Friday, December 31, 2021

Happy New Year's Eve

The Christmas season goes by too fast so still enjoying a few more Christmas Projects

I made a last minute placemat out of some patchwork and a little house I had on hand.  I added a Christmas greeting in Freemotion embroidery

This tree skirt is not yet done but making progress for next year.

I'm using the tutorial by Nana Bluebird  I made 4 sections but think I will need 6, since my strips must be less than 10 degrees



I love the little Tannebaum tree.  I watched this tutorial from Shabby Fabrics and made my own template.  It's very fun to make and nostalgic because we made 3-D paper Christmas trees in school long ago in the good old days!
Linking up with Sarah; Alycia; and the Joyful Quilter

Tuesday, December 14, 2021

Wedding Quilt

 The wedding quilt was finished a while back and now delivered to my friend, who will deliver it to her son and daughter-in-law 

 It’s about 72”square.

Shows some quilting detail and the debonair striped binding

It was fun adding lots of varying quilting designs 

Christmas Baubles Wall Hanging

Our little sewing group had an ornament exchange.  Mine turned out quilted.




In case you'd like to make a Christmas Bauble, here are some cutting instructions.
(4) 1 1/2 x 2 1/2 rectangles (3 are background, one is the ornament top)
(2) 2 1/2 inch background squares
(4) 2 1/2" green center squares
(4) 2 1/2" red squares
(4) red and background HSTs (half square triangles)  An easy way to make 4 at once is, place two 4 inch squares of fabric (background and color) right sides together, sew around the perimeter and then cut diagonally twice)
Not shown are borders (2) 2 x 10 1/2” and (2) 2 x 13 1/2”

Alternate is scrappy border:  add (22) 2 1/2” squares around the outside


Sew all the pieces together
Layer with backing and batting and add some quilting

Finish with binding and a bow

https://confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com/2021/12/can-i-get-whoop-whoop-look-whos-growing.html

Saturday, December 4, 2021

Christmas Corner Catch up: Last minute Ideas and Thoughtful Gifts

Still time to make Potholders for a treasured friend (see tutorial at the end)

Add some ribbon and an ornament for an elegant and festive mirror (a tip from my friend, Faith)



A Pillow makes a Thoughtful gift and is fairly quick to make (Photo at Trish's.  Her tree is so elegant!)


This charm square on point pillow is from a tutorial by the Missouri Star Quilt Company.  I also have their charm square zig zag table runner ready to quilt on which the pillow is sitting.


A couple of the ladies in my little quilting group, Sarah and Trish, also made pillows.  Aren't they lovely together?  All you need is 36 charm squares and a few more things, check out the tutorial above

This pillow is brighter and whimsical

Another idea:  Finish up something from the past to place a centerpiece upon

It's nice to take out old projects and finish them up.  I added borders and some holly and swirls, free motion quilting, in goldish thread

I started to make this 9 patch runner years ago from a tutorial by Sherri McConnell and so happy to have completed it. 

Here's one in a winter theme
A winter wonderland version with fussy cut 2 1/2" squares, ready to quilt.

For these setting triangles I had to cut a 7 inch square and cut diagonally only once so they would be going the proper direction (note: cut your square on point, so your print will be right side up)
For the corner square triangles it works to cut a 7 1/2" square two times diagonally.  You will be able to put each one in the corner so it is going the correct direction.




Close up of the fussy cut artic animals


Potholder Tutorial
Every autumn, I have enjoyed the little pumpkin potholder I made years ago.  I see some potholder tutorials you could follow but couldn't find the original tutorial I followed, so decided to make some Christmas-y ones and make them a little larger since they tend to shrink.  Here is a tutorial.

Cut your pieces (this is for TWO potholders)
Background: 
(2) 7 1/4 x 1 1/4" for the top border; 
(4) 1 1/2 x 3 1/2 for the sides of the trunk; 
(4) 5 1/2 x 1 1/2" for the side borders; 
(2) 3 1/2 x 6 1/2 with right sides together, cut as shown in the picture for the sides of the tree
Tree:  Cut (2) triangles as shown (see close up below)
Trunk:  (2) 1 1/2" squares
Batting:
(2) 7" squares
(4) 7 x 9 1/4" rectangles
Lining:
(2) 7 x 7 1/4"
(2) 7 x 7 1/2"
Backing:  (2) 7 x 9 1/4" rectangles
Binding:  Not shown  (2) width of fabric 2 1/2" strips and (2) 2 1/2 x 7" piece for the pocket


Here's a close up of how I cut the triangles.  They are 5 inches at the bottom and a little less than 60 degrees.

You will make two parts and later place together which forms the pocket.
1.  Create the front part
Step one:  Sew the pieces together as shown here and then the top border and tree trunk together.  Trim block to 7 x 7"

 (sorry just noticed a bunch of lint, ugh)
Step 2: Layer the front, one piece of batting and the front lining and do some type of simple quilting.  Step 3:  Fold a binding piece in half, lengthwise, place binding across the top and sew raw edges to the top of the back


Step 4:  Sew the binding down to the front

Step 5:  Optional sew a little tag (mine says hand made)

Assemble the Back 
Step 6:  Sew the color squares together and then sew to the lining of the back piece 

Step 7:  Layer the 2 pieces of the batting, the backing and the piece with the colored squares and do some simple quilting

Showing the front and back of the piece in step 7

 
Step 8:  Baste the two pieces together

Step 9:  Bind and your potholders and they are complete!  You can place some cooking items in the pocket or maybe some fat quarters for your favorite quilter.



I wish you all a Merry Christmas!

Linking with Alycia Quilts  TGIFF and Wendy's Quilts

Maple Leaf Block Instructions

To make the 9 1/2 inch maple leaf blocks:   Some basic instructions HSTs cut each, background and color 3 7/8” squares (cut diagonally once)...