Thursday, November 2, 2017

Fall Quilt Market Recap

You may have seen sneak peeks of our Houston Quilt Market booth on Facebook or Instagram; we're offering the full recap here! 

First, an overview: 
Much of our booth's focus was on our Painter's Palette Solids (168 colors!). The booth included a Pop Up Shop where quilt shop owners could purchase precuts or yardage to take home and sell in their shops.

We collaborated with Indygo Junction on a booth this year. If you're not familiar with Amy Barickman and all the patterns Indygo Junction has to offer, check out her website! All of their displays are made from our fabric.


Now, the close-ups of the quilts...what you've been waiting for!

"The Lion & the Paintbrush" by Valerie Funk, made using our Painter's Palette Solids.

 Maria Pate's bug jar quilt, made using the You Bug Me! collection:

More quilts featuring Painter's Palette Solids:

Sheri Cifaldi-Morrill with her "Sun Salutations" quilt made from Painter's Palette Solids (gorgeous--it glows!). Purchase the pattern here.

Valerie Funk's "Gypsy" quilt--love the colors on the giraffe!

Barbara J. Eikmeier's Cowboy Quilt featuring her Kick Off Your Boots fabric collection. Find the free quilt pattern here.

This zigzag quilt features the solids and coordinates from our Mayfair collection. 

These fun Painter's Palette Solids quilt made a reappearance! Download the free quilt pattern for the Hashtag quilt (right) here.

Hello to Amy Barickman! 

Hope you enjoyed our booth recap!

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Top Ten: Fall Project Round-Up!

Have the changing leaves inspired you to sew an autumn-themed project? 
Here are 10 ideas for you!

1. What does the fox say? Download this free quilt pattern featuring Ro Gregg's Pretty Foxy panel and coordinates.
Find the Pretty Foxy free quilt pattern here.


2. A stuffed bird--Pincushion? Doorstop? Just for fun? Shown here in Painter's Palette Solids.
Find the Feathered Friend tutorial here.


3. Hang an easy fusible applique banner for the season. Shown here in Painter's Palette Solids.
Find the Modern Fall Banner tutorial here.


4. This runner features all leaves in glorious season-inspired colors. Shown here in Painter's Palette Solids.
Find the Harvest Tones Leaf Runner tutorial here.


5. So many different colored leaves in this quilt featuring the Windfall collection.
See the Autumn Abundance Hop Windfall Quilt from Mmm Quilts here.


6. Windfall prints in fall colors shine in this quilt as well.
See the Autumn Abundance Hop Autumn Blooms quilt from Tish's Adventures in Wonderland here.


7. Hand embroidery mixed with pieced blocks for a lovely fall wallhanging, using Golden Harvest prints.
See the Autumn Abundance Hop Give Thanks Wall Hanging here.


8. Jewel tones in a beautiful throw quilt, all tied together with the Into the Woods border fabric.
See the Autumn Abundance Hop Autumn Jewels quilt from The Academic Quilter here.

9. Love this landscape quilt with an Into the Woods border!
See the Autumn Abundance Hop Autumn Mini from Quilts from the Little House Quilts here.


10. Another fall favorite quilt with leaf blocks using Autumn in the Forest prints!
Download the free quilt pattern here.


Visit our Feels Like Fall Pinterest board for more fun fall quilting ideas!

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Over the Moon for Moon Rabbit!

Our new Moon Rabbit collection combines Asian-inspired prints with a modern flair! 
We love everything about these fabrics--from the cool color palette to the monochromatic rabbits to the floral/bunny focal print and the dotted stripe! 

Use Painter's Palette Solid White as the background for this free quilt pattern using Moon Rabbit, designed by Pine Tree Country Quilts. 
Download the free quilt pattern here.

See the entire Moon Rabbit collection here and ask for it at your local quilt shop.
Find the free quilt pattern here.

Friday, October 20, 2017

Hedgehog Love Pillow Tutorial

Who couldn't use a little hedgehog love in their lives?! Inspired by the adorable creatures in Judy Hansen's Hedgehog Village fabric collection, we've created the Hedgehog Love Pillow, featuring a 3-D hedgehog. 



You'll Need
1/2 yard Mink solid (121-136)
1/2 yard taupe paw print (120-13731)
fat quarter yellow floral (120-13752)
1 yard periwinkle hedgehog print (120-13742)
6" square Mahogany solid (121-015)
2" x 4" piece of White solid (121-000)
1 yard Fusible Fleece
12" square muslin
12" square fusible web
Fusible web scraps
20" square pillow insert

Cutting
From the Mink solid:
(19) 5" squares
(4) 3" x 4-1/2" pieces (for paws)*

From the taupe paw print:
(1) hedgehog face
(4) 3" squares*

From the yellow floral:
(1) 14-1/2" square

From the periwinkle hedgehog print:
(2) 15" x 20-1/2" pieces for backing fabric
(2) 3-1/2" x 14-1/2" lengthwise strips
(2) 3-1/2" x 20-1/2" strips

From the Mahogany solid:
(2) pupils**
(1) nose**

From the White solid:
(2) eyes**

From the fusible fleece:
(1) 20-1/2" square
(1) hedgehog face

*Refer to steps 8 and 9 to make two-sided paws and ears.
**Trace shapes onto fusible web. Fuse to indicated fabric and cut out on drawn lines. 
Download the templates for the hedgehog here.

Make the Hedgehog:
Step 1: Fold each 5" Mink square diagonally in half and press. Fold the two outer corners in to the bottom corner as shown and press. Make 19 hedgehog spikes. 



Step 2: Fuse the 12" square of fusible web to the 12" square of muslin. 
Step 3: Position (2) hedgehog spikes along the top edge of the muslin as shown, with the corners slight overlapping. 

Step 4: Stitch along the bottom sides of each spike using a 1/8" - 1/4" seam allowance as shown.

Step 5: Position (3) spikes in a row as shown. Make sure the tips are above the spikes in the previous row. Pin in place. Stitch along the bottom edges to secure. 






Step 6: Some outer spikes will need to have a finished edge. To make a spike with a finished edge, unfold a spike and press one long in 1/4" as shown. Stitch along the fold with a 1/8" seam allowance to create a finished edge. Refold. Make (3) spikes with finished edges on the left and (3) on the right.


Step 7: Add (3) more rows in the same way, with finished edge spikes on the outer edges. Add a row of (4), a row of (3), and another row of (4). Add a last row of (3) without finished edges (edges will be covered by the hedgehog face).



Step 8: Trace the ear shape onto the wrong side of (2) 3" squares of taupe paw print. Layer each with a second square, right sides together. Stitch along the drawn line, leaving the straight edge open.  

Step 9: Turn ears right side out and press. In the same way, make (2) paws using the 3" x 4-1/2" Mink solid pieces. After turning right side out, use a tight zig zag stitch to add paw lines as shown.

Step 10: Sew 3-1/2" x 14-1/2" periwinkle hedgehog strips to opposite sides of the 14-1/2" yellow floral square. Sew 3-1/2" x 20-1/2" periwinkle hedgehog strips to the top and bottom. Fuse the 20-1/2" fusible fleece square to the back for added stability. 


Step 11: Fuse the hedgehog face fleece piece onto the wrong side of the taupe paw print hedgehog face for additional padding. Fuse the eyes, pupils, and nose in place, using the photo for a guide. Use a decorative stitch to secure if desired. 
Step 12: Trim muslin backing so it doesn't show behind the spikes, but leave as much as possible (out of view) because you'll be stitching on it to secure in a later step. 
Step 13: Remove the paper from the back side of the spikes (you'll have to remove it in pieces because of the stitch lines). Position the spikes on the yellow square and fuse in place. Tip: Position with face and paws for placement to make sure hedgehog is centered, and then remove face and paws before fusing spikes in place. Because of all the layers, you'll need to fuse for a longer period of time. 
Step 14: Add the hedgehog face, making sure it covers any exposed raw edges from the bottom rows of spikes. Tuck the ears and paws under the head as shown. Use a zig zag stitch and matching thread to secure the head, ears, and paws in place.

Step 15: Fold spikes back and stitch along muslin on sides and top (wherever possible) to further secure the spikes to the background.

Step 16: Fold and press 1/4" on (1) long edge of a 15" x 20-1/2" periwinkle hedgehog piece. Fold and press in another 1/4" and topstitch to create a finished edge. Make (2).

Step 16: Position the pillow top right side up and the backing pieces on top, right sides together, with raw edges matching (finished edges should overlap in the middle). Pin in place and stitch around the entire pillow using a 1/4" seam allowance. 

Step 17: Turn the pillow right side out and stuff with the insert. Enjoy!

See the entire collection here and ask for it at your local quilt shop.
Learn more about Judy's Hedgehog Village collection here.