Quilt Today

Cathedral Windows - Tutorial

Today I thought I would do a demo on one of my favorite techniques - Cathedral Windows. This is a hand technique where you take a light fabric like muslin fold and stitch then add a piece of patterned fabric for the "window" part. It's generally done by hand and can be easily adapted to any size. Here's Google's image gallery when you search for Cathedral Windows Quilt - isn't this sew amazing, I love it so I thought I would share it with all of you.

This one here is approx 16"w x 16"h x 4" deep - this was one of the first projects I made using this technique, and I've received so many compliments on it:) People just want to stop me everywhere and figure out how it's made? Have you tried this before?

The photo above © Valerie - Pastimes Online

Here's another tote approx 8"w x 12"h x 4" deep with an adorable pocket and ruffle, perfect for taking your hand piecing and stitching projects with you:) OR pack a lunch in this...

Here's one that Danielle made, it's the perfect hostess gift with a bottle of nice wine in it. Also, she did her's with all the same colours for the windows, using our Burgundy dupioni silk.

Here goes, ready to try something easy and fun? Don't be shy if your not a hand stitcher or piecer because this technique is super easy, just take your time.

2- 9" squares muslin, plain stitching needle, basic sewing thread to match your muslin.

Iron in 1/4" all the way around

Press all your corners in towards the center

Now with a small whip stitch, stitch the "X" closed you can do a slip stitch also so your stitches are completely hidden. You'll barely see your whip stitches if you choose to do it this way:)

Once you have both seams sewn shut, connect all 4 corners into the middle

Now repeat for your second square. The one thing with this technique is you need two squares to create one "window".

Now, connect your two squares together with a whip stitch (showing) or a slip stitch (invisible)

The best fabrics to use for the "window" parts are scraps, pick a theme, reds, blues, or pinks and browns, or just all scraps - is sew adorable too. Cut your squares 2.5". You can pin this center square in place if you like, I always found that the pin got in the way :)

Fold the center part of your background over your window fabric and begin stitch it down using a slip stitch or a blind hem stitch - you want this to be invisible.

When stitching, you want to make sure you only go through the folded background piece and your window area not into the background because you actually want to be able to put your fingers through the openings to give it the 3 dimensional effect.

Sew, what do you think? Is this something you'd like to try?

Thank you for following this tutorial, I love playing around over here and I hope I've inspired your viewers just a little. Until next time, stay happy and creative.

Patchwork Bird – Quilt Tutorial

The photo above © Teje Karjalainen

If you look carefully this block, you see that there are only squares and triangles. You can see this bird in many sites on the internet but I haven’t seen it with a wing. Here is the plan …

SIZE OF THE PIECES:

– whole squares are 2,5 ” x 2,5 “

– triangles are half squares from 3″ x 3″ squares

– beak (nose) is half square from 2,5″ x 2,5″ square and it’s on 2,5″ x 2,5″ square

– feet are 1″ x 2,5″ and the grass next to the foot is 2″ x 2,5″

!!! Take care how to cut your pieces if you use fabrics where the direction is important – for example my trees. You need two opposite triangles (otherwise the other piece is horizontal and the other vertical).

Sew first all the small parts. Sew the nose-triangle on the corner of one 2,5″ x 2,5″ square. Cutaway the remaining corner from the square which is under the nose triangle.

Press the seams open and trim the squares to 2,5″ x 2,5″.

Next sew the squares in rows …

Press the seams open.

Sew the rows together.

Trim your block and your bird is ready!

Finished block size is about 10″ (10,5″) depending on how exact your seam allowance is. I use about 1,4″ seam allowance.

I like to press seams open because then there are less seams in point – and I like symmetry.

If you like to ask something, please don’t hesitate. I’m happy if I can help!

Try different colours to see how big difference it makes …

Next time I shall show you what I made with my (till now) favourite bird.

If you know some other fun blocks with squares and triangles, please tell! I draw a cat to my notebook but didn’t sew it yet – so can’t be sure if it will look cat or something else. I hope to try it soon.

Thank you so much for your visit! Thank you also for your most lovely comments! I enjoy to read them and I do my best to answer! Next week there/here will be something very exciting – oh I start to be nervous!

Happy sewing!

Cloth Pegs Basket - Tutorial

I know that you call them cloth pegs but don’t you like the Finnish name: ‘Laundry Boys’! And if the ‘boys’ have a fun bag – laundry day is going to be pure enjoy!

The photo above © Teje Karjalainen

This ‘LAUNDRY BOYS’ fabric basket is now in England with my SISTER and I think she is hoping even more than usual to have lots of sunny days to hang her laundry outside! She wished something to carry the ‘laundry boys’ on hew arm when hanging the clothes out, so I made this for her Christmas package.

First I had many patchwork ideas in my mind – using one funny fabric with cloths! My sister’s style is more modern than mine, so I tried to step out from my scrap box and I chose for the base this white-grey fabric which has modern buildings on it. It’s from Ikea and more firm than normal cotton. It was a good choice because now it looks like the laundry rope is hanging from the walls between the houses.

When I start to make any fabric basket I think just about what size I want (height and the bottom width) and then I start with the bottom piece. Now I made oval using a plate to make the edges round. Then I took the measurement around the bottom and started to make the main piece (making it a little bit longer and trimming it later).

I quilted the bottom and the main piece with wadding, following the Lines of the buildings on the fabric + straight Lines. My wadding was quite fat and it gave beautiful puffy look for the dresses – Like the wind is swinging them on the Air!

I cut the ‘dress’ pieces just squares and ironed them with fusible Web. After that it was easy to cut the dress shapes from the fabric. I wanted to add some colour and made one orange sun. Also here I used fusible web and then drew the shape of the sun (I could saw it through the fabric).

I stitched the sun with simple stitching a few times around. For the dresses, I used sik sak to make sure they stay nice even after washing. I made laundry rope with a thin, satin ribbon and clothes pegs with tiny pieces from the same ribbon. The bird is from one Ikea’s fabric and I stitched it simply a few times around.

When the main piece was finished, I pinned it with the bottom to be able to trim the main piece as long it needs to be. Then I took the pins away, cut the main pieces for the right size and then sew it with the bottom. I made the lining with cotton fabric. Binding is double folded and I sew it first on the outside (catching now the main basket with the lining). Then I turned it inside and sew so that the stitching shows on the right side just next to the binding.

The strap has a piece of wadding inside and it’s quilted with straight Lines. In these photos, the strap is still with pins because I was thinking a few options on how to catch it. Finally, I simply sew it on the basket. You could also make buttonholes on the two edges of the strap and then two big buttons on both sides of the basket. Like that you can use the basket also for something else without a strap.

If you like to see more details on how to make any size fabric basket, click HERE to see the tutorial I made for the ‘Quilt Story’s’ Holiday Series! Those baskets are around and have little scrap trees on them.

Friendship Quilt Free Pattern

Friendship Quilt

The Friendship quilt pattern makes a stunning design, thanks in part to interesting geometric shapes. It uses a repeat of the Friendship Star quilt block and measures about 43 inches square. Download the two-page Friendship quilt pattern as a PDF to print out the pattern. You'll need to enlarge the quilt block at 125%.

Full post: Friendship Quilt

The Lattice Block - Tutorial

The Lattice Block

This block is a quick and easy block that can be very visually striking when the right colour/print combinations are made.

The block pictured above is made up of two of my favourite teal fabrics.

The instructions in this tutorial will make one unit that is then arranged as one of 16 to create the lattice block.

Full post: The Lattice Block

Beach House Baby Quilt - Tutorial

Beach House Baby Quilt

For the hexagons, I found this cute charm pack of "Beach House" by Kate Nelligan for Moda. I have had it since the spring. And now that summer's over, I figured it could help revive thoughts of those days spent down at the beach.

Full post: Beach House Baby Quilt

Machine Sewn Hexagons Tutorial

Machine Sewn Hexagons

Below, you will find a tutorial for sewing whole hexagons by machine.

This is also part 2 of the Oblongagonalong Quilt Along instructions.

Full post: Sewn Hexagons

45 Free Jelly Roll Quilt Patterns

Jelly Roll Quilts

If you've ever succumbed to the temptation of a jelly roll (and we're not talking about donuts), you're probably in need of some creative jelly roll quilt ideas to use up all those 2-1/2" strips you have been collecting! You'll find tons of projects you haven't thought of yet in this collection of 45+ Free Jelly Roll Quilt Patterns.

Full Post: Jelly Roll Quilt Patterns

Jelly Roll Quilt Patterns

Jelly Roll Quilt Patterns

Jelly roll quilts are easy to make and stitch together in a flash. Here are a few of my favorite free patterns to help you stitch up a storm.

Full Post: Jelly Roll Quilt

The American Spirit Quilt - Free Pattern

The quilt has 12 blocks, each twelve inches square, with a three inch border. Finished size is

42x54 For a larger quilt you can make additional blocks or add different borders to expand it.

There are 2 star blocks, 4 striped blocks, 2 cross blocks, 2 tower blocks and 2 butterfly blocks.

All except the butterfly blocks can be cut and assembled from simple strips and squares. The

butterfly block pattern is included for paper piecing. If you prefer to use conventional piecing,

copy the block diagrams and add 1/4 seam allowance around each finished size area.

Use red and red prints, blue or blue prints, white or white on white prints and gold/yellow as the

main colors. The towers can be of a wide variety of colors.

Cutting and sewing instructions:

For the four Striped Blocks:

Cut eight pieces of red or red print 4 1/2 x 12 1/2. Hint: If you cut the strips 13 long and trim

the finished blocks, you won’t have to worry about getting each exactly lined up.

Cut four pieces 4 1/2 x 12 1/2 of white or white on white print.

For each block, sew red, white, red together along the long sides. Trim to 12 1/2 square.

Make four.

For the two Star Blocks:

Cut eight squares 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 of white or white on white print.
Cut four squares 4 1.2 x 4 1/2 of blue or blue print
Cut four squares 4 7/8 x 4 7/8 of white or white on white print and cut in half diagonally
Cut four squares 4 7/8 x 4 7/8 of blue or blue print and cut in half diagonally

Sew one triangle of white to one triangle of blue sewing along the diagonal using a scant 1/4:
seam allowance. Trim to 4 1/2 square. Repeat to make 8 total.

Assemble nine-patch as follows (refer to diagram for proper placement of the blue/white blocks):
Top row: white, blue/white, white.
Middle row: blue/white, blue. blue/white
Bottom row: white, blue/white, white

Make two nine patch star blocks.

For the Tower Blocks

Cut six pieces 2 1/2 x 12 1/2 of white or white on white. (note: you might want to start with
13 strips and trim them later).

Cut 74 pieces each 1 1/4 x 3 1/2 from multi-colored fabrics. We chose a variety of colors and
prints to symbolize the many different nationalities and ethnic groups affected by the tragedies of
September 11.

Sew 16 pieces together along the 3 1/2 side to make a strip 12 1/2 long. When selecting colors,
just make sure that the end colors are different on each, so your don’t get two floors of the
same color touching where the blocks meet. Repeat tower segments.

Sew the blocks together white, tower, white, tower, white, sewing along the long sides to form
blocks 12 1/2 square.

For the two Cross Blocks:

Cut eight pieces 6 1/2 x 3 1/2 of red or red print
Cut four pieces 6 1/2 x 2 1/2 of blue or blue print
Cut two pieces 6 1/2 x 2 1/2 of white or white on white
Cut four squares 3 7/8 x 3 7/8 of blue or blue print. Cut in half diagonally.
Cut four squares 3 7/8 x 3 7/8 of white or white on white. Cut in half diagonally.

Assemble as follows:

Part A
Stitch long red strip to long blue strip to white strip to blue strip to red strip.

Part B
Stitch one blue triangle to one white triangle using scant 1/4 seam, sewing along the diagonal.
Make four for each block (8 total)

Part C
Stitch one blue/white to the short end of one red strip. Stitch another blue/white to the other
short end of the red strip. (Check the diagram for proper placement of the blue/white squares
the goal is to put the blue in the outside corners of the block.)

Stitch one Part C vertically to the side of Part A. Refer to diagram.
Stitch one Part C vertically to the other side of Part A.

Make two of these blocks. You can use the center white section to write something a date,
your name, the name of someone or an organization you want to honor, a prayer. We recommend
using a Pigma Pen and pressing to heat set it. You may want to do the writing before you assemble the block, in case you want to change the written portion.

For the two butterfly blocks, use the paper piecing pattern. Make two. If you prefer conventional
piecing, make templates from the finish lines on the paper piecing diagrams and add 1/4 seam
allowances. There are four six inch sections. Assemble them as shown in the diagram.

These paper piecing patterns each make a six inch block. Assemble the four to make one butterfly
block. You will need to make two butterfly blocks for the quilt. The Gold or Yellow is the
background fabric used in all four segments. The top wings are shown in the diagram as a blue
and gold print.

Assemble the quilt as follows:

Top Row from left: Star, Stripes, Stripes

Second row: Cross, Towers, Butterfly

Third row: Butterfly, Towers, Cross

Fourth row: Stripes, Stripes, Star

Add three inch borders of blue or blue print. You can miter the corners or do straight pieces.

For a three inch border cut two pieces, 3 1/2 x 42 1/2, and two pieces 3 1/2 x 48 1/2.

Sew the 48 1/2 pieces to the two long sides of the quilt. Sew the 42 1/2 pieces to the top and

bottom. For mitered corners, add three inches to each length of border fabric.

Add batting, backing, quilt or tie, then bind.

Chain Links Quilt Pattern

Chain Links

This Quilt pattern is available to download

Download Pattern: Chain Links

Phoebe Bag - Tutorial

Phoebe Bag

This quilt tutorial is available for free...

Full post: Phoebe Bag

Folded Hexagon Stars - Tutorial

Folded Hexagon Stars

Learn how to create stunning Folded Hexagon Stars with this comprehensive tutorial and get a free pattern to make your own unique creations. These versatile hexagons can be assembled to form a beautiful centerpiece mat, a practical table runner, or a cozy lap quilt. For the table runner, you can incorporate Insul-Bright and cotton wadding, allowing you to safely place hot plates on the runner without damaging your table. However, if you're making a lap quilt, you won't need Insul-Bright. To access the free pattern PDF file, simply follow the link below. Happy Quilting!

Full post: Folded Hexagon Stars