Thimble Blossoms Scrappy Sampler Kits & Other Newness

I am so excited about the great response we've had here and on Instagram about our Thimble Blossoms Scrappy Sampler QAL!  So many asked about kits and we're thrilled to be able to offer one for this fun project.

The Scrappy Sampler Kit includes this bundle of fat eighths of prints from both Miss Kate & Daysail.  We've also included a diagram and suggestions for planning fabric place for the most efficient use of your kit.  You can even choose your background - solid white or my favorite Essential Dots. :-)  Kits are available while supplies last.

We also just got the super fun Snippets collection by Sarah Fielke for Windham.  This sewing-themed collection includes both black & whites as well as fun array of colors that remind us of candy buttons.  We have bundles and yardage in the shop!

And ... some fun Fat Eighth Grab Bags have made their appearance! We have two options - rainbow and low volume.  A random mix of 8 prints for just $8 per bundle!

Christmas is coming .... look for Holly's Tree Farm by Sweetwater, Evergreen by Basic Grey & Tinsel from Cotton and Steel in the shop next week!

Happy sewing! :-)

Shop Updates - Reel Time & Free Shipping!

Just a few quick updates for the week ...

Reel Time by Zen Chic is in!  We picked our favorite prints, including some great low volumes.

And ... there's FREE SHIPPING over $40 now through Sunday!  Send some Happy Mail to yourself!

Happy Sewing! :-)

Thimble Blossoms Scrappy Sampler Quilt Along

I'm really excited to introduce a fun little quilt along today!  (If you follow me on Instagram, I teased everyone about this announcement with a photo of some of my B&C stash yesterday.)

Back when Camille shared her Hello Darling fabric and new patterns at the end of March on Instagram, I fell in love with all of them.  Realistically, though, my quilt bucket list is longer than I will ever have years for and I thought a sampler quilt might be fun... and then I thought it might be fun to do it with all of you!  So I emailed Camille about my idea and here we go!  :-)

Here are all the details ...

Patterns Needed: 

This sampler uses four of Camille's most recent patterns.  (She shared her original quilts here.) You will need a paper or PDF copy of each of these patterns:

• Piccadilly Circus
• Lollies
• Vintage Tulips 
• Swoon Sixteen

We will be assembling various blocks into rows and I will share the setting, sashing, & border instructions here on my blog during the QAL.  The completed quilt measures approx 58" x 78".

*We are using the full size versions of Picadilly Circus & Vintage Tulips, not the mini quilt patterns. 

The Schedule: 

• May 20 - QAL Announcement! :-) 
• May 25 - Week 1: Lollies (5 blocks*)
• June 1 - Week 2: Piccadilly Circus (1 block*)
• June 8 - Week 3: Vintage Tulips (part one - 3 tulips)
• June 15 - Week 4: Vintage Tulips (part two - 3 alternate blocks*) 
• June 22 - Week 5: Swoon Sixteen (3 blocks)
• June 29 - Week 6: Sashing, Borders, Assembly

* There will be a small adjustment to size or construction to make it all work - details will be given at the appropriate week's post.

Fabric Needed: 

Blocks & Borders: It's a little difficult to say exactly how much fabric you need since we will be making blocks from several patterns and depending on how scrappy you go it could make a big difference. Vintage Tulips & Piccadilly Circus are both jelly roll strip friendly, the Swoon Sixteen is FQ friendly and the Lollies are Layer Cake friendly.  I will be using Bonnie & Camille prints for the most part and going with a scrappy look.  Pull out your favorites and consult each pattern. 

Block Background & Sashing: Approximately 3.25 yards (I am using my favorite Essential Dots throughout)  Tips for cutting your background for the most efficient use can be found here.

Binding: 1/2 yard if using 2.5" wide strips  

Backing: 3 yards

(Note: this stack of pretties is part of my personal stash and therefore isn't representative of our kit.)

Are you in?  I hope you'll join me ... I am really excited about this one!

I'll be sharing my progress here and on Instagram.  If you are on IG, tag me @sewlux and use the #TBScrappySamplerQAL ... there may even be a few prizes along the way! ;-)

See you all on Monday!

Happy Sewing!  :-)

UPDATE: A limited number of kits are now available in our shop.  Please be sure to read the description carefully.

Thanks for all your support & enthusiastic response so far!

Smitten Quilt Along : Large Block Four and Small Block Two

Hey everyone!  I hope you are ready for more y-seams!  :-)  This month we are working on Large Block Four AND Small Block Two.  Small Block Two is the center of Large Block Four.  The best part is that once you finish the center of the Large Block, you can piece the rest with no Y-seams! :-) 

For more details on the Smitten Quilt Along, visit this post here for dates and supplies, etc.  If you haven't purchased templates, go ahead and make your's using the pattern and template plastic or other material of your choice.  (Be sure to add the seam allowance if making your own templates.)

Note:  I glue baste my pieces.  I didn't take pictures of this for this month, as I shared them in the first month's post. 

Cut out your fabrics and then mark your pieces!  It's all about connecting the dots!  Mark the wrong side of your fabric pieces with dots where the 1/4" seams would meet.  (The acrylic templates have holes, making this super easy!) Alternatively, you could use your ruler and pen to draw lines along the seam allowances to mark your start and stop points.

Sew the half hexagons into two sets of three pieces. Sew from the outer edges to the inner dots. Then attach the two units to the center. This is just like we've done in previous blocks. 

Your finished center section will look like this.  I pressed toward the center. This completes the Small Block Twos.  It is also the center of the Large Block Four.

To make the Large Block Four, you need six triangles and six diamonds.  Lay them out as shown below.

We're going to assemble this without Y-seams.  So sew edge to edge!  Start by sewing a triangle to the upper left and lower right sides of the center as shown below. Press toward the triangles.

Next, sew a triangle to a diamond as shown below.  Make two units.  Press toward the triangles.

Attach these triangle/diamond units to the center hexagon.  Press away from the center.

Now, you should have a triangle and two diamonds left for each of the remaining two sides.

Attach the triangles to one diamond and then to the other.  Press toward the triangle for both seams.

Sew the remaining sides to the center hexagon.

You'll be lining up the edges as shown below.

Press away from the center hexagon.   And you're all finished!

Now plan and sew some more ... you need 2 completed Large Block Fours and 6 Small Block Twos.

And that's it!  You're done!  Yippee!

I hope these photos were helpful to you...  I can't wait to make a few more myself and to see your's too! Don't forget to use #smittenquilt and #smittenquiltqal on Instagram. :-)

If you have questions, leave a comment, email me or tag me on IG!

Happy Sewing!  :)

Gardenvale by Jen Kingwell

Gardenvale by Jen Kingwell is here and its really pretty amazing!

Jen's quilts are always very scrappy and I think this collection achieves a scrappy look even though it is all from one collection!  And, as a polka dot lover, I can totally appreciate all the dots in this collection!

We're featuring a group of these prints in our Moda FQ Club bundle this month and then also have three bundles of fun basics.

And then ... there are the panels that have dots and stripes - so many extra prints in the same collection.  It's genius!

I even made a new pouch with this collection.  Scrappy Pouch Kits have sold out quickly, but we have some other options including Daysail and more available as well.

Happy Sewing!  :-)

Skopelos & New Cotton and Steel

We've been pretty busy in the shop making room for a lot of new bolts in the past few weeks and they've started to roll in!

Cotton + Steel has a great new collection of Black & White prints and its been flying out the door!

Katarina Roccella has a way with floral prints and we couldn't pass up our favorites from the Skopelos collection!  We have two different bundles available and I am not sure how I'll choose one ... both are so pretty!

And Gardenvale by Jen Kingwell is arriving next week!  Stay tuned!

Happy Sewing!

Smitten Quilt Along : Large Block Three and Small Block Three

Hey everyone!  I hope you are ready for more y-seams!  :-)  This month we are working on Large Block Three AND Small Block Three - they are exactly the same except for the size.  There are even less pieces than last month for each block, so its pretty fast to make... especially since you've got the y-seam down now, right?! ;-) 

For more details on the Smitten Quilt Along, visit this post here for dates and supplies, etc.  If you haven't purchased templates, go ahead and make your's using the pattern and template plastic or other material of your choice.  (Be sure to add the seam allowance if making your own templates.)

Note:  I glue baste my pieces.  I didn't take pictures of this for this month, as I shared them in the first month's post. 

Don't forget to mark your pieces!  It's all about connecting the dots!  Mark the wrong side of your fabric pieces with dots where the 1/4" seams would meet.  (The acrylic templates have holes, making this super easy!) Alternatively, you could use your ruler and pen to draw lines along the seam allowances to mark your start and stop points.

Layout your block and arrange your the prints as you like them.  You can choose to go scrappy like this block or be a little more matchy-matchy.  It's totally up to you ... I will have a little of both. 

For me, I prefer to piece hexagons and then add in the exterior diamonds.  Alternatively, you could piece all the star diamonds together (low volume prints here) and then add all the exterior diamonds (shown in green) last. It's totally up to you. 

When you are piecing three diamonds into a hexagon, you will sew from the hexagon center all the way to the outer edge.  The center will be the Y seam.  The edges will not be part of a Y seam, you so can sew all the way to the edge through the seam allowance.  Start by joining two diamonds (shown as low volume) and then add in the third (shown in green).

You will have three hexagons and three remaining diamonds for the exterior. Press all the hexagon seams in the same direction. 

Join the hexagons in rows as shown above.  You will sew dot-to-dot, unless you are sewing to an outer edge.  Refer to image below for seams. 

Next, sew the rows together.  Again, sewing dot-to-dot, unless sewing to the outer edge. 

Here is how the back will look when you are finished.

And the front.  Carefully press well.  To make the large block, it works the same... just with bigger diamonds. 

And that's it!  You're done!  Yippee!

Now plan and sew some more ... you need 2 completed Large Block Threes and 7 Small Block Threes.

I hope these photos were helpful to you...  I can't wait to make a few more myself and to see your's too! Don't forget to use #smittenquilt and #smittenquiltqal on Instagram. :-)

If you have questions, leave a comment, email me or tag me on IG!

Happy Sewing!  :)