Judy's Bag!!!

Okay, if you have been around for anytime at all, you know that "3-D" sewing is way out of my comfort zone.  So I decided to stretch myself a little and take Jud's Bag making class as part of the Cedar City Retreat that I am teaching at.   And guess what, I did it!!!  And I even finished the entire purse before the end of class.  Yippee!!!!

Barbara was kind enough to take the class with me and hold my hand throughout the class.  I was super happy to find that things actually made sense.  I think my understanding of all things sewing 3-D is growing, and I was pretty excited about that ;)  Barbara got a few snapshots of me.  I am glad she missed the ones of my tongue sticking out in concentration :)

When we finished the outside we hung them on the wall.  It was so fun to see everyones different fabrics all in a row.  I used my beautiful True Colors Damask for the outside and finally decided (thanks for the help :) on the  Grey Lodge Lattice for the pocket.  Barbara also choose a Joel Dewberry print.  What can I say, we are huge Joel fans :)

And here is a snapshot that you might never ever see again.  Yes, that is me hand stitching.  Can you see how I don't even know how to hold the needle correctly.  I am not a be fan of hand stitching, but luckily this stitching will never show as we were just securing the fabric where the grommets would go ;)

I opted for the grey pocket on the outside (thanks for all of the great advice) but still loved that mint, so there is a happy punch of Turquoise Lodge Lattice on the inside pocket.  It just makes me smile each time I open the bag :)

I have been having so much fun stuffing it full to take to my classes.  I just love it!!!   And the crazy thing was, when I was done I thought, "Hey, that wasn't so bad, maybe I could make another".  Yup I just might get into this whole bag making thing after all ;)

Have a Happy Quilting Weekend!!

Linking this finish up to Amanda's, Sarah's, and Fort Worth Fabric's :)

Kitchen Stitches Celebration and Giveaway

I am super excited today to be sharing a little more about my contribution to the Kitchen Stitches book compiled by Karen Burns for Martingale Publishing.  My project is this super chic bistro tablecloth and napkins. I figure, everyone needs the perfect go-to tablecloth.  You know, the one that will match for just about any occasion.  So I designed this set to be just that.  A bit of a conversational piece with some flair while still being super practical.

The tablecloth and napkins are super easy and super fun to make. You can see my love of applique coming out in the project as that is pretty much all you have to do :)   Just spend a night watching your favorite movie (Pride and Prejudice) while you cut out the applique, and then the next day stitch it in place.  And Wha-la, you have a beautiful chic new table set that is sure to be the center of dinner conversation.  I hope you love this little set as much as I do, it sure was a fun one to design and create :)

There are so many amazing projects in this book.  I have already picked out 5 and added them to my "to-do" list.  I mean, I am in the kitchen almost as much as I am in my sewing room so I think it is in need of a  whole lot of fun added to it :)  

It is such an honor to be among these uber talented designers. So do you want to get the low down on what they made??  Pop on over to Martingale's blog, Stitch This, to see more of the wonderful projects and the designers in this book.  And didn't I mention something about a giveaway????

While you are over at Stitch This, leave a comment answering the question given and you will be entered to win one of 14 copies of Kitchen Stitches as well as the grand prize of a $100.00 Martingale Gift Certificate!!!

Good Luck to you all, and have a Happy Quilting / Cooking Day :)

Star Light Star Bright - Cutting

**  NOTE  - This post is part of a series of posts for the Star Light Star Bright Quilt-A-Long.  If you would like to join (and have a chance to win one of 4 of the $75.00 Gift Certificate grand prizes sponsored by The Intrepid Thread and Fat Quarter Shop ) you can find a list of the post links here :)  Here is the schedule

Jan 15 - Intro, Fabric Requirements, and Prizes Announcement

Jan 29 - Cutting

 Feb 5 - Flying Geese

Feb12 - Half Square Triangles

Feb 19 - Building Block Centers

Feb 26 - Building Block Sides

Mar 5 - Building Block Corners

Mar 12 - Piecing Top and Grand Prize Linky

April 2- Star Light Star Bright Parade and Grand Prize Winners

So here we are at Jan 29th , so let's get right to it :)  

THIS WEEKS ASSIGNMENT - CUTTING

All of the cutting will be done using the same type of charts that we have been using so far.  Simply find the size block and layout that you are making and that will tell you the cutting you need to do.  If you have any problems viewing any of the charts, just click on them and they will com up larger :)   Here is the finished sizing chart, just in case you need a reminder of the block size and layout you are doing :)

PRINT FABRICS

We will start but cutting out all of the "print" fabrics.

 Using the chart below, cut the squares for your desired size and layout from each of your fabric cuts. For a 2 x 2 layout there will be 4 fabrics, for a 3 x 3 layout there will be 9 fabrics and for a 4 x 4 layout there will be 16 fabrics.  So, for example if you were doing the 3 x 3 layout in a 32" size block, you would cut (1) 9 1/4" x 9 1/4" square, (20) 5" x 5" squares, (4) 4 7/8" x 4 7/8" squares and (8) 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" squares from your first fabric.  Then repeat that process for each of your remaining 8 fabrics.

**  Note - When cutting the first large block  (Some number and a 1/4") I like to cut the strip the next inch up.  This allows me to sub-cut the most amount of pieces from the left-over strip.  So in our example, I would cut my first strip 10" wide, then sub-cut a 9 1/4" square from it and then I can subcut all of my 5" squares and on down with the smaller squares from the remaining strip piece :)

EDIT - I have heard that there are lots of you wanting to do some "custom" layouts (yippee!!) and need the cutting broken down a bit.  So I hope this helps.  Here is the image of a block.  The yellow blocks are your basic squares, the red blocks are the HST's and the purple blocks are the Flying Geese.

In the print layout directions, the first cut is for the Goose of the Flying Geese unit, the second cut is the HST's, the third cut is for the sky in the Flying Geese unit and the last cut are the basic squares.  So in our example this is the colors for the cutting.  

From each of  the (9) 3/4 Yard Cuts

(1) 9 1/4" x 9 1/4" Square  
 (will make the large triangle "Goose" in the outside FG unit)

(20) 5" x 5" Squares

(4) 4 7/8" x 4 7/8" Squares  
(will make the 2 small triangles, "sky" in the inside FG unit)

(8) 4 1/2" x 4 1/2"  Squares

I hope this helps.  If you have any other questions on your particular layout, please don't hesitate to send me an email and I will get back to you asap :)

BACKGROUND FABRIC

And now, we can move onto the background fabric :)

 Using the chart below, cut the squares for your desired size and layout from your background fabric.  So, for example if you were doing the 3 x 3 layout in a 32" size block, you would cut (9) 9 1/4" x 9 1/4" squares, (108) 5" x 5" squares then (36) 4 7/8" x 4 7/8" squares, and (72) 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" squares from your background fabric.  For the sashing from your background fabric you will cut (12) 4" x 32 1/2" strips and (4) 4" x 110" strips.

**  Note - On the longer sashing strips you will need to piece together strips to reach the desired lenghth.  So in the example we have been using, you will need to piece 3 WOF strips together and then trim the strip down to 110 1/2".  Then repeat this to make a total of 4 strips that measure 110 1/2" :)

CUTTING TIPS

Here are a few helpful tips if you are new to cutting or just want to see how I like to cut.  This is the way I like to cut, it is not the only way to cut, so if you do it different, great :)  Do what you are comfortable with.  This is just more tidbits that might help save your some time and eliminate waste.

1 - Always press your fabrics first, it takes a second more but will help in keeping your pieces accurate.  I like to keep my iron at a super hot setting and use a little extra water from a spay bottle if I have any creases or folds that don't want to come out with a simple pass of the iron.

2 - Check the sharpness of your blade before starting to cut.  Sometimes I like to layer my fabrics a bit, especially if I am cutting several fabrics all the same way (like in the scrappy layouts.)  I never like to cut more then 4-6 layers at a time, and if I am cutting that many layers I always need to use a really sharp blade.  But if you are still beginning, I don't recommend cutting more than 2 layers of one fabric at a time as the fabric really tries to shift the more layers you have.

3 - Whenever cutting yardage, I always like to cut with the fold in my fabric lined up along the 0 horizontal line on my cutting mat.  I always start by cutting a straight edge along the left hand side of my fabric and then (as long as my yardage is short enough) trim the selvages from the top of my fabric.  (Almost always along the 21" horizontal line)

4 - I like to cut in strips and use the lines on my mat as cutting guides rather than my rulers.  Once I cut all of the strips I need, I slightly separate the different size strips, still keeping them aligned along the 0 horizontal line and the nearest vertical line, and then sub-cut the strip using the horizontal lines on my mat.  This allows me to cut a lot of squares quickly.

5 - When cutting strips, I always like to start with the largest piece first.  So I cut a strip the width of my largest piece (*See the note of cutting it to the next inch) and then sub-cut that strip as needed.  When sub-cutting, I always start at the top of my strip and work my way down, thus allowing the scrap to be on the fold and creating 1 large scrap instead of 2 small scraps.  Any extra of that strip can normally be sub-cut  into smaller pieces needed thus eliminating waste.

NOW GO START CUTTING :)

I hope these cutting tips help :)  Now, have some fun with your cutting!   Here's my fabrics all cut up :)  This weeks assignment wasn't to hard, right :)   And now the fun part, you can enter to win the weekly prize :)

The Weekly Prizes are sponsored by the Fort Worth Fabric Studio and a huge thanks goes to them for their support of the Star Light Star Bright Quilt-A-Long.

This weeks  prize is a $20.00 Gift Certificate to Fort Worth Fabric Studio

So what do you have to do for a chance to win this Gift Certificate?  Simple . . . Just link up your fabrics all cut up 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 Wednesday morning as I will be announcing a winner at the beginning of next weeks post :)

If you don't get your cutting done by next week you can still link it up :) (just not in time for the prize :)    The linky will remain open until the end of the Quilt-A-Long.  So if your out of town, or just had a busy week, no worries!!!  Just link up when you can :)

And Don't forget to add your beautiful cut up fabric to the Happy Quilting Quilt-A-Long Flickr group!!!  I am so excited to see all of your beautiful fabrics all cut up ;)

So let's get cutting!!!  And if you have questions, don't hesitate to email me at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com.  Have a Happy Quilting Day!!

Totally Awesome

This afternoon I am hoping to cut into these wonderful Sphere jelly rolls :)  I have a design all worked out to make a twin size quilt to go on my oldest sons bed.  Sphere by Zen Chic for Moda is the perfect pre-teen boy fabric!!  It is hip, fun, modern, and in my son's words "Totally Awesome".

So here is to a Happy Cutting Day!!!  Oh, and this quilt will also be playing double duty as it will be a tutorial for the Moda Bake Shop ;)  So if you are in need of a cool twin boy quilt, it's on its way :)

Grey was the Fave :)

Thanks so much for everyone's input on my puling fabrics post.  I think Grey won by a landslide :)  I decided to give the combo a try this weekend as I needed to come up with a quick quilt back.  So I grabbed some of the purple damask and added a grey stripe and wouldn't you know, I love it!!!!  I am so looking forward to making the bag now!!

Oh, and if you are wondering what the quilt is, sorry, you will have to wonder a little longer.  Remember these geese from the beginning of the month, the secret project ones, . . . that's what is on the other side.  But I can show you the fun spiral I quilted.  I just love the way these turn out, which is good because otherwise it wouldn't be worth the aching shoulder of maneuvering that quilt in a circle a million times ;)

So what did you get done this weekend??  Any quilting goodies??