Wednesday, June 30, 2021

My Favorite Color is Moda Sampler - Block 1

 So remember at the beginning of the year when I said I was going to  join in the QAL  for the  My Favorite Color is Moda Sampler???  Well, I am thrilled to say, that I finally started and made Block 1.   And boy oh boy, this was a big first block!!!  This finishes at 36".  It could be a baby blanket all on it's own.    And isn't it just so bright and happy in these Sunrise colors!!


You might recall, how I mentioned that I had just enough "morning sunrise"  grunge goodness to make this quilt.   Well, I did have just enough, but I highly recommend just using the directed yardage in the pattern or getting a Kit.    I think not having the right cuts of yardage is what took me so long to get started on this.  


It's not that the cutting was hard, but it was written for that specific amount of yardage.  So because I was using smaller scrap pieces, I had to check every cut to make sure I had enough of the piece I was using to cut out all the pieces in that color for a specific block.   So ya, basically, I made this much harder than it needed to be, spent 6 hours, and nearly made my head explode . . . but am happy to say it all worked out, and I had about 1/8 yard left of one red piece.   (and yes, there were several times I was piecing together smaller pieces to make the size piece I needed, gotta love piecing to make 1 piece ;)  


But now, it is done and I am so excited.   I bagged up each of the blocks, and already just want to start sewing them all together.   Who knows if I will catch up and actually QAL or if I will just make up all the blocks.   I am just thrilled they are all cut and ready to go.   And I just love the way the colors came out in the first block, it is making me all the more excited to get some more done!!!  


You could always join in this quilt along too.  Obviously, it is never to late to get started :)  Just grab your My Favorite Color is Moda booklet and a stack of 10 Colors (but again, get the right amount of yardages stated :)   and away you go!!


I hope you all have a Happy Quilting Day!!

Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!!

 It's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!! Let's have some fun :)

First, we need to announce the winner from last Terrific Tuesday Giveaway!!  
The winner of the Pumpkins and Blossoms Jelly Roll from Fat Quarter Shop is . . .   Number #158 . . . Congrats Rebecca!  I have messaged you :)  

         
And on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by  Thousands of Bolts .   Thousands of Bolts has incredible prices that will have you super excited!!!  There are thousands of bolts to choose from and all at amazing prices, staring as low as $5.39 a yard!!!   And they have just introduced dozens and dozens of new fabrics to the inventory!!  Be sure to check it out :)


And for Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway,  Thousands of Bolts is giving one lucky winner at $25.00 Gift Certificate!!!  You can get just what you always wanted :)   And good luck picking because there are literally thousands of bolts to choose from!!!!   


You have two entry chances here on the blog, 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 Do you sleep with the covers tucked in or out??

 ENTRY 2 - Lets show Thousands of Bolts some Love!!!!   You can follow them on   Facebook or Instagram.  Or you can visit The Shop and then share a favorite item ;)   Just be sure to leave a comment of how you showed your Thousand of Bolts Love!!!

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until next Tuesday, July 6th, when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

You can also pop over to my Instagram and/or Facebook to enter there as well :)  

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

Friday, June 25, 2021

3 New Quilt Swirls

 This week I finished piecing up 3 new quilt tops.   Which means it is time for some fun on the HQ Infinity ;)  First up, and I am so super excited for this!!!   I finished piecing together my Sawtooth Stars and Log Cabin blocks a few days ago and yesterday I sewed all the blocks into the quilt top.   And can I just say, Amazing!!!!   I can't wait to get this quilted and bound and be sure to watch next week for the finish, as I will be sharing a Free PDF Download of the pattern along with the finish!!


Second, I finally sewed my Greatest Hits Blocks from the Year 4 Sew Sampler into a quilt top.  I have been waiting on this, because I had missed making 2 blocks and wanted to redo another as I forgot to do it with a low volume background.   And then this week, I just figured, why not make it square with the 9 blocks I already had.    A little sashing, and quilt top done!!!   Sometimes, you just have to go for the easy finish, tee hee hee.  


And finally, after releasing the final row of the Serendipity Quilt Along, it was time to sew it all together.  I love sewing row quilts together, they just go so fast.   All the work of piecing the blocks into rows was done, so I just had to sew some long sashing strips and rows together.   And I just love the way this one turned out.   They grey background just looks amazing all together.   

So again, it's time to get Happy Quilting!!!  Here is hoping for some Quilt Finishes very soon.

I hope you all have a very Happy Quilting Weekend and maybe get some of your own finishes as well!

Thursday, June 24, 2021

A Scrapbook of Quilts!!

A Scrapbook of Quilts was just released and can I just say, it is amazing!!!!   Co-Authors Joanna Figueroa and Carrie Nelson hit it out of the part with this one, which is no surprise as these two women are each a quilting powerhouse!!  And I just love all of the tips, tricks, and playful back and forth that Joanna and Carrie share along with the projects.   A Scrapbook of Quilts uses 6 basic quilt blocks and a pile of scraps to make over 30 gorgeous projects. And I was so blessed to get to make one of those projects :)


Isn't this just the cutest!!!!   Carrie, Joanna and I have been friends for a while, meeting at market, so I was thrilled when Carrie asked me to make this adorable Pirouette Tabletopper for their book.     Pirouette is one of the 6 blocks in the A Scrapbook of Quilts and obviously, this design worked fabulous for a Christmas design!!   I had so much fun piecing this.   Half Square Triangles and tiny Flying Geese, I was in matching point heaven.   


And when it came time to quilt it, I thought it would be fun to add to the Wreath effect by quilting a giant spiral.   I just love how it turned out.   And I love quilting this design on small projects, as it is much easier to manage the bulk spinning round and round when it fits in the throat space of my machine ;)  


And here it is pictured in the book.   Isn't that just a beautiful picture!!!   If I could "instantly download" any skill it would be photography.  It truly is an art and I just love seeing my quilts pictured in such beautiful ways.  And of course, all of the pictures in A Scrapbook of Quilts are just beautiful and the instructions are wonderful and easy to follow in full color.  


And speaking of the book . . . There is a Pillow Along to celebrate the release of A Scrapbook of Quilts!!!   This is the first week, and everyone is gathering their scraps :)   It will run for 6 weeks, and each week one of the blocks from the book will be paired with one of the following themes:  Patriotic, Halloween, Autumn, Christmas, Two-Color and Neutral.  You can read all of the details about the Pillow Along on Joanna's Blog.  


And I am super excited to be participating in the Pillow Along as well!!!   I bet you can't tell from my fabric pull what Theme I have ;)     I have lots and lots of scraps, but orange is actually the one color that I am sadly lacking on.    I tried to pull lots of little scraps, but I just didn't have enough and they really weren't very cohesive.   So instead, I pulled some Fig Tree Fat Quarters and plan to do a super scrappy layout.   If you find you are lacking in scraps too, scrappy layouts are a great way to add a scrappy look to just a few fabrics ;)


I am looking forward to sharing more on this soon.

Be sure to follow along with the Pillow Along and if you haven't already, you will want to add A Scrapbook of Quilts to your quilting library.   It is phenomenal!!!

And on a total side note, I am just wondering . . . If you could "instantly download" any skill what would it be??

I hope you all have a Happy Quilting Day!!! 

Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!!

  It's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!! Let's have some fun :)

First, we need to announce the winner from last Terrific Tuesday Giveaway!!  
The winner of the $25.00 Gift Certificate from Lou Lou's Fabric Shop is . . .   Number #378 . . . Congrats hartwighhandmade!  I have messaged you :)  

    
         
And on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by Fat Quarter Shop.   Fat Quarter Shop is amazing and they never cease to amaze me with everything they have going on at their shop!!!     And did you know they have a 24 Hour Flash Sale every day with 2 Flash Sales on Tuesdays!!   And not only do they have a daily deal, they have a Fabric Basic, Pattern, and Notion of the Month!!!!     Zen Chic Spotted Basics are on sale and I just love the texture in these basics!!!  Also, all Karen Kay Budkley Products are on sale for the Notion (Love her scissors!!!) , and KimberBell Patterns are on sale for the Pattern.   Save 20-30% off of all of them for the whole month of June!!  So great ;) 

24 Hour Flash Sales at the Fat Quarter Shop!


And for today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Fat Quarter Shop is giving away this brand new Pumpkins and Blossoms Jelly Roll by Fig Tree Quilts for Moda!!!!    Isn't that just so pretty, you could make a festive fall project!!! 




You have two entry chances here on the blog, 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 prefer growing vegetables or flowers??

 ENTRY 2 - Show your Fat Quarter Shop love.   You can follow them on   FacebookTwitterInstagramPinterestYou Tube or at their Blog.  You can Sign up for their Newsletter which will ensure you catch all of their amazing sales, or you can visit The Shop and then share a favorite item ;)   Just be sure to leave a comment of how you showed your Fat Quarter Shop Love!!!

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until next Tuesday, June 29th,  when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

You can also pop over to my Instagram and/or Facebook to enter there as well :)  

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

Monday, June 21, 2021

Texas Monthly - Month 6!!

Again, it has been a bit of a wait, (issues with fabric supply) but I am super excited to be sharing another block for the Texas Monthly Block of the Month program!   This BOM is hosted by Stitchin' Heaven  and is so much fun!!!    And we are moving on to Month 6 today :)   

So let's get going :)  There is only 1 Block this month and we will be making 2 of them.  And the block is the Stitchin' Heaven Star Block logo, so cool and oh so much fun to make.   It takes a bit of practice to get the points just right, but they look so great when you do.    So let's get piecing!!!  


Cutting
I like to start out by pressing all of my fabrics.  Then it is time for cutting!!!  The cutting for this month is super fast as you just have to cut some triangles from squares and a few Width of Fabric (WOF) strips.    Oh, and be sure and trim the selvage edges from your strips ;)

And with all your pieces cut . . . you are ready to move on to the block.



Stitchin' Heaven Star Block

Strip Piecing Angled Units

First up, we are going to make some strip sets.  When piecing strip sets, I always like to use a slightly smaller stitch length as I will be sub-cutting the units.   Start with a Blue and and Green Strip.   Place the Blue strip on  the Green strip with right sides together, only rather than aligning the edges, place the Blue Strip in 2" as shown.   Sew a 1/4" seam along the top edge of the strip set.   Repeat to make 2 Strip sets total.  


Now it's time to press.   When pressing strip sets, I always like to press from the front.  This way I make sure I don't get any little bubbles in my seam allowance.   You will be pressing towards the Blue strip.   Use the point of your iron to really get in the seam, and I like to use my finger in front of the iron to smooth out the seam allowance before I get to it.  Press both strip sets.  


Now move to your cutting mat.   Align your strip set along a horizontal line on your cutting mat with the Blue strip on top. Place a ruler on to the right hand edge of  the strip, and align the 45 Degree line on the ruler with the bottom of the strip set.   Cut a Straight Edge that will be angled along the edge of the ruler.  


Now flip your Strip Set 180 degrees so you can align your strip set along a horizontal line on your cutting mat with the Green strip on top. Place a ruler on to the now left hand straight angled edge.  You will be aligning the 45 degree mark on the ruler with the bottom of the Strip Set and the 2" line on your ruler with the cut angled edge of the strip set.   I like to mark the corner of 45 degrees and 2" so I don't have to find it each time.   Once you are all aligned, cut a 2" wide Segment.  


Continue aligning and cutting segments until you have cut (16) 2" Segments total.   You will only need to cut a few from the second strip set and the remainder is scrap.  


Now we will repeat the same process with the Red Strips matched with a Blue Strip.   Again, Place the Blue strip on  the Red strip with right sides together, and stager align 2" as shown.   Sew a 1/4" seam along the top edge of the strip set and press towards the Blue Strip.    Repeat to make 2 Strip sets total.    

 Align your strip set with the Blue strip on top.  Align the bottom of the Strip Set with the 45 Degree line on the ruler on the right hand edge of the strip set.  Cut a Straight Edge.  Flip your Strip Set 180 degrees and align on the mat with the Red strip on top. On the now left hand straight angled edge, align the  45 degree mark on the ruler with the bottom of the Strip Set and the 2" line on your ruler with the cut angled edge of the strip set and cut a 2" wide Segment.    Cut (16) 2" Segments total.


Piecing Diamond Units

Now with your Segments all cut, you are ready to start piecing the blocks.   Layout 1 of each colored segments in a diamond formation as shown below with the green on the bottom and the red on the top.  
We will be sewing these two "rows" together, which means you will be sewing an internal angled seam.  These can be a little tricky, but the idea is to align the seams so that they match at 1/4" in from the edge. 


I find the easiest way to do this is to use the Pin Trick we have used previously to align multiple points.  The only difference is, you don't have a marking of the 1/4" in, so you have to estimate it.   I got about half perfectly estimated and about half off.   For the ones that were slightly off, I simply ripped the seams, and then I could use the holes from the just ripped seam allowance as a guide to align with the Pin Trick.    (Hint - If you find you are struggling with the estimated guess, simply use a basting stitch the first time, so it isn't so hard to unpick ;)  


Another hint is that you should have a 1/4" overhang on each side when you stitch the 1/4" seam across the pinned top.  Once you have them aligned and stitched, Press the seam Open.  These angled seams take a bit of practice. but they get easier with each one ;)  You can do it!!   You will be making 16 Diamond Units total.  


Piecing Large Triangle Units

Rather than making all of the Right Large Triangle Units and then all of the Left Large Triangle Units, I like to make both sets at the same time.   This allows me to chain stitch as well as double check my layout each time I stitch a seam.  However, I will only show 1 set in the images so it is clear and you can piece one set at a time and repeat the Large Triangle Unit steps to make 8 total, or chain stitch 8 total.  

Start by laying out 2 Diamond Units in a mirror image as shown below.   Place a Big White Triangle on the outer sides of the Diamond Units as shown.  (stack up 8 sets on top of each piece if you are Chain Stitching the Large Triangle Units)  


Place the Big White Triangles onto the Diamond Units with Right sides together, aligning the pieces so there is a 1/4" overlap at the top and bottom of each seam.   Stitch a 1/4" seam along both sides. 


Press the seam allowances towards the Big White Triangle.    Now, place 2 Small White Triangles on the inside of the Diamond Units as shown.    


Place the Small White Triangles onto the Diamond Units with Right sides together, aligning the pieces so there is a 1/4" overlap at the bottom of the seam and all of the Excess (about 1/2") is overlapped at the top of the seam.   Stitch a 1/4" seam along both sides. 


Press the seam allowances towards the Small White Triangle.    You should now have 8 Sets of Mirror Triangles total.  And I like to trim at the end, so just hold off on those uneven top seams for the moment.  


Piecing Quarter Blocks and Blocks

Place the mirror image Large Triangle sets with right sides together.   Align and pin the seams. Stitch a 1/4" seam along the pinned side.   Press the seam open.   Repeat or chain stitch to make 8 Quarter Blocks total.   


Now Layout 4 Quarter Block Units as shown below.   At this point, I like to trim all of the little dog ears so they don't get in the way, especially at the center point.  We will be sewing the quarters into halves on the diagonal.  



Place the Top Unit on to the Left Hand Unit with Right sides together.  Align and Pin the Seams and stitch a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge.   Repeat for the Bottom Unit and Right Hand Unit.   Press the seam allowances of each diagonal half Open.  


One last seam . . . Place the Top Left Hand Unit onto the Bottom Right Hand unit with Right sides together.  Align and Pin the Seams and stitch a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge.   Press the seam allowance Open.  Repeat the last 3 instructions to make 2 Blocks total.  


And all that is left is to trim the blocks nice and even.   Align the 1/4" mark on your ruler with the star points on the side of the block.  Trim the edge even.   Repeat for all of the sides of both blocks.  


And just like that . . . you have 2 beautiful Stitchin' Heaven Star Blocks!!  They should measure 14 1/2" square,  but if yours are a little big (mine were 15") you can ease them in.  Don't trim them anymore then you have as you need the 1/4" to make the star points.   



And now all your blocks are made!!!!  All that is left for this month is to take those blocks and sew them into into Sections!!  So for 

Section 1

Layout a Stitchin' Heaven Star Block and the Bluebonnet Flower block from Month 2 as shown below.  


Place the Flower Block onto the Star Block with right sides together.   Align and pin the edge.  (you can see I had a little easing in to do, but it all worked out great.)    Stitch a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge taking care to stitch through the thread X and at the bottom of the Fabric V for perfect points.  Press the seam open.  


And Section 1 is complete!!!  Super easy :)  


So onto . . . 
Section 2


Layout the other Stitchin' Heaven Star Block and the Texas Thistle block from Month 2 as shown below.


Place the Flower Block onto the Star Block with right sides together.   Align and pin the edge.   Stitch a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge taking care to stitch through the thread X and at the bottom of the Fabric V for perfect points.  Press the seam open.  


And Section 2 is complete!!!  Super easy :)  


And now, we get to put a big chunk of the quilt together!!!

Section from Month 4, 5, and 6

Layout your Month 4, Month 5, and Month 6 blocks as shown below.   They should already be stitched together in these six sections, and we will be making 2 columns from these sections.  


Place the Top Block in each column onto the Middle Blocks in each column with right sides together.   Align and pin the edges.   Stitch a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge taking care to stitch through any thread X's and at the bottom of the Fabric V's for perfect points. 


Place the Bottom Blocks in each column onto the Middle Blocks in each column with right sides together.   Align and pin the edges.   Stitch a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge taking care to stitch through any thread X's and at the bottom of the Fabric V's for perfect points. 


And your Two Section 4/5/6 are complete!!!  Way to go :)  


Wasn't  Texas Monthly Month 6 just so fun!!!  I know I sure liked it and it is so exciting to see it starting to come together :)

If you have any questions on this tutorial, please don't hesitate to email me at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com or leave a comment.  

Hope y'all enjoy making this month's blocks! 

 Looking forward to Next Month and from what I hear, it should be soon!