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I've made two table runners using fabric from the Holly's Tree Farm collection. Today, I wanted to share the first table runner that I made a few years ago using a jelly roll and some yardage.   Here is the link to the recent table runner I finished using leftovers and a very nice zigzag quilting design done on my home sewing machine. It's surprising how different the two look.
I was trying to make the middle really angled, ran into some problems and went thru quite a bit of the jelly roll - argh! Again I used a bunch of the gray print with the trees. I did straight line quilting on my home sewing machine using gray thread.  Does this one look more Christmassy? Which one do you prefer?
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 After watching Fig Tree & Co's ZigZag quilting tutorial on You Tube, I knew I had to try it. I love, love, love how it looks! A huge thank you to Joanna for sharing her technique.  close up of zigzag quilting I thought about quilting diagonally across the piece, but doing the zigzag longways across the table runner made it fast and easy to do on my domestic sewing machine. I just lined up each row with the side of the presser foot and eyeballed it - no marking at all.  All the fabrics were from my stash (yay!) The trees and the cars are an older fabric line called Holly's Tree Farm. I love the gray with the trees. The gray, white and red don't scream Christmas but are still festive.  I also downloaded Joanna's free Fly Away pattern. So in between organizing the sewing room and corralling UFO's (2 new year's resolutions), I'm piecing flying geese. The geese are being made from a jelly roll from my stash that also has a subtle Christmas theme. I'll share a pic of the progress later on.
Quilting done and binding attached!  When thinking about how to quilt this, I realized I could use the seams as guidelines for rows of quilting kind of like using a pantograph. I decided on feathers and holly leaves. Here is some pratice "quilting" on my clear plexiglass.  Hand sewing is not for me, so I machine stitch the binding to the back first and then sew really close the edge of the binding on the front. Here is a close up of sewing the binding to the front.  I use the same thread in the bobbin that was used during quilting. It leaves a line of stitching along the back and I can live with that cause I know the quilt is done and that's what matters!  A close up of the front and the back. I used So Fine thread in Petal on front and back.   This is how the front binding looks:    I hope you'll create something soon!
Here's a cute little boy's quilt that I just finished. It's from a kit that I've had for a while.  I named it "Oh the Places You'll Go" cause of all those planes, trains and cars and knowing you'll be thinking about the future of the sweet little fella who receives this quilt and all his adventures.  It's quilted with loop de loops; and when I saw that blue fabric called mini mountains, I knew it would be the perfect backing fabric and add to the adventure theme!  This quilt is simple strip piecing with two rows of square in a square blocks. (the kit had 3 rows, but I'd had enough after making enough for 2 rows, lol) Do what works for you!   I hope you'll make something soon!
So here's a Christmas quilt I've been working on:  It's made from a jelly roll using the free jelly roll race pattern. I've made quite a few quilts using this pattern and you can read about some of them here and here. A jelly roll is a group of coordinating fabrics pre cut into 2 1/2" strips. This quilt doesn't scream Christmas, but the closeup below shows the cute snowman print on one of the strips.  The backing has been pieced and everything is loaded on the longarm frame ready to be quilted. I've even picked the thread color and a quilting motif. Now I just have to quit playing with other creations and get busy!  I'll post more after the quilting is underway.  Made a really cute baby quilt from this Shannon Fabrics Cuddle kit. Cuddle fabric is that soft furry fabric also know as Minky or Snuggle. This furry fabric can be a little tricky to work with, but the payoff is a wonderfully soft and luxurious feeling blankie that is super cute!  The kit has all the fabric you need, along with directions and hints for working with Cuddle fabric. It is a quilt-as-you-go technique that is a quick finish.  The elephants are soooo cute and I'm very happy with how this turned out!
I want to share a fun project I recently made for my niece who is expecting a little girl in April!  Isn't that a super cute panel? I added the gray and yellow borders and the little blue binding - all from the same fabric line so they all match perfectly!  The quilting is a meandering heart design. Let's call it dancing hearts!  This is a view of the back with my label attached.  I love you to the moon and back - so sweet.  I had some fun making a coordinating card.  I just love that elephant holding a star.
You can start with a preprinted panel and make a baby quilt or a small lap quilt. It's a perfect way to get your feet wet in the creative world of quilting! This beautiful quilt was pieced by my friend, Susan, at a block-of-the-month class that we attended.  I used by longarm machine to quilt an allover cyclone design. It goes with the monsoon theme and looks somewhat southwestern so it ties in with the rich Arizona sunset colors of the blocks. The quilt is 63"x73" and I used Omni thread in light mulberry. Here's a closeup of the quilting detail:  The sun shining across the quilt as it lays on my cutting table gives a nice view of the quilting texture and the beautiful colors of the blocks.  Today I've decided to back up a bit and bring you a few of my first quilting projects to encourage you to get started making quilts. You don't need a longarm machine to finish a quilt; a basic sewing machine is all you need. It's definitely easier to quilt a small piece on your sewing machine so a baby quilt or lap-size quilt is the perfect starter project.  Beginner Quilting Project This is one of my very first quilts. The quilt top isn't pieced; it's just a really cute pre-printed panel that I bought at a quilt show. Layer the top, batting and backing fabric and start sewing designs!
I quilted squiggles, loops, triangles and even changed thread colors. I call this quilt "Is There Something To Do?" Whenever my granddaughter would visit, she'd always ask if there was something to do. All the busy kids on this quilt made me think of her!  Beginner quilting stitches Here's another perfect "start quilting" idea. Get some snuggly flannel with a sweet print and make it into a quilted receiving blanket.  Toy Boat quilt Have some fun with quilting designs - the baby won't notice any mistakes. :) I practiced on paper first and came up with a design that looked like water and little sailboats. I named this little quiltlet "Toy Boat"  sailboat quilting  ripples and swirly water quilting So give it a try and see if quilt making is your creative crush!  Is There Something To Do? quilt I needed to make a quilt for a co-worker's new baby boy. I only had a few pieces left of a darling focal fabric that would be super cute for a little boy, but it wasn't even enough to become a receiving blanket let alone a quilt! After making the edges of the scraps even, I pulled some coordinating prints and started working at my design board.  Fabric bits stuck to the design board You can see the blue painter's tape on the left side where I made guidelines for the desired finished quilt size.  Lime green, cobalt and turquoise - so pretty! The black sashing really makes the colors pop.  Meander quilting  Notice all the different quilting motifs. A baby quilt is a perfect first-time project because you can play and have some fun with whimsical quilting designs.
 A pieced backing  Finished Baby Quilt I really am happy with how this quilt turned out. I love the colors and the quilting. I hope you'll try your hand at improvisational piecing and don't let tiny fabric bits stop you!
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To You:My favorite way to express my creativity is with fabric. Join me as I share my journey with you. I hope you'll be inspired to create something too! Archives
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