Friday, January 26, 2018

FYI: January 2018

Hello! It's time I caught you up on some of the fun events from the virtual quilting world. If you're new here, you may not know about the Wonderland Quilt Along


Welcome, if you're visiting from the Aurifil blog guest post! Make sure to follow the Quilting Mod blog here so you don't miss the tutorials. You can use the button below or the sidebar options to follow via Bloglovin', Feedly, or e-mail.
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Join the delightful Facebook group and follow the Instagram hashtag #wonderlandquiltalong to share your progress. Go to Craftsy to claim your free pattern releases before they revert to a paid pattern.

Speaking of Craftsy, they're shaking things up with a new subscription option, Craftsy Unlimited. Subscribing allows you access to all the Craftsy classes, plus new and exclusive video tutorials. Craftsy Unlimited features:
  • New and exclusive content released weekly 
  • 600+ of the world's top creative experts 
  • Join a community of 13 million other makers 
  • Access from any device, anywhere, anytime 
  • 1,300 expert taught classes 
Start your 7 day FREE trial on Craftsy Unlimited now! 

A subscription is a great way to indulge in binge watching your favorite instructors, condense your learning, and be spontaneous about which subjects you'd like to explore. However, if you've purchased classes previously or prefer an a la carte option, courses are still available to view with lifetime access and one time payment. DVDs are now also an option.

Speaking of Quilt Alongs, Unicorn Harts and Schnitzel and Boo are hosting the #candycatqal. Snatch up your free pattern from Craftsy and make the most darling cat block to be eligible for prizes. They even have free complimentary patterns like this fish bones one! Photos are from their respective designers.


Another alluring QAL is the Beginnings QAL at The Intrepid Thread.


Starburst Blossoms QAL from Morning Glory Designs is another favorite of mine. Be sure to catch your patterns during the month of their release. Then again, if you aren't quite fast enough, the previous months' patterns are available in her shop.


Fat Quarter Shop's 2018 Clementine Quilt Along featuring Mama's Cottage fabrics by April Rosenthal will benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Suggested donations of $5 for each of the 6 blocks will be matched by Moda Fabrics up to $20,000. Quilt Kits and Backing Sets are available.


The Tiptoe Quilt Along hosted by Porch Swing Quilts is entering Week 4. The pattern is on Craftsy, but tutorials are at Jennie Tracy's blog.

As you can probably ascertain from my numerous favorites, I am great at starting new things--so great that I have trouble keeping track. I've been attempting to get a handle on it using my Quilter's Planner. Pixels to Patchwork also has some great free printables.


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Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Easy Envelope Style 18" Pillow Covers

I don't often sew anything besides quilts, but when I do, it better be easy. I'd been dragging my feet, but the hideousness of my couch throw pillows overpowered my inclinations to procrastinate. Besides, I had a little fabric...


If you'd like to make some covers for 18" pillows, I'll guide you through the process. First, gather up a super ugly pillow that needs a classy disguise.


Cut a piece of fabric that has a 42"+ width and cut it at the 18" (half yard) mark. Take each short (18") side and press over 1/2" toward the wrong side of the fabric. I like to use the life-changing Clover Hot Press and my new Oliso iron that pops up on little feet when it doesn't sense your touch (which is why my fabric wasn't actually scorching as I took this picture). Then fold over 1/2" and press again so the raw edge is neatly tucked on the inside.


Stitch 1/8" away from the fold with the wrong side up. Repeat with the other 18" side.


Press your fabric in half by matching the 18" ends. Open the fabric up, and lay it flat with the wrong side up. Measure 8 1/2" to the right of the crease line you previously created, lining up the raw edges at the top and bottom. Press the fabric with right sides together so the fold is 8 1/2" away from the center. Do the same for the other side by measuring 8 1/2" to the left of the crease line and pressing so there is an overlap.


Pin in place and stitch 1/2" away from the raw edges on the two open sides.


Sew a diagonal line to secure the corners, and then trim the bolk just outside the diagonal line.


Flip right sides out and poke the corners into shape using a Clover Point 2 Point Turner or a tool of your choice. Stuff the pillow in, and you're done!


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Saturday, January 13, 2018

Albuquerque Old Town

I'm going to take a little breather from the usual quilting programing to bring you a tourism feature; though if you're a local, it may be even more beneficial. Today I'm sharing an illustrated guide to Old Town, a cultural and shopping district great for locals and visitors alike. 


My family and I enjoyed lunch at High Noon, an upscale place with classic and area-specific specialities. We tried the Shrimp Pappardelle, Lobster Bisque, and a chicken dish. All were tasty.



Then I did a bit of shopping at San Pasquals, which I initially took for a furniture store. However, it was a wondrous shop with numerous unique specialty items. Aren't these measuring spoons too pretty?



I adored these fuzzy birds.


Then I sighted these fantastic bed sheets. Wouldn't this set be great for a kid who loves Wonder?


Or this set for a dinosaur-enthusiast? Personally, I decided on a mermaid set for my daughter.

I picked up a pale blue set of these favorite candles of mine.
They had aprons.

And Kitchenwares.



These were the most adorable socks.


I thought these clips would be adorable hang up a mini quilt or a top for photographing.


Or the absurdly charming lamas.


Have you been to Albuquerque? If so, have you checked out Old Town?

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Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Fat Quarter Shop Boxed Sets

Did you miss out on the super cool notions Fat Quarter Shop surprised subscribers with in their Sew Sampler boxes this past year? Fat Quarter Shop is now offering greatly discounted boxed sets including some of their best items that you may have lamented missing out on earlier. Buy them before the limited quantities get snatched up (affiliate links present)!








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Thursday, January 4, 2018

Wonderland Quilt Along Block #4: Keys and Bottle

It's time for this month's Wonderland Quilt Along blocks. As a quick overview, I'll introduce one block a month for the year until we reach the final layout by the end of 2018. The top will finish at 46" x 60" with 3" borders attached, 40" x 54" without.

This month, you'll need to bring out those paper-piecing  skills. If you're new here, or to paper-piecing, you may want to check out the Block #2 tutorial.


You'll also need to download the pattern, and you might want to join the Facebook community of quilters making their own.


I recommend using a thin, strong cotton thread to keep the seams from getting too bulky. The only thread I use for paper-piecing is 50 wt Aurifil. I use a color that blends with the background. For this project, I have been using Aurifil #2021 Natural White.

We will be stepping it up a little with multiple units. Not to worry, the paper-piecing process is the same. They'll just be a few pieces to sew together, traditional-style, once the units are pieced and trimmed to the unfinished (with seam allowance included) size.


I like to do the first step (Cover Piece 1. Add Piece 2 by sewing along the line separating 1 & 2, with right sides together and a shortened stitch. Press open. Trim seam allowance.) on all of the units at the same time. Then I do the next step on all the pieces, and so on. This streamlines the process for me since it's less laps around the sewing room.


I tend to pull from my scraps or cut a piece that will generously cover each area, as determined by pinching on seam allowance side of the line and doing a test flip.


Some units get finished. As for the others, I just keep placing, piecing, and pressing.





Once all the units are completed, I sew them together with a 1/4" seam allowance.


And then, it all comes together!



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