Fabulous I*Spy from Kelsey Sews

Today is a great quilt and sweet story from Kelsey of Kelsey Sews.  I really love I*Spy Quilts and being a mommy of little ones I really should take the time to make one! Especially with so many darling novelty prints out there...I've got to do it.  Kelsey uses great prints and I think she found a great balance in making it a fun kid's quilt but it's still very pretty and not too "childish".  Visit Kelsey Sews for regular inspiration on quilt blocks, WIP's Wednesday and other fun sewing things...like this Bookshelf Modern Mini!


I've posted a bit about it before, but my husband's cousins have two adorable little girls and we spend time together every Friday night.  They were over at our house one day (which they find boring since we don't have cable or kid stuff haha) and I was trying to think of something for us to do.  We were down in my sewing space and I decided that I'd pull out the charms I got through the I-Spy Charm Swap and we could lay them out and play a little game.  That was when E informed me that it was almost her birthday and sweetly requested that I use these "pretty fabrics" to sew her a quilt as a present.  Melted my heart!! So the only logical thing to do was start planning and cutting.  

I have a tutorial *almost* done so hopefully I can get it up later this week - but I just couldn't wait to share the quilt until then.

Without further ado - The I*Spy Quilt!

I*Spy Top

Top & Back

Quilting

Top

I used 96 different charms and combined them with Kona White for the background.  I had the different colors of polka dots in my stash (they're from Connecting Threads) and backed it in purple gingham by Michael Miller and bound it in a Bella purple (not sure the name).

This was also the first big project I free-motion quilted on my home machine!  I won't deny that I need some more practice but once it's all washed and crinkly everything fades together.  I will definitely be doing some more FMQ at home soon.

The gift was a huge hit, she loved it and snuggled up with it that night!! Her older sister also informed me that if E didn't like it that she'd take it :) - Guess I better get working on a quilt for her too!

TUTORIAL FOUND HERE.

Spinning Coins Quilt Tutorial

This is a quilt I finished up over Christmas, and today I'm giving you all the details so you can make one too!

I really really super adore this fabric, all of it.  How can you look at it and not be happy??  Seriously, whales, polka dots, argyle (oh argyle), owls...pears...I love it all.

I got this gorgeous fabric from Jody

It is a combination of fabrics from designer Ann Kelle for Robert Kaufman

Remix, Metro Market and Urban Zoologie

Materials Needed:

• 6-8 fat quarters for the coins and pinwheels (the colored strips)
•  1 yard white cotton for sashing and borders
• 2/3 yard for binding
• 2 yards for backing

Any Nigel fans?  He's checking you out from the left, half-way up :)

this tutorial is assuming 44" width fabric and 1/4" seams

Step 1: Create 4 (or more) pinwheel blocks, finished size 8 inches.

Step 2: Cut fat quarters to 8 inches wide and a variety of lengths.  I just eyeballed it and made three piles of short, medium and tall strips.

Step 3: Sew three rows together using pinwheel blocks and fat quarter strips, each row should finish at 51 1/2" long.

the measurements above are from the finished quilt, figuring in the 1/4" seam

Step 4: Cut 5 inch strips in fabric width (44") from the white cotton.  Using the photo as a guide, sew coin rows to the white strips, one on each side and all together.

Step 5: Sew a 5 inch white cotton strip to the top and bottom of your quilt top.

And you've got your quilt top!  Easy Peasy!

Jody sent this fabulous pink polka dot backing, and trust me this quilt is going to a home with many many girls, it'll be a hit :)

I used straight line quilting pattern for this. On the coin strips I stitched approx. 1" apart, and on the white sashing I stitched 2-3" apart.

And this binding, I need more. I have never been more pleased with a binding!  See these rainbow stripes??  It's already inspired me for another quilt.

Finished Quilt Size: 40 1/2" x 60", lap size

Fabric line: Remix, Metro Market and Urban Zoologie by Ann Kelle for Robert Kaufman and 100% white cotton

I got all of this gorgeous fabric from Fabric Shoppe

Quilting: Straight-line

Who is this quilt for?: You!  This is a perfect beginners quilt, especially if you want to challenge yourself by trying more piecing (ie pinwheels) but not so much piecing it's intimidating.  This is a great quilt for scraps.  This is a great quilt to finish in a weekend.

*Please let me know if you have any questions or if anything is unclear.

*Please send us pictures of your finished quilt!  We'd love to see!  Send us an email myquiltstory{at}gmail{dot}com

*Please give us credit if you do use this pattern and post about it.  This is intended for personal use, making this as a gift is okay, but please do not to sell the pattern or quilts.

Thanks mommy for your beautiful home as a backdrop!

(and dad, but let's be honest, he doesn't even know what a blog is)