Gingham Plaid Quilt - Stargazer Glowy Edition

My Gingham Plaid Quilt- Stargazer looks like a typical quilt.... BUT... I used Sulky Glowy Thread for the machine quilting so it glows in the dark! It is so awesome!!!! PS - Photographing glow-in-the-dark is super tricky ;)

Sulky Glowy Thread is just sooooo much fun!!! I chose to use Art Gallery Stargazer Fabric Collection for the Gingham Plaid Quilt, which matches perfectly for Glowy Thread! I love the constellations, bear astronauts, plus the moon prints in the Stargazer Collection! 

Guess what ... I also wrote a free pattern for the Gingham Plaid Quilt! I can't stop making Gingham Plaid Quilts so I thought a free pattern would be helpful. Sewing patchwork squares just makes me so happy!

Gingham Plaid Quilt - Stargazer Glowy Edition 50" x 59"

Supplies:

• Gingham Plaid Quilt Pattern - FREE
• 1.5 yards Gray Fabric - Stargazer: To Bearfinity and Beyond 
• 1.25 yards Black Fabric - Stargazer: Connect the Stars
• 1 yard White Fabric - Stargazer: Lunar Stamps
• 0.625 yard binding - Stargazer: Connect the Stars
• 3.5 yards backing (or 3.75 yards if directional fabric) - Stargazer: Spatial Friends
• Thread: 2-4 spools of Sulky Glowy – White (quilting), 1 spool 50 wt. Cotton+Steel™ Thread by Sulky (piecing), and 1 spool Sulky 60 wt. Bobbin Thread (bobbin for free motion quilting)
• Needles: Organ® size 90/14 Top Stitch needle (quilting), 80/12 Top Stitch needle (piecing)
• Warm 80/20 batting from Warm Company

Tips for using Glowy Thread for Free Motion Quilting

• I recommend using an Organ Topstitch needle 90/14. The larger needle eye allows the thicker 40wt thread to glide easily when machine quilting on fast speeds! I had ZERO thread breakage and I machine quilt at maximum speed on my Janome M7 sewing machine. 
• I chose to use Sulky 60wt Bobbin thread for the bobbin. My Janome M7 sewing machine had no difficulty at all with 40wt GLOWY top thread and 60wt BOBBIN thread. The tension was perfect. I didn’t need to do any adjustments at all from my usual free motion setting.
• As you are stitching with only 1 thread, I recommend dense quilting for more “glow” factor. Imagine the “glow” factor with dense machine embroidery - definitely trying this soon!
• Do not iron the Glowy Thread - but you can machine wash your quilt. Sulky Tests have shown NO loss of luminosity after 50 washings.
• Choose the color of Glowy Thread that you want to show on your quilt top as all seven colors will glow the same greenish glow. Example: I used white Glowy thread and the glow was green. 

Tip for cutting squares:

For quick and accurate cutting, I recommend using an AccuQuilt GO! 5” unfinished (4.5” finished) square die OR the Creative Grids Stripology ruler.

I mentioned above that I used Sulky Glowy Thread 40wt with Sulky Bobbin Thread 60wt and the tension was perfect....plus this backing fabric is AMAZING!

I can't wait to see your Gingham Plaid Quilts and I hope you give Sulky Glowy Thread a try! Glowy Thread would be perfect for Halloween projects, Outdoor Themed projects, Kid Friendly projects, or just for fun!!!

Gingham Plaid Quilt Pattern - here

Sulky Glowy Thread - here

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

Have a great day and happy quilting! 

Melanie

This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting A Bit of Scrap Stuff. My family appreciates it!

Mini Charm Muffins Quilt

I know it's still August, but I love sewing with Christmas Fabric year round ... it always makes me happy! I seriously love all of Sweetwater's Christmas Collections and their latest - The Christmas Card is fabulous!  Let me share what I made with (9) Mini Charm Packs !

I love the new FREE pattern: Mini Charm Muffins Quilt designed by Fat Quarter Shop! The original pattern calls for 34.5" x 34.5" quilt, but I wanted mine a bit bigger so I made 9 blocks instead of 4. 

I must share a close up of the Moda Grunge Grey Couture Fabric ... love love love!

Mini Charm Muffins Quilt Supplies: * 50.5" x 50.5" (9 blocks)

• Mini Charm Muffins Quilt Pattern - free 
• (333) 2.5" squares = 8 or 9 Mini Charm Packs - The Christmas Card designed by Sweetwater for Moda Fabrics
• 2 yards background fabric - Moda Grunge Grey Couture
• 1/2 yard binding - The Christmas Card Charcoal Scallop
• 3.25 yards backing fabric
• Sulky Blendables Thread 733-4121

The Mini Charm Muffins Quilt pattern is perfect for your stash of 2.5" squares or you can easily cut your charm packs or layer cakes to 2.5" squares too! Does any one else "collect" mini charm packs??? Use a Creative Grids Stripology Ruler or your AccuQuilt GO! to quickly cut 2.5" squares from your stash!

Lately, I've been loving machine quilting with Sulky Blendables Thread. I used Sulky 30 wt Blendables Rhubarb 733-4121 - I love this variegated thread! The 30wt also makes the machine quilting stand out more. Since it is a thicker thread, I recommend using a 90/14 top stitch needle or 100/16 top stitch needle.  If you find that your thread breaks while free motion quilting, please make sure you are using the correct size topstitch needle plus a drop of Sewer's Aid on the eye of the needle can be helpful too!

Isn't that variegation so lovely?!?!? It randomly changes colors every 2-5"! You can find the thread at Sulky (here).

When binding my quilts, I love using a striped fabric so the scallops striped print (The Christmas Card Charcoal Scallop) was perfect!!!

I'm so excited to have a brand new quilt ready for Christmas this year!!! I'm thinking this one will be added to my family room quilt collection now because I just love it and can't wait until December!

The Christmas Card Fabric Collection available here

Mini Charm Muffins Quilt Pattern (free) available here

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

Have a great day and happy quilting! 

Melanie

This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting A Bit of Scrap Stuff. My family appreciates it!

Sew Sampler Box - August 2020

Hello! I'm sew excited to share the August Sew Sampler Box from Fat Quarter Shop! August's theme is " Rise and Shine", which includes the new Backyard Blooms Collection designed by Allison Harris for Windham Fabrics. I LOVE the bright and happy colors! Plus the exclusive pattern - Crazy Daisy is awesome!

Let's chat more about my favorite aqua box of quilty goodies that I receive each month!

August Sew Sampler Box

-click on links to below to purchase products at Fat Quarter Shop

• (2) Charm Packs of Backyard Blooms designed by Allison Harris for Windham Fabrics - sold out
• Kimberly Cuts 5 1/2" Square Rotating Cutting Mat
• Lori Holt 5" Crazy Quilt Paper
• Dritz Quilting Betweens Needles
• Crazy Daisy Quilt Pattern - member exclusive
• Greatest Hits Album Quilt Track #5 Pattern
• Member Exclusive Coupon

Backyard Blooms - (2) 5" Charm Packs

I absolutely love Backyard Blooms designed by Allison Harris (Cluck Cluck Sew) for Windham Fabrics. The colors are so happy and the prints are fabulous!!! In fact, it was so popular it has already sold out! I'm so excited to make the Crazy Daisy Quilt Pattern with the (2) Charm Packs included in my Sew Sampler Box!

Kimberly Cuts Rotating Cutting Mat

I am so excited to try the new Kimberly Cuts Rotating Cutting Mat (5 1/2" square Mat size: 6 1/2" square)! I love using rotating cutting mats when trimming blocks and fussy cutting. This small size is perfect to have right next to my sewing machine! It is also available in a larger 12 1/2" size too (here).

Lori Holt 5" Crazy Quilt Paper

Lori's newest 5" Crazy Quilt Paper is perfect for your 5" Charm Square stash! So perfect for a scrappy quilt project and/or the star centers as in the Crazy Daisy Quilt Pattern. Crazy Quilt Paper is also available in a larger 10" size for 10" Stackers/Layer Cakes (here).

Greatest Hits Album Quilt  -  (70.5" x 90.5")

Sew Sampler Mystery Quilt April 2020 - March 2021

Track #5

 

I'm absolutely LOVING the Greatest Hits Album Quilt blocks! I love the large block sizes as it is perfect for fussy cutting! Since I didn't want to hide the strawberry fabric - I chose to leave my Fabric H as a square instead of making it a square in a square as the pattern shows.

Supplies for Greatest Hits Album Kit

• Ruby Star Society Prints - I'm using fabrics from the Ruby Star Society Quarterly Club at Fat Quarter Shop
• Background Fabric: Moda Essentially Yours Black on White Dot 
• Greatest Hits Album Kit Patterns

OR 

• You can purchase the Greatest Hits Album Fabric Kit - featuring Moda Bella Solids.

Each month, Sew Sampler Members receive a block pattern for the current Sew Sampler Mystery Quilt. This year- Greatest Hits Album features Moda Bella Solids and will be a large 70.5" x 90.5" sampler quilt! You can find Track #5 (pattern), Quilt Kit, and Thread Set available at Fat Quarter Shop! Purchase the Quilt Kit and you will be ready each month to sew your Greatest Hits block.

Join the Sew Sampler Box Membership 

Don't forget to sign up for the Sew Sampler Box wait list (here)* - each box is a wonderful surprise plus an awesome value! 

*The Sew Sampler Box Membership is full, but don't worry - you can sign up for the waitlist AND most of the items in this month's box are available at Fat Quarter Shop - links above.

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

Have a great day and happy sewing! 

Melanie

This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting A Bit of Scrap Stuff. My family appreciates it!

Feels Like Home Cross Stitch Finish

Today I'm sharing my Feels Like Home cross stitch finish!!! I totally love it! It took me quite awhile a stitch...I probably could've finished 4 quilts in the the same time ;). 

I decided to omit the fence below Home because I saw this frame at Michaels and thought it would be a perfect fit! 

I love stitching charts produced by It's Sew Emma/ Fat Quarter Shop because they are always in color and so easy to read - yay!!!

Supplies:

• Feels Like Home PDF - it's no longer a mystery so you will receive the full pattern instantly
• 25 ct Lugana Vintage Cloth - Cloud - by Lori Holt
• Classic Colorworks Floss Pack ( I used) or DMC Floss Pack
• Needle minder - optional but so adorable!

 

Cross stitching is very relaxing for me and I love to stitch a bit every night before going to sleep! Plus it's perfect for a portable project!

My Feels Like Home stitched piece finishes at about 7.5" x 9.5".

Changes I made from original pattern:

• Omitted fence
• Added stitched heart/shrub next to word "home"
• Add leaf to branch bird is perched on
• Moved roses up closer to bird/branches
• Adjusted bottom of rose and leaf to fit in frame

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

Have a great day and happy stitching! 

Melanie

This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting A Bit of Scrap Stuff. My family appreciates it!