It's been a while since my last update on The Rainbow Connection. Here it is, laid out on my patio. Funny how hard it is to hang a star shaped top up to get a photo. That just wasn't working out. As you can see, all the star arms are completed. I'm filling in the corners with stripes of black and more rainbow.
Today I'm showing my Eternity Quilt. This quilt and pattern appears in the new September/October 2016 issue of Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting magazine.
This quilt is mainly sewn with regular piecing, but the corners of the blocks are paper foundation pieced.
Quilt Stats:
Size: 78" x 100-1/2"
Block Size: 16"
Fabric: The Potting Shed, by Holly Taylor for Moda
Batting: Warm and White, by The Warm Company
Thread: Signet Ring, by King Tut, for Superior Threads
The big 16" blocks were a fun change for me. I like the way it looks on my bed. The Potting Shed fabrics have beautiful, delicate details. I really loved the flowers and hummingbirds in this fabric collection.
Here is a full shot of the finished quilt. I quilted it in an allover swirl, one of my favorite go-to design elements.
The Eternity quilt is in the September/October 2016 issue of Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting magazine. It should be available at your local quilt shop soon, or you can order a digital copy here: Love of Quilting September/October 2016. If you only want to make the Eternity quilt, the pattern can be purchased here: Eternity Quilt Pattern.
If you sew a quilt from one of my patterns, please share a pic. I would love to see it!
I made a tree! I found a teeny tiny bit of time to sew, and made one tree, part of a block for the Home by the Sea quilt & pattern I'm currently working on. Summer has been so busy, busy. Not much time for sewing, but I did sew this one, solitary, tree.
Hello quilters! Welcome to my little segment of the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Volume 13 Blog Tour. I can't believe we're up to 13 issues of 100 Blocks already! Here's my block for this issue, Evening Bloom. It's in the applique section, on page 14. If you love applique as much as I do, this block will be fun to sew! I believe there are 67 pieces? Count them if you want to.
I made my block with these gorgeous fabrics - Wool Needle Flannels III by Primitive Gatherings for Moda Fabrics. So delicious!
I used a green tone on tone plaid for the bias stems. To make the stems, cut the fabric 1-1/4" wide on the bias, fold in half, and sew a tiny seam along the length of the strip. Press the seam under and voila! - you are ready to applique.
To help with stem placement, I drew a four by four grid with chalk onto my background piece. I did not have to remove the markings later, they were gone by the time I was finished sewing the stems down.
Next, I used tiny applique pins to secure the stem in place, and stitched it to the background fabric.
I applied the flowers, leaves, and berries using the fusible applique method - always fun!
To keep my pieces separated while I work, I put them into little zipper sandwich bags as soon as I cut them out.
Here you can see the stems sewn in place and the flowers, berries, and a few of the small leaves after fusing. I prefer to fuse a few at a time, rather than trying to lay out all the pieces at once. I just give them a quick tap with the iron at this stage, so if I need to move anything I still can. I give everything a final fuse when all the pieces are in place.
Here is a close up pic of the berries and leaves.
After all the pieces are fused in place, I like to go around each patch with matching thread and a zigzag stitch. You can just barely see the stitching here, on the bud and leaves.
Here is the completed block, once again, Evening Bloom. I hope you enjoyed seeing my creative process and maybe learned a tip or two for sewing my block.
And now for the giveaway! If you would like your very own copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Volume 13, please leave a comment below, and let's make it interesting. Please comment about who taught you to quilt. I'll choose a random winner at the end of the blog tour. Please be sure I have a way to contact you, should you be the lucky one.
To return to the blog tour, and more quilty inspiration, click here: Quilty Pleasures.
Today I'm presenting my Do-Si-Do quilt. The pattern for this quilt is available in the new issue of Fons and Porter's Love of Quilting magazine, the May/June 2016 issue.
Quilt Stats:
Size: 64-1/2" x 81-1/2"
Block Size: 12"
Fabric: Lorraine by American Jane For Moda
Batting: Warm and Natural by the Warm Company
Thread: King Tut by Superior
This is the floral applique block. I made six of these for the quilt. They are sewn using the fusible applique method. They look a little plain, all by themselves, but they come alive when paired with the alternate pieced blocks.
The flower petals are laid over the background fabric to form a slightly wonky six pointed star center.
The alternate blocks are mostly pieced. The center section of the block features a little curvy applique to give these blocks a unique look that pairs well with the floral blocks.
I made twelve of these blocks for the quilt.
This is a pic of the back of the quilt. The quilting design really shows up well on the dark blue backing fabric.
The Do-Si-Do quilt is gracing the cover of Love of Quilting. I'm a Cover Girl! This issue should be available in your local quilt shop soon, or you can purchase a digital issue online from Fons and Porter here: Love of Quilting Digital Download May/June 2016. If you only want to purchase the Do-Si-Do pattern, you can get it here: Do-Si-Do Quilt Pattern. And, if you want to sew your quilt with the same gorgeous Lorraine fabric line, a kit is available here: Do-Si-Do Quilt Kit.
If you do sew a quilt from one of my patterns, please share a pic. I would love to see it!
The Greetings - The Little Quilt Collection Pattern features a nice variety of small quilt patterns, and includes a metal hearts quilt hanger to display your finished project.
The pattern includes instructions to sew the finished quilts and pillows pictured on the front, plus a bonus metal hearts quilt hanger.
Simplicity 6448 Pullover Dress pattern, size 12. This pretty pattern makes a classic style pullover dress in three variations. Funnel neck dress with front slash opening and extended shoulders. Optional elastic waistline, patch pockets, side seam pockets, contrast facing and button trimmed flaps. Can also be sewn with long sleeves, short sleeves, or sleeveless.
Picture yourself wearing this classy dress to a special social event, out to dinner, or even just shopping. This outfit will inspire you to be confident, plus, you can say you made it yourself!
Simplicity 9787 split skirt pattern, sizes 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14. This pretty pattern makes a classic style, split skirt in four variations. Options include high waist, detachable suspenders, inverted pleats, side seam pocket, belt loops, calf length or knee length, concealed opening, buttoned waistband, and yoke with pocket.
Picture yourself wearing this classy split skirt to a special social event, out to dinner, or even just out shopping. This outfit will inspire you to be confident, plus, you can say you made it yourself!
This pattern is in uncut, factory folded condition. Vintage 1990.
Butterick 5080 Misses/Misses Petite dress pattern, sizes 6, 8, and 10. This pretty pattern makes a classic style, easy to sew A-line dress in two variations. Loose-fitting, above ankle length with contrast collar variations, slightly extended shoulders, shoulder pads, front pleats, back tie ends and long sleeves with contrast cuffs.
Picture yourself wearing this classy dress to a special social event, out to dinner, or even just out shopping. This outfit will inspire you to be confident, plus, you can say you made it yourself!
This pattern is in uncut, factory folded condition. Copyright 1997.
Superior Threads is featuring my Sugar Crush quilt on their blog today. Thank you, Superior Threads! Follow this link to read more: Superior Threads Blog.
I was editing some pictures from a summer trip this morning and came across these quilt blocks from the McDowell County, North Carolina quilt trail, so I'm sharing them today.
This first one was out in the countryside, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Another shot from the country drive, guardrail included.
These blocks are on the side of a brick building in downtown Marion, North Carolina.
Quilt blocks are everywhere in Marion. I'm assuming this was on some kind of government building.
Another drive by photo - a little blurry, but too pretty to leave out!
Really cool! Birds, mountains, and a sunrise or sunset.
