FEATURED – Page 9

Dawn Patrol Beach Quilt Featuring Off Shore 2

February 20, 2019 by Amanda 3 Comments

I am a California girl, born and raised which means I love the beach!!! I am so excited that Deena Rutter has a second version of her Off Shore surf fabric by Riley Blake Designs! I love the vintage beach vibe of these fabrics and the casual color tones. I designed this quilt as throw quilt that is perfect to take to the beach!

The fabrics have fun surf scenes, surf boards, VW busses, and plaids. I designed this quilt to use with theme print fabrics which I am always drawn to. I designed this quilt with the first Off Shore fabric line a few years ago. I love that these two quilts coordinate!

Some of the prints are similar to the first version of this fabric line and there are also several new prints! You could easily mix them together!

Seriously the fabrics are so amazing!

The finished quilt measures 59″ x 68″ which is exactly the right width for a minky backing!

You can purchase the PDF quilt pattern in my Etsy shop for instant download. This pattern is versatile enough to use with any theme print fabrics you love.

I can’t wait to get this quilted! It’s going to be amazing! I am so ready for summer!!!

You need at least 10 fat quarters of theme prints, I suggest using about 15 for a nice variety. The theme prints are also repeated in the pieced border.

Go put on some Beach Boys tunes and get sewing!!!!

Filed Under: FEATURED, quilt, Riley Blake

Swiss Kiss Quilt Pattern

February 7, 2019 by Amanda 7 Comments

I have been in love with Swiss Cross quilts for years! My husband’s ancestry is almost all from Switzerland and we can trace some of his Swiss family lines back to the 1300’s-1400’s! So exciting! I have never been to Switzerland but felt I owed it to our family name to make this quilt! When designing this quilt I knew I wanted a heart to play an important role in the quilt because after all families exist because of love! I am so thrilled at how it turned out!

The finished quilt measures 72″ x 81″ which is a lovely size for a throw or to put at the end of the bed. I actually think I will hang this quilt once it’s quilted! The quilt is entirely made up of scraps – which I also love – kind of symbolic families – so many people and personalities through the years – all pieced together into one quilt or family!

You can purchase the pattern in my Etsy shop for instant download by clicking HERE.

This would be fun to make with a friend – you can put your scraps together for even more variety!

It is 100 % Mufasa approved!
I was worried about some of my “low volume” choices because they had color in them. When the quilt is all put together they just kind of fade into the background! It’s like magic!

I also took this opportunity to shoot Mufasa’s Valentine’s Day photos! He looks so handsome in his bow!

I see you under there!!

Filed Under: FEATURED, quilt, Valentine's Day

I Heart Pandas Quilt

January 31, 2019 by Amanda 8 Comments

I was at Pine Needles quilt shop in December and I found this turquoise panda bear fabric by Michael Miller. I knew it would be perfect for my Panda loving almost 11 year old Sally! I wanted to keep this quilt super easy and have it mostly about the pandas! So I made this quilt (in a day) using 4 fabrics! It’s the perfect size for a throw quilt and I will be giving it Sally for her birthday!

I wrote up a little pattern for it and you can download it by clicking HERE. This is such a great quilt because you can easily switch out the theme fabric to anything you or your child loves! Change the color also! What a fun birthday quilt!!

It really sews up easy with with only 4 fabrics you don’t have worry about color placement or design! I bought some black minky and am sending it off to be quilted this week! It’s going to be so snugglly!

Mufasa approved!

Filed Under: FEATURED, quilt, Riley Blake

Purrmaids Mini Quilt

January 25, 2019 by Amanda 48 Comments

My friend Melissa from Polka Dot Chair has the most adorable mermaid fabric line! It’s called Let’s Be Mermaids from Riley Blake Designs!

The colors are pink, teal, green, navy and periwinkle! Such a fun variety!!

I knew I wanted to put a little kitty cat spin on the mermaid fabric because, well, I LOVE cats!!

So I came up with this fun little quilt! It will be hanging in my quilt room soon!!!

Here’s how you make it:

Download instructions HERE

Download Appliqué Pattern Here

For the letters, I used may Sizzix alphabet die. I fused Heat n Bond Lite to the wrong side of the navy fabric.

Then die cut each letter, peeled off the backing paper.

I heat set them into place and stitched around the letters. I stitched around each of the shapes 2 times in navy thread and I sewed the whiskers with the machine as well. Of course you can hand appliqué if you want 🙂

Once the appliqué is finished and the quilt is put together you can have fun quilting it!

I’m actually super in love with it! It makes me smile!!

Mufasa loves it too!

Filed Under: FEATURED, mini quilt, quilt, Riley Blake

Star Crossed Love Quilt Pattern

January 17, 2019 by Amanda 8 Comments

I’m the most creative when I have a “need”. For example, after taking down all the Christmas decorations, I realized I “needed” a small valentine quilt to hang in the family room where the Christmas one was hanging. So I created this fun little quilt! It’s the perfect size to hang on a wall, put on a table, or fold over the couch. You can easily change up the colors to fit your decor style. My family room is red, pink, aqua and all vintage colors in between!

The quilt measures 28″ square and is such a fun scrap buster! All the squares are 2 1/2″ so it’s great to use up those binding fragments, random jelly roll strips, and loose charm squares!!

The pattern is available in my Etsy shop for instant PDF download.

I quilted loops (gee, I need to branch out on my quilting designs) but they were perfect for this little project.

Once Mufasa approved it I new it was ready to hang!

I hope you love this fun little quilt! Make it for someone you love!!!

Filed Under: FEATURED, quilt, Valentine's Day

Vintage Keepsake Valentine Garland

January 16, 2019 by Amanda 982 Comments

My darling friend Bev from Flaming Toes has a new fabric line out with Riley Blake Designs called Vintage Keepsakes! The fabric has a wonderful vintage – whimsical feel! I love decorating with these colors and so I knew I wanted to make something to hang in my kitchen! (The colors match perfect with my collection of vintage Pyrex!)

I came up with this fun little heart garland. It’s a quick project that you can make in an afternoon! Yay!

I choose the pink, aqua, and gray fabrics from the collection. Let’s get started!
Supplies:

Fat quarters of a variety of fabrics

Fiber Fill

Buttons

Yarn Pom Poms

Bakers Twine

Large Needle

Cut a 5″ heart out of paper to be your pattern. Using pinking shears, cut out 9 sets of hearts.

Pin each set together, wrong sides together. Sew 1/4″ around the heart, leaving a 2″ opening along one side.

Lightly stuff the hearts with fiber fill and sew the opening closed.

Sew a button in the center of each heart. Wouldn’t be cute to have a basket of these? When friends came over you could give them a heart!

I made my own pom poms with yarn, but you can use purchased ones if you like. Measure the bakers twine the length you want and then add a little extra. Using a large needle, thread the hearts and pom poms onto the bakers twine in the desired order. Tie lace in between each heart and pom pom.

It’s hard to capture the entire garland because it’s so long! Here’s a little section 🙂

I made mine long enough to hang in my kitchen window. It looks so cute with my vintage dishes and hankies!

Filed Under: FEATURED, Riley Blake, Valentine's Day

Hesketh House by Liberty Fabrics Mini Quilt

January 15, 2019 by Amanda 37 Comments

I love Liberty fabrics!!!!

I love everything British! British cars, British bands, British history, British dramas, British accents, and this amazing fabric that is coming out from Liberty Fabrics called “Hesketh House”. It screams British countryside!!

And do you want to hear some AMAZING news??? Riley Blake will be carrying Liberty Quilting Cottons and they are the official distributor of Liberty Cotton in the US!!!!! Seriously, I’m so excited! The fabrics are a lovely quilting cotton weight, not “lawn” weight. These fabrics will be arriving in stores in March!!!!! I got to play around with this fun bunch of blue from Hesketh! I wish I had yards and yards – I’m thinking vintage dress pattern!!

I sewed this fun little quilt using my “Fresh Eggs” Five Fat Quarter Fun pattern (which is a free PDF download, click link.) I had 10 fat eights to work with and it was just enough!

I used a grayish tone of some quilters linen for the background – it’s very texture-y which plays nice with the soft florals!

Here’s what you need to make this quilt:

10 fat eights (5 dark, 4 lighter and 1 for sashing squares

1 1/2 yards of background fabric, binding fabric

1 yard backing fabric

I followed the instructions from the Fresh Eggs pattern, only using a fat eights instead of fat quarters. I also used background fabric for the sashing as well. The rest is the same as the pattern. It was really fun to sew! You can also check out my IG highlights for some tips on making the half square triangles in this quilt.

I quilted it with loops which turned out pretty cute!

It feels so English Garden-y!

Of course it is Mufasa approved!!!

Filed Under: FEATURED, quilt, Riley Blake

Sheep Ornaments

December 21, 2018 by Amanda 10 Comments

I am in a few scripture study groups and I wanted to make something meaningful for all the ladies. The theme of Jesus as our shepherd comes up so much – we are his sheep! So I knew I wanted to make a sheep ornament (plus I love sheep!). I began to make THESE ornaments, only to realize I made the sheep to big! The sheep would not fit in the jar lids! It was midnight so there was no turning back! This is what they turned into! And I love them! Here’s how you can make them:

Supplies:

2 charm squares (5″)

5″ square Heat n Bond Fusible Fleece

Scraps of white and black fabric for the sheep

Heat n Bond Lite

Heat n Bond Ultra

Fiber Fill

Ribbon

Sheep pattern

Begin by selecting your charm squares – I love projects that use up what I have on hand!

Trace the sheep body on to Heat n Bond Lite. Trace the sheep ear, head, and feet onto Heat n Bond Ultra.

Heat set the pieces onto the wrong side of the fabrics. Let cool. Cut out each piece. Peel off backing paper.

Position the sheep pieces onto the center of one of the charm squares. Heat set into place.

Sew around the sheep body with a straight stitch. I used the ultra heat n bond for the feet, ear, and head – which require no sewing. Of course you could sew around each piece – I had to make a lot and now it was 1:00 am!

Heat set the sheep square to the fusible fleece. Then layer them together as pictured above.

Cut a template out of cardstock of a circle just under 5″ in diameter. You can see how it fits right inside of the charm square. Pin and cut the circle through all 3 layers.

Pin all the layers together and tuck a little hanger in the top.

Sew a scant 1/4″ seam around the circle, leaving a 2″ opening to stuff. Add a little fiber fill and then sew the opening closed. Sew around the ornament a second time – I like how it looks when the two seams are a little off – it also helps round out any areas that aren’t perfect!

Tie a little bow and sew into place (or in my case, 1:30 am, hot glue that thing and then go to beed!)

Now go and sew a pasture of sheep! And don’t forget that Jesus loves you 🙂

Filed Under: Christmas, FEATURED, Therm O Web, tutorial Tagged With: ornament

Fabric Postcard Tutorial Featuring Hello Sweetheart by Riley Blake Designs

December 7, 2018 by Amanda 26 Comments

I love this adorable valentine inspired fabric called Hello Sweetheart by Riley Blake Designs! Seriously the cutest valentine fabric ever!!!

I was so inspired by the clever little valentines that I wanted to turn them into actual valentines you can mail! These are super easy and would be fun for your kids to help make!

Supplies:

Hello Sweetheart valentine panel by Riley Blake Designs

4″ x 6″ pieces coordinating fabric

Heat n Bond heavy weight fusible stabilizer

Spray n Bond basing spray

Paper postcard (see download link)

Thread

Using scissors, cut out the valentines you want to use. There are so many cute ones!!!

Cut each background fabric 4″ x 6″

I had fun mixing and matching the valentines with the background fabric. This is what I choose.

Using Spray n Bond basting spray, spray the wrong side of the valentine and position it on the 4″x 6″ fabric. Sew around the valentine.

Cut (2) 4″ x 6″ pieces of Heat n Bond heavy weight fusible stabilizer. You will use 2 pieces per postcard.

Fuse the first stabilizer to the wrong side of the fabric postcard. Let cool. Then fuse a second piece. Let cool.

Download the postcard template by clicking here. Cut on the gray line – it should measure 4″ x 6″.

They are so cute!

Once they are all stabilized, spray a little basting spray on the wrong side of the stabilizer and position the paper postcard. This is to hold it in place while sewing.

Now that the postcard is assembled, you may need to trim up the edges if the stabilizer of paper are showing. Using a zigzag stitch, sew around the postcard 2 times, sewing near or off the edge.

Now start writing notes to the people you love!!!

Filed Under: FEATURED, Riley Blake, sewing, Therm O Web, tutorial, Valentine's Day

Little Joys Quilt Tutorial Updated

November 18, 2018 by Amanda 6 Comments

I wrote this pattern a few years ago for Penny Rose Fabrics. I updated it and have the full tutorial available here! I have always loved the Penny Rose “Little Joys” Christmas fabrics! These sweet vintage prints make me think of a simpler time. I love collecting vintage Christmas ornaments and decorations; this quilt is sure to fit into the mix!

This quilt measures 42″ square and is a perfect size to hang on a wall, put at the end of a bed, or center on a table. The quilt is made up of 6″ solid blocks with bell applique and 6″ nine-patch blocks that form a chain.

I used this Bell from Sizzix. It is such a versatile die!

Mufasa was all over this project because it involved the Sizzix Fabi – his FAVORITE toy!

Fabric Requirements:

9 fat quarters (green, red, and pink) – this is a scrappy little quilt so there are different amounts of each color – the colors don’t form a pattern in this version, but if you would like a pattern it would be easy to do!

1 1/2 yards solid white fabric

Heat n Bond Lite for appliqué

1/2 yard binding

1 1/4 yard backing (the fabric needs to measure at least 43″ wide or you may need to piece it)

Cutting Instructions

Fat Quarters:

Cut (2) 2 1/2″ x WOFQ strips from each fat quarter. You will have a few extra.

Use remaining fabric for bell appliqué and letters

Solid White:

Cut (6) 2 1/2″ x WOF strips, cut them in half to give you (12) 2 1/2″ x 21″ strips.

Cut (5) 6 1/2″ x WOF strips, subcut into (22) 6 1/2″ squares and (1) 6 1/2″ x 18 1/2″ rectangle

2 1/2″ strips are cut from each of the 9 fat quarters.

6 white 2 1/2″ x WOF strips are cut and then cut in half to equal the width of the fat quarter strips.

Sew white, dark, white strip sets together, making 3 strip set units. Press toward the dark.

Sew 6 strip units of the dark, white, dark pattern (above). Press toward the dark.

Sub cute each strip set in 2 1/2″ increments. You should have 8 per strip set.

Lay out blocks making a checkerboard pattern. Sew together, matching seams. Press seams in one direction. Continue this process making 24 total checkerboard blocks.

Cut the remaining fat quarters into 5″ squares and fuse Heat n Bond Lite to the wrong sides of the fabric (above). Using the Sizzix Bell die, die cut 22 bell shapes. Peel off backing paper and heat set to the centers of the 6 1/2″ white squares. Sew around each bell with a straight stitch.

For the Little Joys word block I cut the letters by hand. Download the Little Joys pattern HERE. I printed the letters on Heat n Bond EZ print sheets.

You can also trace onto iron-on transfer paper. The letters are in reverse. Iron the heat n bond to the wrong side of the letter fabric. Cut out by hand around each letter. Peel off the backing and position on the white rectangle. Heat set in place. Sew around each letter.

Now you’re ready to lay out the whole quilt! Use the above photo as your guide. Again, my colors are random but you can make a color pattern!

Sew each block together creating rows, pressing toward the applique blocks. Then sew the rows together, pinning at intersections so seams match up. Press all seams in one direction.

Baste, Quilt, Bind!

Mufasa also loves the sewing machine! No animals were harmed in the quilting of this project!