Sharing Creativity



One of the best things about corresponding with fellow (what is the female gender of this word in this case?) quilters is sharing ideas. The above quilt was made by Erika Rohde, who adapted a pattern I made for McCall's Quilting Magazine some months back, and the accompanying project, "ColorPools". You can scroll down to see the earlier post with this project in which I made a table runner using the pancake block. Erika enlarged that basic circular block to 15" (ultimately yielding a square 10" block) and built 121 of those babies to assemble this stunning, king-sized rendition with the pancake block. Erika used primarily batiks with a few solids. I am truly humbled, Erika, you have done an amazing job on this beautiful quilt. Thanks so much for sharing!

Redesigned Pellon Projects Website

 Just a short note here to let folks know that Pellon has redesigned it's website and blog and.....it's fabulous! You can download lots of free projects to make, including a couple of contributions from yours truly--and more to come. So get your cuppa, kick back, and take a look around!
Thanks to Erin Sampson at Pellon for making all the Pellon Designers shine!

Remembering Easter

Sharing today a small wall quilt, named "Remembering Easter". This quilt is simply made, with machine applique, machine quilting and a bit of hand quilting, a tad of piecing and is 17" by 31" at longest point. A colorful version to celebrate life using a variety of cottons and Pellon 987F fusible fleece.

This quilt's genesus was the desire to use the little pieced blocks--they were leftovers from Color Pools table runner (see earlier post) and for some reason I felt compelled to USE THEM. I am truly odd and sure this is some kind of condition I have. Anyway, the quilt started construction from this point, adding elements and colors that were cheerful. You just never know where inspiration will begin!

Fix a Quilt Boo Boo

I can't believe I did this. I made a table topper, Heart Strings, and used a white pencil to outline heart shapes for some very sparse quilting. Being the overly detailed personality that I am, I used Fray Check to hold down the thread whiskers at the seam line end, but did so before I removed the white pencil lines. Do you see where this is going? I glued down the white pencil dust. I still use Fray Check quite a bit, but I think I'll be sure to remember to remove pencil lines first or use the product on the back side from now on. This is a great product and I've never noticed any visibility from using it--this is clearly operator error! There is a happy ending--I covered the boo-boos by coloring the whitish spots with a permanent black Sharpie. Whew!

Beatin' the Blues

Sharing this most recent completion, for someone special. Used raw edge applique and zigzag machined edges, machine quilted. A very simple approach to using fabric to design. A bit of  stimulation for the day. Now...........tag, you're it! This piece approximately 15" x 22".

 

Re-purpose Your Fabric

 

Just wanted to pass along this tip, in case there are folks who haven't had this experience. I am making a wall quilt and needed a purple fabric, one with not too much red or too much blue in it. I ruffled through all the candidates in my stash and nothing seemed just right, except this piece with the gold metallic stars on it. Can't remember where or why I picked this up and never seem to have the project that wants it with the gold stars shining away, wanting attention. Voila! I turned it to the reverse side and there hides a perfectly suitable, hand-dye look that I did use in my quilt. Moral: always check the back sides of candidate fabrics when auditioning!

Sophisticated Trio of Handbag Accessories Pattern

 Now you can make a set of handbag accessories for all your custom made bags. Simple and easy pattern pieces make an Eyeglass/sunglass case, Checkbook cover (fits standard checks and register), and Business card/credit card case. One half yard each of cover and lining fabric plus a fat-quarter size batting makes all 3 accessories. Super idea for gifting teachers and others--you'll use this pattern again and again. Business card/credit card case doubles as a "travel light" wallet, just large enough for an ID, bank card, and a few bills to slip in your pocket or sock while you jog. Visit Craftsy Store above right to learn more.

A Perfectly Easy Mitered Border

Ever have troubles getting your mitered border joins to lay flat and behave?  I tried to do it the old-fahioned way, pencilling my line from the corner dot on the quilt top to the border outside corner and stitching the line up. Invariably, my pencil would distort the fabric seam line or  my pencil line would be too fat or some other mini calamity would prevent the outcome I wished for. That is, until I tried this method that I'm sharing with you. My apologies in advance if someone else has already developed this technique. Click A Perfectly Easy Mitered Border to view my tutorial. You will need some scraps of fusible tape or fusible web.  May all your corners be perfectly mitered!

Valentine's Free Pattern

Heart Strings

Happy Valentine's Day to all you Sweethearts out there (you know who you are). Here's a little eye candy for you to enjoy, non-fattening!  Use this HEART STRINGS pattern as a table pad or wall quilt--add to your holiday collection of decorations or please a little Princess Sweetheart year-round. This pattern is available as a free download at www.PellonProjects.com. XOXOXO

Baby Quilt & Changing Pads

Just a little sumpin' sumpin' to welcome a little boy into the world. Soft flannel backing and old timey looking plaids birth a cozy hug for this little guy.  Use some children's prints to whip up a couple of changing pads.
The baby quilt is made with half-square triangles and machine-quilted using blue painter's tape to mark lines.  I outline quilted 1" rows following the blue shapes (two half-squares wide).  Quick and easy.

Uptown Tote Bag Free Pattern




Uptown Tote

For a twist on the ol' sling it over-the-shoulder tote bag, put your creative skills to work on this hand-carry tote.  The Uptown Tote, sponsored by Pellon Corporation, is uniquely styled to frame a favorite fabric motif, or to feature a canvas of applique as shown in the example in the sidebar.  Use this framed area to show off your individual handiwork.
The straps in this design are adjustable to fit your needs--constructed as two short straps, overlap the ends after the bag is completed to make them fit you.
The Uptown Tote at right is constructed of pillow ticking with a center medallion of fancy cut shapes from print fabrics appliqued to a batik background. Click the image to link to Pellon website and the Uptown Tote pattern, and to find out what Pellon products were used to produce this look.
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Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Encore Performance





Congratulations to Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Vol. 1 for reprinting these popular original block designs (one of mine is included). Creative Folk, grab one now before the 2nd printing is sold out, too.

Leafy Hot Pad Pattern--Quick Gift

For a unique gift for a foodie, try this pattern for a leaf-shaped hot pad, easy to make and rather elegant.  There's no curved seam sewing, but you will need some narrow fusible tape. Three fat quarters make 3 hot pads, including backing.  Pattern calls for one fat-quarter-sized batting and insulating batting, but you can go without the insulating batting if you're in a hurry.  This hot pad was designed as an additional piece for Leafing Lovely Table Fashions (scroll down), a very unique placemat set. Visit my Craftsy store (click icon above right) for more information.

Leafing Lovely Table Fashions Pattern

How about a new and unique table setting for a fun dining experience?  Use this 3-piece pattern (placemat, napkin, beverage coaster) to create just such a setting.  Fusible tape method eliminates the headache of curved piecing, yet preserves the elegant styling.  Napkin accordion-folds through stem casing, creating additional leaves.  No-binding finish sets construction apart from other sets--in a fraction of the time.
Create table ensembles for fall, winter, spring, and summer by choosing colors reminiscent of the time of year. Super unique for gifting--housewarmings, bridal gifts, and more.  Photo above left features an extra component of a leaf-shaped hot pad, if desired.  Table set pattern is available at Craftsy.com (click icon above right).

Happy 5th Birthday Quilting Gallery!

Welcome to Creative Folk Quilting to help celebrate the Quilting Gallery's 5th Anniversary Blog Hop Party!  What a wonderful way to network and see fresh and exciting designs--thanks goes to Michele Foster!
I will be gifting a downloadable copy of Simple Elegance Table Fashions (scroll down to view pattern) each day, December 10th through December 15th to a randomly selected entrant.  Placemat pattern features a no-binding finish, no hand sewing and is reversible.  Looks great on rectangular, square, and hard-to-fit round tables.  If you would like to enter the give-away, simply email me with subject line as "Giveaway" and send to CreativeFolkQuilting@gmail.com.  Sign up for emails of new posts (and new patterns) in the right-hand sidebar--and Thanks for stopping by!