December 20, 2017

Quilted Braid Tutorial


For a while I've been itching to quilt the "braided" look, so I gave it a go a few weeks ago using a Blushing Bouquet bundle from KiwiFabric. I made a pillow cover and it turned out so soft and pretty! Here's how I did it.


I feel like I need to give a disclaimer every time- I don't know if this is the "right" way, or the best way, but it's how I figured it out so that's what I'm sharing! :) This one was a bit tricky to explain but I did my best!


You will need (116) 1.5" x 4.75" pieces. I cut mine from 7 quarter yards by folding them in half lengthwise and then cutting (6) 1.5" strips, and cutting those in half. There are some extras this way but it's quick. The exact length of the pieces doesn't really matter because they are going to be trimmed off, anything from 4.5" to 5" will  work. Use as many colors as you want!

This could be done beautifully by using (39) 5" charm squares from a pack and cutting them into (3) 1.25" x 5" pieces each. I'll have to try that next!


Start by arranging two pieces perpendicularly in this manner and sewing the top end of one piece to the top corner of another. Open it up and finger press. No need to iron until the end of the row.


Holding that seam down, sew your next piece parallel to the very first one with the top corner lining up with the second piece. Fold it out. 


From this point on, the seams on both sides will naturally lay upwards.


Turn the piece over and sew the next one, starting in the top corner. Will each addition, you will be looking at the opposite side of the patchwork. It will make sense once you start!


Keep going in this fashion until you've used 29 pieces for one row. Since you have to pull the patchwork away from the machine to reposition each time, it's not the most thread-conserving project. The best I can advise is to chain piece all 4 panels at once.


Press all the seams up (except for the very bottom one). Flip it over.


Line up the patchwork on a cutting mat and trim to 5" wide.


Then trim the width of the piece to 18".


Make (4) of these panels and sew them together, all pointing the same direction. Press seams open. 


Trim to 18" by 18" (only the top and bottom will require trimming). Quilt the panel as desired and make it into a pillow cover. I have 2 different method tutorials for that process here and here




 For the back I used a peach stripe from Prairie by Corey Yoder that I bought at StarlitQuilts.

I also figured out the math for a 42" x 48" baby quilt using the same method.

You will need (115) 9" x 3.5" strips, which can be cut from 10 quarter yard cuts. 

Follow the very same method, using 23 strips for each row, trimming to 10" x 42", and making a total of 5 rows. I will definitely need to try this myself sometime! 


Thanks for stopping by and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! May your preparations end soon :)

December 6, 2017

New Pattern Release- Christmas Candy

Today I'm happy to have a new pattern ready for you. It's called Christmas Candy and I do believe it's my favorite quilt ever thanks to the colors, the holiday it features, and the gorgeous quilting!



This pattern actually started over a year ago as a donut quilt! I wanted a pattern with donuts and lots of "donut box pink". However, by the time I finalized it, there were several other donut patterns being released, and I didn't want to step on any toes. So I changed some of the shapes and made it a CANDY quilt. You can see close ups of this one at the beginning of the the #christmascandy hashtag. 


I love this quilt, and it deserves its own blog post eventually. I love the soft colors and especially the gorgeous custom quilting by Marion, but I felt the pattern just needed something more. I decided to add a Christmas variation by changing the solid candies to gifts, and the other two would look like wreaths and peppermints. I still planned on including both versions of the pattern, but considering feedback from IG and my testers, I ultimately decided just to stick with the Christmas version only! (On a side note, I'm trying to choose a quilt to give to my mom for Christmas, and this pink one might be it.) 


So there's the history for you- back to the matter at hand! I did not include this little bow in the pattern as I'm no applique expert, but I'm sure you all will come up with some cute ways to embellish those wreaths! I might even add a few little red "berry" buttons to a couple of mine.


The pattern is designed for use of a Layer Cake, but I cut from my long-hoarded Christmas stash for mine. I used Bonnie and Camille teal bias stripe for the binding, and backed it in Carolina 1" gingham in red.  The light blue background is Moda Bella Ruby Ice.


The real star of today's show is the jaw-dropping custom quilting by Starlit Quilts. Star really outdid herself with varying colors of thread and adorable little details like holly leaves in the background. I could stare at it all day! When I opened the package I gasped, and it's been making me smile ever since. Star doesn't know this, but the package actually arrived the day before my birthday! It was a happy birthday indeed.



As usual I like to share a release day coupon code for blog readers. If you use the code MERRY you can get 20% off any pattern including this one until Saturday night at midnight PST.


Thanks for stopping by and for your patience with the release of this pattern! Merry December to all :)