Barn Star Sampler Quilt Along - Month 1

 

I'm SEW excited for the Barn Star Sampler Quilt Along with Fat Quarter Shop. During 2023 - I will be quilting along to create this FABULOUS and huge quilt. The Barn Star Sampler Quilt measures 80.5" x 100.5" - so definitely choose a 108" wide fabric for an easy backing ;).

My Barn Star Sampler Quilt is going to be all Lori Holt fabrics and totally scrappy!!!! Each month I will be selecting my favorite Lori Holt prints to create the blocks. For both of my Block 1 blocks - I did choose my favorite Calico prints because I still had that fabric together in a lovely bundle.

Block 1: 24.5" x 24.5" (make 2)

This month we are making two Block 1 blocks with lots of points! But no fear - there are few methods available for perfect points that are easy!

Half-Square Triangles Options:

• AccuQuilt GO! 2" finished ( 2.5"unfinished) half-square triangle die (my preferred method)
• Bloc-loc 6.5" half-square triangle ruler
• Triangles on a Roll: 2" finished: (2.5" unfinished) half-square triangle paper

Barn Star Sampler Quilt Along Supplies:

clickable links below

• Barn Star Sampler Book: Fat Quarter Shop (available in March)
• Lori Holt Fabric Collections - pick your favorite prints!
• Calico
• Prairie
• Prim
• Cook Book
• Flea Market
• Granny Chic
• Farm Girl Vintage
• Vintage Happy 2
• Bee Basics
• Bee Gingham
• Bee Plaid
• Bee Backgrounds

• OPTIONAL: Barn Star Sampler: Foundation Paper Piecing Set by It's Sew Emma

OR Fat Quarter Shop has curated a fabulous bundle of happy fabric if you want to make your quilt just like Kimberly's. PS - it looks AMAZING!

• Barn Star Sampler Half Yard Starter Bundle
• On the Farm Cream Dots (background)

 

Fat Quarter Shop has created a schedule for completing the Barn Star Sampler Quilt that is totally achievable over 2023. 

I hope you decide to join in for Barn Star Sampler Quilt .... it's going to be amazing!!!

 #BarnStarSamplerQAL

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

Have a great day and happy sewing / quilting! 

Melanie 

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

TUTORIAL - Mix It Pillow

Hi Friends!  Today I'm sharing a tutorial on making the Mix It Pillow on the Janome website and here on my blog too! I absolutely love making pillows with my left over fabric scraps as it is  a free bonus project! These lovely fabric scraps are from my Harmony Quilt.

I will be creating the Mix It Pillow on my Janome M7 - which is SEW fabulous! I've been sewing on this machine for over 3 years and I love how easy it is to use plus it stitches beautifully.

Tutorial - Mix It Pillow 18" x 18"

The Mix It Pillow is perfect for your 1.5" fabric scraps, so find your favorite fabric scraps in your stash to create your pillow!

Supplies:

• (36) 1.5" x 3.5" rectangles of print fabric. Prairie Fabric designed by Lori Holt for Riley Blake Designs
• (72) 1.5" x 3.5" rectangles of background fabric. Denim Pin Dot Fabric designed by Lori Holt for Riley Blake Designs
• 18.5" x 18.5" or larger pillow backing fabric. Bee Basics Multi Busy Patchwork designed by Lori Holt for Riley Blake Designs
• 20" or longer Nylon Zipper. Will trim zipper to pillow width.
• Scrap Batting
• Optional - interior backing fabric. This fabric will be inside the pillow and not seen, but does give the pillow interior a finished look.

 Mix It Block 18.5" x 18.5"

Block Assembly

1. Sew (1) 1.5" x 3.5" rectangle background fabric above and below (1) 1.5"x 3.5" rectangle print fabric to create a 3.5" x 3.5" square. Press towards print fabric. Make (36) 3.5" x 3.5" squares.

2.  Sew together (6) 3.5" x 3.5" squares to create Row 1. Rotate every other block as shown below. Make (3) Row 1. Press blocks towards left. 

3. Sew together (6) 3.5" x 3.5" squares to create Row 2. Rotate every other block as shown below. Make (3) Row 2. Press blocks towards right.

3. Sew together Mix It Block by alternating Row 1 and Row 2.

4. Make quilt sandwich. Mix It Pillow top (right side up) + batting (middle) + interior backing fabric (right side down).  Quilt as desired. I chose to stipple free motion quilt my Mix It Pillow.

5. OPTIONAL: Quilt Pillow Backing fabric. This is a great option for a reversible pillow.  

Pillow Backing Fabric: Bee Basics Multi Busy Patchwork designed by Lori Holt for Riley Blake Designs.

6. Pillow Assembly- Insert Zipper: 

Janome Tutorial: Reversible Zipper Pillow (here) 

 

I hope you love making the Mix It Pillow with your treasured fabric scraps! It's the perfect decor pillow for your home or to give as a gift! 

Share  your Mix It Pillow with hashtags #MixItPillow  #JanomeMakes #ABitofScrapStuffPattern

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

Have a great day and happy sewing / quilting! 

Melanie 

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

EASY Grandmother's Garden Quilt - TUTORIAL

 EASY Grandmother's Garden Quilt - TUTORIAL

Hi Quilty Friends! Today I'm sharing my EASY Grandmother's Garden Quilt (keep on reading for the free tutorial) with the gorgeous Wild and Free Collection designed by Gracey Larson for Riley Blake Designs.  

The Wild and Free Main print (below) is my FAVORITE because Gracey has drawn all 50 state flowers!!! This collection is both beautiful and educational! PS- the Wild and Free Panel is a must as it is a map of USA with all the states and their flower!

I knew I wanted a to make quit a with a floral design and I love a Grandmother's Garden Quilt, but hand sewing hexagons together would take me forever and sewing y-seams is stressful. So I used my AccuQuilt GO! Half-Hexagon die to make my quilt EASY with no hand sewing or y-seams!

EASY Grandmother's Garden Quilt Tutorial 

53.5" x 63.5" Quilt

Supplies:

• (12) 1/2 yards : Wild and Free designed by Gracey Larson
• (5) 1/4 yards: Wild and Free designed by Gracey Larson
• 0.625 yard binding: Wild and Free designed by Gracey Larson
• 3.5 yards Backing OR (1) Wild and Free Panel with extra (1) yard of Wild and Free Main Print plus left over fabrics
• AccuQuilt GO! Half-Hexagon 4 1/2" sides die
• AccuQuilt GO! Cutter (if using AccuQuilt GO! die for cutting)

Note: If you do not have an AccuQuilt GO! or GO! Half-Hexagon die – try using Lori Holt Hexie Half Ruler Set. Just use the larger size ruler. Your quilt size may vary slightly from mine.

Cutting Instructions

• Cut each 1/2 yard print into (3) 4 1/2" x WOF strips, then cut (12) half-hexagons with your AccuQuilt GO! Half Hexagon 4 1/2" Sides Die  from each print. (Total of 144 half-hexagons)
  • Each 4 1/2" x WOF Strip will cut (4) half-hexagons
• Cut each 1/4 yard print into (1) 4 1/2" X WOF strip, then cut (4) half-hexagons with your AccuQuilt GO! Half Hexagon 4 1/2" Sides Die from each print.  (Total of 20 half-hexagons)
• There will be a total of 164 half-hexagons cut. Quilt requires 162 half-hexagons.
  • Each full flower requires (12) half-hexagons for petals and (2) half-hexagons for flower center.
  • Don't worry - it's super quick to cut the half-hexagons as your AccuQuilt GO! Cutter does all the work for you! Plus you can cut 6 layers of fabric at a time - yay!
• Cut (6) 2.5" x WOF binding strips.

Note: If you do not have an AccuQuilt GO! or GO! Half-Hexagon die - try using Lori Holt Hexie Half Ruler Set. Just use the larger size ruler. Your quilt size may vary slightly from mine.

Quilt Assembly

• Arrange your half-hexagons in your desired layout. Don't worry about the hexagon edges on the quilt sides, we will be trimming them off. No need to panic- it's just a tiny bit of trimming off so there isn't much waste at all. 
• Layout should be (9) half-hexagons across (horizontal) and (18) half-hexagons down (vertical).

Sewing

• Begin sewing horizontal rows together. Sew (2) half-hexagons short sides, right sides together with 1/4" seam. AccuQuilt has already trimmed the corners of your blocks so they are easy to line up and sew together. Continue until entire horizontal row has been sewn together.

Row 1

Row 2

• Continue sewing all (18) horizontal rows as shown above. Be careful to pay attention to placement of half-hexagons.
• Next sew Row (1) and Row (2) together with a 1/4"seam. I did pin each point as I like perfect points :).
• Repeat sewing rows together in numerical order until quilt top is complete.

Trimming Quilt

• Using a ruler - trim the edges of the hexagons on the left and right edges of the quilt. I trimmed  at the intersection of the two fabrics. This will give your quilt straight edges and it will be so much easier to bind. See diagram below. EASY Grandmother's Garden Quilt will measure 53.5" x 63.5".

OPTIONAL (but awesome): Pieced Backing

The Wild and Free Panel is AMAZING! Plus I love a double sided quilt so I chose to use my left over fabrics for a fun pieced backing! 

I think this is a fun (and pretty) option to learn US Geography!!!

Quilt and Bind as desired

You did it! Now you have an EASY Grandmother's Garden Quilt with the gorgeous Wild and Free fabric to enjoy!!! Plus hooray for NO y-seams or hand sewing!!! I can't wait to see your quilt! 

Do you know your state's flower?????

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

Have a great day and happy sewing / quilting! 

Melanie 

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

GO! Flying West Table Runner with AccuQuilt

Hi AccuQuilt Friends!  Today I'm sharing a tutorial for the Flying West Table Runner with two fun features. The Flying West Table Runner is reversible AND I used a Custom AccuQuilt GO! die.  This fun tutorial is also shared on the AccuQuilt blog - here.

I love to create reversible projects as it saves storage space and I love being able to use either side of my Flying West Table Runner. One side is winter and the reverse is spring! 

I'm going to chat a bit about creating a Custom AccuQuilt GO! die before the tutorial because this is such an awesome option if  there is a die/shape on your wish list that hasn't been released yet by AccuQuilt!

Custom Shape Pros

Did you know that AccuQuilt offers custom dies that you can design with Custom Shape Pros (AccuQuilt sister company) ?!?!? Creating a custom AccuQuilt GO! die is amazing and easy!  

I love creating projects with the Flying Geese Block, but I wanted a larger size that is not currently available as a die from AccuQuilt. Making flying geese blocks with AccuQuilt dies is my favorite method since no trimming is required or fabric waste for perfect flying geese blocks.  Fun fact: The trimmed off triangles made with the traditional method are called goose droppings...eek. Since I wanted perfectly cut 4" x 8" finished flying geese blocks with no trimming or goose droppings - I requested a Custom Die from Custom Shape Pros.  In a few weeks, my custom AccuQuilt GO! 4" x 8" Finished Flying Geese arrived at my home. My custom die is the exact same quality as all AccuQuilt GO! Dies!

To learn more about Custom AccuQuilt dies from Custom Shape Pros - click here. 

 

Flying West Table Runner 13.5" x 39.5"

 

AccuQuilt GO! Dies required:

•  CUSTOM - AccuQuilt GO! 4" x 8" Finished Flying Geese Die
•  GO! Qube Mix & Match 8" Block (Die 4: 55711 and Die 5: 55712)
• GO! Qube Mix & Match 4" Block (Die 4: 55233 and Die 5: 55547)
• GO! Strip Cutter 3" (2.5" finished) (55084)
•  GO! Strip Cutter 2.5" (2" finished) (55017)

Fabric requirements:

•  (6) Fat Quarters or (12) Fat Quarters or Fabric Scraps:  Warm Wishes by Riley Blake Designs, Calico (green pint) and Cookbook (pink print) by Lori Holt for Riley Blake Designs and Whimsical Romance by Riley Blake Designs
•  1 yard background fabric: Aqua Pin Dot by Riley Blake Designs
•  1/3 yard binding: Bee Plaids designed by Lori Holt for Riley Blake Designs
•  Scrap Batting
  
  

Cutting Instructions:

*For one side of Flying West Table Runner. If you are making your project reversible then double cutting instructions below.

Fat Quarters/Fabric Scraps

1.  CUSTOM - AccuQuilt GO! 4" x 8" Finished Flying Geese Die.  
   - CUT (6) Flying Geese Body Shapes and (12) Flying Geese Corner Shapes
2. GO! Qube Mix & Match 8" Block (Die 4: 55711 and Die 5: 55712)  
   - CUT (8) Die 4:  Quarter Square Triangle/Flying Geese Body Shapes 
   -  CUT (16) Shape 5: Half-square triangle/Flying Geese Corner Shapes
3. GO! Qube Mix & Match 4" Block (Die 4: 55233 and Die 5: 55547)
   - CUT (8) Die 4:  Quarter Square Triangle/Flying Geese Body Shapes 
   - CUT (16) Shape 5: Half-square triangle/Flying Geese Corner Shapes

Background Fabric

1.  GO! Strip Cutter 3" (2.5" finished) (55084)
   - CUT (2) strips 3" x 8.5" (border strip)**
   - CUT (2) strips 3" x 39.5"  (border strip)**
   ** Wait to cut border strips until after Flying West Table Runner center is finished. Then measure table runner width and length and cut to your project width and length.

Binding Fabric

1. GO! Strip Cutter 2.5" (2" finished) (55017)
   - CUT (3) 2.5" x WOF strips. WOF = width of fabric, approximately 40-42"

 

 

Assembly Instructions:

1. Piece together (6) Flying Geese 4" x 8" finished (4.5" x 8.5" unfinished). Label A

2. Piece together (8) Flying Geese 2" x 4" finished (2.5" x 4.5" unfinished). Label B

3. Piece together (8) Flying Geese 1" x 2" finished (1.5" 2.5" unfinished). Label C

4. Sew together (3) A Flying Geese as shown below (1 x 3). Repeat. 

5. Sew together (4) B Flying Geese as shown below (2 x 2). Repeat.

6. Sew together (4) C Flying Geese as shown below (1 x 4). Repeat.

6. Sew together Flying Geese Sections A + B + C as shown below. Repeat.

7. Sew Flying Geese Sections together so the Flying Geese blocks point towards the center.

8. Sew (1) 3" x 8.5" border strip** to right and left side of Flying West Table Runner.

9. Sew (1) 3" x 39.5" border strip**  to top and bottom of Flying West Table Runner

10. Baste, Quilt, and Bind as desired OR Repeat steps 1-9 to make a reversible Flying West Table Runner.

Reversible Table Runner Hint:

I cut my outer border 4" wide (instead of 3") on the "backing" side of my table runner. This gave me an extra 1" around the project for centering my "top" side when basting and free motion quilting.  After quilting, I trimmed off the excess batting and "backing" side of table runner. This method works best for me.

 

I hope your enjoyed learning about creating custom AccuQuilt GO! dies and the Flying West Table Runner Tutorial!

Let me know if you love creating reversible projects too!

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

Have a great day and happy sewing / quilting! 

Melanie 

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