Steps To Tranquility - A Tutorial and Giveaway

Today I am excited to share another collaboration tutorial with Art Gallery Fabrics using the ever so beautiful Legacy by Angela Walters.  And I was  thrilled when they asked if I would be willing to do a giveaway  along with the tutorial. Well, of course!!!!  Stay tuned for the Giveaway, it's at the end and it is fabulous!!!  

So Let's get to it!!!  I am happy to introduce to you my newest tutorial . . . Steps To Tranquility!!!!

Here's what you are going to need:

20 Fat Quarters - As mentioned, I am using the Legacy Collection by Angela Walters.

5 1/2 Yards of White Background Fabric

7/8 Yard of Binding Fabric - I used Square Elements

STEP 1 - CUTTING
Press each of your 20 fat quarters.
From each of the 20 fat quarters cut (1) 2 3/4" x 22" strip and (3) 3" x 22" strips.  Set the remaining fat quarter scrap aside for the moment.   Sub-cut the strips as follows:
The 2 3/4" strip - (2) 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" squares, (2) 2 3/4" x 7 1/4" rectangles
First 3" strip - (1) 3" x 3" square, (2) 2 3/4" x 8 1/2" rectangles
Second 3" strip - (1) 3" x 8 rectangle,  (1) 3" x 13" rectangle
Third 3" strip - (1) 3" x 8 rectangle,  (1) 3" x 13" rectangle

Choose 1 of the fat quarter remnants set aside and from it cut (2) 2 3/4" strips.  Sub-cut the strips as follows:
First 2 3/4"  strip - (2) 2 3/4" x 8 1/2" rectangles
Second 2 3/4" strip - (1) 2 3/4" x 8 1/2" rectangle.
     Scrap the remaining large pieces.

Choose 1 of the fat quarter remnants set aside and from it cut (1) 2 3/4" strips.  Sub-cut the strip as follows:
The 2 3/4"  strip - (2) 2 3/4" x 8 1/2" rectangles
     Scrap the remaining large pieces.

Choose 5 of the fat quarter remnants set aside and from each cut (1) 3" strip and (1) 2 3/4" strips.  Sub-cut the strips as follows:
The 3"  strip - (1) 3" x 3" square, (2) 2 3/4" x 8 1/2" rectangles
The 2 3/4" strip - (1) 2 3/4" x 8 1/2" rectangle.
     Scrap the remaining large pieces.

Choose 5 of the fat quarter remnants set aside and from each cut (2) 3" strips.  Sub-cut the strips as follows:
First 3"  strip - (1) 3" x 8" rectangle, (1) 3" x 13" rectangles
Second 3" strip - (1) 3" x 8" rectangle, (1) 3" x 13" rectangles
   

Choose 8 of the fat quarter remnants set aside and from each cut (2) 2 3/4" strips.  Sub-cut the strips as follows:
First 3" strip - (2) 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" square, (2) 2 3/4" x 7 1/4" rectangles
Second 3" strip - (2) 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" square, (2) 2 3/4" x 7 1/4" rectangles

And you are done cutting prints.  You should have the quality of each piece listed below.    Place the 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" squares and 2 3/4" x 7 1/4" rectangles together with similar fabrics grouped (as shown) to be used for the Corner Blocks.  Place the 2 3/4" x 8 1/2" rectangles in a pile to be used for the Sashing Blocks.  And place the 3" x 8" rectangles and the 3" x 13" rectangles together with similar fabrics grouped (as shown) and then add the 3" x 3" squares to the group to be used for the Center Blocks.

And now, some yardage cutting.  Press your background yardage.  From your background fabric cut the following:
(36) 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" squares - Place with the Corner Blocks print pile.
(120) 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" squares - Place with the Sashing Blocks print pile.
(120) 2 3/4" x 13" rectangles - Place with the Sashing Blocks print pile.
(50) 3" x 3" squares - Place with the Center Blocks print pile.
(50) 3" x 8" rectangles - Place with the Center Blocks print pile.

STEP 2 - CORNER BLOCKS

We'll start with building the Corner Blocks.  So grab the print and background fabrics in the Corner Blocks pile.  Note - while the instructions will be shown making one block at a time, I recommend chain stitching and assembly line piecing all 36 units at a time, if you are comfortable with that type of piecing.

To start the Corner Blocks gather a 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" background square and (2) similar 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" print squares.  Lay out as follows.  Place the right hand side print square onto the background square with right sides together.  Aligning as you go, stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  Finger press.  Now place the left hand print square onto the background square with right sides together.  Aligning as you go, stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  Press both seams outward.

Now gather the (2) similar 2 3/4" x 7 1/4" print rectangles.  Lay out as follows.  Place the top print rectangle onto the pieced unit with right sides together.  You can align as you go or pin and then stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  Finger press.  Now place the bottom print rectangle onto the pieced unit with right sides together.  Align as you go or pin and then stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  Press both seams outward.  Repeat this step to make a total of 36 Corner Blocks.

STEP 3 - SASHING BLOCKS

Next, we move onto building the Sashing Blocks.  So grab the print and background fabrics in the Sashing Blocks pile.  Note - once again, while the instructions will be shown making one block at a time, I recommend chain stitching and assembly line piecing all 60 units at a time, if you are comfortable with that type of piecing.

To start the Sashing Blocks gather a (2) 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" background squares and (1) 2 3/4" x 8 1/2" print rectangle.  Lay out as follows.  Place the right hand side background square onto the print rectangle with right sides together.  Aligning as you go, stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  Finger press.  Now place the left hand  background square onto the print rectangle with right sides together.  Aligning as you go, stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  Press both seams outward.

Now gather (2)  2 3/4" x 13" background rectangles.  Lay out as follows.  Place the top background rectangle onto the pieced unit with right sides together.  You can align as you go or pin and then stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  Finger press.  Now place the bottom background rectangle onto the pieced unit with right sides together.  Align as you go or pin and then stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  Press both seams outward.  Repeat this step to make a total of 60 Sashing Blocks.

STEP 4 - CENTER BLOCKS

And finally, we will build the Center Blocks.  So grab the print and background fabrics in the Center Blocks pile.  Note - And one last time, while the instructions will be shown making one block at a time, I recommend chain stitching and assembly line piecing all 25 units at a time, if you are comfortable.

To start the Center Blocks gather a (2) 3" x 3" background squares and (1)  3" x 3" print square.  Lay out as follows.  Place the right hand side background square onto the print square with right sides together.  Aligning as you go, stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  Finger press.  Now place the left hand background square onto the print square with right sides together.  Aligning as you go, stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  Press both seams outward.

Now gather (2) 3" x 8" background rectangles.  Lay out as follows.  Place the top background rectangle onto the pieced unit with right sides together.  You can align as you go or pin and then stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  Finger press.  Now place the bottom background rectangle onto the pieced unit with right sides together.  Align as you go or pin and then stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  Press both seams outward.

Now gather (2)  3" x 8" print rectangles and (2) 3" x 13" rectangles all of the similar print.  Lay out as follows.  Place the right hand side print square onto the background square with right sides together.  Aligning as you go, stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  Finger press.  Now place the left hand print square onto the background square with right sides together.  Aligning as you go, stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  Press both seams outward.

Place the side print rectangles onto the pieced center unit with right sides together.  Aligning as you go or pin in place and then stitch a 1/4" seam along each of the 2 edges.   Press both seams outward.

Place the top and bottom  print rectangles onto the pieced center unit with right sides together.  Aligning as you go or pin in place and then stitch a 1/4" seam along each of the 2 edges.   Press both seams outward.

Repeat this step to make a total of 25 Center Blocks.

STEP 5 - ASSEMBLING QUILT TOP

And now all that is left is assembling the quilt top.  I have to apologize that the remaining steps will use graphics and not pictures.  I tried and tried but just could not get a whole row into my camera view.  This is a big quilt ;)

Gather 6 Corner Blocks and 5 Sashing Blocks.  Lay them out in a row as shown below, playing with the placement of prints until it is pleasing to the eye.  Using 1/4" seams, sew the blocks into a row.  (I like to do this by first sewing all of the corner blocks to the sashing block next to it, and then sewing those pieced units together :)  Press the seams towards the Sashing Blocks.  Repeat to make a total of 6 rows.

Now gather 6 Sashing Blocks and 5 Center Blocks.  Lay them out in a row as shown below, playing with the placement of prints until it is please to the eye.  Using 1/4" seams, sew the blocks into a row.  (Once again, I like to do this by first sewing the sashing blocks to the center block next to it, and then sewing those pieced units together)  Press the seams towards the Sashing blocks.  Repeat to make a total of 5 rows.

And finally, layout all your rows as shown below, starting and ending with the corner rows and alternating rows.  Using a 1/4" seam, sew the rows together into the quilt top.  And yes, just like making the rows, I like to first sew each corner row to the center row next to it, and then sew those pieced row units into the quilt top.

STEP 6 - FINISHING UP

And now that your quilt top is compete, you are ready to finish you quilt.  You just have to Baste it, Quilt it, and Bind it. (You will need 11 2 1/2" x wof binding strips).   I know that's a lot of work to put into one sentence.  If you are new to quilting and need some pointers on how to finish your quilt you can see my video tutorials going over basting, quilting, and binding in detail.  

I really pushed myself in the quilting of this one in an attempt to get more comfortable with the Long Arm.  I spent 20 hours quilting Steps to Tranquility and by the end, we were good friends.  We had a few rough patches along the way but it all worked out.  Oh,  and there are over 500,000 stitches.  (I love that the machine counts them, so fun :)  I think this is by far, the most custom quilt quilting I have ever done on a quilt and I am so excited to share it ;)

For the Center Blocks I quilted a back and forth rounded edge design and then used my ruler in the corners to create some outward rays.  I love how the two designs work together.  And on all the background of the entire quilt I quilted my favorite little spirals.  These are a lot smaller than I normally quilt and it was good to get more comfortable with smaller (although it sure takes a lot longer ;)

For the Corner Blocks I did echoed Arches of the piecing.  I just love how this quilting design creates  the secondary circle designs.  So fun!!  This stitch was a little nerve racking at first to try and get my arches similar, but by the end I was loving how fast and easy it was.

And finally, in the sashing blocks I did an S design that I learned from Angela Walters craftsy video's.  Once again, nervous to get started on this one as I was having a hard time keeping my shape and distance apart the same, but by the end of the quilt, feeling pretty good about it :)

All in all, I am just ecstatic with how the quilting turned out and it has oh so much yummy texture!!

STEP  - ENJOY

Once you baste it, quilt it, and bind it, you can then sit back and enjoy it!!  This 103"x 103" King Size Bedspread is sure to be an added piece of tranquility in your house :)

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial and if you make your own Steps To Tranquility Quilt I would love to see it.  You can add a picture of it in my Happy Quilting Flickr group here, or if you don't do flickr just email me a picture :)

BONUS SIZE!!!!   Several of you have asked how to make this quilt, but in a smaller size, so I have added the fabric requirements and cutting directions for a bonus size option and here it is ;)  You can make this as a Picnic Size finishing at 84" x 84" by just taking out two rows of the bottom and side in the following layout that uses 16 Center Blocks, 25 Corner Blocks, and 40 Sashing Blocks.

Here's what you are going to need:

15 - 20 Fat Quarters - The more fat quarters, the more variety in the quilt.

4 Yards of White Background Fabric

2/3 Yard of Binding Fabric - Cut into (9) 2 1/2 X WOF Strips

And here is what you need to cut:  

From each of 16 Print Fabrics cut:

(2) 3" x 13" rectangles and (2) 3" x 8" rectangles for the Center Blocks

             You will have a  total of (32) 3" x 13" rectangles and (32) 3" x 8" rectangles

 From each of 25 Print Fabrics (You can use each print more than once) cut:

(2) 2 3/4" x 7 1/4" rectangles and (2) 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" squares for the Corner Blocks

              You will have a total of (50) 2 3/4" x 7 1/4" rectangles and (50) 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" squares

From the remaining Fat Quarter Pieces cut:

(40) 2 3/4" x 8 1/2" rectangles for the Sashing Blocks

(16) 3"x 3" squares for the Center Blocks

From the Background Fabric cut:

(32) 3" x 8" rectangles for the Center Blocks

(32) 3" x 3" squares for the Center Blocks

(80) 2 3/4" x 13" rectangles for the Sashing Blocks

(80) 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" squares for the Sashing Blocks

(25) 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" squares for the Corner Blocks

And that does it for the cutting.  Now you can just use the Block Piecing Instructions from above to make the 16 Center Blocks, 25 Corner Blocks, and 40 Sashing Blocks and from there use the Quilt Piecing Instructions from above and the Picnic Size Layout picture to finish your quilt :)

From Our Home To Yours

Come on over, we'll save you a slice :)

We Have a Winner

It's time to pick a winner!!! Thank you again to Fort Worth Fabric Studio for sponsoring this giveaway.  I am sure you all found that Jodie puts together some amazing bundles!!!

So, without further ado . . . The winner of the beautiful Let It Snow Man Bundle is . . . .

Jeanie!!!!!!  Congrats Jeanie :)

And if you didn't win, it's okay because Black Friday shopping is just around the corners and my are there some great sales going on.   Check out the Sponsor Spotlight over there to the right to see all of the great deals!!!  Some have even started already, yippee!!!

Knee Socks

Well with November quickly winding down, I decided it was time to bust out a bee block.  So this morning I went to my scrap bins and pulled out lots of lovely color coordinating strings to make this super fun Knee Socks block for Colby.

This block uses 52 different scrappy stings.  And oh my, did I have fun going through my scrap bins for this one.  Seriously, I spent more time sorting fabrics and cutting than I actually did making the block.

The block finishes at 24" and the design is by Elizabeth Hartman and can be found here.   It really is such a fun block to put together!  And yes, I should have given it a few more presses, but I was in a hurry to beat the mailman and knew it would get all folded up to fit in the package anyways, what ya gonna do :)

And now it is in the mail and I am all set for next month's blocks!!!  I just love being a part of these amazing bees.   Are you wondering how to be part of a bee??   Check out this post in flickr.  Now is a great time to look at signing up as most will restart in the new year :)

Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

Some Weekend Cutting

As I mentioned last Friday, I was managing to catch a cold.  And man oh man, did I catch it.  So there wasn't a whole lot going on this weekend.  I did a bit of quilting on the long arm (which I will show later this week, hello tutorial :)  and a little bit of cutting.  I was cutting up some of my Road 15 scraps and finally tried out my new Rotary Cutter from Wholeport.  I have never had a 60mm rotary cutter before and decided to give one a try and I like it!!  I don't know if there is a difference in cutting time, (I am sure there is due to some amazing physics) but I like the idea of it being so big and slicing through my cutting time.

After cutting the Road 15 scraps I was hoping to cut into this beautiful bundle of Oakshott Cottens.  The lovely folks at Oakshott  were so kind to send  me their new Italy Fat Eighth Bundle to play with.  Sadly though, my brain was just to foggy to decide what I wanted to make with this amazing bundle.

So it will wait on the shelf looking oh so amazing until I decide just the perfect project for it :)  And just for fun, I wanted to show you how cute and little they fold the Fat Eighth bundles.  That is the bundle sitting on top of a charm pack.  So adorable!!!

So now it's off to the store for some serious pie making ingredients.  Our family takes pie making for the big gobbble gobble day pretty serious.  We average 8-10 pies because honestly, who doesn't love pie!!

Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

Square Dance

** Note - If you are looking for the FWFS Blog Hop Party Giveaway, You can find it here :)

It's a secret reveal day!!!   Yippee, I have such a hard time keeping these secrets so I just love when I finally share.  So, without further ado,  here is Square Dance!!  I designed this quilt probably 2 years ago and it was just sitting in my EQ program waiting.  And then in Spring the fabrics,magazine, and design all fell together and Square Dance went from an EQ sketch to a finished quilt!!

The pattern for Square Dance can be found in the Fall 2013 issue of Modern Quilts Unlimited.  This was my first time publishing with MQU so that was a new fun experience.  It always makes me smile to see how different the publishing process is from one company is to another.  You really learn a lot :)

It's no secret that I like bold geometric designs.  I love how they can often give an almost 3-D effect.  Square Dance allowed me to really showcase some fun prints and since this quilt was all about Fall, I went with Smore's Love by Julie and Eric Comsotck from Moda Fabrics.

I quilted Square Dance with an all over Wood Grain effect that I learned from Angela Walters Craftsy Class.  I think this stitch really added to that Fall feel.  And, it had the added bonus of being incredibly fun to stitch!!!  It just flows and while it is more dense and takes a little while to quilt . . .

the overall effect is totally worth it.  Just look at all of that yummy quilted texture :)  It just makes me want to snuggle up in front of a fire.

And since it came back a few days ago, and I just happened to have caught my children's cold, I think I just might go do that :)

Have a Happy Quilting Day!

Linking this finish up to Amada's and Sarah's :)

Welcome Fort Worth Fabric Studio and Giveaway!!!

Today I am so excited to welcome Fort Worth Fabric Studio as Happy Quilting's newest sponsor!!!   Jodie Heinold opened Forth Worth Fabric Studios in October of 2009.  She lives in, you guessed it, Forth Worth Texas with her husband and three boys.  Her dream and plan is to see Forth Worth Fabric Studio grow to "Texas-Sized" allowing a place for clientele to return again and again finding new fabrics each time.

Jodie has a trained eye for beautiful fabrics and stunning color combinations.  These are shown in her amazing Friday Bundle Batches!!  Every Friday Jodie releases a new bundle with a catchy name and based around a certain theme or focal fabric.  These bundles come in Fat Quarters or Half Yards.  These are a few of my favorites.

   

See what I mean by that eye for color.  Fantastic!!!  And of course, the wide variety of fabrics Jodie carries makes these amazing bundles possible.  Jodie carries over 35 different Manufactures allowing you an incredibly wide variety.   From your modern prints in yardage and precuts, to your basic batiks, and even some Duck Dynasty thrown in for good measure ;)  Fort Worth Fabric Studio really does have it all!

                  

Jodie also carries wonderful Buttons and Trims,  Kits,  and Patterns and Books.  It's so convenient to have it all in one place!!!!   Seriously, the little lady bug ribbon, adorable!!!

And finally, Fort Worth Fabric Studio also has an amazing sale section that has an astounding variety of discounts fabrics.  She breaks her sales down into price per yardage starting at $3.00 and on up to $8.00.  This makes it so easy to get the sale price you are looking for!!  She even has some of her amazing bundles on sale too!!  Everyone Loves a good sale!!!

Be sure to sign up for the Forth Worth Fabric Studio Newsletter  (upper right hand corner) so you don't miss a thing.  It will arrive each Friday with the new Friday Batch Bundle and all of the great sales going on!!!

So Welcome Jodie and Forth Worth Fabric Studio!!!  I am so happy to have you as part of the Happy Quilting Team!!!!

And as part of their welcome debut Fort Worth Fabric Studio is hosting a fabulous giveaway of a brand new Bundle!!!  And this bundle is just perfect for the upcoming holidays, Let It Snow-Man!!!  I know you all have a few holiday sewing plans that this would be perfect for!!

And, since the timing just happened to fall on the same day , this giveaway is doing double duty.  Not only is it the welcome giveaway for Fort Worth Fabric Studio, it is also the giveaway for the Quilter's Blog Hop Party.  Because who, doesn't love a good party.  Check out all of the great giveaways here :)

So . . . How do you enter to win this fantastic bundle???  Simple!!

Just Pop on over to Fort Worth Fabric Studio and check out the Friday Batch Bundle's and then comment here telling me which is your favorite!!!

That's it :) The giveaway will close on Tuesday night, November 26th and I will announce a winner shortly after.  The giveaway is open to all entries :)

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!