Introducing one of my newest patterns, Star Cruiser. This dynamic design consists of a large center block surrounded by smaller on point stars. Shown in Island Batik's Copper Patina fabric collection. This was a challenging project to create, but well worth the effort.
Quilt Stats:
Quilt Size: 48" x 48"
Fabric: Copper Patina by Island Batik
Batting: 80/20 by Hobbs
Thread: King Tut by Superior
Needles: Schmetz
Designed in EQ8
Here is a close up of the large, center block.
The Star Cruiser pattern is available in select quilt shops across the USA.
You can also order it directly from the Curlicue Creations Etsy Shop.
Note: This is an affiliate link. Clicking this link will not affect the purchase price, however if you do make a purchase I may receive a commission. Thank you.
Are you a star gazer? I love to see the nighttime stars sparkling in the midnight sky at my country beach home. My Stellar quilt features rows of mesmerizing stars spread across a rainbow of solid stripes. Stellar is available through Connecting Threads as both a kit with all the fabric for the top and binding, and as a pattern download.
The Stellar quilt finishes at 62" x 74" and is appropriate for intermediate level quilters. While the skewed stars look complicated, I assure you they are actually quite easy to put together with straight seams only.
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It's my day on the Island Batik and ByAnnie.com It's in the Bag Blog Hop. Welcome. I made the Tools of the Trade bag in two sizes.
Disclaimer: The products used to make this project were given to me by Island Batik and Industry Partners.
This month the Island Batik Ambassadors were challenged to make a ByAnnie bag. We were able to choose from any ByAnnie pattern that included an Add-On Video Tutorial. Annie sent us complete kits with everything we needed to make our bags. We also chose the fabrics that we wanted to use for our bags from the collections we were each assigned for the blog hop.
This is Porcelain Blue! It's the fabric collection that was all wrapped up as a "surprise" from my unboxing video earlier this year. A full range of blues from palest morning mist to deep midnight! I will be using these fabrics for my December challenge as well. They should be arriving in local quilt shops now, so keep a lookout! Click here to find a store near you.
The ByAnnie pattern Tools of the Trade makes two fairly large artist portfolio style bags. The large bag is 21" x 26-1/2" x 5-1/2". The small bag is 14" x 20" x 3-3/4".
If you've never tried a ByAnnie pattern before ~ let me tell you ~ they are wonderful. ByAnnie patterns are extremely well written. Each detailed step has a little box to check off as you sew along. The accompanying add on video is super helpful for tips to get you through any tricky parts. Annie also has many helpful videos on her website to help you with zippers and other techniques for her bags. I also love that her patterns come with a sheet of tags to copy and label each piece so you don't get anything mixed up. I copy my labels onto a piece of sticker paper and just stick them onto my fabric. Easy-peasy!
One of the first steps to making a ByAnnie bag is quilting the main fabric and lining fabric with a piece of Soft and Stable in between. This gives the bag a sturdy body and professional look. You can choose to quilt any design you like, but I went with the standard straight lines. I used Schmetz needles for this project. I used a standard microtex 90/14 for most of my bag, but switched to a leather/jeans needle for the thicker parts.
What is this zipper madness? I was a little stumped by this step, but it really does work out. If you are making Tools of the Trade and get to this part, don't worry.
Here's a pic of the large finished Tools of the Trade bag.
This is the small Tools of the Trade bag. I love them both! I plan on hanging them on hooks in my quilt studio so they will be ready to grab and go for any sewing related outing I may have.
Back view of the Tools of the Trade bags.
Here's a peek inside the small bag. There are many sectioned pockets and mesh to store sewing supplies or any other supplies you may need.
The other side of the bag features a large mesh zippered pocket. I'm thinking this will be perfect for carrying whatever project I'm working on.
Here's an example of some of the items you could store in Tools of the Trade. A cutting mat, rotary cutter, ByAnnie pattern, scissors, Aurifil thread, an Island Batik 2-1/2" strip pack, and anything else you may need. Just use your imagination! And this is the small bag. You could really go crazy with the large bag. You can fit a full size ruler and large cutting mat into that one!
I put a stack of 10" precut squares into the mesh zipper side. More beautiful blues! I need to make something with these soon.
The front of the bag has this handy pocket with an additional zippered pocket section on the front of it.
There is also a triangle ring on each side of the bag, handy for clipping on anything you need quick access to.
Tools of the Trade
Project Stats:
Pattern: Tools of the Trade byAnnie.com
Fabric: Porcelain Blue by Island Batik
Needles: Schmetz
Please be sure to visit the Island Batik blog and enter to win some fabric from one of the new collections!
Also, visit my fellow ambassadors to see what they made for the It's in the Bag Blog Hop. Here's the list:
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Have you seen my Bird on A Branch wall hanging? This is shown in the Sweetwater Ridge fabric collection by Connecting Threads. At 22" square is it a quick and easy fusible applique project. Perfect for decorating a small space as a wall hanging, or table topper.
You can order this as a kit with the Sweetwater Ridge fabrics shown here at the Connecting Threads website. Click here to order the kit: Bird on a Branch Kit
Sweet little bird! I love the flowering branch you chose to chirp your song.
As always, if you sew a Bird on a Branch quilt, please share a pic with me on Instagram @curlicuecreations. I would love to see your quilt!
Be Creative ~ Sew Something Beautiful Today,
Jennifer Thomas
Curlicue Creations
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