I’m excited to share that my throw quilt, Starry Duet, is published in the latest Fons & Porter’s Quick + Easy quilts.
Starry Duet is definitely quick AND easy! All you’ve got to do is make two different blocks, sew your rows together and it’s done. No sashing, no borders.
For my quilt, I chose three solid fabrics and a white solid background but you could go scrappy, sew it in prints, anything–just use your imagination.
Here’s a look at mine from the magazine.
If you love the star quilts, then this issue is for you!
Throughout my quilting years, over 11 now, I’ve noticed that the majority of quilts I’ve made have a light-colored background. Actually, most quilts do. But, being one who loves color, I wanted to design a quilt that shows mostly that—color! I also wanted it to showcase stars and as a result, my latest pattern, Twinkly Stars.
Twinkly Stars is the classic sawtooth star surrounded by various colored backgrounds bordered with the same color of the stars. Often times I go for bold and bright, but I wanted to lean toward muted colors for this one.
The plan was to make a queen size for my bed (another one?) using only solids. Since I’d need a variety of colors and hues, I raided my solids stash first.
A while back I’d purchased a Bountiful Blooms Coordinates fat quarter bundle by Moda, and this was the perfect project for them.
The pattern is designed for fat quarters, yet yardage works too, so I used both. I needed more than pictured above so I purchased a fat quarter bundle of New Century Solids by Andover Fabrics, and it is gorgeous!
The queen size quilt requires a whopping 72 blocks, so I had a lot of cutting to do.
Since there was quite a bit, I didn’t cut and make all the blocks at one time, I did them in batches of 5 or 6 stars.
The stars are made using flying geese so there’s plenty of opportunity for chain piecing to speed things up.
Here’s a look at a few star centers from the Bountiful Blooms Coordinates.
These were from my stash…
This was definitely a project that I worked on at my leisure. It was very relaxing because of the simplicity of the blocks. While I was in no hurry to finish, chain piecing the blocks made the process go faster.
Here’s a finished block in one of my favorite colors. 🙂
Once all the blocks were complete, trimmed and starched, it was time for layout. Because there were so many tone variations in addition to several different colors, I used this placement method for keeping like-colored blocks from one another:
To start, I kept approximate blank spaces on the floor for rows and columns. For layout example, because there were 2 same-colored blocks for most colors (stacked in pairs) I would lay out a block say ‘first in the first row’ and to keep it separate from it’s mate, I’d lay the second one say ‘sixth in the fourth row’.
I would continue with this process until I filled all 72 spaces. Additionally, I’d coordinate ‘next to’ colors with blocks already laid. For the most part, I didn’t have to make many adjustments once my layout was complete. Here’s the first row finished.
Here are more rows with sashing…
And so on…
Once my top was finished, I had the dreaded task of trimming threads off the back. Every quilter must dislike this tedious job, but it’s very necessary for a nice, crisp front. Take a look at my back all trimmed and ready for longarming.
For a nice soothing feeling, I chose a serpentine quilting motif. I really like the outcome!
I also chose a violet solid for the binding.
I love this quilt and it’s so nice to have it on my bed so I can enjoy it daily.
Twinkly Stars is a great pattern for quilters of all levels. The pattern is available for purchase in my Etsy shop. It’s written for 5 sizes: baby, throw, twin, full and queen. Definitely a fun make and a great stash buster too!
If you’re thinking “‘Didn’t you post that already?” or “That sounds familiar,” you’re right, it’s definitely dé jà vu. I did, in fact, recently make a small cross stitch pattern and named it that. Overall, I wasn’t happy with it so I redesigned it.
I now have my final Love to Quilt pattern and here it is…
This little pattern is similar to Love to Sew in the way that it’s small but says something big. The neat thing about this pattern is that I have TWO versions available with ONE pattern purchase!
As quilters, we love the sawtooth star. It’s in so many quilts, books, decor items, etc. So when I came up with the ‘new’ Love to Quilt idea, I decided to showcase the star by having a scrappy star version (left photo) and a solid star version (right photo).
This is a fun little project that can be completed in a couple of hours. It’s suitable for any and all cross stitchers.
What’s more– Love to Quilt fits nicely into a 3″ x 4″ or 4″ x 4″ photo frame, so no need for custom framing! Mine is displayed in pretty 3″ x 4″ frame I purchased at Michael’s.
I also have a few Love to Quilt cross stitch kits available for sale in my Etsy shop. The kits include everything you need to make the two-colored version of the sawtooth star, as pictured on the pattern cover.
I want to mention that my next post will demonstrate DIY cross stitch framing. Do it like the pros but for much less the cost. 😉
We cross-stitch enthusiasts enjoy making projects, but having them framed is just so expensive; that’s why I’ll show you how. And…that’s why I design my projects to fit into standard size frames and shadow boxes.
I’ve got a new quilting-related cross stitch sampler in the works so look out for that one soon. 🙂
Pinwheels Galore quilt pattern is available for purchase in my Etsy shop. My last post introduced Pinwheels Galore Mini quilt but if you’d like to try it in a larger size you now have four choices – baby, throw, twin and queen.
My sample shown above is a baby quilt made with Blossom fabrics by Riley Blake.
Here’s some information about the pattern: the pinwheels use 10″ squares making it layer cake friendly and the cut-away waste is minimal. And of course, there’s always the option of going scrappy!
The pieced sashing requires small amounts of yardage. Like the mini, this also goes together quickly because it’s designed for strip piecing and chain piecing.
With so many size options available coupled with a quick finish and cuteness, there’s got to be a perfect size for everyone!
Even though summer has just left us, now’s the time to get started on our holiday sewing projects. It’s definitely not too early especially if you plan to make a quilt and would like to have it finished in plenty of time.
I’ve noticed a lot a quilt patterns out there are so close to being the same as one another, and well, it’s getting kind of old. In order to make what change I could, I decided to design something completely different, and what better subject is there than the holidays? So last year I set to work and came up with my Holiday Hemlocks throw quilt in two versions, Scrappy Holiday Hemlocks PDF pattern…
There’s no denying this quilt design is definitely different than any other holiday quilt, right? Well, that’s exactly what I was going for. But different doesn’t mean difficult. 😉
Here are a few things I’d like to note about these quilts…they’re traditionally pieced with no tricky blocks involved, and the patterns are suitable for anyone who has made only a couple of quilts! In fact, one of my testers was an absolute beginner and hers turned out great.
My patterns are always clearly written with step-by-step instructions, there are also plenty of detailed, colorful diagrams throughout.
Don’t have time to make an entire quilt? Try this festive little mini instead—Wee Three Trees.
This pattern is by far the best seller in my Etsy shop. I made the one photographed here for myself, but I’ve made several of them for gifts, too. Wee Three Trees is a relatively quick make, you could easily whip one up in a weekend.
My first quilt pattern of the year is here! Triangle Twizzle is available as a PDF download for purchase in my Etsy shop. This quilt is easy, fun and a quick sew for quilters of all skill levels.
In fact, it’s so easy a beginner quilter could make it in no time! The pattern is written for a 10″ square stacker / layer cake with a bit of yardage needed for the large white triangles.
I made mine using Riley Blake’s Pastels for a bright, cheerful look.
But the color choices are endless, making it such a versatile quilt. Can you imagine one in various shades of a single color, Christmas colors, Halloween colors or rich fall hues? Anything goes!
In keeping with the modern vibe, I quilted mine with a vertical straight line every 1 1/2″ then I quilted straight lines on a 45° angle going the opposite direction of the HST seams. I love the parallelograms.
While I had to run the quilt through my machine over and over (and over) which took a huge amount of time, I’m really happy with the results.
With three sizes to choose from and color options galore, I hope there’s a Triangle Twizzle quilt in your future!
My Sweet Stripes quilt pattern is now available for sale in my Etsy shop! I’m excited about this one for so many reasons. First of all, it’s fat quarter friendly and designed with the beginner quilter in mind. It’s unique too, because the pattern has various size options in two different layouts. One option is a straight layout with four sizes: baby, small throw, large throw and full. The other option is an offset layout with three sizes: baby, small throw and full. Altogether there’s 7 different quilts you can make from one pattern—that’s a lot of choices!
And of course the pattern is all the better thanks to testers. As quilters, we know a lot of work, time and money goes into making one single quilt so asking someone to test a pattern is a big ask. I don’t know how I got so lucky to end up with such a wonderful group of ladies, but I sure hit the jackpot! I value their input beyond measure.
So, here are the testers’ quilts…
I literally gasped when I saw this photo. The black background with the vibrant colors are just WOW. It truly is a gem. Quilt by Amanda @quiltingadventures (on Instagram).
Amanda’s Sweet Stripes – Small throw size in offset layout
I don’t think I’ve seen a prettier quilt than this. It’s so fresh and clean…just one of those quilts you can’t stop looking at. Quilt by Vanessa @_vanessa.griffin_ (on Instagram).
Vanessa’s Sweet Stripes – Full size in straight layout
Dani made this for a baby boy and she nailed her color choices. The gray, blues and yellows are a perfect blend. Did you see that adorable giraffe fabric? Quilt by Dani @missdanismiles (on Instagram).
Dani’s Sweet Stripes – Baby size in offset layout
It’s gorgeous, right? I love how striking the rich toned one-color blocks pop against the white. And the longarming pattern is the perfect choice. Quilt by Janine @ lilbeanquilting (on Instagram).
Janine’s Sweet Stripes – Baby size in offset layout
So lovely and colorful…everything about this quilt makes me smile. It’s just delightful. Quilt by Carol @cjpunday (on Instagram).
Carol’s Sweet Stripes – Small throw in straight layout
Check out this festive beauty! The gray background compliments every color and gives such a cozy feel. And the scrappy layout adds to the loveliness all the more. Quilt by Barbara @thequiltedb (on Instagram).
Barbara’s Sweet Stripes – Small throw in offset layout
Here’s my finished quilt. I made the small throw in the offset design with Kona Cotton Solids for a cheerful look. And how about that bias striped binding?
If you’re looking for a fun and easy quilt pattern this may be your next one! 🙂
As promised, here’s my scrappy version of Holiday Hemlocks! Scrappy Holiday Hemlocks is available for purchase in my Etsy shop.
Since we quilters love to use our scraps, I thought it would be fun to offer this whimsical quilt in an alternative pattern. It’s made the same as the original except for the stars and trees (see Holiday Hemlocks here). And as a bonus, it’s great way to stash down.
Since the holidays seem like forever away, but will be here before we know it, there’s plenty of time to have one ready for the season.
This throw size quilt measures 56″ x 66″ and it’s easy enough for the advanced beginner. Now that you’ve got two choices, pick your favorite and have some fun quilting!
My latest cross stitch pattern is ready! It’s named Yay for Yarn, and it depicts a happy sheep jumping over yarn and knitting needles. I designed this one for all the yarn enthusiasts out there (inspired by my daughter who is an avid knitter).
Yay for Yarn is available for purchase at my Etsy shop. It’s an easy project suitable for cross stitchers of all levels. It’s finishes at 2 1/2″ x 2 3/4″ so it’s on the small side, making it an quick finish.
Every year I like to write a blog post recapping all the projects I’ve made. I mainly do this to have a quick reference should I ever need to know when something in particular was made. And it’s fun to see how I’ve spent my time sewing. So here goes…
First up is my Petite Hearts quilt that I made on a whim. Definitely a top favorite.
I started making a Swoon quilt by Thimble Blossoms in the spring and got it back from longarming late September. I haven’t written a blog post on it yet because I haven’t gotten any good photos, so these two blocks will have to do for now. 🙂
I started my Maple Charm quilt before we moved in April and had it finished just in time for fall. I enjoyed it the entire season.
This Five Squared throw quilt is a Monday Morning Designs pattern (available for purchase in my Etsy shop; see sidebar). I made it out of fabrics I had on hand and I love that all the colors of the rainbow are included.
Also while trying to use what I had on hand, I made a Four Patch Charm quilt. I’m hoping somebody has a special event this year so I can gift it.
Lastly, I made my son a Picnic Play quilt designed by Michelle Bartholomew. While this quilt looks innocent, it was a tough one! It was a huge project, too. My son enjoys finally having a quilt large enough to use on his queen size bed.
I made quite a few mini quilts, too. This one was completed early 2019. I’ve also written a tutorial on how to make a Scrappy Heart mini. It’s a fun and quick one to make.
What can I say about this cute crab pattern by Ellis and Higgs? The big crab was a gift for my daughter, the other one is mine.
This Radiant mini is also a Monday Morning Designs. I was fortunate to have it featured in the July/August edition of Quiltmaker. It surely brightens up my space! I plan to release the pattern this summer.
I made quite a few Little Quilted Star ornaments for gifts for Christmas. Very festive.
My pattern Wee Three Trees became available for purchase in time for the holiday sewing rush. I made two, one for myself and one as a gift for my niece.
Here’s the last of my projects. I made the microwave bowl cozy for myself as a holiday bowl for pine cones. The little holders are for gift cards; gifted as party favors, and the bottom photo shows my process on a mini Christmas tree skirt.
These pillows were also gifts…
And a pillow case for my bird-loving husband.
Lastly, towels with cute toppers made for my mom. You can download my free PDF tutorial How to Make a Hanging Kitchen Towel. It’s easy-to-follow, complete with photos, a template and lots of tips!
Well, that sums up last year, and I’m well into making for 2020!
Monday Morning Designs 