Hello Fall!

It's hot outside now, but this morning I went for an early run while it was still cool AND before I could talk myself out of it.  Good decision -- the soft air smelled spicy, the breeze tossed about a few brightly colored leaves, and the elk were bugling in the distance.  Yes, you read that right -- elk.  I'm lucky enough to live near a trail that runs alongside Corbin Park, a 20,000 acre private game preserve (read hunting club -- this is, after all, New Hampshire) that I prefer to think of as a wildlife refuge.

Once upon a time, Corbin Park was stocked with several varieties of deer, moose, antelope, caribou, wild boar, elk, bighorn sheep, and even bison!  Sadly, most of the animals not indigenous to NH did not thrive in the park, but the park is still home to deer, wild boar, and elk.  The deer and wild boar keep mostly to themselves, but in the early mornings and evenings of September, the elk bugle.  It's an amazing, eerie sound, startling to hear in the woods, and for me, a sure sign of fall.

I came back from my run invigorated and inspired and while the official start of fall is still several days away, I decided that today was definitely the day for the latest installment in my framed mini quilt series.

If you're new to my blog, first came spring:

Then came summer:

And here is, you guessed it, fall!

To make your own little fall quilt, you'll need:

Border print:  10" x 10" - cut (2) - 2" x 4½" and (2) - 2" x 9½"

Blue background print:  10" x 10" - cut (1) - 3" x 6½"; (21) - 1¼ " x 1¼ " squares to cover the blue sections of the leaf blocks; and (4) - ⅞" x 2"

Red and orange prints:  1¼" x 9" strip of each of three prints - from each, cut (7) - 1¼ " x 1¼ " squares to cover the colored sections of the leaf blocks

Brown print:  ¾" x 4" - cut (3) - ¾" x 1¼ " to cover the stem sections of the leaf blocks

Batting:  9" x 11"

Also needed:
Washout or disappearing ink marking pen, spray basting adhesive, tan embroidery floss (I used DMC's #869), three little leaf buttons, and a 5" x 7" frame


To make the leaf blocks:

Once again, I chose to paper piece the 1½" x 1½" leaf blocks.  Tiny, I know, but so worth it!  Just make sure you follow the printed numbering on the block units (i.e. start with A1, B1, and C1) and you should be all set.

You'll need to print or copy three sets of foundation patterns (and you can find the pattern here).  Each little unit should measure ½" x 1½" from solid line to solid line -- 1" x 2" from outer dotted line to outer dotted line.  If you're concerned about color placement, it might help to use colored pencils to color the various sections of each block unit before stitching.  For each block, sections A1, A3, A5, B1, C1, C3, and C6 should be covered with blue fabric; sections A2, A4, B2, B3, B4, C4, and C5 should be covered with your leaf fabric; and C2 should be covered with the brown print.

After stitching units A, B, and C together for each block, press the seams open to reduce bulk (note:  remove the paper from behind the leaf blocks after stitching and before pressing).  Make three blocks.

If you're not used to paper piecing, here's a link to a Fons and Porter tutorial that should get you started.


To assemble the quilt top:

Referring to my quilt, lay out your three leaf blocks and the four ⅞" x 2" strips of blue background fabric.  Stitch them together and press the seams towards the blue strips.  Then stitch the blue 3" x 6½" to the top of the row of leaves and press towards the blue 3" x 6½".  Stitch a border print 2" x 4½" to either side of the quilt center, pressing towards the border.  Finally, stitch a border print 2" x 9½" to the top and bottom of the quilt center, pressing towards the border.  Press the finished quilt top well.


To finish the quilt top:

Using a washout or disappearing ink pen, trace the "Hello Fall" lettering (find the template here) onto the quilt top -- the embroidery template should measure 2½" x 6".  Lightly spray basting adhesive to the 9" x 11" piece of batting and smooth the quilt top over it, right side up.  Use two strands of embroidery floss and a back stitch for the lettering.  Stitch the three leaf buttons in place and use one strand of embroidery floss or thread and a running stitch for the leaf trails.

To insert the quilt into the frame:

After you finish stitching, trim the batting even with the edges of your quilt.  Remove the contents of your frame, center the glass behind the quilt top, and wrap the edges of the quilt around it.  Reinsert the glass and quilt into the frame, fold down the quilt's corners, and put the back of the frame in place, taping with masking tape if necessary to keep it closed.  Voila!

Happy quilting and Happy Fall!

It's Summer! - Free Pattern

It's officially summer!  And to celebrate the season, I'm sharing a pattern for a quick little framed quilt AND my favorite pie recipe.  It's a twofer (and by the way, I looked it up: "twofer" is actually a word!).

Remember my " Think Spring" quilt:

Well it's obviously time to put it away, but I think my kitchen windowsill would look pretty naked without a framed quilt on it now, so I decided to make a summer version:

Once again, the quilt fits into a 5" x 7" frame and the unfinished quilt top dimensions are 7½" x 9½"- seems a little big for a 5" x 7" frame, but the extra size is to help you wrap the quilt around the frame's glass insert.

To make your own little quilt, you'll need:

Border (stripe) print:  10" x 10" - cut (2) - 2" x 4½" and (2) - 2" x 9½"

Muslin (I used a primitive muslin):  10" x 10" - cut (1) 3" x 6½" and (24) - 1¼" x 1¼" squares to cover the muslin sections of the star blocks

Red and blue prints:  1¼" x 6½" strip of each of four prints

Batting: 9" x 11"

Also needed:

Washout or disappearing marking pen, spray basting adhesive, blue embroidery floss, metallic gray floss (I used DMC's E317), black embroidery floss, and a 5" x 7" frame

To make the star blocks:

I chose to paper piece the 1½" x 1½" star blocks.  When I'm working on a miniature scale, I find paper piecing to be easier and more accurate.  The star block has three units, but if you make sure to follow the printed numbering (ie. start with A1, B1, and C1 for each unit), the units nest together nicely.

Print out or copy four sets of foundation patterns (find the template here) and make sure that each little unit measures ½" x 1½" from solid line to solid line -- 1" x 2" from outer dotted line to outer dotted line.  Make four blocks.  Note:  when stitching units A, B, and C together for each block, press the seams open -- to do this, you'll want to remove the paper from behind the star blocks before pressing.

Once again, here's a link to a great Fons and Porter paper piecing tutorial if you need a little brushing up on how to paper piece.

To assemble the quilt top:

After making the four star blocks, stitch them together horizontally and press the seams open.  Then stitch the muslin 3" x 6½" to the top of the row of stars and press towards the muslin 3" x 6½".  Stitch a striped 2" x 4½" to either side of the center unit, pressing towards the stripe.  Finally, stitch a striped 2" x 9½" to the top and bottom of the center unit, pressing towards the stripe.  Press the finished quilt top well.

To finish the quilt top:

Referring to my framed quilt and using a washout or disappearing pen, trace the "Summertime," dragonfly, and dragonfly trail onto the quilt top.  Then lightly spray basting adhesive to the 9" x 11" piece of batting and smooth the quilt top over it, right side up.  I embroidered with the batting in place to give the stitching some dimension and to keep the floss ends from showing through the quilt.  Note:  if you decide to use a vanishing ink pen, just remember that the summer humidity may cause the ink to disappear quickly so you may want to embroider the quilt immediately after marking it and in one sitting.

FYI, the above embroidery template should measure 2½" x 6" (find the template here).  Use two strands of floss and a back stitch for the lettering.  The dot above the "i" is a french knot.  I used one strand of black floss and a running stitch for the dragonfly's trail, two strands of black floss and a back stitch for his body, and two strands of metallic floss and a lazy daisy stitch for his wings.  Here's a close-up of the dragonfly to help you out:

To insert the quilt into the frame:

After you finish embroidering, trim the batting even with the edges of your quilt.  Remove the contents of the frame.  Center the glass behind your quilt top and wrap the edges of the quilt around it.  Reinsert the glass and quilt into the frame, fold down the quilt's corners and put the back of the frame in place, taping if necessary to keep it closed.  Done!

I chose to make my quilt using a patriotic color palette, but I've been thinking that it would also be really cute in beachy colors with a weathered white frame:

Your choice!

And now for the pie recipe:  it's a Strawberry-Rhubarb-Raspberry pie that I found in an old issue of "O" magazine and it is amazing!!  I love traditional strawberry-rhubarb pie, but the addition of the raspberries really elevates this pie to an entirely different level.  I made this one yesterday and, despite wanting to consume it entirely by myself, I served it to my family with vanilla ice cream.  Bliss.

Summer quilts, summer pies!  Don't you just love summer!

Christmas in August!? Free pattern and upcoming contest!!

Sadly summer is winding to a close.  With three kids, two of whom are teenagers (shudder), it seems shorter and faster every year.  But the upside is that it's about time to get back to quilting (and blogging)!  And what better way to celebrate a return to quilting than with a contest!  Check back here on Monday, August 25th for a chance to win during Quilters Newsletter's Best Christmas Quilts 2014 blog tour.

In the meantime, here's a little Christmas project to get you in the spirit.

This sweet little quilt (and no, it's not a potholder, don't even think about using it as a potholder!!) measures 7 1/2" square and it's embellished with mini buttons and a bit of embroidery.

To make this scrappy quilt you'll need:

10 red 2" x 2" squares
8 green 2" x 2" squares
18 tan 2" x 2" squares
2 tan 1" x 6 1/2" border strips
2 tan 1" x 7 1/2" border strips
8" x 8" piece of batting
8" x 8" piece of backing fabric
red fabric for binding (I used a single fold binding cut 1 1/4" x 38")
5 green buttons
4 red buttons
green embroidery floss (I used Valdani hand dyed 3 strand floss)


To make the pinwheel blocks:

On the back of each tan 2" x 2" square, draw a line a scant 1/4" from either side of the diagonal.

Pair each tan square with either a red or green square.  Each 2" x 2" square pair will result in 2 half square triangles or half of a pinwheel block, so you'll need to matching sets of pairs for each pinwheel block.  I used only one background fabric and one red or green fabric for each pinwheel block, but feel free to make it scrappier.  Place each tan square on top of each red or green square with right sides together. Stitch on each line.

Using a rotary cutter, cut on the diagonal from one corner to the other in between the stitched lines.

Open and press towards the dark side.  Pause to reflect on your favorite Star Wars quote.

Trim the half square triangle to 1 1/2" x 1 1/2".

Once you have repeated the above steps to make 36 half square triangles, you can make the 9 pinwheel blocks by sewing 4 half square triangles together for each.  But I actually chose to lay out the half square triangles in rows to form the 9 pinwheel blocks (refer to the quilt photo for layout), sewed the half square triangles together in those rows and then sewed the rows together to form the quilt top.  Not sure why I did it this way, but it worked pretty well!  I pressed the seams in alternate directions for each row and then pressed the seams between the rows open.

Now stitch one 1" x 6 1/2" border strip to the left and right sides of your quilt top.  Press towards the border.  Stitch one 1" x 7 1/2" border strip to the top and bottom of the quilt top and, you guessed it, press towards the border.

Once your quilt top is assembled, layer it with batting and sew a button to the center of each pinwheel block.  Let me reassure you that behind each button on my quilt, the pinwheel points meet up perfectly -- of course you'll have to take my word for it (handy buttons!!).

Finally, using a big running stitch and three strands of embroidery floss, stitch around the quilt 1/4" from the inside edge of the borders.  Ta da!  Finished quilt top!  Layer your quilt top with the backing fabric (wrong sides together).  I used spray basting adhesive to hold the sandwich together.  Trim the edges, bind and voilà!  A little bit of Christmas in August.  Hang this little quilt on a wall or from a door knob, display it on a small table, or turn it into a pillow.  But DO NOT use it as a potholder!!

Happy quilting!