Volant Table Runner Tutorial

Hello lovelies!

So wonderful to be blogging again! Lately, I've been so busy designing for my new collection and coordinating new projects [coming soon :)] that I couldn't find free time, but I did not forget about you all! and I promise I will be hanging out here more often with new goodies to share, like this one! I wrote the instructions for the Volant table runner for the release of NouvElle, and I want to share them with you. Here is the PDF.

The quilting was inspired by the New Look Coral print:



I hope you enjoy it and share your finished project with me!! I love seeing everything you lovelies make :)

Love and happy sewing,

Pat

Quilt accidents do happen

Hi!

A few weeks ago could finally start this table runner made with my Rapture fabrics, and God knows I would have liked to finish it in 2 days at the most! With Quilt Market getting closer on the horizon, the perspectives of finishing were washing away little by little. So I took the decision to be patient and work with the small amounts of time I could find. Anyways I wanted to take couple of pics from the process.

After being pieced, quilted, trimmed and ready to be bound, I just found out that the width of the runner was 12". I went to my kitchen table to try it and looked so thin!! The first seconds were a feeling of panic...  Luckily for me, I didn't add any backing yet :)

Thinking about a quick and easy solution for a couple of days, I managed to sew (side to side) two strips of batting 2" wide on each side with a zig-zag stitch (4.0 width). I thought that if it crossed the finished side of the runner just by a little, then I could piece a 2 1/4" of fabric on top, and it wouldn't be visible when I pressed it open (I was sewing with a 1/4" seam).

It actually worked! And... I could add a contrasting floral fabric as a border. Then, I decided to follow the same steps adding strips on the extremes. For the backing, I've selected two different fabrics joined in stripes (to have a reverse side I could use). Then I tried to mimic the straight quilting I did for the body of the runner.

The binding choice was a modern geometric dot that could look good against the floral. Retro Pop Mint, from my Carnaby St. collection .

I love how the binding looks! Of course... by hand (one my favorite steps)

Pure joy when I used for the first time!

Quilt accidents do happen, but nothing that a big dose of a desire to make it work and another one of love can't solve :)

Did you happen to have a similar moment of panic as I did?

Xo, Pat

FREE project : "Love, Mom" Bed Runner

Hello lovelies, it's time for a sewing tutorial!

Every time I turn on the television there are commercials for back to school. ALREADY?!? It seems like summer just started. Back to school makes me think of all of the kids going off to college for the first time. I remember when my son went off to college. I missed him so. I called him every day! But what an exciting time for him to go away to experience life and education.

I'm  feeling heavy-hearted thinking of all of the moms whose children are going off to school. So I'm inspired to make a tutorial for you moms to give your daughters something to remind them of home. It's a bed runner that they can put at the foot of their bed to remind them of you!

Finished size: 24" x 60"

MATERIALS:
For this project, I used the Pure Elements solids that I handpicked for Art Gallery Fabrics.

• 2 7/8 yd of PE-427 Spiceberry
• ½ yd of PE-401 Verve Violet
• ½ yd of PE-432 Sandstone
• ½ yd of PE-413 Caviar
• ½ yd of PE-405 Cherry Lipgloss
• Fat Quarter of PE-425 Mauvelous
• 35" x 75" Non-fusible BATTING
• 3/4 yd SINGLE-SIDED Fusible Interfacing

NOTIONS:

• 10 pearl beads
• Hand Sewing Needle
• Color-coordinated thread
• Masking tape
• Safety pins
• Scissors
• Water Soluble marker

INSTRUCTIONS
Sew all right sides together with ¼" seam allowance. Press open.

Cutting:
For base quilt-

• Sub-cut PE-427 into four (4) 24" x 30 1/4" rectangles

For flowers (10 big flowers and 10 small flowers)-

• Sub-cut PE-401 into four (4) 8" squares and four (4) 5" squares
• Sub-cut PE-432 into four (4) 8" squares and six (6) 5" squares
• Sub-cut PE-413 into four (4) 8" squares and four (4) 5" squares
• Sub-cut PE-405 into four (4) 8" squares and six (6) 5" squares
• Sub-cut PE-425 into four (4) 8" squares
• Ten (10) 8" squares and ten (10) 5" squares of interfacing 

Step 1. Making the base quilt

• Grab the four 24" x 30 1/4" rectangles and sew them in pairs creating two rectangles that measure 24" x 60". One rectangle will be the TOP fabric and the other one the BACKING fabric. Place the BACKING on a large surface (wrong side up). Stretch it with masking tape against that surface.
• Place the BATTING on top of the BACKING.
• Place the TOP on top of the batting (right side facing up). Smooth away wrinkles using your hands.
• Pin all layers together and baste using long stitches. You can also use safety pins to join the layers.
• For this quilt, I chose a straight and modern motif. Start quilting right at the center where there is a seam. From there, create parallel lines 5" apart from each other and quilt. Use a contrasting color thread so that the stitching really pops out. I used beige on the Spiceberry tone.

After you have finished, trim any of the excess fabric or batting, squaring the quilt to proceed to bind it. To obtain the binding, cut enough WOF strips of Spiceberry with a 1½" width to create a long strip measuring 180" (about 5). For detailed instructions on how to finish binding, check out my Free Quilt patterns here, and at the end of each quilt, it has diagrams on how to do it!

Now that the base is done, I will show you how to construct one of the big flowers and you can follow the same steps for the rest of the flowers, big and small.

Step 2. Flower Construction

• Start by grouping the flowers. For each flower, grab two squares with the same size and color and one square of interfacing (also with the same size). Place one fabric on top of the other (right sides facing together), leaving the interfacing on the bottom (fusible side facing up).

• Now trace the Flower Template on the top fabric, making sure you transfer all the points. Pin the edges of the three layers.
• Sew on top of the line, going all the way to the points. Go over the first stitches you created to secure the stitching.

• Trim down the excess fabrics to 1/8" all around the stitching line and clip in between each petal to allow for better turning.

• To turn the flower inside you, draw a 1½" long line on the center of the flower.

• Being super careful in order to cut JUST the top layer, pinch the fabric so that you can cut the line you traced.

Try to separate the top layer from the bottom and interfacing.

•  Carefully turn the flower inside out through the hole.

• Press well.

• Close the hole using a hand needle. Press the raw edges towards the inside of the flower and close with a slip stitch.
• Repeat this process to finish all of the flowers.

Now that you have the base and the flowers ready, it's time to sew them together!

Step 3. Putting it all together

• Pair one big flower with one small flower in a contrasting color so that you have ten combinations. 

• Place them on the base quilt to establish the order that your prefer. Pin them in place.
• Grab one big flower, one small flower, and a pearl bead. You will now begin to hand sew them to the base of the quilt. First start by putting the needle through the center of the wrong side of the big flower and go through the center of the flower, catching the bead as well by going through the hole.

• Now, go back through the center of the small flower, then though the big flower and catch the top layer of the base quilt.
• Repeat again.

• Do this a couple of times to secure the flowers well. To finish, do an extra stitch on the bottom of the piece, or in a hidden portion, and pass the needle back through the stitch to form a knot. Do it again to double the knot. 
• Repeat until you have finished attaching all the flowers to the base quilt.

I hope you enjoy making this bed runner. To creating great off-to-school memories!

xoxo

Using Decorative Stitches in Modern Quilting Pt. 3

Happy Monday my loves! First of all, I would like to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for all the wonderful comments you made about my Bernina dream coming true! I can truly say that you are all the absolute best and I'm happy I was able to share that special moment in my life with you.

Now, I know it's been a while since I've written. As you can see, I've started my own little color inspirations to add a bit of brightness to your day with love from me. So today, I'm going to continue my four part tutorial on how to use decorative stitches in modern quilting and hide your stitches by hand. We've already explored how to create an intriguing quilt block by using solids and explored the many decorative stitches out there that can give your quilt a different look.

So let's begin...
The Blanket Stitch on this block creates a visual interest that is both daring and modern. Its linear structure appeals to the absolute modernist some quilters have inside.

Taking the last block further, I chose to use the Double Blanket Stitch, but this time I placed it on a completely new palette of Pure Elements to demonstrate how simple alterations to an idea can create a whole different mood on a quilting block.

I call this our Variation Fancy X- Hemstitch. The combination of what is considered a traditional stitch plus the modernity of the colors chosen for this block make it the perfect match between classic and contemporary.

Last but not least, in order to add a sweeter touch for all the hopeless romantics out there, I decided to create a what-other-than pink block with the Blanket X-Cross Stitch. Did you notice how all the X’s symbolize kisses? The combination of the traditional straight stitch with the “x-kisses” carries the modern element while keeping the essence of this quilt close to the heart.

Now that all the blocks are done, I will demonstrate how to hide those loose threads for a crisp finish on your blocks:

For this, you will need a hand-sewing needle:

1. Grab the loose end and thread the hand-sewing needle with it.

2. Pass the threaded needle through the last whole that was created when making the decorative stitch with the machine needle, making sure NOT to go through the batting but rather assuring to hide the thread in between the fabric and the batting. This applies for both the front of the block and the backing.

3. Pull gently to obtain a smooth surface and voila! Trick accomplished.

4. Hopefully you loved this post and I was able to open a little window of love from you toward the sometimes forgotten buttons on your machine. Experimenting with combinations of different fabrics and different stitches can immerse you in a whole new world of quilting, where the rules and styles are created as you go. 

Enjoy and explore!

Love,
Pat

Using Decorative Stitches in Modern Quilting - part 1

*As I am trying to update this new blog of mine, I'm bringing some content I wrote previously on the Art Gallery Fabrics' blog. This post was written on March 27th, 2012.
 
Modern quilting is a growing trend and as more and more blogs begin to feature this style we see that many favor the straight line for quilting motives. Because solids are used alone or in combination with prints, quilting thread colors and quilting motives take a new and central stage in the look of the finished quilt.

Do you have decorative stitches built in on your machine?

Have you ever thought that if you choose a geometric quilting motif as a design for your finished quilt, these forgotten "I don't know what I can use them for..." stitches can give your quilt a terrific and oh... so different look? Why only use our first choice, the all time known straight stitch? Another reason to use geometric quilting motives is that is much easier to handle under a home sewing machine, so no necessity to send it to the long arm quilter and you can practice yourself!!

In these tutorial series I want to show you how different decorative stitches not only break free of the norm but can also add a high contrast visual appeal to your blocks.


For demonstration purposes, I'll work with blocks instead of a finished top. This idea can work great with any quilt as you go project. All blocks will be created with my Pure Elements Solids to maintain a modern look but showcase how much impact one stitch can make. I also used white thread on all blocks, so there is a consistency and you can look at the stitch itself. You'll use the color of your choice, of course :)

In order to get a very straight line, you will have to do some some markings:

• Using a washable fabric market, draw the motif you would like to quilt. In this case, I've done a 16 patch grid as an example.

For the first block, I want to show you a stitch that is used for fabrics that have spandex in its composition: the TRIPLE STRAIGHT STITCH. It's a fairly simple, but will have the simplicity of a straight stitch combined with the boldness of 3 threads in each stitch.

• Choose this stitch in your sewing machine and start stitching following the lines of the grid (please note that each sewing machine brand and model may have the stitch in a different location on the menu).
• Stitch very slowly (because this is not the usual straight stitch and the needle will move to the left and the right or back and forth depending on the stitch).  

Here I am almost finishing with the stitching :)
The straight line or geometric quilting has more impact when solids or open prints and contrasting color threads are used.

This is how the finished block will look at the end.

I'm sure you are asking: "why do I have to leave that long thread tails?" If you plan to do a quilting motif that doesn't cross over between blocks, you need to hide the threads. Be sure you leave a long thread tail before start each quilting line and when you are about to cut the thread. At the end of this tutorial we'll show you a trick on how to hide all threads.

The finished block ironed (lightly from the back for demostation purposes).

 Here is a close-up view of the stitching. Cool, right?

In the next installment of this tutorial, I'll show you 5 new decorative stitches that can transform the look of your quilt.

Hope you enjoyed it! If you ever quilted this way, let me know how you liked it and what stitch you used!

XO,

Pat

1 block. 3 looks.

*As I am trying to update this new blog of mine, I'm bringing some content I wrote previously on the AGF blog. This post was written on February 16th, 2011.

Hi girls! Happy Valentine's Day by the way! Hope you got fresh, beautiful roses and lots and lots of chocolates (my personal favorite part of V-Day!)

A while ago I had this idea of making one quilt block in different fabric collections, to explore all the possibilities that you can do using that same block... Sometimes we can get stuck on only one look and we forget that just maybe, if we use different fabrics on that same block we can get totally different styles.

I made what is known as a "bear paw" (which many of you will recognize), and gave it three different looks according to the fabric: romantic, modern, and bohemian. There's something for everyone!

I know I haven't formally introduced you to my new fabric collections (I will, I promise!), so take these pictures as a little sneak peek ;)

The bear paw is one of the easiest blocks to make, because it only involves half-square triangles and plain squares. The secret here is to make the blocks as big as you show bigger scale prints and you can to cover more surface and finish your quilt faster! And if you use sashing, you'll be done in a snap, trust me. I made these little dream boards to help you get inspired!

Here's the romantic look, featuring the "Coquette" collection:

Choose light colored fabrics: florals in light pink, ivory and cherry, to get this super girly look. Try to keep the contrast low so the overall look is soft and delicate.

Now, for a modern take, I used the "Pure Elements" line from Art Gallery:

Solids are perfect for this style since they create a really high impact. Make sure to use high contrasting fabrics, in bold, bright colors.

And finally, I used my "Bohemian Soul" collection to make the bohemian look:

How do you like these combinations?

Look how the same block can look completely different (it doesn't even seem like the same block, right?)

Think outside the box: it can be more than just a quilt. You can use that block as the center of a new pillow, or if you rotate blocks you can make a nice table runner.

You may think "why did she choose such a traditional block?" I know there are far more mod blocks than a bear paw, but I chose it to prove my point: if you choose fabrics carefully, you can make something super modern and cool. A traditional block doesn't mean "boring" if you pick your fabrics right!

Let me know what you think... What other looks can you think of?

Love, Pat