Hugs Before Kisses - A MBS Quilt Tutorial

Okay, so I have been hinting for the last week or so about this tutorial and today is finally the day!!  Introducing . . . Hugs Before Kisses my newest  Moda Bake Shop Tutorial !! 

X's and O's are my favorite part of Valentine's day!! (Yes, I know it is past Valentine's day, but I figured we can celebrate love for a whole month :)  When I was a kid, my Grandparents used to send me presents with XOXO written on the card or in the front of the book.  Those far away hugs and kisses have always meant so much to me.  So around this time of year, I always have a desire to figure out some design that I can tie X and O into :)  This years happened to be a twist on a basic lattice quilt.

The quilt measures 72" x 72", just the perfect size for you and someone special to snuggle up in :)  It is made using a Honey Honey by Kate Spain jelly roll and some Bella Solid.  It really is a fun quilt to put together and is very beginner friendly.  Don't you just love how those lattice strips blend together framing out the O's :)  So fun!!!

And now that this Moda Bake Shop Tutorial has been published for a while, I can now post it here on my blog for your convenience ;)   So just follow along below for the full step-by-step tutorial.  And if you love it, you can get the printer friendly version here :)  

1 Honey Honey Jelly Roll
3 1/4 Yards of Bella Solid White

3/4 Yard for Binding
5 Yards for Backing

STEP 1 – CUTTING

Choose 36 jelly roll strips from your bundle.  (I set aside 4 of the double prints)  Lay them out as follow, keeping them folded in half.  You can cut about 6 rows at a time.  Using the lines on your mat as a guide, cut a sliver off the end to remove the fold.  Then cut a 2 1/2″ x 10 1/2″ rectangle, a 2 1/2″ x 6 1/2″ rectangle, and a 2 1/2″ x 2 1/2″ square.  Place the remaining bit in scrap.  You will have 2 of each cut.  Repeat with all 36 strips to have a total of (72) 2 1/2″ x 10 1/2″ rectangles, (72) 2 1/2″ x 6 1/2″ rectangles, and (72) 2 1/2″ x 2 1/2″ squares.

Now from your white yardage cut the following.

Separate your cut pieces into 2 groups as follows.  The first grouping will be used to create the O blocks and the second grouping will be used to create the X Blocks.

STEP 2 – O BLOCKS

We’ll start by making the O blocks.  Gather a 6 1/2″ square and (2) 6 1/2″ print strips and lay out as shown below.  Place the strips onto the square with right sides together.  Sew a 1/4″ along the edges, aligning as you sew.  Press towards the center square.  Repeat to make 18 center units total.  (Chain stitching saves time)

Gather a 6 1/2″ strip and (2) 2 1/2″ squares and lay out as shown below.  Place the squares onto the strip with right sides together.  Sew a 1/4″ along the edges, aligning as you sew.  Press towards the squares.  Repeat to make 36 top and bottom units total.  (Chain stitching will save lots of time :)

Lay (2) top and bottom units and one center unit out as follows.

Lay the top and bottom units onto the center with right sides together.  Nest the seams and pin.  Sew a 1/4″ seam along the pinned edge.  Press.  And now, you just have to add the sashing border.  Gather (2) 10 1/2″ white strips and (2) 12 1/2″ print strips and layout as shown.  Lay the top and bottom border onto the O with right sides together.  Sew a 1/4″ seam aligning as you go and press.  Repeat for the two side borders.

And the O Block is finished measuring 12 1/2″ x 12 1/2″.  Repeat the last 2 sub-steps to make a total of 18 O Blocks.

STEP 3 – X BLOCKS

Gather a 10 1/2″ strip and 2 subcut white triangles and lay them out as shown.  Place the right hand square onto the strip with right sides together centering the triangle.  Sew a 1/4″ seam along the edge, aligning as you go.  Open and finger press the triangle.  Lay the second triangle onto the left hand side of the strip with right sides together and lining the tips of the triangles up.  Sew a 1/4″ seam along the edge, aligning as you go.  Press towards the triangles.  Repeat to make 72 lattice units.  (Chain stitching will save lots of time here)

Print of the Squaring Up guide that is attached at the end of this post.  Lay any square ruler onto the guide.  (It is okay if your ruler is larger than the guide, it just means you will have to turn it while trimming.  If you have a 6 1/2″ square ruler it will save time :)

Using masking tape, mark the edges of the diagonal lines creating a guide on your ruler for squaring up your units.

Place your marked ruler onto your unit, aligning the lines of the seams with the edges of the masking tape.  Trim the excess along the edge of your ruler.  If your ruler is larger, trim 2 sides, then spin your unit, realign and trim the remaining 2 sides.  

And you have a perfect lattice unit that measures 6 1/2″ x 6 1/2″.  Repeat for all 72 lattice units.  

Lay 4 lattice units out as shown.  Lay the right hand side units onto the left hand sides with right sides together.  Align the diagonal seams and pin.  Sew a 1/4″ seam along the pinned edge and then press seams open.  Lay the top row onto the bottom row with right sides together.  Align the diagonal seams as well as the center seam and pin.  Sew a 1/4″ seam along the pinned edge and press the seam open.  

And the X Block is finished measuring 12 1/2″ x 12 1/2″.  Repeat the last step to make a total of 18 O Blocks.

STEP 4- SEWING THE QUILT TOP 

Lay the X and O blocks alternating into 6 rows of 6.  Play with the layout until you get a look that is please to the eye.  I tried to separate the red and navy units most as they tend to pop.   Once you have a please layout you are ready to sew the blocks into row.

I find the easiest way to do this is to stack each row and place some sort of marker on the first block indicating what row it is.  This way you don’t lose the layout you just did.

Then just start sewing the blocks together, one block adding to the next, and the next until you have sewn all 6 in the row.  Then just repeat for all 6 rows.  I do not pin my blocks when sewing them into row as there are no seams to line up.  I just align as I go.

Press your seams in the rows towards the O blocks.  This will allow you to nest the seam and avoids bulk around the X corners.

Sewing the rows together is just like creating them.  Lay the first row onto the second with right sides together.  Nest the seams and pin them and then along the rest of the edge.  Sew a 1/4″ seam along the pinned edge.  Press open.  Then repeat adding the third row to the now sewn together first and second row and so on.

And before you know it, you have a beautiful Hugs before Kisses Quilt Top!!

STEP 5- FINISHING THE QUILT

So now it is time to turn that finished quilt top into a finished Quilt ;)  Time to  Baste It, Quilt It, and Bind It!!!  Which is a whole lot in one little sentence.  If you are new to quilting, you can see my Finishing Your Quilt Series of video tutorials that will walk you through Basting, Quilting, and Binding step by step ;)      I choose to quilt mine in an all-over free motion design of traveling loops and hearts to fit the Valentines theme.  There is also a video tutorial of how to do this on the Video Tutorial Tab of my blog, Just look down the page a bit  

One adorable Hugs before Kisses quilt measuring 72″ x 72″ perfect for snuggling under.

I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial and if you make your own Hugs Before Kisses Quilt I would love to see it!!  You can email me a picture at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com, post it to social media with #happyquiltingwithmc  or or add it to my flickr group here ;)  I can't wait to see your Hugs Before Kisses Quilts!!!

Have a Happy Quilting Day!!

Starburst Quilt-A-Long - Finishing

**  NOTE  - This post is part of a series of posts for the Starburst Quilt-A-Long.  If you would like to join (and have a chance to win one of the $75.00 Gift Certificate grand prizes sponsored by The Intrepid Thread ) you can find a list of the post links here :)  Once again, here is the schedule, but if you want to work ahead you can use the tutorial  just be sure to take pictures of your weekly assignments so you can link them up for weekly prizes :)

January 14 - Cutting Post
January 21 - Goose in the Corner and Half Square Triangles
January 28 - Flying Geese
February 4 - Building Blocks - At least 2
February 11 - Finish Blocks and Sashing
February 18 - Baste it, Quilt it, Bind It
March 4 - Starburst Parade and Grand Prizes

Alright, We need a winner for last week's assignment!!

The Quilt Top winner who gets a Amy Butler Spots Charm Pack is  . . .#10 -Mary- Congrats :)

I am so excited for this week!!  This weeks assignment is to finish your quilt top!! I just love seeing it all come together!!    

LAST ASSIGNMENT - FINISH UP THOSE QUILTS

So basically, finishing a quilt consists of 3 steps.  Basting, Quilting, and Binding.  Which sounds so simple but is actually a rather large part of making the quilt.  If you are new to quilting, I thought you might find these three video's helpful.  They go over the basics of these three steps and the options available to you and will be this weeks "tutorials ".

BASTE IT

QUILT IT

BIND IT

Oh . . . and if you are stuck on what type of quilting to do, you can see my Free Motion Quilting Video Tutorials here.  Maybe one will help to spark an idea and show you how to do it :)

So once it's finished up then what???  Let's review!!!

GRAND PRIZE LINK UP

The Grand Prizes that you are hoping to be picked for is a  . .

A $75.00 Gift Certificate that you can spend as you like!!

In order to be eligible to win the Grand Prize you need to Link Up your completed quilt top (not quilted yet, just the quilt top) at the end of last weeks post that you can find here!  There is no linky this week to link up to :) You have until March 4th to get your quilt top sewn together and linked to be entered :)  

STARBURST QUILT-A-LONG PARADE

Now, as just mentioned, you only have to have your quilt top done to enter into the grand prize link up . . . but I wanted to encourage you to finish these quilts and not set the quilt top in a pile of "to be quilted" so . . . I am planning a little Parade for the 4th of March :)  The parade will be for quilted and bound Starburst Quilts!!  So, if you would like your quilt to be in the Parade, please send me an email (happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com)  with your favorite Starburst Quilt picture attached as well as the name you would like your photo listed with, where you are from, and a blog or flickr photostream link if applicable.  You can email me anytime from now until the morning of the 4th and I will get you added to the Parade!!!

I am so looking forward to seeing everyone's finishes!!!  You can decide if you would like to add your finish picture to the Flickr group now or wait until after the parade to keep it a secret :)  Grand Prize winners will be announced on March 4th followed by an amazing parade filled with all of your beautiful quilts!!!  Can't wait!!!

So now what do you do??? 

 Baste, Quilt, and Bind!!

Then email me your finish by March 4!!!!   

Any questions??  Send them to happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com

Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

Pre Quilt-Con Sneak Peek

Christa from the shop Christa Quilts! contacted me this last week asking if she could showcase my Refracted quilt in her Pre-Quilt-Con Sneak Peek.  Well of course I was totally honored and said yes in a second!!  So, if your like me, and can't attend Quilt-Con and want to see a little taste of the quilts in the show, pop on over to Christa's Blog and check it out!! (or if your going and want a few spoilers, you can pop over too :)

I still can't believe that my quilt will be hanging in a Quilt Show.  Ahhh!!  So exciting :) I am not expecting to win or anything, but I am just super excited that one of my quilts will be hanging with so many other quilters works of art.  It really is an awesome feeling to be part of a group that I admire so much!!

A Beautiful Pillow for this Lucky Girl

Last December I was a super lucky girl!!  I won a very special prize during the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day and it arrived this week after a little trip over the "pond"!!!  See what I mean by being so lucky . . .

Alison of Little Island Quilting made this beautiful pillow just for me.  Isn't it just fabulous!!  She asked us to give her three words to describe what type of pillow we would like.  I don't remember my words . . . but she sure interpreted them great!!    I love the colors, the design, the quilting!!  I love it all!!

  And look, she even finished it with an invisible zipper.  I wouldn't even begin to know how to do that!

This will be my beautiful pillow's new home.  This is Mom's chair, and it is only fitting it be adorned with this special pillow!!  Thank you a million times over Alison!!  You are the greatest!!

And one last thing.  Alison is having a bit of a hard time at the moment.  He stunning quilt that was sent to Quilt-Con has been lost in the mail.  So if you have a moment,  pop on over and write her a little something to help try and cheer her up.  I know it would mean a lot and I am sure we can all understand how hard this would be.  Here is hoping it get's found soon.

Valantine's Day Tutorials

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!!!!!!!

So last year at this time I was finishing up my first Blog Hop.  The Simply Charmed Blog Hop :)  It was so much fun.  Makes me realize I need to do another one some time. (You know, when I have a minute or 2)   I thought I would be fun to share the tutorials from the hop today.  I mean, after all, they are filled with lots of hearts and hugs and kisses :)

Melissa from Happy Quilting with the Knotty Little Apron Tutorial

 Heather from Quilt Story with the Heart Garland Tutorial

 Melissa from Lilac Lane with the Be Mine Tote Tutorial

Angela from Cut to Pieces with the Pincushion Tutorial

 Amy from Diary of a Quilter with the Scrappy Nine Patch Table Quilt Tutorial

 Natalia from Piece N Quilt with the Trio of Pillows Tutorial

Jessica from Twin Fibers with the Valentine Card Keeper Tutorial

Katie from Swim, Bike, Quilt with the XOXO Zippered Pouch Tutorial

Jane from Want It, Need It, Quilt with the Circle of Love Tutorial

 Corey from Little Miss Shabby with the Shabby Heart Pillow

Have a Happy Valentines Day and be sure to give an extra hug or kiss to the ones you love!!!

A New Video Tutorial - FMQ Traveling Loops and Hearts

Have a little Valentine's projects in the works??  Trying to decide how to finish it up??  If so, you might be in the same boat as I was yesterday.  In finishing up my new Valentines quilt (Tutorial coming to the MBS soon, just waiting to hear on the date :)  I decided to try a new Free Motion Quilting design that would represent this holiday full of love.  So what represent love more than hearts??  So I created a little all over design that travels with loops and has adorable little hearts tied in.   And since I thought it might be helpful to you as well, I made a little video.  Enjoy ;)

I hope this helps in finishing up and of your Valentine's projects :)  Boy oh boy, do I like to procrastinate :)  Nothing like day before the holiday :)

X Marks the Spot

For this month's Beejeebers block Jamie asked us to make a Scrappy X Block.  She wrote up a fabulous tutorial here for it and it was a quick and a whole lot of fun to put together.  Double Bonus!!

I love scrappy blocks.  Using all these bright colors just made me smile!  I steered away from the tutorial just a bit here as I didn't bother to take the time to trim my scraps to size.  I just started piecing together whatever I had until it made a long enough row.  I love piecing like this.  There is something so freeing about it!!  And anything that uses up more scraps from my overflowing bins is always good.

 I trimmed the rows to the designated sizes and then it was ready to add background.

Before I knew it, I was done.   Jamie's quilt is going to be so fun with so much scrappy goodness.  Can't wait to see it all done :)

On a side note, I just love lattice quilts.  They are so pretty in their simplicity.  Keep an eye out, there will be a lattice tutorial with a twist soon :)

Starburst Quilt-A-Long - Finished Quilt Top

**  NOTE  - This post is part of a series of posts for the Starburst Quilt-A-Long.  If you would like to join (and have a chance to win one of the $75.00 Gift Certificate grand prizes sponsored by The Intrepid Thread ) you can find a list of the post links here :)  Once again, here is the schedule, but if you want to work ahead you can use the tutorial  just be sure to take pictures of your weekly assignments so you can link them up for weekly prizes :)

January 14 - Cutting Post
January 21 - Goose in the Corner and Half Square Triangles
January 28 - Flying Geese
February 4 - Building Blocks - At least 2
February 11 - Finish Blocks and Sashing
February 18 - Baste it, Quilt it, Bind It
March 4 - Starburst Parade and Grand Prizes

Alright, We need a winner for last week's assignment!!

The 2 Blocks winner who gets a $25.00 Gift Certificate to Fat Quarter Shop  is . . .#6 -Lori- Congrats :)

I am so excited for this week!!  This weeks assignment is to finish your quilt top!! I just love seeing it all come together!!    

THIS WEEKS ASSIGNMENT - PART 1 - FINISHING BUILDING BLOCKS

The first part of this week's assignment is nothing new.  Use last weeks tutorial to finishing sewing your remaining 2 Big Blocks :)  From the looks of flickr, many of you have already done this :)

THIS WEEKS ASSIGNMENT - PART 2 - SASHING YOUR BLOCKS

First off I just want to mention that this is just the way I sash this quilt.  If you have another plan in mind of how you want to finish your quilt top please do so.  You can still enter it even if you don't finish it the same way.  This is your quilt, you do with it as you like :)

Okay, so now, onto the little sashing tutorial :)  I love this part because it comes together so quickly and then you have a completed quilt top!!  So exciting!!

 Start by laying your 4 blocks out.  Then take your 2 smallest sashings and lay them as follows. We will be adding them between the blocks to make 2 rows.

Place the sashing on the first blocks of each row with right sides together.  I do not use pins but if you are a beginner or just like using pins go right ahead and pin along the raw edge.  Sew a 1/4" seam along the raw edge.  If you are using a light fabric, you should be able to see through the sashing to make sure your seam is sewing right along the Burst points.  Always press your seams for sashings towards the sashings.  They lay nice and flat that way :)

Now you can finish the rows by laying the second block in each row onto your attached sashing strip with right sides together and raw edges aligned.  Optional pinning now :)  Sew a 1/4 inch seam along the edge.  Be sure to sew right along the tips of your Burst points to ensure you keep those nice points :)  Press.

 And now your rows are complete and you are ready to add the sashing between the rows and to the top and bottom.  Gather your 3 medium sashing strips and lay one along the top of the first row.  Lay 2 strips on the second row, one on the top and one on the bottom.  All rows should be right sides together and aligned along the raw edges.  Pin if desired.  Sew a 1/4" seam along the edges and then press.

And now you can sew the 2 rows together.  Lay the first row onto the attached sashing and second row with right sides together and raw edges aligned.  Pin if desired.  Sew a 1/4" seam along the edge once again making sure to sew right along the tips of the Burst points.  Press.

And your almost done!!   Lastly, gather your 2 largest seams.  You know where this is going :)   Place them on the right and left hand sides of your quilt with right sides together and raw edges aligned.  Pin if desired.  Sew a 1/4" seam along either raw edge and press.

And your quilt top is completed!!!  Yippee Skippee!!!  Now just sit back and admire!!

 So that's it!!!  Finish your Quilt Top and your assignment is complete!!!  And now you can enter to win the weekly prize :) This linky will also be the linky for the GRAND PRIZE.  See further down for details :) 

The Weekly Prizes are sponsored by the Fat Quarter Shop and a huge thanks goes to them for their support of the Starburst Quilt-A-Long.

This weeks  prize is an Amy Butler Spots Charm Pack!!!  I know you all love polka dots as much as I do :)  

So what do you have to do for a chance to win??  Simple . . . Just link up your Quilt Top at the end of this post :)  You can link to a blog post or a flickr picture, or whatever.  Just make sure to link up by next Monday morning as I will be announcing a winner at the beginning of next weeks post :)

**This linky will also serve as the GRAND PRIZE linky.  Those that finish their Quilt Top or Pillow Top or whatever will be entered to win one of the $75.00 Gift Certificates at the Intrepid Thread.    Quilting and Binding your top is not required for the Grand Prize Linky but will be required to be showcased in the Parade on March 4, just as a little encouragement to keep this top from becoming a UFO ;)  

So  if you don't get your quilt top done by next week you want to be sure and still link up here by March 4th so you are eligible for the Grand Prize.

And don't forget to add your Quilt Tops to the Happy Quilting Quilt-A-Long Flickr group!!!  

And remember - Questions??  Please don't hesitate to send them to me at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com

I can't wait to see everyone's tops!!   Have a Happy Quilting Day!!

Electronics, Grrr!! and a Quilt Top

I have been anxious to sew the last few days, but found instead that I had to spend most of my free time transferring all of our data to a new laptop.  The old one was starting to randomly shutdown and then take forever to turn back on. Not a good sign.  So after a time of babying it along, we decided it was best to do a little out with the old and in with the new.  But . . . In with the new, always takes more time than you anticipate.  Electronics can be so frustrating to me.  I won't bore you with all of my struggles, but I am happy to say, that with a lot of help from my dear husband, I think I have all of the programs, files, and so forth loaded and hopefully am good to move forward.

So today . . . I got to sew!!!   And sew I did.  I spent the morning putting my  40" Starbust blocks together!!  I am so happy with how they came out.  I just love these colors together.  Julie did such a great job in creating this fun bundle!!

And I couldn't stop there.  I spent the afternoon adding the sashing so now the quilt top is complete!!  Yippee Skippee!!  Sadly, it is snowing right now so I can't take it outside and get a nice picture.  But I was to excited to share to wait.  What ya gonna do :)  At least I am all set for writing up Monday's tutorial for the Quilt-A-Long.  It's nice to feel like everything is not last minute :)  I'm linking this finish up with Amanda :)

Now, it's off to basting, quilting, and binding.  I have no idea how I want to quilt this yet.  I keep thinking of maybe trying some custom quilting but then the size intimidates me and I lean towards an all over design.  I am open to suggestions ;)  How do you think I should quilt this top??

I Need a List

I haven't done a WIP post for a little while and boy oh boy do I need one.  The list in my head is starting to get a little long and I am worried things are gonna fall out :)  So many wonderful projects and only 24 hours in a day.  Guess we will all just have to keep trying to squeeze more time out of each day ;)

I spent majority of last week teaching and getting ready to teach.  It was so much fun and I can't wait to get emails from class members with their finishes. Once the classes were done it was time to crank out a few of my own WIP.  First on the list, Starburst.  Wouldn't want the hostess to get behind :)  I have some more work on this to be ready for next weeks post :)  Good thing I still have 4 days!

Second on the list is my Honey Honey quilt.  I just have to sew these pinned blocks and then add some sashing and then I will be ready to start sewing the blocks into a top.  I really am hoping to get this one done by the weekend :)  Here's hoping ;)

And of course, there are  a whole lot of projects just waiting for these 2 to make their way to the finish stage so that I can bump them into the Piecing Stage :)

Designing Stage

• Circle Meets Square Quilt 
• Pillow Cases and Table Topper for Master Bedroom
• Pillow Case for Kristian's Bed
• Read with Me
• Ring Around
• Boxed In and Out
• DD 
• SD
• KS

Piecing Stage

• Jessi and Me Quilt 
• Block of the Month - Lucky Stars
• Scrunchy Strips - For Kami
• Starburst Quilt-A-Long 
• Hugs Before Kisses

Quilting Stage

• Solids Quilt for Free Motion

Completed Stage

• Jan Bee Block
• Class Samples
• I had to add something here, otherwise I will wonder what I did all January ;)

Refracted - In the Mail

Remember when I mentioned that my Refracted quilt was accepted to be in the Quilt Con quilt show.  (Still totally excited about that!!)  Well the show is this month and it was about time I get this little lady in the mail!!

To prep the quilt for the show I added a Quilt Sleeve.  This was my first time ever adding a quilt sleeve.  Not to tuff thanks to this fabulous tutorial by Jackie!!  I made the sleeve, pinned it in place, and then my wonderful MIL (I think I will start calling her the Hand Stitching Fairy) hand stitched it in place for me :)

 Then the quilt needed a label with my address and phone number to ensure it made it safely home again :)

Then it needed a little home to be shipped in. I just grabbed this yardage from my stash and whipped up a quick drawstring bag :)

And finally, boxed up, delivered to the post office and on it's way :)  I am so excited!!!  I wish I could go to Quilt Con but I will be on my own little trip that week :)  I feels good to have that in the mail and off my to do list. 

Now to the next thing on my list, time to go work with some of this (tutorial coming soon :)