Friday Night Sew In - November

For this month's Friday Night Sew In

I was able to finish machine quilting this 

I Spy quilt for my grandson.

The center of the quilt consists of 77 - 5" novelty squares.

The outer border has a 5 inch square in each corner 

and is completed by piecing 2 1/2"x 5" novelty strips.

You can see other projects made during the Friday Night Sew In

by clicking here.

Mackenzie Gets a Quilt

This doll quilt was made by request for Mackenzie.

The colors and pattern were selected by my oldest granddaughter 

to match the flannel backing for the quilt.

The afternoon was spent planning and sewing together the quilt top.

Notice Mackenzie's face is covered 

so she will be surprised when we finish. 

"Mother" is pleased with the results...

...if only little brother will stay out of the way!

Mackenzie seemed pleased as well

and will most certainly sleep better now

that she has her own quilt:)

May you always Sew in Peace!

Sandra

Baby & Me Quilt

I was finally able to finish this quilt
 for a friend who recently had a baby boy.
It is may appear to be pieced blocks,
but is actually a panel called
"Baby & Me" by Leanne Anderson
for Henry Glass Fabrics.
I spied this panel at our local quilt shop
and knew it would make a great baby quilt.
I added both the green and almond borders to increase the size.

Hopefully it will get lots of use:)

Linking up with:

 Friday Night Sew In

 Finish it up Friday

May you always Sew in Peace

Sandra

Modern I Spy Tutorial

How about a modern I Spy quilt?

This pattern uses a total of  51- 5" I Spy squares in the following colors:

                                                        Red - 9

                                                        Orange -8

                                                        Yellow - 8

                                                        Green - 9

                                                        Blue - 9

                                                        Indigo/Violet - 8

All seams are sewn with a 1/4" seam allowance.

The quilt is made up of two different blocks labeled here as Block "A" and Block "B".

You will need three blocks of Block A and three of Block B.

Block A

To make Block A you will need:

                                                   9 -  I Spy squares cut 5"x5"

                                                   8 -  pastel fabric squares cut 5"x5'

                                                   4 -  print fabric strips cut 5"x 9 1/4"

The corner units of this block are a basic 4 patch.

The 4 patch blocks are connected with the print fabric

and then sewn together as rows to complete Block A.

Finished block measures 22 1/2" square.

Finish three Block A units.

Block B

To make Block B you will need:

                                                   8 -  I Spy squares cut 5"x5"

                                                   5 -  pastel fabric squares cut 5"x5'

                                                   4 -  print fabric strips cut 5"x 13 1/2"

The center of Block B is a basic 9-patch surrounded by 

four pieced border units.

To attach the border units lay the first one on top of the 9 patch block.

Sew the seam....EXCEPT for the final 1/4".

Notice just below the bottom pin there is a pencil mark 1/4"

from the edge of the 9 patch. Do NOT sew the final 1/4".

Attach the top and side border.

Attach the final border being careful to ONLY sew it to the 9 patch block.

Finish sewing the remainder of the first border seam.

Finished block measures 22 1/2" square.

Complete three Block B units.

The top is finished with 2" sashing and a 3" border
and measures 74"x 50".

Baste the quilt to prepare for machine quilting.
Click here to see how I pin baste my quilts.

This quilt was finished with basic straight line quilting in the center
and free-motion quilting in the outer border.

If you end up using this pattern, please give credit back to this post.

You are welcome to post photos of your Modern I Spy quilt

  here.



If you would like to make an I Spy quilt or just begin collecting fabric...

sign up for the next swap begins soon!

Tentative plans for the next I Spy Swap will be Spring of 2012.

May you always Sew in Peace!

Sandra

Postage Stamp Quilt Tutorial

My scrappy postage stamp quilt begins with a variety of 2 1/2" squares of fabric.

I picked up this box of pre-cut fabric and miscellaneous blocks at an auction for $3.00. 

I'm all about eliminating clutter, so these quilt blocks are being recycled.

It did not take long to discover that some of the auction squares were not

totally "square". To resolve this issue, I cut a white square 2 1/2" x 2 1/2".

You can see it in the photo above on the right.

When the auction fabric is laid on top of the white square,

it is easy to determine if each piece of  fabric measures true to 2 1/2 inches.

The squares that did not measure up were set aside for another day.

The auction fabric was then sorted into piles according to color.

The squares fit perfectly into this wooden silverware box

making it easy to select various color combinations.

Materials List

• various scraps cut 2 1/2" square (total of 183)
• white or neutral fabric cut 2 1/2" square (total of 182)
• 2 strips of fabric cut 2 1/2" x 29 3/4" (for top and bottom of inner border)
• 2 strips of fabric cut 2 1/2" x 41 (for sides of inner border)
• 2 strips of fabric cut 3 1/2" x 37 1/2" (for top and bottom of outer border)
• 2 strips of fabric cut 3 1/2" x 51 1/2" ( for sides of outer border)
• batting 46" x 54"
• fabric cut 48" x 56" for backing
• fabric cut 2 1/2" and sewn into 190" strip for binding
• finished quilt measures approximately 42 1/2" x 50 1/2"

Step 1: Sewing the Center

 

•  Sew squares using 1/4" seam allowance alternating one white fabric with one scrappy fabric.
•  There are 15 squares in each row.
•  There are a total of 19 rows.
•  When this step is completed your project should measure approximately 29 1/2" x 37 1/2".
•  Press seams.

Step 2: Attach Inner Border

• Attach inner border (A) by sewing a strip of the 2 1/2" x 29 3/4" to the top and bottom.
• Attach inner border (B) by sewing a strip of the 2 1/2" x 41" to the sides.
• Press seams.

Step 3: Attach Scrappy Border

• Attach scrappy border (A) by sewing 17 squares to the top and bottom.
• Attach scrappy border (B) by sewing 23 squares to the sides.
• (Please note: I could not display the correct number of squares for the border in the above diagram.)
• Press seams.

Step 4: Attach Outer Border

• Attach outer border (A) by sewing a strip of the 3 1/2" x 37 1/2" to the top and bottom.
• Attach outer border (B) by sewing a strip of the 3 1/2" x 51 1/2" to the sides.
• Press seams.
• Finished quilt top should measure approximately 42 1/2" x 50 1/2"

                                       

Square up corners.

Pin quilt top to batting and backing.

Click here learn how to pin baste a quilt.

Painters tape is an easy way to mark a quilt for straight line quilting.

Complete quilt by attaching 2 1/2" binding.

Enjoy!

May you always Sew in Peace!

Sandra