Friday, August 19, 2016

Friday Bundle with Fort Worth Fabric Studio

Friday Bundle with Fort Worth Fabric Studio -Flower Patch


I'm excited to share my projects with this week's Friday Bundle with Fort Worth Fabric Studio. I just love these fabulous bundles. Available here. 

Plus you can make both of my projects this week with just one fat quarter bundle (just add batting and optional zipper). A mini tutorial is below.

Projects: Pick your favorite!

16.5" Pillows

16.5" Table Topper...perfect for cookies :)


16.5" Mini Quilts


Tutorial for 2 different stars

Tip: If you want to piece the backing for your projects....I used (4) 10" squares per project. Since you will use almost every last piece of your 8 fat quarters to create both projects. You may want to cut these squares before cutting stars out.

Open center star
1. Cutting instructions
Background (red dot)
(4) 2.5" squares
(6) 3" squares
Star (red floral)
(6) 3" squares



2. Making half square triangles
-Place (1) 3" square of pattern fabric and (1) 3" red dot fabric right sides together
- Draw diagonal line from corner to corner
- Sew 1/4" away from the drawn line
- Cut along drawn line
-Trim half square triangle to 2.5" square (you should have 2)
-Repeat until you have (12) 2.5" half square triangle squares

3. Arrange squares as shown below and sew together


Full square center star (less half square triangles :) )

1. Cutting directions
Background (orange plaid)
(4) 2.5" squares
(4) 3" squares
Star (orange grunge)
(4) 3" squares
(1) 4.5" square

2. Making half square triangles 
-Place (1) 3" square of background fabric and (1) 3" star fabric right sides together
- Draw diagonal line from corner to corner
- Sew 1/4" away from the drawn line
- Cut along drawn line
-Trim half square triangle to 2.5" square (you should have 2)
-Repeat until you have (8) 2.5" half square triangle squares

3. Arrange squares and sew together. Photo below shows order of sewing blocks together
4. Finished Star

Admire all of your stars



Arrange your stars into 16.5" pillows, table topper, or mini quits

1. Arrange stars
2. Decide on backing 
-I pieced my backing by using (4) 10" squares for each back. I also added a zippered closure so I can use mine as pillows or table topper or mini quilts.

2. Quilt 
3. Bind (I used 2.5" scraps for the pieced binding)




Bonus project:
I had made a 9th star as I originally going to make one big pillow or mini quilt. So with the extra star I added some black binding from my stash and now I have a Halloween potholder!



I hope you have fun with the Friday Bundle Batch: Flower Patch.
Be sure to get yours here and tag @FWfabricstudio and #sewingwithfwfabricstudio with your projects on Instagram. 
I would love to see them too.... so tag me on Instagram @mellierc 

Have a great Friday!

Melanie





Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Layer Cake Checkmate Quilt with Fat Quarter Shop


I'm so excited to share another fabulous pattern from Fat Quarter Shop! I love how this pattern uses a precut...the layer cake! Plus I even made my quilt double-sided with the left over layer cake squares!


The hardest part of this quick quilt is choosing your 2 layer cakes! For this project, I asked my boys which layer cakes to use...notice no pink or flowers ;). But I too just love Behind the Scenes by Jen Kingwell. 

What is a layer cake? Moda layer cakes contain 42 10" squares. Each layer cakes contains at least one print from the entire collection! I love how layer cakes are an affordable way to purchase an entire collection!



Now that you have chosen your two layer cakes...it's time to print your pattern and get started! First step is to separate your lights and darks. Don't worry about your left over layer cake pieces! I used mine to make my quilt a bit larger (instead of a border) and for a pieced backing.


Now it's time for some quick cutting before piecing your top!


Whoo hoo....wasn't that a fun and quick sew! I decided to use some of my extra squares to add one extra row and column instead of a border.



Fat Quarter Shop also made an instructional video too! Check it out!!!




With my left over squares (plus 4 extra ones) I made my quilt double sided! 


The heart pattern is a another free pattern from Fat Quarter Shop: Color of My Heart Mini Quilt. I just sized it up from 5" squares to 9.5" squares (I chose this size so I could get 2 half square triangles from one 10" square). I added borders with Bella Solid  Etching Slate and now my quilt is double sided!


I quilted straight lines along each seam, which made lots of squares! Since the quilting isn't very dense, the quilt is very cuddly and drapes nicely!


Be sure to check out everyone's Layer Cake Checkmate Quilt! It is alway fun to see how the same pattern looks in different fabrics!

Peta from She Quilts a Lot

Melanie from Mostly Crafty -me
Melissa from Happy Quilting
Amanda from Jedi Craft Girl
Tina from Emily Ann's Kloset
Sherri M. from A Quilting Life
Andy from A Bright Corner
Anorina from Samelia's Mum
Sherri F. from This & That Patterns
Brooke from Silly Mama Quilts


Everything you need to make your own Checkmate Quilt



My quilt is already getting lots of love and cuddles!

Thank you to Fat Quarter Shop for having me be part of the Layer Cake Checkmate Quilt Event!!!!

Melanie









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