2012

Valentine’s Day Showcase – Sharon from Craizee Corners

Welcome to the Valentine’s Day Showcase! For the next 10 days (week days) I will be bringing you 10 fabulous tutorials from some very talented bloggers! Today I have Sharon from Craizee Corners kicking us off.

For fun I asked each of the bloggers 3 questions so you could get to know them a little bit better, here are Sharon’s answers:

1. What got you hooked on your craft of choice? Hmmm… This is a hard one. I saw a wall hanging that my sister did and that made me want to try quilting. I was at a point in my life that I was looking for a hobby so it all fit together. Like I was destined to be a quilter. I learned to sew with my Mom when I was younger, this just took it one step further. I want to be able to leave my family quilts to have as heirlooms for generations.

2. What lights your crafting fire (ie. what keeps you crafting, why do you do it?)? I would have to say that I need creativity in my life, it’s who I am. I am so happy when I can be creative. It’s that drive to show who I am thru what I make that keeps me going. Being able to take an idea and turn it into a quilt is very rewarding to me.

3. What is your favorite Valentine’s themed junk food? I’m not sure if this is junk food, but I love strawberries and champagne.

Now I’ll let Sharon take it away!

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Hi everyone! I’m so happy to be here at Sew BitterSweet Designs to kick off The Valentines Day Showcase! My name is Sharon and I blog over at Craizee Corners. As a matter of fact I just finished a Valentines themed week on my blog. If you missed any of the V-Week series here’s the projects and links:

Valentine Basket, Valentine Goody Bag, Snake Charmer Quilt, Love Braids Tablerunner and Love Braids Mug rug.
Today I am going to share with you the Love Braids table runner pattern.

The fabric I used is Always and Forever by Deb Strain. A jelly roll works great for this project.
You will need:
1 – 8.5″ square white print for the center block
8 – 2.5″ squares red print
4 – 8.5″ x 2.5″ strips of each of 4 different prints (light pink, dark pink, white and red)
2 – 2.5″ x 28″ strips red for the border
1 – 40″ x 20″ red for backing
1 – 40″ x 20″ piece of batting
3 – 2.25″ x WOF strips for binding
1 – heart applique
Steam-a-seam
1. Along the short side sew a red 2.5″ square to a dark pink 8.5″ x 2.5″ strip. repeat with another dark pink strip. Do the same with 2 of each of the other colors (light pink, white and red). Press the dark pink pieces towards the dark pink and the rest towards the 2.5″ red square.

2. Sew a dark pink 8.5″ x 2.5″ strip to one side of the 8.5″ center square.


Note – All seams are pressed away from the 8  1/2″ square from now on. I finger pressed everything until the end.
3. Sew a dark pink and red piece that you made in step 1 to an adjoining side of the square.

4. Sew the white 8.5″ x 2.5″ strip to the same side as the dark pink 8.5″ x 2.5″ strip, starting at the red square point.

5. Add the white and red strip to the dark pink and red piece starting at the top point of the white strip you just added.

6. Repeat for the other 2 colors.

7. Repeat on the other side.

8. Press the entire table runner top now.
9. Now its time to trim the table runner.  Line up the ruler 1/4″ away from where the 2 pieces meet, which should be where the inside point is (where the seam ripper is pointing. cut along that line. Do this on both sides.

10. Sew on the 2.5″ x 28″ red strips to the long side of the table runner. star sewing with the strip at least 1″ away from the edge. do this on both sides.
11. Trim the borders even with the diagonal red strips.

12. Make a quilt sandwich and baste using your preferred method.
13. Following the directions affix the steam-a-seam (or other interfacing) to a 6″ square of red. Cut out a heart shape from the red fabric with interfacing. I used my Accuquilt die, but a hand drawn heart is good too.
14. Affix the heart to the center of the table runner, following the directions.
15. This can be machine or hand appliqued. I machine appliqued it using a blanket stitch.
16. With a blue fabric pen (disappearing ink) draw the arrow parts. I used a triple running stitch on my machine for the arrow.
17. Quilt the rest of the table runner as you would like.
18. Bind and enjoy!
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. If you like this tutorial why not hop on over to Craizee Corners and let me know you saw me here?
Also if you would like a heart cutout with my accuquilt die, just let me know and I will send you one out.
Thanks Melissa for inviting me to be part of your Valentines Showcase! I can’t wait to see the rest of the Showcase projects!
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Wow Sharon – what a gorgeous table runner and I love the technique you used! Thank you so much for sharing. Tomorrow we will have Connie from Quilting by the River

Have you started working your on Valentine’s Projects? Make sure you grab a button from my sidebar and get creating so you can enter to win some fabulous prizes on the 15th!

NOTE: Don’t forget, I am one of the bloggers who is going to lose Google Friend Connect in March 2012, please take a moment and follow me via Bloglovin’, Facebook, RSS or networked blogs.  You are important to me and I want to be able to stay in contact with you!  Check my side bar for all the best ways to stay in touch after GFC goes bye bye!

Sew.Happy.Quilt Block 6 – Fireflies Tutorial

This was originally posted over on Jenna’s blog SewHappyGeek as part of the Sew.Happy.Quilt QAL. I had so much fun making this block and I am loving this quilt! Let me know if you have any questions!

So here we go!

Let’s start with the cutting instructions:

Usually when I make HSTs I cut my squares larger, but for this block, I find my results are more accurate if I cut to these measurements and starch like crazy.

All seams: 1/4 inch

Start by Assembling your 6 blue & white HSTs – I like to chain piece. Sew section after section without cutting your threads until you are done.Then cut them all apart – for newer quilters – this will save you lots of time.

Next – take 2 of your HSTs and assemble your large triangle sections (make 2):

Next – take your large red triangles and assemble two 6.5″ blocks:

(Hint) – place the pieces right sides together – line up the points and sew – then trim down to 6.5″

Next assemble two 4-patch blocks:

Layout your block and sew together – voila – you’re done!

If you have any questions – don’t hesitate to ask! melissa (at) sewbittersweetdesigns (dot) com.

NOTE: Don’t forget, I am one of the bloggers who is going to lose Google Friend Connect in March 2012, please take a moment and follow me via Bloglovin’, Facebook, RSS or networked blogs.  You are important to me and I want to be able to stay in contact with you!  Check my side bar for all the best ways to stay in touch after GFC goes bye bye!

Finishes – where do they end up?

Valentine Pinwheel Table Runner

What do you do with all your finishes? I find that I make a lot of projects for the blog for sponsors and some for myself that truly have no purpose or intended recipient. For example I made last week’s Valentine’s Pinwheel Table Runner with nobody in mind, I just started sewing blocks and suddenly a table runner was born.  What do you do with all your projects – you can’t keep everything, can you? I mean she who dies with the most quilts still ends up cold in the end (sorry, that was a bit morbid…).

So what do I do with my finishes? I have about 6 quilts in my house right now – these were actually made with my immediate family members in mind. Everything else I giveaway. I have so many wonderful people in my life and I love sharing with them, but what I love doing even more is donating to charity. My Valentine’s Pinwheel Table Runner is going to be going up for auction to benefit a mission started by my friend Sarah – THE Mission (Tanzania Health & Education Mission).  Last year I donated one of my framed photographs:

(I call this picture “Cradling the Sun”, I took it while my hubs and I were on our honeymoon in Carmel, CA. It can be seen on the 17 mile drive if you are so inclined to go find this beautiful tree! Sunset is the time to go if you ask me.)

We can’t keep everything, try though we may and because we can’t I think it is important to find good causes that you believe in to support.  The table runner above is being donated for auction, the money raised will go towards health supplies for the Tanzanian people and will help raise awareness about the mission. If you are at all interested in finding out more information about THE Mission, please email me (melissa (at) sewbittersweetdesigns (dot) com) or go to their website. I can put you in direct contact with THE Mission founders. Also, if you have anything you would like to donate for their annual auction, please let me know, any donation would be truly appreciated.

And don’t forget to start making your Valentine’s Day projects – I have now seen 3 of the ones from our esteemed guest bloggers and my oh my are they AMAZING! Get Working!

NOTE: Don’t forget, I am one of the bloggers who is going to lose Google Friend Connect in March 2012, please take a moment and follow me via Bloglovin’, Facebook, RSS or networked blogs.  You are important to me and I want to be able to stay in contact with you!  Check my side bar for all the best ways to stay in touch after GFC goes bye bye!

And the winner is…

Everyone loves a good giveaway – gives you the chance to sit around and dream about what you would make/do if you are the big winner. What makes me sad about giveaways is that there is usually only one winner. What makes me happy about hosting giveaways is bringing a little bit of joy to the winner’s day.

FatQuarterShop

Today’s winner is courtesy of Fat Quarter Shop – Kimberly and her team are so supportive and generous.  Please take a few moments to head over to their site and look around if you have never done so before – you will be blown away by their selection!

Author: Mary
Website: http://mary.emmens.co.uk/
I can’t wait to get my hands on Curious Nature, so excited to see some masculine prints that are not ‘novelty’! Roll on February, thanks for the giveaway 

Thank you for entering Mary and Congratulations on your big win!

I would like to remind everyone about the upcoming Valentine’s Day Showcase – which will start on Wednesday, February 1st with a project from Sharon who blogs at Craizee Corners.

There will be some fabulous prizes, including a $75 gift certificate from my premier sponsor – Fat Quarter Shop. You don’t want to miss out on the chance to win, so grab a button from my sidebar and start creating, the linky party will open for entries on February 15th!

NOTE: Don’t forget, I am one of the bloggers who is going to lose Google Friend Connect in March 2012, please take a moment and follow me via Bloglovin’, Facebook, RSS or networked blogs.  You are important to me and I want to be able to stay in contact with you!  Check my side bar for all the best ways to stay in touch after GFC goes bye bye!

 

Quilt Binding Tutorial

In December I posted a quickie basting tutorial and I asked if anyone would like me to do a binding tutorial, several people asked and it is time for me to deliver!

This is a picture heavy tutorial – my apologies!

Valentine Pinwheel Table Runner

The steps that I am going to detail in this tutorial will work for virtually any machine quilt binding that you will do.

For the Valentine Pinwheel Table Runner you will need three strips measuring 2.5” x WOF (width of fabric) – I am using solid fabric for my border. If you are using a patterned fabric make sure you sew your strips right sides together.

Placing fabric corner to corner, right sides together, take a ruler and draw a line with an air or water soluble pen/pencil from corner to corner.

Pin in place and sew along the line you drew.

Place your ruler with the ¼” mark on stitched line – trim triangle off

Press your fabrics open and repeat until all your strips are sewn together

Fold your strip in half and press along the entire strip.

Note Before: when you are going to do the entire binding on the machine – sew your binding to the back first. If you plan on hand sewing your binding down – sew your binding to the front first!

Place the raw side of the strips to the quilt edge. I like to start in the center of the quilt and have an excess of 8-12 inches of strip when you start sewing.

Sew the strip to the quilt with a ¼” seam. Stop sewing when you are ¼” from the corner.  (I like to measure with a tape measure and place a pin so I know where to stop).

When you reach the corner, you will want to fold the fabric back (refer to picture)

The fold your fabric back down  – align it with the next edge you will be sewing on (you are creating your mitered corners)

Repeat the last two steps at each corner. Stop sewing when you are 8” from where you started.

Fold the strips in towards each other – meeting in the middle, fold the strips back on top of themselves.

Fold the strips down, making a point

Using a quilting ruler – place it on the edge of the quilt and cut off the excess fabric from the binding strips.

Place the strips right sides together, draw a line corner to corner, sew on the line and trim ¼” from stitching and press open

Finish sewing down your binding

Fold your binding over to the front, at this point you can pin or not pin (I start out pinning usually and then end up just folding the fabric over with my fingers).  Pick a decorative stitch or straight stitch. NOTE:  Make sure when you fold your fabric over that you are covering the stitching from when you attached the binding to the back!

I like to pin my corners down until I am ready to sew them (literally right until the needle is about to hit the pin). I also leave my needle down, lift my foot and turn at the corner rather than starting and stopping at each corner.

Congratulations you have just machine sewn your binding!

NOTE: Don’t forget, I am one of the bloggers who is going to lose Google Friend Connect in March 2012, please take a moment and follow me via Bloglovin’, Facebook, RSS or networked blogs.  You are important to me and I want to be able to stay in contact with you!  Check my side bar for all the best ways to stay in touch after GFC goes bye bye!