Pansey's are my favorite flower, but charm packs are annoying!

A room for nothing but sewing? yep...it does deserve to be called a "studio"!!!! And I have one...so...what's going on in my studio this week?

Well, I am at the moment...at a stand still. I have finished all the quilts I had been working on. A Civil War quilt for my son and a guitar quilt for my brother...which I will be spotlighting soon here on my blog...but then got to where I was done, cleaned the room and now... can't come up with a thing to do! Nothing was appealing to me! But as I was walking past the drawer that holds charms packs..the few I have...and I just opened it more to fix the charms into more organized placement,

Labels for Your Quilt..I made these!

I have two quilts I am finishing and need labels. I use computer fabric paper  to print the labels. I know there is a way with freezer paper and I have done that before and it works, but in this case...I figure if all I need is white for the label, I can get 8 - 12 labels from one package of computer fabric paper and it is worth the cost.

The first quilt is for my daughter. She is moving to Missouri (we are in California) in January. It will be  a long time before we "see" each other again. And she takes her daughter, my grand daughter that I helped raise with day care while mom worked!  I know all the current technology of Skype and texting and the good old fashioned phone call are all still around, but...seeing is believing. Just isn't going to be the same! So I wanted to send her off with memories...of her mother! She loves pink so I made a bargello quilt...you can read about it here...... Bargello in Pink   In the blog, the quilt is finished up to the binding. I have been doing other things for awhile and am just now getting back to the binding...and the label!  This is the label for the bargello

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(I continue to have trouble getting pictures to come out just right even tho I have a Cannon Sure Shot!)

I finally remembered to just put the decorative binding on two sides and the other two sides are going to be included when I put the binding on the quilt.The binding used on the label is the same binding fabric I use to bind the quilt.  I took lyrics from a song by LeeAnn Womack that my daughter introduced me to years ago, called I Hope You Dance I love that song! But it says what I want to say to my daughter so I just picked the lines of the song I wanted to use and then "signed" it. I put "Mom" as well as my full name (in small font) just in case 75 years or so down the road, my great great grand daughter might find it and be able to say "My great great great great great grandmother made this for my great great great great grandmother..way back in the day!". ( I think I have the right number of "great"'s in there, could be fewer!)

I wanted a little more, so I decided to use my Flower Stitch wheel foot and made the two flowers and added a button in the middle. I think it turned out great. Just that little "pop" makes the label look so much better!  

The other quilt I working on is a guitar theme one for my musician brother. (I'll have a blog about it later...sign up to follow me and you'll see it when it is published!) That man can make a guitar speak! He never got the chance, but honestly, he would have given Santana and Eric Clapton and even Jimmy Hendricks a good run for their money! He is that good, even in his old age (he is 59 now).

Again, not a great photo. It looks so much better than this!  I used the blue for the decorative binding and because I attached it to all sides instead of just two, I can't put it in the corner of the quilt. I have tried that and it looks to brash...so I will be hand sewing this one to the middle of the "bottom" of the quilt probably about 5 inchesin  from the sides in the corner. I took the words to the song that reminds me of him from the 1970's...Bread's "Guitar Man". Chose the lines that I wanted to say to my brother and then printed it on the computer fabric paper. I used my maiden name as that is the same as his. Again...maybe way down the line somewhere, someone in his family tree will be happy to "find" something from their past. I goofed, tho and didn't out "brother" or "sister" on the label so they might not know the status, but at least will know the name. Problem is...he had all girls so there is will be no more of our family (my maiden) name!  To make the label pop, I cut out a guitar from a scrap I had from the fabric I used for the quilt and using iron on interfacing on the back and appliqued most of it to the label..the neck and the bottom of the guitar are free standing. I think I'll just do a tack stitch to hold them in place, the the bit of dimension will look nice. And his favorite is an acoustical guitar like this that he got when he was in high school..and still has!

The 3 main tools I used are:

This is the wheel I used. I bought it while back and never got the hang of it, and just decided to work with it and was successful at least in making the flower on the pink label. Add a little button and a really  cute quilt label is created!



This is the printer fabric paper I use...June Tailor fabric paper. The  sheets are white in color and 100% cotton and Made in USA. I have had great success with this brand. The sheets have a pull off backing that is easy to make 2 large or 4 smaller labels from each sheet. These are what I used for the pink label I made above. It is actual fabric so it is flexible and 100% cotton so it needs ironing to get the wrinkles out.
   

This is the sheets I used on the guitar label. They are Quick Fuse Iron-on Mini Fabric sheets by June Tailor. These are 6"x4" in size... like an index card...but since you iron this onto fabric instead of printing directly onto the fabric like the ones above do...these are a tad stiff. But the label turned out really nice, and since it is smaller, the stiffness is not a big issue and it will be in a corner anyway so either one you want to use works.
                                                                       
 

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Thanks for stopping by and...keep on sewing those memories!

Do you know what really happens...

.... when you step on the foot pedal of your sewing machine? Until just the other day, I did not. Then someone sent me a link to this great little animation. If you’re not so mechanically inclined, and you’ve ever wondered about how a sewing machine sews, you’d probably like to watch this

Memories of playing with Paper Dolls..use them now!

I admit, I might be over the top when it comes to memories and preserving and sharing them, but that is because I have memories of my life.. but thing physical to go with them! Everything I had was tossed over the years, and due to alot of moving around, I had no choice but to do the same with most of my kids childhood things. So now, to pick up with the present and to help my grand child to preserve their memories (and mine that I share with them!) I have started making everything with a memory.  But...quilts and other sewing items are not the only way to share the memories.

How to Use a Flying Geese Patch

I love the Flying Geese patch. Makes for a wonderful patch if you need points...like for a star! Eleanor Burns has the procedure that I like the best and think works the fastest. I bought her templates and get 4 sizes of Flying Geese out of the two templates. Cool thing is...one Flying Geese piece, makes 4 Flying Geese patches!

Super Hero Tooth Fairy Pillow

My grand daughter turned five and is now in kindergarten. And you know what that means! Loose teeth!  I think that the tooth fairy time for kids is a special time and a fun tradition that I think should be "carried on" throughout the generations! I got a nickel under my pillow... my kids got 50 cents 2 (brand new, shiney quarters!) and  my first grand daughter (now 14) got $5 (from her parents, not me!) But  whatever the "payoff", I like to keep the memories of "old times" in the present so the kids can have their own memories for their future....sooooo ... I made her a tooth fairy pillow.

I always make things specific to the person...their likes, favorite colors and of course it has to be usable too. What does my little Emily like?  Super heros! Her favorite being Wolverine! (I just read, that the writers are going to be killing off Wolverine in the comics here shortly, she is going to be devistated!) But I still had to give her her favorite...and once he is "gone", she will have her memories! 

I started out looking for a pattern. I am NOT at ALL into super heros these days, and my searches found next to nothing about Wolverine (except for the NFL football team by the same name!) But finally someone pointed me to a site (that I have since lost..thought sure I bookmarked it!) and this is what they had.

 I downloaded it to my photo shop and enlarged it and although it is a pattern designed for quilting the image, I just took the lines I wanted, and cut the pieces to applique instead of quilting. Worked great! Black, yellow and a flesh tone for the mouth area.

  I used those colors and red for the background. I cut 12x12 red, batting and the back is black. I appliqued the face of Wolverine onto the red background. I appliqued all the pieces onto the red and then went back and put the batting on the back and did straight stitching on the edges of where I just appliqued (with a thick close zigzag) so that it would have the poofy effect and some dimension.

 

Add caption

On the back, I made a yellow pocket (for some reason my photo editor keeps messing up on this picture and won't let me save it, so I can't show it!) But it is just black, with a yellow square in the one corner for the tooth to be put in and then of course, my label.. "Made especially for you by Nanny". 

I added a yellow handle for her to hang it on her doorknob when not in use, or hang on her bed post.. and she can say hello to her beloved Wolverine, every day! When needed, it can be slipped under her pillow! Parents have it so easy these days.. back in my tooth fairy days.. we just layed the tooth on the bed under our pillow...and the parents had to hope they would find it in the dark without waking the child! I remember those days too!

I pinned the hanger to the front, sewed it wrong sides together, turned and pressed, then did another bit of straight stitch outlining just the yellow part of his head and a straight stitch all around the outside edge and FINISHED!!!

I hope she likes it.. I think she will! It is Wolverine, for heaven sake! What's not to like! I am a bit proud of myself on this one to, I have to say, as I have not done this kind of applique in YEARS!! I used to do it on everything about 25 years ago and it as my favorite thing to do, but then I stopped sewing and just picked it back up about 3 years ago. I am happy to know that I have not totally lost my applique touch! I used to be pretty darn good at it! But, a bit of practice to remember all the tricks of the trade and I'll back into shape! I have one more GD who is four and another one on the way..so they will need tooth fairy pillows too!

These are a couple of books I have heard a pretty good (and sound pretty good!) for working with applique...I think I will be getting the 101 Applique Blocks one! Although I used to just look through coloring books (now "online" coloring books!) sometimes I like looking through a real book and finding something.




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Thanks for stopping by and...keep on sewing those memories!

Doll Diaper Bag and Quilt

I already posted about the doll quilts I made for my grand daughters. But there's more! I got the brain storm..to make them doll diaper bags! Searched all over the place for a pattern and found this pattern.   I started with trying to find a fabric in my stash that each girl would like, but that wasn't working to well, when it suddenly hit me... I have lots of the fabric I used for the back of the quilts still available, so I took that fabric and made them each a diaper bag  to match the quilt.

 Then while working, I thought...okay, one of the girls is not a doll girl! She is a camping, football and not so dainty when it comes to anything....I didn't think she was going to like a doll  anything! So I thought, instead of calling them a doll diaper bag and doll quilt,  she can call hers a Treasure Bag and Sitting quilt...she can collect back yard "treasures" in the bag and sit on the little quilt to inspect said treasures!

 

The quilts fit perfectly in the bag so I'll tell the ones that like dolls that they can use it for that, but I will tell all three of them that it is also a "take it with you" quilt and bag and offer these suggestions:

Take it to the back yard and spread the quilt out, and take the bag and go treasure hunting in the backyard and find all kinds of cool rocks, twigs or whatever else... and have the bag to collect the items in. Then go back and sit on the quilt (so they don't get dirty!) and compare and share what each have found.

Have mom pack a little lunch  in the bag and lay the quilt out under the tree in the front yard and have a picnic

Take it with you when you have to go run errands or have to wait somewhere and put a few little toys in the bag with the quilt. 

Use the quilt as a pillow or to cover cold legs. 

Take the the bag of toys with you if you are going to a place where you have to wait (like the doctors office).

Take the quilt/bag to the beach...lay the quilt out on the sand for your "own" space and take the bag to find shells or other treasures!

Give it some thought now and if you have any little girls in your life that would enjoy these doll items..get started now and make them for a Christmas gift...or Birthday gift! And this would also be perfect for a newborn..even the diaper bag would be perfect and the quilt is just big enough for a little newborn blessing!

This is the kind of template I use to make the squares. I prefer Omnigrid as it is the easiest to see the numbers and lines than other styles I have tried.

 


Want to read more at Fabric and Memories? CLICK HERE   This post linked to the Linky Party for the day. Click on the "Daily Linky Parties" tab at the top of my page and join us! Lots and lots of amazing talents on "display" Thanks for stopping by and...keep on sewing those memories! 

A Hopscotch Quilt

I don't remember why I thought to make this Hopscotch Quilt. Maybe I saw it somewhere and realized it would be a great piece of entertainment for my grand kids when they come over. Due to knee problems, I can't get down on the ground anymore like I used to, so I can't draw the hopscotch with chalk on the driveway or patio anymore. Shame to have to get old!  But..with a HOPSCOTCH QUILT ...I can still teach the kids a game from "back in the day"while getting them out from in front of the TV or game box!

I was pretty darn good at hopscotch, back in the day. The best ever "marker" was a piece of chain..like from a necklace or those little chains that are on a key ring. But, I never got to have one so I always had to  use a rock...but made sure to get one that was NOT round!

Each square is 12x12 (finished),  And is appx 100" long by 36" wide. The numbers I cut from black cotton fabric that I had pressed iron-on interfacing to the back of for extra stability and then appliqued the number to the center of the block.Once done,  I noticed the 6 was backwards but I wasn't going to rip it all apart all over that! I remember having trouble making the 2 and  the 5 with straight lines - they looked to much alike so I  figured how to make them with more of a curve, and was able to redo those two before I assembled it, but I didn't catch the 6. I made the numbers by hand... I wanted  them 5 inches tall by 1 inch wide. I just did the math and cut the strips, pinned them down and appliqued with zigzag stitch around them and I used a thin fleece blanket as batting. I wanted it to "hold up" to all the jumping so I FMQ'ed it with a meander stitch.

  I used my fabric stash to make the outer squares, then sewed 3 together in the correct order by the numbers position and then sewed the rows together.  Outer sides of the  hopscotch is a sheet I had in my stash.

And it isn't just a hopscotch! I always have to make things practical. Just "nothing" on the back..what a waste! So I created a Bag Toss game on the back!   I sewed rows of 6x6 inch squares together.  The child tries to toss their little rice bag into that square! I personalized it a bit, and machine embroidered each of my grand kids names onto a square that can be chosen also! The rest of the back is a sheet.

I chose fabric that had images on it and cut the image out into the square. The Bag Toss game is... stand at the end and (for instance) I will tell the child to toss their bag (a bag of rice) into the (say an image name of a square) and they are to toss their rice bag into that square. Teaches technique, motor skills, balance and concentration and recognition. The little ones weren't quite sure about this...but they will learn and they loved tossing the rice bags!

In this picture I'd say... "Toss your bag of rice onto the...snowman square" or "toss you bag onto the square of dollar bills!"

I took it to their house for the first time last week, and they Loved it! The 5 and 3 year old were a bit awkward with the jumping on the hopscotch  and learning to jump over markers and things like that but they still had a blast...and they will learn! The 8 year old was so cute to help them learn. And the funniest thing...all three of them liked the little bean bag markers....BEST!!! I couldn't believe it! Each of them asked if they could keep the bag! I started to think, 'oh good grief...all that work and they like the stupid little bean bag things best?" but then I caught myself and realized... I really enjoyed watching them jump and hop and SMILE some of the biggest smiles I have seen in a long time so who cares what they liked best.. I like THEM best!

Fabric games are also a great travel item. Take the hopscotch camping, to the beach, on sleep overs and if needed...use it as a quilt to cover up!

This is a set of alphabet stencils...6 inch tall. Just use a regular pencil and trace them onto your fabric (which has been pressed with iron on interfacing on the wrong side of fabric), cut and applique!
            

Want to read more at Fabric and Memories? CLICK HERE

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Thanks for stopping by and...keep on sewing those memories!

How to Cut/Trim Half Square Triangles (HST)

HST's are my favorite piece to make and use. The possibilities are endless because with just a turn of a HST, the whole pattern of the block changes! Everything from squares, to zig-zag to circles...if you have
 HST's you can make it!
 
I have always used Eleanor Burns way of making HST's. There are others, but to me, hers is the quickest and easiest. She has to ways to do it..one is with a HST square up ruler and the other is with a regular square template ruler.

Here is the link to her UTube video and you can see how quick and easy it is. Give it a try...you will love HST's In addition to HST's being a great way to create a pattern for a block, HST's are also a great way to use up scraps! One solid and "anything goes" with the prints in your scrap bucket and you have a great scrappy quilt! Organize the HST's by color and create a rainbow theme. Give the HSTs to your kids and tell them to put them in whatever pattern they want and you just sew them together. A great way to teach the kids about a craft!


How To Cut/Trim HST's or Half Square Triangles with Eleanor Burns


 

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Thanks for stopping by and...keep on sewing those memories!

Can You Say, Back Pack, Back Pack?

I haven't written on my blog for some time. Life just keeps getting in the way and it hasn't been much happiness.  I also had to give up some of my writing venues as they either closed down or just got to cumbersome to work with.  But I am always glad to have my sewing room as a haven and my talents as therapy! I look back over the last two months and think..did I do anything? And then I make a list and yeah.. I guess I did get alot done in spite of all the drama!

The biggest and funnest thing I did was make things for my 3 grand daughters ages 8,5 & 4.

I made them "superman/hero" capes. Searched all over for a pattern then just kind of "winged" it on my own... One was the comic super heros (she loves Wolverine and Hulk), one was Dora, the Explorer and the other one was Disney princess. They loved them but of course, I forgot my camera! But they have a huge backyard with trees and such so they'll be able to swoop all over the place! I lined them with poly/cotton broadcloth...good way to get rid of all that I had stashed up!

I then had the inspiration to make them back packs. I got a Simplicity pattern and was surprised at how quick I was able to whip them up! Again, one of Dora the Explorer in purple/green camo, one with dinosaurs and one with pink camoflauge. I wanted the closure to be quick and easy, yet heavy enough to hold the flap closed no matter what they stuffed inside! So I chose a large, metal washer and a heavy, metal nut from the hardware store. I made a thin strip of the matching fabric and sewed them to the back pack. I wanted them to be able to just drop the nut into the washer and go instead of ties or clips. They loved them and this time I did take pictures!

 This is Lillyanne..the 4 year old...she loves Dora!

I used purple to make the flap and appliqued images of Dora and Boots that I cut from the fabric onto the front flap. And then here is how the closure looks. Quick and easy to close, just drop the nut into the washer. The weight holds the flap closed, no matter what is in there!  

Then there is the Pink Camo...the oldest loves pink camo! I couldn't find actual camo so this is camo made with deers hidden amongst forest branches.

 
And the dinosaurs! This one is for the 5 year old...and she is just getting into her dinosaur stage so she was thrilled to have some dinos "on her back". The fabric is a dinosaur print and I made the flap a solid blue and appliqued 3 of the dinos on the flap.
 

I also use a bright poly/cotton for the lining in each of them so it isn't so dark inside when they go searching for things!

 

They all three turned out really cute and the girls loved them. I just hope the parents remember to let them take them out to play or on the road with them. I told their dad (my son) to let them store outside toys in them, then they can just take and go. Or store writing/coloring supplies in them and then when they want to color, they just take the whole pack pack to the table, color then put it all way right there. And hang them in their rooms on the door knob, a hook on the wall, the bed post, back of a chair...that way they are easy to get to and use,  yet everything is picked up and organized all the while having a cute room decoration!

This is the pattern I used, if you are interested in making one...or two...or three...how many kids do you have? Make one for each! And with Christmas coming up...this back pack will make a great Christmas gift...especially if you are a distance from the kids..the back pack is light weight and inexpensive to mail!

Want to read more at Fabric and Memories? CLICK HERE This post linked to the Linky Party for the day. Click on the "Daily Linky Parties" tab at the top of my page and join us! Lots and lots of amazing talents on "display"


Thanks for stopping by and...keep on sewing those memories!

Pretty in Pink Bargello Quilt

I started this 2 years ago. It is a gift from my daughter and she had to move in with me for a bit, so I wasn't able to get it done. When she moved out, I got it out and finished and assembled...still have to do the binding, but am waiting till I can get around to creating a great label for it.

What do you think about how it turned out? It measures 57"x62". I cut strips of 15 different prints/solids of pink tones and hues (how much fun was that to be able to buy so many pieces of fabric...and not break the bank....I only had to get half a yard of each!  I cut strips from 1" wide to 2.5" wide. Then laid them in the order I chose, and then sewed the strips together lengthwise...and then you cut them into strips that have the order and I cut them 1"-2.5" wide. Then..just play with it and lay the strips out to the pattern you want, mmatching the colors to make the pattern you want. Sounds hard, but once you get started, it will make sense.If you have the prints in the order you want, the rest is easy...just tedious!

 I chose these fabrics at first, but then dropped the white dot and solid dark pink as they just didn't fit. I purchases 1/2 yard each of 11 fabrics, but when done, it only made a quilt that measured 38x70. A twin size is 60x80. So, moral of this story, if you want a twin size quilt, get 1 yard of each color.  Place the fabrics in the order of your choice. I went light to dark and used prints to make the transition happen nicely. I didn't end up using the white dots or the dark solid pink. Just didn't look so great.
Using post it notes, number each fabric in the order you want them to go.

 I prewashed, pressed and starched before cutting. Then cut strips of each fabric measuring 2,1/2" by width (salvage to salvage) of the fabric. Fabric is no longer 44/45" like it was back in the day. Now, some is 36" and 40/42 ". So I cut strips from all the fabric and laid them in the order I chose. I sewed 5 sets of 11 fabrics each.

 Due to the fact that the fabrics were different widths off the bolt...the sewn sets came out with uneven ends. So I just took the shortest length and cut the set all the same length on both sides of the section I chose to press the seams open to hopefully help the bulkiness later on when I FMQ'd it.

This is what was cut off to even the sections. Keep one of them and with a black marker, number the sections of fabric the order in which you have chosen the pattern to be.

 Once you have your 2,1/2 inch strips cut, sew them together by lengths in the order you chose. You will have 5 sections. Sew the width sides together making a tube.

  

Lay the tube so that your number 1 fabric is at the top and then smooth it out. Using your rotary cutter, cut strips of the tube in various widths. I found that narrow strips allows the color to travel up the quilt faster and wider strips add width and move more slowly through your quilt So I chose to cut mine narrow. I cut 1, 1,1/2, 2, 2,1/2 strips..remember there is 1/4 seam on each side so a 1 inch cut strip will sew finish 1/2 inch strip.

 Starting with Number 1, cut between #1 and #11. To make the motion in the quilt you have to lay it out like this, and place the colors/squares as you want them and then cut the top end of the tube to the section you need to have it lay in the placement you have chosen. In this picture, none of the tubes have been cut open..just laid out in the order I want. Once I decide the order, I go back to the top first strip and make the cut in the appropriate place.To get the "wave" motion, you can either match seams in the two strips, or match center of previous strip to seam of the new strip. I matched center to seam in this one, but next one, I will match seams. I think I'll get better flow and motion that way. Also, these squares are 2,1/2" tall by the width I cut them,.... next time I will cut the strips and the lengths so they are 1 inch square finished

I played for awhile with the order and finally decided on the left here. Once the layout has been decided, you just take strip after strip and sew them together. I left the layout on the kitchen table, and brought my sewing machine out to the kitchen and was able to sew them one after the other instead of running back and forth to my sewing room or trying to pin all those thin little strips and hoping I keep them straight!

It is my first attempt at bargallo. It was an okay pattern, lot of work organizing it. I went from my kitchen table to my queen sized bed for laying the strips out to make the proper waves, but it was relatively easy to assemble. ..just cumbersome! I was hoping for a more wavy pattern instead of such specific "points", but learned half way through that to get a wavy pattern,  you have to cut squares, not rectangles! Next time I attempt a bargello, I will cut .5x.5 inch, 1x1 inch and 2x2 inch strips. That way I think I'll be able to better make the swirl and curves that I like.

I used fleece for the back. Hated doing the FMQ with fleece. It was hard to move it around. But, it turned out pretty good. I used a wide meander FMQ. She wants a soft, cuddly kind of quilt to wrap up in... not a stiff and heavy quilt! I hope this is okay! 

I know this sounds like a LOT of hard work...well, in a way it is, but only until you get the hang of it.  The two hardest parts to me was  figuring out the color scheme, as I am terrible at putting colors together. Second, space. My sewing machine was in my bedroom and I had no work space...except the kitchen table. So I was mainly wearing myself out going back and forth! I laid the strips out in the order I wanted on the table, then I would stack up 10-15 strips in that order and take them to my bedroom and llay them out in same order on my bed (behind my sewing machine) and sew them together, then go get the next group from the table....and back and forth like that. But again, once I got the hang of it, it wasn't that hard...just literally a lot of sewing straight seams! And when done I pressed all seams one way.
  Now I have to decide what border/binding to put on. I am thinking the dark pink. I notice that the darks and lights were to close together in density and it kind of looks just like dark pink moving into light pink and you can't even hardly see the patterned prints that are in there.  Something else to keep in mind for next time, or if you are considering making a bargello...don't graduate the colors to closely!

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Thanks for stopping by and...keep on sewing those memories!

Horses and Butterflies Equal Memories

2 Christmas' ago. I made each of my grand children a quilt.  I wanted to make each quilt from a favorite thing that the child liked. I started one with the butterflies for my second oldest granddaughter
 then 6 years old. She liked butterflies..she called them "flutterbies".

Well, I got the quilt top done, and it hit me. She may like butterflies,(who doesn't?) but she REALLY LOVES horses...so why am I giving her butterflies! So I set the butterfly quilt aside and made her a quilt with horses. The design was based on the Serendipity books about magical horses that I used to read to her and she loved hearing them. I am sure our reading times with those wonderful horses will be a memory she will treasure! 


This is the series of Serendipity books...these two were her fav's.



(More about this quilt later). So on the quilt rack the butterflies went.

 A year later, I needed a TV watching  blanket, so I decided to finish this WIP and use it for ME!  The butterfly quilt has a thin, fleece back (pink zebra print!) and NO batting. I wanted it to be soft and cuddly so I could wrap myself up  while watching TV so it needed to be soft and "bendable" as possible. So I used the fleece and the quilt top only and it worked out perfectly! I FMQ'ed meander stitch throughout, outlining a butterfly or two in each block. The butterfly colors are bright and shiney against the black background because the fabric has tiny little sparkles in it..and they really do sparkle!  It turned out really nice, and warm and cuddly! It measures appx 60x60". Each block is 12x12 with 2" yellow sashings and cornerstones.  




Here is the butterfly quilt for ME!

The colors of the cornerstones are matching colors of the butterflies. I had originally gotten the pink zebra fleece for the back as that zebra print in any color was  a favorite of young girls at that time. Now..it just is warm and cuddly and colorful for me!

The memory here? Since I started it for my grand daughter

..every time I use it, I think of her!

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Make Heart Block from HST's.

Our auto mechanic was going to be a daddy soon, so I decided that since he does good deals for me on my car maintenance, I would make him a quilt for his child. I waited till birth to know to make for a boy or girl. Little Brenna Jane was born!  I forgot to measure the quilt before giving it, so it is probably around 45x45". This was my first attempt at the Heart block using HST's but it worked out great, real quick and easy! HST's are my favorite piecing to make.

I made the HST's with (if memory serves!) 3,1/2x3,1/2 inch squares. This made a 12x12 (finished) block. I used white and green, purple and pink with mini, mini white dots. The hearts are made with 16 HST's of the appropriate color combination. The two bottom corner squares are a whole, white square and 4 whole colored squares are the middle of the heart. Each heart is 8 HST's, 2 whole squares in white and 4 whole squares in a color. Quick, easy and so many heart-y options!

I used 2" sashings in yellow with the blue as the cornerstone and binding. I searched (and searched) the internet for printout of the alphabet in 3 inch height. I printed out on tracing paper and cut them out  and then used as pattern to cut from the fabric, backed with iron-on interfacing and then appliqued the letters onto yellow fabric with a narrow zig-zag stitch.

The back is a yellow baby print of little ducks and lambs. I FMQ'ed with meander stitch the whole quilt. It turned out really nice.
 
Half square triangles are my favorite piece to make. I highly recommend a triangle square up ruler...My personal preference is Eleanor Burns Quilt in a Day, 6,1/2x6,1/2 inch template.  This makes squaring up the HST's so that they are all the exact same size and perfect for assembly. Just lay the line on the seam and trim! I have also found that QIAD templates are a bit less expensive than others and I prefer the black print on a clear template as opposed to yellow print on a clear template
                                                                        

Although I searched and searched ...and searched...online for 3" letters, I wish I had had a stencil to trace them from so I went after wards and bought these stencils...works great! I specifically wanted block style letters as they are easier to applique than curves and just getting back into applique, I wanted to start the easy way first. But once "back in the saddle" I got these "chubby" style. They are much cuter than the block style, don't you think? With  a stencil, you can trace directly onto the fabric. No pattern required!
And you can get your letters in any size. I chose 3" because I thought it was big enough to be seen prominently, yet small enough to not overwhelm the quilt. Plus, the longer the name, in my opinion, the smaller the letter..unless you want the name to be the main focus of the quilt. In that case, choose a larger stencil                                                                                              

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