Glad Tidings Quilt-Along Day 8

***The Glad Tidings Quilt-along is now over, but the complete Glad Tidings pattern is available in my Etsy Shop.***

 

It's day 8 of the Glad Tidings QAL and today we're wrapping things up.  I've seen a few finished quilt tops already on social media and they are BEAUTIFUL!  If you'd like to see what your fellow quilters have come up with, check out the hashtag #gladtidingsqal.

I don't have an instruction sheet for you today, but I would like to share some ideas for other ways you might use the Glad Tidings blocks.  While making my quilt, I couldn't help but think that the rows of blocks would lend themselves so well to pillows.  I'd hoped to make one for today, but, alas, Christmas.  Instead I sketched some ideas for when I do find the time—here are the best of the bunch:

First up are straightforward Joy, Noel, and Peace pillows, all 12" x 20":

Then I thought it might be fun to replace the wreath in the Joy set with the ornament (12" x 20"):

Here's a peek at what it might look like to combine Joy and Noel.  I added a holly block for extra cuteness (18" x 18"):

Which led me on to the non-letter blocks.  They're different sizes so it was a little harder to find a symmetry that I liked, but I think these two do the trick (16" x 16"):

And finally, here's the pillow that I'm hoping to make - Joy with extra borders (12" x 20"):

I think I'll try a different color palette this time.  The word "Joy" has me thinking of sweets and a little pink might be just the thing!


Now on to the Glad Tidings QAL Giveaway....Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to our winners: Cyndi (@cyndihomewisconsin) and Tammy (@basketnut1)!!! 

Finally, thank you so much for quilting-along with me this year.  Your response to the Glad Tidings QAL has been wonderful, and I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing pictures of your blocks and quilts on social media, reading your lovely comments, and connecting with so many of you.  I can't wait to do it all over again next year!  

In the meantime, I wish you a joyous and peaceful Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year!

All my best, 

—jen

Glad Tidings QAL Day 7 - Pieced Border and Assembly

***The Glad Tidings Quilt-along is now over, but the complete Glad Tidings pattern is available in my Etsy Shop.***

Welcome back for day 7 of the Glad Tidings QAL!  Today we're making pieced borders and assembling our quilt tops.  Today is the reward for all of our hard work!

I've given you the instructions for making the pieced border first, because you'll be finishing up the charm square cutting.  But if you prefer to audition the placement of the pieced border squares around your quilt before making the actual borders, you should absolutely feel free to assemble your quilt centers first.

We're not quite finished with our Glad Tidings quilts yet, but I've so enjoyed hearing from you and seeing your progress on Instagram and Facebook.  Your response to this little quilt-along has made my month!  To thank you all, I'm going to have a Glad Tidings QAL Giveaway on Instagram.  I'll be giving away two prizes:  second prize will be a copy of Charmed by Moda Bake Shop, the gorgeous book that helped inspire the Glad Tidings quilt, and first prize will be a copy of Charmed by Moda Bake Shop AND a charm pack of Christmas Stitched by Fig Tree & Co., the fabric that I used to make my version of the Glad Tidings quilt.  Sound like fun?  Here's a link to the Giveaway post.

Have fun assembling your quilt tops!  I'll be back on Thursday for day 8 with a little show and tell and to announce the winners of the Glad Tidings QAL Giveaway!

—jen

Helpful links:


Glad Tidings complete pattern

Glad Tidings QAL Day 6 - Heart and Gift Blocks

 ***The Glad Tidings Quilt-along is now over, but the complete Glad Tidings pattern is available in my Etsy Shop.***

It's Day 6 and today we're making the last of our blocks—hearts and a charming little gift!

I've had so much fun piecing the little blocks for this project, and today's blocks were no exception.  I especially love the heart blocks—so simple, but so sweet.  Feel the same?  My Bless Her Heart lap quilt is a fun project that's great for showcasing (or using up!) your favorite charm squares. 

I made mine with three different charm packs of Regent Street Lawns by Moda that I'd been saving for a while.  I paired them with Moda Chambray, backed the quilt with a cozy flannel, and named her (yes, she's a she) "Bless Her Heart."  She's a favorite quilt in our house now—broken in, soft, and beloved.  

The pattern for Bless Her Heart is available for download in my Etsy shop, just in time for Valentine's Day.  Lol, just kidding!!  Let's slow down and enjoy Christmas before we move on. :)

In the spirit of savoring Christmas, have fun this weekend making the last of your blocks.  Monday we're moving on to assembly and borders—so exciting!

—jen

Helpful links:

Glad Tidings complete pattern

Glad Tiding Quilt-Along Day 3 - J, Wreath, and Y Blocks

***The Glad Tidings Quilt-along is now over, but the complete Glad Tidings pattern is available in my Etsy Shop.***

Happy Monday!  It's Day 3 of the Glad Tidings QAL!  Today we're moving on to our first letter blocks and they are a joy to make! 

I have to say, I'm really enjoying working this way—cutting a charm square, making a block, and stepping back to admire it before moving on to the next— instant gratification and so much fun!  It's also a joy to see your Glad Tidings blocks out there on social media.  Thank you so much for tagging me @jendalyquilts and using the hashtag #gladtidingsqal. :)

If you're looking for some more fast and fun holiday sewing, I've got a great idea for you—mitten ornaments!

These little mittens function just like a stocking and you can stuff them with treats before using them to trim your tree or decorate a gift.

 The pattern for the Mitten Ornaments is now available for download in my Etsy shop.

That's it for today!  Have fun making your blocks and I'll see you back here on Thursday for Day 4!

Happy quilting,

—jen

Helpful links:

Glad Tidings complete pattern

Glad Tidings Quilt-Along Day 2 - Star, Pinwheel, and Holly Blocks

***The Glad Tidings Quilt-along is now over, but the complete Glad Tidings pattern is available in my Etsy Shop.***

Welcome back for Day 2 of the Glad Tidings Quilt-Along!

 

Hope you're still with me after all of the cutting on Monday!  Today we're moving on and making our first blocks—the Star, Pinwheel, and Holly blocks.  If you haven't already planned out which 5" charm squares you plan to use for the various blocks, you may want to do so before you begin today using the info contained in the green box on the bottom of the Day 1: Cutting page.

As I mentioned earlier, we'll be cutting the charm squares as we progress through the QAL.  A 5" square of fabric isn't exactly a forgiving size, so on each of the block instruction pages, I've included charm square cutting diagrams to help you out.  If you need to reserve any cut pieces for use in other blocks or in the pieced border, I've made a note either on the charm square cutting diagrams or in step 1 of each of the block making sections, so pay particular attention to the charm square cutting instructions as you go.    

Have fun making your blocks and if you'd like to share your work on Instagram or Facebook, please consider tagging me @jendalyquilts and using the hashtag #gladtidingsqal—I'd love to see what you're up to!  Stay tuned for Day 3 on Monday (12/5)—we'll be starting the letter blocks and I can't wait!

—jen

Helpful links:

Glad Tidings complete pattern

Homespun Holiday Quilt-Along — Day 5: Tree Blocks

Happy Monday!  I hope you had a festive weekend and found some time to sew.  Our QAL blocks are starting to pile up!

Today is Day 5 of the Homespun Holiday QAL and we're moving on to one of my favorite blocks of the quilt-along — trees!

Pine trees, Christmas trees, whatever you want to call them, I love these graphic blocks and I think they're especially charming made with plaids.  In fact, one of my favorite finishes of the year was made entirely of plaid trees. 

 

If it looks familiar, you're right!  This cozy quilt was a big part of the inspiration for our Homespun Holiday project.  North Woods is a 60½" x 64½" lap quilt made with one bundle of 42 - 10" squares and background fabric.  I made my quilt for fall using a layer cake of Homemade Homespun fabrics by Kansas Troubles Quilters for Moda, but I think it would be amazing made with Christmas prints.  You can find the downloadable pattern for North Woods in my Etsy shop.

And now back to the QAL!  Here's the link to today's pattern sheet.  Please note that today's pattern is two pages long.

Have fun making your tree blocks and have a great week!

—jen

Helpful QAL links:

• QAL Page
• Materials Page
• Day 1 - Cutting
• Day 2 - Star Blocks
• Day 3 - Holly Blocks
• Day 4 - Poinsettia Star Blocks

Homespun Holiday Quilt-Along — Day 3: Holly Blocks

I hope you had a great weekend filled with holiday cheer and, of course, some time to sew!

Today is Day 3 of the Homespun Holiday Quilt-Along and we're moving on to holly blocks.

These little 3" x 5" (finished) blocks are simple to make, but so festive!  We'll be making eight holly blocks total, two from each green homespun/print.

Ready to start piecing?  Here's the link to today's pattern sheet:

And just in case, here are some helpful QAL links:

• QAL Page
• Materials Page
• Day 1 - Cutting
• Day 2 - Star Blocks

Later this week I'll be hosting a giveaway on Instagram.  I'll be giving away a copy of the January/February '22 issue of Quiltmaker magazine.  Inside you'll find patterns for ten colorful quilts—including a scrappy Valentine's Day lap quilt designed by me—as well as part 1 of a 6-part mystery quilt-along called "Ruby Jubilee."  Designed by Denise Starck to celebrate Quiltmaker's 40th anniversary, Ruby Jubilee features blocks from Bonnie Hunter's Addicted to Scraps column.  If you'd like a chance to win this copy of Quiltmaker, look for the contest post this week on Instagram.

In the meantime, enjoy your week and have fun making your jolly holly blocks!

—jen

2021 Homespun Holiday Quilt-Along Coming Soon!

 I’m so excited to announce that the 7^th annual Jen Daly Quilts Christmas Quilt-Along is right around the corner!

This year’s project, “Homespun Holiday," was inspired by both the word “homespun” and homespun fabrics themselves.  For me, “homespun” denotes something simple, handmade, made at home and made with love.  Homespun fabrics are made of woven cotton, sometimes with a brushed or softer side, and typically patterned in plaids or stripes.  I often use homespuns in quilting projects, both on their own and paired with traditional cottons.  They give my quilts a charming, handmade look and a warm, cozy feel that I love—perfect for the holidays!

Homespun Holiday is a 22” x 52½” row-style table runner, featuring five simple (and fun!) Christmas blocks.  For my runner, I’ll be pairing a variety of homespuns with charcoal-gray chambray for a casual, almost primitive look, but definitely feel free to make the project your own.  Here’s what the Homespun Holiday runner might look like made with a lighter background or without homespuns:

lighter background



shown in "Christmas Morning"
by Lella Boutique for Moda

And if you don’t feel like you have the time to commit to an entire runner, you can also halve the blocks and make a charming 22” x 28” wall hanging:

 

The Homespun Holiday Quilt-Along will begin on Monday, November 29th and continue every Monday and Friday until December 20th.  There's no need to sign up for the quilt-along—as we progress, I’ll make each set of instructions available on the quilt-along page.  If you're on my mailing list, you'll receive emails containing links to each day’s instructions (sign up for email updates on the quilt-along page).  The instruction sheets will remain available throughout the month of December, and in January I’ll make a complete pattern available in my Etsy shop.  I'll also do regular posts on Instagram and Facebook using the hashtag #homespunholiday.  If you post pictures of your progress, be sure to tag me @jendalyquilts and use the hashtag #homespunholiday—I'd love to see what you come up with!

To help you get started, here’s a link for the materials page for the quilt-along:

 
Have fun gathering materials for the project and if you have any questions, feel free to email me at jendalyquilts@gmail.com.  I'll be back here on Monday, November 29th for Day 1—can't wait!  

—jen

Winter's Walk Quilt-Along — Day 10

Welcome back for Day 10 of the Winter's Walk Quilt-Along!

Today is the last day of our quilt-along and we're tackling finishing details!

Day 10:  Finishing 

Here's the link to today's pattern sheets.  There are two pages today, one with all of the instructions for finishing the quilt, and a second with close-up pictures of the details on both my original Winter's Walk quilt and my variation pillows.

And here's where we're headed:

First off, let's talk snowman faces.  For my original Winter's Walk quilt, I decided to embellish my snowmen so that they were in profile and appeared to be looking at the Christmas tree.  

But for my Winter's Walk snowman pillow, I chose to have the snowmen facing out of the pillow.  I added two button eyes to each and gave them crooked little smiles.  I also adjusted their noses by making them a bit shorter and curving the wider ends.  I think I actually prefer the curved carrot nose, so I've included both patterns to enable you to choose whichever you prefer!

I went back and forth a lot about whether to give the snowmen arms, but in the end, I decided to keep the snowman shape simple and didn't add arms to either project.  Definitely feel free to embroider arms on your snowmen though!  That's what so fun about embellishing a project with embroidery—the opportunity to truly personalize your quilt!

I decorated the Christmas tree on the original quilt with red embroidered garland and white embroidered stars:

Because I made the tree scrappy on the Winter's Walk tree pillow, I decided to forgo the garland, but kept the white stars:

The tree block is another blank canvas that you can embellish to suit your preferences.  You could bump up the embroidery by adding more garland, maybe even with a metallic floss, or by adding stars in different colors.  Don't like to embroider?  Try decorating the tree with small buttons or beads.  The sky's the limit!

I was really happy with the embellished quilt top when I finished my first Winter's Walk quilt, but I think the big-stitched quilting in a cross-hatch pattern sent it over the top!  The diagonal lines act as frames for the "snowflakes" and I love how not quilting over the tree and snowmen make those blocks seem to advance.  The quilting in the outer border doesn't show up as much, but it does give it dimension and accentuates the zig-zag shape of the Flying Geese.

However you choose to quilt your Winter's Walk wall hanging, I'm sure it will be lovely.  I started out as a hand quilter, so I always tend to think of cross-hatching and echo quilting first, but I can't wait to see what you come up with when you finish your quilts!

And that, my quilting friends, brings us to the end of the 2020 Winter's Walk Quilt-Along!  It's been a pleasure quilting along with you and an absolute joy to see your work on social media.  I hope you've had fun and that you'll love your finished quilts.  I also hope you have a joyous holiday season and a happy and healthy new year!

All my best!

—jen