Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Penguin Party Pillow


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Hi Friends. January is almost over ... and the bit of snow is perfect for my Penguin Party Pillow photos :).  This penguin is so cute and I absolutely loved sewing him!  Plus this Penguin Party Pillow definitely cheers up January! 

Click image above to save 15% off your order

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All of the supplies for the Penguin Party Pillow are available at Missouri Star Quilt Company, plus if you use my affiliate shopping link - you will save an additional 15% off your order ... yay! 


Supplies:

  • Penguin Party Pattern designed by Elizabeth Hartman
  • Robert Kaufman Carolina 1" Gingham
  • Kona Cotton Black
  • Kona Cotton White
  • Kona Cotton Gold
  • Kona Essex Linen Grey
  • Optional: but so helpful: Riley Blake Design Tailor's Clapper and Wooly Steady Betty MSQC exclusive 

Click image above to save 15% off your order

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Favorite Tip for Solid Fabric: Use a Sharpie to write the Brand and Color on the fabric selvage. It's so quick to do and is helpful for staying organized ... your future self will thank you :)

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Pattern Adjustment:
I made my Peguin Party Pillow a bit different from the pattern by making the pillow smaller at 18" x 18" and centering the penuguin. To make this simple change I just adjusted the size of the border strips. I love it!

Block Tips:
The Penguin block is traditionally pieced with some tiny pieces. To help have matching points and a flat block .... I LOVE to use the Riley Blake Designs Tailor Clapper with a wool pressing mat. Currently, I'm using the Wooly Steady Betty exclusive to Missouri Star Quilt Company and I love it!

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I am obsessed with the tiny 1" grid quilting ... I love it!  Check out my Instagram feed for a video (here)  on how I mark my grid lines before I quilt! Hint : a ruler and Hera marker are involved. 

I hope you decide to make a Penguin Party Pillow too. A whole quilt of penguins would be just the cutest!!! 

Click image above to save 15% off your order




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 Call


#msqcpartner #msqcshowandtell 



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

Friday, January 19, 2024

Perfectly Pieced: Log Cabin Pillow

 A Bit of Scrap Stuff Blog #ABitofScrapStuff #MeTimeDelivered #PerfectlyPieced #Kimberbell

I created this beautiful Log Cabin Pillow with Perfectly Pieced by ME Time: January 2024. I love love love this curated fabric bundle, it's so perfect for this project! Plus it has a happy winter vibe too. 

I am absolutely amazed with the projects, I can make with my embroidery machine. Guess what ...  I pieced and quilted all the log cabin blocks plus sashing for this gorgeous pillow with my home embroidery machine!!! Absolutely amazing!  My machine is the Janome M17 - which I love! 

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A bit about Perfectly Pieced:

Perfectly Pieced is a monthly subscription that is available in two options: Digital (digital files only) or Doorstep which includes all the digital files plus a curated fabric bundle, printed instructions, thread, plus notion(s) delivered to your doorstep.  The subscription is zero stress as you can always skip a month, but once you see the upcoming projects - you won't want to skip!  Kimberbell is the parent company of ME Time (machine embroidery delivered) so the quality is outstanding. 

Subscribe to Perfectly Pieced (here). 


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January: Log Cabin Pillow 18" x 18"

Let's chat how I created this Perfectly Pieced Log Cabin Pillow with custom quilting at home! 

*All the gorgeous fabric and Glide thread for this project was included in the January Doorstep Subscription Box. I only needed to add Kimberbell light mesh stabilizer and batting.

Step 1: Make (4) 8.5" x  8.5" unfinished Log Cabin blocks with quilting.  Yes, you will piece and quilt the log cabin block 100% with your embroidery machine. 

I shared a video on Instagram (here) making the Log Cabin Block. 

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Step 2: Make (1) 2.5" x 2.5" unfinished Log Cabin block with quilting. The block is sooooo tiny and cute plus has perfect seams!
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Step 3: Make (4) 2.5" sashing strips with quilting. Trim to 2.5" x 8.5"

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Step 4: Pillow Assembly

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Row 1 and 3: Sew together with 1/4" seam:  8.5" Log Cabin Block + Sashing + 8.5" Log Cabin Block
Row 2: Sew together with 1/4" seam: Sashing + 2.5" Log Cabin Block + Sashing
THEN sew Row 1 and 2 and 3 together. Log Cabin Pillow will measure 18.5" x 18.5"

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Step 5: Finish Pillow: 

Make pillow backing and bind pillow front and backing together.  Enjoy your fabulous new Log Cabin pillow!

Tip- When choosing the custom block by block quilting file option, the instructions have you trim the batting smaller than unfinished block size - this means NO bulky seams as the batting isn't in your seam. So don't skip this helpful step. 

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What is included in the Perfectly Pieced: January Box (Doorstep Subscription)

Image from Perfectly Pieced

  • Professional printed, full-color, step-by-step block instructions
  • Curated fabric bundle with enough fabric to make one of the included projects: Golden Lily Autumn (Free Spirit Fabrics), Silky Cottons Wood (EE Schenck), Rowan Stripe Tan (Windham Fabrics), Little Things Confetti Offwhite (Riley Blake Designs), Kitchen Window Woven Desert Green (Robert Kaufman), Homestead Digital Hills (Clothworks)
  • Glide Thread from Hab+Dash by Fil-Tec, Stone 17528
  • Collectible Log Cabin Pin
  • Fabric Clip Pack

Digital Files Include:

  • Files for 2", 4", 6", & 8" blocks
  • Instructions for 4 projects
  • Custom block-by-block quilting files
  • Allover quilting files for use with Clear Blue Tiles
  • Block Coloring Template
  • Quilt layouts & fabric calculations
  • Bonus project: Couch Caddy

I love receiving Perfectly Pieced each month! The blocks are always perfect plus I can use the allover quilting files for any of my quilting projects.  The bonus projects are always so creative too! The Doorstep subscription is so convenient and easy because everything I need to complete the project is included except stabilizer and batting.  So purchase Kimberbell Light Mesh Stabilizer and Kimberbell Project Batting (or you use low-loft batting scraps) and you will be ready for your next project!


Plus once you are a Subscriber - you can access the ME time delivered store for previous designs and supplies!


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 embroidering /sewing / quilting! 

Melanie Call

Shop Fabric at Fat Quarter Shop



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






Monday, January 8, 2024

JANOME TUTORIAL: Embroidery Tip - How to stitch out duplicate designs in one hoop without software

 


Hi Friends! Today,  I'm excited to share a time saving embroidery tip.  I love being able to stitch multiple embroidery designs in ONE hoop. This saves both time and stabilizer.  Are you reading to fill up your embroidery hoop without extra software?!?!?!?

This tutorial features the Janome M17 and will work with any embroidery design (all thread, appliqué, or mini quilt blocks).


Shop Fabric at Fat Quarter Shop


Janome Continental M17 
PS: I absolutely love this Janome Machine! I can quilt, sew, and embroider with ONE machine!  Plus I always have accurate and perfect stitches with every project!

Step 1: From Home Screen- select Embroidery Mode
Step 2: Select Edit tool
Step 3: Select Hoop Size tool



Step 4: Choose desired hoop size. 
Choose the correct hoop size that will fit the desired quantity of designs. As I am making (4) 2" designs - I will use the RE20d: 5.5" x 7.9" hoop.


Step 5: Open Embroidery File to select desired embroidery design




Step 7:  Use touch screen to move embroidery design to lower right quadrant 

Step 8: Select duplicate tool (the machine will duplicate the embroidery design that is highlighted in green). The duplicate design will be placed directly over the original design.


Step 9: Use touch screen to move duplicate embroidery design to upper right quadrant.


Step 10: Select duplicate tool two more times.

Step 11: Move one duplicate embroidery design to upper left quadrant and one duplicate embroidery design to lower left quadrant. There are now (4) copies of the embroidery file.


Step 12: Select Color Grouping tool. 
This tool will combine the thread colors. Example: The machine will stitch out step 1 for all four designs then move to step 2.  This is a huge time saver and requires less thread changes.


Now you are ready to stitch all four duplicate embroidery designs at once!


I will attach borders to these tiny 2" blocks to create little pincushions to give as gifts!

I hope you enjoy this time saving tip.  It's so helpful when you want to stitch out multiple versions of the same embroidery file.


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 embroidering /sewing / quilting! 

Melanie Call



Shop Fabric at Fat Quarter Shop



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


Perfectly Pieced by ME Time Delivered : The Gift BlockPerfectly Pieced: The Gift Block.