Best of 2018 Blog Posts

I can't believe 2018 is almost over!!! I'm joining in Cheryl's (Meadow Mist Designs) Best of 2018 Link Party! I chose my top 5 favorite projects, which was so hard! Just click on the heading to go directly to the full blog post.

1. Flora and Fawn Range Backpack

Deciding on the best backpack pattern for me took some time. I wanted a full size back that was functional plus looked great too! I love Noodlehead's patterns so I thought her Range Backpack would be perfect....and it was!!! 

I'm so glad I chose Flora and Fawn fabric by Amanda Herring for Riley Blake Designs - I love it!

2. Layered Cake Quilt - Seaside and Hearthside Holiday

Layered Cake Quilt Pattern is the first pattern I released as A Bit of Scrap Stuff - available here. I love Seaside Fabric by Tasha Noel and wanted to use my full layer cake and border print so the Layered Cake Quilt was designed!

Of course, I had to make a Christmas edition with Hearthside Holiday!

3. Poolside Tote

The ADORNit Jumbo Stripe fabric is my absolute favorite striped fabric...it's perfect! I love it for my Poolside tote (Noodlehead pattern)! It was fun to change the directions of the stripes for the zipper and facing. This bag is HUGE...so it will be perfect for the lake and pool! I use it ALL the time!

4. Orange Blossom Table Runner

I LOVED learning this new curved piecing technique for my Orange Blossom Table Runner. I just love how it looks on my dining table....it makes me so happy! This awesome project was in the July Maxie Mail Subscription box - which I love receiving each month...it's my happy mail!

5. Geranium Dresses - Harry & Alice and Flora & Fawn

I love sewing my daughter dresses and the Geranium pattern by Made by Rae is my first choice. I love mix matching patterns for the collar/hemband with the main dress! Once again - I chose Amanda's fabric collections: Harry and Alice (dress above) and Flora and Fawn (does below)

2018 was full of sewing quilts, bags, table runners, pillows, and dress. Plus I was able to design quilt patterns. I'm so excited for 2019!!!

Be sure to follow me on Instagram @ABitofScrapStuff and here on my A Bit of Scrap Stuff Blog for more sewing fun!

Happy Sewing!

Melanie

This post contains affiliate links to Fat Quarter Shop and Craftsy. Thank you for supporting A Bit of Scrap Stuff Blog.

Harry & Alice Geranium Dress

My friend Amanda's most recent fabric collection is Harry & Alice for Riley Blake Designs and it is gorgeous - her florals are perfect! I love mixing the large floral fabric as the main fabric for the dress plus a pattern pop with the polka dots for the collar and hem band.

My daughter loves her new Harry & Alice dress, which also happens to be her Christmas Dress!!! I've sewn her Christmas dresses the past 3 years! I like sewing them a bit longer so they last longer!

Supplies:
Harry and Alice Fabric by Amanda Herring - available here
Geranium Dress (Sizes: 0- 5T or 6-12 years)
Geranium Dress Expansion Pack

I also found the perfect red floral buttons for the back!  Plus I love how the collar wraps around to the back of the dress!

Thank you so much Amanda for sending me the gorgeous Harry & Alice Fabric to sew this dress...I LOVE it!!!

I need to get back to sewing/quilting as I still have gifts to finish...eek! 

Merry Christmas! 

Melanie

Perfect 10 Sampler Quilt with Fat Quarter Shop

Today is the full REVEAL of the Perfect 10 Sample Quilt with Fat Quarter Shop and It's Sew Emma! I loooooove that the quilt blocks are all different and different sizes...it's so fun!!! Plus the Wild Bouquet Fabric Collection has such gorgeous colors!!!

I did cut the outside border on my quilt a bit larger than the pattern directed.  I measured how much left over background fabric I had and divided it by 8 (because you need 8 strips). So my outer border strips are cut at 4.5". My quilt measures 67.5"x 75" - large and cuddly!

Supplies:

Wild Bouquet 10" Stacker

Riley Blake Cream Swiss Dots - baby pink

Perfect 10 Quilts Book

Creative Grids Perfect 10 Ruler

Perfect 10 Sampler Quilt Along- Fabric Requirements and schedule - here

Happy Cloud Batting 80/20 - Twin Size

Of course- I have the crinkle photo too :). I love the texture stipple (meander) quilting gives! Plus the Happy Cloud Batting 80/20 - is amazing- plus a great price value!

Don't forget the Fat Quarter Shop has their Countdown to Christmas Sale - just check here for a new savings each day!

Be sure to follow me on Instagram @ABitofScrapStuff and here on my A Bit of Scrap Stuff Blog for more sewing fun!

Happy Sewing!!! 
Melanie

Jolly Bar Meringue Quilt - Fat Quarter Shop

Happy Monday! I'm excited to share my Jolly Bar Meringue Quilt with Fat Quarter Shop! I love this modern quilt with half square rectangles! Love those points!!! The Creative Grids Perfect Rectangle Ruler is a "must have" for this quilt!

Supplies-

• Jolly Bar Meringue Quilt Pattern - FREE at Fat Quarter Shop
• Fragile Layer Cake or 2 Jolly Bars (mine is larger size). Original Pattern is 1 Jolly Bar
• Moda Bella White Layer Cake (if large size). Original Pattern is 1 Jolly Bar
• Creative Grids 9 1/2" Perfect Rectangle Ruler

Tip:
Sew a full 1/4" seam when sewing two half rectangles together - this allows the tip of the point NOT to get sewn off when sewing the rows together.

I'm really glad I decided to enlarge my Jolly Bar Meringue Quilt by using (1) layer cake of Fragile and (1) Moda Bella White layer cake .  I love the larger size.

Have a great day and happy sewing! 

Don't forget to download your FREE Jolly Bar Meringue Quilt Pattern at Fat Quarter Shop.

Be sure to follow me on Instagram @ABitofScrapStuff  and here on my A Bit of Scrap Stuff Blog for more sewing fun!

Melanie

 

This post contains affiliate links to Fat Quarter Shop. Thank you for supporting A Bit of Scrap Stuff Blog.

Mobius Scarves - Maxie Mail November Box

I loved the November Maxie Mail Box!!!! I can't believe this was my first time sewing scarves?!?!? I was able to watch the awesome "how to" video from Maxie and sew up both scarves in about an hour! 

Let's chat more about the November Maxie Mail Box-

EVERYTHING is included in your November Maxie Mail Box to make TWO Mobius Scarves PLUS a full video tutorial. So don't worry if this your first time sewing scarves---Maxie makes it easy!

What's included:

• (2) 1/2 yard cuts of Skopelos Art Gallery Voile (60" in width)
• Bohin wrist pin cushion from France
• Clover Flower Head Pins for shear fabrics - perfect for voile
• Gutermann thread
• Tea
• Printed Pattern and Video

The included Art Gallery Voile fabric is GORGEOUS and perfect for scarves - plus it feels lovely. The scarves are perfect for yourself or to give as gifts...hint ;). Handmade gifts are always so extra special! 

The Mobius scarves can be worn multiple ways - Maxie shows 6 different ways! 

My favorite is the double twist.

Or a simple knot at the bottom

I enjoy receiving my Maxie Mail Subscription Box each month! I love how she always teaches us a new technique and includes the supplies to make the project! It is truly a "class in a box". They are great for anyone who loves sewing and quilting! I love how I can take a class right in my home! Plus the projects are always useful and beautiful!

Don't worry - you can still order the November Box and sew up both scarves to give as gifts or keep for yourself!

Subscribe here. Be sure to add -- Melanie -- as the referral code to save 10% off your first box! 

Previous Maxie Mail Subscription Blog Posts 

October 2018 - Hexie Zippered Pouch

September 2018 - Punched Out Star Pillow

August 2018 - Tony Danza Mini Quilt/Pillows

July 2018 - Orange Blossom Table Runner

June 2018 - Hold it Bins

May 2018 - Cool Tools
April 2018 - Peppermint Rose Pillowcases
March 2018 - Strippy Aunt Josie Mini Quilt/Pillow

Have a great day and happy sewing! 

Be sure to follow me on Instagram @ABitofScrapStuff  and here on my A Bit of Scrap Stuff Blog for more sewing fun!

Melanie

Referral code -- Melanie -- to save 10% off your first box!

Perfect 10 Sampler Quilt Along with Fat Quarter Shop - Week 8

We are on Week 8 of the Perfect 10 Sampler Quilt Along- the FINAL blocks! This week we are sewing the Rainbow Sherbet and Rocky Road blocks! I super love the Rainbow Sherbet blocks- they will make an awesome quilt!

I love selecting which fabrics from my Wild Bouquet 10" Stacker each week! I'm loving this fabric so much!

Week 8- Sew (2) Rainbow Sherbet and (1) Rocky Road Block

All of my Perfect 10 Blocks -- I'm so excited to sew them all together!!!

Supplies:

Wild Bouquet 10" Stacker

Riley Blake Cream Swiss Dots - baby pink

Perfect 10 Quilts Book

Creative Grids Perfect 10 Ruler

Perfect 10 Sampler Quilt Along- Fabric Requirements and schedule - here

How it works:

For the Quilt Along, we will be making two blocks from the Perfect 10 Book every Tuesday from October 9 to December 4! Then we will assemble the blocks into full size quilt 63.5" x 71"!!!

See you in next Tuesday for the FINAL Quilt!!! I'm so excited!!!

Be sure to follow me on Instagram @mellierc and here on my A Bit of Scrap Stuff Blog for more sewing fun!

Happy Sewing!!! 
Melanie

This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting my blog.

Merry & Bright Star Break Quilt

So I totally looooove Christmas fabrics...when I saw the adorable Merry & Bright fabric - I knew it would be perfect for a Christmas quilt!  

I love sewing my Star Break Quilt pattern because it is a quick pattern that is totally scrappy! I love fussy cutting the star centers....plus they are no point matching stars...easy peasy!!!

I've been loving all the fabric panels lately and the Merry & Bright panel was perfect! I just cut the panel blocks that same size as a four patch!

You may have realized that I love to super size my quilts! So I added two extra rows and one column to make my Star Break Quilt larger. My Merry & Bright Quilt measures 63" x 81". It's huge and I love it!!!

Supplies:

Merry and Bright - half yard bundle

Merry and Bright  Panel

Mixed Christmas fabrics from my stash

Gingham Wide Backing 108"  - 2 yards

Star Break Quilt Pattern - free at Fort Worth Fabric Studio

I did a large stipple so the quilt be nice and cuddly --- just look at the crinkles. Plus a peek of the Gingham fabric backing.

I had a bunch of 2.5" strips left over--- so I chose a scrappy binding, which I love!

I'm so excited to cuddle up with my latest Christmas Quilt! I also love that I was able to use a bunch of my Christmas fabrics from my stash!

Be sure to follow me on Instagram @mellierc and here on my A Bit of Scrap Stuff Blog for more sewing fun!

Happy Sewing!!! 
Melanie

Craftsy and Bluprint SALES

Craftsy and Bluprint are having some amazing sales until December 12th!!! Craftsy has Buy 1 Kit - Get 1 Kit FREE today (Sunday) plus new daily deals. Bluprint also has amazing promotions for signing up! I recently signed up for the year Bluprint subscription and am LOVING it! I'm rediscovering knit and crochet! I love be able to learn new things!

Craftsy Deal Buy 1 Kit - Get 1 FREE promotion today -


Don't forget to check back each day for a new deal.


Bluprint Promotion - 


An Exclusive Gift for You - 2 FREE Classes + $100 For Supplies! Get two free classes and $100 to spend on supplies when you sign up for a year of Bluprint. Unwrap the gift of creativity. Valid 12/1-12/12/18 at myBluprint.com.

Another super cool perk with Bluprint subscription is FREE shipping on Craftsy plus 50% off the full price of supplies until 12/25/18....whoo hoo!



Happy Shopping :)

Melanie

Simple Patchwork Pillows - use up those scraps

Are you ready to sew pillows?!?!? I LOVE sewing pillows with the left over scraps from my larger quilting projects. Plus you can never have too many pillows!!!

We just finished our Cozy Up Mystery Beginner Quilt last week so you probably have some adorable Cozy Up fabric scraps left over. Let's use them up and sew these easy beginner pillows!!! 

I was able to make (2) 20" x 20" pillows with my left over Cozy Up fabrics --- since I wanted to make (3) I used some 2.5" Moda mini charm squares to make the final one.

Supplies:
Fabric Scraps...yay!!!
20" x 20" Pillow Form
Pillow Patterns available here (free)

Pillow 1: Simple Patchwork Pillow 20" x 20"

Pillow 2: Double Simple Patchwork Pillow 20" x 20"

Pillow 3: Tiny Simple Patchwork Pillow 20" x 20"

Since I used the Moda Buffalo Check wide back fabric for my Cozy Up Quilt - I was able to use the left over pieces for all 3 pillows...yay!

I hope you have fun sewing these Beginner Scrap busting pillows! I will be sharing a tutorial for making a zippered pillow back next week. I love using zippered backings so I can change my pillows for the seasons or when they get dirty--I have 3 kiddos ;).

Don't forget to download the pattern instructions here.

Be sure to follow me on Instagram @mellierc and here on my A Bit of Scrap Stuff Blog for more sewing fun!

Happy Sewing!!! 
Melanie