Free Fall Tabletop Runner

While trolling around the internet trying to get some inspiration, I found another great pattern for using up some fall fabrics. I would rank this as an intermediate project, probably not good for the beginner. Here is the description: The warm colors in this table topper celebrate autumn’s bounty using Mary Koval’s Harvest fabrics for Blank Quilting. Wild Goose Chase blocks alternate with 10-1/2″ squares cut from a cornucopia print. A border print fabric of fall fruits makes an ideal outer border.

For a beautiful Thanksgiving table, think about placing this table topper on point then setting the table with earth-tone or deep purple dishes and here is the link to enjoy the pattern. Fall Tabletop Pattern

Mark a Quilt with pencils and chalk? Quilting Tips

Wanted to touch on this subject real quick. I was talking to some quilting friends and we were discussing quilting bo bo’s. I was reminded of one that had happened to one of our customers back when we had our store. It was her first quilt she had ever made and boy was she proud of it. The quilt entered the stage where she was marking out her quilting lines had decided to mark her quilt with a #2 lead pencil rather then pay the extra money for a fabric pencil…well to this day she still can not get the #2 pencil washed out of her quilt. So I figured I would talk about what you should use.

Fabric Pencils, This is what I like to use. If sewing or quilting on dark fabrics you use a light colored one and if sewing or quilting on light fabrics you can use a darker colored one. I personally like using the Sewline fabric pencils, they are a little more pricey but worth it. Remember the fabric pencils are water soluble so therefore a better pick!

Fabric Chalk, I have used this a couple of times and it is a great SAFE way to mark your quilt, Chalk just really washes out easy. The mane reason I do not use it is the fact that it does come off easy- seems like I always have to remark the quilt or project I am working on and I hate doing things twice! Clover has some great Chalk options.

Fabric Markers, Unless they say washable I would not suggest using them to mark a quilt, I personally like to use the Fineline permanent ones to draw faces and fun stuff on appliqué work but other then that no parkers for marking quilts.

Quilting for Thanksgiving!

One of my favorite times of the year is fall! Quilting and creating in fall seems so much easier then in summer! The beautiful autumn colors will be everywhere. The rich oranges, fiery reds, sage greens, mustard yellows, browns…So I thought I would search and try to find everyone some Fall inspiration. First free fall pattern a came upon is this Bountiful Harvest Quilt by Debbie Mumm, Just a beautiful quilt that is great for a beginner! Another is Autumn Splendor this is probably one of my favorites but really for the more advanced quilter.  For you landscape quilters here is a fun one by Marcus Brothers called Autumn Leaves.

Here is a great Table Runner at Sewing.Org for the intermediate quilter.

The Grand Gobble at Sewing.Org – made with felt. Definitely could substitute the felt with fall quilting fabric.

Another great thing to do for your Children is get an inexpensive sweatshirt at any department store find your favorite novelty fabric and just applique a square on the front…I love doing this a great way to get a boutique looking sweat shirt fast. I do use fuisble interfacing or 505 to hold the fabric down before starting the appliqué.
A great little collection this year is the Moda Gobble Gobble! Check it out for some more great ideas.
Happy Quilting,
Jen

Adding some fun to the blog! Funny Quilting Cartoon

Some fun quilting humor to lighten up the blog

Warning: this vehicle stops at all fabric shops.

Old quilters never die, they just go batty

I’ve spent most of my life making quilts. The rest I’ve just wasted.

ODE TO A QUILTER’S HUSBAND by Cindy Thury Smith 1983

The husband of this quilter is a very special, patient guy—
Who doesn’t complain about how much fabric his wife may buy.
Through the years he’s picked up a lot of quilting lore—
Because on this subject his wife can get to be quite a bore.
He’s learned better than to throw away any old odd shaped scrap—
Because it’s likely that’s the one she’ll need to fill her design gap.
He know if he enters the quilting room his feet will get pins in—
And he’s learned there’s not just red, but brick, rust, scarlet and crimson.
He knows how she snorts when she sees an ordinary bedspread—
Cuz in HER house there’s only personally designed quilts instead.
He knows when she meets another quilter there’ll be fast and furious talkin’—
And at a quilt show there’ll be lots of scribbling and gawkin’.
He thinks of quilt-mania as a kind of creative affliction—
That can only be controlled by regular doses of stitchin’.
He knows she quilts for enjoyment, not for money,
Cuz she does quilts that are traditional, modern and some just plain funny!
And though all my cutting, designing, sewing and quilting through the years—
He’s always been interested, supportive, patient, and very, very dear. Thanks, honey.

Kaffe Fassetts wonderful Collections

It was a terrible rainy day here on the Outer Banks today, just one of those days where it is so dark it makes you feel so tired. So I figured I would come online and ramble about the next project I would like to do. I honestly did not feel like quilting at all! So I decided to pull a few quilting books down to do a little research on what I want my next project to be. The book I kept going back to was Kaffe Fassets passionate patchwork and doing the Pinwheel Tablecloth(except making it bigger) but not sure…pinwheels are so beautiful but they sure drive me nuts. I really think the quilt would be so pretty in his I believe newest collection Glorious Color, but I would definately have to find a good solid to tone it down with.

The collection is so pretty, I love the colors in it. Sometimes I wish I had just even half of the imagination the Kaffe Has. His fabrics are so vibrant and alive.

Hopefully this will be a project I can complete. With our kids starting school last week I definately seem to have a little more alone time!
Happy quilting or Rambling,
Jen

How to Make Quilt Binding, How to cut Quilt Binding

I have had quite a few emails about making quilting binding and which way do I cut the fabric for the binding. Well for me it really just depends…If I am in a huge hurry(or feeling extremely lazy) to get the project done I go lengthwise with my cuts(the width of the fabric) It does cause more wear and tear on the bindings, especially if it is a well loved quilt that gets thrown in the washer a lot. I personally have never had an issue with any of my quilts but I have seen it happen to others. I suppose one way to avoid this is to wash the quilts on gentle cycle.

The best way is to cut Crosswise grain( These are the threads that run across the fabric between the two selvages, perpendicular to the lengthwise threads or ribs. Fabric stretches more on the crosswise than on the lengthwise grain.) So the theory is with that extra stretch you will get more durability and If you have a thread break down(just imagine when a thread breaks down in your underwear elastic and it just keeps going and going and going) it will stop and cause less damage to the entire side of the quilt.

The third way is to just buy the binding, Moda and Michael Miller have a great selection of bindings. I keep some of Moda’s polka dot binding on hand at all times, especially the black and white- seems to look great in all of the bright quilts. Then of course a pastel binding. I am going to post some videos I enjoy…really a great way to learn binding rathern then trying to learn it typed.

Happy Quilting,
Jen

Fast Tube by Casper

Fast Tube by Casper

Also wanted to add a fun free Halloween Wall hanging Pattern I found! Cute and easy. Click Here for free Halloween quilt pattern

Halloween Quilting Fabrics Crafts, and Pillowcase Pattern

Halloween is fast approaching and nothing makes my kids smile more then when I bring out the Halloween fabrics. There are so many fun and cute things that can be done with Halloween fabric. One of my favorite things to do is make the kids a Halloween pillowcase every year. They are fast fun and easy to do. They use them the whole month of October then on Halloween we wash them up(or trick or treat day) and turn them into our trick or treating candy bags. Very durable, holds lots of candy, and most importantly makes all of the neighborhood kids jealous! Below you will find my step by step directions on making a Halloween pillowcase!
1. First you get 3/4 yard of your favorite Halloween fabric and then a 1/4 of a yard of a matching coordinate fabric.

2. Then you will take your accent or coordinate fabric, fold it in half and press, with the print side on the outside. Then put it aside.
3. Take your main fabric for the pillowcase and open it up(should be 45″ wide) and lay it out with the main side facing towards you.
4. Then you are going to take the accent fabric you pressed and lay it across the raw edge of the pillowcase. Both raw edges will be touching. You will stitch down from the top to the bottom.
Fold open the part you just stitched and press the seem up or down(on the backside)…really does not matter.
5. Then you will fold the pillowcase with the right sides together and press. The ugly side will be facing you and the ground.
6. After pressing then all you need to do is stitch across the bottom(the end without the coordinating fabric) and then stitch up the one side.
Turn right side out and then you are all done!
I personally use a serger for my pillowcases…I can crank out 1 pillowcase every 15 minutes utilizing a serger, but this can just as easily be done with a sewing machine.
I highly suggest finding some great Halloween fabrics on Ebay…this is where I get most of my fabrics cheap! We definitely need to save $$$ in this economy. Alexander Henry always has some great Halloween fabric

Quilt Kits, the perfect gift for someone else or you!

I have been banging my head on a project I want to do for my daughters bedroom, She is fussy and like a typical 9 year old girl she likes the pinks and purples. I have been to six quilt stores and nothing seems to fit what I am looking for. So after two months of searching I finally decided to have her pick a kit online rather then stacking bolts and putting them back. She picked a Shabby kit, lots of Cottage Chic fabrics in it…. I am patiently awaiting its arrival in the mail. The pattern looks simple enough and the fabrics look beautiful. Now I am kicking myself for not just getting a kit earlier. Sometimes it is the best way to go and can end up being a lot less expensive and stressful. I find when I am picking things for family members(family members that I like anyways) or for myself I just spend hours on end until my head is about ready to burst. Will update the post when the kit arrives. I cant wait! We are totally doing a much needed re-do on my daughters bedroom and picking out the fabrics have been holding us back.
TIP:
One thing I did do is pick a King Size Quilt kit(my daughters bed is actually just a full size bed) but I figured that would give me room for error and possibly a couple throw pillows or valances if I do not make any mistakes. Total cost of kit was $65.00 on ebay…not to shabby

Happy Quilting,
Jen

Found a great coupon at Fabric.com 30% off their Closeout prints

Found this while browsing around today…this coupon will only be good until the 27th…so you have tonight and all day tomorrow to shop. I ordered some great prints! Got some really great florals and blenders for a project I am working on and I could not resist getting the Beach Babies panel. Anyhow here is the link below,


Clearance and Closeout Fabrics

Happy Quilting,
Jen

Bought the best quilters tool ever- ACCUQUILT GO Fabric Cutter MACHINE

Have not had time to update the blog, was out of town Monday and Tuesday..then came home Wednesday to a package I had been waiting for, for awhile….my Accuquilt Go Fabric Cutter. I have wanted one forever but just had a hard time buying one since I kept telling myself I have two good hands that can cut for free! Well… I opened my package I have been playing with it ever since. It is amazing, I cut out over 200 5 1/2′ squares in a little under an hour! One of the things I probably dislike most about quilting is cutting out my quilt…it seems so tedious and I am sure to make at least one cutting mistake and waste fabric. I as usual bought mine on Ebay for about $260.00..which is a steal being they retail for $350.00. It came with three die cutters. I will add the product info below, but I love this machine…I can see many possibilities with many projects plus maybe making some money selling precut squares and such…..I definitely give this machine two thimbles up, this is the best toy for any quilter!!!
Product Info
Features:
*Accuquilt Go dimensions are 17″W x 5″D x 15 1/2″H

* Consistent, accurate cuts;

*Lightweight (only 15 lbs.)

* Portable

* Easy-lift carrying handle ; Comfortable roller handle grip–easy on the hands

* Double roller design for clean cuts

* Magnetic latch

* Rubber feet to grip and hold cutter in place

* Easy-clean, high gloss surface.

Dies: 17 Additional dies are available
What I got with my machine
Die with 3 shapes: square-4 1/2″, square 2 1/2″
half square-2″ finished triangle
cutting mat -10″x 10″
Just ordered the 2 1/2 strip cutter
I will add a store for everyone to view all of the products.
Happy Quilting,
Jen