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).

Simple Elegance Table Fashions Placemat Pattern

Fabulous fabrics paired with simple pattern shapes result in contemporary, high-end table fashions. This 3-piece pattern includes directions for placemats (14″ x 20″), table scarf (14″ x 42″), and self-lined 13 ½″ square napkins styled with an elegant twist. All pieces are reversible, producing two fashionable looks with one sewing operation. Fast and easy directions include methods using No Bindings and No Hand Sewing! This is a great pattern to use for gifting ideas and easily tailored to individual tastes. One size fits all—placemats for round, square, or rectangular tables.  Pattern includes directions for easy marking (no fabric marks to remove) and quilting. Truly a classic pattern you will use over and over throughout the years.Pattern can be purchased via Craftsy icon above right.

 

Modern Medallion Quilt Pattern

Do you own any fabrics that you just love....so much so that you can't bear to cut them up into small pieces? They're either too beautiful to sacrifice, or just too perfect in their original, uncut state--perhaps a large print that loses its character if not used in its entirety. I have several I've collected over the years, both commercially-printed yardage and some hand dyed, one-of-a-kind fabrics. What to do? Well, don't cut them! The Modern Quilting trend gives us even more permissions to deviate from the traditional. Like many folks, I purchase fabrics I love on the spot and decide later what they will be used for. The lap quilt (36" x 48") at left uses salmon-colored Moda Marble on the borders with Alexander Henry's La-Ti-Dot in the central medallion in this trendy, fast and easy quilt--use as lap quilt or wall art. The fancy-cut binding that mimics a scallop-edge border is cut from the same Alexander Henry print.


Modern Medallion Quilt Pattern Download

Two more Alexander Henry prints compose the twin (72" x 82") jungle-theme throw.  Buy a little extra fabric and sew up a coordinating pillowcase (pattern for pillowcase not included).  Pattern includes directions to figure custom-size quilt yardage.  Pattern available via Craftsy.

Half Dozen Hearts Pattern



 

Half Dozen Hearts ©2009 DC Vollbracht
Make a traditional or contemporary art quilt (20 ½” x 28 ½”), by fusing hearts to fabric squares, and hand or machine quilting. Add a few sprays of bead embellishment or keep it simple with fabric colors as the main focus. Heart template included along with tips for quilting, beading, and preparing a back-side hanging sleeve. This timeless design can be made in several colorways: reds/pinks for Valentines; Americana; contemporary; or Wild Child! The streamlined methods make this pattern a great choice for gifting—house warming, baby shower/child’s room, or to personalize your décor.
Pattern available at Craftsy, icon above right.

Sew Much Fun Quilt Pattern with Fix for Wavy Border

 So, you've carefully cut, sewn, pressed and prayed to the gods during the construction and birthing of your newest creation.  Add the batting, backing and leanest of quilting, and....phooey!  The outer border of this modest of sizes (29 1/2" square) quilt waves more than the court princess on the homecoming parade float.

No worries--you can still hold your head high.  View the wavy outer border in the first photo, then the visibly straighter, flatter outer edge of the second photo.  Start your straightening operation in much the same way as you would preparing for binding by determining the desired measurement for the outer edge.  You can determine your desired outer measurement by using a cardboard cutting board, cutting mat and/or square, even the lines in tile flooring can be drafted into service by aligning quilt edges with a straight edge. Measure the narrowest points, taking an average if necessary. Most of my wall quilt pictured settled in at 29"--I fluffed the extra around the edge inward so the corners settled squarely. Quilting had reduced the measurment from the original 29 1/2". You can lay your tape measure over the top of the excess to read your measurement and over the center of the quilt to do the same.

 

You've determined your average and decided on a measurement for your outer border length on top/bottom and for the sides--now what?  Obviously, you want to shrink in the excess on the outer edge to conform to these modified measurements before you apply binding and forever preserve the excess length into a wavy finished edge.  On the quilt pictured, I used a piece of rayon seam tape (and twill tape works well) cut to the finished length desired--in this case 29".  I pinned the tape to the back side, ends of tape first (aligned at each corner), then just kind of tamped the excess border under the stable tape evenly from edge to edge.  For larger quilts, you may want to mark the midpoint of each before pinning, or quarter marks if the length calls for more register marks. (Note that bias tape stretches and will not work as a stabilizer). Pin tape just outside the 1/4" seam line (within the seam allowance) to ensure stitching does not show on quilt face.  Machine baste tape the entire length of the seam line. Once you have eased the excess border under the tape, you are ready to apply bindings.

Relaxing Fabric Creases

I purchased a package of fat quarters awhile back and have just gotten around to unfolding and appreciating the selection of fabrics.  As you can see in the photo, creases are quite noticeable.  Since it will be a few weeks before I begin a project with these fabrics--and I don't want to shelve them creased, I opted to roll the fabrics to begin the process of relaxing the weave without having to iron each fat quarter.

Smooth a fat quarter on the table, then add and smooth each fabric on top.  Start the roll on one side that is parallel to the selvage, and hold the roll up to continue rolling.  The process will render the fabric layers uneven--outer layers of fabric will take more surface to travel the outer circumference of the roll.  Holding the roll up allows the layers to fall and correct themselves. 

Much of the creasing will relax--ready to lightly press when it's time to begin your sewing project.

Quiltmaker 100 Blocks, Vol. 5 Giveaway Winner

A winner has been randomly selected to receive the Quiltmaker 100 Blocks, Volume 5 free issue (drum roll, please). The winner is Jamie Todhunter from Watertown, NY. Thanks so much to all visitors who took the time to leave comments and enter the giveaway--I so much enjoyed reading all the comments and emails and am very much humbled. I wish you all many happy hours of quilting pleasures.