Never Before!

Today is Small Business Saturday!  And to say THANK YOU and help support small businesses we are having a sale today, the BIGGEST we've ever had!

We both plan to do a lot of shopping on Etsy today and hopefully you're the same.  We'd love for you to visit Quilt Story on Etsy...use the coupon code HALFOFF of any and ALL PDF patterns.  You'll get the pattern instantly!

TODAY ONLY

Our patterns retail $7-$9.  So today only the'll be $3.50-$4.50. That's wholesale y'all!

I'd also encourage you to visit our sponsors and shops.  These are all small businesses, many are run out of their own homes!  Take time today to support handmade and small businesses today!

Thank you thank you thank you! :)

OUR SHOP

Heather's week and fabric Tuesday...

My week (Heather) (via @quiltstory Instagram)

Carpel Tunnel Surgery. Ouch. Still recovering. No Sewing. Emotional recovery. 

My 10 year old decorated the mantle. I am keeping it. She did pretty good!

Got a little more Christmas out. Feeling the Christmas spirit helped me with my down week. 

I did get a super fun fabric package from Spice Berry Cottage. That brightened my week for sure! Cant' wait to play with it all!

Awesome Monster House quilt from Talking Lunchbox Quilts 

Beautiful Free pattern 4-patch slice from Inspiring Creations Blog...cute!

The Sewing Chick is always up to something awesome. The piecing looks so perfect, it looks fake!

Ooh La La Starry Night Baby Quilt from Busy Hands Quilts. Darling!

Everything about this is sweetness! Out to Sea quilt from Robot Mom Sews. Love.

Giant Chevron from Gemini Stitches. Cute!

What did you all get to this week?

Beehive quilt from Hey sis look what I made....

We got this great submission from Willit, from the blog Hey Sis look what I made. I am impressed with this quilt and the story behind it. Make sure to read the Eating frogs post to make sense of her frog reference. Cute. Anyhow,  here is the Beehive quilt finale post:

I'm feeling very French, eating frogs.

Here is frog #1 and it's finished! Woohoo! It only took 2 years and two months, but finally I have made my very first quilt! Look at me, everyone, I'm a quilter...

And here it is in it's natural habitat...

It was really, really difficult trying to take a decent picture, none of these photos show what the quilt really looks like. When it was outside hanging on the fence it was too bright to show detail, and pulled in such a way that it looked much more wrinkly than when it is on a bed...

... but on the bed it was dark and shadowy...

... See those two dark spots in the upper left hand corner of the quilt in the picture above? I think that may be blood stains from a pin pick. I hope it washes out.

You may remember back in July I was just about done, so what took me so long to get it finished?!!! Well, I thought the quilt looked too flat and dull and boring, so I wanted to add a bit more interest to it. I hand quilted the 'spaces' of the beehive box with hexagons, to give them a different texture to the 'wood' of the beehive box...

... The blue dots and marks were made with a fabric marker that should wash out.

I also added some hand quilting to two corners of the blue-green border. The border was meant to represent the grass that the beehive box is sitting on, but the fact that it is pretty blue and had no texture meant that it looked nothing like grass and was just an odd choice of background colour. Anyway, so I quilted two corners, the top left and the bottom right, with different length stitches going in all different directions, to hint at the idea of grass...

I also quilted a bee onto the centre of the beehive frame, even though no quilting was necessary there...

... I'm not sure if I like it or not...

... I've considered unpicking it, but the idea was to add more interest to the quilt, and whether it looks good or not, whether it clashes too much or not, it certainly does make the quilt less boring, so I think it will stay. First quilts are allowed to be filled with mistakes and experimentations, aren't they?

Now, if you're looking at this quilt and wondering what on Earth I was thinking with the design, well, I was attempting to make a quilt of a beehive box with one frame pulled out and placed on top - kind of like this...

http://www.northwoodsapiaries.com/Pictures/Products/AssembledWoodFramesWithWaxCoatedPlasticFoundation.JPG

... but a birds-eye view. It is a gift for a beekeeper, so he'll get it :)
Woohoo! Woohoo! WOOHOO!

More posts on the Beehive quilt

• Beehive Quilt (Part 1)

• Beehive Quilt (Part 2)

• Beehive Quilt (Part 3)

• Beehive Quilt (Part 4)

• Beehive Quilt (Part 5) 

• Beehive Quilt (Part 6)

• Beehive Quilt (Part 7)

• Beehive Quilt (Part 8)

• Beehive Quilt (Part 9)

• Beehive Quilt (Part 10)

- Willit Neverend

Holiday Tutorial: Nero's Post and Patch

Today's Holiday Tutorial is from Teje who blogs at Nero's Post and Patch.  Teje is very talented and creative!  She pretty much does it all, sewing, quilting, painting, gardening, knitting...I'm leaving a ton out.  She lives in Greece and therefore also takes some pretty beautiful pictures of her work.  We've gotten to know her through blogland and Fabric Tuesday and I have to say she is so genuinely sweet and kind.  Make sure to see some of her other tutorials, patterns, quilts and lots more.  Thank you so much Teje! The baskets are wonderful!

"LITTLE TREES" - fabric baskets

I'm very happy to join today "HOLIDAY Tutorials SERIES"! Thank you so much Megan and Heather for inviting me!

Little scrap trees are great for many projects and they make fun picture on a fabric basket. I'm not very patient with patterns and exact measurements, so usually I try to find on my own how to make something. I'll show you how it's easy to make any size of fabric basket!

CUTTING - SEWING THE MAIN PIECE - QUILTING

- cut first the bottom (use a plate or something else to draw the circle)

- my bottom piece is 8.5" diameter

- cut the same size from wadding and thin fabric (this helps to quilt your piece)

- I have a little bit thicker poly wadding and I use very thin material on the backside to make the quilting easier

- cut for the main piece 3" x 25" from beige and 5" x 25" from white or other low volume fabric, sew these pieces together

- I used for the beige fabric mixed linen but all the fabrics can be quilting cottons or any fabrics you like

- cut also for the main piece the same size from wadding and a thin fabric

- quilt the bottom with continuing circle stitching and the main piece with wavy stitching which looks like snowy ground

- trim your pieces but don't try to trim the main piece in exact size yet (we check the size later)

! Look the 4th photo above: it's easy to measure the size around the bottom after quilting. This way you can easily make any size fabric baskets. Just make first the bottom (round or oval) and then measure what size main piece you need. Make your main piece always a little bit bigger and trim it later to the exact size.

MAKING THE PICTURE WITH SCRAPS

- take your scraps and start to make trees and houses - whatever you like to have in your picture

- sew around the trees and houses with simple stitching

- you can sew them with continuing stitching, just stitch till the next triangle and continue, doesn't matter if you stitch some lines twice

- sew the trunks for the trees, up and down several times (some sik sak if you like) - move to the next tree without cutting the threads (cut them all after finishing the all the trunks)

- if you like you can add some fabric stripes to create ground

CHECKING THE SIZE - LINING - SEWING THE BASKET

- when you have finished your picture, pin the bottom on the down edge of the main piece (right sides together)

- DON'T SEW YET - this is just to measure how long the main piece has to be exactly

- mark the right size, take away the pins and trim the main piece

- cut the lining using your bottom and main pieces as templates - look the photo below

- quilting always change the size of the pieces, so it's better to cut the lining after the pieces are quilted to get the right size

- sew the lining (make some tiny cuts around the bottom, so it 'fits' better)

- sew the quilted bottom with the main piece (make again those tiny cuts)

BINDING

- put the lining inside the fabric basket, set it well on the bottom and put few pins around the up edge, trim the edge of the lining

! You can make the binding single or double folded (depends on your fabric)

- if you make the binding with thicker fabric, cut for single binging 2.5" x 24" strip

- put the strip around the fabric basket, mark the length and sew edges

- pin the stripe outside on the fabric basket and sew it

- turn the binding inside, fold the edge of the binding and then fold it once again

- pin the binding so that it covers the earlier stitching

- for me it's easier to put the pins first inside to find the right place and then before sewing I change them outside

- sew from outside just next to the binding

- if you make the binding with quilting cotton, cut for double folded binding 3" x 24" strip

- fold your strip double and press it with iron

- pin it outside on the fabric basket and sew (raw edges together)

- turn the binding inside and pin it so that it covers the earlier stitching

- sew from outside just next to the binding

I hope this tutorial inspires and helps you to make different sizes fabric baskets! Have fun making your own pictures on them!

Happy Holiday Sewings!

Click here for more Holiday Tutorials!

Holiday Tutorial: Clover and Violet

An awesome Holiday Tutorial from Clover & Violet!  Jennie and Clara are a mother/daughter team who are uber talented!  They are the ladies to see when combining embroidery and quilting.  They have a lot of helpful tutorials and QAL's.  I'm sorry I've introduced you, once you click over your morning will be gone :)  Check out all the other Holiday Tutorials and we have more coming!  Thanks ladies for sharing!!  Here's Clara:



Hi, this is Clara from Clover & Violet! I am happy to share my newest pillow that I think is going to give my home some Christmas cheer this year. I have had a little bundle of Cherry Christmas designed by Aneela Hoey in my stash since last year and I think I have found the perfect use for it. I love the colors and really like the embroidery too!

So let's get started and with Quilted Dresden Pillow with an Embroidered center for your home or for a gift.

Note: Read all directions before beginning, all seam allowances are 1/4" unless otherwise noted:

Supplies:

• Download the template and embroidery pattern here
• 20 - 2 1/2" x 4" rectangles for blades
• 32 - 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" squares for scrappy border
• 14 1/2" x 14 1/2" square white background fabric
• 9" x 9" white square for the embroidered center
• 9" x 9" fusible interfacing
• #8 Perle Cotton (I used Finca #4059 - aqua, and Finca #1166 - red)
• 2 - 2 1/2" x wof strips for binding
• 2/3 yard for pillow back
• 18" pillow form

Let's Get Started:

Using the template, cut 2o blades. Fold the top points together, right sides together, and then sew them together as shown. Chain sewing is easiest and quickest.



Trim the corner at the fold, press seam open, turn and give each blade a final pressing.



Turn the blades right sides together and sew 1 /4" seam allowance along the long sides. Sewing them together in sections makes it easier.



After all the blades are sewn together, press the seam allowances in one direction.



Sew 7 squares together for both sides and sew onto white block. Now sew 9 squares together to sew onto the top and the bottom.



Center the dresden onto the top with the borders. Pin and stitch in place, going around each blade.



Prepare your fabric for embroidery by fusing interfacing to the back of the 9" fabric piece and tracing the design onto the center piece with a water soluble pen (or any method you prefer). Just be sure that if you use a water soluble pen you spray with water before pressing or you will set the pen in the fabric and may not be able to remove it. I used red and aqua floss but you could use any color that you like that goes best with your fabric choice.



When you have stitched the design, trim the center circle to the size of the template. Center it in the dresden and stitch in place, I used a blanket stitch on my machine. But you could turn and appliqué or hand sew if you like.



After you have stitched your center onto your pillow front turn it over and cut through the backing fabric to remove the excess fabric from your dresden, it will show through to the front if you used white and there are any darker colors in your blades. I like the way it turns out best by doing this.



Now layer the top and batting, (a little larger than your 18 1/2" x 18 1/2" top) with a white or light fabric under the batting just like a quilt sandwich for a quilt. Quilt as desired and then trim the batting to the size of your finished pillow top.



Make the pillow back by cutting two pieces of fabric, 1 half will be 18 1/2" x 15 1/4", the second half will be 18 1/2" x 10 1/4". Turn under 1" on both top and bottom pieces to hem. Lay the back pieces on the back of the pillow front overlapping the larger piece on top and pin in place. Sew around all four sides using a 1/4" seam allowance. This will create an envelope for your pillow.



Add binding to the front in the same way you would for a quilt. Turn and hand stitch in place on the back.



Put your pillow form in your pillow case and enjoy.

Hexagon (Heaven!) Quilt

Meg here.  I am beyond excited to share this quilt today!!!!!!  Eeeeek!!!

Yes I know it's Fabric Tuesday (and you can scroll through my loads of pictures to link up :)  But I'm being selfish this week and sharing my finish.

I could not wait for Briar Rose by Heather Ross to be available.  The first night Heather and I ordered enough to make everyone in our family a quilt.

Usually I hoard these fabrics, maybe it's because we got a lot...but I cut into it right away.

I bought a Hexagon ruler at Joann.  5.5" I believe.  I cut squares of fabric to that size, placed the ruler on top and trimmed the corners accordingly.  I used the awesome tutorial by Kati of from the blue chair.

I like most everything I make, and I love a lot of what I make.  I'm stuck up like that. But I LOVE this quilt.  Love.

I had this quilted by Logan in Utah at Chocolate Dipped Quilts.  A-MAZ-ING.  Seriously. I have looked it over and over and it is perfection.  Her stitches are unreal!! I have yet to see the tiniest mistake, and I know my piecing wasn't perfection so I'm not sure how she pulled it off.

It has this beautiful floral design that covers 6 hexie's and 1 in the center.  She connects each with this beautiful looping.

You can tell I've already been loving this quilt (not because it shows) because I know every square inch of it.  I threw it on my little 4 year old the other day and declared "this is my favorite quilt ever." which he promptly told me it wasn't his, he hated the fabrics and the pink and purple.  And yes, he has snuggled in it plenty since then!

I also have to say this the most snuggly quilt.  I definitely recommend the rosette minky that I got at Hobby Lobby.  On instagram someone asked Logan (who quilted this) if it was hard. She said it was not hard to  quilt, just messy!  And I've quilted a lot of other types of minky that weren't hard either.  So worth it.

You can send your next quilt to Chocolate Dipped Quilts (Logan) too!  Heather and I love sending our quilts out, whether we don't have the time or we want it to be extra special or, in my case, my machine doesn't have the capabilities I want sometimes.

Chocolate Dipped Quilts is located in Utah.  You can also mail her your quilt.  All of the pricing and details are on their site.

Thank you for indulging me.  Back to you guys!!

Fabric Tuesday #163

a couple of fun facts about Fabric Tuesday

*these can be WIPs too, you don't have to be finished!

*you can link up more than once

*you just have to use fabric ie doesn't have to be sewing or a quilt!