The Harry Potter quilt is FINALLY finished!!

Harry Potter is in the House!!!! Finally!!!!

It has been a long, hard journey for the past 6 months, but finally... IT IS FINISHED!!!
Well, actually 3 are finished! I have 3 grand daughters that have vowed to be "Potterheads" for the rest of their lives so for Christmas this year.. they are getting an amazing Harry Potter quilt.. made by their favorite grandmother... ME!

At first, I was so excited as I was making 9 patch blocks but adding images and words, etc. I was fortunate to find several fabrics at Joann's Craft store as I hate buying fabric online. I like to see what I am getting, see the colors are right, etc, so, I only buy online when I have no other choice. But the prints I got were amazing and.. using a coupon, got them at 50% off regular price.

And I use several kinds of squares like Flying Geese etc and also did some machine embroidery with Glow in the Dark thread. Yes.. it really glows in the dark. I used it as the top thread and neutral cotton in the bobbin. Also, several, what I call, "glitter fabrics".. they really do glitter/shine, but there is nothing that flakes off like actual glitter.

2 of the girls, being sisters,  share a room so I wanted to make them like a bed spread of the same pattern, but some differences to make the quilt their own. I bought the panels for the center and kept those the same so the room doesn't look jumbled with different bedspreads. I then went back to math class and did the math to add sashings and 9-patch blocks to make the quilts twin size. They ended up being 70"x90". The older sister is rather tall so I wanted the bedspreads/quilts longer for her sake so I made them both the same size.

 The width pattern of the quilt is ... center panel, 2" sashing (black with gold dots), 4" sashing (blue with gold sparkles) 9-patch block (9"x9" finished block and each square is 3"x3" finished), blue sashing, black sashing and blue binding. The length pattern is the 9"x9" finished block and Black with gold dots sashings. I know they are going to love the golds in the fabric as they stand out very nicely!
 I was glad to have my design wall...which is a flannel blanket with a casing on top, and an expansion rod through the casing and put up over the closet sliding doors. This way, I have the wall and can still get in the closet when needed. I put each block up until I had the right amount of them, then placed them as I wanted them to be on the quilt.

MAKING THE BLOCKS 

 

 This is one block. I used Flying Geese to make the pointed squares and then cut out the faces of the characters and with double sided fusible interfacing... fused them to the block.  You can also see the black with gold dot fabric. They are raised up and you can't iron them.. they melt off! The other square I made was an "Hour Glass" and I used black and beige glitter fabric. It really does glitter/shine, but nothing comes off!

 This 9-patch I fussy cut images from the fabric  - the square of the school (top left) and the square with Harmonie and Ron (just below that and the dragon middle right) You might notice I did embroidery on some of the squares.. this is done with "glow in the dark" thread. Yes, it really does glow! I picked  15 names of characters and did machine embroidery and wrote the names... notice Hermione Granger in the lower right square and then I did a fussy cut of her face and fused it on! On the left bottom corner...another fussy cut of the Griffindorf logo fused on AFTER the 9-patch was finished.

 This one has HST's for each corner, a Flying Geese for the arrows and a fussey cut "Harry Potter" from the fabric. Also, fussy cuts are of the 4 house banners. Another thing I did that I think the kids are going to love, is this one fabric I got was like a newspaper with phrases and things. I cut them out, fused them to the finished block like in the upper right corner here. Again, some machine embroidery of names in the 2 lower corner squares.

This ne has a few of all of the above! Glow in the Dark name (top,left) Flying Geese (top right). Fussey cut from fabric (middle left and middle right and lower right. The center square and lower-middle are made into one rectangle and I used the Ravenclaw logo and banner and added a newspaper headline.

 This block had HST's on 2 of the corners with fussey cut add-ons and the glittery silver fabric. The center has Hogwarts fused to it. And as you can see, other squares are cut from the fabric as is.

 This one is one of my favorites because I made the three characters on the center of  2, flying Geese sewn together. And you can see the blue and gold sparkle fabric used for the sashing.

This one shows more of the machine embroidery with the Glow in the Dark thread of 6 names. All the squares are HST's. Amazing how many different designs you can make with HST's.







         

This is the back. I used Maurders Map fabric, the same blue as on the front and the Harry Potter with drawings of the Hogwarts school all around.  The binding is black.  This is a close up of the added headline, fused to the sashing. These 2 are quilts, cotton front, VERY THIN batting and cotton back. The point is.. they are on their beds all the time.. lot of sitting on them and being used so I wanted them a little thicker to with stand the use of being sat on etc, all the time.

AND THE THIRD ONE....

I did a third one for the other grand daughter. she is older and being in a warmer climate, she wanted less warmth so hers is more of a blanket quilt. Cotton top, NO BATTING and cotton flannel back.

 These are a few blocks from hers.  Again, HST's with the glitter fabric and some fussey cuts.

This one has a "Golden Snitch" HST. I did some with the gold glitter (beige background)with black glitter to imitate a Snitch also.

Golden Snitch (black and gold/beige)

The Golden Snitch black with gold triangles

This is the back. It is solid and I just fused a few of the fussey cuts around it. 100% cotton flannel and I fused (then machine sewed around) a few fussey cuts from the "newspaper" fabric.

This is the front. Hers is only different in that I made each block separately. I had alot of fun doing this.. just create as I go and make 16 for each quilt

I then thought to make them each a pillowcase to go with the quilts. These two are for the sisters sharing a room.. the black trim is different so they each have "their own" pillowcase!

And although I don't have a picture, I also made them each a 7"x9" zipper pouch.  I used the leftover 3,1/2x3,1/2 inch squares..sewed 6 together and that was the front.

And THAT's my World of Harry Potter for the last 6 months, which also included one month of NO sewing machine as both of mine were in the shop for maintenance and a massive struggle with FMQ'ing stitches not doing right, only to figure out.. I had my thread on the spool wrong! Now THAT was a lesson learned that with NEVER be forgotten!

I hope you have enjoyed the journey and gotten some good ideas for your own Harry Potter quilts or blankets. And with that.. I will not be saying the words "Harry Potter" again at least until Christmas when the quilts will be loved and adored by my wonderful granddaughters!

Thanks for stopping by and...keep on preserving those memories! Want to read more at Fabric and Memories? CLICK HERE
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My TV Blanket/quilt...Red, White & Black..& Text!

I have always wanted a red, white and black colored quilt. Well, I have finally made one! Still contemplating how to do the back.. flannel or fleece...but the top is done and I really like it!  The star is my favorite block to do.. it is made up of HSTs. You can make them with Flying Geese, but.. HST is a little easier and quicker.. at least to me!  The blocks are made with 16, 3x3 (finished) squares so they are 12 inch blocks. The text on these are silly sewing related "articles". A real life issue.. with sewing things being the "culprits" etc! Just funny stuff!

 

 This is the text print. All these things are historical events.. and many that I lived through! I didn't take picture, but the others are about presidents of the past (Truman-Ford) and the Titanic and Amelia Earhart, Vietnam surrender and a few other things. This is a 6x6" square. 

  I did something new on this one... I added triangles in the corners of a block to make the block larger to the same size as the Star ones. I only had 4 of the history squares so I also used this "seed" ad text print.. tells about planting seeds and also includes a bible verse on some of them.  I wanted to break up the large portion of red so I added black triangles to the corners of the block!

 

This block is kind of like a "snowball" block/pattern. I sewed the red and black strips to the text square.. then trimmed to a 12"x12" block.

Here is the finished quilt top... minus the 1 inch four patch corners and the outer border. I alternated the starts and the diamond blocks.

 This is each side... closer view and alot you can see the corner stones better!

 

This (left) is the finished front and (right) finished back with red binding. The back is a fleece of little dachshund dogs. No reason for the theme other than it was cute.. and the fleece was on sale!

 

Nice and comfy for in my "TV watching" chair! It measures 60x50. Bit smaller than a twin size, but perfect for my TV chair!


Thanks for stopping by and...keep on preserving those memories! Want to read more at Fabric and Memories? CLICK HERE

How I Use Glow in the Dark Thread on a Quilt

In working on my Harry Potter quilt for my grand daughter, I have been trying to make original creations using images from the fabric. The block is 9x9" made with 3x3" squares. I have used Glow in the Dark thread before and it turned out really nice. I made pillowcases  for my Grand daughters and it does glow in the dark! They love the pillowcases! So I thought I'd add that to the Harry Potter quilt.

Here is a short video about HOW I use it....

Thanks for stopping by and...keep on preserving those memories! Want to read more at Fabric and Memories? CLICK HERE

Harry Potter returns...Now I need 2 more!

Well, I thought I'd be moving away from Harry Potter, but... you know kids!  My oldest grand daughter, age 19, saw my current Harry Potter quilt hanging on my design wall and flipped out! She squealed and jumped up and down saying it was the coolest thing she's ever seen and asked if she could have it. I didn't even know she liked Harry Potter! But she says she does so that one.. I am going to give to her... which means I need 2 more for the other 2 Potter Head grand daughter!

So.. I just started cutting squares, 3,1/2x3,1/2" and some 4"x4" to make HST's with. And I got some new ideas using Flying Geese too! So for 2 days now, I have been cutting squares.. and now for the fun part...creating the 9x9" blocks!
So far I have this many on the design wall...I will need 20, 9"x9" blocks.

 This one is using Flying Geese squares.

 I am also cutting smaller images and using double sided fusible interfacing and adding them to blank squares for that extra bit of "Harry Potter". I am assuming they will enjoy searching the quilt looking for all the special little Harry Potter things that they can find.
I cut out the little faces from one fabric and made iron-on's out of them!



This one has a little face of each of them.. Harry, Ron and Hermonie that I cut from the fabric and used double sided fusible to attach so the girls can "search" for these!                 Thanks for stopping by and...keep on preserving those memories! Want to read more at Fabric and Memories? CLICK HERE

Harry Potter Quilt...Part 3

Well, if you have been following my blog.. I had the problem of this quilt being to short for my tall grand daughter. I struggled on how to make it longer and have it look "planned" and not just an after thought. Only one idea came to mind and I am not crazy about it.. but then I thought...my second oldest "Potter Head" might like it and she is not as tall as her sister (different mothers!) so it'd be perfect for her at this length. But.. I have to talk with her and in a stealthy, "secret agent" way.. see if she is going to be a PotterHead when she is an adult! So far, I haven't been able to make contact, so... this quilt is going to just hang right here until we have our "summit"!!!!

Here is what it looks like right now.

I just have to add the 2 borders around the whole quilt and it'll be done! Then I have found out that they would rather have a "blanket" instead of a "quilt" in relation to the thickness, softness etc. so I am going to bat with flannel and a cotton fabric back or make the back fleece  and no batting.

Here are some of the blocks I created.

 This one has the tiny face of Harmonie.. I used double sided fusible interfacing to fuse it to the fabric.

 And a tiny Harry Potter on a broom on this one

 A basic HST and squares cut from the print fabric with Ravenclaw crest in the middle

I also did some "sayings" or text off one of the fabrics.. I cut it out, fused double sided interfacing to the back, then fused it to areas on the quilt. I later did a quick stitch to stitch it to the quilt.. I figure with all the use and washing it will get.. the interfacing might wash off.

I will be working on the borders tonight.. hopefully have it done.. then I will be backing it with flannel and no batting to use on warmer nights here in California when you just need a little something to cover with.

Harry Potter Quilt Journey Part 1
Harry Potter Quilt Journey Part 2


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Harry Potter Quilt Journey - Part 2

 Well, so far.. I have the blocks done. I just cut squares of different Harry Potter prints and put them together and mixed and matched and rearranged the squares until I found a pattern I liked. I made HST's out of some some and others used the full 3"x3" square. Here are a bunch of the squares. I also learned... everything doesn't always have to "match" or have to be the same pattern or design of squares. I am hoping by doing them all different.. there will be more things for my grand daughter to look at and enjoy and ... remember!

 These two are the prints I got and cut 3"x3" squares of just the images.

                        I also cut out the "house" crests of each of the houses the kids were in.. Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Slytherin and Ravenclaw.. and then back them with double sided fusible interfacing and the pressed them onto large solid color areas on the blocks. 
 

 Even this little tiny characture of Harry Potter.. I fused to solid areas.

   

So... I keep working on the quilt and so far have enjoyed it! It is fun to play with the squares and match colors and images and make each one different!

 Harry Potter Quilt Journey Part 1

Harry Potter Quilt Journey Part 3

 

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