Simply Color Plus Quilt

Its so hard to believe that Christmas has come and gone!  This beauty of a quilt was a Christmas gift for a very special guy.  I've always found it hard to select fabrics for a manly quilt, let alone a Christmas present for someone special...like a boyfriend!

I went to a local quilt shop one day at lunch, looking for the perfect "manly fabric" (although I was skeptical that such even existed), when I stumbled upon a selection of Simply Color by V and Co. (only green, blue, and gray - paired with Moda Bella Solids).  I went home and thought about what I had seen at the quilt store, and while rummaging through my stash I found an unopened fat quarter bundle of Simply Color, that I had picked up at Sample Spree in Kansas City, MO (Spring 2012).  With that, the "manly quilt" was born.



I used In Color Order's Plus Quilt Tutorial for the pattern, and most definitely recommend it.  I'll be the first to admit that cutting 320 4.5" square is not something to write home about, but the end result most definitely is (wouldn't you agree?)!

I started this quilt well after Thanksgiving, with the goal of having it completed for Christmas (which I accomplished- thank.you.very.much!).  The cutting took time, sewing the quilt together was quick.  My sweet friend Joyce did the long arm quilting for me, and I took the time to hand stitch the binding (which I finished Christmas Eve morning).

Detailed view of the long arm quilting, the chevron stripe binding (my favorite) and the backing.

Another detailed view of the pieced top and long arm quilting- love!!!

Reunion Twister Quilt- Finished + Sewing Tips

This quilt has been completed for some time too, however I just never got around to posting photos.  Remember the long arm quilting drama that this quilt put me through?  Long story short, the backing was not taut on the long arm machine, thus folded over onto itself creating unsightly blemishes- fail!  I could either live with it (although my perfectionist self would never allow that) or unpick two rows of perfectly quilted circles.  With the help of my mom, I chose the latter.  It took about two weeks or so until the quilt was completely unpicked (not bad, right!).  :)

The quilt was made using the Twister tool by CS Designs.  The fabric consists of a Reunion layer cake, by Sweetwater, and some yardage (refer to the free quilt pattern that comes with the Twister tool for details).

Here is the finished quilt, in all its glory (its had a rough life- see above!).  I opted to wash the quilt after I completed the binding, and all of the holes from the unpicking disappeared- magic!

Here's the back- bunting and chevron stripes, what more could a girl ask for?  :)

Here is a close up of the circles that were quilted by me on a long arm.  Between you and me, the circle pattern is my go to pattern, as I know it will never disappoint!

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If you're interested in making a quilt with the Twister tool, I have a couple of pointers/progress photos for you.

The first step is to sew the 10" squares (layer cake) together, along with the border.  Its amazing to watch the transformation from boring squares to pinwheels.  Its like presto change-o!

For all of the perfectionists out there- here is my #1 tip.  When adding the borders to the 10" block quilt top (see first photo in 'tips' section) make sure to line up the seams.  This photo is an example of what not to do.

This photo is an example of what to do!  :)

If the seams are not lined up, when you cut the pinwheels, you will end up with weird corner seams, as shown in the photo above.

When cutting around the Twister tool, make sure to not cut too far beyond the tool, as there isn't much play room.  If you do cut too far, your next block will have cut marks.  You'll get the hang of how far is 'too far' very quickly!  I also found that using the tool to cut along the fourth side (where the words are in this photo) was too difficult with the angle, etc.  I found that placing my ruler against the tool, removing the tool, and using the ruler to cut along the fourth side was much more efficient.

Once the blocks are cut, make sure you have a design wall, or somewhere to organize the blocks once they are twisted.  I opted to add a small border, although the pattern didn't call for it.  I hope that my tips help should you make your own Twister quilt!

Summer Love- Pick-a-Bunch Quilt

Well, its been well over a month since I finished this fun quilt, but I figure its never too late to share a fun summer quilt, especially with the crazy triple digit weather- right?

I originally blogged about the fabric and quilt pattern back in February.  Have I mentioned that I drag my feet when it comes to binding?  :)  Let's just say that this quilt sat for a couple of weeks (okay, months!) after I quilted it on the long arm.

This is the first time I've incorporated solids into one of my quilts, and I love the splash of color!

I normally like to add a little something special to the backing, but with such a busy front, I opted for uniform back.  I also used green polka dot fabric for the binding, oh how I LOVE polka dots!  :)

Here is a close up of the fun flowers that were quilted by me on a long arm.  I love that the flowers mimic the flowers featured in the fabric.  Its hard to tell, but I quilted with purple thread, to tie everything together.

With summer coming to an end (boo!  Or maybe its a good thing if you get to have more sewing/craft time when your little ones are at school!) what are you working on?

Summersville Baby Quilt

I absolutely fell in love with Lucie Summers' Summersville fabric collection when I first laid eyes on it at Quilt Market last Fall.  With that, I had been looking for the perfect project to use Summersville, when a family friend commissioned me to make a gender neutral baby quilt.  While at Quilt Market this Spring, I picked up Cluck Cluck Sew's new Inside Out quilt pattern.  Ordered some Summersville, and before I knew it I had found the perfect project to use Summersville!  :)

Although the cutting took a good amount of time, the quilt top came together quite quickly.  I used Kona Cotton Snow for the pluses, and absolutely love how the quilt came out.
 

I used a new long arm quilt pattern, and am very happy with how everything turned out.  The parents are NYC dwellers, so I wanted to achieve a modern/urban feel with the quilt.

Since it is a baby quilt, I opted to use fun and quirky alphabet print on the back.  I also couldn't resist adding a strip of the line work/binding fabric to the backing.

This sweet baby is not only getting a quilt, but also a stuffed owl!  Our family friend was interested in learning how to sew.  Like so many, she had a bad experience with her Home Ec teacher in junior high and I had high hopes of re-introducing her to the sewing machine and hopefully overriding her past experience.  I taught my first adult sewing lesson, and we spent four hours after church working on this cutie (pattern is Olive the Owl by Freddie's Friends).  I have to say that I was so impressed with her sweet little owl, and know that the baby will love it!  :)

Daisy Cottage {Modified} Bento Box Quilt

I finally have a finished quilt to share with you all!  Truth be told that my stack of quilts (which are quilted) that need bindings was out of control for a while.  I've had the chance to bind two of the quilts, have one more in queue, and have two quilt tops that need to be quilted- whew!

This beauty is made up of a Daisy Cottage Rollie Pollie, which was given to me by Cindy of Riley Blake (remember when I mentioned that I had the opportunity to go to their corporate office when I was in Utah last October?).  :)  The sashing is Kona Cotton in Ash, which is so versatile and definitely one of my favorites!

For the backing, I used a Sherbert Pips print (Play Dot in Vanilla Ice Cream), with a a reappearance of the Kona Cotton Ash, from the front of the quilt.  For the binding I opted for a Lizzy House 1001 Peeps print (Illusion in Pink).

I decided to quilt the quilt with daisies (hence Daisy Cottage), in yellow.  I really do love the quilting on this quilt, although its a bit more dense than I'm used to.

Before I go, I want to thank my sweet friend Jana her original Daisy Cottage Baby Quilt inspired my finished quilt.  They are very similar, yet they both speak to our own styles and personalities, and I love that!  :)

Pick-a-Bunch Quilt Top- Finished!

I picked up a Robert Kaufman Pick-a-Bunch Jelly Roll at Quilt Market last spring, and finally cut into it.  This is the first pre-cut I've ever purchased, as I really like yardage- ha!  You may remember me mentioning that I was going to use this tutorial for the Pick-a-Bunch Jelly Roll.  Well folks, I started to use the Random Reflections tutorial, but just wasn't happy with how it was turning out.  So, I cut my losses and re-cut the Jelly Roll pieces per this tutorial!



Initially the 80 small squares were a breeze to make, however the tutorial presses all of the seams the same way, which made making the larger squares (combo of 4 small squares) time consuming.  I have a three times maximum rule, where if the seams do not line up after sewing the first time (even if its off just a bit!), I unpick that portion and allow myself re-sew the seam up to two additional times.  For better or for worse the seam is staying where it is after sewing it for a third time!  :)

The Jelly Roll yielded 64 small squares, which would made up a smaller quilt top than I had wanted.  I picked up a six or so additional 1/8th yard cuts of Pick-a-Bunch and cut my own 2.5" strips to make the quilt top larger.  I'm happy with the size!  I need to piece the back and make an appointment to quilt this pretty little project!

Outfoxed + Be Merry

It's not quite the end of January and I have already finished two quilts!  (Its hard to believe as I'm usually such a procrastinator and its not abnormal for quilts to sit months/years before getting around to bind them.)

 

The first quilt is a fun baby quilt, made using Lizzy House's Outfoxed fabric collection, and my tutorial (although since the quilt was for a baby boy I simply omitted the circles and ric rac!).

 

I chose the main fox print for the back of the quilt, as this quilt was made for a very special little boy.  My friends just adopted a baby boy whose middle name is Fox, which is his mom's grandma's maiden name (following me?).  With that, I took one glimpse of the Outfoxed fabric and knew that I had to make him something special.  :)

Close up of the quilting, done by me!  :)

The second quilt is a fun lap quilt, made with Riley Blake's Be Merry Christmas fabric line (circa 2009), and The Quilted Fish's Sassy Squares No. 2 quilt pattern.

The backing is flannel, and the quilt was quilted with white snowflakes!

I have two more quilts in the works, and hope to be able to share completed versions with you in the near future!  I'm using this tutorial for one of the quilts, using Robert Kaufman's Pick a Bunch fabric collection, and this fun tool for the other quilt, using Riley Blake's So Sophie fabric collection.

Are you working on any quilts?  If so, I would love to hear about them!  :)