Minecraft Quilts

Kelli started a Minecraft quilt along back in January of 2016.  I made a few blocks and then the project got put away in favour of more urgent ideas.  Well, I pulled it back out when a friend asked if I knew how to make a Minecraft quilt for another friend that had twin boys.  Here was the perfect opportunity to pull the blocks out of the pile and get them finished.

Just in case you can't read the Minecraft font that Kelli used in her pattern, the quilts are for Nathan and Ryan.  A third quit is just coming off the Longarm and will be finished in time for a special Grandson a little closer to home.  How is your Christmas sewing coming?

Have a great day!

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A Rozy Wallet

For quite some time I've wanted to play with cork fabric.  I picked the Rozy Wallet pattern and got to it!

I'm in love with this little wallet.  The cork is from mm cork supply in Trail, B.C.  The hardware is from Emmaline in Alberta and the pattern is from Serial Bagmakers.  If you go to the Serial Bagmakers you will find all kinds of resources for sourcing bag making supplies.

I used a little Zen Chic "Ink" for the middle of the wallet.  There are a few little tweaks I'll make on the next wallet but overall I'm happy!  Luckily Emmaline always adds a couple of extra screws to her hardware package.  I did manage to strip one of the teeny tiny little screws, but had an extra to replace it with.

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Hugs All Around

On the hunt for quick and easy patterns to make samples from Market, I came across an old pattern that I designed back in 2005 for Katja's Quilt Shoppe.  It was called Hugs All Around and it was originally done with ten inch Novelty Squares.  This was long before Layer Cakes were even thought of.

I used Kansas Troubles Quilters new line Fresh Cut Flowers to make this quilt.

Start with a 10 inch square and cut it on the diagonal twice.

Cut a 2 inch strip of a contrasting fabric and sew each set of four triangles to the strip, allowing 2 1/2" between triangles.  Make sure the triangles are all aligned the same.

Cut the strip even with the straight edge of the triangle.  Notice the 2 1/2" piece between triangle is left in place.

Sew the triangle pieces back together as shown.

The block is now ready to square up.

I was able to get an eleven inch square from my block.  I placed the 5 1/2" mark on my square on the middle of the block and then cut the eleven inch square.

This is the finished square.

For the women from Rivervally Guild I did say I would have the blocks finished sizes all divisible by 3.  To make a 9 1/2" unfinished square, start with either a 9 or 9 1/2" square of fabric.  I used some of the new Cotton + Steel from Melody's Flutter Collection.  Cut the sashing 1 1/2" wide for a more delicate look.  Square your block up to 9 1/2" when done.  I used a directional print so I had to be careful when putting the block back together to make sure everything was right side up.

Have a great day!

The Bear

Today's quilt is "The Bear."

Annie Brady is the designer of both the fabric and pattern.  It is now available at your local quilt shop.  I was a little dyslexic when I was reading the pattern, so a little block placement adjustment had to be made.  When everything was finally in the right place, I was pleased with the result.  The quilting is simple organic wavy lines.

Last weekend I was at retreat.  I managed to get the binding on this quilt.  Sagebrush Quilters' Guild was quilting along with the mystery quilt from Love Shack Quilts.  I dug into my overflowing box of 2 1/2" squares and managed to finish the quilt.

Quilt Market in Houston is only a week away!  I'm so excited to be going!!!!!!  The Vendor booths are always fun, and then there is the quilt show.  It is the same show as during Festival,  just without all the people.  Look out Houston, here I come.

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X Marks The Spot

Today's block is an X block.  This block finishes at 9 inches (9 1/2" including seam allowances.)

To make one block you will need four 3 1/2" squares for the corners, four 3 1/2" squares for the centre outer edge blocks and from the X fabric you require one 3 1/2" square and twelve 2" squares.

Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on all twelve 2" squares.  I prefer using my chalk-o-liner to mark lines.  Place a 2" square on the corner of your outer 3 1/2" squares as shown and sew on the line.  Fold on the line and press to outer corner.  Cut off the bottom two layers and press the seam allowance towards the larger square fabric.

Using the same method, sew two 2" squares as shown above, onto each of the centre outer edge 3 1/2" squares.  Press the seam allowances towards the smaller squares.

Lay out all the units as show and sew together .

Now, for the rest of the story.....

I wanted to make a 36" square baby quilt.  Rather than make sixteen blocks and sew together, I decided to eliminate a few seams so that it was quicker to make.

 I replaced the four corner units of blocks with a 6 1/2" square of feature fabric, and applied a 2" accent square unit to each corner the same was as in the block.  Nine units are required.

For the corners of the quilt I made four feature fabric units with a 3 1/2" square and one 2" square of accent fabric.

The edge pieces of the quilt were made from 3 1/2" x 6 1/2" units of feature fabric with two 2" squares of accent fabric.  Twelve units are required.

This is my sashing unit, twenty-four required.  It is made from a 3 1/2" x 6 1/2" background fabric and four 2" squares of accent fabric,

To complete the top I made sixteen units from a 3 1/2" background square and two 2" squares of accent fabric. Use the picture to lay out your pieces, sew together and enjoy.

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Alaska Cruise Quilt

This quilt was developed for the recent Alaska Quilt Cruise that I participated in, sponsored by Cherry Tree Quilt Shop in Summerland.

The block is a great way to show off a fussy cut fabric.  All the kits for the cruise were Cotton + Steel fabric.  What fun!

This is a close up of the block made from a little halloween fabric.  For each block you require a feature fabric, a background fabric and two accent fabrics.  #1 accent for the Star points and #2 accent for the frame.  I use the Easy Angle and Companion Angle rulers.  I will give Substitutions at the end of the instructions.

The first step is to fussy cut the feature fabric.  You will need one 4 1/2" square and four 2 1/2" squares.

The block has eight 2 1/2" half square units.  My favourite way to make these is to lay a 2 1/2" strip of background right sides together on top of a 2 1/2" accent 1 fabric.  Cut with the Easy Angle ruler as shown, then sewn the two cut pieces together to make the half square unit.  Here is a video tutorial on using the ruler.  After cutting the units, cut four 2 1/2" squares from the background fabric.

To make the corners for the block, sew the half squares, fussy cut 2 1/2" pieces and the background squares together to make the units shown.  Note that they are all pieced a little different, so that the fussy cut fabric will be right side up within the block.

The next units needed is cut from a 1 1/2" strip of accent 2 fabric.  Use the Companion angle ruler to cut eight of these.  From the background fabric cut four 1 7/8" squares.

Sew the units cut as shown.

From accent 1, cut eight 2 1/2" Easy Angle units.  I like to lay the fabric wrong sides together to cut, so that I get mirror image units.  Sew together as shown.

The block requires four flying geese units that are 2 1/2" x 4 1/2".  Using the Companion Angle Ruler cut four 2 1/2" units from accent 2.  Using the Easy Angle Ruler cut Eight Background 2 1/2" units in the same manner as the previous step.  Piece together.  Click here for Bonnie Hunter's tutorial on making flying geese.

The two units above are sewn together to make your last pieces of the block.

Lay the pieces out as shown and sew together to make your completed block.

Substitutions: 2 1/2" Easy Angle - 2 7/8" square cut in half diagonally
                       1 1/2" Companion Angle -3 1/4" square cut twice on the diagonal
                       2 1/2" Companion Angle - 5 1/2" square cut twice on the diagonal

I made eight blocks and then set them together as shown below

The units that are not marked on one side of each block are 2 1/2" x 14 1/2"  These measurements assume the blocks are 12 1/2".  The outer border is cut 4 1/2" wide and yes, there is a bottom border. I must of cut it off for the picture.

To make a baby quilt out of the block, I upsized the block to finish 36".  The fussy cut pieces are 12 1/2" and 6 1/2".  The half squares are 6 1/2", the flying goose unit is 6 1/2" x 12 1/2".  The small background square is cut 4 3/4" and the companion angle units attached to the squares are cut from a 3 1/2" strip.  A great class demo size block that also makes an adorable baby quilt.

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Kansas Troubles

No, not the state, the fabric!  Lol!  Whenever I want fabric that works for a man, I turn to Kansas Troubles Fabric.  The latest line is called Harvest Mill.

I love this simple pattern, mainly because it is so quick to stitch up.  The country feel of the fabric is perfect for that man in your life.  I'm sure he won't mind the odd little flower here and there.

From country to modern, here we go.  This line is Farmer's Daughter by Lella Boutique.  The pattern is one of my favourites from the book Beyond Neutral by John Q Adams.  Another quick and easy pattern.

I am currently on a Quilting Cruise to Alaska.  This trip is hosted by Cherry Tree Quilt Store in Summerland.  Pictures to follow when I make it home to my computer.  Have a great day!

September.......Where did summer go?

It is hard to believe that we are into September already!  Even though this summer was one of the hottest on record, it wasn't the most enjoyable.  Fires, smoke and all the evacuation orders dominated most of our thoughts for the last two months.  Not that we are done with all that yet.  I hate to say it but please let it rain soon.

First up today is a quilt that I made just after Spring Market.  The fabric is Fig Tree's Hazel & Plum.  It will be released in stores this fall.  Most Fig Tree quilts are made with a cream background.  I wanted something a little different so I went with a grey Grunge.  I like it so much that even though I made this quilt for Trend-Tex, I'm about to make another one just like it for myself.

Have you seen the "Dream Big" panels by Hoffman.  They really have perfected the digital panels.  Every time I'm asked to make something from their panels, I get very excited.  I'm just finishing up their latest Call of the Wild panels but you will have to wait a bit to see them.

If you are in the Kamloops area this month you must check out the FAN (Fibre Art Network) display at the Old Courthouse Cultural Centre at 7 Seymour St. W.  It is open Tuesday through Friday 10am - 5pm and Saturday from 10am - 4pm.  The display is on now until September 30 with an artist reception on the 30th, 2 - 4pm.  Admission is by donation.

Linking up with Finish it up Friday!

Hoffman Call of the Wild

The latest in Hoffman's Call of the wild series has landed in local quilt stores.  This is my version of the Elk panel.  Click here if you would like to see all the digital panels they have developed so far.  The blue tones in this panel were so exciting to work with.

It took a little while to figure out what I wanted to do with the Racoon panel.  Finally I zoned in on the geese flying in the sky and decided that flying geese blocks on the side would work.

The quilting on both quilts was fairly simple all over curves.  They were samples for Trendtex and needed to be finished in a hurry, so simple it was.

Hope you are having a great day!!!  Take care.

Sweetwater

Today's quilt is made from "Sunday Supper" by Sweetwater for Moda  I fell in love with this line when it first came out this spring.  However, life has been a little busy, so I just finished the quilt this week.

The pattern I used is "Meadow" by Corey Yoder.  It is in the book Scraps made simple.  There are several patterns in this book that I want to make, when I get a minute.  LOL!

I hope that you all are having a wonderful summer.  There is a chance that the smoke here in BC will ease up a little.  With ratings between 8 (high) and 49 (extreme) on the air quality index here in Kamloops, it has been difficult for anyone to spend time outside enjoying our summer. Fingers crossed wishing for rain!