Wrapping Up the Quarantine QAL

It's been a busy week, I've made another batch of face masks that have been delivered to our local hospital. I dropped three quilts off to a friend to be quilted. I'm happy to say they are all for me. I've had time to finish some UFO's up and re-evaluate my fabric stash. Using fabric from what I have has been fun and I enjoyed making the Quick 3 day QAL project.  I want to say....

 

to everyone who participated in my quick 3 day QAL. Here are a couple of pictures of some of the quilts that were completed.

Selina Quilts made this one. I love the green mixed with the dark... lovely!

Jesskeepsewing made this one and I'm smittened with the pink sashing.

Here's mine... I used batiks from my batik bin with a white sashing. I'm very pleased with it.

For the backing I tried something different. I had a large stack of Mayowood Studio flannels that I've had been saving for years. So I decided to use them for the backing on this quilt. The colors were perfect for the backing.

So as you can see, I sewed them all together and made a backing for my quilt. I needed a little more width and length so that Stacy could machine quilt it. So I had some black and gray flannel. I now have a modern backing. I'm excited because I will have a 'two' sided quilt! This was pretty risky for me! I'm used to using just one fabric on the back. I think it'll be so fun when it's finished. I'm really looking forward to seeing it when it's done.

I had a little giveaway for my QAL. 

Congratulations!

Selinaquilts

I've messaged you thru Instagram, you won a festive holiday fat quarter bundle!

Having time dedicated to isolating at home has given be extra time to sew and dig thru my studio. Work on some UFO's, start some new ones, design some new ideas etc. I went thru my fabric about a year ago and donated a bunch of it to a local guild. I'm thinking it's time to do that again. I want to take some time to go thru and straighten my studio space. It used to be a huge room, but a lot of it has been swallowed up by shelving and boxes. A good spring cleaning is due. A designer friend suggested we all do studio/sewing room tours and post them on Instagram and Facebook. I think its a wonderful idea but thought "OMG..... my room could be featured on hoarders right now..... there's nothing cute about it!" I'm planning on posting before and after pics along with the tour. I live in the real world where creativity is messy.... lol..... 

I hope you have a wonderful Friday.

Happy quilting,

Cindy and Belvedere

Scrappy Hats QAL Day 16

Welcome to Day 16

We are coming close to the end of our QAL and today's section will take a little time, a few hours, maybe less. Today I will show you how I completed the flying geese border. I really think it sets the quilt off nicely and is a fun way to finish it off. I love flying geese! I used 4 colors for my flying geese border. If you want to make it scrappier that's up to you. If you do you will need to make a total of 116 flying geese rectangles. The method that I use to make flying geese in the pattern make 4 flying geese rectangles at a time. It sounds like a daunting task but they really do go together quickly with this method! I like to use the no waste flying geese method. So grab a snack and let's get going on making some flying geese!

Following the pattern directions I cut out my squares for my no waste flying geese. I'm making two color combos for my border. the pink and blue and then the red and green. For each set of not waste flying geese rectangles/blocks you will need 1 larger square and then 4 smaller squares. Keep this in mind if you are making your border scrappier.

To begin with draw a line from corner to corner diagonally on the smaller fabric squares as shown.

With right sides together, lay two of the smaller squares on the larger square as shown.

Sew a scant 1/4" seam on each side of the line.

Cut apart on the drawn line. Press the seams outward.

Add a small square, right sides together on the sewn unit. Sew a scant 1/4" seam on both sides of the line.

I like to chain sew....

Cut apart on the drawn line. Press the flying geese units open. Square up to measure 2 1/2" x 4 1/2". Make 60 using each color combo for a total of 120 flying geese rectangles. (This will be more then you need, you will have 4 extra.)

Following the pattern sew together the flying geese blocks for the border.

I'm just in love with how festive this looks! I'm all ready to assemble my quilt.

I'll post one more time to show you the finished quilt. Feel free to assemble your quilt at this point and get it quilted. It'll be ready for this winter and perfect for a special gift. Stop back again in a week to see my finished Scrappy Hats quilt. Remember, November 1st is the next installment of the Garden Sunshine quilt. Hope that you are able to join me.Remember to share your block on Instagram #scrappyhatsqal @quiltdoodledesigns

Happy Quilting!
Cindy and Belvedere

You can also click on this link to purchase the instant PDF Download of the Scrappy Hats Pattern.

 

Scrappy Hats QAL Day 15

Welcome to Day 15

Whew, it's already day 15! Today we will work on noses... snowman noses. I pulled a fat quarter out of my fabric stash.... I had already cut into it from a previous project so it was more like a fat eighth. We will make 13 noses for our snowman blocks. In the pattern I have you do your noses using a fusible method using Heat N Bond fusible web. In this method you will trace all of your noses onto the paper side of the fusible web. Iron this onto the wrong side of your orange fabric. Then cut all of the noses out, peel off the paper and then fuse the nose onto your snowman block following placement from the pattern pictures. To finish the raw edge off, you then machine applique stitch using orange, brown or black thread, around the edge of the carrot design. I like to use a fairly small applique stitch. It is easier to do this before you assemble your quilt top.

Let me show you another way to make your carrot noses using fusible interfacing. This method will give you a finished edge of your carrot noses without having to do needle turn applique by hand.

Here is what I used for the fusible interfacing. I found this a Hobby Lobby, but I'm sure you'll be able to find it or something like it at your local sewing store, or quilt shop.

For this method you will trace your nose on the 'untreated' side. The fusible side will be right side together with the orange fabric. DO NOT IRON OR PRESS.

Using orange thread. sew on the line. The clip a slit in the center of the interfacing making sure not to cut the orange fabric.

Turn right side out thru this opening. The fusible side of interfacing is now on the outside.

Make 13 of these cute noses!

Iron the nose in place on the snowman block.

Then stitch in place, I used a buttonhole stitch on my machine. If you don't want the stitches to show, you can also hand stitch around the edge using a blind stitch and orange thread.

One carrot nose done, 12 more to go!

Let's talk snowman eyes.... If you don't want to sew on buttons for your snowman eyes.... you can embroider them onto your blocks following the placement on the pattern cover. Or if you have an embroidery machine, you can machine embroider them on using dark brown or black thread. Button eyes are sewn onto the quilt after all of the quilting is done on your quilt.

 See you tomorrow! We will work on the flying geese border! Remember to share your progress on Instagram #scrappyhatsqal @quiltdoodledesigns

Happy Quilting!
Cindy and Belvedere

You can also click on this link to purchase the instant PDF Download of the Scrappy Hats Pattern.

 

Scrappy Hats QAL Day 14

Welcome to Day 14

Whew, it's already day 14! Today we will complete the last snowman block. It's gone so fast! I hope that you have been having fun creating the scrappy hats for your snowman blocks! I've enjoyed seeing your blocks so far on facebook and Instagram.  Today's block will be the most challenging because the pieces are small but it is well worth the effort! Today we will make a star brimmed hat! It's one of my favorites in this quilt. Since this is the last hat, you can have fun and make it as scrappy as you want. I made each star out of the same fabric but you can add extra scrappiness by cutting the center block out of a different color/fabric. In the pattern I've written it for this option. So let's make some stars!

Following the directions for Hat Brim #13 cut out the pieces that you need to complete this block. I am making a red, green and pink star. I have chosen to make the stars all the same color instead of cutting the center square out of a different fabric.

To make the star I begin by make 4 flying geese blocks using rectangle B and square A. Place the square on top of the rectangle, right sides together and sew corner to corner. Trim away the excess fabric leaving a 1/4" seam allowance. Press. I like to chain sew.....

Repeat on the opposite side of the rectangle, placing the square on the rectangle, right sides together and sew corner to corner. Trim the excess fabric leaving a 1/4" seam allowance. Press. Make a total of 4 flying geese blocks for each star block.

Following the block chart in the pattern, sew the block together and press. 

Here are my three adorable star blocks for my hat brim. Sew the blocks together end to end. Press. Finish strips measures 3 1/2" x 9 1/2"

Sew the hat block to the top of the hat brim strip and then sew the snowman face onto the bottom of the hat brim strip. Press. The finished block measures 9 1/2" x 11 1/2"

~ Star Snowman Block ~

Remember the carrot and eyes are not added to the block yet!

Isn't it fun making snowman blocks! I just love them! If you feel extra ambitious, you can make extra ones for an adorable table runner to match your quilt! See you tomorrow, we will work on the carrot noses and I will talk with you about a couple of different ways that you can make them. Remember to share your block on Instagram #scrappyhatsqal @quiltdoodledesigns

Happy Quilting!
Cindy and Belvedere

You can also click on this link to purchase the instant PDF Download of the Scrappy Hats Pattern.

 

Scrappy Hats QAL Day 13

Welcome to Day 13

Welcome to day 13 of the Scrappy Hats QAL! As you read this I am flying home from Houston. It was a very quick visit to International Quilt Market. If you follow me on Instagram you've gotten a sneak peek of what I was up to while I was there. I'm looking forward to being home again and getting back to stitching. But today is football day! I'll be home in time to relax and watch my team play! Woot! Woot! Today's snowman block won't take too long to make, so if you're a football fan too you'll have time to get your block done today before or even after the big game. Although it'll take a bit longer to complete compared with our first few blocks. I hope you are having fun making your snowmen with their scrappy hats! Let's get going on todays hat.... a uneven nine patch.

This hat brim will use a total of six different colors. Two for each uneven nine patch block. Label you fabric colors 1 thru 6. Following the pattern directions cut out all of you uneven nine patch pieces. Remember not to repeat the same color as the top of the snowman's hat.

The pieces are small but oh so cute! I find it helpful to lay the shapes out to form the block so I know what gets sewn together. There's also a 'chart' in the pattern to follow for stitching together. Sew the nine patch together using 1/4" seams. Press. Repeat and make two more nine patch blocks using colors 3-4 and 5-6.

Sew the blocks together end to end to form the hat brim strip. Press. Finished strip should measure 3 1/2" x 9 1/2". (This includes the seam allowance.)

Assemble the snowman block as pictured, sewing the hat block to the top of the hat brim stripe and the sewing the snowman face onto the bottom of the hat brim strip. Press. The finished block measures 9 1/2" x 11 1/2"

~ Uneven Nine Patch Snowman ~

Remember the carrot and eyes are not added to the block yet!

Isn't it fun making snowman blocks! I just love them! If you feel extra ambitious, you can make extra ones for an adorable table runner to match your quilt! See you tomorrow for the next snowman quilt block! Remember to share your block on Instagram #scrappyhatsqal @quiltdoodledesigns

Happy Quilting!
Cindy and Belvedere

You can also click on this link to purchase the instant PDF Download of the Scrappy Hats Pattern.

 

Scrappy Hats QAL Day 12

Welcome to Day 12

Whew, it's already day 12! As you read this I will be running around Houston checking out International Quilt Market... so excited to go. It's a quick trip, I flew in on Friday and I'm heading home on Sunday, so a quick trip and I have grand plans on all that I'm going to do while in Houston. I'll be doing some Instagram posts from market so check it out after you get your block done! Today's block is called 'Friendship Stars' very fitting since I'll be seeing some of my quilty friends in Houston! I would allow an hour to complete today's block. You may not need a full hour.... enjoy your sewing time today and make sure to make time to work on other projects too! I'm sure I will come back from market with all sorts of inspiration and the itch to lock myself in my studio to sew. The bummer is, I'll have laundry and those other household items to catch up on. Plus I'm sure Belvedere will insist on sitting on my lap to nap. He's so cuddly and sweet and will follow me around as soon as I walk in the door.

Remember there is no set colors or fabrics for the snowman blocks. I want to encourage you to make the quilt your own. If you don't want to think too hard about it you can follow the colors I have illustrated in the pattern.

I am using yellow for my background color and then I'm making a blue, pink and green star for the hat brim. Following the pattern, I have all my items cut out and ready to sew.

On the 1 7/8" x 1 7/8" background squares, draw a line diagonally corner to corner on the wrong side of the fabric. Then pair these up with the squares that are cut for each star. (I like to chain sew).

Sew a scant 1/4" seam on each side of the drawn diagonal line.

Cut apart on the diagonal line. Press the seam towards the darker fabric. Square these up to measure 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" . 

Lay the half square triangles with the background and star center squares following the diagram in the pattern.

Sew the block together using a 1/4" seam. The Friendship Star block will measure 3 1/2" x 3 1/2".

Then sew the Friendship Stars together to make the hat brim.

To complete the block, sew the hat brim strip to the hat rectangle and snowman face block. Press.

~ Friendship Star Snowman Block ~

Remember the carrot and eyes are not added to the block yet!

Isn't it fun making snowman blocks! I just love them! If you feel extra ambitious, you can make extra ones for an adorable table runner to match your quilt! See you tomorrow for the next snowman quilt block! Remember to share your block on Instagram #scrappyhatsqal @quiltdoodledesigns

Happy Quilting!
Cindy and Belvedere

You can also click on this link to purchase the instant PDF Download of the Scrappy Hats Pattern.