Quiltmas is over, but the fun continues! I whipped up these quick placemats to show off my two Quiltmas blocks.
Placemats are a great option if you don't want to make a full quilt and want to make a quick project instead. Didn't participate in Quiltmas? No worries, your favorite 12.5"x12.5" (unfinished) block will work instead!
Couple housekeeping things: I like bigger placemats so these finish at 16" x 20". The listed supplies make ONE placemat. I easily used my leftover scraps, but a couple coordinating FQs plus background fabric will work too!
For Placemat A, use the following diagram:
For Placemat B, use the following diagram:
These are super quick to make. I made both versions from start to finish in an afternoon. Have fun!
My latest Michael Miller project has had me working with these sweet, sweet baby prints from their To the Moon and Back collection. I love the soft grays and yellows. When I was pregnant with my oldest daughter, gray and other neutral colors featured heavily in her nursery. I would have LOVED this collection to make her a baby quilt back then.
I wanted to feature the prints in a quilt so I chose my Chevron Points pattern that was published in Make Modern magazine. In the original pattern, each side of the chevrons were a different fabric. In this version, I made each chevron out of one print. I love the simplicity of this version. Writing this pattern in multiple sizes in on my to-do list for next year, and I definitely plan on including this design variation.
I went with a zig zag stitch spaced a little more than an inch apart for quilting. I thought the zig zag would be an appropriate complement to the chevrons. It is quick, easy, and perfect for a baby quilt.
The backing is my favorite print in the collection. These sweet yellow and gray rainbows are just perfect. I used a darker gray polka dot print to bind.
Check out the full collection HERE and the issue of Make Modern that includes the Chevron Points pattern HERE (affiliate link).
For the past week or so, I've been working on this Rivermill quilt with fabric from the Michael Miller line Life is Better on the Farm. The florals and the gingham stole my heart, but the reds, grays, and blacks that make up this collection are pretty perfect too. I paired my prints with the Cotton Couture solids: Brick, Black, and Ginger to round out the number of fabrics I needed for the quilt top.
I knew I wanted to do a mix and match style quilt with these fabrics because they work so well together, and my rivermill pattern is great for mixing and matching fabrics. Wins all around here!
Using the Four at a Time HST method and chain piecing all of my blocks means this quilt comes together pretty quickly! I had it assembled, quilted, and binding completed in less than a week.
For the quilting, I kept it simple using a zig zag stitch spaced about 1.5" apart. I played with the settings on my machine to make the stitch wider and longer. It was a fun way to change things up from my usual straight lines or serpentine stitch. I'll definitely use this again!
For the backing, I used on of the prints from the collection. My favorite detail here is the florals aren't solid. If you look closely, there is a faint gingham print inside the flowers. Seriously, how perfect is that?!
This collection didn't include a striped print so I went with the gray for binding. I know I love my striped bindings, but this one looks pretty good too if I do say so myself!
It's no secret that my favorite thing about partnering with fabric companies like Riley Blake Designs is getting to play with all the beautiful fabrics first. I was thrilled when they sent me the Whimsical Romance by Keera Job to work with. I love the navy blue, mustard yellow, and burgundy red color combination with the pretty floral prints.
I chose to make one of my oldest patterns, Eternally Yours. The thing I like about this pattern is that each print is able to stand alone in the block. It is perfect for showing off a fabric collection. Plus, I haven't made it since I wrote the pattern and it was really fun to revisit! I had forgotten how quick this pattern is to make, but I had the baby size top done in three days (including taking time out to take progress photos along the way!).
I used Riley Blake Confetti Cottons in Denim for the cornerstones, binding, and unifying fabric in each block, and I used Confetti Cottons in Natural for the background. I usually opt for a brighter white, but I like how the softness of this white complements the saturation of the prints. It worked well I think.
For the quilting, I kept it simple with vertical lines spaced about 1.5" apart. It gives the perfect amount of drape and softness. Just perfect!
Enjoy the rest of the photos!
When I heard I'd be getting fabric from the Michael Miller line, Blue Muse, I got really excited because they are so beautiful! They sent 5 of the prints, but I was tempted to order the rest of the collection so I could make a throw size Desert Charm with them. I ended up using four prints for the blocks and saved one for the backing.
If you've been around for more than a few minutes, you know how much I love a striped binding. So I obviously made sure I had enough to use bind the quilt with that stripe.
I used this large scale cat print for the backing. I just couldn't cut those cats up and the backing is the perfect way to show them off.
I haven't made a Desert Charm quilt in a while and it was really fun to revisit this pattern. It is one of my favorites for skill building because it has a lot of different pieces within the block.
Enough from me, enjoy some pictures!
It's Christmas in July here!
Michael Miller Fabrics sent over a box of their new fabric line, Vintage Holiday, and it is so cute! What's not to love: snowmen, gingerbread, and candy canes! Not to mention the added touch of gold metallic accents.
This is the second time I've gotten a panel print and I wanted to feature it on the quilt top this time. (Last time I used the panels as part of the backing). I made a few mock ups with flying geese and friendship stars, but then I remembered I designed the Holiday Lights blocks as part of Quiltmas last year. And what do you know, they were the perfect size.
A row of Holiday Lights above and below the snowman panel and a few borders later, I had a quilt top!
One perk of using a panel print...the quilt top comes together in a snap!
I quilted with my go-to serpentine stitch about an inch apart. I debated on using white or black thread, but ultimately chose white. There is quilt a bit of contrast against the black fabric, but I didn't want to take away from the snowman with a dark thread. It works in the end though!
If striped binding is an option, I will use it 100% of the time! Striped bindings are my favorite. ;)
The Holiday Lights quilt block is now available for purchase. You can find it here.
So, full disclosure. I have never been particularly drawn to batiks. They are great, just not my style. Then I got a box of batiks from Michael Miller as part of their brand ambassador program.
My first impression was "wow these are beautiful!", but I was still a little unsure of what to make with them. Something mix and match? Something smaller like a quilted tote? In the end, I decided on one of my older patterns: Summer Garden.
I haven't made a Summer Garden quilt in a while, and in my opinion, it really lets these batiks shine! I liked that each print could be the focal point as its own flower. I paired each batik with Cotton Couture from my FQ bundle of new colors (and, seriously, how nicely did THAT work out!).
I made the throw size which is a really generous throw. I did my go-to serpentine stitch spaced about 2" apart to quilt it. This quilt is going to squishy and soft, perfect for the couch, after its been washed. My 4 year old daughter can't wait. She says the fabrics are "very hungry caterpillar" fabrics which she loves!
The Deltille Quilt is here!
After I sent the cover quilt to Jill for long arm quilting, I started my next Deltille almost immediately. Michael Miller Fabrics is coming out with 27 (!) new Cotton Couture colors in August, and they sent me a FQ bundle to play with in May.
I chose nine of the new colors to make a baby sized ombre Deltille. When I was making this one, I was calling it the "mermaid baby Deltille" because of the teals and purples. The colors are so rich in person. Photos really don't do them justice.
Since this was my third quilt, I had gotten pretty quick at making them so this one came together in a snap.
I used a print from the La Vida Loca line for the backing. It wasn't an obvious choice, but I really like how the blues and purples pop when combined with the front.
One of my favorite things I did for this quilt was use the same white for the binding as I did for the sashing. I love the way it takes the design all the way to the edge and frames everything.
The Deltille Quilt is here!
After I made my first sample (the patriotic one), I started playing with my color chips to figure out what to do for my cover quilt. I knew I wanted to make the ombre version for the cover, but didn't have a specific color vision in mind.
And, honestly, I was all over the place with colors for this one. I first tried a blue/teal/purple gradient that was very reminiscent of a mermaid tail. Then I tried a blue/pink/purple gradient that I loved, but ultimately tossed because I thought it might be too similar to my Mountain Valley cover quilt. So then, I switched out the blues for oranges and ultimately landed on these 13 colors that are currently on the cover. I don't usually gravitate towards orange, but I love how it worked in this quilt.
The cover quilt is made with Michael Miller Cotton Couture in Iris, Mauve, Venus, Eggplant, Aubergine, Dusty Rose, Antique, Cameo, Creamsicle, Geranium, Peach, Coral, Clementine, and Soft White. (Kits are available in my shop here).
I, once again, called up Jill at J. Coterie Quilting for long arming. She has become my go-to for cover quilts. I love her eye for pantograph selection and she tends to quilt a bit more densely which I LOVE for my cover samples. She used a panto called Along the Way by Anne Bright. I just adore the texture and the overall feel of this one.
Since I tend keep my cover samples packed away and not use them, I typically use a solid from the front for the backing. It helps to keep costs down, and also shows off the quilting nicely in photos. One of my quilting besties gave me a hard time for never picking a fun back, so this time I splurged on the MOST PERFECT print for the back. It is from the Dear Isla collection by Hope Johnson for Cotton and Steel, and it ties together all the colors on the front so perfectly. I smile every time I look at it.
I take my own photos, and I had a lot of fun taking these pictures. Enjoy!
The Deltille Quilt is here!
I feel like I have been talking about and sharing this quilt for ages. In fact, I first shared this particular quilt in April! I had gotten this box of beautiful fabrics from Michael Miller Fabrics (as part of their brand ambassador program) and I knew I wanted to make something special with them.
It had been on my mind to design a pattern that showed off larger scale prints. I tried a couple designs using larger squares and rectangles in various combinations, but none of them really jumped out at me. Then I started playing with triangles, and eventually landed on the Deltille design.
I sent my mock ups to my Director of Creative Names (ie: my best friend) who went down the Google rabbit hole until she found this website that described the word "Deltille" as another word for "triangular tiling". And if that wasn't more perfect I don't know what is!
Once I figured out the design, I immediately cut into my fabrics to see if it would work. I had to tweak the sizing a bit and make some adjustments on the fly, but I LOVE how it turned out.
Since I had a good mix of fabrics, I went with a scrappy layout and mixed and matched my blocks until I had a good balance. I saved the chunky red and white stripe print for the binding. I can't resist using stripes for binding when I have that as an option.
The hidden surprise in this quilt is the back though! This fabric collection has a really fun panel that has 4 half yard designs. I cut out each panel and sewed them into the quilt backing.
My only regret is that this quilt isn't bigger! It would make a perfect summer picnic quilt.
When I got the opportunity to sew something with these gorgeous Riley Blake Designs basics, I knew I had to make a Mountain Valley wall hanging. I modified the pattern slightly to get a flag effect, and I love the end result so much!
The Riley Blake Designs basic, Textured, is one of my favorites. It has subtle depth without being over the top about it. I'm using Navy, Barn Red, Denim, and Cream.
I knew I was going to want to hang this when I was done, so I went to my old mini quilt hanging method standby: corner tabs.
Using corner tabs is my favorite way to easily hang a mini quilt on the wall that will not be seen from the front. The tabs get sewn into the binding making it a permanent solution. Then all you need to do is pop in a small dowel rod and hang the rod on a couple of command strips. See, so easy!
Couple housekeeping things: this method is best for smaller quilts (think less than 24 inches or so). For a quilt wider than 24 inches, I would probably make a hanging sleeve. The quilt also needs to be unfinished. If the binding is already attached, an alternative method (like a hanging sleeve) is more appropriate.
- Quilted Wall Hanging - quilted, but no binding yet!
- (2) 5" squares of coordinating or matching fabric
- Binding
- Dowel Rod (I used a 1/4" dowel rod that I got from Home Depot. I've also seen them at Hobby Lobby)
- Command Hooks
1. Fold 5" square diagonally into a triangle and press.
2. On the back of the quilt, place one triangle in each corner on the top edge. Pin in place.
3. Bind quilt as usual. I attach my binding to the front, fold it over to the back, clip in place, and stitch the ditch from the front to sew it down.
4. The triangles are now corner pockets that will hold a dowel rod.
5. Attach command hooks to the wall.
6. You might need to cut your dowel rod down to size. I did! Hang the dowel rod on the command hooks and admire your new wall hanging!
