Finishing a Comfort Quilt

In my previous post I covered the first steps to take to make a memory quilt. Once you're ready to create the quilt, keep a few things in mind. First, remember that the fabrics are what makes the quilt special, so pick a design that makes them the star. Using large blocks is a good strategy for creating both a fast finish and a design that allows the fabrics to be the main feature. The blocks I created are about 26 inches square, so just nine blocks makes a good sized throw quilt.

Two, with the purpose of the quilt in mind, add to the comfort factor with both the backing and the quilting style. Select a cozy backing fabric. I picked a soft flannel. You may want to quilt minimally to maintain a soft drape to the quilt, as I did. As a bonus, simple straight line quilting about every two inches is also quick to do.

Consider the feature fabrics as your select the finishing touch of the binding. Often the clothing scraps will not be large enough for binding strips, so choose a complimentary fabric. I think this mini check blends well with the other shirting fabrics.

I hope the quilt will bring up a lot of fond memories and offer some tangible comfort.

My quilt design was inspired by this fabulous quilt by Shea. Although I was unable to find the block name or a pattern, it only required some simple quilt math. I have saved you the trouble if you want to follow the instructions below.

For each block you will need:
(4) 8 1/2 squares fabric A
(1) 8 1/2 square fabric B
(1) 12 5/8 square fabric C cut twice diagonally into (4) triangles
(2) 6 5/8 squares fabric C cut once diagonally into (4) triangles

Cutting the triangles from the squares as directed rather than individually means there will be no bias edges on the outside edge of the block. Best!

Handmade Travel Tags, Free Tutorial

I made a set of travel tags for family, and some friends requested a tutorial. It's been a while since I wrote and offered a free tutorial on the blog, so here it is as a big thank you for stopping by and leaving such kind comments over the years. These beautiful travel tags not only serve to mark your luggage should it become lost, they also make your bag easier to spot. Set your ubiquitous black rolling bag apart from the rest in the luggage return this summer. I'd love to see what you make, as always. Drop me an email or hashtag your work online with #handmadetraveltags

You may notice the June Tailor Quilter's Cut'n Press in the background of many of the photos. It is a cutting mat on one side and a pressing surface on the other other. It's the perfect tool for a small project like this when you don't want to get up and down to use an ironing board because it fits right next to your machine.

Handmade Travel Tag

Tutorial by Alexandra Ledgerwood 

Materials

Scrap of white fabric 3 x 9 1/2 or larger
Fat quarter or scraps of outside fabric
Interfacing scraps
Thread matching the outside fabric
Permanent pen

Cutting instructions

From the outside fabric, cut
(1) 3 x 9 1/2 rectangle
(1) 2 x 3 rectangle
(1) 2 1/4 x 14 strip
 From the white fabric, cut
(1) 3 x 8 rectangle
 From the interfacing, cut
(2) 3 x 9 1/2 rectangles

Sewing instructions

1. Using a permanent pen, write the address on the white fabric, on the right half of the rectangle, leaving at least 1/2 inch from the right edge.

Tip: I type the address in a word processing program and trace the address onto the fabric directly from my computer screen.

2. Sew the 2 x 3 rectangle of outside fabric to the white fabric, near the address along the 3 inch edge, using a quarter inch seam allowance. Press seam open.

3. Following package instructions, apply the interfacing to the wrong side of the outside fabric rectangle and the white fabric unit.

4. Trim one end of both rectangles to create the pointed end of the luggage tag. Following the inch markings on your cutting mat, place your ruler diagonally from one inch mark to another as shown in the photo, and trim off the triangle. Repeat with the other corner.

5. Fold the 2 1/4 x 14 rectangle in half lengthways and press. Open up the rectangle, and bring the outer edges to meet in the center. Press. Fold in half again, lengthways, to create a narrow strip, with the raw edges encased in the center.

6. Edge stitch along both long sides of the strip.

7. Bring the two raw edges of the strip together and temporarily pin in the center of the straight end of the 3 inch edge of the rectangle of outside fabric. Right sides facing, place the white fabric unit on top, matching the edges carefully. Remove the temporary pin and pin through the outside fabric, the strip, and the white unit.

8. Pin and sew around all the edges with a 1/4 inch seam, leaving about two inches for turning.

Tip: Be careful not to sew over the folded strip on the inside.

9. Turn right side out, and press.

10. Edge stitch around the outside edge.

11. Create a button hole in the center of the outside fabric at the pointed end of the tag. The button hole should be perpendicular to the address and be the same length as the width of your strip, a little over 1/2 inch.

12. Fold the tag in half, overlapping the outside fabrics slightly to hide the inner white fabric but not folding over the address inside. Press.

13. Edgestitch along the fold.

14. Push the strip through the button hole, and your handmade travel tag is complete.

Free Pumpkin Patterns

To celebrate fall, I'm giving away my pumpkin block pattern in my Craftsy shop. The free pattern includes the paper piecing templates for both the 6 x 6 single pumpkin block, and this cute 12 x 12 block featuring a group of three pumpkins.

The single pumpkin block is perfect for beginners. Those more confident with paper piecing will have fun making the more challenging block with three pumpkins.

The pattern includes the templates alone. For detailed instructions and tutorials on paper piecing, check out some of the following links:

Beginning Paper Piecing by Ellison Lane or her video
How to Paper Piece on the Craftsy blog
Paper piecing video by Crafty Gemini

Apron in an Hour Remix

Jona's Apron in an Hour tutorial has been on my to do list for ages, and I finally had the opportunity to move it to the top of the list this week. I needed a hostess gift, and this is perfect! The pattern is great because it just uses a fat quarter and a half yard of fabric. I did make a simple change though. I added another fat quarter and made it reversible!

Here's a quick how to:
Square up your fat quarters to the same size (18 x 21). Sew the fat quarters along their 21" side to either side of the bottom trim fabric which is 6 x 21.Press the seams towards the fat quarters and top stitch.

Fold the rectangle in half, right sides together, so the fat quarters meet at the top, and stitch along the two sides, leaving the top open for turning.

Turn right side out and press. Now you're ready to add the apron tie, and you can follow Jona's instructions.

You get a simple, quick project that is two aprons in one!

I used a print from Amy Butler's Love, the new DS Quilts dot, and a pink crossweave.

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.

Rugby Stripe Block - a tutorial

One of my scrap management techniques is to cut 2 1/2" strips from scrap pieces of fabric.  The strips have been piling up, awaiting the right project, so when I saw this lovely photo by Samantha of Always Making Life Prettier, my mind went immediately to that box of jumbled strips.  Samantha was kind enough to allow me to use her idea as the inspiration for a new quilt and this tutorial (and believe it or not, her blocks are only a starting point for a much more elaborate design).

The Rugby Stripe block is extremely simple.  It is totally achievable for even a beginner, but it's also a great stash buster or way to use scraps for any quilter.  It's always nice to have a quick block for those fat eighth or fat quarter bundles or jelly rolls that doesn't require you to purchase a background fabric.
You can make a single Rugby Stripe block from two jelly roll strips, or simply use 2 1/2" strips cut from yardage, or scrap strips as I did, to create these 7" x 14" blocks.  You will need 45 blocks for a 63" x 70" throw quilt or 21 blocks for a 35" x 42" baby quilt.

To make a Rugby Stripe block:
1. Cut the fabrics

    Fabric A:
    1 strip 2 1/2" x 23"
    1 strip 2 1/2" x 7 1/2"

    Fabric B:
    1 strip 2 1/2" x 23"

2. Sew the 2 1/2" x 23" strip of Fabric A to the same size strip of Fabric B.

3. Press the seam as desired and sub cut the strip into 3 rectangles 4 1/2" x 7 1/2" each. I allowed an extra 1/2" wiggle room to trim away for perfectly straight edges.

4. Sew together the three rectangles created in  the previous step, alternating Fabrics A and B, and add the final 2 1/2" x 7 1/2" strip of Fabric A.

That's it!  These blocks sew up so quickly.  Of course, if you don't have strips or want to use fat eighths or fat quarters or smaller scraps, simply cut 4 rectangles of Fabric A and 3 rectangles of Fabric B, all 2 1/2" x 7 1/2" to make a single block. (FYI, if cut this way, two fat eighths will yield two blocks). Hope you enjoy the simple tutorial.  I'll be finishing up the blocks for my throw to show soon.

Spring Quarter

I am excited to be able to share this quilt with you at last.  I made Spring Quarter using a fat eighth stack of Oakshott Impressions.  The colors are just lovely, each woven with a white thread.  The way the fabrics are woven gives them shimmer and depth.  I can't say enough about them really, and the fact that Oakshott is a family business that produces quality fabric in an ethical way makes me extra proud to work with them on a few patterns.

Spring Quarter is a beginner-friendly pattern made of quarter log cabin blocks.  You may recognize the pattern from a baby quilt I made earlier which is available here.  These colors change it so much!  I chose a spiral pattern for the quilting, which contrasts with all the sharp angles.

 

I'm happy to share the pattern for this simple quilt.  It includes instructions to make the quilt in two sizes: the 34 x 34 baby quilt/wall hanging shown here, as well as a 50 x 65 throw sized version.  The step by step instructions include digital illustrations.  You can download the free pattern here.

 

One more piece of good news is that you can now purchase Oakshott fabrics from Marmalade Fabrics.  Tammy has the Impressions fat eighth bundle as well as some other really gorgeous color ways.  The one called Water is calling to me.
As always, I would love to see what you make.  Add your own Spring Quarter photos or anything else you've made from teaginny patterns or tutorials to the Flickr group.  It's a small group now, so your work will be front and center!

Teacher Gifts

It's that time of year again.  My go to gift these days is ruffled wristlets, using my simple tutorial.  And yes, I do have to go back read my own instructions every time.  Now that my older son is in elementary school, there are so many teachers to thank.  He has one for Spanish, one for Music, one for Art, and so on.  These are a quick and inexpensive way to give handmade thank you gifts to each person who has taught him this past year.

I spotted Shea making some of these at the retreat, and she was kind enough to share a great tip with me.  When you go to gather the ruffle, run a basting stitch down both sides of the strip instead of a single line down the middle.  This will make gathering the strip so much easier, and it will stay nice and straight for you, instead of twisting up.  It also makes the basting stitches easy to remove after you've sewn the ruffle to the wristlet.  Thanks for the super tip, Shea!

And as you may have noticed, my backdrop here is my Flashdance baby quilt.  I had it out after washing and drying it and listing in my shop.  I also listed the doll sized quilt too.

 Okay, now I have more wristlets to make!