Sunnyside by Kate Spain

We are thrilled to have the entire collection of Sunnyside by Kate Spain now available in yardage, precuts, FQ bundles, and single fat quarters.  The colors are gorgeous!

I had a lot of fun making a Super Tote from this collection over the weekend and can't wait to share it with you tomorrow!  :-)

Happy Sewing! :-)

New Collections

Hey there!  Happy Friday everyone!

It has been a very busy week around here.  We moved the shop to a new room and we've been busy this week reorganizing and getting settled in.  The main reason we had to move to a new space was all the new bolts we are getting!  This week we have two new collections and a bunch of great new last chance pieces.

Midwinter Reds by Minick & Simpson is a gorgeous classic red & cream collection.  We love it for home decorating projects and holiday projects that will last you past Dec 25.  See the collection and precuts available here.

We also got some fun new basics from the Giggles line by Me & Me Sister Designs.  The multi colored dot is my absolute favorite.  :-)  See the prints we chose to add to our line up here.

We're headed to the mountains this morning to sew it up with some other mothers & daughters, including the super fun Lee of May Chappell, who we introduced you to last week. :-) I am sure we'll have lots to share when we get back and I promise to show you all the stuff I've been furiously sewing in the past week or so.  :)

Happy Sewing! :-)

Design Challenge : All Squared Up by May Chappell

Hey y'all!  Today, we have a special bundle and project to share, but first let me introduce Lee of May Chappell.

I met Lee while at Sew South last year and we've since become friends.  She is super funny, has mad sewing skills, and is willing to unpick seams for friends.  :-)  I interviewed her so you could get to know her too.  :)

Lee's Bio ... 
Lee has been creating since she first discovered crayons at age 2! A seventeenth generation quilter (still working to confirm this;), she learned everything she knows from her mother, affectionately known as the guru. She loves all things fabric—from zippy pouch to queen size quilt—and everything in between. With a love of color and bold graphic shapes, Lee enjoys designing patterns and teaching all types of classes, while sharing her adventures on her blog, www.maychappell.com. She is a graphic designer by day and a sewist by night!

What is your favorite quilt block of all time?
That's a tough one! But it has to be log cabin. It's classic and so easy to change up. There are so many variations!!

What is on your "quilt bucket list"?
It's probably a shorter list to say what isn't on there! But my ultimate bucket list quilt is a queen sized Cathedral Window with all my favorite fabrics. Maybe someone out there wants to make it for me:)

What is your favorite sewing tool or notion?
I'm not usually that much of a notion person, but I have become quite obsessed with Bloc Loc rulers lately. If it genuinely saves time, I'm impressed and Bloc Loc rulers definitely save time!

What is your favorite sewing supply/room organizational tip?
I write my own selvage for interfacing, batting and solids. I write with a permanent marker along the edge as though it is a selvage with all the info I need to identify it.  (How smart is that!?!?!)

I asked her if she'd like to curate a bundle for a project and she agreed.  Here's what she came up with ...

Like?  Well,  check out this great project she made with her bundle ... the "All Squared Up" quilt.

You can score this pattern for FREE when you purchase her limited edition bundle.  (We'll email the PDF pattern to you within 24 hours of purchase.)

Stop on over and learn more about her "All Squared Up" project.

Happy Sewing! :-)

Sweet Serenade by Basic Grey

Sweet Serenade by Basic Grey yardage and precuts is now available!

Happy Sewing! :-)

Who's Ready for Christmas?

Finally ... some real sewing has taken place around here!  :-)  Wanna see?

So, my Uphome girls (a group of us that met at Sew South) all decided to do a traveling medallion.  Which is super fun.  I had a hard time deciding on my theme at first since I am doing another medallion in all pink and polka dots and things I love!  (Which by the way, its not too late to sign up for it!)

So ... Christmas it is!  I think this allows for a lot of fun with the borders as well.  Can't wait to see what my girls add to this one.  :-)

I made my center block using mostly prints from the Modern Mix Christmas collection along with this cute Alexander Henry Christmas owl print.

I used the Ferris Wheel block from Elizabeth Dackson's project in Quilty magazine.  I did draw up some paper piecing patterns for the corner blocks in EQ7 though since the templates were just too fiddly for me.  Of course, my HST and 3x6 flying geese Bloc Locs were really helpful as well.  :)

I sent along some extra scraps and a few other prints from my stash with it.

Can't wait to see how this turns out!

Happy Sewing!  :-)

Around the Web

Just a quick post to let y'all know that we're giving away a free PDF subscription to our newest BOM - the Club Medallion Borders-of-the-Month Club over at Julie's blog - 627 Handworks.

Check out the post here and enter to win some awesome Aurifil thread (which is really great to sew with) as well as our pattern subscription!

And ... hop over and like us on FB to learn how you can save on some fabric this week.

Happy Sewing!  :-)

Tutorial : Boo Crew Mini Quilt

Hey y'all!  I am really excited to share a fast, fun, & festive mini quilt tutorial with you today.

This little mini is about 14 x 17 inches and is perfect for the wall or a table topper.  The best part is you can whip it up really quickly with minimal supplies.  Ready!?

Supplies Needed: 
1 Mini Charm Pack (42 2.5" x 2.5" precut squares)
1 Quarter Yard (9 x WOF) black print (borders & binding)
1 FQ cream print (backing)

Pick up a kit here - available while supplies last.

Step 1: Sort Your Charms
Sort your charm squares by color.

Step 2: Make the Pumpkin
Select 9 of the orange squares and sew into a 9-patch.  (Start by stitching together three rows of three squares and then joining the rows.)

Step 3: Sew the Pumpkin Corners
From the cream fat quarter, cut one 2.5" square from a corner.  (This can be a rough cut - it doesn't have to be exactly 2.5", but close is good. :-)

Cut the cream square and one green square in half diagonally.

Then sew one triangle onto each corner as shown in the photo.  Just eyeball them!  Make sure that once sewn and flipped, the cream or green print will cover the entire corner.  Sew cream on the top corners and green on the bottom corners.

Trim the extra orange off each corner and press the triangles open.  Then trim your block to 6.5" x 6.5".

Step 4: Plan the Rest of the Layout
Lay your pumpkin block down and then arrange green, purple, and low volume printed squares in the arrangement as shown.  (Low volume at the top, purple in the middle, and green on the bottom.)

Step 5: Piece the Background

Starting with the sides, piece one cream, one purple, and one green together.  Make two sets. Attach these 3-block pieces to the left and right sides of the pumpkin block. 

Then piece the top and bottom rows together into two 5-block strips. And sew to the top and bottom of the pumpkin block.

Then select one more purple print and four black prints for each side.  (Hold one black square for the stem in the next step.)  Sew the strips together and attach to the left and right sides. 

Step 6: Add the Stem

Adhere a small piece of fusible interfacing to the back of a black square.  

Cut a stem shape from the square. (I just cut a wonky square.) Then use a zig zag or blanket stitch to applique the stem to the pumpkin.  (TIP: I like to shorten my zig zag stitch length and tighten the width between stitches on my machine settings when doing machine applique.  I have talked about this here.) 

Step 7: Add the Borders

Next, cut the 9" x WOF black fabric into four strips.  TWO strips 1-3/4" wide and TWO strips 2.5" wide x WOF. (Note: in photo below, these strips are folded up. They are 44" in length.) 

Add a 1-3/4" strip to the top and bottom of the quilt.

Then add a 1-3/4" strip to each side. 

Step 8: Finish the Mini Quilt

Start by layering your top, batting, and backing (the cream FQ).  Pin or baste as desired. 

Quilt as desired.  This is a great time to try out different free motion designs! :-) 

After quilting, press, and trim excess batting and backing from your quilt. 

Join the two 2.5" x WOF black strips together to create the binding.  Press in half lengthwise.  Attach binding to the front and finish on the back by hand or machine.  (Again, more details on binding can be found in this tutorial here.)

Enjoy your new mini quilt!

If you make one of these, I'd love to see it - please link it up in the comments. :)  If you have any questions please comment or send me an email.

Happy Sewing! :-)

Catching Up: Winners, Newness & Other Randomness

Hey y'all!

Sorry the blog has been a little quiet.  My day job (teacher) kicked into high gear 2 weeks ago and its always an adjustment getting back into the swing of things. But we're off to a great start, so I can't complain. :-)

First, I wanted to say "thanks so much!" to all of you who shared your feedback on the new collections we were considering.  We love getting (and using!) your feedback when we make our selections.  We ordered quite a lot of bolts ... including collections that so many of you can't wait to see on your own stash shelves - Daydreams, Sphere, Wishes, Mixed Bag, and more!

I used random.org to select two winners and ... drum roll, please ... the winners are ...

Congrats to both Laura & Emily who've each won a $15 gift certificate to sewluxfabric.com.  Emily - I'm emailing you.  Laura - please email me - you're a no-reply commenter so I can't contact you.

In shop news, we got some really fun Weaves in - these are similar to Quilters Linen - they are printed solids that have the look of a linen texture without the sewing drama that can come with textured fabrics. :-) Check out the neutrals (and a few bright colors) that we're currently offering here.

I am really excited about this Half Moon Modern Small Zig Zag Bundle.  These little chevrons are super cute and I love the rainbow of colors that this print is available in.

Order a bundle for your stash or stock up on your favorite colors here.

Have you signed up for the Club Medallion Borders of the Month club?  We're starting this awesome project in less than a month!  I will be sending out a coloring page and fabric requirements to participants tomorrow evening.  Learn more about the club here.

I have actually been sewing a little these last few weeks.  If you follow me on Instagram, you've gotten some sneaks at what I've been up to.  In fact, I have a super cute mini tutorial scheduled here on the blog for tomorrow morning.

Cute right?!  Stop by tomorrow for the full post on this easy mini.  (Kits available here while supplies last.)

I have a few other projects in the works, but they're secrets for now! :-)

That's all for now folks!  See ya tomorrow!

Happy Sewing! :-)

WWYS (What Would You Stash - Giveaway)

Hey y'all!  We're about to meet with our Moda Rep this week and we'd love to hear what you think!

Visit this page on our blog to see the collections we're considering and tell us what you think.  Be sure to comment on this post over here to be entered in the drawing for one of two $15 gift certificates to our shop. :-)   Comment by 5 PM EST on Thursday, 9/5/13 to be entered to win.

Happy Sewing!  :-)

p.s. If you saw this collection sneaked over at Camille's ... don't worry!!! We'll be ordering the whole thing (and you might just see it featured in our next BOM kicking off in the Spring of 2014)... its not on the list because we're only looking at pre-market collections this week. :-) 

Holiday Hustle QAL Winner!

Thanks so much to all of you that stitched along with me in the Holiday Hustle QAL!  I hope you had fun and I've seen a lot of pretty quilts in various stages.  I am also thrilled that so many of you are glad to have a gift checked off your list so early.  Feels good, doesn't it?!

Well, its time to announce a winner for those of you that really hustled along and entered my challenge to get 'er done.  Thanks to random.org, the winner is .... Tara at Mommy Head Adventures. Check out her very first lap quilt - the Holiday Hustle - here!  Tara, I will be emailing you with your gift certificate information.

Congrats and thanks again for participating.  I hope you'll all keep sharing your quilts with me as you finish.

Happy Sewing! :-)