July Stash Bee

Hello there! Just taking a quick second to check in about July's Hive 6 block for the Stash Bee. This month Julia asked us all to make up some wonky stars. These little guys are only 5 inches square and super cute! I couldn't resist making up some extras! 

Julia also asked us what's our fabric guilty pleasure.  Mine is low volume prints and solids, with some polka dots and geometric prints mixed in. What about you?

Tomorrow is our last day of summer school, so sad to see the time fly by!

- Patch & Chels

Sunday Stash

Last Saturday a group of quilty gals made our way up to Keepsake Quilting in Center Harbor, New Hampshire. It was so much fun to hang around with five others who also have just as much of a fabric obsession as I. It was awesome. After having a delicious lunch we headed to shop, and shop we did! Three hours of careful consideration I walked away this these goodies. 

This little stack of lovelies is slated for my friend who is having a baby. We yet to know if it's a boy or a girl. Clearly by the purchase, I'm hoping for a girl. Plan B is to buy more fabric. She was very specific to say IF she had a girl there would be no overly girly and pink, so I thought this was a nice peachy compromise. The line is Wildflowers designed by Alisse Courter for Camelot Fabrics.

These goodies I just got because, I wanted them in my stash. There is some Elementary, Sunnyside, Scrumptious, and Kona.

I feel a though I went a little crazy, but at the same time feel I showed much restraint!  Hope everyone enjoyed their weekend!

-Patch & Chels

Christmas in July

After finishing my Joyful Jelly Roll Tree Skirt and the Ho Ho Ho and On We Sew tutorial, I dug out my Christmas quilt top.  This top was finished last fall and I bought the backing, but never finished the quilt. Since it's officially Christmas in July around here I decided this would be a great next finish! 

I used the Bizzy Kid pattern by Cluck Cluck Sew in a variety of Christmas fabrics. It was made using the same fabrics as the tree skirt and my stockings. Keeping with the coordinated Christmas decoration theme. The backing is a red dot on white flannel.

Quilt Stats: 

Size: 48 inches by 60 inches

Pattern: Bizzy Kid by Cluck Cluck Sew

Fabric: Assorted Christmas fabric

Batting: 80/20 blend

Backing: Flannel

Thread: Connected Threads - 100% Cotton Parchment Thread

Anyone else getting in the festive mood and getting some holiday sewing done? Sometimes it's hard to think that far ahead!

-Patch & Chels

Ho Ho Ho and On We Sew

Christmas in July!! Thanks for stopping by for this months tutorial on Ho Ho Ho and On We Sew tour hosted by Fiona @ Celtic Thistle Stitches and Paula @ Mud Pies and Pins.  This month, both Martha @ Weekend Doings and I are both hosting a tutorial, check out her page for another idea and more giveaways! Most of us are officially sweltering in the summer heat, but here I am quilting for Christmas! Such a juxtaposition of thoughts right now; laying in the sun verses quilting. Last month ended by making a tree skirt for the Fat Quarter Shop. So keeping the Christmas theme going, I am making a pillow cover to go with the skirt. This year my house will be fully decorated! 

**For this project sew with a scant quarter inch seam and press all seams open. **

Materials & Cutting

- 18 inch pillow form

- (18)  green: 4.5 inch by 2.5 inch

- (36) low volume: 2.5 inch by 2.5 inch

- (1) low volume: 4.5 inch by 15 inch

- (1) brown: 1.5 inch by 20 inch

- (2) low volume: 2 inch 20 inch

- (2) linen: 2.5 inch by WOF

- (2) red: 2.5 inch by WOF 

- (2) backing; 20.5 inch by 15 inch

- (1) batting: 22 inch by 22 inch 
- Various buttons for decoration
- Red floss 

Directions

Start by creating the flying geese. Take a 2.5 inch square and go diagonally from corner to corner on one of the 2.5 inch by 4.5 inch green rectangles. Cut extra fabric on outside and iron open. Do the same to the other side. Complete this for all 18 flying geese. 

Next, sew the 1.5 inch brown strip to the 2 inch low volume strip, do the same to the other side. Sub-cut the strip into the following; 5.5 inch, 2.5 inch, 3.5 inch, and 7.5 inch pieces. These will become the tree trunks.

Sub-cut the low volume 4.5 inch by 15 inch strip into the following; 3.5 inch, 2.5 inch, 5.5 inch, and a 1.5 inch piece. 

Now to sew the pieces together.  Start with the flying geese.  Sew together 3 sets of 4 geese, and 1 set of 6 geese. On one of the 4 geese put the 5.5 inch trunk, and 3.5 inch low volume at the top. The set of 6 geese put the 2.5 inch trunk, and 2.5 inch low volume at the top. The second 4 geese put the 3.5 inch trunk, and 5.5 inch low volume top.  The last set of 4 geese put the 7.5 inch trunk, and the 1.5 inch low volume top. Once the four trees are assembled sew them together (you can chose any arrangement for this part).

Attach the 2.5 inch linen strips around the outside to create a boarder. The top should be 20.5 inches by 20.5 inches, you can now baste to the 22 inch square batting and quilt as desired. Sew buttons to the trees to create the look of ornaments on the tree or embroider different patterns to the trees.

For the back of the pillow, take the two 20.5 inch by 15 inch pieces and iron over a quarter inch twice and sew along the edge to hide the raw edges. Once this is done pin to the front piece using a an envelope enclosure. Tutorial here.

Last, make the binding. Take the two red 2.5 inch strips and sew them together. Iron seam open and fold in half to make the binding. Sewing around the perimeter. Hand or machine sew the binding down. Tutorial here. 

If you have any question please email, or comment.

This month's giveaway is hosted by the Fat Quarter Shop. The winner will win a mini charm pack, with over 60 to pick from there must be something for everyone. To enter the giveaway put your project on the link up below!

Also thank you to all the other sponsors who have helped us out this year ... 

http://www.patchworkelephant.com/

To link up this month:  An InLinkz Link-up

If you make this tutorial or Martha's tutorial please link up!

-Patch & Chels