Amanda

Cats & Scraps {a free quilt pattern}

September 26, 2017 by Amanda 4 Comments

You will love how easy this quilt comes together and I love the scrappy feel it has! It’s the purrrrrfect size for you and your fur baby to cuddle with!!

Scraps and Cats Quilt by Amanda Niederhauser

Finished Quilt 60″ x 70″

Block Size 10″

All seams 1/4″

Scraps and Cat Quilt Supplies:

HeatnBond EZ Print Featherlite Adhesive Sheets

3 yard solid white/cream

assortment of 10 or more fat quarters, lights and darks

For the cat head block cut (21) 10 1/2″ squares from the solid white fabric.

For the chain blocks, cut a variety of fabrics (for a scrappy look) into 2 1/2″ squares. You need:

(84) white low volume print 2 1/2″ squares (I used the low volume prints that were in the fat quarter bundle) for the 9-patch

(189) dark print 2 1/2″ squares

(84) solid white 2 1/2″ x 6 1/2″ rectangles

I choose to use HeatnBond Featherlite for the applique because the cat head appliqué pieces are larger and I didn’t want to add bulk to the quilt. I love this weight because you can hardly tell it’s there.

You can download the cat head pattern, 2 per sheet by clicking HERE. Put the HeatnBond EZ Print Featherlite sheets in your printer and no tracing needed!! Or print it on regular paper and trace the cat head onto Heat n Bond Lite.

Scraps and Cats Quilt Instructions:

Cut around the cat heads about 1/4″. Place the cat head on the wrong side of the desired fabric. Press with a hot dry iron. Let cool. Cut the cat heads out following the pattern line. Peel off the backing paper. Position the cat head in the center of the 10 1/2″ white blocks. Heat set into place. Sew around each cat head 2 times with dark thread.

Make 21 cat head blocks

Sew the 9-patch unit together.

Then add the borders by sewing a rectangle to each side and pressing. Sew the corner squares to the ends of the remaining 2 rectangles. Press. Sew on to the top and bottom of the 9-patch unit. Press. Make 21 blocks.

You might have to wrangle the blocks away from your cat late at night 🙂

Lay out blocks in 6 blocks across by 7 blocks down. Sew each block together in rows, press toward the cat heads. Sew the rows together, matching seam intersections. Press.

Now you’re ready to quilt! I’m sending mine to the quilter and I’m sure she’ll come up with something purrrrrfect!

Filed Under: cat, FEATURED, Heat n Bond, quilt, Therm O Web

Delightful Tablerunner

September 26, 2017 by Amanda Leave a Comment

I am participating in Fat Quarters Shop’s Tablerunner Bliss Quilt Along! The Tablerunner Bliss book by Sherri Falls is soooo AMAZIZNG!! I bet you can’t pick just 3 table runners to make – you will want to make them all!!! Today is my turn to share!! I chose the “Delightful” tablerunner and I chose Christmas fabrics, because it is never too early to get a jump on holiday sewing!

The fabrics in my tablerunner are from Comfort & Joy by Riley Blake Designs.

The tablerunner is made up of 4 blocks and a small border. The blocks are super fun to make and the instructions in the book are very easy to follow. I would love to make a quilt out of these blocks! I quilted the tablerunner with an all over swirly pattern and used plaid binding cut on the bias to give it that finishing touch!

Mufasa likes tablerunners better because he can spread out lengthwise…..heehee

Thanks for stopping by! Scroll down for a complete list of all the designers participating in this blog tour!

Tuesday, 9/5 – Anorina (Samelia’s Mum) and Pam (Pam Kitty Morning)
Tuesday, 9/12 – Sinta (Pink Pincushion)
Tuesday, 9/19 – Lorna (Sew Fresh Quilts) and Connie (Freemotion by the River)
Tuesday 9/26 – Amanda (Jedi Craft Girl) and Jennie (Clover & Violet)
Tuesday 10/3 – Melanie (A Bit of Scrap Stuff) and Sherri (A Quilting Life)
Tuesday 10/10 – Sinta (Pink Pincushion) and Lisa (In the Boon Docks)
Tuesday 10/17 – Vickie (Spun Sugar Quilts) and Susan (yardgrl60 on Instagram)
Tuesday 10/24 – Taunja (Carried Away Quilting) and Lorna (Sew Fresh Quilts)
Tuesday 10/31 – Greg (Grey Dogwood Studio) and Melanie (A Bit of Scrap Stuff)
Tuesday 11/7 – Melisssa (Happy Quilting) and Kim (Persimon Dreams)

Filed Under: fat quarter shop, FEATURED, quilt

Country Flowers Quilt Pattern

September 25, 2017 by Amanda 6 Comments

I’m so excited to announce my newest quilt pattern Country Flowers!! This charming little quilt is inspired by fields of flowers in the country. I live in the city but dream of country life and love to fill my home with country inspired quilts, art, and vintage finds.

You can find the pattern in my Easy shop by clicking HERE. The little quilt measures 26″ and is perfect for hanging on a wall or placing on a table. And it makes and adorable gift.

I am so in love with this fabric collection from Moda called Farmers Daughter. It so makes me want to move to the country.

The pattern is a PDF download with full color instructions and diagrams. The quilt is made of 4 blocks measuring 10″ and some fun sashing.

I think you’re going to love this!! I do!

So let’s take a quilting journey to the country together! Be sure to post your photos and sew along by using the hashtag #countryflowersquilt on Instagram.
Thanks for stopping by!

Filed Under: FEATURED, moda, patterns, quilt

Almost a Log Cabin Quilt Tutorial

September 19, 2017 by Amanda Leave a Comment

I’m super excited to share this fun country-inspired quilt with you called “Almost a Log Cabin”. I was able to spend a week on a bus tour with 45 amazing ladies touring from Texas to Missouri. We spent 3 days at the Missouri Star Quilt Company where we shopped and sewed ourselves crazy. I wanted to sew a quilt to remember my trip by so I created this scrappy, easy, breezy quilt out of The Sleeping Porch by Heather Ross.

It was amazing to spend time with Jenny who is so funny and inspiring!!!

You can’t help but get inspired by spending time in this adorable little town!

Here’s how to make the quilt:

Finished quilt 61.5″ x 61.5″

Finished block: 10.5″

All seams 1/4″

This is jelly roll, charm pack and fat quarter friendly.

You will need 12+ fat quarters (or charm pack + jelly roll)

1 yard of border fabric

1/2 yard binding

4 yards backing fabric

**Note – this is a totally random quilt – color placement is just a suggestion. I didn’t plan out the colors, just grabbed and sewed!

Begin by cutting (or selecting) 25 – 5″ center squares. Cut the remaining fat quarters into 2.5″ strips, or crack open your jelly roll.

You can subcut the strips into the below measurements, or you can sew the cheater way and sew the block onto the 2.5″ strips and square up after.

Block construction:

5″ center square

Sew a 2.5″ x 5″ strip to the left side. Press toward the strip.

Sew a 7″ x 2.5″ strip to the bottom. Press toward the strip.

Sew a 7″ x 2.5″ strip to the right side. Press toward the strip.

Sew a 9″ x 2.5″ strip to the top. Press toward the strip.

Sew a 9″ x 2.5″ strip to the left side. Press toward the strip.Sew an 11″ x 2.5″ strip to the bottom. Press toward the strip.

Repeat until you have 25 blocks sewn.

Lay them out into 5 rows of 5 and sew together.

Here is a suggestion for lay out. Notice, I rotated the blocks so the center squares were not all even. Have fun and play around with positioning the blocks.

For the border,

Cut (6) 5″ x width of fabric strips and sew end to end. Press.

Measure the length of the quilt in the center and use that measurement to cut the side borders. Sew, and press toward the border.

Measure the width of the quilt (including side borders) and use that measurement to cut the top and bottom borders. Sew, and press toward the border.

Baste, quilt and bind.

You can see how scrappy the quilt looks which is exactly the look I was going for.

These cows were watching the whole time we were photographing!! I want to move here!!

This is the perfect size for a throw quilt, I’m going to put it on my couch and it’s just for me!!!

Filed Under: FEATURED, quilt

Little Spooks Quilt {a Five Fat Quarter Fun Quilt}

September 1, 2017 by Amanda 2 Comments

It’s September 1st and that means a 5 Fat Quarter Fun Quilt!!! Yay!!!!

Amber and I have been doing some spooky sewing and we are ready to share this fun little quilt with you! It is a great size for a wall hanging or to put on a table! Finished it measures 34″ square. I also love that you can use theme prints in the centers – I’m always looking for ways to use my theme prints….especially HALLOWEEN CAT prints!! Don’t you love these spooky felines! The fabric is from Blend Fabric’s Boo Crew line.

It is highly recommended to sew with your cat…..like you ever have a choice…hehehehe!!! Mufasa is loving this little quilt – the purrrrrfect size for him!

The quilt is made of 4 large blocks. Wouldn’t these blocks be great in a larger quilt!!

A little sashing and you’re all set!

You can download the PDF quilt pattern by clicking HERE. Make sure to tag @gigis_thimbel and @jedicraftgirl and use the hashtag #fivefatquarterfun and #littlespooksquilt so we can see your creations!!

By the way…..it is so NOT fall here in Southern California….the last 3 days have been 114 degrees!!!!!

Filed Under: 5 fat quarter fun, Blend Fabrics, cat, FEATURED, Halloween, quilt

Five Fat Quarter Fun Contest

August 24, 2017 by Amanda Leave a Comment

Amber and I have had the best time creating quilts using only 5 fat quarters and sharing with you! We love seeing your take on our patterns each month. Thank you for your overwhelming support! The quilting community is so amazing! As a way to say thank you, we thought we would issue you all a challenge and then reward you big time! We want to see what you come up with when given the challenge to only use 5 fat quarters and up to 2 background fabrics! Post your quilt progress and quilt (or quilt top) finish photos on Instagram and tag @gigi’s_thimble and @jedicraftgirl and make sure to use the hashtag #fivefatquarterfuncontest. This is where all the judging will take place. Here are the official rules and all the amazing prizes you can win!

Five Fat Quarter Fun Contest

Starts: August 25th

Ends: October 25th

Winners will be announced November 1st.

There will be 3 winners chosen!

To Enter:

Make a quilt or quilt top using just 5 fat quarters and up to 2 background fabrics.

Quilt must be at least 34″ x 34″ or bigger.

Must be made within the contest start and end dates.

Post photo(s) on Instagram using the hashtag #fivefatquarterfuncontest.

Tag us at @jedicraftgirl and @gigis_thimble.

*Does NOT have to be quilted and bound to be entered.

*Does not have to be your own design (but this might earn you bonus points!)

Prizes:

Grand Prize Package

Long-Arm Quilting on a 65″ x 75″ Quilt or smaller (.015 cents/sq. inch), Batting & Return Shipping from Kaylene Parry

2 Rolie Polies from Riley Blake Designs

1 Large Spool Collection from Aurifil

1/2 Yard Bundle of Haven Collection by Stacy Peterson for Blend

Vintage Vibe Book by Amber Johnson

Biscuits and Gravy Layer Cake & Cake Mix Recipe Cards from Moda

Moda Fat Eighth Bundle

Scraps Made Simple Book & Sew Cute Bookmarks by Lori Holt

$25 Gift Card to Brew Stitched Etsy Shop

Maker Valley Enamel Pins (2), Tote Bag & Pattern

3 It’s Sew Emma Books & $50 Gift Card to the Fat Quarter Shop

I Love House Blocks Book from Martingale (donated by Amanda)

Scissors from Warm Crochet

Notions from Therm O Web

2nd Place Prize Package

2 Rolie Polies from Riley Blake Designs

1 Small Spool Collection from Aurifil

Vintage Vibe Book by Amber Johnson

2 It’s Sew Emma Books & $25 Gift Card to the Fat Quarter Shop

Notions from Therm O Web

I Love House Blocks Book from Martingale (donated by Amanda)

Scissors from Warm Crochet

3rd Place Prize Package

2 Rolie Polies from Riley Blake Designs

1 Small Spool Collection from Aurifil

Vintage Vibe Book by Amber Johnson

1 It’s Sew Emma Book & $15 Gift Card to the Fat Quarter Shop

Notions from Therm O Web

I Love House Blocks Book from Martingale (donated by Amanda)

Scissors from Warm Crochet

Judging:

Winners will be chosen based off of photos using the hashtag #fivefatquarterfuncontest pool. There will be 3 judges including myself and Amber Johnson. The third judge will be a fellow quilt designer.

You can make any pattern out there (as long as it uses just 5 fat quarters and up to 2 background fabrics) OR you can test your creativity and design your own 5FQF pattern! Be sure to tag us on Instagram (@jedicraftgirl and @gigis_thimble) and use the hashtag #fivefatquarterfuncontest to enter! We can’t wait to see where your creativity takes you! Good luck!

Filed Under: 5 fat quarter fun, FEATURED

Orange Peel Applique Quilt

August 3, 2017 by Amanda Leave a Comment

I am super excited to be sharing this mini quilt today! I needed a little something for my new kitchen and I didn’t have much time…..summers are so crazy, right!! I love the look of orange peel appliqué but wanted this project to be done in a few hours – Heat n Bond Lite to the rescue!

I dove into my stash of Moda Vintage Picnic scraps – which are just the perfect colors to patch my Pyrex collection!

Vintage Orange Peel Mini Quilt with HeatnBond® Lite

Finished quilt 24″ square

Here’s what you need to get started:

Lots of scraps!!! I used all my Vintage Picnic scraps for this quilt
Heat n Bond® Lite for the appliqué – yes those orange peels are machine appliquéd – who has time for hand stitching in the summer!
1/3 yard of white/off white background fabric
1/8 yard navy inner border fabric
Spray n Bond® Basting Spray
1/4 yard binding fabric
1-yard backing fabric
cotton batting

Vintage Orange Peel Mini Quilt with HeatnBond Lite Instructions:

Get started by cutting all those scraps into (64) 2 1/2″ squares. No pattern here – just scrappy!

Lay them out in 8 rows of 8.

Piece together in rows, pressing each row opposite so the seams come together nicely. Sew the rows together and press.

I love patchy quilts!!!!

For the inner navy border cut:

(2) 2″ x 16 1/2″ strips

(2) 2″ x 19 1/2″ strips

Sew the border to the sides of the scrappy unit, press. Then to the top and bottom, press.

For the orange peel, print off the orange peel pattern. Make sure it measures 3″ from end to end.

Trace the orange peel onto the HeatnBond Lite 48 times.

Cut out around each orange peel and press to the wrong side of the desired fabric – scrap buster style!!!

Cut out each orange peel and peel off the backing paper.

Cut the white fabric:

(4) 5 1/2″ x 19 1/2″

Position the orange peels as shown in the photo. Heat set in place. Sew around each orange peel using a straight stitch.

Make the corner blocks:

Using the above measurements, construct 4 blocks for each of the 4 corners.

Sew an orange peel unit to each side, press.

Sew a block unit to the ends of the remaining orange peel unit, press.

Sew the remaining orange peel units to the top and bottom of the quilt. Press.

Baste the quilt with SpraynBond Basting Spray for speedy results. I quilted the quilt with an all over double loop de loop pattern. Bind and enjoy!

I am super in love with this scrappy little quilt and love how it looks in my new kitchen!!!

Filed Under: FEATURED, moda, quilt, Therm O Web

BWINDI FOREST {Free Quilt Pattern}

August 3, 2017 by Amanda 5 Comments

This is one of my all time favorite quilt patterns! I have made it at least 5 times! I love it because:

It uses theme prints which I am a sucker for
It has cheater method piecing
You can make it in a day
It works with any fabric
You can easily make it into a baby quilt size or keep adding blocks for a twin size or larger

You can download the free pattern HERE

The fabrics in this quilt are Kona black and Kona white and the Bwindi Forest Collection from Blend Fabrics

I never thought I would want a monkey quilt – but this quilt has totally stolen my heart! I am so in love with it!

For other versions of this quilt, check out these posts:

Filed Under: Blend Fabrics, FEATURED, quilt

Preppy Quilt {a Five Fat Quarter Fun Quilt}

August 1, 2017 by Amanda 3 Comments

It’s August 1st!! (which I am totally not excited about! I want to live in a forever JULY!!!!) I am so in love with this month’s 5 Fat Quarter Fun Quilt!! Amber and I invited our friend, Andy from A Bright Corner, to design this mont’s quilt. Andy came up with this super AMAZING and super fun quilt called “Preppy”. I love all things preppy! I dream of living in New England and owning a sail boat!! So this is so totally me!!! You can download the full PDF pattern over a A Bright Corner – and be sure to follow @abrightcorner on Instagram!!

I love Amber’s version of this pattern! She made it a little bit smaller so it would be perfect for a baby quilt!

For my nautical inspired version my heart ran straight to Cotton + Steel S.S. Bluebird line from Fat Quarter Shop. Not only do I love all things nautical, I am a whale lover and bird lover!! So this fabric was totally designed just for me! I added in the navy Swiss dot (favorite) from Riley Blake Designs.