Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Another Flimsy!

Another flimsy finished.  Yikes!!!

Not a half an hour ago I sewed the last stitch on the fall table cloth that I told you about in my last post.  McCall's Quilting offered a FREE ebook PDF download and one of the patterns is called Scrappy Dash, similar to the one I just finished.

My favorite block is the churn dash.  I don't know why I just can't leave well enough alone but I decided to add sashing strips and cornerstones to my version and opted out of the 2" border that frames the churn dash blocks.  *sigh*  More work but more to my liking.  

My version finished at 51" x 51" which is a perfect size for our kitchen table.  It doesn't look square but it is.  It's just the angle from which I took the photo. 

I made this using the fabrics from my first fabric collections, A Vintage Autumn and Vintage Blacks.  



The colors are rich and luscious and I can't wait to have this gracing our kitchen table come the fall.  Both versions of the original pattern are definitely fat quarter friendly and if you'd like to purchase a fat quarter bundle of my fabrics, just click on the link to my Etsy shop HERE.

Click on the link HERE for the McCall's FREE patterns.  Hopefully it'll work. I had to join their site before being able to open the document so don't be surprised if you're asked to as well.

Enjoy!

I think I need a vacation!

Happy stitching!

Sunday, May 22, 2016

Next Up?

Whenever I finish a project, I like to take a couple of days...or longer...to unwind, relax and decide what to start on next.  I was going to pick up where I left off on my Brinton Hall quilt which I had set aside when we decided to do the quilt-a-long for "Stopped Me in my Tracks". 

I just LOVE to use quilts as table cloths on our kitchen table and when a cute little churn dash, fat quarter friendly pattern appeared in my McCall's Quilting feed on Facebook this morning, the wheels started to turn.  Finishing at 50" x 50", it'll be a perfect size for our kitchen table.  

It was my intention to make a table cloth from my just released fabric collections so out came a fat quarter bundle of A Vintage Autumn and Vintage Blacks and the cutting began.  



Who knows, I might even start the piecing tonight! 

If you'd like to purchase a fat quarter bundle of my fabrics, just visit my Etsy shop by clicking on the link HERE.


Oh, and did I mention that the pattern was FREE?  

I'll be sure to share the link to the pattern once I've made it.

Happy stitching!

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

A Flimsy!

I sewed the last stitch in my "Stopped Me in my Tracks" quilt top yesterday afternoon so now, it's officially a flimsy!



I absolutely L-O-V-E it and it's everything and more than I thought it would be...simply stated, serene, calming colors and beautiful in it's "less is more" elegance.  Thank you all for lighting the fire that convinced me to do a quilt-a-long now rather than later.

As you can see from the photo below, it's a large quilt.  I decided to stop at 5 rows x 5 rows making it finish at 88" x 88".  That's plenty large for our queen size bed.  There's ample drop on both sides and at the foot of the bed and my personal preference is to not have a quilt with pillows rolled under it like a bedspread.  This is the main reason why I stopped at 5 sections or rows.  If you like that look, then by all means add the 6th row!

If this is your first time here or if you missed my original post and you'd like to make this quilt, just click HERE for the link which will take you to a downloadable PDF file with the instructions and grid layout.

And how are you making out with yours?  

Remember, it's not a race and I hope that you're all enjoying your journey making yours as much as I did mine.

Happy stitching!

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Giveaway Winner!

Thank you all so much for playing along and for your kind and heartfelt comments with respect to my Mother's Day giveaway.

  

My Mom taught us all that it is more blessed to give than to receive and how right she was.   I L-O-V-E to give and share.  I only wish that I had enough fabric to share with all of you!

Sooooooo, without further ado, The Painted Quilt blog winner of my Vintage Autumn and Vintage Blacks fat quarter bundles is Carole Yeon.

I'll be sending you an email to get all your info, Carole.


Happy stitching!

Sunday, May 8, 2016

Give Away!

Giveaway is now closed!

In my Mom's memory and on this Mother's Day, I'd like to give away a fat quarter bundle from my new fabric collection.


  
The bundle will consist of 27 individual fat quarters from both lines, A Vintage Autumn and Vintage Blacks.  The entire line is shown in the photo below.


To enter, just leave a comment here.  

I'll do the random number thing on Tuesday when I'll announce the winner.  If your email address is not in your profile then I'll have no way of reaching you and your name will NOT be included in the draw.  If you're unsure as to whether your email address is in your profile, just add it as part of your comment. 

This is open to my international friends as well!



Happy stitching!

Friday, May 6, 2016

New Fabric Collections!!!

They're here...FINALLY!

My two new fabric collections, "A Vintage Autumn" and Vintage Blacks" are finally in house!  

Can you just imagine having 27 bolts of fabric just sitting here waiting to be cut into?  

Be still my heart!!!  



I can't remember the last time my old ticker beat this quickly!

I am offering fat quarter bundles for sale in my ETSY shop.  One listing is for the main line, "A Vintage Autumn".



The second is for the "Vintage Blacks".



And the third is for both collections.



Click HERE for the link to my shop.

And please click HERE for the link to a free quilt pattern that I designed using my new fabrics!




So much excitement for this old gal!!!

And for "local" Nova Scotians, both "Avonport Discount Fabric Center" in Avonport and "A Needle Pulling Thread Quilt Shop" in Digby are also carrying both complete lines. 

Can't get any easier, huh?



Happy stitching!

Thursday, May 5, 2016

"Stopped Me in my Tracks" - Update

Like I said, it's not a race.  


I'm taking my time and am thoroughly enjoying the journey.


If I decide to make the larger size which will finish at 102" x 88", then I'm halfway done.  I've completed and sewn together three of the six rows and am ready to join the five checkerboard squares for the fourth row.  If I don't poop out, tonight I'll start piecing the nine patch cornerstone blocks for the next couple of sashing rows.

  
My goal is to have the flimsy done by the end of the weekend, even though we'll be out tomorrow and Saturday.  


Then it'll be back to my Brinton Hall quilt (which you can see in the photo below just languishing in the background) and some much missed handwork.


So how is yours coming along?

Happy stitching!

Monday, May 2, 2016

Quilt-A-Long Instructions

Please read through this post so we know where we stand with respect to sewing along together while we make this gorgeous quilt.

I would just like to reiterate that I did NOT design this quilt.  The photo below came through on one of my Facebook feeds just as it is and as soon as I saw it, it 'stopped me in my tracks' and I knew that I just had to make one.  No credits were given as to the designer but as you can see, it's a fairly simple design and was very easy to draft out on paper.  The measurements I chose to use are those that I feel comfortable with and my intentions are to end up with a quilt being either a very generous queen or even a king.



The instructions or guidelines that I am giving you are the ones I'm using to make my own version.  This is NOT an instructional pattern like one you would have to pay for that would give you step-by-step instructions or 'teach' you how to make the quilt.  It's not a difficult quilt to make and I would rate it at an intermediate level.  Having said that, some quilting experience is required.

How long it takes you to make yours is up to you.  I suggest that you take your time and enjoy the journey because there's definitely a lot of cutting and piecing.  Depending on my progress, I'll probably post some photos every couple of days till it's done and of course, we'd all like to hear and see about yours as well.

The size of your quilt will be your decision.  My initial plan is to make mine to finish at 102" x 88" but that could change.  Having said that, I really suck when it comes to figuring out how much fabric will be needed for just the quilt top.  If you're aiming for optimum size then would suggest a minimum of 4 yards of yellow and 5 yards of white to be on the safe side.  Too much fabric is better than running out, right?  *wink*  You can always make pillow cases or shams with the leftovers!

Now at this point, you might want to grab a cup of tea or coffee because a heavy dose of step-by-step photos follows.

If you've had trouble in the past lining up your squares so that the corners 'perfectly' match, you might want to have a quick look at and refer to this 'nesting squares' tutorial for some hints.  

Click on the link HERE.

Sew, let's get started.


To download and print the PDF file, please click HERE.  It is my suggestion that you keep the layout grids close by to refer to for color placement.  Even though I made the charts, they certainly helped me when laying out pieces for piecing. I even put them in a plastic sleeve because I found them easier to handle that way.



My instructions and diagrams are all hand written and drawn.  I don't have any fancy-schmancy programs to give them that 'professional' look and hopefully you'll be able to understand them.



I started with cutting 28 strips @ 2 1/2" x WOF (width of fabric) of each of the yellow and white fabrics.  You will need more but this will get you started with enough strips to complete the first two rows or sections of the quilt.




I love my Creative Grids rulers.  Look closely at the line where the almost center of the ruler sits on top of the left outside edge of the fabric.  The 2 1/2" line is marked and easy to see making cutting that much easier...and they don't slip or slide!


Referring to the grid for placement, piece seven strips together starting and ending with the yellow strips using a 1/4" seam allowance.


Subcut into 2 1/2" strips.  You should be able to get 16 pieces from one pieced set.


Repeat the above step, this time starting and ending with the white strips at the top and bottom.


Subcut these into 2 1/2" strips as well.


Referring to the layout grid, piece together 5 - 7 strips x 7 strips blocks, alternating the strips to form a checkerboard pattern.  

Did you notice that my walker has a secondary use as a prop?
From the white fabric, cut 71 sashing strips @ 3 1/2" x 14 1/2".  You should be able to cut three from each WOF strip.


Connect the five blocks together with a sashing strip, adding one to each end as well.





Using the same method as above, piece together 3 sets of 1 1/2" x WOF yellow and white strips and 6 sets white and yellow strips to make 42 - 3 1/2" unfinished nine patch cornerstone blocks.


Subcut into 1 1/2" strips and use the same piecing method to make the nine patches as for the larger checkerboard squares.  Refer to the layout grid for color placement.


Piece together 5 sashing strips, starting and ending with a nine patch cornerstone block.


Sew these to the top and bottom of each checkerboard row to connect the rows.


After I completed two sections, I took this photo on our queen size bed just to give you an idea of size.  It is centered on the bed and as you can see, there is ample drop on both sides.  


Then just continue adding sections until you reach the size of quilt that is suitable for your needs.

Sew...

Are you having fun yet?

Ready, set...

S-E-W!

Oops, I forgot...ya gotta cut first!


Happy stitching!