Mar 23, 2020

Quilt Labels

Lori Holt is my hero!!!
She recently designed the most beautiful fabric.
The line is called "My Happy Place" and has this incredible panel full of quilt labels included in the line.
I cut all the labels out and chose two to put on my recently completed quilts.
Yes, I hand embroidered each of the labels.
I haven't been that great at always putting labels on my quilts, having these cute ones from Lori will hopefully change that!


I sew Lori's interfacing all around the label, cut a slash in the back of the interfacing, and handsew the label in the bottom right corner.



I hope that I've motivated you to put labels on your quilts 
if you haven't already!



I hope you're all keeping safe during the 
Covid 19 virus quarantines.
I thought this "Keep Calm" quote was perfect for my quilty friends!


Mar 16, 2020

Teaching the Baby Pinwheel quilt

I'm teaching some ladies from church, a basic quilting class.
I offered them a choice of charm packs, 
and they provided their own background fabric.
We met and I showed them how to make the pinwheel block, 
although they didn't need much help.
In two weeks we met again,
and they all had their quilt tops completed!
This is Stephanie, she's a beginner to intermediate quilter.
I say that, because she's making a Sue Bonnet Sue quilt!
Stephanie chose an older line I had by Chez Moi by Moda.


This is Nancy, she's a hoot!!!
She chose Mary Engelbreit, her top is so cute!


This is Debby, she chose an older Valentine print by Sandy Gervais.
Debby might be a beginner quilter, 
but she's an experienced seamstress.
All of these ladies are so sweet and have hearts of gold.
I've really enjoyed getting to know them.


This quilt pattern is very easy, super cute and extremely popular!
This is where you can get the free pattern.

Mar 9, 2020

Tell Me a Story Quilt finished!

I added a border to my Tell Me a Story quilt
and machine quilted it by stitching in the ditch, 
around the border prints of each fussy cut square 
and then continuing the design around the border.


 The quilt turned out just as I imagined it would :)


 What a great feeling to finish a quilt whose blocks have been completed for two or more years!


I'll pull this quilt out the next time my grandchildren visit
and we can spend hours making up stories :)


The backing fabric is Meadowsweet by Sandi Henderson,
I've been hoarding it for a few years,
and found the perfect home for it.


Thanks for following along!

Mar 2, 2020

Tell Me a Story quilt

A few years ago, I joined the "Tell Me a Story" quilt's online swap.
I actually joined it twice, to get a variety of different blocks.
The paper piecing pattern is found in 
"Intentional Piecing" by Amy Friend.
You can hashtag it on Instagram and find loads of pictures!


I sorted my blocks into color sections.


I've had my blocks finished for over 2 years.
My grandchildren loved choosing a block before bed
 and telling a story about it.
For instance, see the block with the cat 
and the cable sweater border?

Once upon a time, there was a little kitten named Tabby.  
Tabby was very curious and loved the feel and texture of yarn.
When her owner knit scarves in the evening,
Tabby watched very carefully....
Eventually Tabby was able to knit a scarf for herself,
using her very own paws and intellect.
Tabby was a very unique kitten who was never cold a day in her life, as she had knit more scarves for herself than anyone could keep track of!
Tabby lived happily ever after...



There are endless stories that you could make up for each block,
provided you have an imagination, lol!


I like the look of the quilt without a border,
but it's too little without one.
I was wondering which grandchild I could gift this to,
but maybe I'll keep it and it can be our 
"Tell Me a Story" quilt when they visit or spend the night.


You can see a sampling of my story blocks here.

Feb 25, 2020

Farmhouse Lane quilt is quilted!

I finished my Farmhouse Lane quilt, by Lori Holt!
I have been wanting to make this quilt since 
Lori's book "Vintage Farmgirl" came out.
I'm pretty excited about how my machine quilting turned out.


I machine quilted swirls with petals.



I used the same fabric for my binding 
as I did for the little pink border.
I used a crosshatch machine quilting pattern for the border.
Unfortunately, I was trying to sew one direction
and then tug at the quilt and pull it so that 
I could go the opposite direction.
I didn't realize it, but by tugging at the quilt, I bent something on the needle shaft and had to take it in for a $150 repair!!!
It usually costs $120 for a Bernina update, oil and clean, etc,
but this one cost more.
On the bright side,
 it was repaired in two days instead of two weeks!
When I was sewing the crosshatch design on the border,
on my newly oiled, cleaned and repaired machine,
I just went one direction, cut the threads and
moved it over 1 1/2" to sew the next line.


I bought this fabric about 3 or 4 years ago, and it's very pink, 
not the corral that it shows in the photo.


My next quilt to work on at Farm Girl Chicks,
is the Scrappy Haystack Sampler quilt.
I've got all the Haystack blocks sewn, just
need to sew 13 12 l/2" blocks from the book
Farm Girl Vintage.



Thanks for following :)

Feb 17, 2020

Quilt Top Finishes

Here is my Stellar Star quilt.
I love all the jewel toned colors.
The blocks and the flying geese are all paper pieced.
Each of the large (12") blocks had about 24 pages of instructions.
Needless to say, this is an advanced level pattern.
I used fabric from my stash which makes me really happy!


Since I've been going to Farm Girl Chicks, 
about a year and a half, 
I've been working on this Farmhouse Lane quilt.
I finally finished it, yay!


I tried something new, I taped the back fabric to the floor.
It was so much easier the straighten the batting 
and then gently lay the quilt on top.
I safety pinned all three layers together.
I dont think ther are any creases in the quilt back.


 I've been spending my free time machine quilting my
Farmhouse Lane quilt.
I'm excited to see the quilt finished!


Thanks for following along :)

Feb 10, 2020

Jelly Roll Race

First, I'm sorry I don't have a photo of my finished Stellar Stars quilt top to show you today.
I'll share it with you next week :)
I participated in a jelly roll race this weekend.
A jelly roll is a 2 l/2" wide piece of fabric, from selvage to selvage.
A jelly roll contains every design of fabric from an entire line.


You sew each strip of fabric until all 40 0f them are sewn together, end to end.
Then you start sewing the strips together, 
until you have the desired width.
If you're really interested, you can google "jelly roll race".


After all the strips were sewn together, we added borders so that our quilt top would fit a twin bed.
There were 8 of us in the race, we each finished a quilt top.
The quilts will be quilted and donated to an organization 
that helps refugees.


I can't think of a better way to spend my Saturday :)