Sew Sampler Box - September 2020

Hello! I'm sew excited to share the September Sew Sampler Box from Fat Quarter Shop! September's themself is "Hidden Gem"! The featured fabric collection is Balboa designed by Sherri & Chelsi for Moda Fabrics ... it is gorgeous!!! The colors are perfect! I can't wait to make the Pack and Go Project Bag with the Balboa fabrics! 

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

September Sew Sampler Box

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

• Petite Balboa Fat Quarter Bundle (6 Fat Quarters) designed by Sherri & Chelsi
• Sewing Life Tea Towel designed by Gingiber
• 7" x 7" Silicone Appli-fuse Mat
• Sew Mate Quilt Clips (2)
• Pack and Go Project Bag Pattern - exclusive pattern for Sew Sampler Box
• Greatest Hits Album Quilt Track #6 Pattern
• Sew Sampler Member Exclusive Coupon

Petite Balboa Fat Quarter Bundle

I absolutely love the six prints that Fat Quarter Shop selected for the Petite Balboa Fat Quarter Bundle for Sew Sampler Members! Don't worry - if you missed this box or need extra, you can purchase extra bundles HERE.  Making the Pack and Go Project Bag is next up on my sewing list! I will probably switch the fabrics so my favorite one will be seen more :). I love vinyl project bags!

Included Notions

Each month, Sew Sampler Box contains fun and new sewing/quilting notions! I love trying new products! 

• The Sew Mate Quilt Clips are designed to help you machine quilt your projects at home. Just roll your quilt and the Quilt Clips hold the quilt to make machine quilting easier!
• The Sewing Life Tea Towel is so cute! I love the aqua color and the sewing designs. I'm thinking of turning mine into a pillow or something fun for my sewing room!
• The Silicone Apple-Fuse Mat is so helpful for appliqué. This mat is placed over your appliqué and then you iron over the mat ... this prevents the sticky fusible from sticking to your iron!

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

Sew Sampler Mystery Quilt April 2020 - March 2021

Track #6

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this month's Greatest Hits Album Quilt block! I definitely need to make a full quilt with just this block!!!

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!

GO! Fun in the Forest Table Runner - AccuQuilt

Hello Quilty Friends! Today I'm sharing a FREE pattern I designed for AccuQuilt - GO! Fun in the Forest Table Runner. This project is perfect for outdoor nature fans! PS- this project would be perfect for your camper!

I love this sweet little bear peeking out of the center of the Log Cabin block!!! Fussy Cutting is so fun!!!! Plus I totally love the GO! Log Cabin die! 

Ready to make your own GO! Fun in the Forest Table Runner 11.5" x 38.5"

 

Supplies: (click on links below)

• FREE GO! Fun in the Forest Table Runner Pattern
• GO! Camper Die (55228)
• GO! Cute Car Die (55354)
• GO! Northwoods Medley Die (55483)
• GO! Log Cabin 12" Finished (55349)
• GO! Strip Cutter 1-1/2" (1" Finished) (55024)
• GO! Strip Cutter 2-1/2" (2" Finished) (55017 or 55014)
• In the Forest Fabric Collection by Riley Blake Designs and Riley Blake Designs Basics. I made this table runner a few months ago so In the Forest Fabric is a bit difficult to find now as it was so popular.  Don't worry - The GO! Fun in the Forest Table Runner Pattern is perfect for using your stash, just download the free pattern (HERE) for exact fabric requirements.

I really loved creating the appliqué scene in the center of my GO! Fun in the Forest Table Runner. It is just so easy with the AccuQuilt dies- I love how accurate the cuts are! 

I love making table runners as they are quick projects to make and perfect for decorating! Hint- The GO! Fun in the Forest Table Runner would also make a great gift to make for your outdoor loving friends and family!

Download your FREE AccuQuilt - GO! Fun in the Forest Table Runner pattern 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!

Machine Organizer - Sewers Club

I LOVED making my new Machine Organizer with the gorgeous Homemade fabric from the Sewers Club Box - September. As soon as I opened up my box, I knew I had to sew the project right away! I love how each Sewers Club Box contains all the supplies needed plus a full instructional video to make each monthly project!

Click HERE to join Sewers Club and SAVE $5 on your Sewers Club Box. 
FREE shipping in USA and Canada

Let's take a look at the Sewers Club September Box

Sewers Club September Box Contents

• (3) 20" x 22" Homemade Fabrics designed by Tula Pink
• Pellon Fusible Fleece
• Quilting Clips
• Sewers Club Exclusive Appliqué 
• Gutermann Thread 
• Exclusive Machine Organizer pattern PLUS instructional video
• Schmetz Needles - optional add-on
• Creative Grids Quilt Ruler 1"x 6" - optional add-on

Click HERE to join Sewers Club and SAVE $5 on your Sewers Club Box. 
FREE shipping in USA and Canada

My Janome M7 is a really large sewing machine so I didn't trim my Machine Organizer (per pattern instructions), but used the full size of the included fabric. I absolutely love it!

I used the included orange thread for the diagonal cross hatch quilting and top-stitching of the pockets. The orange pop of color is so fun!

The pockets are perfect for storing your quilting clips, scissors, pens and rulers. I love having the necessary sewing tools right under my machine!

I loved creating this month's Sewers Club project! The fabric selection just makes me so happy and is perfect for my sewing room! I absolutely LOVE that all the supplies are included in each Sewers Club Box!  Don't forget to watch the included video tutorial included with your box! I love learning new sewing tips! 

                   

Click HERE to join Sewers Club and SAVE $5 on your Sewers Club Box. FREE shipping in USA and Canada

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

Click HERE to join Sewers Club and SAVE $5 on your Sewers Club Box. FREE shipping in USA and Canada

Yes- You can use your Janome Embroidery Machine to Quilt!

Hi Janome Friends! I'm a Janome Maker, who loves her Janome 550E and M7.

Today I'm going to share tips on how to use your Janome 550E embroidery machine to quilt your projects and it's easy with Janome AcuFil Quilting Kit!

A Frozen Quilt definitely needs snowflake quilting and  I wanted to create perfectly stitched snowflakes at home... so I let my Janome 550E do all the hard work for me! Elsa and Olaf love all the snowflakes!!!

I used the Janome AcuFil Quilting Kit (ASQ18b) for machine quilting/embroidering my Frozen Quilt.  I chose to use the AcuFil Quilting Kit because it works perfectly with my Janome 550E (it will also work with 500E, 450E, 400E, eXpressive 830L, expressive 830). 

The Janome AcuFil Quilting Kit contains:

• 7.2" x 7.2" hoop with magnetic clamps. This is a must have! The magnetic clamps allow you to hoop thicker fabric when machine quilting/embroidering a quilt. Plus it is soooo much easier and quicker to hoop your project.

• Over 100 quilting designs are included. The snowflake I chose was an included design.

• AcuFil Tool - This computer program (Windows only at this time) allows you to utilize the included designs plus import other designs into the software. The software resizes the quilting design to best fit your quilt and creates a printable template for perfect placement when quilting/embroidering.

  
  
  
  
  

  How to start machine quilting with your Janome 550E:

  • Assemble quilt sandwich using a low loft batting - such as Hobbs 80/20. Quilt sandwich = pieced quilt top, batting, pieced backing.  

  • READ instructions - Quick Guide for Hoop ASQ18b starts on page 12.

  • Download Janome AcuFil Tool to your Windows Computer. 

  • OPEN AcuFil Tool on computer

  • SELECT Creating Original AcuFil Designs 

  • ENTER quilt dimensions 

  • CHOOSE design 

  • PRINT template

  • WRITE embroidery design to USB flash drive to transfer to Janome 550E

  • START quilting/embroidering

  
  

  

  
  

  You might be wondering why you need to print the template???

  
  

  Printing the template allows you to precisely position the quilt/hoop so the machine quilting/embroidery designs will stitch out where you want it. I recommended trimming the paper close to the printed image before adhering the printed template to the BACK of the acrylic AcuFil template. Use the grid lines on the printed template to match the grid lines on the acrylic AcuFil template for perfect placement.  Your machine will stitch on the quilting/embroidery design exactly as shown as your printed template.

  
  

  

  
  

  Helpful Tips:

  • Batting - Use a low-loft batting (Hobbs 80/20 or Warm & Natural or similar). Remember you will need to hoop ALL 3 layers so this is not the time to choose fluffy thick batting. 

  • Quilt Basting - I prefer to use basting spray adhesive so I don't have to worry about removing pins. You can you use pins if you prefer, but do not forget to remove them. Your embroidery machine will not be happy (nor will you) if you forget. 

  • Quilt backing needs to be at least 4-6" larger on each edge of quilt to allow for fabric to hoop while quilting edges of quilt. 

  • Embroidery tape. If you want to quilt to the very edge of your quilt top- be sure to use embroidery tape to tape the quilt top edge to the batting so your embroidery foot doesn't get stuck on the quilt top edge.

  • Choosing the Quilt Design. As this was my first time machine quilting with my embroidery machine, I chose a single design (NOT a connecting one). This allowed me to place the snowflakes randomly throughout the quilt and I didn't have to try and match up start/stop points for continuous quilting designs. 

  • Thread. Choose a thread that can be washed if you plan on washing/drying your finished quilt. I used a 40wt polyester thread, but I think I will try a 50wt thread (thinner) next time as this was a triple stitched design so it's a bit bold of quilting design.

  • Needle. Use a needle that you would use if you were free motion quilting (Janome Purple Tip).  I used a 90/14 Top Stitch Needle as I was using a 40wt thread.

  • Choose a quilting design that doesn't have multiple start/stops as each start/stop will make a knot on the back of your quilt. 

  • Choose a pattern backing fabric - this will hide the start/stop knots. I snip my thread really close to knot so it's not too noticeable. 

  • Stitch a test stitch out to make sure you like the design and thread you chose.

  • If the embroidery needle is not centered on the AcuFil template - Calibrate the  Center Position of the needle - page 22. 

  • When moving your quilt to a new section to quilt. Leave the hoop attached to the Janome 550E. Remove the quilt only and move the quilt to the next section you want to quilt. Use AcuFil acrylic template to check your quilt is in the correct spot then attach magnetic clamps.

  • Have fun!!!!

    
    
    
    
    

    I absolutely love being able to perfectly machine quilt my quilts at home with my Janome 550E!  Since I had so much fun machine quilting this quick Frozen Quilt, I quilted another HUGE quilt with multiple quilting designs. Let me know if you would like another blog post about importing continuous quilting designs into Janome AcuFil. 

    
    

    

    
    

    PS: If you need some Frozen Fabric for your Frozen fan - Panel HERE and Fabric HERE.

    
    

    Janome Blog Post HERE.

    
    

    Be sure to follow me on Instagram @Abitofscrapstuff and on my blog: A Bit of Scrap Stuff for more sewing and quilting 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!