Saturday, February 13, 2016

Sew Sweet Pincushion

Here's a sweet little pincushion pattern just in time for Valentine's Day -- cutting it a bit close, aren't I!



You'll need:

  • Floral print:  2 - 5" x 5" squares (I used two left over charm squares from the Regent Street collection by Sentimental Studios for Moda - yum)
  • Ivory solid:  1 - 4" x 4" square
  • foundation pattern* for 4½" x 4½" square in a square block -- click here for link.  When you print the foundation, make sure that it measures 5" from dotted line to dotted line (4½" from solid line to solid line).
  • embroidery floss (I used pink (DMC's #3731), blue (DMC's #931), and ecru)
  • 9" x 9" piece white flannel or thin batting
  • fiberfill or other stuffing material
  • also helpful:  washout marking pen, spray basting adhesive, embroidery hoop

 *  I paper pieced the square in a square block for accuracy.  If you're new to paper piecing, here's a link to Craftsy tutorial to get you started.

Assemble Pincushion:

  1. Before paper piecing your block, take one of your print 5" x 5" squares and cut it diagonally from corner to corner twice.  You'll end up with 4 triangles.
  2. Foundation piece your square in a square block covering section A1 with the ivory solid 4" x 4" square and sections A2, A3, A5, and A5 with the floral print triangles created in step 1 above -- if you use a scant ¼" to overlap the lines between the ivory solid section and the floral print sections, the triangles should be plenty big.
  3. With paper side up, trim block on dotted lines.  The unfinished block should measure 4½" x 4½".  Remove paper from behind block.
  4. Using your favorite method, transfer the embroidery design to your block.  I used a light box and a wash out marking pen.  Here's the link for the embroidery design.
  5. Your block will be a bit small to embroider at this point, so it's best to baste it to a larger piece of flannel or thin batting.  I used spray basting adhesive to baste my block to the center of a 9" x 9" piece of white flannel.
  6. Using an embroidery hoop, two strands of embroidery floss, and a backstitch, embroider the eight hearts on the block.  
  7. Trim block with attached flannel to 5" x 5".
  8. With right sides together, layer embroidered square in a square block and remaining floral print 5" x 5" square, matching all edges.
  9. Stitch around all four sides using a ¼" seam allowance and leaving a small opening for turning.
  10. Trim corners and turn the pincushion right side out.  Press lightly.
  11. Stuff pin cushion as desired and use a blind stitch to sew the opening closed.

And that's it!  Two charm squares + a bit of stitching = one sweet pincushion! 




If you don't need another pincushion or you're out of fiberfill, leave this little project unstuffed after turning and sew the opening closed to make a charming mug rug!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Home Is Where the Heart Is

The Spring 2016 issue of Primitive Quilts and Projects magazine is available now in bookstores and in quilt shops and it is GORGEOUS!

Even the cover is beautiful-- I think the fuchsia bricks and mums in the background of this picture are stunning!



Inside the pages of this yummy magazine, you'll find 16 inspiring projects that showcase a variety of materials and techniques.

And on page 94, you'll find my Home Is Where the Heart Is quilt...



Home Is Where the Heart Is is a fun and scrappy medallion quilt that features machine piecing, wool appliqué, and embroidery -- something for everyone.




There's a lot to this quilt, but when you break it down, the various blocks, embroidery, and wool appliqué are pretty simple.

Here's a close-up of the embroidery and wool appliqué.  I used only the Backstitch, Lazy Daisy Stitch, and French Knots for the vine and lettering and the wool is appliquéd using embroidery floss and a Whipstitch -- fast and easy.




The complete instructions and templates for Home Is Where the Heart Is are included in the Spring 2016 issue of Primitive Quilts and Projects magazine.  Check out the PQP website too, you'll find a gallery of project photos for all of their magazines, free patterns, and more!





p.s.  If you like the look of my Home Is Where the Heart Is quilt, you might want to give my Peace on Earth wall hanging a try.


It's also a skill-building project that features piecing, embroidery, and wool appliqué, and I shared the free pattern for this little quilt on my blog throughout the month of December (2015).

Happy Quilting!