Thursday, February 27, 2020

Join the Fun! Star Crossing Quilt Along

I'm hosting a Quilt Along and I hope you'll join in! 

The Star Crossing pattern features three sizes of stars that angle across the quilt from corner to corner. The pattern is on sale until the QAL starts--grab it here.

The quilt measures 52" square and is easy to sew--especially with me walking you through each step!

I used the Over the Rainbow fabric collection from Paintbrush Studio Fabrics. I love these cheery rainbow prints, especially during these chilly and gray late winter days. 

If you'd like to use the same fabrics, here are some shops carrying them (please contact me if you know of any others and I'll add them in!):

  
These rainbows are my favorite fabric in the quilt, and I loosely outline quilted them so they'd pop a bit.

The mini rainbows on the back are pretty cute too!

I've set up the dates of the QAL so that it's easy to keep up. I'll be posting on both IG and on the blog, with more details here. 

Follow along each week if you can, but if you get behind, no worries! The blog posts about the quilt along will always be available. Each week I'll share photos, tips and quilt progress. I'll also be making a scrappy version along with you!


Quilt Along schedule:
March 12: Fabric selection
March 18: Cutting
March 25: Small and medium stars
April 2: Center star and assembly (I can't promise there won't be some April Fool's jokes...)
April 9: Machine quilting

April 22: Binding


The downloadable version of the Star Crossing pattern is on sale in my Etsy shop through March 12th, so grab your copy today!



Purchase the pattern (currently 20% off!) here.

*Bring a friend deal: Get a friend to sign up for the QAL and purchase the pattern, and you'll receive 20% off an additional pattern of your choice! 
Simply email me your friend's name and I'll email you the coupon.

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In addition, Pam and Diane, the lovely ladies at Piece, Love and Quilting, are offering a special deal to QAL participants:
25% off computerized edge to edge long arm quilting 
(including batting) for Star Crossing quilts

Contact them via FB or IG to take advantage of this discount!

Monday, February 24, 2020

How to Do Assembly Line Improv Piecing

Last fall, I completed this improv pieced scrappy Rainbow Cross Quilt, which is hanging at Castle Church Brewing Community in Orlando, FL.
I loved making this quilt. I've done plenty of improv piecing, but putting this together was a challenge--deciding what layout to use (hint...none of the layouts in my original post!), and then actually assembling it. I also love how it turned out--it really seems to glow!

While I was making the quilt, I decided to put together a tutorial for making improv pieced slabs. At its most basic, you can do this by sewing small pieces of fabric together. But when you're making a larger quilt (like mine), it's possible to make the slabs using more of an assembly-style approach. 

Here's how I do Assembly Line Improv Piecing:

1. Cut strips of fabric, ranging in width from 1-1/2" to 3-1/2". The strips don't have to be full length, but the longer the better. Sew contrasting strips together lengthwise.

2. Cross cut the strip sets into random widths, ranting from 2" to 5". Go for variety! Keep a line on your ruler aligned with the seam in your strip set to help keep things as square as possible.

3. Sew these crosscut segments to another strip (or two or three--variety is key!). Rotate the segments so that you create different looks. Press toward the strip. 

4. Trim these segments. Here's where efficiency comes in. Trim along the right edge of each segment.

5. Rotate each pieced segment and then cut the opposite side of the unit (or if you have a cutting board you can walk around, cut from the opposite side). This way you're not flipping your strip set back and forth as you trim off each unit.

Here's what your units will look like at this point. They're all different sizes, different widths of the various fabrics, etc. Variety!

6. Continue adding units to another strip, and/or start joining units together (see lower right in the photo below). Press and trim units.

7. Continue adding strips and pressing and trimming units. Rotate your units so that you're not creating purely striped units. 

8. Here's what my finished purple units look like. For my quilt, I made units that ranged from about 6" square to 8" square (and plenty of rectangles in that size range as well). Beyond being in that ballpark size, I didn't worry about exact measurements until I started joining rows together for the quilt.

After I finished units for each color, I started playing with layout on my design wall. Once I had it figured out, I sewed the units into horizontal rows, sometimes trimming the units, and sometimes adding more pieces. Then I sewed the rows together around the center cross. You can watch how I laid out the rows in the video below. 

I had a lot of fun putting this video together! 




Friday, February 14, 2020

Hearts Aplenty Mini Quilt

Here's one more Valentine's Day show and tell. 
I originally created this for Paintbrush Studio Fabrics, using their Painter's Palette Solids.

This quilt measures just 18-1/2" square--a cute heart-filled table topper or wall hanging. 

Painter's Palette Solids used: (background) Honeycomb; hearts (top row, from l-r) Clematis, Claret, Bubblegum; (middle row, l-r): Real Red, Lipstick, Fuchsia; (bottom row): Pale Pink, Raspberry, Claret

I used this heart block tutorial from Alison of Cluck, Cluck Sew. She offers the block in multiple sizes; I used the 4" finished square size. 

 Here's a finished heart: 

I made nine hearts--eight in shades of red, pink and purple, and one in reverse: 

Laying out hearts with 1-1/2" x 4-1/2" Honeycomb vertical sashing and 1-1/2" x 14-1/2" horizontal sashing:

Assembling the quilt center: 


Adding 2-1/2" wide borders. I added colored inserts on each side just for fun:

Straight line quilting:


Ready for the binding--with a flange-style edge for a pop or color:

Love these hearts!

Simple straight line piecing enhances the design:


A valentine decoration, ready to go in just an afternoon!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Need more valentine inspiration?
Find my Valentine Tic Tac Toe board tutorial here.
Find my XOXO mini quilt tutorial here.

Friday, February 7, 2020

XOXO Quilt Tutorial

I had leftover fabric from Christa Watson's Gridwork collection after making my Ebb & Flow quilt (scroll to the bottom to see it!), and with Valentine's Day around the corner, I couldn't resist creating a cute tutorial to share with you. 

This 23" square XOXO quilt is the perfect size for a door; you could also use it as a table topper or wall quilt. 


I picked my favorite pink, red and purple prints from Christa's collection, plus the black and white grid prints for background. Don't they match beautifully with my cutting board and rotary cutter? :)

Let's get started!

You'll Need:
  • 1 fat quarter each of Purple Hourglass, Red/Purple Circle Grid and Fuchsia/Multi Arches prints
  • 1/2 yard each Red Hourglass, White Square Grid and Black Square Grid
  • 3/4 yard backing fabric
  • 25" square of batting
  • Fusible webbing


Cutting:
From the Purple Hourglass print:
(4) 5-1/2" squares

From the Red Hourglass print:
(4) 5-1/2" squares
(3) 2-1/4" x WOF strips for binding

From each of the Circle Grid and Arches prints:
(1) 9" square

From the White Square Grid:
(24) 3" squares
(2) 2" x 10-1/2" pieces
(2) 2" x 12" pieces

From the Black Square Grid:
(2) 10-1/2" squares
(2) 2" x 10-1/2" pieces
(2) 2" x 12" pieces

Download the "O" template here.

Make the Quilt:
1. Draw diagonal lines on the wrong side of (3) 3" White Grid squares. Position (2) marked squares right sides together on (1) 5" Purple Hourglass square as shown. Sew on the drawn lines, trim seam allowance to 1/4" and press open.




2. Position the third marked square right sides together on the unit from step 1 as shown. Sew on the drawn line, trim seam allowance to 1/4" and press open to make one quarter block unit.



3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 to make a total of (4) quarter block units. Lay out the unit as shown. Sew them together in pairs and then join the rows to make one 10-1/2" square "X" block. Tip: Pin at the purple/white seam so that your points match. 


4. Repeat to make a second "X" block using the Red Hourglass squares.


5. Trace the "O" shape onto the paper side of fusible web. Cut out roughly around the shape and fuse onto the wrong side of the Red/Purple Circle Grid square. Cut out on the drawn lines (don't forget to cut out the center!). Tip: Loosen the edge of the fusible web paper before cutting the shape out. This prevents fraying as you separate the paper from the finished cut shape.


6. Fold (1) 10-1/2" Black Grid square in half in both directions and press to locate the center. Fuse the "O" onto the square, using the pressed lines to center it.


7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 to make a second "O" block using the Fuchsia/Multi print for the "O". 


8. Lay out the (2) "X" and "O" blocks as shown. Sew the blocks into rows and join the rows to complete the quilt center. 


9. Sew (1) each 2" x 10-1/2" Black Grid and White Grid pieces short ends together. Make (2). Sew (1) each 2" x 12" Black Grid and White Grid pieces short ends together. Make (2). 

10. Sew the shorter pieced strips to the sides of the quilt center, matching the center seams. Sew the longer pieced strips to the to and bottom, matching the center seams. 


11. Layer the quilt top with batting and backing, baste, and quilt as desired. I used a wavy line computerized stitch on my domestic machine. Trim backing and batting even with the quilt top. 

12. Use the (3) 2-1/4" x WOF Red Hourglass strips to bind the quilt. Add a hanging sleeve if desired. 



Happy Valentine's Day!


I also used Christa's Gridwork prints to make a version of my Ebb & Flow quilt. You can make this quilt with 2-1/2" precut strips. Purchase the Ebb & Flow pattern here

Thursday, February 6, 2020

Valentine Tic Tac Toe Board Tutorial

I admit it--I love Valentine's Day. Mostly because of the chocolate. 
It's also a fun excuse to sew up a few small projects. 
I've dusted off this Tic Tac Toe board tutorial because it's quick and easy, and still one of my favorites.
Enjoy!


While I made this project with Valentine's Day in mind (you know, XOXO = hugs and kisses), in reality, you could use it all year round. 


I also added a pocket on the back to store the game pieces (in a house with three kids, storage is constantly top of mind!)


You'll Need:
1/2 yard of a gray print
1 fat quarter each of 2 bright prints
1/4 yard (or fat quarter) of a bright print for binding
1/4 yard heavy-weight sew-in stabilizer
14" square of batting
1 spool of fuchsia large rick rack
Fabric marking pen
Coordinating and contrasting thread

Making the Game Board:
1. From the gray print cut one 13" square, one 12-1/2" square, and one 12-1/2" x 16" piece.

2. Layer the 13" square right side up on the batting square.  Pin to secure for quilting and then use a ruler and fabric marking pen to draw a straight line across the square, near the center.


3. Use this marked line as a guide for your first line of straight line quilting. I sewed with my walking foot and then lined the walking foot edge up to the stitched line to space the next line. Here's the finished result:


4. Trim the quilted fabric to measure 12-1/2" square. Measure in 4-1/4" from one edge and draw a line with a fabric marking pen for placing the rick rack. Measure in 4-1/4" from the opposite edge and draw another line. Turn the square 90 degrees and repeat. Cut two 13" lengths of rick rack and pin in place on marked lines. Stitch down the middle of each to secure.

5. Cut, position and sew two more pieces of rick rack. Now your game board top is complete.


6. Fold the 12-1/2" x 15" gray piece in half so it measures 12-1/2" x 7-1/2". Lay it on the 12-1/2" gray square (with square facing right side up), matching raw edges. This will be the backing and the pocket to hold the Xs and Os. Use a ruler to find the middle of pocket (6-1/4" from edge) and mark a line down the pocket. Stitch on this line through all layers to divide the pocket in half.

7. Layer this pocket/backing with the pocket side down and then add the quilted top, rick rack side up, to complete your quilt sandwich. Pin all edges to secure, making sure pocket fabric lays flat. (You could also sew a basting stitch to secure the pocket to the backing before making the sandwich, but I liked the idea of killing two birds with one stone and simply catching these well-pinned edges in while I added the binding.)

8. Make 60" of binding from your binding fabric. Position it on the top of the quilt sandwich and stitch in place like you would any binding. Trim excess rick rack if needed. Hand sew (or stitch by machine...your choice) the binding to the back side. Your game board is done!

Making the Xs and Os:
1. Click here to download the pdf with the X and O template pieces. Cut out each template piece. 

2. From each of the bright prints, cut two 4" x 15" pieces. From the heavy-weight stabilizer, cut two 3-3/4" x 14-1/2" pieces. 

3. Sandwich a stabilizer piece between two matching bright pieces and use basting spray to fuse pieces together. (Fabric should be right sides out.)


4. Trace the X shape onto the fused sandwich five times. Cut out each shape carefully.


5. Set your machine's zigzag stitch to a shorter, very dense stitch size. I chose to use a contrasting thread color just for fun. Zigzag stitch around the entire outer edge of the X. Repeat with all five X shapes. 


6. Repeat steps 2-5 to make the five O shapes. 

Tip: To cut the center out of the O shape, gently fold the circle in half and cut a slit.

Insert the scissors in the slit and cut on the drawn line.



You're done! Store the X and O pieces in the two pockets on the game board back when not in use.


Wishing you a Valentine's Day filled with Xs and Os! (hugs and kisses!)

I couldn't resist also making heart shapes to replace the Os. You'll find the template for the heart on the same page as the Xs and Os.




Looking for more Valentine's Day quilt ideas?
featuring Benartex's Cherish collection


I created this Flip Flop Heart Mini Quilt tutorial
featuring Paintbrush Studio's Dianthus collection



Or try this Confetti Hearts tutorial
featuring Paintbrush Studio's Painter's Palette Solids collection