FEATURED – Page 22

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

Composition Book Zipper Pouch

July 28, 2016 by Amanda 1 Comment

I had this great idea for my kids to keep a summer vacation journal. I got each of them a composition book and covered it with patterned paper. I thought it would be fun for them to have a zipper pouch to keep the journal in along with glue sticks, pens, pencils, scissors, washi tape, etc. That way when we are traveling they can write down their experiences and also include post cards, maps, brochures, ticket stubs, and other memorabilia of our trip. They were super excited to pick their own fabrics! Here’s how you can make one!!

Supplies:

Front: (6) 2.5″ x 10″ strips

Back: 12″x 10″ piece of denim

Lining: (2) 12″ x 10″ coordinating fabric

12″ or longer zipper

All seams 1/4″

Begin by cutting the 2.5″ x 10″ strips for the front. You will need 6.

Sew together and press.

Ryan choose Off Shore by Riley Blake Designs.

Sally choose these fun prints from Dear Stella.

Once the strips are sewn it’s time to quilt.

Baste the pieced front to the batting. For a little extra stability I add an additional piece of fabric to the back of the batting – one that will not be seen. So I use fabric I don’t like. Quilt. Square up. Depending on how much you quilted, your measurements might have changed a touch. The piece before quilting should measure 12″ x 10″. If it has changed, make a note and use this measurement to cut the denim back and the lining pieces.

Now it’s time to install the zipper. If you need more assistance on the zipper, I have a whole section of zipper pouch tutorials that will have more detail.

Lay the front piece face up. Align the zipper face down. Add one of the lining pieces also face down. Make sure all the top edges match. Pin. I buy my zippers extra long so there is zipper hanging off on both sides – not to worry 🙂

Using a zipper foot, sew 1/4″ along the raw edges.

Now repeat with the other side. Lay the denim face up. Position the bag front and zipper face down. Lay the second piece of lining face down as well. Align all top edges, pin, sew.

Press the fabric along the zipper. I usually top stitch 1/8″ away from both sides of the zipper. In my haste to get these done super fast I forgot this step. Position the zipper in the center of the bag and trim off the excess zipper.

Match the lining pieces right sides together. Match up the denim and front pieces right sides together. Pin all the way around. Here is what it looks like where the zipper ends meet.

Sew 1/4″ all the way around the bag leaving a 3″ opening on one of the lining sides. Turn right side out and top stitch the lining closed. Press.

I love how they turned out! My kids are thrilled as well!!

Now we are ready for a fun adventure!

Filed Under: FEATURED, Riley Blake, Therm O Web, zipper pouch

Big Print Baby Quilt {Free Quilt Pattern}

July 27, 2016 by Amanda 6 Comments

I love big prints and I cannot lie! Especially big prints with animals! Sometimes it’s hard to figure out what to do with big theme prints and it seems all the quilt patterns out there require cutting fabric into tiny pieces. I came up with this quilt pattern because I wanted to showcase the large elephant print in this new line of fabric by Blend called Season of Love. My friend recently had a baby girl and she loves elephants! So this was the answer! The quilt consists of 4 big blocks sewn together in a 4-Patch. All you need is about an hour to put the quilt top together – whooo hoooo!!!

Here’s how you can make one! All seams 1/4″

Fabric Requirements:

1/2 yard dark theme print

1/2 yard light theme print

1/3 yard light gray

1/3 yard dark gray

1/4 yard (4) different accent fabrics

1/2 yard binding

1 1/2 yard backing

Begin by cutting the fabric according to the cutting diagram above. Sew the side gray sashing strips to the theme print center. Press. Sew the top and bottom gray sashing strips. Press. Sew the side accent print strips. Press. Sew the top and bottom accent prints. Press. Make 4 big blocks.

Notice the light theme print has dark gray sashing and the dark theme print has light gray sashing. Sew the 4 big blocks together as you would a 4-patch. Press.

Baste the quilt to the batting and backing fabric and quilt and bind.

I love how this turned out! You really get a feel of the theme print – and it is a large print!!

I can’t wait to make another one of these in different fabrics!!! I’m thinking whales? Cats? Foxes?

What are you waiting for!! Go fetch some large prints!!!

Save

Filed Under: Blend Fabrics, FEATURED, quilt

Clownfish iPad Case Tutorial

July 26, 2016 by Amanda Leave a Comment

My family LOVES the Finding Dorey movie!! When Sizzix released this new fish die at Quilt Market I knew it was for me!

Using this new die and the circle die you can create this fun pouch. I wanted a case that would fit my iPad. Then my daughter decided she wanted it 🙂

It also fits a few composition books or the medium size coloring or sketch book. If you would rather a different size, simply change up the measurements to fit your needs! Lets get started!

Being by choosing a variety of blue fabrics from dark to light. Fuse Heat n Bond lite to the back of each fabric (I cut mine in 5″ squares for easy die cutting). Die cut the circles. I used the circle die that has 1.5″, 2″, and 2.5″ circles.

Make sure your Sizzix obsessed cat is nearby to assist 🙂

Cut (2) 10″ x 12″ pieces of denimn weight fabric. I used Crossroads Denim. Here is where you can change the measurements if you want. This is a generous size for the iPad. I wanted it to fit with my sweet leopard print case 🙂

Peel off all the backing papers and begin arranging the circles, overlapping so no background fabric is showing. I started at the bottom with the dark blues.

Once it is how you like, press with a hot dry iron.

Spray baste this to the cotton batting and quilt as desired. I quilted random wavy lines throughout. I am so in love with this!!!

Do the same with the back piece.

Die cut 2 fish going opposite directions, again, using Heat n Bond Lite.

If you want you can paint a little detail on the fish. We used regular acrylic paint.

Position the fish and heat set into place. Stitch around each fish 2 times.

Cut 2 pieces of the backing fabric the same size as the outer bag fabric. I always remeasure the outer bag pieces after quilting because it will shrink a little.

Sew a zipper in the top. You can use this tutorial for inserting a zipper into a zipper pouch and finishing the bag.

I love how it turned out. I can’t wait to use this circle background technique on a mini quilt!!

Filed Under: FEATURED, sizzix, zipper pouch

Later Alligator {Free Quilt Pattern}

July 26, 2016 by Amanda Leave a Comment

Sometimes you find a fabric and you just have to drop everything you’re doing and sew something with it! That’s how I felt about this new line of fabric from Blend Fabrics called See You Later.

Mufasa was even smitten with the fabric and appeared to be guarding it!!

The colors are bright and the patterns are whimsical. They would be perfect for a boy or a girl!

I created a pattern for you to download for FREE. This is one of my favorite ways to show off big prints. Click HERE to download the 3-page pattern.

The pattern looks like I used solid navy and solid green, but actually I used a navy and white dot and a green and white print. The quilt is made up of only 1 block made from 2 different color ways.

It sews up really fast and is the perfect project if you want to sew a quilt top in an afternoon. That’s usually all the time I’ve got!

Mufasa thinks the quilt is his and my 16 year old daughter also claimed it for her own!

Filed Under: Blend Fabrics, FEATURED, quilt

Pixie Noel Blog Tour – Snowflake Quilt Tutorial

July 25, 2016 by Amanda 2 Comments

snowflake quilt tutorial

It’s my turn on the Pixie Noel Blog Tour! Yay! I have been in love with this fabric as soon as I saw Tasha Noel post a few sneak peeks months and months ago! I love how whimsical her art is and I love her choice of colors!

Screen Shot 2016-07-24 at 1.33.33 PM It was a little bit challenging to sew with winter fabric when the temperatures here in Southern California have been in the 110’s and our town is literally ablaze! I decided to beat the heat by creating this whimsical snowflake quilt.

I don’t know about you, but cutting snowflakes and sewing snowflakes is not on my top 10 list of favorite things to do. Super time consuming! This quilt has 2 amazing shortcuts that will have you whipping one up in an afternoon.

First, all the snowflakes were die cut on my Sizzix Fabi – 3 at a time!

Second, the snowflakes are appliqued using Heat n Bond Ultra which means no tedious applique top stitching necessary! Heat n Bond Ultra is heavier than Heat n Bond Lite which I normally use for applique. The Ultra requires no sewing. Just cut, press, and go! The snowflakes get sewn over during the quilting process – which helps incorporate them into the quilt and makes it even more durable.

Here’s how you can make one:

Supplies:

55″ Heat n Bond Ultra

Sizzix snowflake die

1 yard white fabric

1 yard aqua main fabric (or additional if you want to fussy cut)

fat quarters for applique, red, navy, green

Instructions:

Cut (32) 6.5″ squares of white fabric

Cut (32) 6.5″ squares of the aqua Pixie Noel theme print

Cut the Heat n Bond Ultra into 5″ strips. Fuse to the wrong side of the snowflake fat quarters.

Make sure your cat helps you die cut the snowflakes.

We cut 3 at a time.

Peel off the backing.

Center the snowflakes on the white squares and heat set with hot dry iron.

Die cut 6 green snowflakes, 12 navy snowflakes, and 12 red snowflakes.

Lay out the quilt according to the diagram below:

Sew the squares together in rows using 1/4″ seams. Press each row alternately. Sew rows together pinning at each intersection.

I always use Spray n Bond to baste my quilts – its fast, secure, and no pinning! Seriously this quilt can be made in a matter of hours!!

I quilted loops and stars. I sewed right over the snowflakes. It helps to make them feel like part of the quilt and not puff out.

I love that there are 3 stripe colors to choose from in Pixie Noel. Even better, they are printed on the bias which makes cutting bias striped binding a snap!!!

Mufasa loves the quilt! Don’t tell him it’s not for him 🙂

pixie noel quilt 5

Thanks for stopping by!!!! Happy Christmas in July 🙂 pixie noel quilt

Filed Under: Christmas, FEATURED, Heat n Bond, quilt, Riley Blake, sizzix

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

From Porto With Love Pillows

July 12, 2016 by Amanda 3 Comments

I am thrilled to be part of The Summer Sewing Series by Melissa from PolkadotChair. For me summer sewing is about catching up on all the little projects I can’t get to during the school year. This last week I sewed 13 new pillow covers for throw pillows around my house. Today I am sharing my latest pillow covers with you 🙂

Meet From Porto With Love by Cotton + Steel. Only my NEW FAVORITE FABRIC!!! These large scale cats have my heart swooning! I knew I needed some pillows! I love the heavy weight of this canvas print – perfect for home decorating! I kept the design super simple because I wanted the cats to be the focal point. I used Crossroads denim for the accent strips and the pillow back. This is the softest denim in the whole world!!
Mufasa was very helpful in making the pillows. Follow the diagrams below for cutting instructions. All seams are 1/4″

Sew the side strips on, press. Then sew the top and bottom strips on, press.

Sew each strip together and press.

Each pillow top finishes 20″ square, the exact size of my down throw pillows. (I like to use all the same size pillows so I can switch them out easily….I learned this the hard way!)

To finish the pillows, cut a 20″ square for the pillow back and insert an invisible zipper along the bottom seam of the pillow. Click HERE to learn how to sew an invisible zipper in a pillow.

I am so in love with these!!!!! They are soft and slouchy!!

I love how they look with my gingham pillows!!! Freshening up your pillow decor is such a great summer activity – it doesn’t take very long but it makes you feel so happy to have something new in your home.

Filed Under: 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.