Monday, February 29, 2016

Happy Leap Day!


As we all know, Leap Day comes around once every four years. But what do you really know about Leap Day, its history and its traditions? Keep reading to learn more (and make sure not to miss our bottom point--the most important one!)
Why add a leap day?: Leap days are needed to keep our calendar in alignment with the Earth's revolutions around the Sun.
It takes the Earth approximately 365.242189 days – or 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 45 seconds – to circle once around the Sun. This called a tropical year. Without an extra day on February 29 nearly every four years, we would lose almost six hours every year. After only 100 years, our calendar would be off by approximately 24 days.
Leap year babies: People born on leap day are often called "leaplings" or "leapers." Most of them celebrate their birthday on Feb. 28 or March 1 on non-leap years.
There's a leap year club: The Honor Society of Leap Year Babies is a club for people born on Feb. 29. More than 10,000 people worldwide are members.
Read more Leap Year facts here.


One more thing...rumor has it that any fabric purchased on February 29th does NOT count toward your fabric budget for the year! :)


Friday, February 26, 2016

Who needs a pot of gold?

Do you believe that you might find a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow? 

Image credit

With a rainbow like the gorgeous array of 25 hues in our new Harmony collection, who needs a pot of gold?!?!




See the entire Harmony collection here and ask for it at your local quilt shop.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Mark your calendars...

Because this isn't an April Fool's joke! 
If you're in the Kansas City area (or looking for a road trip...), plan to attend the Great Plains Sew-down Spring Shop Hop! Find out more on the Shop Hop's Facebook page (plus see a photo of the grand prize...a custom cutting center cabinet from Bob's Shop!)


Learn more about the participating shops here:

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Visit us at QuiltCon!

If you're in Pasadena this weekend, we hope you'll visit us at QuiltCon West!
We're in booth 610 and we'd love to see you! 






Tuesday, February 16, 2016

If fabric makes you happy...

...then we have the fabrics for you! 
This new collection, just in time for spring, is aptly named Happy. 

Soft, cheery colors, floral prints, a cool heart-inspired stripe, and diamond tonal coordinates--perfect for a quilt to put you in a spring mood, or for a little girl's room. 

Tammy Silvers designed the "Happy Day" quilt --quarter log cabin blocks alternating with large focal print squares. Download the free quilt pattern to make it yourself.
Find the free quilt pattern here.

See the entire Happy collection here and ask for it at your local quilt shop.


Friday, February 12, 2016

Dryad Blog Hop Day 9

It's Day 9 of the Dryad blog hop!




Head over to 
Kristi's blog today--she's sharing one of her patterns done up in Dryad fabric! Such a great modern quilt! You'll also have a chance to win some Dryad fabric while you're there!

Here's the schedule for the rest of the hop:

2/2 Shannon Brinkley @ Bottle Tree
2/4 Angela Walters @ Quilting Is My Therapy
2/5 Aurifil
2/8 Casey York @ Studiolo 
2/10 Rebecca Bryan @ Bryan House Quilts
2/11 Stacey Day @ Stacey in Stitches
2/12 Kristi Schroeder @ Initial K Studio

Thanks so much for following along through our Dryad Blog Hop! We hope you enjoyed seeing many different ideas for using Shannon's fabric (and entering for a chance to win some too!)
p.s. We're now on Instagram! Come follow us for more inspiration!


Thursday, February 11, 2016

Dryad Blog Hop Day 8

It's Day 8 of the Dryad blog hop!




Head over to 
Stacey's blog today--she's sharing a tutorial for a quilt called "Enchanted Forest," named for the mythical creatures that inspired Shannon's fabrics. We love what she did! You'll also have a chance to win some Dryad fabric while you're there!

Here's the schedule for the rest of the hop:
2/2 Shannon Brinkley @ Bottle Tree
2/4 Angela Walters @ Quilting Is My Therapy
2/5 Aurifil
2/8 Casey York @ Studiolo 
2/10 Rebecca Bryan @ Bryan House Quilts
2/11 Stacey Day @ Stacey in Stitches
2/12 Kristi Schroeder @ Initial K Studio

p.s. We're now on Instagram! Come follow us for more inspiration!

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Dryad Blog Hop Day 7

It's Day 7 of the Dryad blog hop!





Head over 
Rebecca's blog today to see the quilt she's making using a snack pack of Dryad prints. You'll also have a chance to win some Dryad fabric while you're there!


Here's the schedule for the rest of the hop:

2/2 Shannon Brinkley @ Bottle Tree
2/4 Angela Walters @ Quilting Is My Therapy
2/5 Aurifil
2/8 Casey York @ Studiolo 
2/10 Rebecca Bryan @ Bryan House Quilts
2/11 Stacey Day @ Stacey in Stitches
2/12 Kristi Schroeder @ Initial K Studio

p.s. Fabri-Quilt is now on Instagram! Come follow us for more inspiration!

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Dryad Blog Hop Day 6

It's Day 6 of the Dryad blog hop!





Head over to C&T's blog today to find a free pattern for the Fallen Leaves Throw Pillows from Shannon's book, Scrappy Applique Bits. You'll also have a chance to win a copy of her book and some Dryad fabric while you're there!

Here's the schedule for the rest of the hop:
2/2 Shannon Brinkley @ Bottle Tree
2/4 Angela Walters @ Quilting Is My Therapy
2/5 Aurifil
2/8 Casey York @ Studiolo 
2/10 Rebecca Bryan @ Bryan House Quilts
2/11 Stacey Day @ Stacey in Stitches
2/12 Kristi Schroeder @ Initial K Studio

p.s. Fabri-Quilt is now on Instagram! Come follow us for more inspiration!

Monday, February 8, 2016

Dryad Blog Hop Day 5

It's Day 5 of the Dryad blog hop!





Head over to Casey's blog today to see the quilt she made using Shannon's Dryad fabrics (hint: it's tree themed!).  You'll also have a chance to win some Dryad fabric while you're there. 

Here's the schedule for the rest of the hop:
2/2 Shannon Brinkley @ Bottle Tree
2/4 Angela Walters @ Quilting Is My Therapy
2/5 Aurifil
2/8 Casey York @ Studiolo 
2/10 Rebecca Bryan @ Bryan House Quilts
2/11 Stacey Day @ Stacey in Stitches
2/12 Kristi Schroeder @ Initial K Studio

p.s. Fabri-Quilt is now on Instagram! Come follow us for more inspiration!

Friday, February 5, 2016

Dryad Blog Hop Day 4

It's Day 4 of the Dryad Blog Hop!



Head over to Aurifil's blog for a great interview with Shannon, including more information about her coordinating thread line and how she uses it. In addition to the bundle of Dryad, Aurifil is offering a  coordinating Aurifil Designer Collection--12 gorgeous spools of 50wt thread!

Here's the schedule for the rest of the hop:
2/2 Shannon Brinkley @ Bottle Tree
2/4 Angela Walters @ Quilting Is My Therapy
2/5 Aurifil
2/8 Casey York @ Studiolo 
2/10 Rebecca Bryan @ Bryan House Quilts
2/11 Stacey Day @ Stacey in Stitches
2/12 Kristi Schroeder @ Initial K Studio

p.s. Fabri-Quilt is now on Instagram! Come follow us for more inspiration!


Thursday, February 4, 2016

Dryad Blog Hop Day 3

It's Day 3 of the Dryad Blog Hop!


Head over to Quilting Is My Therapy to see what Angela Walters has done with Shannon's fabrics (and enter to win a bundle of Dryad for yourself!). 

Angela is also offering 10% off Dryad fabrics during the hop, so now is your chance to stock up!

Here's the schedule for the rest of the hop:
2/2 Shannon Brinkley @ Bottle Tree
2/4 Angela Walters @ Quilting Is My Therapy
2/5 Aurifil
2/8 Casey York @ Studiolo 
2/10 Rebecca Bryan @ Bryan House Quilts
2/11 Stacey Day @ Stacey in Stitches
2/12 Kristi Schroeder @ Initial K Studio

Learn more about Shannon and her Dryad line in our original blog post debuting the fabric, here.

p.s. Fabri-Quilt is now on Instagram! Come follow us for more inspiration!


Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Dryad Blog Hop: Messenger bag tutorial

Welcome! Thanks for visiting on our day of the Dryad Blog Hop! If you haven't seen Shannon Brinkley's Dryad collection yet, you'll get a thorough introduction to it over the two weeks of this blog hop. Be sure to ask for it at your local quilt shop!

Today we're sharing a tutorial for a quilt-as-you-go messenger bag using nine 2-1/2" precut strips from the Dryad snack pack plus a little yardage for the bag back and lining. Enjoy!

You'll Need:
1 Dryad Snack Pack (you'll use nine 2-1/2" strips and can save the rest for another project...or a few more tote bags?!)
1 fat quarter of the gold/blue focal print
1/2 yard of the blue twig print
Two 16" squares of batting
One 1-3/4" x 42" strip of batting

Cutting:
From the Dryad Snack Pack, cut the following lengths:
Coral Twig: 6-1/2"
Gold Bark Lines: 7-1/2"
Blue Twig: 6-1/2"
Floral Branches: 5-1/2"
Gray Wood Print: 8-1/2"
Gold/Blue Focal: 12-1/2" 

From a 2-1/2" wide text print strip, cut the following lengths: 
(you should be able to get all of these pieces out of one strip)
9-1/2"
8-1/2"
8-1/2"
7-1/2"
6-1/2
2-1/2"

Reserve the remaining blue twig and text print strip for the handle.

From the gold/blue focal print:
One 15" x 14" piece for bag back
One 8" x 11" piece for pocket

From the blue twig print:
Two 14" x 12-1/2" pieces for lining

Make the Bag:
Step 1 Sew each text piece to the colored print strip as indicated:
8-1/2" text strip + 6-1/2" coral twig strip
7-1/2" text strip + 7-1/2" gold bark strip
8-1/2 text strip + 6-1/2" blue twig strip
9-1/2" text strip + 5-1/2" floral branch strip
6-1/2" text strip + 8-1/2" gray wood strip
2-1/2" text strip + 12-1/2" gold/blue focal strip



Step 2 To begin the quilt-as-you-go method for the bag front, layer the two middle strips right sides together in the center of a 16" square of batting and pin in place. 


Step 3 Stitch using a 1/4" seam allowance and press the strips open.


Step 4 Continue adding strips from the center out. 


Step 5 If you like (we did!), quilt some free motion lines on top of the bag front. Trim the bag front to measure 14" wide x 12-1/2" high. 


Step 6 Layer the 15" x 14" gold/blue focal print piece on the second 16" batting square and quilt as desired. Trim to measure 14" x 12-1/2".


Step 7 Sew the bag front and back right sides together along the sides and bottom. Turn right side out. 
Step 8 Fold the 8" x 11" gold/blue focal print piece in half wrong sides togethers so it measures 8" x 5-1/2". Stitch along the two short sides and the long open edge, leaving an opening for turning. Turn right side out.


Step 9 Topstitch along the top folded edge and press the raw edges from the opening in 1/4". Measure 2-1/2" down from a long edge of the 14" x 12-1/2" blue twig lining piece and position the top stitched edge of the pocket there, centered from left to right. 


Step 10 Topstitch along both sides and the bottom to secure the pocket to the lining piece. Sew the lining pieces right sides together along the sides and bottom, leaving an opening for turning. 


Step 11 To make the handle, sew the remaining blue twig and text print strips right sides together lengthwise. Press the outer long edges in 1/4". Tuck the 1-3/4" x 42" batting strip into one of the strips and fold the 1/4" edge over. 


Step 12 Fold the other strip over the batting and line up the pressed edges. Pin and then topstitch 1/4" from the pressed edges to secure. Topstitch 1/4" from the opposite seam edge as well.


Step 13 Pin a short end of the strap to the bag front 1/2" from the side seam. Making sure the strap isn't twisted, pin the opposite end to the bag back 1/2" from the opposite side seam. (Note: if you prefer two shorter handles, cut the strip in half and pin the short ends of each strip 2" in from the side seams.) 


Step 14 Tuck the outer bag and strap into the bag lining with right sides facing. Pin the raw edges along the top together and then stitch all the way around. 


Step 15 Turn the bag right side out, slipstitch the bag lining closed, and tuck the lining into the bag. Topstitch around the top edge of the bag. You're done!

The bag back:

A peek into the bag (and the pocket!)


Thanks for stopping by for our day on the Dryad blog hop! 


Now for the giveaway!! For a chance to win a bundle of Dryad, sign up to follow our blog.  Leave a comment here letting us know that you are signed up, as well as your favorite print in the Dryad collection. This giveaway is open through 2/12. Winners will be randomly chosen after the blog hop ends. Good luck!

Be sure to follow along with the hop for more chances to win fabric, books, and Aurifil thread!
2/2 Shannon Brinkley @ Shannon Brinkley Studio
2/4 Angela Walters @ Quilting Is My Therapy
2/5 Aurifil
2/8 Casey York @ Studiolo 
2/10 Rebecca Bryan @ Bryan House Quilts
2/11 Stacey Day @ Stacey in Stitches
2/12 Kristi Schroeder @ Initial K Studio

Also, Angela Walters is offering 10% all Dryad prints during the blog hop. Head over to her shop to take advantage of this deal!
p.s. Fabri-Quilt is now on Instagram! Come follow us for more inspiration!

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Dryad Blog Hop

We're excited to be starting the Dryad Blog Hop today! Join us in hopping around to eight other blogs to see Shannon Brinkley's Dryad prints in action! 




The fun begins today at Shannon's blog.

You'll find inspiration and tutorials for using the fabrics, which are available as yardage, in Snack Packs, and in charm squares. Plus, you'll have a chance to win a bundle of Dryad each day!


Here's the schedule:
2/2 Shannon Brinkley @ Bottle Tree
2/4 Angela Walters @ Quilting Is My Therapy
2/5 Aurifil
2/8 Casey York @ Studiolo 
2/10 Rebecca Bryan @ Bryan House Quilts
2/11 Stacey Day @ Stacey in Stitches
2/12 Kristi Schroeder @ Initial K Studio

Learn more about Shannon and her Dryad line in our original blog post debuting the fabric, here.

p.s. Fabri-Quilt is now on Instagram! Come follow us for more inspiration!