Happy Friday! I have so many things to show you today – there’s a little bit of everything here. A new mug rug that I made for someone special, a new sewing room that is keeping me very busy, a quick little tip, and my baby granddaughter, Clara, turned one!
The designer that I worked with for our remodel was wonderful and I wanted to make her something special as a thank you. Since she loves to drink tea, I thought a new mug rug would be perfect. I designed this one to resemble the tile floor in our bathroom (which she helped bring to life). I used scraps of black and white prints to create the simple blocks and I found the perfect backing fabric in my stash. Don’t ask me what it is – I won’t be able to find it for a while!
The quilting was done using a free motion ruler foot and circle ruler from Westalee. I wanted to make an orange peel design, so I only used a small section of the circle, but it was just the right size. I’m still new to this technique, so I really don’t have any advice for you (other than just go for it).
I have a brand new sewing room and I’m moving in! I had custom cabinets from the Closet Factory installed along two walls. The shorter wall will hold most of my stash and finished quilts along with project/class containers.
I just found (as in yesterday) a clear plastic storage container from the Container Store for my fabric. It’s called a sweater box, and it holds two rows of folded fabric perfectly. I have mostly half yards and fat quarters. You can see the new container next to the old ones in the second photo, for comparison. My old containers are Sterilite 15 qt. and they have served me well for 10 years, but it’s time to upgrade (plus I’ll have more space for more fabric – don’t tell Mr. Crafty Quilter).
The second wall of cabinets will hold notions, scrap booking supplies and paperwork. I’ll also have my Juki sewing machine set up in the middle and there is a slide out table to the left (not shown) to place a cutting board or ironing surface on to. I tested out this set up yesterday and it’s divine. I will do a full reveal once everything is pretty and sparkling.
Here’s a quick tip for today. I taught a class last weekend at The Granary Quilt Shop and one of my students, Brenda, was using an old fashioned tomato pin cushion – but in a new way. She had it sitting in an empty yogurt container. It fit perfectly and made it more transportable and pack-able. I thought this was such a great idea, that I had to take a picture. This is one of the many benefits of teaching classes; I get to learn from my students, too!
I received my last Sew Sampler subscription box from Fat Quarter Shop a few weeks ago. It has been a wonderful year of surprises each month. Last month’s box was probably my favorite of them all. Each month included a Barn Block recipe to make a 12″ quilt block. I hope to get these on my “to do” list this year. You can read about all of the Sew Sampler contents at The Jolly Jabber (Fat Quarter Shop’s blog).
Last, but certainly not least, is my “baby” granddaughter Clara’s first birthday. We were not able to be in Austin for this one, but they’re coming to visit in three weeks! I’ll get caught up on all of the snuggles and hugs then. And I’ll take lots of pictures.
That’s all for Friday! I hope you have a great weekend ahead of you. Don’t forget, there’s still time to add a photo of your finished UFO or WIP project to the link-up. So far there are 48 entries. Let’s make it an even 50!
Today you get to share your March UFO & WIP Challenge project(s)! The link up will be active for one week, so you still have time to finish something! This month’s prize is sponsored by yours truly. One winner will received a fat quarter bundle of Sewing with Singer from Robert Kaufman and two patterns: Franklin Star by The Crafty Quilter Designs and Pot Luck by A Quilting Life Designs.
I achieved both of my goals this month. I added the binding to my block of the month quilt from 2013 (a Fat Quarter Shop Mystery BOM). I had more than enough red and white polka dot fabric to go around the entire quilt, but there were lots of seams. I used my favorite machine binding technique for a fast finish.
After being hidden in a drawer for five years, I was so glad to have this quilt finished. I’m definitely benefiting from my own challenge! I remembered to add one of my personalized labels (from Dutch Label Shop) to the back. I used the embroidery stitches on my sewing machine to add the year of completion. This took a little trial and error, but it was well worth it.
My second finish for this month makes me SO happy. I started this “J for Julie” monogram quilt a long time ago – I can’t even remember when. I had the top done and the layers basted whenever it was that I left off. Now it’s ready for my sewing room wall, even though my wall isn’t quite ready for it!
The background of this mini quilt is improv pieced with scraps of low volume prints. I found the J font on Microsoft Word software (I don’t remember the name of the font). The applique is done using fusible machine applique.
I really enjoy free motion quilting small quilts like this one. It’s easy and it gets done quickly. That seems to be the name of the game with me lately.
I found the perfect yellow striped fabric in my stash for the binding. More happiness! And another quilt label got used. I’m linking this finished project up with Cheryl at Meadow Mist Design’s Favorite Finish Link Up. Hop over there to see some more beautiful quilts.
March UFO & WIP Link Up
Now it’s your turn to show off your finished project. Remember, you don’t need to have a blog to participate.
Link-up instructions:
Click on the blue “add your link” button.
Enter the URL of your link. If you don’t have one, type in a dummy URL such as http://juliec Using your first name and last initial seems to be a good choice.
Enter the link title. This should describe your project and it can include your name if desired.
Enter your email address. No one will be able to see this but me.
Choose an image source and upload your image. If your photo size is too large, it won’t accept it. You’ll have to re-size it to a smaller file size.
If you have any trouble, just leave a comment or send me an email with your photo attached. I can add it for you.
Link-up Rules:
You may add up to 2 finished projects.
One image per finished project.
Project must be quilting, sewing or needlework related.
The link-up will be open until April 6, 2019, at midnight, PST.
This month’s giveaway is open to USA or Canada, however, anyone can join the link-up. If a winner is chosen that is international, then another number will be picked until it meets the criteria.
Hey everyone! I have some upcoming projects and ideas to share with you. This is what I do when I don’t have all my tools and a space to work in, and I’m immersed in bathroom and bedroom remodel stuff. I can dream and plan about quilting and blogging ideas without having anything to show for it!
I have actually finished both of my UFO’s for this month’s 2019 UFO & WIP Challenge. I’ll show you those on the last Sunday of this month when we have the link up. I hope you guys have been able to complete something for the month of March. Even making progress on something is better than nothing.
I’m working on a blog post about whether you should use Frixion pens for quilting. I love these pens but they’re not always a good choice for marking on fabric. But sometimes they are! I’ll give you my full report next week.
I want to make a quilt using charm packs and the disappearing nine patch technique. I think it would be so fun to do this together! It will be a low-stress, easy project that would run as a sew-along. I’m thinking of a summer start date, so it would make a perfect picnic quilt. Don’t worry, I’ll give you plenty of time to get your supplies together. What do you think?
That’s all I’ve got so far (besides the monthly Sew Thankful Sunday blog posts and UFO & WIP challenge). I will be super busy over the next three weeks getting my house back together. We’re hoping for final inspection later this week. Plus, I have a full storage container that needs to be unloaded and an empty sewing room that needs to be filled! I’ll keep you updated on that. For now, I can show you one bathroom that is just about complete. It needs a little decorating, but it’s functional!
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you have an amazing week!
Today, I’m sharing my Sew Happy Mini Quilt Tutorial! It’s a fun little quilt that has all of that rainbow goodness in mini form. I think it would be beautiful in just about any colorway, and it’s perfect for using up scraps. Each block measures 3″ (finished) and the total mini quilt measures 18 1/2″ x 17″.
My first Sew Happy Mini Quilt was based off the instructions from The 2018 Quilter’s Planner Sew Along which included twelve 12″ quilt blocks and two layout options. These were beautifully designed by Cheryl Brickey at Meadow Mist Designs. If you want to make the original, larger quilt, I highly recommend getting a copy of the 2018 Quilter’s Planner Magazine.
As I was sewing along last year, I challenged myself to make the blocks smaller, so I thought 6″ blocks would be nice. And then I had the brilliant idea to make them even smaller, so 3″ blocks became the ultimate challenge! (I ended up making both 3″ and 6″ blocks).
The layout design of this mini quilt is completely my own. I added the appliqued words onto the bottom because I felt inspired to do so! For the sake of time and simplicity, I’ve decided to give instructions on just four quilt blocks. These are my own instructions (not copied from The Quilter’s Planner Magazine). The blocks are traditional quilt blocks and are based on a nine patch grid. You can mix and match them, or make them all with the same block. It’s up to you.
Here’s a mock up of the quilt using all churn dash blocks. Note: I couldn’t get the software to change the color of each letter, so all of these examples will have yellow words.
Here is the quilt with all four blocks used, three times each.
Sew Happy Mini Quilt Tutorial
Finished size: 18 1/2″ x 17″
All seams are made using 1/4″ seam allowance.
Each set of block instructions makes one block. Repeat to make as many of each as you like for a total of 12 quilt blocks. Mix and match to your heart’s content!
Supplies
Background fabric: 1/2 yard
Fat 1/8th’s or scraps in a rainbow of colors for all of the blocks
Fusible web product such as Heat ‘n Bond Lite (for applique)
Note: Remainder of background fabric will be cut per the block instructions below.
Churn Dash Block
Churn Dash Cutting Instructions
A (1) 1 1/2” square (dark fabric)
B (2) 2” squares (dark fabric)
C (2) 2” squares (background)
D (1) 1” x 7” rectangle (medium fabric)
E (1) 1” x 7” rectangle (background)
Make side units: Sew the 1” x 7” D and E rectangles together. Press towards D (or whichever fabric is darker). Cut into 1 1/2” segments. Each unit should measure 1 1/2″ square. Make 4.
Make half-square triangles (HST’s): Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of each 2″ C background square. With right sides together, place a 2″ C square onto a 2″ B square. Stitch 1/4″ on both sides of the diagonal line. Cut apart on the diagonal line. Press towards B (or whichever fabric is darker). Trim HST to 1 1/2″ square. Repeat to make four HST’s.
Make block: Arrange the pieced units and the 1 1/2″ A square as shown below. Sew them into rows and press as indicated. Sew the rows together to complete the block. I pressed the row seams open. It should measure 3 1/2″ square.
Ohio Star Block
3 1/2″ unfinished
Ohio Star Cutting Instructions
A (1) 1 1/2” square (medium fabric
B (4) 1 1/2” squares (background)
C (2) 2 1/2” squares (background)
D (2) 2 1/2” squares (dark fabric)
Make quarter-square triangles (QST’s): Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of each 2 1/2″ D square. With right sides together, place a 2 1/2″ D square onto a 2 1/2″ C square. Stitch 1/4″ on both sides of the diagonal line. Cut apart on the diagonal line. Press towards C (or whichever fabric is darker). Make four half-square triangles, and do NOT trim them at this point.
Place two half-square triangles right sides together with opposite colors facing each other and seams nesting. Draw a diagonal line that is perpendicular to the seam on one of the HST’s. Stitch 1/4″ on both sides of the diagonal line. Cut apart on the diagonal line, creating two QST’s. Repeat to make a total of four. Trim to 1 1/2″ square, making sure that the center seam stays center by trimming on all four sides.
Make block: Arrange the QST’s, 1 1/2″ B squares and the 1 1/2″ A square as shown below. Sew them into rows and press as indicated. Sew the rows together to complete the block. I pressed the row seams open. It should measure 3 1/2″ square.
Tumbled Diamonds Block
3 1/2″ unfinished
Tumbled Diamonds cutting instructions
A (1) 1 1/2” square (dark fabric)
B (2) 2” squares (dark fabric)
C (2) 2” squares (background)
D (4) 1 1/2” squares (medium fabric)
E (16) 1” squares (background)
Make half-square triangles (HST’s): Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of each 2″ C background square. With right sides together, place a 2″ C square onto a 2″ B square. Stitch 1/4″ on both sides of the diagonal line. Cut apart on the diagonal line. Press towards B (or whichever fabric is darker). Trim HST to 1 1/2″ square. Repeat to make 4 HST’s.
Make square-in-a-square units: Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of each 1″ E square. With right sides together, place a prepared 1″ E square on a corner of a 1 1/2″ D square. Stitch on the diagonal line. Trim and press towards the corner. Repeat for all four corners. Make four square-in-a-square units. They should measure 1 1/2″ square.
Make block: Arrange the HST’s, square-in-a-square units and the 1 1/2″ A square as shown below. Sew them into rows and press as indicated. Sew the rows together to complete the block. I pressed the row seams open. It should measure 3 1/2″ square.
Tumbled Star Block
3 1/2″ unfinished
Tumbled Star cutting instructions
A (1) 1 1/2” square (dark fabric)
B (2) 2” squares (dark fabric)
C (2) 2” squares (background)
D (4) 1 1/2” squares (background)
E (8) 1” squares (medium fabric)
Make half-square triangles (HST’s): Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of each 2″ C background square. With right sides together, place a 2″ C square onto a 2″ B square. Stitch 1/4″ on both sides of the diagonal line. Cut apart on the diagonal line. Press towards B (or whichever fabric is darker). Trim HST to 1 1/2″ square. Repeat to make four HST’s.
Make star point units: Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of each 1″ E square. With right sides together, place a prepared 1″ E square on a corner of a 1 1/2″ D square. Stitch on the diagonal line. Trim and press towards the corner. Repeat on the adjacent corner. Make four star point units. They should measure 1 1/2″ square.
Make block: Arrange the HST’s, star point units and the 1 1/2″ A square as shown below. Sew them into rows and press as indicated. Sew the rows together to complete the block. I pressed the row seams open. It should measure 3 1/2″ square.
Applique section
These instructions are for fusible machine applique. For a detailed tutorial on this technique, visit my machine applique series. Feel free to use your favorite applique technique.
Print out the Sew happy letter templates (at actual size). They have been not been reversed for fusible applique because I couldn’t get my software to do it. You’ll need to trace them (after printing) on the back of the paper to get a mirror image or use your printer software to print out a mirror image.
Trace the letters onto the paper side of the fusible web product.
Cut out the letters, leaving 1/4″ around each.
Fuse onto the WRONG side of fabric.
Cut out each letter exactly on the line.
Remove paper backing.
Arrange the letters onto the background rectangle and fuse into place.
Arrange the twelve quilt blocks into 3 rows of four blocks each.
Place the short sashing strips, long sashing strips, applique section and border strips as shown below.
Sew the short sashing strips to the quilt blocks in each row.
Sew the long sashing strips to the rows.
Sew the applique section to the quilt block section.
Sew the top border onto the quilt, followed by the side borders.
Finishing
Layer the quilt top, batting and backing and baste together.
Quilt as you like. I hand quilted through the center of the long sashing strips, borders and around each letter using a variegated embroidery thread. I stitched in the ditch around each block.
Attach binding strips. You’ll need 2 strips that are 2 1/4″ x WOF.
Aren’t you feeling SEW happy right about now? Remember, this is a free tutorial, and it has not been tested by anyone other than myself. If you find any errors, please leave a comment and let me know.
I do not have a pdf version of the Sew Happy Mini Quilt Tutorial. That takes so much more time than I have right now. Maybe in the future. If you want to print out the instructions, you can use the “print” or “pdf” button at the bottom of this blog post. I believe it allows you to crop out unnecessary elements so that you’re not printing pages and pages of data.
If you use Instagram and you make this quilt, use the hashtag #sewhappyminiquilt so we can all find it.
Happy Wednesday everyone! Have you recovered from Daylight Saving Time yet? The mornings are a little rough at the start for me. In California, the sun is finally shining and the temperatures are slowly rising. I pulled weeds yesterday and enjoyed my first spring visit to my neglected yard. Cooper has already started hunting for lizards in the hopes of catching one before it realizes that “hunting” season has begun!
On top of all that, I should have one functioning bathroom in about a week! My sewing room is starting to take shape, too. It will be ready to move into by the end of the month. I’m having built in cabinetry installed along two walls, so I’ll have plenty of room for my stash and tools and all the quilty things. And that skylight is providing plenty of natural daylight – there will be no more excuses for poor color pairings 😉 .
If you enjoy being part of a community, learning new techniques and receiving exclusive patterns (plus so much more), you should check out Jacquelynne Steves’ Art of Home Club. She has just opened the enrollment for her club and it will stay open until March 15. Jacquelynne provides videos and tutorials for many techniques such as embroidery, applique and piecing. Her patterns are cute and whimsical and are usually centered around a monthly theme. I have enjoyed “meeting” other quilters through her weekly “club member of the week” and there is a private Facebook group, too.
I am always inspired by the monthly content; there is so much happening in this club that I think it’s a great value at $9.95 each month. I still have (and love) my beehive pincushion that I made several years ago. You deserve to have some creative fun, so go check it out!
Last week I taught a class on how to use the Quick Curve Ruler by Sew Kind of Wonderful. I was informed that one of the students was bringing the Mini Quick Curve Ruler to class. Since I hadn’t used that size, I HAD to buy one so I knew what to expect. What a pleasant experience this ruler is! I made a simple block and played with color and settings. I came up with this curved card trick block. Maybe it will become a pillow, a quilt?
I finished the binding on this month’s UFO quilt. I’ll show you the full quilt at the end of this month. I used my favorite machine binding technique and it was done in a snap.
I have also been spending time on the computer, making a tutorial for my Sew Happy Mini Quilt. I hope to have it ready by this weekend, so stay tuned.
Right now, it’s time to go for my afternoon walk with Cooper. I hope you’re having a wonderful Wednesday!
Loading InLinkz ...
