Cutie Pie Baby Quilt - A Tutorial and Giveaway

This morning I am so excited to share with you a new finish.  I am calling it Cutie Pie and wouldn't it just the most adorable quilt to wrap up your little Cutie Pie in :)

Cutie Pie is made using Shabby Fabrics brand new Pre-Fused Laser-Cut Applique Shapes.   Now, if you have been around for a bit, you know I love applique, and so when the gals at Shabby Fabrics asked if I would be interested in a Bloggers Challenge using these new shapes I was all for it :)  

Shabby Fabrics has lots and lots of shapes to choose from but I just loved the hearts ;)  The great thing about the Applique Shapes is they are cut and fused which takes out the tedious time of applique, making this quilt go together in literally a day.   Perfect for one of those last minute baby shower gifts ;)  So let's show you how to make your own ;) 

You will Need:

1 X Large Hearts Solids Pre-Fused Laser-Cut Applique Shapes Pack
1 X Large Hearts Print Pre-Fused Laser-Cut Applique Shapes Pack
1 1/8 Yard of Background Fabric (I used Basic Shades in White by Riley Blake Designs)
5/8 Yard of Border Fabric  (I used a print from Best Day Ever by April Rosenthal for Moda)
3/8 Yard of Binding Fabric  (not pictured)

STEP 1 - CUTTING

From your Background fabric cut:
    (23) 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" squares
    (4) 3 1/2" x 6 1/2" rectangles
    (4) 1 1/2" x Width of Fabric (42") Strips

From your Border Fabric cut:
    (4) 4 1/2" x Width of Fabric (42") Strips

Remove your Fusible Laser-Cut Shapes from their package.  Select 1 of the Solid Hearts to be set aside as you will only need 23 for the project.   I used this heart as a quilt label, so cute ;)

STEP 2 - APPLIQUE SQUARES

We will start at the ironing board so gather your Background squares and your Applique Hearts.   Fold your Background square in half and finger press the fold.  Then fold it in half once again and finger press the fold.   This will give you reference lines for centering your applique.

Remove the paper backing from your Applique Heart.  It will peel right off.

Using the folds as guide lines, center the Applique Heart on your Background Square as shown below.

Press the Applique Heart in place adhering it to the Background square.  Be sure when pressing to use an up and down motion rather than a side to side motion so as not to shift the applique.  Repeat for all 23 Applique Hearts.

Secure stitch all of  your Applique Hearts in place.  You can use a straight stitch, zig-zag stitch, blanket stitch, ect.   My favorite is a blanket stitch and I used a soft grey thread that would blend with all of the colors ;)  If you are new to secure stitching, you can see my Applique Video here that describes it in more detail ;)

STEP 3 - ASSEMBLING THE QUILT TOP

With all of your hearts stitched down you are ready to sew your quilt top together ;)   Lay out your Appliqued Squares and your Background rectangles as shown below, using the rectangles to offset every other row.   I alternated prints and solids but you can lay out the hearts in any color order you like, just be sure to end up with the same square/rectangle layout as below.

And now, you are going to sew the squares into columns.  To do this, simply place the first square in the first column onto the second with right sides together.  No need for pins, just align as you go.   Sew a 1/4" seam along the edge.

Then, place the third square onto the now sewn together first and second squares with right sides together.  Sew a 1/4" seam along the edge.

Continue in this fashion, adding 1 square at a time to the column until you have sewn the entire column together.  Press the seam allowances downward.

Now repeat this process for each of the columns in the quilt top.  You are then ready to sew the Columns into a quilt top.

And this is just like sewing the columns together but on a larger scale ;)  Place the second column onto the first with right sides together.  Pin along the edge, there won't be any seams to line up, you are just keeping the columns together.   Sew a 1/4" seam along the edge.

Then, place the third column onto the now sewn together first and second columns with right sides together.  Pin along the edge and then sew a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge.  Continue this process until all of the columns have been sewn together.   Press the seams to the side.

And now the Center of your Quilt Top is all done and it should look a little something like this.  So cute!!  And it's time to add some borders ;)

 STEP 4 - ADDING BORDERS

Grab your 1 1/2" x WOF Background strips.  We will add the top and bottom border first.

Place your strips onto the top and bottom of the quilt with right sides together.  Sew a 1/4" seam along the edge.  Once again, no need to use pins, just align as you go.  Trim the excess Background strip using the edge of the quilt as a guide.  Press the seam allowance towards the Background strip.

Then add the side 1 1/2" x WOF Background strips in the same fashion.  Place the strips onto the sides of the quilt top with right sides together.  Sew a 1/4" seams along the edge, aligning as you go, and then trim the excess strip.

And then just one more border to add.   Add the 4 1/2" x WOF Border Strips onto the quilt top using the same method as above.  Add the Top and Bottom strips first using a 1/4" seam allowance and pressing the seam towards the Border strips.

And then add the 2 side borders.  Trim the excess strip and press the seam allowance towards the Border Strip.

And just like that your Quilt Top is done!!!  Isn't is so fun to make something so cute in such a short  amount of time!!!!!

 STEP 5 - FINISHING THE QUILT

Now all that is left is to Baste it, Quilt It, and Bind It :)  Yup, a whole lot in one little sentence.  If you are new to finishing quilts you can see my Finishing Quilt Video Series here, it will walk you through each of the 3 steps in great detail :)

When it came time to quilt mine, I decided on an echoed paisley all over stitch in the border.   I have a video tutorial here on how I do this stitch ;)  

And then in background, I quilted some adorably small swirls  (video tutorial coming, I know I have said that forever, I just have to get a few more deadlines out of the way, but I promise I haven't forgotten ;)  

I used my favorite color Pearl, 402, So Fine Thread by Superior Threads for the quilting.  I almost always use this color when quilting on a white background.  It just the perfect amount of blend, showing the quilting without detracting from the quilt design.  I love it!!!

I love how the dense quilting in the background gives the hearts a faux trapunto look.  They just want to pop right off of the quilt ;)  So fun!!!

Cutie Pie finishes at  40" x 40", just perfect so snuggle baby in ;)  I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial and if you make your own Cutie Pie quilt I would love to see it!!  You can email me a picture at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com or add it to my Flickr Group here ;)

For lots more Prefused Laser-Cut Appliqued Shape inspiration, be sure to check out all of the Bloggers Challenge!!  You can see their posts here :)

Challenge introduction post on The Shabby 

Paula at The Sassy Quilter 

Daniela at On the Cutting Floor 

Erin at Why Not Sew? 

Deby at So Sew Easy 

Alyce at Blossom Heart Quilts 

Marni at Haberdashery Fun 

Melissa at Happy Quilting - Your Here

Mahriam at Three Owls Handmade 

Melissa at Polkadot Chair 

 And one last thing before I sign off . . . Didn't someone say something about a Giveaway in the title!!!  Shabby Fabrics is giving away a pack of Pre-Fused Laser Cut Applique Shapes to one lucky Happy Quilting Reader!!!

         

We are going to do this giveaway the same way we do the Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Days :)  You have two entry chances, the second being optional, and please leave a separate comment for each.  All Entries are welcome, including International Entries.  Please just be sure to leave an email address if you are a no-reply blogger ;)  

ENTRY 1 - Simply leave a comment that tells me if you would choose the Solid Pack of the Print Pack:)  

 ENTRY 2 - Show your Shabby Fabrics love. You can follow them on Facebook, Twitter, You Tube, Pinterest, or Instagram.  You can Sign up for the Shabby Fabrics Newsletter (top right hand corner) or Follow their Blog,  or you can Visit the Shop and then share a favorite item ;)   Just be sure to leave a comment of how you showed your Shabby Fabric Love!!!

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until next Tuesday, March 24th, and I will announce a winner Wednesday Morning, the 25th:)

Thanks so much for stopping in today and Have a Happy Quilting Weekend!!!

GIVEAWAY CLOSED - THE WINNER IS #164.  Congrats DEBBIE!!!  I have emailed you ;)

Linking up to Quilt Story :)