Cutting a Panel - Part 3 Piano Key Table Runner

 

The nights are getting cooler and is a reminder that fall and dare I say, winter is on the way. It's actually the perfect time to work on some holiday projects. I made the cutest table runner with a piano key border. It was fun to put together and a great way to use my strip it and Snowfolks fabrics. I used the 'center' rectangle in my Snowfolks panel, the one featuring the snowmen making smores. It's a great project to make to go with a Snowfolks quilt! You will need the following to make a piano key table runner. You'll need 1 Snowfolks panel, 1 fat quarter for the corner triangles. 1/8 yard of each of the Snowfolks coordinating fabrics. I also used the strip it fabric to make the runner scrappier.  For the binding you will need 1/4 yard. You will also need a backing fabric, 2/3 yard and batting. The finished measurements of the table runner is 21 1/2" x 33 1/2". You will also need a strip of cream measuring 4" by the width of the fabric.

I fussy cut the panel design first making sure that it was at least 12 1/2" for the height, I did not pay attention to the design's width, I just squared it off. I then added the cream 4" strips to each end and squared the pieced rectangle to 12 1/2" x 24 1/2"

For the piano key border I cut several 2" by width of fabric strips, even out of the strip it fabric. I then sew the strips together and cut the pieced strip into 5" sections. I cut additional 2" x 5" pieces to add to the pieced borders to make it a little scrappier. You will need two sections made of eight rectangles for the ends and two sections for the top and bottom made from sixteen rectangles.

Sew the sixteen rectangle sections to the top and bottom of the table runner.

From the fat quarter, cut one 8" x 8" square. Then cut the square in half corner to corner once and then again to form 4 triangles.

Insert the triangles into the corners. Sew a triangle to each side of the eight-section border strip lining up the 'edge' seam using a 1/4" seam. Sew the triangle pieced border to each side of the table runner lining up the square edge of the triangle corner as shown. 

Layer the top with batting and the backing and quilt as desired.

Using a quilting ruler and rotary cutter and square up the sides and top and bottom.

Square up the triangle corner and trim away the excess fabric. And then bind as desired.

~ Snowfolks Piano Key Table runner ~

I hope that you enjoyed this little tutorial. This table runner along with all of my Snowfolks projects will be on display at the 2023 Willmar Country Quilters Quilt Show. The quilt show hours are Saturday, September 30th 9:00AM - 5:00PM and Sunday, October 1st 11:00AM - 4:00PM at the Willmar Event Center. The ladies that put this show on are fabulous and the quilts on display are amazing! Hope to see you there! I'll be putting on a small trunk show although I don't know that time for that. You can always stop by my booth; I would love to see you!  I'll have kits and patterns on display for purchase along with samples on display. 

Hope to see you there!

Happy Quilting,

Cindy and Josephine

Panels and coordinating fabric can be found 

HERE

Pre Order Opportunity!

 

Preorder Birds & Bees

I often draw on themes of nature for design inspiration, this time focusing on my love of gardening and birdwatching for this new collection and the accompanying projects. A 24" panel and a Strip-It design add countless creative options for quilts, accessories and decor items. " I have a couple of beekeepers in the family tending to the health and preservation of the bee population in Minnesota. And one 'sweet' perk to knowing beekeepers is the endless supply of honey."  The palette combines soft greys with ivory and soft, creamy yellows that remind me of spun honey. 

This is your opportunity to preorder your Bird and Bees fabric. I have pattern, kits, fabric yardage along with a fat quarter bundles featuring 10 of the coordinating fabrics.! All preorder purchases will ship in October-November.

Free PDF pattern download Download Now Birds and Bees Garden Quilt Pattern Preorder Here 24” x 43” panel Birds and Bees Panel

I’m just in love with the soft buttery yellows and golden honey colors of this fabric line.

10 fat quarters! Fat Quarter Bundle Pre order now! Birds and Bees Fabric Buzzing bees! Birds and Bees Fabric

Copyright (C) 2023 Quilt Doodle Designs. All rights reserved.

It's a Dog's Life!

If you follow me, you know that I love dogs. I wish they could live forever. They are sweet, loyal, great listeners and great walking companions. I am particularly fond of Basset Hounds, shhhh, don't tell sweet Lola, my grand puppy. (I love Huskies too) My Josephine is a sweet girl and turning out to be a sweet companion. I didn't know at first, she was a wild puppy with no fear. My last basset, Belvedere was a bit of a scaredy-pants. Josephine is also half Billy goat, she climbs everything! It's common to find her on top of chairs and couches to get a better view outside. I shouldn't be surprised, her mom liked to climb on top of the kitchen table. I saw the pictures! Josephine is also a counter cruiser, which is new to me. None of my dogs have been counter cruisers.... I have upped my keep the counters clean game. She's a challenge but I can overlook all that because she is the best snuggler and hangs out with me on the weekends (snuggled on my lap) as I watch football or the Hallmark channel. She also watches out for me and lets me know when it's bedtime. Somehow, she knows when I need to get to bed for my full eight hours. I love her so. She's a wild one and I wouldn't have her any other way. 

When I'm designing, I tell Josephine, 'Let's go to work' and she runs into my office and jumps up on the daybed and sleeps. When I'm done, she's all ready to play and do her zoomies around the house. Her favorite thing is going to the dog park or walking trails at a state park. She's not fond of walking the neighborhood, but give her an unpaved trail or rocky shore and she's all in. 

This is a sweet mini quilt I made to look like Joesphine. The pattern comes from Burlap and Blossoms on Etsy.  I made it as a gift to give the breeder where I got both Belvedere and Josephine from. She is the sweetest lady and loves her dogs so much. I admire the love and care she puts into her dogs. 

 SEPTEMBER 18

Just Let Me Quilt

Inflorescence

Quilting Gail

Quilt Schmilt

Sew Many Yarns

 

SEPTEMBER 19

 

Ms P Designs USA

Karrin's Crazy World

Just Because Quilts

Crazy'boutquilts

Days Filled With Joy

 

SEPTEMBER 20

 

Quilt Doodle Designs (you are here!)

Elizabeth Coughlin Designs

Beaquilter

Quilted Snail

Domestic Felicity

 

SEPTEMBER 21

 

Moosestash Quilting

Selina Quilts

Words & Stitches

Vroomans Quilts

Scrapdash

~ Josephine ~

It's been so much fun so far to see everyone's furry friends. I hope that you have fun hopping, the complete list is above! 

Happy Quilting!

Cindy & Josephine

Cutting a Panel - Part 2

 Today's project is super easy! Great for a beginner... There's no seams, just some cutting. Once I slice into a panel, the next few cuts seem to come easier. Believe me, I still measure once then measure twice. But it's a little easier. So, grab a panel, I'm using my Snowfolks panel. And fussy cut a small design out, I am using the snowfolks snowman who is ice fishing. Talking about ice fishing, this particular design was inspired by my sons who go ice fishing during the winter up north, way up north in the Lake of the Woods area. Oh, don't worry about how cold it is, they are pretty spoiled and spend their time in an ice castle watching football, playing cards, eating smoked ribs. Okay back to this fun, quick project... which would work with my Snowfolks panel or even my Birds and Bees panel which will be in stores in October! Its also a great way to use up scrap batting and fabric left over from other Snowfolks projects. 

I fussy cut my ice fishing snowman and I'm using a nine patch block I made a few weeks ago.

Make a quilt sandwich with you batting, backing (my nine patch) and the snowman block, then quilt as desired... It's a good project for practicing your free motion quilting. When you are done, square your block up using a ruler and rotary cutter.

Bind your mini quilt as desired.

Ta-da! Super cute mini quilt to keep or give as a gift. A perfect little quilt to decorate your home with. Use it as a candle mat, mug rug whatever your heart desires.

I've got one more project to show you, using my snowfolks panel. 

I hope you have a great day and find some time to cut a panel apart and make some quick mini quilts!

Happy quilting,

Cindy and Josephine

Cutting a Panel - Project 1

 Cutting a panel into parts is stressful. I measure once, I measure twice and then I second and third guess myself and measure again and yet again, again. Am I alone? I agonize over making a mistake, especially if I took the time to embroider the panel too. My Snowfolks panel has six fun sections, all different shapes and sizes.  I also find that panels are sometimes kiddy Wampus and may need to be blocked before cutting. A great video on blocking a panel can be found, 

HERE

I envision some fun projects! A table runner, a mug rug, maybe an accent pillow...It's fun to turn a large panel into some smaller projects to go along with a larger quilt, or even just to get ahead of Christmas and get a few gifts done quickly. 

For a fun project for Christmas, that can be left out all winter long, the bottom section would make a beautiful table runner for my coffee bar. To make it, I start out by fussy cutting the bottom section. I use the navy blue swirl fabric and cut a couple of 2" strips by the width of the fabric for the first border.

I measured the length of the rectangle and added a border to the top and bottom using a 1/4" seam. I then measured the width of the table runner and cut my 2" navy blue fabric to that length and sew them to the sides of my runner. Iron.

For a scrappy border without having to piece a scrappy border I use my strip it fabric. I cut 2 or 3 2 1/2" strips by the width of the fabric to form a scrappy strip. I play around with the placement of the strips until I like the arrangement. For each side I cut a 2 'scrap' section of the strip it and center it on the sides of the table runner and sew them in place first. Then I sew the top and bottom strips in place. I then square everything up again.

Layer your table runner with backing and batting to make a quilt sandwich and then quilt your table runner as desired.

I did some free motion quilting around the design, I haven't machine quilted in awhile and boy I felt rusty! I also couldn't find my quilting gloves... they are somewhere in my sewing room but where? I hope they aren't packed in my retreat bag, I will die of embarrassment if they are because then it's been AWHILE since I did free motion quilting.

I bound my table runner with the same navy fabric as my inner border. Can't wait to put it on my coffee bar this winter!

I hope you enjoyed my little table runner tutorial. I hope that you are fearless and find some time to cut a panel apart for some smaller projects. I have a couple more to show you over the next few days... 

Happy Quilting! Hope you find some time to sew...

Cindy and Josephine

September Little Tree Block 2023

Summer is officially over, and it went by way too fast! Hubby and I ended our summer with a trip to the Minnesota State Fair. Our extended Labor Day weekend will be spent being weekend warriors with projects around the house. We have one more family vacation planned up north to go fishing and enjoy the quiet. Planning on playing some cards, do a little fishing, and enjoy lots of laughs with the kids. 

Now let's talk about this month's blocks. We'll be working on a set of 4 light green trees.  These tree blocks measure 7" x 7", this includes the seam allowance. We'll be doing a few more tree blocks and then we will move onto some fun appliques and embellishments over the next couple of months.

Make sure to download a copy of the pattern for September and gather your fabric.

NOTE: From the green fabric you will cut a larger block and then cut it in half diagonally twice, to form 4 triangles.
(label E) 

·        Following the pattern, pair together blue B square with green F rectangle, right sides together. Sew corner to corner diagonally. Trim to a ¼” seam on one side to form a triangle on the left side of the ‘tree’.

·         Press to the dark side.

·         Pair together the blue B square on the other side of the green F rectangle, right sides together. Sew corner to corner diagonally to form the right side of the ‘tree’. Make 2 FBF rectangles for each tree.

·         Press to the dark side.

·         Sew together a CDC strip, press to the dark side.

·         Sew one A triangle with the E triangle right sides together along the diagonal edge. Repeat on the other side to form an AEA triangle rectangle for the top of the tree.

·         Following the block layout, lay out all pieced rectangle sections to form the tree block.

·         Press.

Following the block layout, lay out all of the pieces of the tree block. Follow the layout picture, stitch the block together using a scant 1/4" seam. Sew the 'rows' together using a 1/4" seam. Iron. Block should measure 8 1/2" x 8 1/2". You will make two dark green multi green blocks, and 2 light green multi green tree blocks.

~Small Green Tree Block~

 Help spread the word and tell all your quilting friends about this fun wintery block of the month! Each month we will work on a new section of this mystery quilt. There's basic piecing, some applique and other fun embellishments. As always, the monthly directions will be free during that month and then available for a small fee after that.

Finished measurements of the 2023 BOM quilt is 60" x 70"

Grab the button and link it to the Quilt Doodle Blog and help spread the word! 

I will be doing two versions of this quilt as we sew along. The blue version and then a white one. It will be the same pattern just a different background. Make sure to download the PDF directions on the website. Grab your fabric and start sewing!

 Each month's pattern is a free PDF instant download. If you miss a month, the patterns are available for $2.50 on my website and also in my Etsy shop.  

If you don't have a printer, you can purchase a PRINTED copy of the monthly patterns.

HERE

 There's also a Facebook Group, please join and post your progress! It's also fun to see everyone else progress too! Make sure to post your blocks so far! 

I have also been posting time lapse videos on my Instagram feed on how to stitch the blocks together. @quiltdoodledesigns. I hope that you all have a wonderful day and find some time to do some stitching! Wishing you a wonderful Labor Day weekend.

Happy quilting,

Cindy and Josephine