GO! Looking Sharp Quilt and Free Pattern!!!

I am so excited to share a new finish today!!! Isn't it just so fun!!!   When my good friends at AccuQuilt asked if I wanted to make a project using their new GO! Cactus Medley Die, I instantly thought of pairing it with  the Bear Paw BOB die, I mean, it just has that perfect southwestern feel to it and what better could go with cacti ;)  And I came up with this Looking Sharp throw Quilt!    And there is a free PDF Pattern that you can download right here :) 

I went straight to my green solid scrap drawer and my white solid scrap drawer.  I love that it is so easy to use up scraps with the AccuQuilt system.   And isn't it so fun having all shades of green, I can't believe how many different shades I had in my scrap drawer ;) And who doesn't love a great scrapbuster!!!   

And yes, I busted scraps in the background as well.  We all have lots and lots of Shades of Solid White hanging around, might as well use them!!  You will use up 2 1/2 yards of scraps in white and green for this project, and I am happy to report that I can now close these two scrap drawers!!      The Looking Sharp Quilt finishes at 46" x 62" so it is a great lap size quilt.   

And if you have been following here for a while now, you know that  I just love my AccuQuilt for cutting scraps!!   And especially for applique.  Can you imagine having to trace and then cut out all this applique by hand.   You also attach the fusible before you cut, so it is super easy to layer and stack your applique to the quilt and then fuse it .   Below is a list of the dies I used, see which ones you already have in your die library and maybe add a few more ;)   

APPLIQUE DIE

 GO! Cactus Medley (55687)            

PIECING DIES

GO! Bear's Paw - 14" finished (55461)      

   GO! Strip Cutter-2-1/2” (2” Finished) (55017) - Binding and Sashing

And when it came time to quilt it, I wanted to do something dense because the applique was over the whole quilt and I did not secure stitch around each applique.   Rather I decided to secure stitch it with the quilting.  And because all of the piecing was in straight lines, I was able to do a L and E line.   It's one of my favorite ways to quilt when I have "straight piecing guides" and it also is dense enough to secure all of the applique.    I love all of the texture it adds to the quilt as well.   

And that is my Looking Sharp Quilt.   I hope you love it as much as I do ;)   Isn't this picture AccuQuilt took of it just so great!!!  I love seeing it styled in a home setting.    And if you want to make your own, you can download the free PDF Looking Sharp Pattern Here.   And when you are done I would love to see it!!!    You can share a picture on social media with #happyquiltingwithmc and tag me at @happyquiltingmc or you can always email me a picture at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com.  I can't wait to see your Looking Sharp Quilts!!

Oh, and fun little side note . . . if you want to see this shared on YouTube, you can visit the Die Launch video.  It is shared towards the end of the show at 44:25 minutes in :)  It is just so fun to see your projects loved so much, just makes me smile.   

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

Layer Cake Crepe - A Shortcut Quilt!!

Today I am excited to share the Layer Cake Crepe Shortcut Quilt!!!   So if you have been around here for a bit, you know I just love sewing the Short-Cut Quilts  that my friends at Fat Quarter Shop are always coming up with.   I mean, what is not to love about them . . . they are super fun and super fast!!!    So when they asked if I wanted to make the new Layer Cake Crepe Shortcut Quilt I was all over it!!!

And it was so fun, and so fast, that I made 2!!!   The Layer Cake Crepe Quilt is put together in such a creative way!!  You are basically making large 9 patches with your layer cake squares, and then cutting them down the middle to make the blocks.  It creates these fun alternating blocks, a cool modern twist on a disappearing concept!!  And I love that the layout is all mixed and matched, it really keeps your eyes moving!!

As you can tell by the name, this quilt is Layer Cake friendly.   The original quilt is made with Frivolity by Sweetfire Road and there is a kit for it here.   And that got me thinking about Sweetfire Road's gorgeous fabrics!!  So I decided to mix things up a bit by cutting my own layer cakes!!   You see, I had all of these low volume fat quarters left over from my Wandering Star Quilts in Seaglass Summer by Sweetfire Road.  Aren't those low volumes, with the pops of gold just so great!!  Especially paired with my favorite Lead Grunge Background!!    I am so glad I thought of this because I just love the result.  But of course, you don't have to cut your own, and it makes it even quicker to use a Print Layer Cake and a Background Layer Cake (which they make in Grunge!!)  

But I was on the using up scraps kick, which had me recalling the 5 quilts I made for my wonderful friends at Moda as samples (I will be sharing them all very soon)  with their new Groove Fabric by Emily Van Hoff.  As you can imagine, making 5 quilts with one fabric line left me with a few scraps ;)   So I figured, why not make a second Layer Cake Crepe Quilt.  Especially as these prints are so large, they fit this design just perfectly!!  I figured these super Groovy Fabrics needed a super fun background, so I paired them with Bella Solid Turquoise and I just love how bright and happy it makes this quilt!!

When it came time to quilt these, I opted for more fun and fast!!  So the first one I did an all over loose feather!   But for a pop, I decided to use a Gold Thread.  I love how it just shines on that background!!   And the loose feathers can also have a very "sea" feel to them, and that makes me super happy!!

And for the second quilt, I wanted to keep with all of the groovy fun, so I did an echoed Loop de Loop, and really varied the echo to keep things different.   I love the way it turned out.   And it is hard to see in the picture, but I used a rainbow variegated thread, just to add that extra groove!!  It turned out just so happy!

Then some scrappy bindings, (because truly, scrappy bindings are the best!!) and these two quilts were done!!   The Layer Cake Crepe Quilt finishes at 70 1/2" x 86" so it is a perfect twin size, or a great snuggle quilt :)   It really would make for a wonderful gift, especially if you need to whip it up in a hurry!!   

 In fact, this groove quilt was a graduation gift for one very "groovy guy"!  And those are my  Layer Cake Crepe Quilts!!  If you would like to make your own Layer Cake Crepe quilt you can find the Free Pattern Here   And as a special bonus, Fat Quarter Shop even has a You Tube video that walks you through making the quilt step by step.  How great is that!!!  Oh, and be sure to pop on over to the Jolly Jabber for lots more Layer Cake Crepe quilting inspiration as there are a few bloggers making this quilt!!! 

Thanks for popping in today and sharing these new finishes with me!!!

I hope you have a very Happy Quilting Day!!

$5 Pattern of the Month - Swirling Leaves!!!

We have made it to Summer!!!  And with the new month of June we have a new $5 Pattern of the Month here at Happy Quilting!!!   And oddly enough, it is all about Fall!!   I know that seems weird, but all of the beautiful Fall Fabric lines are coming out right now, so I figured what better pattern for this month of June than Swirling Leaves .  And it is just $5 all month long!!!   

The  Swirling Leaves Pattern can be found in my Etsy Shop in both a Paper version as well as a PDF version and both versions will be marked down to $5.00 for the month June.   This is such a fun quilt to make and with big 30" blocks, it comes together quicker than you would think it would ;)  It is rated Beginner Friendly as well as Layer Cake Friendly.  

 Swirling Leaves  has 6 size options.  And like I said, these are big blocks, so trying to change up the size of the quilt can get a little creative.   That is why 3 sizes have borders, and 3 do not :)  You can really create a stunning Fall quilt in whatever size works best for you!!  The pattern is great for mastering your half square triangles and chain piecing.  

Need some ideas for your Swirling Leaves Quilt??  Like I said, there are so many amazingly rich and gorgeous fall fabric lines coming out right now.  Here are some new arriving fabric collections mocked up . . .  Just to give you some fun ideas of what you can do with this pattern!!  

Here is the Queen Size in Acorn Hollow by Basic Grey.  This is one that I totally want to make as I have been wanting to remake this quilt with a light background.  And you know I love Grunge and this Basics White Grunge has just the perfect touches of green to add to this beautiful fall palate.   Don't you just love this soft take on Fall!!   I know I sure do :)   

And  it's always fun to play things up with a colored background.  Rich Yellow's make for such happy Fall Quilts.   This is the Lap Size in Pumpkin Spice by Simple Simon and I just pulled the two yellow prints from the line and used one for the background and one for the binding.  Isn't that just so sweet!!  You know I am all about that Plaid binding ;)  

And if you are a fan of the "down and dirty" Primitive Gatherings new Pumpkin Spice Gatherings line will make a stunning Swirling Leaves quilt!!!  This is the King size which is the same blocks as the queen, but we added a border ;)   And I pulled a great love volume from the line for the background, I just love how it makes all of those vibrant fall colors just pop!!  Wouldn't this just be a stunner on your bed come September!!  

And just like the original, you can never go wrong with a dark background!!!  How goregous is this picnic size quilt in The Awe of Autumn by Sandy Gervais!  Once again, I pulled one color from the line to use as the background, border, and binding (lovely browns) and then used all of the pretty soft shades of fall in the piecing.  Isn't that just a stunner.  Makes me want to curl up with a book under a tree when the leaves are falling ;) 

       

And that is my $5.00 Pattern of the Month!!!   June 2025 is all about the Swirling Leaves Pattern!!!     I really think you are just going to love making this quilt ;)        And of course,  if you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to reach out to me ;)  And when you make your Swirling Leaves Quilts I would love to see them!!!  You can email me a picture at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com or add it to social media with  #happyquiltingwithmc and #swirlingleavesquilt ;)  I can't wait to see your Quilts!!!

So are you ready to start making your Swirling Leaves Quilts???  Pop over to my Etsy Shop, to pick up your Patterns  and get Happy Quilting!!!!   

May Sew Sampler!!!

 It's the end of May and that means I get to share my newest Sew Sampler Box!!  This month's theme is Cottage Garden and it is filled with such sweet quilting goodness!!  I might have squeaked a little when I opened the cover ;)    

I was so excited to see Abloom by Corey Yoder in this box!!  I just finished making this quilt with Abloom and absolutely loved it, so I am so excited to make another one!!   And that stitched panel, oh my cuteness!! I can’t wait to make up the Gateau pattern, it is going to be such a sweet finish!  So ya, this one is going straight to the cutting table and avoiding its "shelf life", tee hee hee.  

And the notions are just so cute!!  The Quilt Notes book has already gone in my travel bag for when inspiration hits so I can just sketch something up.   And the Woven Labels, I mean, just adorable!! 

And were are on to block 2 of this Flowering QAL!!  . There are still a few Kits Available  for making the original in Summertime Fabric by Camille Roskelley.  But I am using  50 Years of Moda!!!  So my blocks will all have 2 tones of colors (there are 4 prints on each of those 1/4 yard strips), a green or teal leaf,  and a low volume background from the line.  This month is the light blues, and I think it came together just so pretty!!!  

And that is May Sew Sampler Box.  I can't wait for June, especially to make another Flowering block, they are just making me so happy ;)  

And just a reminder . . . Today is the last day to get my newest patterns on sale!!  Pop over to my Etsy Shop, to pick up your Patterns.    PDF Patterns are just $5.50, the Paper Patterns are $7.00 until the end of today :)    

 

Thanks for popping in again.  

Happy Quilting!!! 

A Happy Quilting Re-Release : Scraptastic Stars!!!

 Today is another Re-Released Happy Quilting Pattern and Quilt and it is Scraptastic Stars!!!   This is such a great quilt for busting scraps!!!  But if you don't have a lot of scraps, you can also use pre-cuts as you are using 2 1/2" print squares and all of your pre-cuts cut down to that size nice and neat ;)    You all know, I just love a good scrap quilt, especially when it is a rainbow scrap quilt!   This is the perfect design for breaking up your scraps into the rainbow and making them shine ;)     So here is Scraptastic Stars!!  

The  Scraptastic Stars Pattern can be found in my Etsy Shop in both a Paper version as well as a PDF version.  And it is on Special for it's release with PDF Patterns at $5.50 and the Paper Patterns are $7.00!  The patterns are full color and the paper version is in book format. 

 Scraptastic Stars is Beginner Friendly quilt and is so fun to make.  It is piecing together a few units that are laid out in a nine patch and then sewn into the block.  It is all about the color groupings in this one ;)   Depending on the size you choose will determine how many color groupings you use in your quilt.    And they just look so awesome when then all come together!!  And then some strip piecing will make the sashing come together to complete your chain.   So fun!!    

This version of  Scraptastic Stars is made from nothing but scraps, and every square is a different print, how fun is that!!! (even the whites are scraps)  I love that scrappy quilts also make great memory quilts :)  This design would also work just amazing for an Eye Spy Quilt!!    And I actually made this entire quilt as a leader and ender project while working on other quilts.  That was a super fun way to watch all of these blocks come together ;)  Once all of the blocks are made, the sashing goes together super quilt and you have a totally awesome finish!!  

I quilted this version of  Scraptastic Stars with some basics but the big thing was the changing of thread.  I quilted all the background with white, all of the sashing with black, and all of the prints with a matching color thread.  It really adds to the rainbow effect!!   And I especially love when working with a black and white, to change out the threads for lots and lovely blending!!  And beyond that, swirls and echoed arches for the win!!  

Scraptastic Stars like all of my Happy Quilting patterns, has multiple size options so you can make whatever size quilt works for you ;)   The pattern breaks out how many pieces you need for each Color Set (or block).   When dividing your fabrics into color groupings, try not to overthink it to much.  I basically layout one square for each Color Grouping, and then grab your fabrics and just see which square it matches at a first glance.   It's totally okay to have lots of variety in your "light blue" as shown above, it all plays nice when it comes together ;)  

And that is my new  Scraptastic Stars quilt and Pattern!!!    And Isn't that just soma amazing yummy texture!!  I love how changing the threads just makes everything blend so all you notice is the awesome texture of the quilting!!   I just love it, and I hope you love it as well and make your own Scraptastic Stars Quilt.  And please, when you are done making it , share your quilt with me !!     You can email me a picture at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com or add it to social media with  #happyquiltingwithmc ;)  I can't wait to see your Quilts!!!

So are you ready to start making your Scraptastic Stars Quilts???  Pop over to my Etsy Shop, to pick up your Patterns.   Again, PDF Patterns are just $5.50, the Paper Patterns are $7.00 until the end of May :)    And while you are there, check out these other newly released patterns that are also on the same special ;)  Always good to save on shipping!! 

 

Thanks for popping in to share these quilts and patterns with me this week :)  

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