Quilter’s Tote Bag – Tutorial

Ask and you shall receive.  Many of you feel in love with our “Quilter’s Think” tote bag.  Here is the tutorial so you can make one for yourself.

Supplies:

• “Quilter’s Think” panel – we have a few different ones to pick from on our website
• 2 yards of Pink Polka dot fabric
• 2 yards of Blue Polka dot fabric
• 1 yard of Sewing Tools fabric
• Fat Quarter yard of accent trim fabric
• 1/2 yard of Quilter’s Grid
• 36″ x 58″ Soft & Stable – 1 package
• Basting Spray
• Rotary Cutter and Ruler
• Wonder Clips

Steps:

1. Iron panel flat and cut out according to the lines.  You will end up with (12) 3.5″ squares.
2. Cut (12) 3/5″ squares of each of the polka dot fabrics.
3. Iron onto piece of grid in the pattern shown in the picture.  (I ironed both sides of the bag at the same time and will trim it after sewing.)
4. Flip and sew each row, leaving the middle seam unsewn for trimming.  (Check out our video HERE to see how to use the Quilter’s Grid).
5. Cut down the middle, unsewn seam to separate into 2 equal pieces.
6. Measure across the middle of each piece to determine the size of top and bottom borders.
7. Cut (4) 4″ wide strips by the width of the main piece.  If you are going to add the accent strip, you will want to cut (4) 1.5″ strips the width of the main piece as well.
8. Fold accent piece in half and iron.
9. You will now sandwich the accent piece, the 4″ border strip, and the main piece together, with right sides together and raw edges towards the seam.  The Wonder Clips are great for this step – NO PINS NEEDED 🙂
10. Sew and iron with the accent piece facing the desired direction.
11. Repeat for 3 other seams.
12. Measure you main body pieces and cut (2) squares of Soft & Stable to match.  I used Basting Spray to attach the stabilizer to the main body piece.  You can now quilt these pieces or just leave the way they are.  I just ran a straight stitch across the seam of the border pieces.
13. Cut out (2) 4″ x the height of the main body piece & stabilizer.  Spray bast these pieces.
14. Cut out (1) 4″ x the width of the main body piece & stabilizer for the bottom of the bag.  Spray bast this piece.
15. Sew the 2 side pieces to the main body pieces to create the body of the bag.  Then carefully sew the bottom piece, making sure you get the corners attached.
16. Cut out (2) pieces of the Pink Polka Dot fabric to the same size of the main body pieces.
17. Cut out (2) 4″ x the height of the main body piece.
18. Cut out (1) 4″ x the width of the main body piece.
19. Cut out  (1) 10″ x 12″ piece.  Fold, right sides together, to create a 6″ x 10″ rectangle – press flat.  Sew 3 open sides, leaving a small gap for turning.
20. Turn right side out and press.
21. Line up the pocket about 4″ from the top of the bag liner piece and centered, making sure the gap for turning is at the bottom.
22. Sew on the pocket on 3 sides, leaving the top open.  You can also add an additional seam in the middle of the pocket from top to bottom to create a double pocket.
23. Sew all liner pieces together to create the bag lining.
24. Insert liner into main body, matching seams.  Sew a small hem to keep the liner in place.
25. Create a “binding” for the top of the bag by cutting a 2″ strip and ironing it to create a double folded strip.
26. Using the Wonder Clips, attach. the binding to the top of the bag.  Machine stitch this on, covering all raw edges.
27. Once done, you will hand stitch the leather handles on.
28. The last step is to show off your beautiful new bag to your friends 🙂

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.  I’m still new to writing directions, so please let me know if you have any questions or suggestions for future tutorials.

~Happy Sewing!

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Our Beatitudes Panel and a Great Friend

We recently got a chance to visit with one of our amazing customers at a quilt show.  She mentioned that she had bought one of our panels to make a quilt for a friend.  Here is the story:

When I saw it, I immediately thought of my friend Deb.  We’ve know each other since 9th grade – I say that’s since God invented dirt, but Deb claims it’s since the beginning of all time.  We are both blessed with brothers, so we also recognize one another as the sisters we should have had.  Yes, it’s that kind of friendship/kinship/sisterhood.  

A few years ago, Deb went with me to the Dallas Quilt Show, which is when I bought fat quarters that weren’t in my normal favorites range for colors or prints.  Don’t know why I bought them, but I figured there was reason, so I put them aside until the reason presented itself… scrap-logic all quilters understand.  And, lo and behold, the reason presented itself when I saw the Beatitudes panel last summer at the Plano Quilt Show.  

The fat quarters, the Beatitudes, the randomness/precision design… it all came together in a single weekend to make a Blessing cover for Deb.   And the name of the Quilt?  “Friendship is a Blessing”.  

Here’s hoping my story brightens your day, Sarah.

Take a look at this beautiful quilt – and may it inspire you to make something lovely for a friend or loved one this weekend.

Happy Sewing ~Jill

Kaylin the Amazing!

I have an awesome in-law family (as you might know, Karen is my mother-in-law and partner in crime).  I’m married to the oldest of her 4 children, and 3 of them all decided to get married in a 5 month time frame.  Because of that, naturally we all had children together – there are 14 of them ranging from almost 13 down to 3-1/2.  Christmas time with all these kiddos are super fun and crazy.  Because of the number, we all draw names so each kid buys for one of their cousins.

Long story short, this year my oldest picked Kaylin, one of my adorable 4 year old nieces.  She has always been a kid who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to tell you.  So I decided to ask her what she would like me to make her.  She very specifically told me she wanted a pink and purple cape with a heart on with a “K”.

So, I found a great (and easy) tutorial on Pinterest and got to work.  I dug through my stash of Moda fabric and found the perfect pink and purple combo, along with a cute printed fabric.

Her nickname is “Bird” so we decided to use a decorative bird stitch to finish off the edge.

This project also allowed me to play with my new embroidery machine, so it was a double win for me!

~Happy Sewing!

Customer Testimonial – She loves us!

We received the sweetest email the other day from a great customer.  She met us at a quilt show not long ago, watched Karen’s demo, and went right home and put her new knowledge and products to work.

I received the ultra weft! I just want to tell you thanks for the easier way to put my quilt together with spray and pvc pipe! I actually put my california king quilt together that I had been procrastinating about cause I just couldn’t bring myself to deal with all those pins and the hassle of trying to sandwich batting, backing and top on my small table in the mobile home I live in. AND the taping techniques for the quilting worked so much better. So my quilt is done waiting for the binding but that’s not a problem. So thanks, thanks thanks!!! 

I have my t-shirt quilt top put together waiting on the perfect backing for the theme. the color palate is not the best arranged but I wanted them in chronological order of the places I worked at while a traveling Occupational Therapist.  thanks again for simplifying my life with quilting and allowing me to actually finish (or almost finish) 2 of the most important quilts I will probably complete.   ~Linda

We wanted to share her sweet words, along with the beautiful quilts that she has made!

Show us what you’ve made with our products and we will feature you too 🙂

~Happy Sewing!

Quilting is as Easy as… 1, 2, 3!

Are you an admirer of quilts?  Do you long to wrap yourself up in a beautiful, warm creation that we made by you?  Can you sew a straight line?  Than with our 1, 2, 3 method, ANYONE (even you) can be a quilter!

Supplies need:

• (3) 1-yard pieces of coordinating fabric
• Rotary Mat
• Rotary Cutter
• Ruler
• 3 Yard piece of Quilter’s Grid
• Iron & Ironing board
• Sewing Machine
• Thread

Steps:

• Cut each of your 1 yard pieces of fabric into 6″ strips.  Each 1 yard piece will give you (6) 6″ strips
  
• Then cut all the 6″ strips into 6″ x 6″ squares.  You will get (7) 6″x6″ squares per strip for a total of (42) squares per 1 yard piece of fabric.  You will end up with (126) squares when all your 3 yards have been cut.
   
• You will need to cut off 6-8″ of the bottom of your piece of grid.  Lay vertically on end to add to the overall width.  You will then lay out your squares on the Quilter’s Grid using the 1, 2, 3 pattern.  Your quilt will be 9 squares across by 14 squares down.
  
• Continue laying out all the rows and iron into place.
  
• Once all your squares are ironed into place, you will fold over each row and sew a 1/4″ seam (or just use the edge of your foot).  Either is fine as long as you are consistent.
• Sew one direction, iron all seams one direction, and then sew the seams going the other direction until all seams are sewn.  The press to lay all seams flat.
  
• Now you are ready to baste, quilt, and bind in your favorite way.  Finished quilt top measures approximately 48″ x 74″, depending on your seam size.

Check out our YouTube video to see how to use the Quilter’s Grid.  And visit our website for all your quilting (and vintage-inspired home) goods.

~Happy Sewing!

Murphy’s Law for Quilters

Need a giggle to warm you up on this snowy day?  We ran across this online and felt the need to share.

by Judy Grow

• On any given day the number of employees in a quilt shop is inversely proportional to the number of customers needing quick attention.

• Every quilt will take twice as long as you expect and be ½ as beautiful (we are never satisfied)

• There are only 2 kinds of masking tape: that which won’t stay on and that which won’t come off.

• In cutting an intricate multi-piece block, your ruler will slip on the last side of the last patch.

• When there is no time to do something right, there will always be time to do it over.

• The value of any piece of fabric is directly proportional to the speed and ease with which you will ruin it.

• In any mail-order shipment the item you need the most will be back-ordered.

• pattern in a special fabric will never repeat when or where you want it to.

• Accidental destruction of a fabric will only occur to an expensive imported cotton, never to muslin bought at 50% off.

• Fabric dyes will never run until the quilt has been completed

• A block with flawlessly straight sides, precision corners and perfect color placement will always be the wrong size.

• A quilt that has to be completed for a birthday in two months will take two years to finish.  And its corollary:  A quilt that has no due date will take only two months to complete.

• When you finally have your sewing space in the empty bedroom exactly the way you want it your son will move back home.

• You will find the perfect fabric for your quilt only after it has been discontinued by the manufacturer.

• A quilt judge will give you a bad critique only when the area is full of other people.

• That same quilt judge will give praise only when no one else is around.

• The busier you are on any given day the greater the number of quilting inspirations you will want to try.

• Your quilting thread will break at the needle only when the last stitch has been taken in the line.

• If a novice quilter decides to watch you use your rotary cutter, you will always ruin the fabric and cut yourself.

• Your bobbin thread will only run out in the middle of a long line of stitching.

• That perfect striped fabric you want to use in your sashing has been printed off-grain.

• The top must be completed and basted to the backing before you notice the one block that has a mistake in it.

• The quilt-marking pencil that you tested on every fabric before you marked your quilt top won’t disappear after you have completed the quilt.

• You finally get a great idea for your Guild’s challenge one week before the quilts are due.

• No matter how much fabric you have bought, you are not going to have enough for the quilt you want to make.

Did you know there was a real Murphy?  Capt. Edward A. Murphy, an engineer working on Air Force Project MX981 found a transducer wired wrong and commented about the technician who installed it, “If there is any way to do it wrong, he’ll find it.”  The contractor’s project manager kept a list of “laws” and added this one, which he called Murphy’s Law. 

Happy Sewing!

A Snuggly Quilt for my Dad

My dad, like a lot of dads out there, is really hard to shop for.  So this year for Christmas, I wanted to do something for him besides just buying another gift card.

When we got our “Generation Gap” panel in featuring the Pickles comic by Brian Crane, I just knew it would be perfect for my dad.  So, I got out some of my Moda Jelly Roll strips and other coordinating fabrics and got to creating.

The smaller comic strip blocks weren’t completely square so I decided to do a reverse applique technique.  Hope this inspires you to make something for that special dad/grandpa in your life!

~Happy Sewing!

What Cancer CANNOT Do – Quilt Tutorial

Hello Friends!  I have come up with a quick, easy, and fun quilt tutorial for all those wonderful quilters out there!  Even if you aren’t an expert, this is a quilt that anyone who can sew a straight line can make 🙂

Supplies:

• “What Cancer Cannot Do” fabric panel
• Approx. 1/2 yard of Dinky Dots – Pink
• Approx. 1/2 yard of Dinky Dots – Lime Green
• Approx 1 yard of Sew Many Ladies – White
• Approx 1+ yard of fusible Quilter’s Grid
• Approx. 1 yard of backing fabric – I used the Dinky Dots – Lime Green
• Luna Loft 80/20 Blend Batting
• Thread
• Basting Spray
  

Steps:

1. Iron “What Cancer Cannot Do” fabric panel flat and cut out sayings to the same size (approx 3.5″ x 6.5″)
2. Cut (6) 2.5″ wide strips of both the Dinky Dots – Pink and the Dinky Dots – Lime Green fabric.
3. Line up the strips together and cut the same height of the sayings (approx 3.5″).  You will need 2 of 3.5″ pieces for each saying – there are 12.  You will do 12 pieces of the pink and 12 pieces of the green fabric.
4. Sew 1 piece onto each side of the saying.  Press open.
   

5. Measure across the middle of the finished piece.  Cut 12 2.5″ wide pieces of the pink and 12 pieces of the green fabric.
6. Sew 1 piece onto each side of the saying.  Press open.
   
7. Measure your finished blocks and cut 12 blocks of the Sew Many Ladies – White to the same dimensions.
8. Layout quilt blocks per the pattern and iron onto the Quilter’s Grid.  If you would like to see how to use the grid, watch our YouTube video.
   
9. Flip and sew each row to complete the quilt top.
10. Press top nice and flat.
    
11. Bast your quilt top to the Luna Loft 80/20 Blend Batting and backing fabric using Basting Spray.  If you have never used this AH-MAZING product – order yours today!!!!  It will save you SOOO much time, energy, and knees (if you are one to climb around the floor pins your quilt for hours).
12. Quilt and bind as you desire.

And you are done!  This quilt makes a fabulous gift for those in the middle of their treatment and those amazing survivors among us!

~Happy Sewing!

Happy Birthday (a little late)

Just recently, our fearless leader Karen celebrated a wonderful birthday milestone (no need to mention which milestone, lol).  Her daughters got together and surprised her with Retro-Themed Roller Skating Birthday Party!  We had a blast and ACTUALLY managed to surprise her!

Karen, with a few grandkids, singing “Happy Birthday” to her 🙂

Her husband surprised her with some fun, romantic, reminiscence of the pasts gifts to commemorate her birthday!

A few of the kiddos skating

Karen and her girls 🙂