A Very Vintage Christmas Sew Along: Vintage Pinwheel

Welcome to my second post for the A Very Vintage Christmas Sew-along! with Fat Quarter Shop and Lori Holt.  Catch up with all the SAL info including the schedule here.  

You can read my book review and Gingerbread house block post here.

As with my first block, I turned to the Vintage Christmas Projects section of the book which includes a tablerunner, place mat, two pillows and a Merry Mug mat.   The mug mat uses a 6" block with a little extra fabric for sashing and the side pocket- perfect for a cake fork or a small pair of scissors!

I made two: one for me and one as a gift for my daughter so she can get into the Christmas spirit with her uni friends- they have already started on flat decorations!  It's a quick make and an ideal gift if you are making presents for friends or sewing swaps.  Each year,  I find that part of getting into the mood for this time of year is making a few extra Christmas themed items and Vintage Christmas is perfect for this.  

Fabrics Used

Aqua, Robin, Cherry Christmas by Aneela Hoey for Moda

Pink, Little Joys, Elea Lutz, Penny Rose Fabrics for Riley Blake

Green (pocket), Little Joys, Elea Lutz, Penny Rose Fabrics for Riley Blake 

Binding, Color Theory Selection, V and Co for Moda- Ta Dot in Ceda by Michael Miller

Vintage Christmas is available at The Fat Quarter Shop (USA)

In the UK, stock has arrived  but is selling quickly. It's due to arrive back into stock here at Patchwork Dreamer.  Currently sold out at Sew Hot maybe contact them to see if more are due?

A Very Vintage Christmas Sew Along

Welcome to my post for week two as part of A Very Vintage Christmas Sew-along!  with Fat Quarter Shop and Lori Holt.  You can read all the SAL info including the schedule here.  Before I get into details about my make (Gingerbread House block made into a Snowglobe cushion) I'd love to show you a little more from Lori's brilliant new book!

I don't know how Lori does it.  Her books are packed full of makes - quilts and small projects - and her designs have such wonderful retro references; she must never stop sewing to make all the things, and as with her other books, the photographs are beautifully styles.  This book one is obviously Christmas themed, but many of the blocks and projects could be used for other times of the year, and as with her other books, it's spiral bound for easy use and the blocks instructions are for both 6" and 12"finished squares.

I especially liked the Vintage Christmas projects.  These are quick useful makes and I can never resist making more Christmas things, even when I already have quite a few!

     

The two colour quilts caught my eye, book marked as a future project maybe!?

The Gingerbread House block was fast to sew up.  Lori uses her tried-and-trusted technique of drawing diagonals on the reverse of squares and rectangles to create the 45-degree angles that make up details like the window awning, chimney sides and roof.  I like to tick the cutting list as I prep the fabric, as well as using a design board to lay all the pieces out before I sew.  The Snow Globe cushion used the 6" block and it only takes a few pieces of background fabric to create the snow globe effect.  I cut my red background slightly wider to produce a cushion bigger than the 12" square size in the book.  Mine is approx 16" square.

For the chimney smoke, I drew the line on removeable marker, threaded my machine with Aurifil 12wt in the top thread/50wt in the bobbin and stitched slowly, tying the ends in on the back.   A larger needle size helps with this.  I used a 100/16 Superior Needle.

Fabrics Used

Chimney/House -Kona Wheat

Roof- Riley Blake?  It was given to me and I'm down to tiny scraps.

Window/Door Glass- Cherry Christmas by Aneela Hoey for Moda

Door and Window frame- unknown scraps

Window Awning- Red Hatch from Day Sail, Bonnie & Camille for Moda

Grass and Path, Eat Drink and Be Ugly, Sandy Gervais for Moda

House/Globe Background- Sevenberry Dots blue on white

Globe Base- Cosmo Cricket Early Bird for Moda (I really miss Cosmo Cricket fabrics!)

Red background - Cherry Christmas by Aneela Hoey for Moda

Binding- Ta Dot in Ceda by Michael Miller

The Vintage Christmas book is available at The Fat Quarter Shop (USA)

In the UK, it looks like stock is still arriving but these shops usually sell Lori's quilting books: Patchwork Dreamer, Sew Hot, Hulu Crafts.

I'll be back later in the Sew Along with a Vintage Pinwheel block!  

Scrappy Project Planner Sew Along: Flirt Quilt

Today I'm joining in with the Fat Quarter Shop's Scrappy Planner Sew Along.  I received one of Lori Holt's Scrappy Project Planner a few months back and it's a mix of project planner, weekly planner with space for you to write your own planning, and it's also an instructional book with a tips/organising section and six full size scrappy quilt pattern at the back.  You can see inside it here, its 1" thick so you get an idea of how full it is!   

I chose to have a go at the Fat Quarter Flirt quilt which is a flexible scrappy quilt pattern which gives the look of randomness but the comfort of some blocks to follow.  it is of course a great scrap buster- Lori is the queen of scraps!  I have lots of feedback and vintage scraps, many are fro friends and are precious small pieces, so I thought I'd use them for this with an eye to a keepsake, fabric memento quilt.

There are six blocks.  Instructions are given for either using fat quarters and efficient economical cutting, or you can just make each block from whatever scraps you have to hand.  It could not be more flexible.   I made five blocks; the sixth had quite a large piece on and I'm looking to use smaller pieces so I going to stick with 1-5.

Flirt #1

Flirt #2

Flirt #3

Flirt#4 

Flirt #5

I'm going to have this as an ongoing quilt, something that I turn to for time to time, especially in between other projects as an easy, low effort sew.  You could easily substitute in extra strips and squares if you want to make blocks fit together differently from the suggested layout and I think its going to make a delightful, vintage hotch potch of prints!

You can see related quilts, sewalongs etc on this hashtag #scrappyprojectplanner and check in with the Jolly Jabber to see other's who have been playing with this block.
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Birthday Block Banner

To celebrate a year since the publication of her Farm Girl Vintage book, Lori Holt has designed a 'Farm Girl Layer Cake' Anniversary block and she and the Fat Quarter Shop are sharing versions of the blocks made by lots of sewing bloggers (full list in the FQ shop blog post) and I am taking part.  Check out the link here for the free Layer Cake pattern download from Lori.   The block can be made in two sizes, I opted for the smaller 6" size and added some wider sashing to make the block suitable for a birthday banner flag.

July is a busy month for birthdays in our house and I thought a banner flag that came out for family birthdays would be a cute bit of decor.  It's easy to do and the method could be applied to any size quilt block.

How to Make a Birthday Block Banner

In addition to the usual materials to make the smaller block you will need:

• 12" square backing material
• Some extra background fabric
• ribbon, twine or ric rac for hanging
• a stick- I used a gardening bamboo cane cut to size

1.  Complete the block following the instructions up to adding piece R- we will cut these a little larger!  Cut the following replacement pieces for R to enlarge the block slightly:

• One 3" x 8 ½ rectangle for top
• One 3 ½"x 8 ½" rectangle for the bottom

Sew these to the top and bottom of the block.  Press the block, starch if that's your preference!

Fold the block in half lengthways.  Cut the block to make a banner shape using a quilting ruler with a 45 degree line, line up with the fold and the edge of the block as in the photo below.  Trim excess fabric with a rotary cutter to create the banner point.  You can always mark with pencil or chalk first on the reverse to check your shape.

2.  Cut the backing fabric by placing the banner front on to the backing fabric, right sides together.  Use the banner front as a template, cut around it using quilt ruler and rotary cutter.    Mark ¼" seam intersections in pencil at the lower corners and point on the front banner.  Whilst banner front and back are still right sides together, pin around the edge.

Leaving a 3" space along the centre of the top edge, sew a ¼" seam all around the banner edge.   Trim corners and points.   Press the top seam open, including the gap to create a fold in the opening fabric.  Turn the banner through the gap, right side out.  Poke out corners carefully and press.  Use slip stitch to close the opening. 

3.  Fold your fabric over at the top creating enough room for your stick to slide through comfortably- it should not be too sung.  Pin and baste into place making sure your basting stitches are parallel to the top edge as you will be using these as a guideline for your top stitching.

4.  With a contrast thread- maybe even something thicker, I used Aufil 12 wt, stitch along the top of the banner, following the basting stitched and creating the hanging stick casing sleeve,  then continue the stitches around the edge of the banner.   With thicker threads it is often neater to finish the loose thread ends by hand.  Thread the hanging stick through.  Tie twine or ribbon or ric rac to the stick ends to hang the banner, tuck the ends into the casing sleeve.

Hang and enjoy on every birthday occasion!

Fabrics Used:

• Background: vintage fabric
• Cake: Lecien small gingham
• Cake filling Atsuko Matsuyama floral
• Cake Heart: Ayumi Takahashi for Kokka, Lighthearted  Swedish Kitchen text print
• Cake Stand: Denyse Schmidt Sweet Ruby floral, tiny Japanese strawberry print and Cosmo cricket sketch print.
• Backing fabric: Lecien Od New 30s Deer print by Atsuko Matsuyama 
• Top Stitch Thread: 12wt Aurifil 1231 Spring Green

Check out the other bloggers taking part here:

Vickie from Spun Sugar Quilts

Sedef from Down Grapevine Lane

Kelly from Kelbysews

Pam from Pam Kitty Morning

Debbie from Happy Little Cottage

Greg from Grey Dogwood Studios

Renee from Sewn with Grace

Sinta from Pink Pin Cushion

Lisa from In the Boondocks

Connie from Free Motion by the River

Dana from Old Red Barn Co.

Barb from Me & My Sister Designs

Melissa from Happy Quilting

Sharla from Thistle Thicket Studios

Kim from Persimon Dreams

Marni from Haberdashery Fun

Jacque from Lily Pad Quilting

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Final Week: Finishing The Little Joys Quilt

It's final week of the Fat Quarter Shop Little Joys quilt along, the 'Present' or 'Season of Giving' block.   and I managed to get my sashing done and plan exactly how to finish this project off.

The finishing instructions are here.  I am going to make the quilt top into a fabric cloth for work.  I run music classes for children from 0-4 years and come December, I will be well into my Christmas themed classes and there is much covering up/revealing of items so this project will be perfect for that.  

The green and white print (top left) is the backing and I will sew the top and backing together- maybe just using the grid formed by the sashing, just enough stitching to hold the layers.  The I plan to make prairie points for the edge in the red dotty print: Penny has a great tutorial on this.  I also wanted to bring in pink print that I wanted to show more of so this will form a binding strip between the prairie points and the cream fabric- I also plan on rounding the corners.  This video shows the effect I am hoping for.  Thank you to Daniar, Kimberly and the other staff at The Fat Quarter Shop for providing me with a kit and for offering a rather charming and quick to make pattern, designed by Elea Lutz who also designed the cute prints. I now have to get this done, just so I can feel extraordinarily well prepared for December!

Little Joys Quilt-Along: Week 4

It's time for the third and final set of blocks for the Fat Quarter Shop Little Joys quilt along, the 'Present' or 'Season of Giving' block.   I played around with the colour combos to produce three different blocks.  You can find the free pattern schedule and links to the kit here. 

For all the blocks in the quilt along, I cut all the fabric and arrange and piece in an assembly line style.  This also allows for auditions like the different colour 'ribbons' quarter square triangle 'Hour Glass' blocks.  Talking of the ribbons, a little voice in my head did contemplate lots of ribbons as a border around the quilt- not sure if I'm going to pursue that but there's fabric left over from the Fat Quarter Shop kit that could easily be used for that purpose!

See you next Wednesday for a finished quilt top.  I've already tried the layout on the floor and it all looks very cute and colourful together.    For UK or Europe quilters are looking to buy the Penny Rose 'Little Joys' fabrics designed by Elea Lutz closer to home for lower shipping costs or want to avoid import charges, you can find them at Pretty Fabrics and Trims.

Little Joys Quilt Along Week Three: Wreath Block

Welcome to those of you following Fat Quarter Shop Little Joys quilt along.  The 'Wreath' or 'Welcome Home block' is the next set of three blocks out of the nine that make up this little quilt.  I added a pink wreath that will go in the centre of my quilt as well as the two green wreaths.  You can find the free pattern schedule and links to the kit here. 

It's a block constructed in diagonal rows which I will confess I did mess up at one point when I put the final white half square triangles on the darker colours of the block which put the whole block on point and I didn't realise until I trimmed it back!  I salvaged the untrimmed squares and there is ample fabric in the kit to cope with silly errors like this! 

The final block is a little larger than the 101/2 unfinished size that it can be squared off and trimmed to size.  When adding the white half square triangles to the correct corners, I made a centre fold crease on the triangle and the square it is being added to just to keep things easily aligned.

This little quilt is already two thirds done!  See you next Wednesday for the Present blocks!  If you are in the UK or Europe and are looking to buy the Penny Rose 'Little Joys' fabrics designed by Elea Lutz closer to home or want to avoid import charges, you can find them at Pretty Fabrics and Trims

Little Joys Quilt Along Week Two: Tree Block

 It may be summer but there is that end-of-term feeling in the air, life has gone a little crazy with trips, school stuff, birthdays and deadlines so it could almost be Christmas with never ending to-do lists!  Week one of Fat Quarter Shop's Little Joys quilt along and my three 'Trim the Tree' blocks are done.

I made three identical tree blocks with a little pink addition to the top of my trees.  The instructions are easy- just adding half square triangles with the background squares to the main fabric rectangles.  I chain pieced the blocks and they were quick to put together.

Each half square triangle leaves another mini pair of triangles behind so I thought I would be efficient and draw in an extra line to stitch, half an inch from the diagonal pencil line and so when you cut between the two stitching lines each there is a quarter inch seam on either side and no wastage.

Here's a diagram to explain.  The red is the original stitching line, the blue is the second stitching line.  

Not sure what I am going to do with them but there will be fabric left over from this kit so there's potential for a scrappy extra make at then end of this quick small quilt project.  The pattern is free and you can make it with your own Christmas prints or a kit with all the fabric needed is available here.  See you next Wednesday with my wreath blocks!

Christmas in July: Little Joys Quilt Along

Yes I know, time is moving very quickly and although it isn't July quite yet, it is only a week away and some Christmas-in-July quilt shenanigans are afoot at the Fat Quarter shop- there's a free pattern and anyone can join in with the Little Joys Quilt Along!

There's nothing like preparing for Christmas early and I just know I am going to feel a little bit smug at the end of July when this little quilt top is pieced ready for December!

Picture courtesy of Fat Quarter Shop

It's a simple nine block layout based on three different blocks and it has been designed by Elea Lutz of Penny Rose Fabrics.  I'll be using fabrics from a kit kindly supplied by Fat Quarter shop so my quilt will feature the gorgeous Little Joys fabrics and I'll be adding pink prints in as well as red and green.

 Find all the info including a PDF with fabric requirements so you can either buy a quilt kit with all the Little Joys fabrics you need or make it in your own mix of Christmas prints.  The first construction post starts on July 8th and the schedule and all other details can be found here.

Blogger Bundle Close Up

My blogger bundle arrived from Fat Quarter Shop a few days ago- what can I say, I love it!

With this bundle I was aiming to create a balance of light/mid/dark tones, plus some text and feature prints.  I think I did it.  One print is missing- this Sweetwater print was one of my choices but supplies ran out at the shop so I think I will buy some and add it in.

The Heather Bailey ginger buttercup print is such a great colour with its yarrow gold and the graphic flowers- perfect for fussy cut English Paper piecing as it can create kaleidoscopic effects.

This made me laugh, I wasn't expecting this particular style of presentation! (picture from the Fat Quarter Shop).

And this is where the bundle is going, into my ongoing Glitter quilt.  I am fussy cutting each centre with various novelty prints in my stash and mixing this bundle along with anything else that comes to hand.  All hand pieced and a real pleasure to sew.  The variety of fabrics keeps my eyes happy when sewing the same block over and over. 

Fat Quarter Shop Blogger's Choice Bundle: April

A few months back, I had an email from the Fat Quarter Shop inviting me to choose a bundle for their Blogger Bundle club- quite an honour!  Blogger bundles have been running for a while and They have tweaked the bundles so they no longer include solids to make them an even better deal.

To choose the bundle, you are given a month of new releases to choose from and work from little preview pictures.  I was very lucky that Sweetwater's Feed Company collection was out that month as that kicked off my choices and I built the rest of the bundle around that.   There's a mix of Ambleside, Clementine, Elizabeth,  Fantasia, Folksong, and a bonus  Daysail print as one of the Feed Company prints sold out all ready!  I haven't seen my choices in person yet, it is winging its way over to me and I can't wait to see it.  You can find the bundle here or as part of the blogger's choice club here.