Annual Quilt Retreat

Just arrived home from the 3rd annual Family Quilt Retreat. This year we exchanged 1930's style blocks and here are the final projects:

Mine is still a quilt top, I'd like to add another border before I throw it on the machine.

My SIL Jenny bound her's on the drive down so it was ready to go and darling to boot. 

Jamie turned her blocks into some adorable oversized pillows.

My Mom's was all hand quilted! Over achiever ;)

 and Jen's was to die for gorgeous as usual.

I'm excited for next years challenge, we have to make something using yoyo's and it can't have less than 25 in the finished project. I have a concept of what I'd like to make, but if you have any fun ideas, I'd love to hear them too.

Oh, and I nearly forgot, Block of the month for April will be up this friday.

Pattern Review: Double the Fun Quilt

The Pattern:

My Finished Quilt:

I found this pattern in Quilts and More Magazine and was looking for something simple for a bedroom revamp I'm tackling. Wow, what an easy and fast pattern to complete. I had this quilt pieced, quilted and bound with-in a week and even went out of town for 3 days. I used some fabrics I had around and others from Sew Obsessed. 

The pattern is for a reversible quilt, but I put a backing on it instead, just to make it that much easier. I would make this quilt again in a heart beat. Fun, Fast and Finished!

Now that's said and done, let the initiating begin...

Pin It

Linking here

June Bug Quilt

If you'd like, you should visit Quilt Story to see my June Bug quilt that's being featured and read the crazy tale of how I made it. 

Happy Wednesday!

Quilt-As-You-Go Strip Quilt

Making a quilt can be a bit pricey, especially when you consider sending it to be quilted once you've finished piecing the top. If you are a DIY kind of gal, then this quilting method will definitely appeal. Here's how to make it:

Using anywhere between 3 and 16 different fabrics cut the following strips:

Three 6" x 42"

Two 5" x 42"

Four 4" x 42"

Five 3" x 42"

Two 2" x 42"

Lay them out on the ground in a random pleasing pattern. Then, cut a backing fabric (you may need to piece it) 45" x 60" and use a spray adhesive to attach it to a baby crib size batting. Then lay it on the ground batting side up.

Pin the bottom strip to the bottom of your batting/backing right side up and sew along the bottom edge where it's pinned using a 1/4 in. seam (you will be sewing through all three layers).  Now, lay the next strip on top of the attached strip right sides together with edges matched up. Sew through all four layers where you've pinned.  Now press the seam open so you're new strip is right side up, then attach the next strip the same way as the last and repeat until the all strips are attached.  

To make it easy while you are sewing the seams, roll up the excess backing/batting so it will sit nicely to the right of your needle. Be sure to always sew in the same direction, if you try to turn your quilt and sew from the other side, you risk stretching the fabric (which never looks nice). When you've completed your quilt, trim the edges and bind as desired. Not sure how to bind? Watch for my binding tutorial next tuesday.  

This is a condensed tutorial, if you have any questions, please ask!

One more thing, when your quilt is done, you've got to "break it in" (as we call it at our house) by letting your baby/grandbaby/neighbors baby walk, lay or wipe their snotty nose on it. :) Here's Juliette on Halloween initiating her new quilt.

Pin It

Linking Here

Fabrics Used:

Floppy Flo Quilt

Behold, one of my all-time favorite quilts.

 Made by my Mother, of course

Yes, those are hand embroidered Raggedy Ann's. 

She picked up the antique top already pieced and her friend suggested she embroider in the white squares, which she obviously did using a "Floppy Flo" book, and then she hand-quilted the thing!

She made another similar to it that actually has blue Andy's in-between the Ann's. My Sister has it (shaking my fist into the air)  but she told me I can have this one when she die's (in 100 years) and I am going to cherish the crap out of this beauty.  It's got some serious sentimental value considering my room was decorated in Raggedy Ann's when I was little. 

Ain't nothin' raggedy about this quilt!

(I couldn't resist)

Pattern Review: Merry Go Round by Crazy Old Ladies

My Mother is back for another pattern review (she whips them out a lot faster than I do).

Here's the Pattern:

Here's her Finished Quilt:

I absolutely love it!  Don't you?  Here's what she had to say:

"This baby/throw size took 2 charm packs, and was a fun and easy method for the spiderweb pattern.  I think it would be darling in 30's inspired fabrics, too.  You'll have to give up the idea of perfect points on this quilt, as it is not really possible with this construction method.  I've never had a problem with that though :) and I like the slightly quirky look it gives the quilt.  I'd recommend it!"

Linking here

Pattern Review: Carrot Cake by Barbara Brandenburg

 Sewing and Gifting in one this time. I made this quilt for my mom for Mother's day, but naturally it will sit in the shop for a while before she actually gets it.  Here is the original pattern:

 

Here is my finished product:

 I love how this quilt turned out with Moda's Punctuation fabric line. It gives it a very vintage feel.  I always love a quilt that is layer cake compatible and this one is just that! yay!  It really didn't take to long to throw it together, although I always seem to forget how much time it takes to sew around each appliqued block. I was still in St. George when I made the top of this quilt and wasn't using my own sewing machine. I usually use monofiliment (clear thread) to sew a zig zag around each applique, but it wasn't cooperating with said machine, so I used a neutral thread instead. I must say, it gave it a charming old fashioned feel.  

I was nervous about doing a wavy border, but it wasn't any harder that a regular square border. In fact, that's just what it is. You put the border on square, quilt as desired, then use a great template included in the pattern to trace your scallops. You cut it out and bind as usual (it's kinda nice too because there are no corners).

Oh and I almost forgot, when you make a quilt with a wavy or scalloped border, you must cut your binding on the bias. Not sure what that means? stay tuned, I'm going to post a tutorial on how to cut your binding on the bias very soon :)

Pretty Dresses Quilt

Here is the (almost) finished product of Juliette's quilt. I obviously haven't bound the edges yet, but I was so excited when the quilting was done I had to post it.

Now, I think It's time to get started on decorating her nursery.

I bought this pattern at Material Girls, it's call "Pretty Dresses" by Black Mountain Quilts