picture of me with the Flight of Fancy quilt. Well, sure! A good time was had by all, and the students were thrilled to receive the new bird tutorial, Lynne's Liberated Birds, to take home. You can purchase it here.
A citrus splash of color on my wall today right where you enter our house. Don't you love the patterns of Hawaiian quilts? The two stripe vases I've had for years. They look stunning with one large stem sunflower in each of them. The metal basket I recently picked up and I'm thinking of dipping it in enamel paint. But first before I do that I should paint it a burnt orange so that when I wipe the white off the edges it will have that ages-old-rusty-and-chippy-white appeal. The basket could be used in the garden on new plants in the spring so that the deer and rabbits can't reach their sweet new shoots. I guess I could still do it when it's chippy and white. Another option is to turn it upside down and make it a lamp shade! Connecting up with Show off your Cottage Monday.
This gorgeous bedsized quilt by Diane Nagle uses fabrics from the Bordeaux Rose collection by RJR Fabrics.
I will be presenting this artwork to a Year 4 class later this Term so I will definitely make a post of their artworks. This info...
It is such a satisfying feeling to finish a quilt! You might have noticed that it's not something I do every other week so it's cause for celebration! Yesterday, I finished the polka dotted flying geese quilt I started a few months ago. This quilt resulted from a serindipitous moment in my studio. Some years ago, I bought a bundle of fat quarters of polka dotted fabric at a quilt show, just because I love dots and they looked so luscious, all bundled together. Like candy! I kept the bundle on my shelf where I could see it, because it just made me so happy to look at it. And about 3 years ago, when I went to the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham, England, I discovered Oak Shott cottons -- gorgeous shot-cotton fabric made in the UK. I bought a small bundle of them too, a rainbow assortment. And I had that on a different shelf in my sewing room. So a few months back, I was pulling fabrics for a project and happened to grab the polka dots off of the shelf in order to get a book behind them. I did the same with the shot cottons. So there they were, next to each other on my table, looking like they were meant to go together. After a flurry of triangle cutting, here we are. I did a lot of doodling to figure out how to machine quilt this. I wanted to knock back the spaces between the geese, so you can see I landed on some straight line quilting. And it turned out that the geese triangles were too bumpy without any internal quilting so I did an internal triangle in each one. Once I block this it'll be nice and flat. (So I suppose it's not TOTALLY done. Blocking and the label. Still, I'm calling it done.) There are big multicolored polka dots on the back, and I was happy that my local favorite quilt shop had Kaffe Fassett shot cotton in just the persimmon color I wanted for the binding. Now, on to the next project!
This is Butterflies. She is all done, washed and was out in the morning sun. This quilt is made from Terrain by Kate Spain and Kona white. The binding is made of scraps of Terrain too. It finished at about 44" x 56". That is a picture before washing. I have now found this block in Barbara Brackman's Encyclopedia of Quilt Patterns, page 403. It is #3364, Fan Quadrille - by Mountain Mist. Megan from Canoe Ridge Creations did a tutorial for a version of the block here. I made drunkard path quarter circles and trimmed them and added the other squares to make the block. They look like butterflies to me. I decided to be brave and do some free motion quilting on the butterflies. You can see that my lines are a bit wobbly and I just free handed it as I went. I was hoping that the washing would sort out the wobbles and it did - any remaining wobbles add texture and interest, at least I am hoping you see it that way. I decided that the only way to get better at this kind of quilting was to just do it, and I could see improvement even in this single piece as I did more and more. There she is before I threw her in the washer and dryer. After I braved the free motion quilting bits, I got out my walking foot and outlined the motifs with some straightish lines. I used a variegated white/tan Valdani thread for all the quilting. Here is the quilting detail after washing in the bright sun. I love these artsy quilting shots. On the back I used a Timeless Treasures print called Tree. I love this print and it works nicely with the butterfly theme. The binding is made of scraps of left over Terrain and I machine stitched it on. I used Marianne from the Quilting Edge's tutorial and it works exactly as she said it would. I even carefully followed her extra tutorial for the corners and I got 2 out of 4 corners finished perfectly. The other two I fixed with some hand stitching. Although I do like the hand sewing of bindings, this method is neat and far quicker and I will use it again. Another detail shot, after washing. This quilt is so cheerful and full of colour. A folded, parting shot. And, I am reminded to add that I am made my little video about how easy it is to sew curves without pins while making this quilt - it is here. This finish is also another finish for Rhonda at Quilter in the Gap's Finish-a-Long. There is not much time left - it is nice to have this one done in time for summer. I will link this post up to {Sew} Modern Monday at Canoe Ridge Creations and to Fabric Tuesday at Quilt Story as the week progresses. The buttons for both these links are on the right side of the blog. There will be inspiration at each of those links, hopefully you have time to visit. Best, Leanne
When I found out my dear friends Nicole and Marty were getting married I knew…
The school year is ending, and our church youth group is graduating a large senior class of very talented young people. One of my dear friends, in anticipation of her only child heading off to Boone in two short months, started quilting with me this spring, and made her first two Jelly Roll Race quilts, then decided to make her daughter a perfect school-colors-for-the-dorm-room quilt. She bought the pattern "Kwik Shifted Blocks" by Two Kwik Quilters while on the shop hop here in eastern NC in February. Unfortunately, the pattern only finishes 48" x 62" and she wanted a twin quilt. So, we made a color photocopy of the pattern picture, and tried doubling it, and adapting the middle border. Pretty advanced stuff for a beginning quilt maker! She spent lots of her limited "free" time piecing for the last few weeks. I love the fun fabrics she chose! Mustaches, bananas, and even elephants! We decided to quilt it in charcoal gray Glide in the "Ebb & Flow" design that complemented this modern design. The backing fabric is fabulous! After auditioning a couple of options for binding, we decided a wide black binding would be best. So I cut 3.5" strips of Kona black, and attached it with a half inch seam allowance on the back of the quilt, and turned it to the front for top-stitching, making sure to miter the corners. After the quilt was finished, we decided the piéce de résistance would be a matching sham! I think this is my new favorite quilt! Graduation is exciting for students, but traumatic for parents. I'm grateful for the part I played as quilting coach...some might say enabler...to make sure this dearly loved child is wrapped in her mama's hug every night while she sleeps.
A blog about quilting and a newbie quilter's journey.
I can't say that the Bowtie block has ever been one of my favourites. That was until I saw this gorgeous creation by Maryse; she's called it God's Green Earth and has kindly agreed to let me share a few pics with you here, but do take a look at her post as well for more details. It leaves me speechless. It's graphic, wonderfully scrappy and perfectly quilted. It's 'green' but not totally; the addition of other colours adds wonderful depth. I also like the way that the bowties create a circular pattern; often they are laid out in a linear/diagonal pattern, which doesn't do much for me. I could go on... I love everything about it, to the point that I've started playing around with one of my own. The blocks couldn't be simpler - two sized blocks cut 3.5" and 2.5" make a 6" Bowtie block. She found the pattern in Kaffe Fassett's Simple Shapes, Spectacular Quilts but I just found a tutorial for the block and worked through it. So here it is, in case you are smitten too: Cut four 3.5" squares, two green and two neutral, as well as two 2.5" green squares. Lay the smaller green squares atop the larger neutral squares ... and sew on the diagonal; trim. Sew a 3.5" dark square to each of the pieced squares. Flip the bottom one around so that the green block is on the right side and sew the two strips together. Voilá - a Bowtie. Lay out four of them and a second voilá - a circle of Bowties. Make 120 Bowties and you have a quilt. All seams are pressed to the dark side with the exception of the final one down the centre of the block as I think it will make joining them easier and reduce bulk. I suspect that this will be one that gets sewn between other projects, and that's okay - I just wanted to get it started. You know how it is - my fingers got itchy. My stash isn't as diverse as hers (she has such a great collection of fabrics in hers!) but, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Thanks again Maryse for the inspiration and for letting me share your beautiful work...M
Stacked Bricks 80 blocks set 10 by 8, finishing 80 by 96 inches. My design, use at your pleasure. Block finishes 8 by 12 inches Cutting Solid: six rectangles 2 1/2 by 4 1/2 inches Print: six rectangles 2 1/2 by 4 1/2 inches Could work with precut 2 1/2 inch strips and strip piecing, but I cut all my pieces because I work from scraps. Piecing Piece in columns of 6, pressing toward the side that ends in a print. Sew block together nesting seams. I wait with pressing the center seam until I assemble the quilt so I can be strategic to nest seams. Assembly Sew two blocks together along the 8 inch sides, then sew two of these units together into a 4-block unit. Make 4 rows of 5 units. Just three longer seams to complete assembly. With careful pressing all seams of quilt will nest.
Warning: This post is very eye candy (image) heavy which means it might be a little slow to load. I...
Young people should be a boon to the economy. Instead, many of the young people today can't find work--and don't have much hope of doing so.
