Mini Tumbler Scrap Quilt (#55)

I find making scrappy quilts harder to do since my stash is made up of many novelty and strong colored fabrics.  My scraps are left overs from making grocery bags for The Fabric Hog - and the tone of a market bag is so different than the softer prettier fabrics that are attractive in a quilt.

Luckily this one came out great since it harmonized and is a picnic blanket. Making box corners for my bags left me with lots of 4" squares which I could cut into mini tumblers with the 3.5" Accuquilt die.

I don't know why but my patience level was low with this quilt - so I took the easy short cut of adding scrap flannel and cotton borders to finish it off.

Finally - a rugged background of red cotton mixed with black, indigo and blue yarn dyed linen.  Quilted with Aurifil 50wt. Light Sand on the front and the fun variegated Storm At Sea on the back with wavy line stitches- this quilt will live with the Half Hexi Scrap Quilt in a school locker for lunchtime fun.

Materials:
Quilting cotton & flannel
Red Kona Dimensions / Robert Kaufman
Essex linen in black, blue denim, indigo / Robert Kaufman
Aurifil 50wt. Light Sand (#2000) & Variegated Storm at Sea (#4655)
Warm & White
Size: 58" x 72.5"
August 2016

Half Hexi Scrap Quilt (#54)

This half hexi quilt was made with the large plastic template from The Missouri Star Quilt Co. and it worked out great. No "y" seams - just straight stitching.  Layout is must, going row by row to get the effect of complete hexagons.  

This was all quilting fabric from my stash, along with yarn dyed Essex linen in Indigo on the sides and the back.

 This blanket will live in my daughter's locker to be dragged out for lunch when she and her friends sit on concrete - so it had to be tough and rugged - as well as not too dainty since there will be lots of shoes & food around.

Quilting was done in a wavy lined stitch following the hexagons and down the middle in Aurifil 50wt (#4655) called Storm at Sea - perfect variegated thread for something fun and casual.

Materials: 
Quilting cotton & Essex yarn dyed linen Indigo
Warm & White
Aurifil 50wt. Storm at Sea variegated (#4655)
Size: 56" (wide) x 57" (long)
August 2016

Noteworthy Arkansas Crossroads Quilt (#53)

Déjà vu ... obviously I really like Sweetwater's Noteworthy collection ... this is my third quilt using it and I have two more to go! 

Noteworthy is a modern and none traditional group of fabrics.  Combining their love of Pinterest (a pre-occupation with "Bucket List's") and memories of doodling - Sweetwater designers incorporate swirls and scribbles to perfection.

Every muted color of the rainbow is here, making it the perfect quilt to sew for friends ... it's so easy to like.  Quilted with Aurifil 50wt. Light Sand on the top, Mint Ice on the bottom - this wavy line grid pattern gets all crinkly after washing and still looks good on the minky back.

What is also fun to see is how using different colors in this "Arkansas Crossroads" quilt pattern changes the vibe of each blanket - below is Terrain by Kate Spain, Noteworthy & Oh Deer by Moda. 

 Whether the colors are strong or soft - this pattern is my favorite.  For tutorial links and tips how to make an Arkansas Crossroads quilt: HERE  is my earlier post. 

Materials:
Noteworthy by Sweetwater (Moda)
Aurifil 50wt. Light Sand (#2000) &  Mint Ice (#2800)
Dimple Dot Minky in Aspen (Hawthorne Threads)
Warm & White batting
Size: 58" x 74"
April 2016

Nostalgia Layer Cake Quilt (#52)

Nostalgia by Jennifer Paganelli came out last year and it is even prettier 'in person' than on a computer screen.  Buying fabric on-line can be a gamble but this collection does not disappoint.

No matter how many times I have used the Easy Bake  pattern from Allison over at Cluck Cluck Sew, I am always pleased with the random yet structured final result.  I didn't follow her pattern to the letter for this quilt - but her general instructions give me guidance every time.

Beautiful French Lilac Variegated Aurifil 50wt. thread in a wavy line over the seams, vanilla minky on the back & Kona Grape Mist binding ... well, this makes for a really nice lap blanket.

I only know how to do simple quilting and not intricate free motion designs so I appreciate fabrics like Nostalgia whose stunning patterns & delicate colors make a simple quilt become a star. 

Materials:

Nostalgia by Jennifer Paganelli/Free Spirit

Kona Grape Mist

Vanilla minky

Warm & White

Aurifil 50wt White, French Lilac Variegated (#3840) & Dove #2600

Size:  54" x 74"

April 2016

Arkansas Crossroads Quilt in Oh Deer (#51)

My love affair with the Arkansas Crossroads quilt pattern continues. 

Made with one Oh Deer layer cake cut into 2.5" squares - it is the perfect pattern for intense colors when paired with Kona white.

For tutorial links, diagrams and my tips on how to make these fun blocks, my earlier post has is all HERE.

Oh Deer is a unusual mix of colors and designs released a few years ago by Japanese designer, MoMo, for Moda. 

Materials:
Oh Deer by MoMo for Moda
Kona white
Warm & White batting
Aurifil 50wt. White & Light Sand #2000
Size: 58"x 73"
April 2016

Snowball Quilt in Feather Flock (#50)

A perfect way to showcase large repeat fabrics is with a snowball block.  

 Feather Flock by Tina Givens is rich in saturated colors and harmonizes so well that only a little white is needed to separate all the different patterns and hues.  Some quilts look good with a random placement, but this collection needed similar colors to be grouped together so the weaker fabrics wouldn't get lost.

I used the Accuquilt snowball die, fat quarters and lots of starch.  Once you have had fun cutting out the center pieces, its just routine to do all the corners and iron.  

For all its simplicity in assembly, the final effect of a snowball quilt is a winner every time.  Aurifil 50wt. is my go-to choice to piece & quilt through spray baste, minky & batting.  By following the seam lines and then through the snowball, the finished blanket always looks good front & back.

One of my favorite dimple dot minky's is vanilla - great when I need a 'neutral' to go with a strong colorful quilt top.  A minky & batting blanket is heavier than a traditional quilt, but when I give everyone a choice of backing, they want "that soft fluffy stuff"!   My standard size of maximum 60" wide and no longer than 74" makes it machine wash & dryer friendly. 

Some fabrics are thinner than others but Feather Flock is regular quilting weight and needed a #14 needle to attach the binding.  Sometimes I can get away with a #12,  but after my thread kept skipping I knew it was the needle size, not the Aurifil Dove #2600, which blended well with the Kona Grape Mist. 

Materials:
Feather Flock by Tina Givens (LlamaFabrics)
Kona: White & Grape Mist for binding
Dimple dot minky in vanilla (Fabric.com)
Accuquilt snowball die
Warm & White batting
Aurifil #50wt. White, Light Sand #2000, Dove #2600
Size: 58" x 74"
April 2016

Arkansas Crossroads Quilt (#49)

This Arkansas Crossroads quilt is my new go to pattern.  It is made up of two simple blocks - a 16 patch and an "X".  Combined, they create a truly amazing design that looks complicated ... a beautiful final effect.

     Tutorial on how to make this quilt:

Printable instructions with pictures:

                         England Street Quilts - jelly roll friendly

  

 Two videos from The Missouri Star Quilt Company:

   1) how to sew & cut charm squares for the 16 patch here

        under the headline of "Scrappy 4 Patch"

 2) how to make the 'x' portion and assemble here

I used Kate Spain's Terrain left overs for this quilt and cut my squares with the Accuquilt 2.5" die - but rotary cutting is fine too.  I lay out my blocks with 16 individual squares (helps to balance color and I find it fun) -  but the tutorials above  explain how to sew a 16 patch faster - as well as how to assemble your "X" blocks.

This pattern is perfect if you don't have a design wall.  A few blocks here and there and then it's back into a plastic box until you are ready to lay it out - very easy to keep track of and tidy up.

Keeping true to my minky backed lap blanket size of 60" wide by 72" to 75" long - here are some numbers to help you:

1) Main Blocks:
24  16 patches:
  * using charm packs - that's 96 charm squares  or...
  * cutting fabric from scraps, that's 384  2.5" squares

24  "X's"
  * Cut 96 background pieces  4.5" x 4.5"  plus ...
  * 192  2.5" squares for the "X" blocks - or 48 charm squares

The edges:
 * 56 background pieces 4.5" x 4.5"   plus...
 * 56  2.5"  colored squares  - or 14 charm squares

4   4.5" x 4.5" background squares to fill in the corners
So, for a lap quilt this size (60"x74") you can use 4 charm packs or 1 layer cake for your main color - very cool! 

Can't give specifics for background fabric since I used my stash but assume a few yards (2.5 to 3.5) which would include the 4" border.

2) After sewing together your blocks: 
     Trim the 16 patches to 8" x 8" square
     Trim the "X"s block to 8" x 8" square
     Trim the edge blocks to 8" wide so they will 'fit' on top of the 
     patches & "X's"

3)  Size before adding a border will be: 52.5" x 67.5".  I add a 4" border all the way around - cutting the fabric on the lengthwise grain (parallel to the selvage edge so there is less stretch).

4)  For 60" wide minky backing - you only need 2 1/4 yards - but I get 2.5 yards in case it stretches funny when its being cut off the bolt.

 My bad advice is this:  I love steam and starch and that does distort your block - so measure carefully before you go hog wild cutting like I do.  Trimming down is always a good thing - and if there are a few mis-matched seams in this quilt with 632 small squares - no big deal!

Good advice is this: Use a scant 1/4"  and make a practice 16 patch before you start the assembly line no matter what technique you use. This will guide you how much wiggle room you have when you trim.

Lastly, quilting is always easy and fun with Aurifil 50wt. A wavy line grid following the squares with white on top and a lovely cobalt blue thread on the bottom. Go medium slow speed with a walking foot and 3.0 to 3.5 stitch length and this is how pretty it washes up.

UPDATE 11/2021 - to see other quilts in this pattern - go to the right sidebar and click on "Arkansas Crossroads".  In a 2020 blog post I show in more detail why I trim my blocks a certain size, even though they might not line up as perfectly as others who make this same quilt.

Materials:
Terrain by Kate Spain
Kona white
Dimple dot midnight blue minky Fabric.com
Aurifil 50wt. white & #2470 (dark cobalt)
Accuquilt 2.5" square die
Warm & White batting
Thanks to England Street Quilts & Missouri Star Quilt Co. for their tutorials.
Size: 58" x 74"
March 2016

Marmalade Falling Charms Quilt (#48)

This is my 3rd quilt made with Marmalade by Moda.  Designed by Bonnie and Camille, Marmalade has to be my all time favorite fabric collection; it's just so happy!

The pattern is Falling Charms (video tutorial here).  It is easy enough to chain piece - but assembly on which way to lay the blocks can be a little tricky.  Luckily there is a digital pattern here.

This quilt has been donated to my daughter's high school for their Silent Auction fundraiser. As Marmalade came out in Oct. 2012,  I was very lucky to find some of the yellow/grey pinwheels for the binding to give it a modern look.

White Kona helps break up all the saturated color of the yellow back. But when minky is called"Buttercup" and Aurifil has a variegated 50wt. thread called "Lemon Ice" - who can resist using materials with names like that?  

It's been almost six months since I upgraded to a Janome Skyline S5 - and of course the decorative wavy stitch is my favorite.  Pressing seams open and stitching on a seam or in a grid pattern keeps things simple.  

For minky lap quilts it works out nicely to stay within 60" wide and maximum 76" long with batting in the middle.  These dimensions keep the quilt from being too heavy, 2 1/4 yards of minky is the back yardage - and it machine washes and dries in a timely manner. 

Materials:
Marmalade / Moda / Bonnie and Camille
Kona white
Warm & White batting
Aurifil 50wt. Lemon Ice variegated (#3910)
Hawthorne Threads Minky: Buttercup
Tutorial from Missouri Star Quilt Co.
Size: 59" x 72"
February 2016

Totoro Pixel Quilt (#47)

As a long time fan of Hayao Miyazaki, imagine my delight when I found a pixel/graph of Chu Totoro - the medium blue spirit from the anime classic My Neighbor Totoro.

After all the fun I had making a pixel Darth Vader quilt - I knew I could adapt this great bead pattern from the We + Me = Made (it) together blog.

 Left is the bead pattern, right is my little blue Totoro from 1993 ... a perfect match. Like all pixel quilts adapted from cross stitch, knitting or bead patterns - simple and small is best - too complex and the quilt is too large and the image gets lost.

My secret weapon this time was getting an Accuquilt 2.5" square die. Yes, a few threads get caught in the die - that happens in all their dies. Starch and multiple layers of fabric worked best. Time saved, accurate squares and overall fun outweighed snipping a few threads after each pass.

My on-line fabric source for this quilt top was the The Loopy Ewe. They have a great selection of fabrics but their option to buy a linear cut or fat quarter sealed the deal. Being able to have just a FQ instead of a half yard or larger makes quilts like this very affordable. 

I used Riley Blake's Basic Shades because of the subtle distressed look, and a black dimple dot minky on the back to compliment the dark cartoon outline.

 All piecing and quilting was done with the versatile Aurifil 50wt. Dove #2600 in a 3" diagonal diamond pattern, using a wavy stitch. To give the quilt a more pixel 'feel' I used 2.5" squares throughout instead of areas where larger pieces could be substituted.

(My Dad was a great supporter of my sewing & crafty pursuits. Luckily, I finished this quilt top a few days before he passed away at age 92 and was able to share this one with him as well ... I am going to keep this quilt for me.)

Materials:
We + Me = Made (it) together blog
2.5" squares: Blue: 226  White: 96  Black: 200  Background: 587  Brown: 17  Orange: 61  Grey: 19
Riley Blake Basic Shades: Granite, Cobalt, Peach,Tan
Aged Solids in black / 3 Sisters for Moda
Kona: White
Architextures Crosshatch in Shadow / Robert Kaufman
Aurifil 50wt. Dove #2600
Warm & White batting
Dimple Dot minky: black
Size: 59" x 76"
January 2016

Fancy Fox Quilt - Retro Style (#46)

I loved making Elizabeth Hartman's Fancy Fox Quilt with Riley Blake Shades (here) - but it was time for a whole different look and feel: beautiful coordinating  Retro 30's Child Smile from Lecien was perfect.

It took a while before I settled on these medium to small colorful prints from Lecien - I had my heart set on the 'Joie De Vivre in Beryl' by Frances Newcombe and Essex black yarn dyed linen. 

After making a few blocks, I felt the large floral design distracted from the simple beauty of the fox face. 

Fabrics like this lavender Dot to Dot Mixmaster (Robert Kaufman) look great however, as do cross hatch and burlap textured looking cottons from Carolyn Friedlander, Timeless Treasures & other manufacturers.  

1.5" sashing in Essex denim linen was sewn around every side of the fox block and trimmed to 8x10" unfinished, not much waste at all.

Lots of ironing & starching made the cotton & linen easy to handle - and using a scant 1/4" seam is a must with the different fabric weights. All seams are ironed open.

All piecing & quilting was done using Aurifil 50wt. Dove #2600.  A wavy serpentine stitch follows the larger seams, and the wavy stitch again into a 3" diagonal diamond pattern overall. I changed needles twice to keep everything sharp and the thread worked beautifully through the heavier Essex linen and the delicate backing. 

Not being a free motion quilter, following the seams and doing a grid pattern looks rather simple when compared to intricate FM designs that add lots of pizzazz.  But, every time that Aurifil looks so consistent as it sinks into any weight of fabric - I do a happy dance.

Lastly, a nice binding is this Hatch Basic in Graphite by Timeless Treasures - not heavy looking like a flat black but dark enough with a hint of texture.

There are 64 foxes so a 4" border all around allows them space to float and not run into the edges.  A beautiful rainbow of foxes made with a fun pattern that works every time.

Materials:

Retro 30's Child Smile Spring 2015/ 2.5" sushi roll / Lecien

Essex Yarn Dyed Linen in denim (Robert Kaufman)
Far Far Away 2 (Unicorns in Blue) / Heather Ross
Hatch Basic Graphite /Timeless Treasures (binding)
Fancy Fox Quilt Pattern by Elizabeth Hartman

Aurifil 50wt. Dove #2600 & Medium Grey #1158

Warm & White batting

Size: 65" x 81"

December 2015