New Holiday Hustle Kits & End of Summer Clearance!

Hey y'all!

I am excited to share that we have some new Holiday Hustle QAL kits available - in Winter's Lane, Boo Crew as well as High Street.  These kits are super affordable at $32 with all the fabric needed for the top and binding of a 53" x 60" lap quilt.

 

See them all here in the shop ... And they are all on sale now through 9/1/13!

In fact, we're having a big sale this week - up to 20% off fabric currently on sale and 10% off all regularly priced fabric.  Sale ends 9/1/13 and the discount will be taken automatically once products are added to your cart. (There are a few exclusions in this sale.  Details here.)

Happy Sewing!  :-)

Swooning for High Street

Have I mentioned that I love the new High Street collection? I think I want to make a Swoon with this one ...

Obviously, I've been having way too much fun in EQ7 lately. :-)

Happy Sewing!  :-)

Shop Updates : High Street + Jelly Roll Sale

Hey y'all!

We just got the whole collection of High Street by Lily Ashbury in and its now available in our shop.  I really love the bold, bright colors in this collection.  But there are also some beautiful tonals that are hard working stash builder prints as well.

And ... all of our Jelly Rolls are 10% off now through Sunday, 8/25.  No coupon code necessary - discount will be taken automatically once added to your cart!

Happy Sewing!  :-)

Introducing : Club Medallion BOM Club

Happy Monday!

I am super thrilled to officially introduce a brand new BOM this morning!  A little background for you ...

At Sew South earlier this year, a group of us decided to work on a Medallion Along where we each made a center and sent it around for borders to be added.  About a week ago, I was working on adding a border to one of the quilts and a light bulb went off ... this would be such a fun quilt to do in a BOM format.  Within minutes, I had a name - Club Medallion Border of the Month - and had texted Sarah who adds borders after me in our Medallion Along to get some quick feedback.

It snowballed from there.  Within 48 hours, I had sketched out the quilt, picked Sarah's brain about it at our guild meeting, worked out measurements, and started selecting fabrics.  And here we are about 10 days later introducing this project.  I am really so excited about this!  And I hope you will be too.  :-)

This BOM series will run for 6 months (October 2013 - March 2014) and will include patterns for a star center as well as five sets of borders.  The finished quilt top will measure 64 in x 64 in - a great lap quilt size to sit under and admire your work!  :-)

This quilt is a little more complicated than our Hop, Skip & Jump BOM.  But if you can sew an accurate 1/4" seam and consider yourself at least a confident beginner, join the fun!  We'll use some strip piecing and other "tricks" to make these borders come together.  While not required, the Bloc Loc rulers will help you trim and piece these borders more accurately.  You can order them here.

Of course, we have kits available in two different styles.  First, the Prepster Edition, is full of all the fabrics and colors I love - pinks, aquas, greens, yellows, black and white prints, dots, etc.

The second option, the Hipster Edition, has a totally different vibe.  In fact, my friend Sarah has curated this kit for you!  She and I have totally different styles and I love how our interpretations were so different!

As you can see, this quilt will look beautiful in so many different colors and styles.  And if you'd prefer to curate your own look for this quilt, you can order just the PDF subscription and make this quilt your own. We will provide a coloring page for PDF subscribers as well as fabric requirements beginning September 10th.

So what do you think?!  Want to sew along with us?  Learn more and see all the details about how the Club Medallion BOM works here.  Of course, feel free to email us with any questions.

Happy Sewing!  :-)

Shop Updates : New Stash Builders

Just a quick post with some new collections in the shop .... both of these are great stash builders!

Celebration by Bunny Hill Designs - we couldn't resist the gingham checks in this collection.  (We also got a few of the sailboats too  as they were just too cute!)

And Moda's Contempo line had these awesome Dotty Blocks that we picked up.

We're still getting new bolts in, so be on the look out for even more great new bolts in the next few days!  :-)

See y'all tomorrow for the Club Medallion BOM official announcement!

Happy Sewing! :-)

Sneak Peek at a New BOM!

Details coming tomorrow about our Brand New BOM!

Hope you are having a great weekend! 

Happy Sewing!  :-)

New Tutorials & Patterns Page

Happy Friday, y'all!

Just wanted to share that I FINALLY updated our Tutorials & Patterns page with all of our posts in that category.

There are thumbnail pictures and links directly to the post or series (in a few cases).  I hope you'll find this page user-friendly and check out some of our great projects - there are currently more than 40 linked up!

Happy Sewing!  :-)

Holiday Hustle QAL : Link Up

We hope you've enjoyed the Holiday Hustle QAL!

If you've finished your quilt, link it up below.

Links posted by 11:59 PM on August 31, 2013, will be entered in a random drawing for a $40 gift certificate to our shop!

For the drawing, a "finish" will count as a quilt that has been quilted and has the binding sewn down at least on the front.  :-)

Thanks for stitching along with us!  :-)

Holiday Hustle QAL: Quilting & Binding

It's time to finish up our Holiday Hustle quilts!  If you are sewing along, I hope you've found this quilt fast and fun (and easy!) to put together.  Today, I will be sharing how to quilt and bind your quilt.  When you get your quilt finished, link it up in the linky post and share! Link up by 8/31/13 to be entered for a chance to win $40 to spend in our shop!  Aren't you excited to have a great lap quilt done months before Christmas?!  :-)

Step 1: Prepare the Binding

Last week, in the borders and sashing instruction, I shared that you'd cut SIX 2.5" x WOF strips for your binding.  If you haven't cut those yet, grab a half yard and slice it up!

You are going to join all six strips together, end-to-end.  Line them up as shown and stitch along the diagonal.  Be sure to leave the selvages out of the way - we'll be trimming those off.  (Note: if your fabric is directional, like this one, make sure they will line up right before sewing!)

Trim the ends off leaving a 1/4 inch seam allowance from the sewn line.

Press open. And repeat until all 6 strips are joined in one long continuous piece. 

Fold the binding in half lengthwise and press.  Roll it up really pretty (or don't) and set it aside for later.  :-)

P.S.  You can totally make the binding later, but I lose steam if I don't do it first!  :-)

Step 2: Prepare the Backing

You need 3.5 yards of fabric for the backing.  You'll cut the yardage in half for TWO 63" x WOF pieces.
Join the pieces along the selvage edge.  (Note: If your fabrics are directional like my snowmen, make sure you sew them so both sides will face the right direction.)
You'll sew about 1/4" INSIDE the selvage - we'll trim those off.  :-)

Cut the selvages off.  Toss 'em (or keep 'em if you like to use them in other projects), but don't leave 'em in.

Step 3: Sandwich your Quilt Top

Find a good spot where you can lay out the whole quilt top.
I like to start with just the batting and top.  Working from one end, carefully smooth the quilt top over the batting.  Be careful not to smooth left to right too hard or you'll distort your quilt.  I try to do the smoothing in a vertical motion.  Roll the batting and quilt top up as you smooth it out.  The photo below shows me starting this process.

Next, lay your backing out on the floor and tape down using painter's tape.  (Note: I have trimmed the width of my backing a little (about 10 inches wider than my quilt top) prior to this step.)

Carefully unroll your top/batting onto the backing.  Smooth it as you go so its nice and flat.  (TIP: If your backing is directional, like my snowmen, make sure the top of your quilt it as the top of your backing.) 

Pin it up!  I used a safety pin in every charm square plus some in all the borders and in the sashing.  A good rule of thumb would be to make sure your pins aren't more than a handprint apart.

Step 4: Quilt it!

Quilt as desired.  You can straight stitch or free motion.  I did an all-over free motion stipple on this one - which is usually how I quilt most of my projects.

I do have a pretty small machine.  So on bigger projects, I roll up one side and start in the middle.  If I can get down the middle section, I can then turn the quilt and work the sides a little easier.  I also bring my machine down to the kitchen table and set up in the bottom right corner of the table so that the rest of the table can support the weight of the quilt.

When I free motion, I generally drop the feed dogs and lengthen my stitch as well.  I used Aurifil 50 wt in white and I loved the way it kind of melted into the fabric since it is fairly fine thread.

Step 5: Attach the Binding 

After you are done quilting, press the borders.  And then trim them down.  I trimmed them 6" from the seam between the inner and outer border to square up my quilt.

TIP: When I do this, I like to trim on a larger table like my kitchen table and use the table to support the quilt top.  If your quilt is hanging off the edge of a table, it might distort your borders as you cut them due to the weight pulling on the quilt.

Using a walking foot and a lengthened stitch, attach the binding to the front.

I am assuming you have a basic knowledge of adding binding.  If you're totally new, I have more info here in this tutorial post.  (This post by Rita at Red Pepper Quilts is also really good and shows directions for binding completely by machine.)

TIP:  I like to put my binding in a little bucket next to my machine as I attach it so it doesn't end up everywhere!  :)  I think I got this bucket at the $1 bin at Target.

Almost done!  Take the quilt over to your ironing board and press the binding open.

And attach the binding to the back as you wish - by hand or by machine.  In this case, the quilt is for my mom and I know she prefers the look of hand binding, so that is what I will be working on this week.  :-)

Here are a few more shots of my quilt for you ...

Closer detail of the quilting ...

The cutie snowmen on the back ...

That's all for now!  Once I get the binding hand stitched down, I will do a proper photo shoot.  :-)

Happy Sewing!  :-)

WIP Wednesday : Preppy Swoon

Just a preppy swoon block to share with you today.  Pink, green, and fun.  I love it!  What are you working on this week?

Happy Sewing!  :-)

Shop News : Briar Rose & S'more Love

Happy Monday!

It's always great to start the week with new bolts of loveliness!  Today, we welcomed two new collections to the shop ....

S'more Love ... such cute owls and the woodgrains are awesome!  Some great stash builders are in this one - check them out!

And despite much of the collection being backordered, we did get several of our bolts of Heather Ross's Briar Rose in today as well.  The berries are super sweet ... I will definitely be hoarding some in my personal stash!

Hope your week is off to a great start!  We have some exciting things we're working on here and I can't wait to share more with you next week!  :-)

Happy Sewing!  :-)

Holiday Hustle QAL : Sashing & Borders

Happy Thursday!

It's time for another installment in the Holiday Hustle QAL.  Last week, I shared directions for piecing the blocks using just one charm pack.  Today, we'll add sashing and borders. Ready?





Step 1: Gather your yardage and start cutting. 

You'll need  1 yard for the outer border, 3/4 yard of solid for sashing, 1/2 yard for the inner border, and 1/2 yard for the binding.  If you ordered a kit from us, you've got everything you need!

From the solid, cut NINE 2.5" x WOF strips.

Set aside six strips and from the remaining 3 strips, cut NINE 2.5" x 10" strips.

Next, cut FOUR 3" x WOF strips for the inner border.

Then, cut FIVE 6.5" x WOF strips for the outer border.

And while we're cutting, let's go ahead and cut the binding strips for next week.  You need SIX 2.5" x WOF strips.  (Note:  I use 2.5" strips, some folks like to use a 2.25" strip - do what you like!)

Step 2: Sash the block sets

Last week, we made blocks and sorted them into three sets - column A, column B, and column C.  We need to sash between each block in each column.

You'll add a 2.5" x 10" strip between A-1 & A-2, between A-2 & A-3 and between A-3 & A-4.  Repeating the process for column B and column C.  Press toward blocks (away from sashing).  You are NOT adding sashing strips above block 1 or below block 4 in each set.

As you are pinning and sewing sashing, make sure to line up the middle seams in each block to keep your columns straight.  (This will also help with trimming later.)

Step 3: Trim the column strips

After pressing your blocks and sashing, you will have three longer pieced strips.

Use a ruler to trim the long edges of the pieced strips.  You'll trim 4-3/4" away from the center seam in the blocks.

Step 4: Sash the strips together

Ok, next you'll grab the remaining solid WOF sashing strips and start sewing everything together.

Add a WOF strip on both sides of column B. Stitching the length of both sides.  Press toward blocks.

And a WOF strip on the LEFT side of column A and on the RIGHT side of column C.  Stitch the length of both columns.  Press toward blocks.

Then, you'll join the the columns together and then add a WOF strip along the top and bottom of the joined columns.  Press toward blocks.  (Refer to diagram.)

Step 5: Add the borders

Add an inner border (3" x WOF) strip on the LONG sides first.  Then add the top and bottom.  (This is so we don't have to piece your inner border strips.)  Press toward border.

Then, add an outer border (6.5" x WOF) strip on the TOP and BOTTOM first.  If your border fabric is directional, make sure you add them all on in the same way.  :-)

For the sides, we'll need to piece these borders to make them long enough.

Cut one of the WOF strips in half.

Sew one half to each of the two remaining WOF strips.  Trim off the selvage.  And if your prints are directional, make sure you sew them so the pattern is right side up on both pieces.

Then stitch the side border strips onto the quilt top.  Press toward the border. (Refer to diagram.)

Step 6:  Admire your work!

We'll meet back next week for quilting and binding!  :-)