Savings & Surprises All Week!

Happy Shopping & Sewing!  :-) 

Modern Maple Leaf Pillow Tutorial

Thanksgiving is just a few days away and this weekend I whipped up a pretty maple leaf pillow to add to my fall decor in the living room.  If you shopped with us during our Customer Appreciation weekend the earlier this month, you got a kit for this in your goody bag!  :-)

Here's what you need for this 18" square pillow: 
1 FQ backing (kits have one of an assortment of prints)
1 FQ Bella Snow (or other neutral for background)
4 F8 of Bella Solids (I am using Mustard, Clementine, Chocolate & Boysenberry)
20" square of batting & scrap for back of pillow front for quilting

Kits for this project are available here.  :-)

First, I want to point out that this pillow is definitely inspired by the Modern Maples craze!  I also made a basic maple leaf block tutorial some time ago here.

For each of the two smaller leaves, you need to cut the following:

• THREE 2.5" squares of leaf color 
• TWO 3" squares of the leaf color
• ONE 1" x 5" strip of the leaf color
• TWO 3" squares of background
• TWO 2.5" squares of background
• ONE 3.5" x 6.5" rectangle of background
• ONE 3.5" x 9.5" rectangle of background

For each of the two larger leaves, you need to cut the following:

• THREE 3.5" squares of leaf color 
• TWO 4" squares of the leaf color
• ONE 1.25" x 5" strip of the leaf color
• TWO 4" squares of background
• TWO 3.5" squares of background

Let's get sewing!  Instructions are for smaller leaf block (with larger block measurements in parentheses). Use a 1/4" seam allowance throughout. 

First, cut one of the 2.5" background (or 3.5") and cut it in half on the diagonal.  Sew the 1" x 4" strip (1.25" x 5") between the two background triangles. Press toward background.

Trim to 2.5" square (3.5" square).

Use the two 3" leaf color and the two 3" background squares (4" and 4") to make FOUR half square triangle units using your favorite method.  (I usually cut them in half on the diagonal and sew them together.  You can also draw a line down the diagonal and saw 1/4" on either side of the line then cut on the line.) Trim all four blocks to 2.5" (3.5").

Next, lay out your leaf block and sew together into three rows:

Top row:  background + HST unit + HST unit
Middle row:  HST + color + color
Bottom: HST + color + stem
* Small leaf block all squares in the 9-patch are 2.5" pre-sew.  They are 3.5" pre-sew in the larger leaf block.

For the two smaller blocks, attach the 3.5" strips to two adjacent sides as shown to make it 9.5" square. (You may wish to layout our pillow to determine which sides to sew to if you want the leaves pointing in certain directions.)

Sew the leaf blocks together like this:

Baste and quilt as desired.  I chose to create a bark/wood grain pattern with my quilting.  And I really like how it turned out.

For the back, I cut my fat quarter in half lengthwise (two 9" x 21" strips) and then used some of my leftovers to create a pieced strip about 5" tall to add to one of the backing pieces so that the top and bottom of the pillow back would overlap by a few inches.  (See more about how to make and attach the backing to a pillow at the end of this tutorial here.)

The back of the completed pillow.  :-)

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial!  This is a quick and easy project and would make a great hostess gift for Thanksgiving dinner!

Happy sewing!  :-)

The Ladies Night Sewing Challenge

Hey there friends!

I am really excited to introduce a fun challenge/contest with you today - the Ladies Night Challenge!  And, of course, I hope you'll play along!  :-)

A little background for you ...

A couple of weeks ago, we did some SURMA sewing up at Lee's (May Chappell) house, where Sarah (Stitching and Bacon) started this awesome clam shell quilt.

Fast forward a couple of weeks and Sarah was hanging out with me at Sew Lux HQ and curated this awesome bundle using her clam shell quilt as inspiration as we had all been drooling over it.

So then, on Instagram, Lee, Sarah and I were chatting about the awesomeness of this bundle and what we'd do with it ... and then I kinda double dog dared them ...

So here we are kicking off our challenge and we'd love for you to play along with us!

The Challenge Rules: 

Make a project with one of three Ladies Night Bundles (or use your stash to build your own bundle in one of the three color schemes below).

Link up your project here on our blog by December 23th.  (Linky will be available beginning December 10th.)  *Project must meet the following guidelines:  if you are making a quilt, the top must be complete to link up.  If you are making anything else - tote, pouch, pillow, etc your project should be completed.  No blog?  That is a-ok!  You can link a Flickr image. One link per colorway per person.

We will announce three winners on December 26th.  Prizes will be announced December 10th  on the linky post but will include gift certificates to Sew Lux Fabric, patterns, as well as some handmade goodies and other surprises!  :-)

The Bundles & Color Schemes: 

Volume 1 (curated by Sarah)

Volume 2 (curated by Lee)

Volume 3 (curated by me :-) 

Bundles are available here while supplies last.  Or feel free to curate from your stash in one of these three color ways.  All bundles include the colors shown with a black & white/cream or gray & white/cream low volume base.

Will you sew along with us?!  I sure hope so - this is going to be super fun!  I think I might even start on mine today. :-)

Happy Sewing!  :-)

Design Challenge : Julie at 627 Handworks

Happy Friday!

It's time for a brand new Design Challenge interview & project.

We asked Julie over at 627 Handworks to come up with a bundle and project for us and I think you're going to love it.  But let's get to know her a little first ...

Julie's Interview: 

What is your most favorite quilt block of all time?

My favorite quilt block is probably the standard sawtooth star. I think it's classic and stands the test of time. Plus, it's so versatile!  You could make a dozen quilts using that basic block and come up with a dozen completing different looking quilts.

What was your first quilting project?

My first quilting project also happens to be my first sewing project!  Summer of 2010 I decided to bite the bullet, buy a sewing machine and learn everything I could about making a quilt.  Honestly, the internet taught me to sew.  The quilt was made using a charm pack with 4" borders in a Christmas theme.  I was instantly hooked and wish I hadn't waited so long to start sewing.
 
Where do you find inspiration for sewing and quilting projects?

I tend to browse the internet A LOT. Like, it's a problem. Flickr, Pinterest and even Instagram are great resources. I also follow hundreds of amazing blogs.  I don't think you can ever have too much inspiration. I subscribe to a couple of magazines but most of my projects and ideas stem from things I've seen online.

What is your favorite sewing supply/room organizational tip?

Right next to my cutting board I have 4 little baskets that hold different sizes of scraps from 2" square and up.  When I'm cutting my fabrics I can just toss the scraps in the baskets I go. Clean up goes much quicker and when the baskets are full I move the scraps into larger organizational bins.

Thanks so much for sharing a little about yourself, Julie! 

Check out the super cute bundle that Julie curated for us. A quilter after my own heart with the pinks, greens, and low volumes!  :-)

Lovely, no?  Order a bundle here and then hop on over to see Julie's tutorial for this cuteness ...

Every pup should have one of these for Christmas. :-)

Happy Sewing!  :-)

New Fabric : True Colors by Heather Bailey

True Colors by Heather Bailey is now available!

Check out these awesome stash builders here. 

See ya tomorrow with a new Design Challenge! 

Happy Sewing! :-) 

Surma Medallion Sewing

A few weeks ago, my SURMA sewing group headed back to the mountains to stitch it up together.  Of course, we had a super time.  I love these girls.

We are doing a medallion along together and while there I finished Xandi's border so I could hand it off for the next border.

First, let me say that Xandi made a killer center block - feathers and geese.  Wow.

Let's say that again.  Wow.  And the color scheme is gorgeous.

Then, it headed off to Tessa, who added the first awesome border.

Tessa is not only an awesome person, but she has mad sewing skills.  Wouldn't you agree?!

I wasn't quite sure how I was going to follow her border, but settled on a simple HST border using a soft gray for the background and pretty navys and teals for the triangles.

I pretty much love how it turned out.  Xandi approved, too.  She kindly held it up for the photo shoot.

I am really enjoying medallion quilts lately.  And the medallion along has been super fun seeing how these quilts develop with each new border.

That is all for now!

Happy Sewin! :-)

Anniversary Mystery Mini Quilt Revealed!

Our Anniversary Mystery Mini Quilt Pattern Series is now complete! Here's an image of the entire pattern.

I still need to add the borders and quilt mine, but I can hardly stand how cute its turning out!   I'm working on a big project at work this week and then I will have time to finish this cuteness and share it here on the blog.  

Are you sewing this project with us?  If so, I'd love to see it ... link it up or tag me on Instagram @sewlux or #sewluxminibow .  You can still order the pattern and kits here. 

Happy Sewing!  :-) 

Anniversary Mystery Mini - Final Week!

Happy Monday!  It is our last week of the special Anniversary Mystery Mini BOW.  Have you been sewing along with me?  As I finished the last block (and center of our quilt) I kind of squealed a little.  It's so cute.

I am wrapping up the pattern for finishing this project and will email it out to subscribers later today.  Who is excited?!

Happy Sewing!  :-)

Hop Skip & Jump Link Up

It's time for the halfway there progress link up on our Hop, Skip & Jump BOM.  Are you having fun with these blocks?

Here are all of my block so far with a bit of a sneak peek at the next one. ;-)

So, so us what you've got so far.  Get caught up or get closer to caught up and link it up friends!

Link up a blog post or flickr image by the end of November to be entered to win a $20 gift certificate to our shop.

Happy Sewing!

Club Medallion Update

Hey there!

Hope you've been having a great weekend. :-)  Our Customer Appreciation special ends tonight ... and I'm excited to share that your goodie bag includes all the fabric you'll need for our next pillow tutorial coming to the blog in a few days.  Really excited about this one.  :-)

Speaking of being excited about something .... let's chat about our Club Medallion BOM.

I love how this is coming together.  Month 1 & 2 looks like this ...

Of course, I am doing the Prepster version.  Its all pink, green, and polka dotty and stuff.

You can still hop on the bandwagon with a kit or just the PDF.  (Check out how different you can make it look ... Stephanie's looks awesome!)

Are you sewing along with me?  Tag me on Instagram or link up your progress in the comments.

Happy Sewing!  :-)

Customer Appreciation Weekend!

Now is a great time to pick up your favorites!  :)

Happy Sewing! :-)

Winter's Lane Patchwork Pillow

Hey there friends!

I promise I haven't forgotten about this blog.  Life outside of Sew Lux has been a little busier than I'd like the past couple of weeks, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.  :-)

I did want to stop in and share this awesome pillow tutorial that our friend Tessa at The Sewing Chick posted with one of our Winter's Lane bundles.

First, you really can't go wrong with the Winter's Lane collection.  It's pretty much gorgeous.  We do have some yardage and bundles left, but they probably won't last too much longer!  (And its on sale!) 

The pillow Tessa made uses appliqued letters and some simple patchwork.

Go check out her post here and say hello.

Happy Sewing!  :-)

New Curated Collections

Hey there, friends!  I am super excited to introduce you to six new Curated Collections this week.  

Our friend Sarah at Stitching & Bacon came by and she helped us curate some awesome groupings.  

I can't wait to make something fun with one (or maybe all!) of these.  

Check them all out here.  Available while supplies last!

Christmas Sale this Weekend

Save on your favorite Christmas Prints and bundles this weekend at Sew Lux!

Solids Sale this Weekend!

Add some great colors to your stash this weekend!

Happy Sewing!  :-)