Holiday Hustle QAL : Piecing the Blocks

It's August 1st and that means its time to get this quilt under way!  I pieced the blocks in about an hour and I probably could have hustled to get it done faster.  Ready?

If you missed the first post detailing the fabric required for this quilt, check it out here.  For today, all you need is a charm pack and your machine.  That's it!



Step 1: Grab a charm pack!

I am using an Aspen Frost kit for my quilt.  We'll use all 42 5-inch squares.

Step 2:  Sort your charms by color. 

It's likely that your charm pack is already sorted by color.  So this is easy ... just lay them out so you can see them all.

Step 3:  Sort your charms into three sets of 14. 

To do this, you'll want to work by color.  Sort of like dealing playing cards.  Start with one color and divide into three stacks.  Repeat with each color so that you won't have all the reds on one side and the greens on the other.

Step 4: Arrange each set group of 14 into smaller sections. 

From each group of 14, you will need two sets of 2, one set of 4 and one set of 6.  You can see that I just shift-sorted them on my ironing board.  (This quilt is all about the hustle and I didn't feel like laying them out downstairs and then hauling them back up to sew!  But if you prefer to lay them all out on the floor or a design wall, go for it!)

Note that I am trying to mix up the colors and prints some across the whole quilt top.

This diagram might help you plan your placement.

TIP:  Once you have your placement figured out, its a great idea to snap a photo with your phone or camera. If you get confused while sewing later, you can then just check the photo to make sure you are sewing the right prints in the right order.

Steps 5 & 6:  Sew and label your blocks

Cut some scraps of paper and label as A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4, B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, C-1, C-2, C-3, and C-4. Lay them with each corresponding group (refer to diagram above).  This way you'll be able to get them all in the right place later!  I just pinned my labels to the top left corner of each block set as I was sewing them together.

Start sewing your blocks together using a 1/4" seam.  Be careful of any directional prints that they all go in the same direction.  (You don't want Frosty or some trees upside down later!)

For sets of 2 squares, press in either direction.

For the 4 patch, you'll sew two pairs and then join the two rows.  Before joining, press rows in opposite directions so you can nest your seams.

Just butt the seams together, pin the intersection, and then sew.

Look how nice that turned out!  You can press the completed 4 patch in either direction.

For the 2x3 block, repeat the process.  Make 3 rows of pairs. Press in opposite directions, nest the seams, and sew the rows together.

Since we're hustling through this quilt, I chain pieced a lot of my blocks and then also double pinned my 2x6 to save a trip back to the ironing board.  (Refer to photo above.)

Step 7:  Check your layout and admire your work!

Now that you've sewn all your blocks together, take them where you can lay them out.  Using the diagram shown earlier in this post, lay them out in columns (A, B, & C) and make sure you like the arrangement.

Shuffle them around a little if you feel like you need to balance colors or prints.  Or just leave and love it!

That's all you need to do for this week!  Next week, we'll add sashing and borders.  The week after that we'll quilt and bind.  A few Christmas kits are still available - so join the fun why don't you?!

If you have any questions, please leave a comment or email me at sewlux (at) gmail (dot) com.

Happy Sewing!  :-)

The Holiday Hustle Quilt Along

Hey y'all!

If you're like me, you probably find yourself stitching until the minute before Santa's Sleigh comes through each year.  This year, I am on a mission to stitch more early so I can relax and enjoy the holiday with family and friends.  (We'll see how that goes!)

Anyway, last year I whipped up my Christmas Joy quilt in what I'm calling my "Holiday Hustle" pattern.  The name pretty much says it all ... a holiday quilt whipped up in a hustle.  Of course, you can make this quick and easy-to-piece charm pack quilt in any fabric collection.

Want to stitch along with me?  Stitch along and link up your finished project at the end for a $40 gift certificate.  Here are the dates you should mark on your calendar:

• Thursday, July 25th - Quilt Details & Supplies
• Thursday, August 1st - Piecing the Blocks
• Thursday, August 8th - Adding the Borders
• Thursday, August 15th - Quilting & Binding
• Saturday, August 31st - Linky Closes for Finished Quilts & a Winner is Drawn!

Can't wait til Thursday for the deets?  Order a kit in either In From the Cold or Aspen Frost here (and on sale through 7/27!).

Happy Sewing!  :-)

Kate Spain Blog Hop : 4x4 Terrain Quilt Tutorial

Hello there and Happy Monday!  :-)

We are very excited to be participating in the Kate Spain Blog Hop organized by Alyce at Blossom Heart Quilts.  We have always loved Kate's collections and, in fact, Fandango was one of the very first collections we ordered for our store.  And we've gotten all the rest since ... Flurry, Terrain, Good Fortune, Serenade, Joy, Cuzco, Honey Honey, In From the Cold, and Sunnyside (which we just ordered the whole collection of last week!)

To celebrate the Blog Hop, we're sharing a quick and easy charm pack tutorial as well as a sale on all of our Kate Spain inventory!  Save 10% off Kate Spain yardage and precuts now through June 15th - no coupon is needed - prices will adjust when added to your cart.

Keep reading for the quilt tutorial as well as links to some of my favorite Kate Spain projects from the past!

4x4 Terrain Quilt finishes approx 45" x 45" square. 

Materials Needed: 
- 40 charm squares (1 charm pack)
- 1 yard Solid background for sashing & borders
- 1.5 yards AND 0.5 yard coordinating fabrics for backing (see diagram for pieced backing in tutorial)
- 0.5 yard Binding  (cut and join five strips - either 2.25" or 2.5" wide x WOF)

Instructions:
The first thing you need to do is split up the charm squares into NINE sets of FOUR squares.  I sorted them by color for this, but you could go totally scrappy and mix it up if you want.

Stitch each set of four charm squares into simple 4-patch blocks.

After piecing these blocks, I like to trim up my blocks a little since they can be a little wonky.  Trim to 9.5" square.

Next, cut the remaining four charm squares into 2.5" squares - for a total of 16 2.5-inch squares.

From the background fabric, cut six 2.5" x WOF strips and then subcut each into four 2.5" x 9.5" strips.

Piece three rows with sashing in between as shown below.  Press toward blocks.

Then piece four sashing strips with the smaller 2.5" squares between background strips as shown below.  Press toward 2.5" colored squares.

Once you have the larger strips pieced, stitch the rows together, being sure to pin carefully at seams and between.

Next, cut four 5-inch x WOF strips from the background fabric for the borders.  (Attach the right and left sides and trim.  Add the leftovers from the side strips to the remaining two strips to give you enough length for the top and bottom.)

And you're all done!  Quilt and bind as desired. :-)

My suggestion for a pieced backing ...

(Click to enlarge.  Drawing not to scale.)

I haven't gotten a chance to quilt mine, but here's my top ...

I think it turned out really great. And it was super fast!  I hope you'll try it!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Now for a few other favorite projects with Kate Spain fabrics...

Flurry Tree Skirt

Terrain Pockets to Go Bucket

Flurry Christmas Wallhangings/Table Runners Tutorial

Christmas Joy (Holiday Hustle) Quilt

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  Please check out Alyce's Kate Spain Blog Hop post for details on the remainder of the Blog Hop!

Happy Sewing!  :-)

Tutorial: Mini Charm Mini Quilt

Hi everyone!  I have a quick and easy tutorial to share with you today.  This project tutorial was made especially for a kit that our Moda FQ Club customers got for free this month.  (You can learn more about our Moda FQ Club program here - why we're different and the perks our customers receive.)  I don't always share their exclusive kits & patterns here, but thought I'd share this one with you all.  :-)

For this project, you'll need a mini charm pack, a FQ of a solid, and a 1/4 yard cut of a coordinating print.  I am using a Marmalade mini charm, Bella Porcelain, and Vintage Modern dots.

The first step is to choose 24 prints from the mini charm pack and sew together four 2x3 patch rectangles. Press seams open.

I used a method to the madness, including one square each of pink, red, orange, yellow, green, and aqua prints and kept the placement of the colors the same in all four blocks.

Next, let's cut up your solid.  Use the diagram below for the basic cuts (note - diagram not exactly to scale).

Now, let's start assembling!  Add a 1.5 x 4.5 strip to both ends of two blocks.  Arrange your blocks as shown, alternating the direction. (I chose to keep all my pink blocks in the center.)

Then add a 1.5 x 4.5 strip one side of the remaining two blocks as shown.

Then, add a 1.5 x 8.5 piece to each vertically-oriented block as shown in the photo below.

We'll keep adding strips ... moving on to the 2.5" wide strips.  Start with the 2.5 x 8.5 strips and add to the opposite sides of the vertically-oriented blocks as shown below.

Next, we'll add the 2.5 x 7.5 strips to the horizontally-oriented blocks as shown.

Then join the horizontal blocks to the vertical blocks to make two large rectangles.

Then join to make one large 14.5" square block.

From here, you can either finish as directed or make it into a pillow.  :-)

From the 1/4 yard piece of the dot print, cut two 2.5" x WOF strips.  You'll stitch these together end-to-end to make one long strip for the binding.  Press in half and set aside.

Next from the remaining piece of dot fabric (4" x WOF), cut in half at the fold to get two 4" x 22" pieces.  Take one of the pieces and add the larger pieces of the remaining Bella on either side to create a backing piece with a strip up the middle. Press toward the center strip.

Of course, you could use the leftover mini charm squares to piece the backing strip, but I chose to save them for something else (shown here).

Now, its time to baste.  Place the backing right side down, then batting, then the pieced top right side up.  Baste as desired - I used pins this time.

Then quilt as desired.  I used some straight stitching with a walking foot and a lengthened stitch length.

After you've quilted the piece, remove pins, press and trim.  Mine measured 14.5" square.

Time for the binding.  (I have a binding tutorial here, if you need help.)

I machined it to the front and handstitched it down to the back.

What do you think?!  If you haven't had a chance to play with Marmalade yet, you should.  The colors and prints are so lovely.  :-)  I am looking forward to getting the yardage for the collection next month.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Hope you enjoyed this quick little mini quilt tutorial.  If you have any questions, please let me know.

Happy Sewing!  :-) 

Charm Pack Mini Quilt Tutorial #2

Hi again friends!  A few weeks ago, I shared the first tutorial in this mini series where we'll make TWO mini quilts from just ONE charm pack and a little batting.  You can see the first tutorial here.  Today I've got the tutorial for this one ...

Step 1: Grab the leftovers from your charm pack (or 17 charms).  I am using my leftovers from Hello Luscious.

You'll need 13 for the front and 4 for the back.

Step 2:  Select 9 squares (I am using 9 pink ones) and cut a 2.25" x 5" rectangle off of each one.  Set the remaining 2.75" x 5" rectangles aside.

Step 3:  Stitch the 2.25" x 5" rectangles together to form a panel.

Trim the panel to 4.5" wide.

Step 4: Stitch four aqua charms together to make an additional panel.

Once you have pressed the seams, cut the panel in half to make two 2.5" wide strips.

Step 5: Attach the aqua borders to the pink center panel.

It should look something like this ...

Step 6: Arrange the four leftover charms and the leftover pink rectangles to form a backing like shown.

Stitch together in rows and then attach the rows. Press seams open.

Step 7:  Sandwich your mini quilt.  I chose to keep my batting trimmed very close the size of the top so that I could try and center the top on the back since we'll be using the back to self-bind the quilt.

Step 8: Quilt around the main center panel as shown.  Important - since we will be doing a self-binding, you don't want to use a quilt design that goes all the way to the edge of the top.

Then, mark your quilt using a ruler to create a criss-cross pattern.  I used a FriXion pen because it will disappear when I iron over it later.  (Love that!)

Stitch over the lines.  (I used a walking foot and lengthened my stitch.)

Step 9:  Press your quilt.  Then fold back the backing so it is out of the way as shown.

Trim the edges to 1.75" from the border seam all the way around the mini quilt. You are NOT trimming the backing!!!

Then bring the backing back behind the edges.

Trim the backing so that it is 0.75" wider than the top and batting.

Step 10: Prepare the self-binding by folding the backing over and pressing it.  Start with the two long sides.

Then fold the sides up over the top and pin. Stitch carefully just along the edge of each long side to secure the binding.

Then fold the corners over as shown.

Fold the sides up over the short ends and pin.

Stitch as before to secure the binding on the short sides.  Backstitch at the beginning and end.

That's it!  You're all finished.  The front ...

The back ...

I kind of like this skinny rectangle size ... great for a shelf or entry way or even on a mantle.  Or next to your sewing machine, where mine is currently living.  :-)

I hope that you enjoyed this tutorial.  One note about it ... in the first one, I did all of the binding in one session.  I tried doing the two long sides and then the short ones and I think I like it better this way.  Of course, its your preference!  If you make a little mini with this tutorial, I'd love to see it.  Please link it up in the comments or for this month's Stitch & Share Linky/Giveaway post.  :-)

If you have any questions, just leave them in the comments or send me an email.

Happy Sewing!  :-)