Mini Scrap Patch Bag

Good morning everyone!  We are almost to the end of 2018 and the Fat Quarter Shop is doing another blog remix with the Mini Scrap Patch Bag.  They have a video with all the instructions on how to make the bag which is very easy to follow, and makes creating your bag simple!

I made two this time because doesn't everyone love the new "Valentines" fabrics that are out?  I used Little Sweetheart by Edytar Sitar for the bottom one, and RED-diculously Red by Me and My Sister Designs for the other.  I had charm packs that I cut to size, and only needed 11 charms to make each bag.  That means there is plenty of fabric left to make more!  I also bought a 30" By Annie zipper so I could make four bags out of one (I just need to get a few extra zipper pulls).

I love using fun fabrics for linings, and a fat quarter is more than enough for this bag.

Anyone who knows me, knows I LOVE bags.  It is so fun to actually make one that I can use!

If you'd like to make your own scrap patch bag, you can find the video here.  Let me know if you do make one, I'd love to see it!  I'm planning on being back before the year ends, I've got big plans for the new year. :)  Happy Stitching!!!  --Kristen

Fat Eighth Fruitcake Quilt

Hi everyone!  I'm so excited to be sharing this quilt at long last.  It has been a few months in the making, but the day is finally here, and I have to say this is one of my new favorite quilts.

I used Summer Blush by Riley Blake and the Fat Eighth Fruitcake Quilt pattern from the Fat Quarter Shop.  There was only a fat quarter pack available to use, so I made two blocks with each fabric and it turned out wonderful.

I chose to use the same fabric for all the middle squares, but by using different fabrics it would just make the quilt a bit more scrappy.  The fabric requirements are right on as I did not have a lot of fabric left over (which is kind of a shame because I really love this fabric line).  ;)

Finally, I used the serpentine stitch and my walking foot to quilt it, and was finished in no time.  This would be a quick quilt to make for a Christmas gift, and I'm sure anyone would love to receive it!  You can find the pattern here and also see the quilts my fellow quilters have made.  Thanks for stopping by, I'll be back soon as I have another quilt top almost finished and ready to share.  Happy Stitching!!!  --Kristen

Mini Scrap Patch Bag

I am so far behind, and it seems time is flying faster than ever.  I can hardly believe we are half way through November!  I have a senior in high school and to say that this year is fun filled and action packed is an understatement.  The Mini Scrap Patch Bag is a quick sew, and would make a perfect project for Christmas gifts that requires a small time commitment. 

Calling it mini is kind of deceiving, because you really can fit much more in it than you would think.  The pattern calls for Mini Charm packs...so that may be the reason for the use of "mini."  ;)

I used Christmas Figs Mini Charm pack, a 24-inch Chartreuse zipper from ByAnnie, and the Quiltsmart 2-1/2" grid panel to make it.  The complete pattern can be found here.  I have another quilt to share that is finished and ready to go...November 28 is the date for that.  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Happy Labor Day

I don't know where the time has gone since my last post.  It seems the older our children get, the faster time slips away.  My son celebrated his 18th birthday this past month and started his senior year in high school.  Suddenly we are looking at colleges, scheduling ACT tests, and ordering his cap and gown and graduation announcements (yes that was the first week of school).  I just realized my son is the age I was when I started quilting, and what a long and wonderful journey it has been!

I finished my Village quilt and I love it.  This quilt justifies my saving, collecting, (hoarding) of fabrics.  Each house is a different Me and My Sister fabric, and to be honest, I could probably make another smaller one with all different fabrics from their lines too.  I love how they all "go together" and it reminds me of where I was when I purchased the fabrics or what was going on during that time.  I loved using this background fabric too.  What a fun quilt it was to make and a great sew along to be a part of!

The Village quilt photo was taken earlier this summer, and this photo is from this morning.  We had a heavy downpour right before I got outside and everything is still a bit wet, but is a reminder of things to come (hopefully some not so humid weather).  It's a long holiday weekend for us, and a great time to get in the sewing room again.  I made these pincushions for Memorial Day, and obviously 4th of July has snuck by, and now Labor Day, but it is a good reminder that even though the summer months fly, all these fun patriotic things are appropriate for the whole summer.

I will be cutting into these fabrics within minutes for a new sew along with the Fat Quarter Shop. The fabrics are Summer Blush by Sedef Imer and they are wonderful!

It is fun to look back at things accomplished and look forward to things to come.  At some point I want to make my son a graduation quilt.  I have a few ideas for that, but no definite plan yet.  It will be a bit bittersweet, but it seems the best quilts are the ones that commemorate a special occasion (and sometimes have a few tears sewn in).  ;)  Of course all is in anticipation of great things to come!  Happy Stitching!! --Kristen

AGF Stitched Quilt Along

AGF (otherwise known as Art Gallery Fabrics) is having a quilt along with The Fat Quarter Shop using the Odori Quilt Pattern beginning today.

I chose these AGF fabrics from the Fiesta Fun line by Dana Willard.  They are all so bright and completely different than any I've used before. I need to find more of that background fabric!

After cutting strips and sewing them together, the fabrics were cut into triangles using the Creative Grids Spider Web ruler.  This really was so quick and easy to do.

Here is my completed Odori quilt which used nine blocks total, and the corners of each block made additional rings. All seams were pressed open which really made those points come together.  To top it off, I had some beautiful sun light for about a half hour when it was time to take photos. Make sure to check out the Fat Quarter Shop's free pattern, video on how to make this colorful quilt, and wide selection of AGF fabric.  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Village

The last few weeks have been a blur.  I've been sewing a lot, but also applying for jobs and prepping for interviews and going to meetings. This is so out of the norm for me and so difficult, but kind of exciting.  It seems there are a lot of my friends in the same position right now, their jobs are being eliminated and they are not old enough to retire.  But, I'm not giving up, and I'm praying that the best job ever comes my way.  In the meantime I sew.

I joined the Sewing A Village sew along with Stitch Supply Co. and I am having a blast.  I have been collecting (aka hoarding) Me and My Sister fabrics for a long time...This pattern has 132 houses in it, and each of my houses is using a different fabric.  It KINDA sounds worse than it is because a charm  pack, jelly roll, or layer cake can have a lot of different fabrics in it.  ;)  ANYWAY...

Here is my village so far, in no specific order.  The background is a fabric from their new line Confetti that I found here.  I think this might be one of the happiest and brightest quilts I have ever made.  We are only four weeks in so we have a long way to go yet.  I have been sewing mine on Sundays which gives me something to look forward to each week.  We have another winter storm headed our way, and that means I will be spending more time sewing something (hibernating/hiding) the next few days.  Please Spring, get here soon.  Happy Stitching!!   --Kristen

Hunter Star Block/Quilt

Ever since I can remember I have wanted to make a hunter star quilt.  I love the stars, but was not excited about putting those points together.  When the Fat Quarter Shop asked if I wanted to make a block, I was all in.  I knew they would find an easier way to make these stars, and did they ever.

When I made the first block I was not seeing it.  I had more Diving Board fabric by Alison Glass and continued sewing.

Four more blocks and I'm seeing where this is going, and I'm getting really excited.  I kept thinking, it seriously cannot be this easy.

But it was, and now I have a great quilt to snuggle under.  I also tried sewing my binding on by machine and that was great, so I can check this block and new to me way of binding off the list of things to try.  You can find the pattern and an instructional video here.  I will be back tomorrow with progress on my Village and City Tile sew along quilts.  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Finishes and Goals

I think a great thing to do is set a goal to finish something each month.  I half reluctantly decided last month that I would try to see if I could actually post a goal and accomplish it.  I soon realized that I may have set my goals a bit high for the month, but in the end it was worth it.

After hanging "Have Yourself A Quilty Little Christmas" and photographing it, I soon realized I couldn't see the quilting I had spent so much time on...

With a little experimenting we can see it! :)  It is only -20F windchill  today...and as my husband was helping me he said "Wow, this really is a pretty quilt."  I'm sure it will be used and loved for many years to come at Christmas.

My This Way and That Way Quilt (pattern by Me & My Sister, fabric is Fig Tree Coney Island) is finished and I'm so happy about that too. 

Now on to my February goals.  I decided that I wanted to make a goal of quilting a quilt that is in my HUGE "piecing is finished, but it needs to be quilted pile."  It should serve two goals, working on my machine quilting, and actually getting something off that pile.  ;) 

This is from the Take Wing pattern by lillyella stitchery.  I still need borders, and I had always thought about adding some smaller butterflies...I may still have to do that.  I guess we will see where this month leads.  I am linking up with Elmstreet Quilts with my one monthly goal.  If you are interesting in the Coney Island fabric, Stitchin' It Up Quilt Shop is the place to look.  I will be back again soon with something else I've been working on.  Happy Stitching!!!  --Kristen

Happy New Year!!

Well, it seems all the end of the year holidays have passed us by, and it has almost been two months since I have posted.  A few days after my last posting I began a job search which has been less than exciting, frustrating, exhausting, and was taking everything I had just to participate in.  It always comes when you least expect it, and there are days I don't know what to do because I'd love to believe that perfect job will just land in my lap.  Haha!  So I've stayed away from my sewing room, and I decided its a new year, and time to get back to what I love most...creating.

It is my hope to finish the started projects that have been pushed aside to make room for some fun new ones.  As you can see we have snow, and it is was -6 F when I was out trying to photograph this.  It is almost all quilted, needs binding, and then it will be ready for Christmas next year.  This pattern is Have Yourself a Quilty Little Christmas by Lori Holt.  I used Nancy Halvorsen Christmas fabrics which are bright and fun.

This quilt is This Way and That Way from the book 12-Pack Quilts by Me and My Sister Designs.  I used Fig Tree Coney Island fabrics and love how it is turning out.  It needs borders and to be quilted and bound.  It is my goal to finish both of these in the month of January while participating in the One Monthly Goal Link Up.  Hopefully I can motivate myself to actually finish something big each month (and take my mind off of looking for a job).  I am wishing you a happy, healthy New Year, and that you are surrounded by those you love!  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen