Sew BitterSweet Designs Patterns – Page 9

Triple Star Mini Quilt

9 Comments / A Lovely Year of Finishes, Mini Quilt, Sew BitterSweet Designs Patterns / By Melissa Dunworth

I thought it might be fun to give you a sneak peek at my next pattern, which is based on the quilt I designed for my husband and blogged about at the end of September. I have always loved this star design that I started working on 3 years ago and it is finally going to be a mini quilt pattern!

I thought Triple Star was an appropriate name for this quilt. What do you think?

Next I have to find a backing for this baby and quilt her up. I’m torn between machine and hand quilting. Which would you want if I was sending this quilt to you? Oh and I also have to write the pattern!

This is also my October goal for A Lovely Year of Finishes, you have until tomorrow night to link up your goal for the month!

Flowering and Bursting Lone Star Pattern Launches!

13 Comments / Sew BitterSweet Designs Patterns / By Melissa Dunworth

I am very excited to announce the launch of two new patterns to my Craftsy Shop! The two patterns available are the Flowering Lone Star and the Bursting Lone Stars. I am offering these patterns as individual patterns or a combination download.

The Flowering Lone Star

This was the original pattern I started with, the Flowering Lone Star. I made one for my cousin and quickly realized I needed to make one for me. I used some of my leftover diamonds (having cut way more than necessary) for the back, which is now it’s own pattern, Bursting Lone Stars.

Bursting Lone Stars

I put a call out for testers back in June and some truly talented people took the call and tested for me! You can see there amazing quilts and quilt tops below. Please be sure to visit their blogs too because they will have pattern reviews and giveaways this week!!!

Beth, from My Husband’s Headache, tested the Bursting Lone Stars pattern, I just love use of solids and prints in the stars!

Amy, from @amybob3kids on Instagram, also tested the Bursting Lone Star pattern, I love the colors that she chose!

Diane from Bella 9 Quilting Studio tested the Flowering Lone Star pattern, she enjoyed it so much she did two! I love how changing the fabrics completely updated the entire quilt in the look and feel! Go here to read her review, she will also be hosting a giveaway for one of the patterns too so make sure you check that out!

Kris from Sew Sunshine, also tested the Flowering Lone Star. I love how she masculine her quilt looks and the completely modern feel of her backing! Please visit her blog and make sure you enter her giveaway too!

Elizabeth, from andpins.com, created this gorgeous modern take on the Bursting Lone Stars pattern. I love her use of solids and play with color value. Make sure you visit her blog to ready about her experience with the pattern and enter her giveaway!

Lucy, from Charm About You, created this stunning rainbow version of the Flowering Lone Star pattern. All of my regular readers know how much I love a good rainbow, so it goes without saying that I adore this quilt! Make sure to visit Lucy to read about her take on the pattern and enter her giveaway!

Mary, from Quiltin’ Grandma’s Blog, did this beautiful Flowering Lone Star quilt! I love her use of prints and play with values! Make sure to visit her blog to read about her experience with the pattern and enter her giveaway.

One of my regular readers, Sarah R, created this stunning quilt from the Flowering Lone Stars pattern. I love how her star pops against that dark blue background. I also love how she staged her quilt for this picture, that is one area I really need to get better at!

Jo, from CReate the poinT, made the Flowering Lone Star quilt top and used the Bursting Lone Stars pattern for the backing (which is why the Bursting Lone Stars has an extra border around it). I am in awe of how she made the Flowering Lone star with one quarter of the center star in white. It adds so much visual interest to the quilt. I also love how she used all solids for the fabrics. Very modern! Please visit Jo’s blog to read her review of the patterns and later this week Jo will be hosting a giveaway for a pattern as well!

My wonderful blogging from Carolyn, from Sweet Boater Chick, tested for me again. She has tested virtually every pattern I have released and is just wonderful! She decided to get an early jump start on her Christmas Sewing and created these two stunning tops. I am excited to see how she quilts them. Make sure to visit Carolyn to read about her experience and enter her giveaway!

As I hope you can see, both of these patterns are very versatile. To purchase the Flowering Lone Star pattern, visit my Craftsy Shop, it is $9.00. The Bursting Lone Stars pattern is also available in my Craftsy Shop for $9.00. I have decided to also offer a bundle of both patterns together for $12.00. All purchases are instant PDF downloads.

I hope you have a wonderful Monday!

Fan Dance Quilt – A Modern Quilt Guild Challenge

15 Comments / Modern Quilt Guild, Sew BitterSweet Designs Patterns, SSMQG / By Melissa Dunworth

I am finally revealing my Michael Miller Modern Quilt Guild challenge quilt! When I saw the fabric, at first I was really excited about it…then I got nervous. The colors are really not my colors. I find it hard to work with some colors and when I struggle with that the entire quilt becomes a struggle. After a month and a half of staring at the fabrics I decided to take out my huge 10 degree wedge ruler and play with the fabrics. I had a few designs in mind and this is what I settled on:

I’m calling this quilt – Fan Dance – because it kind of looks like the fans are dancing with each other. I still wasn’t keen on the top after I finished it, so I decided to turn it into an FMQ sampler. After I finished all the quilting, I finally fell in love with it.

I did 9 different FMQ designs and had the sides become mirror images. This was a huge skill builder for me and made me want to spend even more time practicing different FMQ Designs. I’m not sure you can tell but I alternated between sharp and soft designs. Click on the picture to see a larger view.

Here is a close up of the center section, which happens to be my favorite element of the quilt:

Since I was at my parents house when I finished the quilt, I had to take a picture of the finished quilt on their old wooden bench. It is a tradition when I am home. I just love that bench!

This quilt was gifted to a dear friend of our family and she loved it.

Quilt Stats:

Name: Fan Dance
Designed and Quilted by: Melissa Dunworth (me)
Size: 60×60
Fabrics: Michael Miller Petal Pinwheels and Kona Ash, bound with American Made Brand
Thread: Aurifil Mako 50/2

I do love a good finish!

Call For Testers

12 Comments / Flowering Lonestar, Sew BitterSweet Designs Patterns / By Melissa Dunworth

Hello Everyone! I am looking for pattern testers for 2 new patterns set to release. I need 2 more for this pattern, The Flowering Lone Star:

I need 3 testers for the Bursting Lone Stars pattern:

I am asking for all feedback and pictures of completed tops (they DO NOT have to quilted) by July 25th.

Both tops measure 50″ x 50″

Please email me if you are interested – melissa (at) sewbittersweetdesigns (dot) com

I Finished! May Finish – A Lovely Year of Finishes

25 Comments / A Lovely Year of Finishes, Flowering Lonestar, Sew BitterSweet Designs Patterns / By Melissa Dunworth

Nothing like waiting until the very last minute to show my finish, right? I actually finished the top for this quilt about a week ago. Then I started making the back because I got a bit obsessed and then because I just couldn’t walk away, I quilted it too! Next up is binding and then pattern writing. Overall I am going to declare May a very successful month!

I couldn’t get a very good shot outside of the back, it was windy (as you might be able to tell in the picture above) and when I got inside and looked at the pictures they were all blurry. Darn you nature for messing with my quilt pictures!

I cannot wait to get this quilt bound! I am definitely entering it into our county fair this year, even if no one else loves it, I do!

Quilt Stats:

Quilt Name: Flowering Lonestar
Fabrics: Kona Steel and Modern Poppy
Thread: Aurifil 50wt Grey SmokeDesigned & Quilted by: Melissa Dunworth (that’s me!)
Size: 50″ x 50″

Did you finish on time? Make sure you link up here, we have some truly awesome prizes that are up for grabs to those people who were able to git er done this month!

I will hopefully be sending this pattern to my testers by the middle of the month! I hope you all have a wonderful Saturday!