I Love looking back at the fun Halloween projects I’ve made – I think it’s my favorite holiday to sew for! I’ve collected my most popular and put them in this post for quick viewing. Click a picture to be taken to the pattern.
Quilt Binding on the Bias
October 17, 2016 by Leave a Comment
I LOVE striped quilt binding cut on the bias! In fact, this is always my first choice when making quilt binding!! I recently received a question from a reader who asked to explain an easy way to make striped bias cut quilt binding. Here is my answer in a simple step by step. There are fancy and tricky ways out there that show you how to cut binding strips on the bias. I stick to my old-fashion method 🙂
My mother-in-law, who is a seasoned quilter, explained that traditionally quilt binding was always cut on the bias and was single fold. The reason being that when you cut fabric on the bias it won’t unravel as if you cut it along the grain. That way the quilt binding only needed to have one layer because the bias cut would hold up to wear and washing. Now days it seems we all cut 2 1/2″ strips and fold in half and it doesn’t matter which way the fabric is cut.
I like to look for fabric that is printed on the bias. This is the best invention because you get the bias striped look, you don’t need as much fabric, and the cutting is easier!
With bias striped printed fabric you only need to cut it at 2 1/2″ increments!!
Most striped fabric is not printed on the bias so you need to follow this method:
First you want to have at least a half yard of fabric to begin with. A yard is better because you get nice long strips, but if you only have 1/2 yard it will still work. Don’t lay your fabric like this:
Instead you open the fabric and fold it at a 45 degree angle. Line up the fold along the bottom of your cutting mat.
Take the extra fabric at the top and fold it directly down:
Choose a nice spot in the center and line up the ruler. Make your first cut.
Then proceed to cut at 2 1/2″increments until you have the desired amount of strips.
Line up the strips perpendicular angle. Match up the stripes:
Sew from intersection to intersection:
Trim off the excess, 1/4″ away from the seam. Press the seam open.
Perfect bias striped binding!!! Press in half lengthwise and sew on your quilt as you normally would.
You can apply the same technique to gingham and plaid!
Timber Quilt Pattern from Fat Quarter Shop
October 5, 2016 by 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!!
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
Ghost Windows Wallhanging Quilt
October 4, 2016 by Leave a Comment
I love sewing with traditional orange and black fabrics – don’t you! This little quilt measures 24″ square and is perfect to hang on a wall or put on a table. All you need is a little yardage and the Sizzix Ghost Die and you’re set! I love that each of the ghosts have their own personality!! All seams 1/4″.
First press the Heat n Bond Ultra onto the wrong side of the off-white solid fabric. I choose Ultra because it requires no-sewing. I didn’t want to spend time sewing around each ghost!
Die cut 9 sets of ghosts. Make sure to die cut ghosts going both ways to give more variety to the quilt. Cut (9) 4 1/2″ solid black squares for the ghost windows.
Peel off the backing of the ghosts and position them as desired.
For the 9 blocks, cut 5 orange fabrics and 4 low volume fabrics according to the above dimensions. Sew the side portions on, press, then add the top and bottom pieces.
Make sure to rotate the ghost windows are in a different loceation, it makes the quilt look a little more random. Sew the blocks together in rows, press, and sew the rows together. Press.
Spray baste, quilt, and bind! 
I really love these cute little Sizzix ghosts!!!!!
I have the perfect spot to hang it!!
Supplies:
1/4 yard off-white fabric
1/4 yard solid black fabric
5 fat quarters or quarter yard cuts orange print
4 fat quarters or quarter yard cuts low volume black print
1/4 yard binding
1 yard backing
Heat n Bond Ulatra
Sizzix Fabi
Sizzix Ghost die
Windy Girls Quilt Tutorial- Wistful Winds Blog Tour
October 4, 2016 by 8 Comments
I’m super excited to be apart of Shari Butler of Doohicky Designs’ Whistful Winds Blog Tour! I met Shari at Quilt Market in May and I was introduced to her Wistful Winds fabric line. Shari is the nicest person ever and her designs are so sweet! As soon as I saw this fabric I new I had to make something for Sally.
So I set out plans to sew her a dress. I had 4 different prints of yardage which was what the dress required. Then, Sally told me she did not want a dress and that she had too many dresses as it was. She asked if I would make her a quilt and I did a little happy dance in my head 🙂 Sewing clothes stresses me out and quilting makes me happy!
And so I set out to design a quilt that only uses 4 different fabrics – because that’s all I had! I love how it turned out and Sally is thrilled!
Mufasa got to test it out for a few minutes before Sally got a hold of it.
Here’s how you can make this quilt:
Finished Quilt 48″ x 60″ – perfect for a little girl
Block Size 12″
All seams 1/4″
Press toward the dark side when possible
Fabric Requirements:
2/3 yard orange girl fabric
3/4 yard small dot fabric
1 yard blue floral
1 yard white floral
1/2 yard binding
3 yards backing
Cut (4) 4 1/2″ x WOF strips orange girl fabric
Cut (8) 2 1/2″ x WOF strips white dots
Cut (3) 4 1/2″ x WOF Blue on blue floral
Cut (3) 6 1/2″ x WOF Blue on Blue floral
Cut (3) 4 1/2″ x WOF White floral
Cut (3) 6 1/2″ x WOF white floral
Sew the white dot strips to the orange girl strips lengthwise. Press seams. Make 4 of these strip sets.
Subcut stripsets into 8 1/2″ increments yielding 8 1/2″ squares. You should have 20.
Sew a white floral 4 1/2″ strip to a blue floral 4 1/2″ strip. Make 3 of these strip sets. Press.
Cut at 2 1/2″ increments. Cut 40
Sew a 6 1/2″ blue floral strip to a 6 1/2″ white floral strip. Press. Make 3 of these strip sets.
Cut at 2 1/2″ increments. Cut 40.
Lay out 10 blocks this way.
Lay out 10 blocks this way – notice the center block rotates.
Sew the top and bottom units, press. Sew the side units, press. You will have 20 total blocks.
Lay out the quilt as pictured above. Notice each row alternates center square direction. Sew blocks together in rows, matching seams. Sew rows together.
Baste, quilt, bind.
This is such a great pattern to whip up for a gift. You could omit 3 blocks and it would be a perfect baby quilt size.
I love the fun pattern this quilt creates by using only 4 fabrics. A scrappy version with lots of different fabrics would also be fun!
I’m thinking this is my new favorite throw quilt pattern! It might even be doable for Christmas gifts!
Someone is pretty happy!! It’s not everyday your mom sews a quilt just for YOU!!!!
Mufasa looks a touch jealous!
Check out these amazing designers and the awesome projects they’ve created using Wistful Winds by Riley Blake Designs!
October 3rd:
Amy Sinibaldi – www.nanaCompany.typepad.com
Kristyne Czepuryk – www.prettybyhand.com
October 4th:
Amanda Niederhauser – www.jedicraftgirl.com
Amy Smart – www.diaryofaquilter.com
October 5th:
Meagan Taylor/Kristi Jones – www.meagsandme.com
Christine Cook – www.stitchingrevival.com
October 6th:
Elea Lutz – www.elealutzdesign.com
Jodie Carleton – www.vintagericrac.blogspot.com
October 7th:
Sedef Imer – www.downgrapevinelane.com
Jina Barney – jinabarneydesignz.com
October 10th:
Elizabeth Evans – www.simplesimonandco.com
Kimberly Bourne – www.mainstreetmarketdesigns.
October 11th:
Jemima Flendt – www.tiedwitharibbon.com
Nadra Ridgeway – www.ellisandhiggs.com
Amy Chappel – www.amerooniedesigns.blogspot.
October 12th:
Katie Skoog – www.thesimplelifecompany.com
Amber Johnson – www.alittlebitbiased.blogspot.
Gwen Sager – www.tillalili.blogspot.com
October 13th:
Angie Wilson – www.gnomeangel.com
Clare Horsman – www.claresplaceblog.blogspot.
Deanna Wall – www.stitchesquilting.com
October 14th:
Melissa Mortenson – polkadotchair.com
Jessica Stewart – www.izzyandivydesigns.com
Shari Butler – www.doohikeydesigns.com/blog/
Shabby Fall Bunting and Farmhouse Fall Decor
September 23, 2016 by 5 Comments
It’s so much fun switching out all the summer decor for fall decor! I wanted a vintage farmhouse look for my front porch. So I gathered a few items, I call it shopping at my house! I love these shabby buntings and needed one that would fit on this vintage window.
I pulled out all my lace, trim, ric rac, burlap, and soft colors of fabric. I cut each piece about 24″ long, you don’t want every piece to be exactly the same.
This is Mufasa’s favorite kind of project!
After playing in all the lace, he napped in the lace!!!
I tied each of the strips to a piece of cotton cording. Just keep tying until you get the look and length you want.
I love how it turned out! My daughter drew my chalkboard art – she’s the best. I handed her 4 chalk boards and said “Do your thing!” The gold polkadot pillow tutorial can be found here.
Here are a few more fall touches around my house:
Spooky Pillow Covers
September 22, 2016 by 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!!
My Favorite Zipper Pouch
September 21, 2016 by 3 Comments
It’s been a while since I made zipper pouches! I needed 3 gifts to give for the September birthdays on Sally’s soccer team. Instead of going to the store and spending money on the gifts, I stayed home and sewed these darling zipper pouches! I used My Favorite Zipper Pouch Tutorial.
The fabrics are from my Riley Blake Stash: Backyard Roses and Strawberry Biscuit are a few I used.
The inside of the zipper pouch is Fusible Fleece from Therm O Web.
Since I had a yard of the pink chevron, I used in inside each of the pouches.
I think the girls loved them!
Mid Century Modern Remix Quilt featuring Knock on Wood
September 16, 2016 by Leave a Comment
I am so excited about Deena Rutter’s latest line of fabric called Knock on Wood! It is the perfect collection of fabric for the boys in your life!!!!! I have always been a fan of Deena’s designs and I was happy to meet her at Quilt Market in May! 
Andy from A Bright Corner, myself, and Deena 🙂
I think you’re going to like this quilt pattern! It’s very liberating in that you don’t have to lay out blocks or arrange fabrics.
You grab and go! Knock on Wood is perfectly balanced with light, medium, and dark fabrics and they are the most scrumptious prints!!
You can download a the PDF pattern here 🙂
The pattern uses 2 1/2″ strips.
Mufasa was very helpful in handing me the strips to sew.
The quilt is made up of 9 large blocks that are 20″. These large blocks are really a 4-patch of smaller blocks. You rotate each block so the center section forms a patchy center. It’s super random – and I love it!!
It’s a little crazy and a little funky and a little retro!!!
The fabrics are so amazing that anything you sew with them is going to turn out awesome!!
The shed in my backyard and the quilt totally match….hahaha!!!
At 60″ square it makes a great throw size. You could add 3 more large blocks on the bottom if you wanted it to fit a twin bed. I have loved seeing what all these talented ladies have made with this amazing fabric! I have some scraps leftover and can’t wait to make something else!!!
Monday, 9/12 Deena Rutter
Tuesday, 9/13 Amy Smart, Diary of a Quilter
Wednesday, 9/14 Dara Tomasson, Stitched Quilting Co.
Thursday, 9/15 Jina Barney, Jina Barney Designz
Friday, 9/16 Amanda Niederhauser, Jedi Craft Girl
Saturday, 9/17 Deena Rutter
October Stars Quilt Pattern
September 15, 2016 by Leave a Comment
It’s almost October and I can’t get enough Orange & Black sewing! I love traditional Halloween colors! Meet October Stars, my newest quilt pattern! It’s available in my Etsy shop and I love everything about this quilt!
The quilt is made up of 9 large star blocks. The center fabric of each of the small black stars has kitty faces on it!
Mufasa totally approves!!
The quilt measures 58″ square which is such a great throw size.
This would also be fun to make in Christmas colors as well!
I hope you love it!
