On the Road Again Toddler Quilt

I've had this project pieced and ready to quilt since I made the first digger version this past summer.  I decided to used the succulent design from Christina Cameli's Craftsy class to make the stripe with the RV block stand out and a simple elongated stipple over the rest of the quilt. I finally finished up the quilt this weekend, enjoying the nice weather as I hand stitched the binding.

The RV block from Busy City is such a fun one to feature. I even lucked out and found a giant polka dot fabric in my stash to use for the wheels, which are appliqued with fusible web and a blanket stitch.  I enlarged the block by 200% and set it into the 40" x 56" striped quilt.

I backed the quilt with a cute camping fabric.  I'm really hoping some family who loves to travel in their RV finds this.  It is listed in my etsy shop.

The Digger Quilt

 

This little quilt was inspired by a quilt made by Alidiza which featured a single block (Preppy the Whale by Elizabeth Hartman) within a simple stripe.  I thought it was the perfect way to use a single paper pieced block, and naturally my Busy City blocks came to mind.

I enlarged one of the 4 x 6 blocks by 200% to make an 8 x 12 block.  This works particularly well with any of the more complex blocks in the pattern.  The good news is they are even easier to sew in this larger size.  Don't tell the other blocks, but this backhoe digger has always been my favorite in the set, so it was fun to feature it.

I backed the quilt with a great crosshatch by Carolyn Friedlander from her Architextures line.  The print blends really well with both the white and navy thread I used for the quilting.  I chose rounded edges and bias binding to finish the quilt.

This 40 x 56 quilt is a great size for preschoolers, and it sews up so quickly!  You can definitely make one in time for that upcoming baby shower or birthday party or to send to school with him or her for naptime.  And the great thing is that you can let your little person choose the block they like best (there are 35 total in the pattern, with plenty to appeal to girls too).

I'd love to see your Busy City projects.  Upload them to the flickr pool or tag them #busycityquilt on Instagram.  (Note, if you decide to enlarge a block, be sure to adjust the seam allowances around the edges to 1/4 inch.)  This quilt is available in my etsy shop.

Busy City Baby Quilt

I just finished up this Busy City baby quilt.  I made it to be a shop sample. With just five bocks, it really is very quick to make.  You can customize the quilt by choosing which five, of the 35 total blocks, you want to use.

I experimented with using small scale, tone on tone prints, instead of all solids.  I like the texture the grass print adds to the quilt.  And look at the cute little star on the police car!

I had some fun with the quilting, which I did free motion. The negative space in this pattern gives you some room to play.

I'm seeing Busy City patterns pop up in more and more shops.  You can now find it at and i don't do dishes on etsy and coming soon to Marmalade and Shop Cucire.  It is still available at Pink Chalk, Hyggeligt and our local stores Bernina on Metcalf and Sarah's in Lawrence.  Feel free to ask for Empty Bobbin patterns at your local quilt shop, if they don't already carry them.

Update: Busy City is now available as a digital download.  Purchase the PDF from Empty Bobbin here.

Busy City Wall Hanging

I finally finished the Busy City wall hanging for my younger son.  He is pretty excited to have it in his room.

You may have guessed his favorite part: the garbage truck on its way to collect the trash from the bins at the house around the corner.

The wall hanging finishes at 32" x 32" and uses any nine blocks of your choice from the Busy City Quilt pattern.  You can download a free construction diagram of this wall hanging with finished measurements for each piece.  Of course, you will need a copy of the Busy City pattern for the paper pieced blocks. 

Update: Busy City is now available as a digital download. Purchase the PDF from Empty Bobbin here.

As always, I would love to see what you make!  You can add your pictures to the Flickr Group or hash tag them #busycityquilt on Instagram.  Or, email me, and I may share your quilt here on the blog.

New Neighbors

My little neighborhood from the Busy City Quit pattern has gone up pretty quickly.  The wall hanging pattern I am going to share soon uses just nine blocks of your choice.

My son requested these blocks from the 35 blocks in the pattern.  You see he was sure to include a garbage truck to pick up the trash from the bins I already created.

I'm looking forward to sewing these together and sharing the free wall hanging pattern soon.  In the meantime, I'd love to see your blocks.  Tag #busycityquilt on Instagram or add them to the Flickr group.

Update: Busy City is now available as a digital download.  Purchase the PDF from Empty Bobbin here.

Sanitation Concerns Assuaged

As I mentioned before, my younger son was concerned that the Busy City quilt was missing trash cans. Well, no more.  Now every house can have its own roll out recycling and garbage bins, if you share his concern.  I will make the pattern for the bins a free download when I release the free wall hanging pattern.

Have you seen Carla's cute Busy City blocks?  They are perfect!  She is also giving away a pattern today, so stop by her blog Lollyquiltz to enter.

Update: Busy City is now available as a digital download.  Purchase the PDF from Empty Bobbin here.

If you want to join in, there is an informal Busy City Quilt Along starting up over on Instagram, just tag your photos #busycityquilt or add it to the Flickr Group.  It won't begin for a couple of weeks, so you've got time to get the pattern and gather your fabrics.

Busy City Giveaway Winner

The winner of the Busy City giveaway is Laura, a mom of three boys (!) and member of the St. Louis MQG.  I've sent you an email, Laura. 

My younger son is clamoring for his own Busy City quilt, and he wants me to add a block that somehow got overlooked: trashcans.  I have a fun wall hanging planned, and I'll share the layout as a free download when I get a chance (you'll still need to buy the pattern for the block templates). You can find the pattern online at Pink Chalk or at the Bernina store, locally, on Metcalf.  It is shipping to more stores right now, and feel free to ask about Empty Bobbin patterns at your local shop.

Update: Busy City is now available as a digital download.  Purchase the PDF from Empty Bobbin here.

Thanks to everyone for your kind comments. 

Busy City Pattern

Well before he was even 18 months old, my first son would point and hoot at every truck or digger he spotted through the window from his car seat.  By three, he could distinguish backhoes from front end loaders and correct me on the finer points of cranes and forklifts.  When he was ready to move to a big boy bed, I knew I had to make a construction themed quilt for him.  I found there to be so little on the market for boys and definitely nothing that would appeal both to his interests and my own modern aesthetic.   I'm pleased to say that Busy City, a pattern I created as a licensed designer for Empty Bobbin Sewing Studio, does just that. It is inspired by the quilt I designed and made for my construction crazy four year old.  It includes so many of the things little people notice all around them in the busy city.

The pattern shows you how to create paper pieced vehicles, buildings, trees, and more arranged in various ways to create unique, customized quilts and pillows.  It includes 35 block patterns which are the same size, so they can be used interchangeably, allowing you to personalize every project in the book.  The pattern includes instructions for a twin sized quilt, a baby quilt, and two pillows. (Thanks to Shea for letting me use her photos.)

Each project is designed to be customizable in a number of ways.  Not only can they be made with just the blocks you choose, the blocks are grouped by level of difficulty.  Quilters who are less experienced with paper piecing, have no fear!  Detailed paper piecing instructions are included, and you can begin with the simplest blocks or choose to use only those blocks in your project.  Those more comfortable with paper piecing can tackle the more detailed blocks, although all the blocks are suitable for intermediate quilters.  The baby quilt and pillows are quick projects that use just a block or a few blocks, and of course the heirloom twin quilt uses 35 blocks.   All the block patterns are included on a CD, so you can print out just the ones you want to use in two size options.  There is no need to photo copy or trace patterns.  Yay!

The projects are so easy to tailor to your child’s specific interests.  If your little one is into farming, you can use the tractor, pickup truck, and barn blocks.  The house becomes a farm house and the trees an orchard.  If he is interested in race cars, you can make a pack of cars in different colors and include the tow truck and ambulance on the sidelines.  You can make a charming little neighborhood of houses and trees with a school bus.  The possibilities are as numerous as the children for whom you sew, both boys and girls!  I made this 12 inch pillow cover for my new niece.

Each block pattern is paper pieced, with additional templates to create wheels and treads which are appliquéd onto the completed block.  By using black fabric with white polka dots, you can mimic the look of tires while using a single piece of fabric for each wheel.  I used fusible web and machine appliqué, although you can pick the appliqué method of your choice.

I'm so excited to partner with Empty Bobbin Sewing Studio to publish this pattern.   It is especially fitting because Shea was the one who first encouraged me to create a pattern for this quilt.  My response was, "No way."  Ha!  But that seed of an idea stayed with me, and once I had the pattern writing experience and the appropriate software, this pattern grew. Here is a list of places you can purchase Empty Bobbin Sewing Studio patterns.  Busy City is shipping to stores now and is already available at Pink Chalk, Superbuzzy, I Don't Do Dishes on etsy, Hyggeligt in Canada, and locally at the Bernina store on Metcalf and Sarah's Fabrics in Lawrence, KS.

Update: Busy City is now available for purchase as a digital download from Empty Bobbin. Download the pdf here.

As always, I would absolutely love to see what you make with my pattern.  You can email me or upload a picture directly to the flickr group.

Those of you who are still reading definitely deserve a shot at a free pattern.  Leave a comment, and I will choose a winner, at random, Saturday morning.  Does someone come to mind when you look at this pattern?  What blocks do you think he or she would like best?  For a second chance to win, hop over to Shea's blog where she is also offering a giveaway.  Giveaway now closed.