Easy Four Patch

 

I was playing around with my Strip iIt fabric the other day and found you could use it to jumpstart a disappearing four patch block. Out of each 5 1/2” x WOF you can get one block and leftover scraps for some snowball blocks. But if you cut 5” x WOF you can easily get two blocks. Let me explain… I played around and originally cut 5 1/2” widths for my sample and it wasn’t until I competed my block that I can get two blocks if I cut 5” widths. This would be playing with the eight fabrics in the strip it to get fun scrappy block.

If you want a traditional disappearing four patch you can cut 5” squares from each of the fabrics in the strip it and construct squares that way. But if you want to save a couple of seams,  you can cut a 5” strip by the width of the fabric.

Then fussy cut  two 9 1/2” strip centering each strip at the 4 3/4” mark on the center line between the two colors. I like to use a light and dark section on the strip and rotate the light and dark on each strip as pictured. Then matching the center seam sew a 1/4” seam, press. 

Measuring from the center seams cut 1 1/2” from the seam in all directions. A rotating mat is super helpful so that the block doesn’t shift while cutting.

Have fun and rotate the pieces around to make a scrappy disappearing four patch block.

Ta-da a perfectly matching scrappy block! Quick and easy, fun to stitch. Piece several for a cut table topper or make a bunch for a lap sized quilt! 

Happy quilting,

Cindy and Josephine

Christmas Gnome

 

It's hard not to start decorating for Christmas before Thanksgiving. I did invest in a couple of new trees this year. A smaller tree for in the dining room and an adorable pencil style tree for in the four season. Both of them are prelit which is awesome! I did put the pencil tree up in my four season. It's not decorated, I am loving the shape and size. I try really hard not to start pulling out the gnomes and snowman before Thanksgiving. I'll be hosting a small Thanksgiving dinner so that is helping to keep the little Santas at bay until the day after! So my tree will just look adorable with no decorations until after Thanksgiving.

 I have been doing some holiday sewing and I'd love to show you what I've made the other day. It's so cute! It's a sweet little gnome in Santa's sleigh, or it could be Santa... wink, wink.... Instead of putting this applique on a tea towel, I made my own using some green shirting fabric which I thought would make a great background. For the applique I am using scraps from my new fabric line, Season Sampler by Marcus Fabrics.  

To make your own tea towel, I used a piece of material measuring 18" x WOF, I then folded it in half right sides together. Then sew around the edges a 1/4" leaving a 3" gap for turning. Then turn the rectangle right side out and press. I then did a top stitch around the rectangles edge. Voila! A pretty tea towel to applique on! (My towel is a bit smaller then what yours will be.)

Trace the applique shapes onto the paper side of your fusible web following manufacturers directions.

Rough cut the shapes out and pair with your fabric colors. Then press onto the wrong side of your fabric.

I am trying out a new fusible web, well new to me. You need to know I am not a paid representative for this company. I'm just trying something new then what I usually use. So far I like this brand. It fused my applique well and I'm happy with it. It says that you don't need to stitch around the edges, but for me a design doesn't look done unless there is stitching.

Cut all of of the shapes out and following the pattern placement sheet, arrange the pieces onto your towel, remembering to peel the paper off. Notice how some of the pieces overlap. Following the manufacturer's directions, iron in place.

Using a buttonhole stitch, I stitch around the gnome's nose, beard, mustache and sled rail with white thread. I use a brown thread to go around everything else.

~ Gnome and Sled ~

This cute new design can be found HERE and HERE.

This towel would be adorable put on display hanging out of a gift basket, wrapped around a bottle of wine or draped on a cabinet or oven door. This design would also be cute stitched onto a 10 minute table runner or turned into a quick candle mat or mug rug. There are just so many possibilities! Have fun with it!

Happy Quilting,

Cindy and Belvedere

12 Days of Christmas, Day 8

Day 8

I have another project that's sure to be comforting. It's another quick and easy project that would be a great beginner sewing project. So if you are mentoring a new stitcher, this is a fun project to introduce them to. It's an easy square scarf with a frayed edge.

This has been the year of neighborhood walks and outdoor hikes with our lockdowns here in Minnesota. I find this scarf warm and cozy. A great comfort item that would also make a wonderful gift. It's fashionable too! I wear mine around the house when it's chilly. All you need is 1 1/2 yards of a woven flannel. I used Primo Plaid Flannel from Marcus Fabrics. It's warm and cozy and perfect for this project.

How to tell if I have the right kind of flannel if not using Primo Plaids Flannel. One of the easiest ways to tell, is to cut it. Fleece is woven tighter or not woven at all and will not unravel. When you cut flannel, it will ravel. Flannel is woven to give it a twill weave or patterned weave. The threads are individually dyed and woven with flannel. Fleece has a fuzzy side and a plain side. Flannel appears the same on both sides. Hope this helps you when picking out your flannel fabric. You will need 1 1/4 yards of Primo Plaid Flannel.

I picked out this lovely plaid for my scarf.

m. Square your fabric up and cut away any extra, try to follow along the weave when you trim.

Cut off the selvage edges.

Using matching thread, sew a 1/2" seam along all four sides of the edge. Follow along the weave, try to keep it even.

Here's the fun part, put on some holiday music and start pulling threads to create a fringe on the scarves edge. I pulled threads right up to the sewn line.

You will end up with a pile of threads. I find it helpful to use a pin to work some of the threads out to pull.

I'm loving my cozy Primo Plaid flannel scarf! It's going to keep me warm when  I take Belvedere for a walk.

If you're giving you scarf away as a gift, fold it up to make a pretty presentation. I like to fold one corner down to show off the plaid design and fringe.

I do have primo plaid flannel available on my website if you're unable to find it in your local quilt shops. Hope you have a wonderful day and find some time to stitch.

Happy quilting,

Cindy and Belvedere

Mondays With Marcus

 

 

Marcus & Studio 37 Fabrics are thrilled to introduce Mondays with Marcus,

an exciting new program for Fall 2020

– it’s a free weekly series featuring our fabric designers!

 

Beginning Monday, October 5, set your calendar to receive FREE PROJECTS from your favorite Marcus & Studio 37 designers.  Some will also offer optional kits for their designs, while for others, you can just dig into your stash.  Along the way, you’ll get to know our designers better as you Like, Follow and Share them on social media, and learn valuable, inspiring tips and tricks along the way.  And did we mention that we will be sponsoring FREE FABRIC DRAWINGS throughout? 

Be sure to join the fun and tell your friends!  

All-Star Designer Line-Up -- October 5 thru December 14, 2020

 

October 5 – Vicki McCarty, Calico Patch Designs

October 12 - Deirdre Bond-Abel, Hat Creek Quilts

October 19 – Pam Buda, Heartspun Quilts

October 26 – Nancy Rink, Nancy Rink Designs

November 2 – Dolores Smith, Timeworn Toolbox Designs

November 9 – Lisa Norton & Lora Zmak, Material Girlfriends

November 16 – Paula Barnes & Mary Ellen Robison, Red Crinoline Quilts

November 23 – Sarah Maxwell, Designs by Sarah J

November 30 – Cindy Staub, Quilt Doodle Designs

 December 7 – Tracy Souza, Plumcute Designs

December 14 – Laura Berringer, Marcus Fabrics

Mark Your Calendars!

Happy Quilting,

Cindy and Belvedere

Star Gazing at the Cabin

I have an idea! I think it's a wonderful notion... let me tell you all about it. Remember last year I showed you my Snowman Snow Globe panel and I wrote the 'Star Gazing' pattern. It's a super easy quilt to piece together using a Rail Fence block and some applique snowflakes.

What if you substituted the Lumberjack Primo Plaids for the blues and used the Woodland Getaway panel? I think it would make for a wonderful winter themed quilt.

What do you think? I'm thinking I need to make one! Here's how I would go about it.

I would substitute the Lumberjack Primo Plaids for colors # 1-4, the center block background, binding and borders. The Snowman Snow Globe is fussy cut into a circle and appliqued onto the center square. Working with the Woodland Getaway would be so much easier. The panel would be cut down to measure 24 1/2" x 24 1/2" and then with the center background fabric, I would cut that into a 2 1/2" border strips to go around the center Woodland Getaway panel. The panel could be left plain or embroidered. I would use a cream cotton fabric that matches the cream on the Woodland Getaway Panel, but I'm pretty sure an off white would work too since the snowflakes and the panel are not close to each other on the quilt.

To make it easy to follow along with the fabric substitutions, make sure to label your fabric for reference. It's fun to take a pattern and think outside the box and use different fabrics. It's not too soon to start those winter projects and Christmas gifts. 

Happy quilting!

Cindy & Belvedere

The Primo Plaids, Star Gazing Pattern and Woodland Getaway panel can all be found in the

 Quilt Doodle Designs Website

Cabin Life

As you all know, I love my Lumberjack Primo Plaids, love, love, love the colors and have been having fun stitching with them. They are my go to colors, the colors that I love to work with. I have designed a new pattern to go with the Woodland Getaway Panel using these soft, yummy fabrics, Cabin Life. My inspiration comes from all the vacations we've taken up north to go fishing. There's always a morning or two that we wake up freezing and this will be the perfect quilt to pack along for our next trip. I usually pack a few quilts for those cod mornings.

I enjoyed quilting the center panel. I have a domestic machine with an extra deep throat that I use for quilting. I enjoy doing free motion quilting. I find it relaxing. The quilting makes the design pop a little bit. The quilting added some texture to the panel. I did not embroider the panel for this particular quilt, but you sure could if you wanted to.  I'm  thinking of adding some gold star buttons to the night sky for an added touch.

Cabin Life is a fun scrappy quilt to make. It features the words Cabin Life, Friendship Stars and Bear Paw blocks. The Log Cabin blocks are easy to stitch together and frame the Woodland Getaway Panel. I did not embroider the center panel on this quilt, but it can be embroidered if you so choose to. The finished quilt measures 68" x68", a great size to drape over a chair, roll up and pack in a travel bag or folded at the end of a bed. 

When I quilted this quilt is important to note that I used a thin cotton batting. I used a thin batting for quilting to reduce the bulk because the Primo Plaids are woven plaids and thicker then what we think of as flannel. The Primo Plaids are luxurious to work with and I love the results. I do not match up plaids to create a primitive look, which I love, especially for the cabin.

I have a limited number of quilt kits for Cabin Life available on the Website. I've picked out all of the plaids that you need to make the quilt as pictured. Everything is included except the backing and batting. The Cabin Life pattern is included! There is also FREE shipping in the USA.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend and find some time to do some stitching.

Happy quilting,

Cindy & Belvedere

Let’s Toast Marshmallows!

I hope that you all had a relaxing weekend last week. I spent some time in my sewing room over the weekend and worked on a project that I’ve had planned in my head for awhile. I finally got it all written down on paper and made it. I’ve been spending the last few weeks showing you how I’ve been embroidering my Woodland getaway panel so today let me show you how I used those elements to make my banner/table runner. The complete pattern for this banner can be found on my website and in my Etsy shop. 

As you can see in this photo, I have embroidered different sections of the design. Remember the embroidery is optional but I love the added dimension the stitching adds to the design. 

I did all of the stars with a satin stitch with this banner design in mind. Following the pattern, I fussy cut the stars for two of the banner strips. The stars will NOT be centered on my banner, I had to squeak every little bit of fabric that I could to have enough length. It’s okay if it’s not centered, it will add to the overall charm of the mini quilt.

Following the pattern directions, I’ve fussy cut the panel pieces and sewn them onto the flannel strips that I’ve cut. In the pattern I’ve used green as my main color. You could switch it up and use brown, gold or red. I’m just really fond of greens for my banner. 

To add a little something extra I have you make two pieced strips for the top and bottom of the banner. 

 If when you sew your strip on and it’s a little long, do not fret, just trim it off to be even with the width of your banner/table runner.

I then sew the side strips on , and then the top and bottom.

Now it’s time to make your quilt sandwich by layering the top, batting and backing. Quilt as desired.

I did not put a hanging sleeve on mine. If you want to hang it using an Ackfeld hanger you may want to put a hanging sleeve on the back. The pdf pattern has the hanging sleeve directions included. You will want to put on the hanging sleeve before you bind your banner/table runner.

I just love how this turned out! I am displaying it here hanging on a display metal hanger from Ackfeld wire. (I cheated by pinning my mini quilt to it using a couple of safety pins) I did free motion quilting on the panel sections. Also quilted in the ditch between the fabric strips. For the border I free motion quilted a holly border. It gives it sort of a woodsie feel.

Both the pattern for this project and Woodland Getaway Panel from Marcus Fabrics can be found on my website or Etsy Shop. I hope that you enjoyed my project today, it was a fun one to put together. 

Happy quilting,

Cindy & Belvedere

Hubby caught this monster on Father’s Day.

Embroidery 101-5

Welcome to my fifth installment showcasing different embroidery stitches. Today I’m going to show you a threaded running stitch and a variation on a buttonhole stitch. I used them both on my Woodland Getaway panel but I think you could also experiment with these stitches on my other panels too. I’m using a #12 pearl cotton from Valdani thread for my stitching.

I used this variation on the wheel of the camper. I thought it would be a fun stitch to color in the tire... let me show you how easy this stitch is...

To start, bring your needle up at the outer edge.

Then poke the needle down in the center rim of the wheel and back up on the outer edge wrapping the thread around like you would a buttonhole stitch. The difference is, you are keeping the stitches close together to fill in the space.

Continue stitching around....

I'm about halfway... notice that we ignore the 'lines' inside the wheel. Remember these will be covered up with our stitches.

…. almost done!

All done! A red button could be added for the center on the wheel for an added accent.

The next stitch I'm going to show you is a threaded running stitch. It's super easy and a great substitution to a backstitch or outline stitch. I am using a variegated #12 Valdani thread for my stitching, but you can use any embroidery thread of your choice.

To start this stitch, do a running stitch on the printed line.

Then you will use the loops of the running stitch to thread your stitches through.

Here is a great close up of both the stitches that were featured today.

I hope that you enjoyed my little embroidery tutorial today. We're getting close to the lazy days of summer and embroidery is a great take along project for in the car or at the lake. It's so peaceful to sit under an umbrella, in the cool breeze with a large glass full of iced tea stitching a few stitches as I wait for my boys to get back from fishing.

Happy Stitching,

Cindy and Belvedere