I Heart You Quilt + Tutorial

Materials: 

1 - Layer Cake (Flirt by Sandy Gervais)

1.75 yds. - Background fabric (Above is an assortment of white on white prints & creams) 

Heart Block Tutorial @ Cluck Cluck Sew 

When I saw the heart block tutorial I immediately pulled the layer cake of Flirt, and thought this is perfect. This quilt only uses the materials listed above. Yes, this layer cakes goes the distance! Here are the directions so you too can make your own ... 

Directions: 

Step 1: Choose 16 prints to make the hearts, then follow the 9 inch block directions @ Cluck Cluck Sew. You will need 4 - 5 inch strips to subcut into 5 inch charms (32 in total) and 3 - 1.75 inch strips subcut into 1.75 squares (66 in total). **Sew another line a half inch from the center line to get 2 more HSTs from each heart. Image below shows the lines sewn on each block. At the end you should have 16 hearts, and 32 HSTs (square them to 4 inches and put aside).

Step 2: Cut remaining background fabric into 12 - 2.5 inch strips for sashing around each block.  Subcut 20 - 9.5 inch strips for either side of the blocks. Arrange your blocks in a 4 x 4 pattern. Start by sewing the 9.5 inch sashing on the left/right side of each block to create 4 rows. Place sashing on the top/bottom of each row and sew rows together. There should be some sashing left over, this will be used on the back. Now, the top is complete!

Step 3: Pick 20 of the remaining prints to be used on the back, sew them together in rows of 5. Now, take all the extra HSTs and sew them together anyway you desire to create a 2 x 14 row. (I just used a pinwheel pattern.) Next, sash either side of the HST row with the remaining sashing. Sew the 4 rows to the HST row to complete the back. Warning: the back isn't much bigger than the front, so be very careful basting!

Step 4: Take the remaining 6 prints and cut them into 4 - 2.5 inch strips. ** All 42 squares should be used by now! ** Sew the strips together end to end, to create the binding. All the strips together will be enough to wrap around the quilt. You could also substitute yardage if you are worried about that many seams. Iron binding in half lengthwise. 

Step 5: Make the quilt sandwich, however you prefer. Once again, be careful when basting the backing and the front are almost the same size (only 1 - 2 inches of overhang). Quilt as desired (I used a stipple pattern), and sew on the binding. Personally, I like the look of hand-stitched binding, but machine binding is quicker. The quilt is now done :)

If you have any questions let me know!! This is a great way to use up a whole layer cake that just might be laying around :) No need to fuss with backing and binding either, it's all included! Also check out Alison's other tutorials, I am an huge fan of the star block. 

Quilt Stats: 

• Finished Size: 45 inches x 45 inches 
• Pattern: Heart Block Tutorial 
• Fabric: Flirt by Sandy Gervais, assorted whites/creams
• Batting: Warm & Natural - white
• Thread: Connecting Threads - light pink

Today I am linking up with Stephanie and Michelle at Late Night Quilter, she is starting Tips and Tutorials Tuesday. If you have any tips or tutorials that are worth sharing link up, she is offering prizes each week for the first month! 

-Patch & Chels

Layers of Charm

A while back the Fat Quarter Shop contacted me about participating in their newest pattern release.  Well, duh. I said yes! Layers of Charm uses one layer cake and one charm pack.  Hence the name :). After much debate a layer cake of Pedal Pushers by Lauren & Jessi Jung was my final decision, paired with a charm of Kona white. The line is just happy. Everything about it brings a smile to my face. If you would like to make your own head over to the You Tube video, here, to find out how.  

The past couple of weeks the weather has not been cooperative. The view form my window right now looks more like a snow globe. 48 inches of white fluffy snow plus epic wind gusts is not ideal photo conditions. Neither is inside, but it's the best option right now. Sadly, the photograph doesn't do all these pretty fabrics justice. 

The ease and simplicity of the pattern makes it a good afternoon project. All you have to do is sew from corner to corner across the charm square and the block is done. If you hate waste like me, then sew another line a half inch from the center for a bonus HST. Arrange the blocks and sew the rows together. The backing is pieced using white strips and leftover squares. I do enjoy pieced backing for a couple reasons. One, it adds a bit of pizzaz to the quilt. Two, it uses up extra fabric from the same line and reduces scraps. For the quilting an all over stipple pattern with aqua thread did the trick. 

With the additional HSTs birthed two decorative pillows. Some backing was made into binding for these two and hand-stitched the tops for additional decorative flair. If you absolutely hate scraps this was a great little extra. From each quilt you can get an additional 36 - 4 inch HST after trimming.  

What layer cake would you use to make this quilt? Have one already with no project in mind, I highly recommend this pattern :) 

-Patch & Chels

Star Mini

Anyone out there ever have huge elaborate grand plans? Like paper piecing a 100 stars into a bed size quilt, grand plan? Apparently, after 9 blocks in my grand plan had fizzled out. These blocks have been hanging around my sewing area for some time now. Ok, a few years, lets be honest. Since, there is absolutely no intentions of finishing the last 91 blocks I sewed them together with one inch sashing. Change of plans, but another project is now done! Thank you snow day sewing for allowing me some extra time to futz around :) 

The center block here is my favorite! The top got quilted using quarter inch straight line stitches all over. It did takes some turns to visually add to the quilting. 

The quilting took forever, so it probably won't become my new favorite, but it works out well for smaller quilts. Now I just need to decide where to hang this beauty! Has anyone else got to enjoy some snow day sewing?

-Patch & Chels

Sunday Stash

One of my blogging friends recently opened a little fabric shop on Etsy. You many know her as Kelsey from Lovely & Enough. She does gorgeous screen printing (still amazed by that process) on  high quality cotton. These are printed on Kona and Art Gallery.  So, no shortage of luxury. 

Kelsey was nice enough to allow me to pick out my own bundle, yippe!  As much as I loved the thought of putting together a one of a kind package, it was so difficult with all the great prints/color selections. Her taste in colors is very similar to mine, so it was extra hard. Here are my final decisions ...

Pistachios in coral, printed on Art Gallery. Bunting in peach, printed on Kona peach sherbet. ** Favorite from the bunch! **

Pistashios in citron, printed on Art Gallery. Hortensia in citron, printed on Art Gallery snow.

Now the real question, what to make with these beautiful fabrics? A mini/wall hanging? Any suggestions?

-Patch & Chels