Thursday, June 1, 2017

Summer of Sewing: Garden Trivets

It may not be officially summer quite yet, but it's after Memorial Day, so we're already in a summer state of mind! 
That means it's time for the Summer of Sewing series again! We'll be sharing fun project tutorials featuring our recent fabric lines, and giving away prizes as well. Sit back with a glass of lemonade and relax...our first Summer of Sewing tutorial begins today. 



 Today we're sharing a tutorial made with the Farmer John's Garden Party collection. We love these prints--fresh fruits and delectable veggies in bright colors. 

Of course, our project is kitchen themed. We've stitched up two trivets--one made with fruit fabrics and one with veggie fabrics. These trivets measure approximately 11" square, so you could also use them as potholders, or just cute mini quilts. It's up to you! 



Let's get started!
You'll Need:
Fruit Trivet
8-9 fruit fat quarters (includes backing)
1/4 yard white solid
15" square of batting
11" square of InsulBright

Veggie Trivet
9-10 veggie fat quarters (includes backing)
1/4 yard black solid
15" square of batting
11" square of InsulBright

Cutting:
Fruit Trivet
From each fruit fat quarter:
(1) 2-1/2" x 21" strip

From the fruit text fat quarter:
(1) 12" square

From the white solid:
(2) 1" x 42" strips
(2) 2-1/4" x 42" strips for binding

Veggie Trivet
From each veggie fat quarter:
(1) 3" x 21" strip

From the veggie text fat quarter:
(1) 12" square

From the black solid:
(2) 1" x 42" strips
(2) 2-1/4" x 42" strips for binding

Making the Fruit Trivet
The Fruit Trivet uses a classic Log Cabin approach. 

Step 1: Cut a 2-1/2" square from the watermelon strip. Center on the 15" batting square and machine quilt in place with several straight lines. 

Step 2: Fold each 1" x 42" white solid strip lengthwise in half and press. 
Step 3: Cut a strip slightly longer than the watermelon square. From the 2-1/2" x 21" lemon strip, cut a piece slightly longer than the watermelon square. Position the folded white strip raw edges matching along one edge of the watermelon square. Position the lemon piece on top, right sides together. Stitch using a 1/4" seam allowance. Press open. Machine quilt the lemon piece with straight lines. 

Step 4: In the same way, cut another folded white strip and orange strip slightly longer than the watermelon/lemon section. Layer, stitch and press open. Machine quilt to secure. 

Step 5: Continue adding white folded and fruit strips in the same manner. You'll be covering the raw edges of pieces you've already stitched down. 


Step 6: Add strips until there are two on each side of the center square. Trim the piece to measure 11" square. 


Here's our backing fabric: Perfect for all these fruit prints! 

Step 7: Layer the backing square right side down, InsulBright square (this adds an element of heat resistance), and then the quilted top right side up. Baste the layers together (we used spray baste). Trim backing as needed. Use the (2) 2-1/4" x 42" white strips to bind the trivet. 



Veggie Trivet
The Veggie Trivet uses the wonky Log Cabin method. 

Step 1: Cut a 3" square from the pepper strip. Center on the 15" batting square and machine quilt in place with several straight lines. 

Step 2: Fold each 1" x 42" black solid strip lengthwise in half and press. 
Step 3: Cut a folded black strip slightly longer than the pepper square. From the 3" x 21" peapod strip, cut a piece slightly longer than the pepper square. Position the folded black strip raw edges matching along one edge of the pepper square and angle slightly as shown. Position the peapod piece on top, right sides together. Stitch using a 1/4" seam allowance. Press open. Machine quilt the peapod piece with straight lines.  


Step 4: In the same way, cut another folded black strip and mushroom strip slightly longer than the pepper/peapod section. Layer on an angle, stitch and press open. Machine quilt to secure. 

Step 5: Continue adding folded black strips and veggie strip, angling as you go to create a wonky look. 

Step 6: Add strips until the pieced unit measures at least 11" square (approximately two strips per side). 

Step 7: Trim to measure 11" square. 

Here's our backing fabric: 

Step 8: Layer the backing square right side down, InsulBright square (this adds an element of heat resistance), and then the quilted top right side up. Baste the layers together (we used spray baste). Trim backing as needed. Use the (2) 2-1/4" x 42" black strips to bind the trivet. 

Would you like to win a bundle of Farmer John's Garden Party? Leave a comment below (or on IG) telling us which is your favorite fabric in this collection. Giveaway is open through Sunday, June 4th at 11:59 PM CDT. 

Find the entire Farmer John's Garden Party collection here and ask for it at your local quilt shop. 
Download our free quilt pattern to make a lap-size fruit and veggie quilt here.

Follow along with our Summer of Sewing Series! 

Click here to see all the tutorials. 

28 comments:

  1. I've been collecting Farmer John for several years. It's time to put them to use! I love all the veggies and fruit patterns, but my favorite is green beans!

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  2. I like the cool yellow lemons the best. All of them are fun, however!

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  3. I love the prints with the text!

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  4. I like the green peppers and the sweet peas both. angielovesgary2 atgmail dotcom

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  5. Yummiest project.One of my favorite is the delicious 120-13311!!

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  6. They are all cute but the backing ones are very nice.

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  7. I love the black background fabrics with all the different fruits and vegetables.

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  8. The fruit prints with the black background and the text is my favorite--so vibrant and fun!

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  9. I really like the backing fabric for the fruits trivet.

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  10. That is a tough choice on my favorite fabric, because those fabrics are all so awesome and perfect for those trivets shown here. Great idea.

    I really like the peppers because of the variety of colors in that one fabric.

    I do like the backing with fruits also. I like all of them actually.

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  11. The colorful peppers is my favorite . they look fresh picked . Thank you.
    bluestarof2(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  12. While I ladore all the fabrics in this collection, I especially like the peppers -- so colorful!!! I can see some of this coming to my house to play in the near future.

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  13. I like the tomatoes, green beans and peppers. Those are the veggies my sister always shares with me.

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  14. It's hard to choose but I like the fruit. Lemons, blueberries, strawberries...so colorful!

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  15. The cherries...they look so real and yummy

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  16. my favorites are the blueberries and the potatoes. I am going to make some hot pads, as they are called in my area.

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  17. I love these prints because they are so vibrant. My fave is the colorful one with a variety of fruits - watermelon, lemons.

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  18. ALL of them!! giggle... But think #120-13261 show most all the Fruits :) Thank you for chance to win this yummy Bundle too!!

    Also love your Trivets! Thank too, for Tutorial for them! :D

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  19. Great fabrics! I love both backing prints, and the strawberries and blueberries look good enough to eat! Fun projects, too. I like the addition of the trim within the quilting/piecing.

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  20. All of the fruit and veggie prints are gorgeous but my favorite is the blueberries! Like to look at them and love to eat them!

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  21. Ooh! I love them all! If I must choose, those tomatoes make my mouth water! ❤️🍅

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  22. I will pick the lemons as my favorite, but really they are all wonderful! Cute projects, I'll be making some of those!

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  23. The blueberry fabric is scrumptious. I like how you used folded strips to outline the sections. Brilliant idea!

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  24. I have memories of eating sweet corn on my grandparents farm so that fabric is my fav. rozz01 at cox dot net

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  25. I think the blueberries are a beautiful blue--also liked the asparagus in a previous Farmer John collection!
    bjkaup(at)(abbnebraska)(dot)(com)

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  26. I love the watermelon and the green beans.

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