"Sweetheart" - Free Pattern

Valentine's Day is just around the corner.  Frankly I'm still feeling a bit holiday-ed out -- Groundhog Day really does me in -- and I'm ashamed to admit that we just barely put away the last of our Christmas decorations on Saturday.  That's right, February 1st.  Definitely a record for us.  I like to think that it's due to extreme busyness rather than laziness.

But the show must go on, and while I'm not planning on going all out on my Valentine's Day decorating this year, I always like to dress my table for the holidays.  This year I'll be using my Sweetheart table runner -- it's a Web Extra for Quilters Newsletter's February/March 2014 issue.  You can find the free pattern on the QN website.

This scrappy quilt is fun and easy to make.  I love red and pink together, but Sweetheart would also be great in red and purple or purple and pink.  Here's a close-up to show you Joyce Lundrigan's quilting -- as usual she did a great job!

And if you have a copy of QN's February/March issue, check out page 79 for the pattern for my Meadow Flower wall hanging.

Crocuses were my inspiration for the plum, gold, and green color palette of this scrappy quilt.  I used simple Irish chain blocks and a log cabin border to set off the flower blocks.

Joyce Lundrigan also quilted Meadow Flower, and her use of diagonal lines really accentuates the "lattice" feel of the Irish chain blocks.  This quilt is a bit more challenging than Sweetheart, but definitely worth the effort.  

Happy quilting and Happy Valentine's Day!

What's In A Name

In my last post, I mentioned that the hardest part of making my Ebb & Flow quilt was coming up with a name for it -- and I meant it!  So many times I finish a quilt only to find myself completely at a loss when it comes to naming it.  In my mind (truly a scary place), the perfect name should be clever or charming and definitely original.  It should evoke a mood, or convey a meaning or reference the quilt's inspiration or even its color palette.  And it can't be too cutesy or corny or cliched.  It's possible that my requirements may be a bit unrealistic.

As usual, when creativity eludes me or I'm wracked with indecision, I turn to my family for help.  Sometimes it pays off.  My daughter, in particular, is occasionally willing to help me brainstorm quilt names and has actually come up with the names for a couple, most recently Metro.  But if she's not in the right mood or if I approach the men in my life, it's a different story.  I get that quilting is not their thing and that I'm probably being a bit overly optimistic asking advice from my sons (12 and 13), my 15-year-old daughter and my 40-something husband, but honestly, some of their ideas are appalling -- so bad that I've recently started keeping track of them.

Here's the first installment, in no particular order, of my family's worst quilt names:

     Orchid Jungle

     Bubble Gum Delight

     Watermelon Sunshine (the watermelon idea is compliments of my older son and has absolutely no relevance to any quilt I've ever shown him.  He just throws it out there every time I ask him for a quilt name idea -- totally phoning it in.)

     Watermelon Fiesta

     Carousel of Color (my husband has a thing for alliteration)

     Poinsettia Perfection (more alliteration)

     Simple Snowflake Starflower (guess who!?)

     Joyful Raptureness (my daughter likes to create new words by adding "ness" to the end of existing words)

     Equinoxness

     Fields of Meadows (just a smidge redundant)

     Leaf n' Geese (catchy, right?)

     Lots-A-Balls (no comment)

     Deck the Balls (there were a lot more "ball" related names thrown out for this particular snowball quilt, accompanied by the requisite little boy giggling, but I think you get the idea)


As I re-read this list of quilt names, I realize that I should probably stop asking my family for ideas -- I'm not exactly sure their hearts are in it (case in point:  "Lots-A-Balls").  But somehow I don't think I will.  I might not be able to count on them for the perfect name, but I can always count on them for a laugh.

Quilters Newsletter's Best Modern Quilts Blog Tour

Welcome to Day 3 of Quilters Newsletter's Best Modern Quilts Blog Tour!!

Wow!  As a self-proclaimed traditional quilter, I never thought I would be a part of a modern quilts blog tour!  I love traditional quilt blocks -- log cabin, Ohio star (or is it sawtooth star? I can never be sure), Irish chain, and flying geese -- and my color preference typically runs to darker, more muted colors -- reds, browns, navy blues, even blacks.  But the times, they are a-changin', and when QN offered me the opportunity to submit projects for their Best Modern Quilts special issue, I jumped at the chance.

And I'm so happy I did!!  Stepping out of my comfort zone and re-imagining quilting was unbelievably inspiring.  Once I started sketching on graph paper, the ideas came fast and furious.  I found myself thinking about scale, contrast, and color in totally new ways.  Even shopping for modern fabrics was a new experience.  I felt like a first time quilter among the large, graphic prints and bold color -- which is probably why I ended up using mostly solids!

In the end, and to my delight, QN chose three of my projects for their special issue.  And what an issue it is!  It's full of beautiful, colorful, and easy projects that are sure to fill you with inspiration and may even change you as a quilter. If you don't already have a copy of QN's Best Modern Quilts 2014, it's available now on news stands, in bookstores and quilt shops, or online through www.quiltandsewshop.com.

Let me tell you about my projects...

On page 66 you'll find my Green Tea pillow.

I used machine appliqué for the first time when I made this pillow and it's such a time saver that I may never go back!  But I think it's the quilting that really makes this pillow shine.  I chose to make this block into a pillow, but wouldn't it be great to sew three of these blocks together to make a table runner!?


Speaking of table runners, check out Metro on page 64.

My daughter named this quilt "Metro" because she thought it looked like the view of skyscrapers from above.  This fun and easy pattern is the result of one of my graph paper sketches and the color palette was inspired by one of my favorite bags -- a summer tote that I bought at Old Navy probably 10 years ago.  You never know where you'll find your inspiration!


And finally, check out page 41 for my Ebb & Flow lap quilt.

I have to say, I think this was my favorite project.  The idea for this quilt literally popped into my head one morning in the shower (I do my best thinking in the shower!).  This quilt is so easy to make.  In fact, the hardest part was coming up with a name for it!  I went back and forth about how to quilt this project, initially planning to simply echo the horizontal and vertical seams.  But I remembered a sort of modern giant dahlia quilt I'd seen at the Vermont Quilt Festival that had different quilting patterns in each section.  I thought the extra texture might work for this quilt and I couldn't be happier with the result -- Joyce Lundrigan did an amazing job!!  And because I used a cross weave woven fabric (almost like a linen), the quilt feels soft and broken in, despite the volume of quilting.  I think this quilt would also be great in pink and orange.


And now, patient reader, the moment you've been waiting for, the fabric/magazine giveaway!!  If you'd like a chance to win a copy of Best Modern Quilts 2014 and a fat quarter bundle of Kate Spain's Daydream fabric, leave a comment on this post before 11:59 pm MST tonight (1/15/2014) by clicking on the word "comments" in the blue box below.  I will draw one name at random, so please make sure I have your email address.

Daydream by Kate Spain for Moda

Good luck and happy modern quilting!

*****This contest is now closed.  Thank you so much for all of the wonderful comments!!*****

Back in the Saddle Again

Happy New Year!

I realize it's a bit late to be saying that, but for me, today seems like the first day of the new year.  I just put the kids on the bus for their first full day of school since December 20th (thanks to some crazy New England weather).  My husband is traveling for work this week -- he's somewhere in The Netherlands.  I've got a submission deadline in just eight days and a stack of freshly washed and pressed fabrics waiting for me on my cutting table.  It's go time.

And when I need to really be productive, I love to turn my brain off and my auto-pilot on by playing movies in the background.  Not new movies that I need to watch to follow, I'm talking movies that I've seen or listened to so many times, I know them by heart.  Old friends that take me away, that make me smile, that inspire me.

So here they are, my current top ten quilt-along movies:

1.  "Pride & Prejudice" - the Keira Knightley version that came out in 2006.  I want to be Keira Knightley -- is that wrong?  I know I wrote that I play these movies in the background, but I have to look up every time Mr. Darcy helps Elizabeth into a carriage, just to see their responses to their hands touching.  Now you know the truth, I'm a total romantic.

2.  "Sense and Sensibility" - why not get all of the Jane Austen's out of the way at once.  I've loved the 1995 version of this movie, starring Emma Thompson, since I first saw it in the theater -- it's beautiful and subtly funny.  Emma Thompson actually wrote the screenplay which makes me like her all the more.

3.  "Baby Boom" - let's change genres and get some of my '80s movies out of the way.  Diane Keaton moves from NYC to the country and starts her own wildly successful gourmet baby food business.  "Baby Boom" is funny and sweet and mildly inspiring, especially to a quilt designer living in the country...

4.  "Funny Farm" - Chevy Chase also leaves the city for the country to try his hand at writing a novel and hilarity ensues.  Hmmm, am I sensing a pattern here?

5.  "Groundhog Day" - now into the '90s with a great Bill Murray/Andie MacDowell movie that's not only funny, but surprisingly inspiring and moving.  And it takes place in small town Punxsutawney, go figure.

6.  "The American President" - Michael Douglas, Annette Bening, Martin Sheen and Michael J. Fox -- how can you go wrong?  I love Annette Bening's strong, independent character Sydney Ellen Wade (maybe I should start using three names) and Michael J. Fox is, as always, irresistibly charismatic (also love him in "Doc Hollywood" -- oops, there's that country theme again!)

7.  "Notting Hill" - Julia Roberts, Hugh Grant and a cast of British actors whose names I do not know, but who absolutely steal the show in this funny, sweet movie.  The role of Hugh Grant's friend "Bernie" is actually played by Hugh Bonneville who is Lord Grantham in "Downton Abbey" -- one of my favorite tv shows, but that's a story for another day.

8.  "Under the Tuscan Sun" - Tuscany.  Need I say more?  Who doesn't want to go live in a villa in Tuscany??

9.  "Julie & Julia" - I love this funny, upbeat, inspiring move.  Meryl Streep is, as always, amazing ("Out of Africa" is also one of my favorite movies, although maybe a bit heavy for quilting) and I especially loved how the movie portrayed Julia's relationship with Paul Child (Stanley Tucci).

10.  "The Hunt for Red October" - now I know this movie seems strange in a list of period movies and romantic comedies, but in the interest of full disclosure, I have to admit to a strange attraction to submarine movies.  Whenever I decide to repaint a room or stain a piece of furniture, this is the first movie I reach for.  I throw it in the portable DVD player and get down to business.  But seriously, Alec Baldwin was amazing in this movie and then, of course, there's Sean Connery.  Maybe it actually has nothing to do with submarines.  Although I do also like "Crimson Tide," another submarine movie starring Denzel Washington, Gene Hackman, and Viggo Mortensen.  It's still not clear to me.  Is it the submarines or is it Alec and Viggo.  Mmm, Viggo.

There it is, my current top ten list.  There are many more movies that I could mention, but I really must get to work.  Time's a wastin' and I've got a date with Alec.

Happy Quilting!

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Well, it's December 9th and if you're like me, you're out straight getting ready for Christmas.  But while you're in the midst of shopping, baking, wrapping, more shopping, cleaning, addressing cards, decorating, and yes, more shopping, don't forget to take a moment for yourself.  And just in case you are still looking for ideas for your Christmas list, here are my top 10 favorite quilting tools.  I use them almost every day.  I couldn't live without them.  Well I could, but I just don't want to.  And away we go...

My Top 10 Favorite Quilting Tools

1.  Olfa 28mm rotary cutter

Although I have a bigger 45mm rotary cutter, I prefer this smaller version.  I originally bought it for scrapbooking in the dark days before I was a quilter, but I love it for cutting fabric.  The smaller size gives me better control, it still cuts through 4 layers of fabric, and, best of all, the replacement blades are cheaper!!



2.  Olfa frosted 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" ruler

I have other rulers, but this is the one I grab the most.  The width allows me to press down comfortably with my non-cutting hand and the frosted coating really keeps it from wiggling around.



3.  Fons and Porter 6 1/2" needlecraft scissors

These are my go to scissors.  They aren't very expensive, but they are a comfortable size, nice and sharp, and cut well all the way to the tip.  They are especially great for cutting out wool appliqué shapes.



4.  Satin Pins

Don't get me wrong, I love the regular quilter's pins -- you know, the ones with the yellow plastic heads.  But I really love to use satin pins for piecing.  They glide smoothly into fabric without leaving big holes and you can usually sew over them.  I know, I know, sewing over pins is taboo.  Just keeping it real.



5.  Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion

I've had this pin cushion for years and I love it.  At least I did until I broke it by dropping it on the floor.  I tried to fix it with super glue, but apparently I re-installed the magnet incorrectly and now, instead of lying flat and tidy, all of my pins point up and out.  My Grabbit looks like a porcupine and every time I reach for a pin I stab myself.  Needless to say, I'm putting a new Grabbit on my Christmas list.



6.  John James Gold'n Glide appliqué needles - size 11

While we are on the subject of pins and needles, I discovered these amazing appliqué needles this past summer.  They are super thin, the perfect length for appliqué, and as the name suggests, they glide beautifully.  I like them so much that I've even used them for sewing down binding.



7.  YLI quilting thread

My all time favorite thread for hand quilting is YLI quilting thread.  I love the weight of it, it rarely breaks, and the colors are beautiful -- my current favorite is light brown.  I also love using a single strand of it for sewing down binding.  If your local quilt store doesn't carry it, you can buy the thread directly from YLI at www.ylicorp.com.



8.  Floss-A-Way embroidery floss/fiber organizer

The photo isn't great, but what you are looking at is 100 mini ziploc bags on a 3 inch metal ring.  I love this organizer because you can keep varying lengths of the same color floss all in one place without it getting tangled.  There is also a white spot on each bag where you can write the color of the floss.  Lovely.



9.  Dritz fine point disappearing ink pen

This is my favorite marking tool for quilting and embroidery.  I used to use chalk pencils, but I love the fine point of this pen, and it doesn't require washing out.  Just make sure you only mark what you can quilt or embroider in one sitting, because otherwise the marking will vanish.  Go figure!



10.  Spray n Bond basting adhesive

This is one of my new favorite tools!  So far, I've only used it on small projects where I would normally thread or pin baste, but I love it because it's fast and easy to use, it's repositionable, and it keeps my quilt sandwich layers from shifting while I'm machine quilting.


So there you have it!  Ten great quilting tools!  Add a few to your Christmas list or simply treat yourself.  Go on, you deserve it!  I'm sure you've been very good this year.

Happy quilting!

"Christmas in the Cabin" Free Pattern

Here's a project to put you in the Christmas spirit!

I know, I know, Thanksgiving is just 9 days away and you're up to your neck in menu planning, grocery lists, and housework.  But if you're looking for a fun project for your post-Thanksgiving holiday weekend, try my Christmas in the Cabin table runner.  Christmas in the Cabin is a Web Extra for Quilters Newsletter's December/January 2014 issue and you can find the free pattern on QN's website.  This table runner is fast and easy and perfect for using up your Christmas fabric scraps.

Don't have time to make the full table runner before Christmas?  Why not make my pine tree pillow!  I used pine trees left over from making my table runner.  Skip ahead to steps 4 and 5 of QN's instructions to find out how to make your own pine tree panel -- just make it one tree smaller.  The finished panel should measure 7 1/2" x 15 1/2".

For the border, you'll have to cut red strips as follows:  2 -- 3" x 7 1/2" and 4 -- 3" x 10 1/2".  Join together 2 -- 3" x 10 1/2" strips to make a long 3" x 20 1/2" strip.  Repeat with the other set.  Join the 2 -- 3" x 7 1/2" strips to either short end of the pine tree panel.  Press towards the red.  Join the 2 -- 3" x 20 1/2" strips to the long ends of the pine tree panel and press towards the red.

I lined the pillow top with a layer of batting and a muslin panel.  It's not necessary, but if you'd like to do the same, cut the lining fabric and batting to 14" x 22".  Layer the lining, batting and pillow top to make a quilt sandwich.  Baste and quilt.  I machine quilted in the ditch around each pine tree and trunk and around the entire pine tree panel.  Trim the lining and batting.

For the overlapping pillow back, cut 2 red panels -- 12 1/2" x 14".  Press one short side of each backing panel toward the wrong side with a 1" fold and topstitch.  Lay the pillow top on a flat surface, right side up.  Position a backing panel right side down, aligning raw edges along one side.  Lay the second panel right side down, aligning raw edges along the opposite side.  Stitch through all layers using a 1/4" seam.  Trim the corners, turn the pillow right side out, and insert a 12" x 20 pillow form.

Happy quilting!

Mini Pumpkin Quilt Pattern

Remember the little door knob quilt I made for Valentine’s Day?  Well today I woke up inspired to make one for Halloween.  I love how it turned out and it takes no time at all.

Here's what you'll need:

Orange fabric:  
2 – 2 ¼” x 2 ¼” squares
16 – 1 ½” x 1 ½” squares
1 – 7" x 7" square for backing

Blue fabric:
2 – 2 ¼” x 2 ¼” squares
4 – 1 ½” x 1 ½” squares

1 – 2 ¼” x 25” strip  for binding (I actually used a small length of binding left over from another project – yes, I’m a scrap hoarder)

Brown fabric:

1 – 1 ½” x 1 ½” square

You'll also need a 7" x 7" square of batting, a scrap of green wool, green perle cotton or embroidery floss, basting adhesive, and 12” twine.


And here's the pattern:

To make the orange/blue half square triangles, place an orange 2 1/4" square on a blue 2 1/4" square with right sides together and edges lined up.  Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the wrong side of the orange square.  Stitch a scant 1/4" on either side of diagonal line.  Press seams.  Cut on diagonal line and press open towards the blue.  Trim half square triangle to 1 1/2" x 1 1/2".  Makes 2 half square triangles.  Repeat for remaining set of 2 1/4" squares.

Referring to the photo, lay out the 4 half square triangle units, 16 orange 1 1/2" squares, 4 blue 1 1/2" squares and 1 brown 1 1/2" square to form the pumpkin.  Join together half square triangles and squares to form rows.  Join together rows.  Press.  The pumpkin top should measure 5 1/2" x 5 1/2".

Cut a leaf shape from the green wool and pin it to the pumpkin top.  Appliqué the leaf to the pumpkin using green perle cotton and a whip stitch.  Stitch veins on the leaf using a big running stitch.  Stitch the vine using a back stitch.

To make the quilt sandwich, spray basting adhesive to the wrong side of the pumpkin top and with your hands press it to the 7” x 7” square of batting, right side up.  Spray basting adhesive to the wrong side of the orange 7” x 7” backing square and adhere it to the other side of the 7” x 7” batting square.

By the way, this was my first time using spray basting adhesive and I think I’m in love!  But I digress.

If you’d like to quilt the pumpkin by machine or by hand, now would be the time.  Trim the sandwich to 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" and use your favorite method to bind the quilt. 

For the hanging loop I found a length of twine, tied a knot at either end and stitched the knots to the upper back of the quilt.  And voila!  C’est fini!

If you’d like your pumpkin quilt to look a little more Halloweeny, try embellishing it with an appliquéd or embroidered jack-o-lantern face instead of the green leaf.  Either way, happy quilting and Happy Halloween!