When I designed this years Spooky Season Sampler block, Hallowpop (it's a Halloween Lollipop...get it!?), I originally planned to use traditional piecing methods to make it. After a few attempts and some frustration at my less than perfect points, I finally admitted defeat. I was going to have to use Foundation Paper Piecing (FPP) to get this block to work.
Don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against FPP, but it is one of those skills that I don't use very often and I forget about it. Which is a shame because FPP gives you increased accuracy when working with smaller pieces. I made a few test blocks when writing Hallowpop and I had perfect, pretty points every time!
If you are new to FPP or just need a quick refresher before starting your next project, here is a my quick run down of how to make the Hallowpop block!
1. The very center of my Hallowpop block is a four-patch square. This part isn't FPP'd, so you'll need to traditionally piece it first. Press open!
2. To start the FPP part of the block, you first need to place the four-patch on the WRONG SIDE of the template. I use a pin in the very center of the four-patch to line it up perfectly with the very center of the template. Then I use two additional pins to keep it in place.
3. Following the number order on the template, place the next piece of fabric (in this case, A2) on top of the four patch RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER. You want to make sure that you have at least 1/4" over the template line because that is your seam allowance. Holding the block up to the light can help confirm. When you are sure of the fabric placement, pin in place.
4. Flip the block over, and sew directly ON the solid black template line being sure to start and end a few stitches on either side of the line. Helpful tip: shorten your stitch length to 1.2 - 1.5mm. This makes it easier to rip the papers out at the end!
5. Fold fabric over and press seam!
6. Repeat the process following the number order on the template.
7. After sewing a seam, fold the template back at the line you just sewed. Line up the 1/4" mark on the ruler with the folded edge, and cut any off any excess fabric.
8. Continue following the numbered steps on the template until complete.
9. Trim block making sure to leave the 1/4" seam allowance on the outside edges. In this template (and most templates), the dashed line is the seam allowance.
That's it! Repeat the process with two make two lollipops, then follow the pattern to complete the block!
Last up for this round of Art Gallery Fabric lookbook quilts is my Chevron Stars quilt! This quilt was made for the Charlotte fabric collection lookbook designed by Bari J. Bari J. is originally from Chicago but now lives in Scottsdale, Arizona with her family. Her love of crafting and art was inherited from her mother, and has grown into what we see today! Bari J. designs fabrics, as well as art prints, home decor, accessories, and more.
The Charlotte fabric collection is inspired by the southern city Bari J. currently lives in. You'll see bright, vivid colors in true Bari J. fashion with large-scale floral motifs.
I knew I wanted to use my Chevron Stars pattern for this quilt because the bright colors of the Charlotte fabric collection paired with the large stars in the quilt design would allow each print to really stand out! Since the stars of Chevron Stars are each made of one fabric and not mixed and matched, you get to see more of the prints together and get a better illusion of the Xs in the middle of the stars too.
I paired these beautiful floral and plaid fabrics with a darker background fabric for my quilt. I am typically a fan of white background fabrics in my quilts, but I love how this color plays off of the fabrics so well! The Art Gallery Fabrics Pure Solid color Night Sea does a great job of making the colors in Charlotte POP.
To finish this Chevron Stars quilt off, I went with a lighter color backing and binding fabric. I didn't want the quilt to feel overly dark since the fabric collection is so fun and vibrant! I went with the AGF Floral Elements in the color Ballerina. I love the Floral Element blender fabrics because they give just the right amount of texture without overwhelming you! I used the same Ballerina fabric for the binding to bring some of that lightness over to the front side of the quilt.
I am so happy with how this Charlotte fabric collection Chevron Stars quilt turned out! I loved getting to play around with Bari J.'s fabrics and see her artistry up close. This fabric collection packs a punch! And of course I loved having another reason to make a Chevron Stars quilt. :)
If you'd like a copy of the Chevron Stars quilt pattern, you can grab either a digital download or print copy below! Thank you so much for reading and for your support!
I had another opportunity to make a quilt for Art Gallery Fabrics! This time I made a Deltille Quilt for a fabric collection lookbook. The lookbook that this quilt was made for is the Haven collection designed by Amy Sinibaldi. Amy is a designer from Los Angeles living in Virginia. She's been a creative all her life and began blogging her creative projects and experiences on her own site. She loves "simple designs and lots of neutrals with happy splashes of color."
Haven is a fabric collection that features soft color tones with pops of color throughout. The theme of this collection is flowers and foliage which gives it a sweet, tranquil feeling.
I wanted to make my Deltille Quilt with Amy's Haven fabrics, because my pattern does a great job of letting the fabrics shine! The bigger blocks of this quilt pattern allow prints with larger motifs to be seen without fear of losing the print in the piecing. With the larger Haven prints in the mix, like Brushed Leaves Gris and Lively Isabel, I didn't want to risk them hiding in smaller blocks. I slightly altered the pattern to use 7 fabrics instead of the normal 11 fabrics for this version. I'm very happy with my quilt pattern choice and love how it turned out!!
I typically like to back and bind my quilts with solids when I use prints in my quilt top. I considered using a low volume print from the Haven collection for my backing - something like Berry Drizzle or Wisp Crisp. I just couldn't stop thinking about how much a darker backing fabric would pair with this top. In the end, I used an Art Gallery Fabrics-approved Pure Solid as the backing and binding! This Slate solid looks so good with these fabrics!
I am super pleased with this soft Deltille Quilt. I love that I am able to really see the prints of this Art Gallery Fabrics Haven fabric collection in the quilt. The prints play really well together, but do a great job of standing beautifully on their own. I'm glad I had another opportunity to make a Deltille quilt too! Out of all my quilt patterns, I've made this one the most.
If you'd like a copy of the Deltille pattern, you can grab either a digital download or print copy below! Thank you so much for reading and for your support! :)
I had the pleasure of making a quilt for an Art Gallery Fabrics lookbook using my Hurrication quilt! The lookbook that this quilt was made for is the True Blue collection designed by Maureen Cracknell. Maureen is a designer from Pennsylvania who started out by sharing simple projects on her own blog. She has since worked with several fabric manufacturers designing fabrics. You can also find her sharing projects over on Janome's website too!
The True Blue fabric collection has a range of quilting cottons, rayons, canvas, and flannels in various shades of blues. This fabric collection was designed to 'evoke a balance of cheerfulness with tranquility and calm.' From light and bright to bold and saturated, this fabric collection is a true blue-lover's dream to work with!
I chose to make a Hurrication quilt with this fabric collection because it reminded me so much of the Hurrication cover quilt! (If you'd like to read about it, you can do so here.) Unlike the cover quilt, I went with the scrappy throw size version using 10 half yards. I have previously made a scrappy Hurrication quilt that focused on creating an ombre effect of the fabrics in the design. But with my True Blue quilt, I played around with mixing and matching my fabric combinations to make it look as scrappy as possible!
To finish this quilt off, I used an Art Gallery Fabrics-approved coordinating print from the Deco Stitch Elements line in the color Denim. I love the subtle texture this low volume print adds to the back of my quilt without competing for attention with the front. The binding on this quilt is a print from the same True Blue fabric collection. I loved the vintage feel of the floral print in the Wild Garden Breeze and couldn't resist adding a little bit more of it in my quilt.
I am so happy with how this quilt turned out! Since the pattern is inspired by our hurricane experience while living in coastal Georgia, having an all-blue quilt seems only fitting. I'm so happy I was able to create another one with Maureen's beautiful fabrics.
If you'd like to grab a copy of Hurrication, you can do so by using the buttons below. I truly appreciate your support and hope you enjoy the pattern as much as I do!
Weavers Cottage is my newest quilt pattern out now! This quilt pattern offers two layout options - the Weaver and Cottage layouts. The Weaver layout includes the dotted sashing, whereas the Cottage layout is made without it. While this pattern is rated as an intermediate pattern, the Cottage layout is definitely the more "beginner friendly" of the two options!
This quilt can be made using standard yardage requirements or fat quarters! If you are new to quilting and don't know what a fat quarter is, let me share a little information about them with you!
Fat quarters are pre-cut pieces of fabric that measure approximately 18 x 21 inches, or half of a half yard cut of fabric. They are versatile and perfect for quilting projects as they provide enough fabric to showcase the fabric print and array of colors in the design. Quilt patterns, like Weavers Cottage, are sometimes designed to use fat quarters, allowing you to create amazingly scrappy-looking quilts without the need for such an extensive scrap collection. You can often find fat quarters at most places that carry quilting fabric, so they are super easy to pick up and collect for that perfect future project.
Okay okay, back to my Weavers Cottage quilt!
When I went to QuiltCon in February of this year, I promised myself that I wouldn't go crazy buying things I didn't need from the expo. Except, I walked into the Ruby Star Society booth and fell in love with the Reign fabric collection designed by Rashida Coleman-Hale in person. That was the fastest purchase of fabric I've ever made! I picked up a half yard bundle, because there was something about the sparkly gold metallic accents in the florals snared me!
I will say that I rarely buy fabric without a specific project in mind (see: why I got rid of my fabric stash) making it even more unusual that I impulsively bought this bundle. You know it's good fabric when this happens! But I immediately put it to good use by making my first Weavers Cottage sample in the Weaver layout with it.
The Weavers Cottage pattern normally uses 9 fabrics (plus an accent), but I wanted to use as many fabrics as I could from the fabric collection bundle I picked up. So I doubled the number of fabrics needed to 18 for the main prints. I also made the sashing accent scrappy by using a different black print for each sashing dot. This makes you end up with a little extra leftover fabric from each, but I feel like it's totally worth it!
Here's a little fun fact for you: I actually changed the construction of the quilt halfway through piecing this quilt top. I typically like to write the quilt pattern before sewing a sample. This kind of helps me act as my own pattern tester when I do this. And it turns out, I realized I wanted to make a change to my pattern as I was piecing it! The testing phase is always so much fun... :)
My Reign Weavers Cottage sample was quilted by the ever-so-lovely Katie Hanson of Modern Textiles. She used the pantograph Contempo from Karlee Porter Design. We went with a white thread to match the background color of this quilt.
The backing fabric and binding fabric are the same for this Weavers Cottage sample! I used the Speckled Metallic Berry fabric, because it pairs perfectly with the colors from this collection. Plus, the little metallic bits from it also match the little metallic bits from Reign too!
I really hope you all enjoy this quilt pattern as much as I do. Check out my blog for information about other Weavers Cottage Quilts I made! If you'd like to purchase the pattern, you can do so using the links below!
You guys, I am so excited to get this one out into the world! I've been working on Weavers Cottage behind the scenes since QuiltCon in February. I ended up making the quilt a few times in the testing phase to work out the best construction method. I might have even changed the construction of the pattern halfway through making another version of Weavers Cottage... more on that in a different blog post. :)
Because I can't seem to help myself, this pattern includes two design options - the Weaver and the Cottage layouts! Almost all of my patterns include multiple design variations. I guess I just like having options! Weaver includes the dotted sashing while Cottage does not. Because of the lack of sashing, Cottage is definitely the more beginner friendly layout option of the two.
The Weavers Cottage quilt pattern is perfect for an intermediate level quilter. This pattern is rated as intermediate because the skills needed to make this quilt include a scant 1/4" seam, strip piecing, and being comfortable with an on point setting.
Did I also mention that Weavers Cottage is yardage and fat quarter friendly too? Ahh! I get so excited about making patterns that let me play around with precut fabrics. It's like a more controlled version of a truly scrappy quilt. Plus, it gives me all the more reason to pick up those really cute FQs when they catch my eye in a shop!
For my all-solids Weavers Cottage Quilt, I decided to go with the Weavers layout. The solids in this quilt are from the Michael Miller Cotton Couture line in the colors Peacock, Electric, Wave, Breeze, Jewel, Orchid, Peony, Rose, and Iris. For the dotted sashing accent color, I used the solids fabric Nickel.
So I've been really loving non-white/darker backgrounds lately! The background I used here is Graphite by Michael Miller Cotton Couture - it's a dark gray that isn't quite the harshness of black that works nicely with these colors. But, the white background really brightens the whole look. It was a tough choice! Ultimately, I'm super happy with the way this turned out. Will you all start to see more non-white/darker backgrounds from me in the future??
My solids Weavers Cottage quilt sample was quilted by the ever-so-lovely Katie Hanson of Modern Textiles. She used the pantograph Floral Lattice. We went back and forth on thread color, and ultimately opted for a light gray thread that matched the sashing accent. It ended up being the right call. It stands out a bit, but doesn't overpower the quilt.
On the back of this quilt, I went with this print from the A Woodland Christmas fabric collection from Liberty London. I picked this one because it has a lot of the same colors from the quilt top in it. Plus, getting a head start on holiday and Christmas quilts isn't a bad thing. ;)
I really hope you all enjoy this quilt pattern as much as I do. Check out my blog for information about other Weavers Cottage Quilts I made! If you'd like to purchase the pattern, you can do so using the links below!
Square Burst is a pattern that has become a fan favorite. It's definitely one that I often find myself coming back to again and again. I think this is because there are so many ways the Square Burst quilt can be made. This particular pattern holds a special place in my heart, as it was one of the very first designs I came up with and released back in 2019 (if memory serves me right!). Since its original release, Square Burst has undergone a little makeover, receiving a well-deserved revamp and a vibrant new cover quilt back in 2021. So if you see the "2.0" in the pattern title, that's what that's all about. ;)
In addition to revising the Square Burst pattern, I went the extra mile and whipped up three unique versions of the quilt (check out the cover, cornerstones, and minimalist versions). Among them, my blue minimalist version, which you can see above, gained a lot of attention and quickly became a fan favorite. It has been one of my most popular quilts on Pinterest, and the one I get the most emails about! Lots of people have a quilt crush on this version and I totally get it - I do too!
I was getting the itch to make another minimalist version of this quilt, so when Fableism came out with their Everyday Chambray line, I immediately ordered the Rosa color and a coordinating plaid fabric from the Arcade Wovens line. I was so excited when I got these fabrics in the mail. I might have even done a little happy dance too. I think some of you can probably relate to this "happy mail" feeling!
In case you've never sewn with wovens like this before, I would recommend shortening your stitch length. By using a shortened stitch length, you essentially provide additional reinforcement within the seams of the quilt. This small change ensures that the quilt withstands the demands of regular use and the occasional tug or pull - hello quilt forts!
Okay I'm about to gush about these fabrics real quick. The fabrics I used in the Rosa Square Burst are the epitome of softness. Each time I came back to making this quilt and I'd pick up the fabric pieces again, I couldn't help but be surprised by just how nice the fabric felt. The final quilt that came out of this is just so cuddly and is a true testament to the amazing quality of the Fableism fabrics! If ever you get the opportunity to sew with any of the Fableism fabrics, I totally recommend you do it! Okay okay, that's it... for now. Ha!
The Rosa Square Burst was longarm quilted by the wonderful Katie Hanson, owner of the amazing Modern Textiles. I leaned on her to use her expertise in longarm quilting to pick which panotgraph I should go with. She selected the traditional Baptist Fans design and of course it was perfect!
I love that Katie's choice of the Baptist Fans motif was a deliberate nod to traditional quilting. The curved lines of the pantograph work really well to soften the straight lines and angles in the patchwork of the Square Burst quilt pattern.
I absolutely love how this quilt turned out. This is has definitely become my new favorite quilt. If you'd like to make a Square Burst just like mine, I have quilt kits in stock in my shop just for you! I can't wait to see some quilt twins out there in the quilty world!
Fabric Details:
All fabrics are Fableism
- Color 1: Everyday Chambray in Rosa
- Color 2: Arcade Woven in Soft Rose (also used for binding)
- Color 3: Sprout Woven in Sugar
- Backing: Arcade Woven in Cherry Blossom
Summer Garden was one of the first patterns I released back in 2018. When I started to move forward with the Garden Series idea at the end of last year, I knew I was going to have to revisit this pattern. If it's possible, I'm even more in love with the pattern now!
I took out the sashing and cornerstones for a more modern look, and I slightly modified the sawtooth block in the center to make better use of the fabric requirements. I also added more size options. Summer Garden now includes four sizes from baby to bed, and it is FQ friendly!
When picking the colors for the new cover quilt, I wanted to stay true to the original pattern and use oranges and yellows. I added in a bunch of teals to the mix and the result is the perfect summery palette! The cover version is the Throw Size version and I went with the ten half yards option.
Fabrics I used in the cover are Michael Miller Cotton Couture solids in the colors Celestial, Nite, Mosaic, Lagoon, Isle, Luna, Sun, Melon, Geranium, and Peach for the Flowers. The Center accent color is Iris, and the background color is Soft White to make everything POP!
From there it's just a matter of mixing and matching the fabrics! I have such a fun time with this part. With the colors I used, there isn't really any "bad" combo, but I love tweaking it until it's ~just~ right.
My favorite way of doing this is just laying them all out on the floor. Of course, if you have a design wall, you can totally use that too. It'll save your back and knees if you are indecisive and end up mixing and matching for a long time. Ask me how I know... Ha!
I'm so happy with how my new Summer Garden cover turned out. It's even more perfect than I envisioned when I was planning everything! And I love that it fits in so nicely with Spring Garden now too.
|
And for such a fun and summery quilt top like this, of course it had to be quilted up with a super cute design. The pantograph I chose is called Perfect Posy. Isn't it perfect!? Kristy Armstrong of @ohsewkristy got this quilted up for me! A big round of applause is needed for this beauty! 👏
Backed in Ruby Star Society print Strawberry Seeds in Dark Teal. And I loved it so much that I used it for the binding fabric too! It is the perfect pairing to go with the darkest blue I used in the top. Plus, it's not too busy of a print and doesn't compete with all of the fun happening on the front!
With the re-release of the Summer Garden Quilt, the Garden Series is halfway complete. If all goes well, I'm planning to release Winter Garden late 2023 and Autumn Garden in early 2024. But we will see! What do you think they will look like? I'd love to see your guesses in the comments!
If you'd like to purchase a copy of Summer Garden, you can use the buttons below. Thank you all so much for the constant support! I wouldn't be here without all of you and that deserves the biggest of thank you's! I can't wait to see what you all make using my quilt pattern!
Keep scrolling to see more pretty Summer Garden Quilt pictures!
I'm so excited to finally have my second Garden Series pattern - Spring Garden - out in the world now! This pattern features flower blocks throughout with butterflies on each flower petal. Pair the pattern with your favorite springtime color palette and you've got yourself the perfect seasonal quilt!
This Art Gallery Fabrics (AGF) version of Spring Garden was the very first sample I made using the pattern! You'd think that most designers make their cover first, right? I couldn't wait to play around with these fabrics though!
Spring Garden comes in 4 different sizes ranging from Baby to Bed size and is Fat Quarter (FQ) and Half Yard (HY) friendly! This AGF Spring Garden Quilt is the Lap size version made with fat quarters since that's what fit my fabric bundle.
I enjoyed the mix and match process with this one a lot. I got to play around with the placement of the fabrics to make sure the there was enough contrast between the butterflies and the flowers.
The fabrics I used were the Eclectic Intuition collection by Katarina Roccella for Art Gallery Fabrics. Paired with it is Michael Miller Cotton Couture in Ochre for the flower centers. I just love this collection so much. The purples and blues are right up my alley and felt like a perfect match for Running Stitch Quilts!
I decided to go with my tried and true quilting - 1" straight lines stitched by me! I love the look of the clean lines and I can usually whip this kind of quilting out pretty quickly. Just attach your quilting guide and you're good to go!
I love how this Spring Garden turned out! It was so fun playing around with the fat quarters and colors in this quilt and I hope you have fun with it too! IF you haven't gotten your copy of the Spring Garden quilt pattern, you can grab the PDF version here and the paper version here! Make sure to share your quilt with me on Instagram and use the hashtag #SpringGardenQuilt so I can see it! I can't wait to see what you make!
If you want to read about the Spring Garden Cover quilt seen in the pictures below, you can head over to that blog for more information!
|
Want a cute Spring Garden sticker? You can get yourself one here! |
 |
Spring Garden is the second pattern in my Garden Series. If you want to check out the first - Summer Garden - you can read about it here! Summer Garden is actually getting a re-vamp this month and the new version will be available in April after little TLC. The Garden Series will feature Autumn Garden and Winter Garden as well, which are both currently in the works. Make sure to check back soon for more updates about the Garden Series!
When I sat down to design this pattern, I really wanted it to feel springy. What better way to do this than to include butterflies? Each corner of the flower blocks throughout this quilt have cute, little butterflies made up of simple triangle shapes. I feel like this addition to the quilt blocks give the flowers so much personality!
Spring Garden is Fat Quarter (FQ) and Half Yard (HY) friendly and comes in 4 sizes ranging from Baby to Bed. For my cover quilt, I decided to go the HY route and made the Throw size version. The fabrics that I used in the quilt are Michael Miller Cotton Couture in the colors Spa, Celestial, Iris, Saturn, Seafoam, Mermaid, Caribbean, Marine, Pink, Lagoon for the flowers, Orchid for the Centers, and Soft White for the background.
For my backing fabric, I wanted to tie in a color from the quilt top but I didn't want a fabric that would compete with it. I decided on using Michael Miller Cotton Couture in the color Saturn.
The binding on this quilt is actually two different fabrics! I'm not usually one to bind my quilts with scrappy binding so this was definitely not planned. I originally intended to bind using Orchid to match the center fabric, but ended up needing to sub in Iris because I ran out of Orchid. There was a slight moment of panic, but I think it turned out okay! What do you think?
Last but not least - the quilting! I had the pleasure of working with Katie Hanson of Modern Textiles. You can find Katie on Instagram at @moderntextiles. Of course we had to go with a fun, springy panto on this one! She used the pantograph Floral Fun by Dastardly Line Quilting (@longarm.quilting.glasgow).
I had so much fun making this Spring Garden quilt! If you would like to make your own version, you can pick up the pattern in my shop now using the buttons below. Make sure to share your quilt with me on Instagram and use the hashtag #SpringGardenQuilt so I can see it!
|
Want a cute Spring Garden sticker? You can get yourself one here! |
|
Keep scrolling to see some more pretty Spring Garden Cover pictures!
If you want to read about the Art Gallery Fabrics version of Spring Garden seen below, you can head over to that blog for more information!
Leaders and enders are one of those things in quilting that everyone seems to do, but no one seems to talk about. A leader/ender is that little piece of scrap fabric that you use to start and end a line of chain piecing.
I usually have a few of these laying next to my machine. I like to have several on hand because sometimes I forget to clip the leader and it gets lost in a sea of chain piecing, or they fall on the floor behind my machine and bending over to pick it up isn’t worth the effort. Either way, I never start piecing without them!
Pros of leaders and enders:
Instead of using a piece of scrap fabric, I also like to use it as an opportunity to piece a second quilt or project. I made these three projects (a pillow, a pouch, and a journal cover) by using the leader/ender method to sew the leftover triangles together from each of the Hurrication quilts I’ve made. You can read more about those projects here!
With the projects above, I had two stacks next to my machine (one for background triangles and one for the prints) ready to go. That seemed to be the easiest way to stay organized and also to remember to use these versus my scrap leader.
This is also the method I used to make my Scrappy Valley quilt (if you haven't gotten your free copy yet, you can do so here!). I had a stack of yellow squares and a stack of pink strips and I sewed them together as leaders and enders until I ran out of yellow squares. Then I pressed the entire batch, cut a new set of strips to the right size, and repeated the process until I had a set of complete blocks.
The key to using leaders and enders to make a second quilt is to have a plan and to stay organized. You might need to set your current project aside for a day to cut more fabric or plan your blocks out. But once all the blocks you need are done, it’s fun to take a day and put that quilt top together!
I recently cut a mountain of fabric scraps into usable sizes (if you haven't read it yet, take a look here) and I was itching to use them! I also wanted a quick project to jump start my sewing mojo after taking most of December off of quilting. Quilted coasters seemed like the perfect project!
1. Place your fabric square right side up on top of your batting. I aim for the middle - it's okay to eyeball it here.
2. Place your first fabric strip RST on the square and sew directly onto the batting.
3. Fold the strip back and press. I like using a seam roller here for quick pressing like this.
4. Place the next strip down RST and repeat. I like to snip off any excess fabric during these steps.
5. Keep adding fabric strips until the batting is completely covered.
6. Place your backing fabric RST on the top side of the coaster.
7. Sew a ¼” seam around the perimeter making sure to leave about a 2” hole.
8. Turn the coaster right sides out. You can use a stiletto or chopstick to push the corners out so they are pointy.
9. Top stitch an ⅛” from the edge making sure to fold the seam fabric in the hole under and sew into place.
10. Give it a good press and enjoy!
I hope you give these a try! It is a quick and fun way to use up your fabric scraps AND leftover batting! Win win! If you do try these out, share them on Instagram and tag @runningstitchquilts so I can see.
If you want to see some more glamour shots of these scrappy coasters, keep scrolling. :)
