Star Crossed Quilt from Don't Call Me Betsy

Elizabeth from Don't Call Me Betsy is no stranger to us...and probably not to you either...her work is fabulous! We're constantly checking out her cute stuff for inspiration! :)  One of my favorite things Elizabeth has done is her Kaleidoscope QAL...so cute!!!  Make sure to stop by Don't Call Me Betsy and her pattern shop, love this one!!

I am so excited to share the finished quilt with you!  This is definitely one of my favorite finishes in a while, thanks to the fun I had quilting this one and the great texture the quilting created.  I love densely quilted quilts like this one, so I'm quite sure it's going to be one of my favorites for a while to come.

before washing

after washing

A while back, I fell in love with a block I saw in a copy of Jinny Beyer's The Quilter's Album of Patchwork Patterns, on loan from the library, and sketched it out in my sketchbook.  Many months later, back in January, when the fabulously talented Betz White sent me some of her fantastic organic line of fabric for Robert Kaufman, I revisited the sketch and decided to finally make the block.  I called it a Star Crossed block, as it felt like a fab combination of a star and cross block, and I slowly started working on this quilt bit by bit, in between what feels like a zillion other obligations that I can't share yet.

I was super excited to finish this quilt...until I realized that I didn't have a clue how I wanted to quilt it.  Usually, I don't make that decision until after I see the finished quilt top.  When I looked at this quilt top, I just couldn't seem to decide.  I wanted to do something other than my usual smooth stipple, and I thought a pointy stipple would be fun, but rather than mocking it up to see how it would look, I just went for it.  Whoops.  I hated it.  Intensely.  So much so that I ripped it all out.  Note to self: always mock up the quilting.  Always.  (ETA: All I do to mock up my quilts is print out a photo and draw out my FMQ design on it with a highlighter.  It's uber-low-tech and fast.)

before washing

Somehow or another, I got baptist fans on the brain, and just couldn't let go.  So I did them.  And they were really fun to do!  The way I stitched these fans is indeed in a continuous line, with one start at the beginning of each row of fans and one stop at the end.  I'm putting the finishing touches on a tutorial of how I did this quilting to share with you all tomorrow, so stay tuned for that. 

before washing

I'm so happy I went with my gut and ripped out the pointy stipple quilting stitches I started with.  I'm also really glad I tried a new style of quilting, even though I really thought it was going to be either too difficult or too tedious.  Trying something new can be so much fun!

after washing

Thanks again, Betz, for sharing some of your lovely fabrics for this project!

Quilt Stats
Name: Star Crossed Stitch quilt
Block Pattern: Star Crossed block
Size: 34" x 44"
Fabrics: Betz White's Stitch Organic collection for Robert Kaufman along with some coordinating fabrics from Just Dandy, Katie Jump Rope, and So Sophie
Backing: Remants from Betz White's Stitch Organic collection
Quilting: All-over baptist fan free motion quilting (tutorial coming tomrrow!) by yours truly
Binding: Scrappy binding, using remants from Betz White's Stitch Organic collection, hand finished

Patchwork n Play's Sunnybrook Farm Quilt

I just love these farmer's wife's quilts, they are amazing blocks and great stories behind them.  Combine that with some fabulous Denyse Schmidt prints and you've got Suz from Patchwork n Play's Sunnybrook Farm Quilt!  Gorgeous!  I love her combination of prints and I think her use of the polka dot as the background print is fabulous!  After you read her story make sure to see Patchwork n Play, her tutorials and a fun to-do list!

Time and the weather have conspired somewhat against me this week.....

But I really wanted to share my 'finish' for March!

(That's three quilts finished in three months!)

So inside photos will have to do...

My FW quilt, AKA "Sunnybrook Farm" is done!

I stippled all around each of the 48 blocks.....

quite Denysely densely, as is my method!

The back folded over to the front

This is the biggest quilt I've ever quilted myself...

57 " by 72 "

The binding is a pretty DS print...

which contrasts nicely with both the sunny back and the spotty front!

The blocks all stand out proudly from the background, which is the effect I was 

after!

I think it let's all the blocks 'shine'!

And a view of the pieced back!

Can you tell why I have called it "Sunnybrook Farm"?

Apart from the obvious sunny backing, "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" was one

of my Mother's favourite films.

And this reminds me of my Mum!

She was a bit of a farm girl when she was young.

I know my Mum would have loved this quilt....

Well, that's not quite true.....

My Mum loved EVERYTHING I made!

Doesn't yours?

Happy Sewing!

SUZ

Pretty Pillowcase Tutorial

Welcome!  Today is my stop on the Festival of Half Square Triangles from Canoe Ridge Creations.  All month Megan (of CRC) has had tons of inspiring guest tutorials all using HST's.  Then starting next week you can link-up your projects that use HST's and are entered in to win awesome prizes.  Click here to find out more!

Ever wanted to know how to make a pillowcase?  Maybe a pillowcase with some pretty details or piecing?  Well look no further!

Pretty Pillowcase Tutorial

• I will give instructions for two different pillows, a chevron pillowcase and a pinwheel pillowcase.  All fabric/cutting requirements are for a single pillowcase.  If you would like to make both you will need to double accordingly.
• All seam allowances are 1/4".

Fabric Requirements

1/2 yard of a solid

*1/8 yard of print for band for pinwheel pillowcase

*Two 1/8 yard of print for band for chevron pillowcase

3/4 yard of print for main pillowcase

Cutting Requirements

Pinwheel Pillowcase

1. Solid: 5.5" x 39" and 5.5" x 20.5" and 2" x 5.5" and two 1.5" x 5.5" and six 3.5" x 3.5" 
2. Print for Band: six 3.5" x 3.5"
3. Main Print: 25" x 39"

Chevron Pillowcase

1. Solid: 5.5" x 39" and 5.5" x 19" and eight 3.5" x 3.5" 
2. Print for Band: from each print four 3.5" x 3.5" squares, eight total
3. Main Print: 25" x 39"

Create HST's using all the 3.5" x 3.5" solids and prints.  For pinwheels a total of 12 HST's.  For chevron a total of 16 HST's.  If you need help making Half Square Triangles I have a tutorial for the method I use HERE. Square each HST to 3" x 3".

Tip:  If you are new to HST's or still can't get it perfect I recommend cutting your squares a little larger than required, by 1/4".  In the end you can cut it down to size with a little trimming.  

Create pinwheels and chevrons pieces like below:

Piece together band.  Piece together first side to side and then top to bottom.

Note: Numbers shown below are the cut fabric requirements, not the finished sizes. I wanted you to know which pieces to use.

 click to enlarge

From here on out the instructions are the same for the pinwheel pillowcase and chevron pillowcase.  I will use whichever picture describes the instructions best regardless of design.

Now we put it all together.  This is what is known to me as the "burrito method".  What is great about this is it allows the band to be lined, but all of your seams end up on the inside.  There are 5 steps and photos below of each step.

Step 1: With the design on the top (important!) place the main pillowcase and band right sides together.

Step 2: Match the unfinished top edges of the band and main piece exactly together.

Step 3: Take the bottom of the main piece and carefully roll it up until you see about half of the band      underneath.

Step 4: Bring the band back over the rolled main piece.

Step 5: Pin the three edges together, taking care to keep all the unfinished edges matched.

Phew! We're almost there!  

If you have a serger I would serge along the pinned edge.  If not do as I did, sew a straight line and zig-zag over top.

Next pull out the main pillowcase piece.  You'll see how nice it looks!  Press entire piece.

the extra gray hanging out the bottom is the other pillowcase :)

Fold pillowcase together and sew along the bottom and side.  Again if you have a serger I would use it here or sew a straight line and zig-zag overtop.

Turn pillowcase right side out and press.  I top stitched along both the bottom of the band and top of the pillowcase.  It helps everything lay nicer plus adds a more professional look!

Done!!  I am so happy with how these turned out and am wondering what took me so long!! I can't wait to bust out a few more!

Please let me know if there are any issues with this tutorials. I will respond in the comment section.

Please give credit and link back to us if you use this tutorial!

Fabrics used: Denyse Schmidt's Aunt Edna print for main pillow, Joel Dewberry's Heirloom for chevrons and pinwheels, Kona bone for solid.

Linking to these parties: Finish it up Friday's at crazy mom quilts; Sew and Tell at amylouwho; Pity Party at Thirty Handmade Days; weekend wrap up at Tatertots and Jello.

Svetlana of s.o.t.a.k. handmade's HST Quilt

Happy Wednesday everyone!  Today we've got a feature from Svetlana of s.o.t.a.k. handmade and I love it!  Two of my favorites, half-square triangles and the colors blue and green!  Svetlana has a really unique and original style, check out her quilt finishes and her tutorials...love this lunch tote.  Make sure to see her at s.o.t.a.k. handmade after you read about her finish!  And tomorrow Heather has a super cute Valentine's tutorial, make sure to stop by!


I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. We had a lot of fun, the weather was gorgeous, not a small thing for Chicago, so we got to spend lots of time outdoors with our kids.

Not only that, I also got a lot of sewing done and managed to GET MY HST QUILT FINISHED!!!! It feels wonderful to be able to say that. I have no idea why I was in such a rush to finish this quilt (since it has no specific purpose or recipient), I just HAD TO get it done. And I absolutely love how it turned out. 

This is what the quilt top looks like after being sandwiched, quilted, bound, washed, and finally dried. It is a pretty big quilt, 70 x 72 inches. I had my girls stand on chairs and hold it for me so I could take a picture - I think they did a pretty good job considering that the whole time they complained about their arms hurting. 


In my last post I was debating about what to do for the back, not wanting to make it just one plain color. I came up with this:

It almost looks like a skyline, doesn't it? No, it wasn't really a plan, the whole quilt back looked very different in my head when I started. I love that by cutting the fabric, sewing it together and arranging and rearranging pieces, adding more here, snipping away there, I ended up with my own unique design for the back.

I decided to go quite simple for quilting, I did horizontal and vertical straight lines (I'm going to try some more advanced quilting on a smaller quilt).

I made binding using one of Denyse Schmidt's fabrics available at JoAnn's. I think it frames the whole quilt rather nicely.

All in all, I couldn't be happier with how it all turned out. And not only is it great for snuggling, it's also perfect for playing peek-a-boo with our cat who thoroughly enjoys my love of fabric.

It is the first quilt I designed from scratch all by myself and I enjoyed the whole process of making it a lot. But next time I will use my Go!cutter to get my triangles cut and thus eliminate all the crazy need for trimming. Yes, trimming was definitely the least enjoyable part for me.
Well, that's it from me for today, as I have piles of laundry and tons of housework that needs to be done.

Have a wonderful day.

Svetlana

Sweet baby girl quilt from Traceyjay Quilts

I've seen Traceyjay Quilts before, and she does beautiful stuff.  But I recently came across her Chubby Stars Quilt Along and became a follower all over again :)  So darling!!!  She's got great projects, check out her Quilts of 2011, some really creative things!  Today she's sharing a quilt with us for her unborn baby.  She doesn't know what she's having, they're waiting until the birth,  but she's prepared just in case!

Dear baby... if you're a girl...

...then this will be your quilt.

And if you are a girl, I will love watching you work to hold your head up, and look at those stars...

And I will love seeing you snuggle in all its softness.

And drag it all around the house (your big brother is getting a head start - you might have to fight him off).

I loved making this for you little one... if it is yours 

(and if you're a boy, I'm keeping it, because I love it). 

Your daddy is sure you're a boy... just as sure as I was about your brother...

We've made it to the final trimester!  And even though it's still not really real to me that there will actually be another kiddo in our house, you are showing proof of yourself. :)  

(Here's what your brother looked like at week 26)

________________________________

Specs for my bloggy friends - 

Pattern: Swoon by Thimble Blossoms (love this pattern)

Fabric: Modern Meadow with City Weekend, Farmdale with Hideaway, Katie Jump Rope with DS quilts, and Meadowsweet 2 with Sunkissed.  

Binding: DS quilts tile

Quilting (my favorite I've done so far) - a cross hatch at one inch intervals.  I didn't plan it, but it makes an almost perfect grid all over the whole quilt -- evenly dividing the blocks and the quadrants... that was a happy, unplanned coincidence.

Denyse Schmidt picnic fabric GIVEAWAY!!!

Since so many of you don't have access, or don't have access yet, to this gorgeous fabric, we thought it would be fun to share! :)

This is Denyse Schmidt's latest fabric line at Joann.  It's really great quality, retailing $9.99 a yard.  As best I can tell or have read the fabric line is maybe called Picnic? or Fairgrounds?

The craziest thing about all of this, is that Joann's seems to be completely clueless!  The fabric is only marked "DS" so that doesn't help.  But of the many phones calls, and visits, between Heather and I to a variety of Joann's....we've both been told flat out "we don't carry that", "I have no idea what you're talking about", etc.!

In fact, Sara went to get herself some last night only to find out that their entire stock had been bought up!

What you'll win:

*1.5 yards from the fabric above

How to win:

leave a separate comment for each please :)

* leave a comment with your favorite fabric line ever! (aside from this ;)

* follow Quilt Story  (or tell us you already do) 

* "like" us on Facebook  (or tell us you already do)

This giveaway is now closed.