fat quarter shop

Vinyl Covered Fabric Pencil Pouch Tutorial

December 19, 2016 by Amanda Leave a Comment

I love sewing zipper pouches! This one is the perfect size to keep pens, pencils, and art supplies in. What’s even more fun is I used Heat n Bond Vinyl to make the outside of the zipper pouch waterproof – it kind of has the look of oil cloth! The kids were so excited! They each choose a Marvel fabric for their pouch. They literally stood by the sewing machine waiting for me to finish them! These are such great gifts and are so useful!!

They go great with my Marvel composition book and Marvel key fob!! Here’s how you can make one:

Supplies

1/4 yard outer bag

1/4 yard lining

zipper, at least 12″ long

Heat n Bond Vinyl

Instructions:

Cut the following:

(2) 5″ x 10.5″ for outer bag Marvel fabric

(2) 5″ x 10.5″ for lining

(2) 2.5″ x 2″ for zipper tabs

(2) 5″ x 10.5″ Heat n Bond Vinyl

Cut the outer bag and lining pieces.

Cut the vinyl pieces.

Peel off the vinyl and place the sticky side to the right side of the outer bag pieces. Cover the vinyl with the paper that was just removed and heat set (on medium heat) according to manufacturers instructions, about 8 seconds then flip over and press for 4 seconds.

DO NOT touch iron directly onto vinyl. If you need to press, cover with the paper first.

The outer pieces are now covered in vinyl and have a whole new look!!! It’s so much fun!!!!

Now it’s time to sew in the zipper.

Press the zipper tabs 1/4″ in on the top and bottom and then press in half:

Trim the metal end off the zipper and insert the end into one of the tabs. Sew 2 seams along the edge:

Cut open the zipper tab and cut out the zipper. Trim the zipper tab to be the same width as the zipper.

Now measure the zipper to the zipper pouch. You need to have 1″ of zipper tab on each side. Measure the zipper and cut the other end off to where it needs to be. Sew the second zipper tab on. Make sure not to cut the zipper pull off 🙂 Cut open the zipper tab and cut out the excess zipper.

Lay the zipper right side on top of the Marvel piece. Lay the Lining piece on top of that right side down. Match all the raw edges. See photo below:

Using a zipper foot, sew the zipper in. Finger press.

Now position the second Marvel piece right side down and the lining piece on the bottom, right side facing up, like this:

Basically you are making sure each piece is right sides together with it’s matching piece. Line up all the raw edges and sew using the zipper foot. Finger press.

Sew 1/8″ along both sides of the zipper.

With the zipper partially open, match the Marvel pieces right sides together and the lining pieces right sides together. Pin all the way around. Sew using 1/4″ seam all the way around leaving a 3 inch opening in the bottom of the lining. Clip corners and turn right side out. Top stitch the opening closed. The vinyl gets a little scrunched while turning, so place the pressing paper on top of the vinyl and lightly press out the wrinkles.

Ta Da!! Now go sew up a bunch of these!!!!

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Filed Under: fat quarter shop, FEATURED, Marvel, zipper pouch

Marvel Padded Sketchbook Case Tutorial

December 19, 2016 by Amanda Leave a Comment

I love sewing for my kids!!!! They are totally into Marvel right now so I’m so excited for this new line from Camelot Fabrics available at Fat Quarter Shop!! This fun project is for a padded sketch book case with button closure (Sketch book measuring 9″x12″). This case is also great for coloring books, journals, music books, and magazines. The Heat n Bond Fusible Fleece gives it soft stability. You can whip one up in about 30 minutes! So it’s a great gift.

I made four Sketch Book Cases for my daughter’s artsy friends. The four of them sketch all day and nerd out at lunch with their sketchbooks. They were thrilled to receive them!!

Let’s get started!

Supplies
1/2 yard lining fabric

fat quarter backing

fat quarter flap fabric

fat quarter front sides

fat quarter front center

1 yard Heat n Bond Fusible Fleece

Button

First have your cat sleep on all the fabric so it needs ironing when you are ready 🙂

Cut the front side pieces (2) 5″ x 12″ and center 6″ x 12″.

Sew together as pictured above with 1/4″ seams and press.

Cut the back 15″ x 12″

Cut the flap (2) 15″ x 6″

Cut the lining (2) 15″ x 12″

Cut the Fusible Fleece (2) 15″ x 12″ and (1) 15″ x 6″

Match up the Marvel pieces with the fleece pieces and fuse to the wrong side of the fabric, according to manufacturers instructions. (only fuse one of the flap pieces)

Sew accent stitching 1/8″ along both sides of the seams.

Prepare the flap:

Take the fused flap piece and round the corners of the bottom two corners by tracing a small plate. Cut with scissors.

Lay the rounded flap piece on top of the second 6″ x 15″ piece and pin, right sides together. Sew 1/2″ seam around the side, bottom, and side. Leaving the top open.

Trim down the seam allowance and clip the curves.

Turn right side out, press and top stitch along seam 1/8″.

Find the center of the flap and mark. Sew a button hole that matches the size of your button. Sew the button hole 2″ above the seam.

Place the front pouch piece on top of the back pouch piece right sides together. Pin the sides and the bottom. Sew the sides and bottom using a 1/2″ seam. Clip corners and turn right side out.

Pin the sides and bottom of the lining pieces in the same manner. Sew 1/2″ seam along the sides and bottom.

Pin the flap to the back of the pouch, matching raw edges. Make sure to center on the back piece. Baste 1/8″ along flap .

Place the outer pouch inside the lining, right sides together. Match at side seams and pin all the way around. Sew using a 1/4″ seam all the way around.

Unstitch a 3″ section on one of the sides of the lining. Turn right side out. Top stitch the lining closed. Press lining down inside the pouch. Top stitch using a 1/8″ seam around the “mouth” of the case. Hand sew the button on.

They were so much fun to make and the fabrics were fun to mix and match! I can’t decide which is my favorite!

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Filed Under: fat quarter shop, FEATURED, Heat n Bond, Marvel, Uncategorized

Moonlight Path Quilt Tutorial

November 10, 2016 by Amanda 3 Comments

I am super excited to share this pattern with you! The inspiration for this quilt came when I saw this cat fabric called The Highlands from Michael Miller on the Fat Quarter Shop website! Yes those are cats with antlers!!!!

I’m so in love with it!!!!! I selected 22 prints to coordinate with this sweet little fabric to create the Moonlight Path Fat Quarter Bundle that is available from Fat Quarter Shop!

Aren’t these colors fabulous together! To make this throw-size quilt top you only need this fat quarter bundle and nothing else!! (There is enough fabric left over if you want to make a scrappy binding too!)

The fat quarter bundle has a perfect blend of darks, lights, and mids. You don’t have to add any additional yardage!!

I love all the shades of blue with a few gray prints – I am a blue girl – can you tell! If you look closely there are a few fussy cut cat blocks hidden in the quilt. After all, they were the inspiration 🙂

Let’s get started!!

all seams 1/4″

We will only be using 2 1/2″ strips for the blocks.

Each dark print 2 1/2″ strip will be enough for one block. You need 50 dark strips for the 50 blocks.

Each light print 2 1/2″ strip will be enough for (2) blocks. You need 25 light print strips.

Each medium print 2 1/2″ strip will be enough for (2) blocks. You need 25 medium print strips.

Once the strips are cut, sew the light and medium strips together lengthwise. Press toward the dark. Sub-cut into 2 1/2″ increments. Cut the dark strips in 4 1/2″ increments. The above picture shows everything you need for one block.

Sew the strip set to the dark rectangle as pictured above. You will have (4) of these units per block.

Continue sewing in this manner until all the strips are sewn into these units.

The pieced units will be sewn as pictured above, like a 4-patch. I pressed the seams alternately as much as I could for easy matching.

Now you have a finished block! Continue sewing all the units together to form 50 blocks.

I love how they each turned out!!!

Cat Blocks

You will need to make 6 additional fussy-cut cat blocks to mix in.

Fussy cut the cat fabric in 4 1/2″ squares. Cut 6.

Cut (24) light 2 1/2″ squares.

Cut (24) medium 2 1/2″ squares.

Cut (24) dark 2 1/2″ squares.

Lay them out according to the photo below:

Sew the top and bottom rows together. Sew the sides together, press, then sew to the sides of the cat square. Finally sew the top and bottom rows to the center cat unit, matching seams. Press.

I love the cat block! It wouldn’t be a quilt unless there was a little theme print in it!!! Of course you could omit the cat blocks and just make 56 of the original blocks.

Lay the quilt out 7 blocks across and 8 rows down. I had to play around with my blocks so they didn’t create an unwanted pattern. It’s tricky to look random 🙂 Sew the blocks together pressing seams alternately with each row. Sew the rows together pinning at every seam intersection. Quilt, bind, love!

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Filed Under: fat quarter shop, FEATURED, quilt

Timber Quilt Pattern from Fat Quarter Shop

October 5, 2016 by Amanda Leave a Comment

I’m so excited to be a part of the Fat Quarter Shop Timber Quilt Blog Tour! This amazing pattern is available for free download (click HERE ) From Fat Quarter Shop! You will love how easy it is to follow and how amazing it looks when it’s all put together!

I choose Tapestry by Art Gallery Fabrics. There is a cat in one of the prints!! screen-shot-2016-10-05-at-1-15-15-pm

Mufasa and I go all settle in and began cutting. Oh what fun!

The blocks are super fun to put gether!

I love that this pattern goes quickly because you can chain piece! Here is what chain piecing looks like at my house!

And before you know it the blocks are finished! These colors and prints just sing!!

There are 20 total blocks that make up the quilt.

I can’t decide which color set I like best!

Before we could finish the quilt – someone pooped out 🙂

These colors look amazing together!!

I absolutely love how this pattern came together! I would totally make it again!! I love the one bright orange row and that it is slightly off center – as if I tried to do that!!!

Now it’s time for you to make one!! You will LOVE it!!!

These fabulous ladies also made a Timber Quilt! Check out their blogs to see their versions!!!

Tina from Emily Ann’s Kloset

Melissa from Happy Quilting

Amanda from Jedi Craft Girl

Melanie from Mostly Crafty

Natalia from Piece N’ Quilt

Megan from Quilt Story

Heather from Quilt Story

Afton from Quilting Mod

Erin from Why Not Sew

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Filed Under: fat quarter shop, FEATURED, quilt

Spooky Pillow Covers

September 22, 2016 by Amanda Leave a Comment

I love changing out my pillow covers for each season. My living room is blacks and neutrals for Halloween so I wanted some pillows that didn’t scream cheesy Halloween (I put those in the family room!). I found the plaid flannels at Joann Fabrics and the spooky tree print is from Cotton + Steel that I ordered from Fat Quarter Shop. To learn more about sewing an invisible zipper in a pillow, read this. It’s super easy and you can make a pillow cover in a matter of minutes!

I love love love them! They look great with my Hallow’s Eve quilt!!

Filed Under: fat quarter shop, FEATURED, Halloween, pillow

The Jolly Bar Book

September 7, 2016 by Amanda 3 Comments

I’m thrilled to share with you my project from Fat Quarter Shop’s The Jolly Bar Book today! This is such a fun book! First of all it is the exact size of a Jolly Bar which is 5″ x 10″! Jolly Bars come in your favorite fabric collections from Fat Quarter Shop and they are super fun to use!

I choose Farmhouse by Fig Tree & Co for Moda. The fabrics are to die for!

I added a chicken wire print for my background yardage. I love how it works with the Farmhouse fabrics!! And how easy and fun is this pattern!!!!! You can sew it in about an hour.

Sometimes sewing time is a little longer if Mufasa decides to nap on the cutting board!

LOVE!!!!

And Mufasa loves as well!

I had fun quilting this quilt! I quilted 5-petal daisies and loops.

For the backing I used a random newsprint style fabric and chose a red fabric from the Farmhouse line for the binding.

It’s got such a fun vintage feel to it. I would totally make this pattern again and again and again!!

It’s amazing how big the quilt is with just one Jolly Bar and some yardage! I love patterns like this!

Check out these wonderful designers to see what patterns they sewed up from the Jolly Bar Book!!!

Melissa from Happy Quilting
Tina from Emily Ann’s Kloset
Amanda from Jedi Craft Girl
Connie from Free Motion by the River
Afton from Quilting Mod
Pam from Pam Kitty Morning
Heidi from Buttons and Butterflies
Renee from Sewn with Grace
Remona from The Stitching Scientist
Andy from A Bright Corner
Angie from Gnome Angel

Filed Under: fat quarter shop, FEATURED, quilt

Layer Cake Checkmate Quilt

August 3, 2016 by Amanda Leave a Comment

It’s Christmas in July! Why not sew a Christmas quilt when its 105 degrees outside! I love quilt patterns that sew together FAST…..because I’m totally impatient and I have a roomful of fabric that I am dying to sew with. I need to be able to make a quilt top in a day – better yet an afternoon! This quilt pattern is perfect for speedy sewing! Because it sews together so fast it would make a great birthday gift, baby gift, or Christmas gift – which is what mine is going to be 🙂

You can hop over to Fat Quarter Shop to download the pattern, click HERE!!! And you can watch this fun video tutorial!!

I choose the Juniper Berry Layer Cake by Basic Grey for Moda Fabrics. It’s the cutest! I love all the wintry colors! I used a different color placement with my quilt than the pattern suggests. My layer cake didn’t just have lights and darks. Rather, it had lights, mediums, and darks. The addition of black fabric turned the red, green, and aqua into mediums. I didn’t want just random black squares throughout the quilt that would draw your eye. So I turned the 4-patch block into a checker board block using the blacks and lights. I used the medium tones for the large squares. I love the result!

It makes a diagonal of black squares one way and a diagonal of light squares the other way.

I also turned my quilt into a square so the the diagonal lines would be even. I’m also not a fan of quilt borders – not sure why 🙂

Check out these amazing designers to see their version of Layer Cake Checkmate!!

Peta from She Quilts a Lot
Melanie from Mostly Crafty
Connie from Freemotion by the River
Melissa from Happy Quilting
Heidi from Buttons & Butterflies
Amanda from Jedi Craft Girl
Tina from Emily Ann’s Kloset
Sherri M. from A Quilting Life
Andy from A Bright Corner
Anorina from Samelia’s Mum
Sherri F. from This & That Patterns
Brooke from Silly Mama Quilts

Filed Under: fat quarter shop, FEATURED, quilt

Pandalicious Quilt {Art Gallery + Fat Quarter Shop}

July 12, 2016 by Amanda 1 Comment

Isn’t this the cutest fabric from Art Gallery!! It’s called Pandalicious and it makes me want to go to the zoo and see some pandas! Cherry blossoms, bamboo teepees and cuddly pandas!

I had so much fun putting this quilt together. It looks complicated but its really rather simple. It consists of lots of these blocks:

and a center block:

Once all the blocks are sewn together the assembly of the quilt is as easy as sewing squares together!

Just make sure to follow the placement carefully as shown in the pattern. It is so cool when it comes together! I will totally make this again. I’m even thinking just the center portion of this quilt would make a fun table quilt or wall hanging!

The colors are amazing in person and the pandas are just the cutest! I hope you get a chance to make this quilt!!

Check out the other designers who have put together a Palisades Quilt!!!

Tina from Emily Ann’s Kloset

Amy from Diary of a Quilter

Maureen from Maureen Cracknell Handmade

Erica from Kitchen Table Quilting

Melissa from Happy Quilting

Karin from Leigh Laurel Studios

Rachael from The Floral Suitcase

Amanda from Jedi Craft Girl

Megan from Quilt Story

Heather from Quilt Story

Melanie from Mostly Crafty

Brooke from Silly Mama Quilts

Afton from Quilting Mod

Filed Under: fat quarter shop, FEATURED, quilt

Holiday Wishes Blog Tour

July 12, 2016 by Amanda Leave a Comment

I am totally loving this new book by Sherri Falls called Holiday Wishes! The patterns are so inspiring and they make you want to sew! I choose the gingham star block from her book and made some much needed throw pillows for my family room.

I always write about only using 20″ pillows in my home. However, my family loves Euro pillows in the family room. The old ones were headed to the trash and I was so thrilled to make some new ones!

I bought these 24″ square Euro pillows. They were a little too full so I made a small opening in the pillow and took out some stuffing.

I had purchased this Fruta y Flor fabric by Free Spirit and have been waiting to use it in my family room!! I am so in love with it!

I followed the pattern exactly and then added a border so the pillow top would be 24″ square. I can’t wait to make an entire quilt with these blocks!! I’m so in love!!!!!

I used Spray n Bond to baste my pillow fronts – it makes quilting so easy!

I quilted all-over swirls on both of the pillow tops. If you want more info on how to finish the pillow read this tutorial and this tutorial.

I love how they turned out – and yes they are pretty big!!

Filed Under: fat quarter shop, FEATURED, pillow

Little Ruby Quilt Along – Finished Quilt

July 11, 2016 by Amanda Leave a Comment

This has been such a fun quilt along from Fat Quarter Shop! You’re not too late if you want to make this quilt! I’ve attached each of the videos below if you would like to make one. If I’m being honest, this kind of quilt (one that requires special rulers and templates) is so NOT my style. BUT I have to say I have TOTALLY LOVED making this quilt!

It’s so good to jump out of your comfort zone and try something totally new! You will love how fun this quilt is – the templates make everything fit together perfectly.

Click for Fabric requirements 🙂

Here’s a little overview of the pattern.

The pattern calls for 2 1/2″ strips. You sew them together and use this cook ruler to cut the exact size triangle.

The triangles spin around to form a pinwheel type pattern – cool huh 🙂

I read all the instructions and watched the videos and still managed to sew my first 2 triangles together the wrong way – 3 times – YIKES! Once I got that out of my system it was smooth sailing!

I love having Ella around because I hand her a stack of blocks and she puts them together for me. We did a little experimenting with the pattern for fun.

The blocks sewed together like a dream. I just love this fabric!

I used my Spray n Bond basting spray to baste the quilt and then machine quilted myself using a loopy floral design.

I love bias gingham binding! The great thing about Vintage Picnic is that the gingham is printed on the bias so it saves fabric and is easy to cut!

I am thrilled with my Vintage Picnic fabric choice. I will be keeping this quilt out all summer long! I did modify my quilt slightly in that I made it a touch smaller.