Forks in the Quilt Making Road

As I was working on my next quilt project, 10-minute blocks, I discovered along the way forks in my quilt making road. Not just one fork but multiple forks. Have you come to forks in your quilt making road? Let me explain:

My road began with a need for a very quick and easy quilt needing to be completed Monday, April 8th but starting on Friday, April 5th. So you see I didn't have a whole lot of time. I  decided to create a quilt using the quilt pattern of 10-minute blocks which I found on YouTube as a tutorial. Click the book cover below to watch the tutorial.



The first fork in my quilt making road I came to was: Fabric choices, cost and size of blocks that would be cost effective. I discovered I did not have the fabric in my stash so what do I choose now?
Fork: Go to the Left and purchase fabric with exact size blocks or go to the right and make the blocks out of bandannas and 5" blocks which, by the way, only costs $1.00 per bandanna.

Choice: Go to the right and purchase bandannas and do 5" blocks instead of the 10" ones in the book. Result?

   

So I cut the bandanas into 5" blocks and began arranging them into various color options and design patterns. This is where a design wall comes in handy, however, I do not have one of those, I have a design carpet bedroom floor. It works fabulously and Bremley, the Quilting Kitty and Caesar, the Quilt Tester have an easier time doing their jobs as assistants. See for yourself:

 

 

 

Caesar, the quilt tester, waiting for his que to test
my quilt.

 

Now that I had thing arranged how I wanted I began the process of making each block. One block used five 5" squares. A 4-square block with a square in the middle. Here's how to do it.

 

  

Take that square in the middle and fold it in half, if you use bandanas or batiks it won't matter which side you use, wrong sides together. Place raw edges on the bottom edge of upper right corner square. (Orange on top yellow square). Bring the Top left square face down on top of folded square. (Blue top of Orange and yellow) Sew a 1/4" seam on left side. Open it up and look what you get.

I pressed the blue and yellow seams together.

Now here comes the next step: Place the folded square on top of the bottom left square and line it up at the top of that block. (Orange on yellow)

Take the Lower Right square (Blue) and place it under the folded center square. (Orange) Place the Lower Left square (Yellow) on top of folded center square, face down and sew a 1/4" on left side. Let's open it up with wrong sides together and press. What do we get?

 

A sort of "H" shape

 

Now comes the fun, magic part. Watch carefully or replay the tutorial a couple of times. Take two blocks you see on top (Blue and Yellow in this case) and bring right sides together. Yep, just pick them right up. Don't worry about the back two. They'll fall into place and ignore the center piece for just a moment. This is what it should look like at this stage:

 

 

 

 

Wait!!! The magic is just about to happen!! Look!! Watch very, very carefully!!! Before your very eyes, take that center folded piece and spread it open like a triangle. What you are really doing is opening the center square and spreading east and west to match up the seams of the top and bottom blocks. It's going to be a bit awkward, however, this is how it will look:

 

This is the inside of the center folded block when spread
East and West or mooshed into a triangle.

Now quickly pin it once you have a triangle and the seams match up and the fabric of the triangle is even with the raw edge of the block. Now sew a 1/4" down that side, yes even over the triangle. But don't run over your needle. That's very bad.





Now open up your block and look what has happened!!!!!

With 5 pieces of fabric and only 3 seams, YES, that's what I said, only 3seams,

You get.....

 

 

MAGIC!!! A diamond in the middle of your block!!!. Now you can leave it just like that or... Wait!!

Here is another fork in the road....

 

Fork: Go Right= Leave square exactly how it is and you get a 3-D look or Go Left= Bring in the sides of the square, pin them down and sew all the way around. (Cathedral look)

 

I will choose to go left but this is where I discovered a little more difficult "Fork in my quilt making road", Go Right=this will take longer than a weekend (Smaller blocks) choose a different pattern. Go Left= Keep going with this and let the Birthday Girl know her quilt will be coming soon.

 

I chose to go Right. I wanted her to have her quilt for Monday so here was my alternative quilt.

 

 

Therefore, Forks in the quilt making road are great to have and keep you on your toes. So keep an eye out for your own forks and choose your own adventure!!!!



Self-binding Super Duper Easy Quilt

I needed a lightning fast, I mean Nascar racing, big wave surfing, bullet bike riding fast, quilt. My next door neighbors just welcomed a beautiful baby boy so I knew he would need a new, warm and snuggly quilt. So I searched my patterns but didn't really find anything that I could get done quickly. I then remembered a tutorial on YouTube done by Jenny Doan. It's called "Self-binding Baby Quilt".

I already tried out this pattern with a wall hanging. It was perfect!!! I found some adorable fabric in my stash, booted up my laptop and pulled up tutorial. Quilting along with the tutorial was great!! Let me share with you my super fast quilt and how I did it.

Ladies and Gentleman!!!!! Introducing, Jenny Doan and her tutorial!!!!

(Click on the title above the picture to play the tutorial)

 

Self-binding Baby Quilt

 

 

Now you can follow Jenny and I and make your own Self-binding quilt.

 

Here are two of my quilts and how I made mine.

 

Baby quilt for next door neighbor's brand new baby boy.

Made this Asian fabric self-binding quilt
to add color to guest bedroom.

Let me show you how I made these quilts in 30 minutes or less.

 

Here is the fabric I chose for the baby blanket. I love the cute little dog, especially his floppy ears and adorable face. The backing fabric is the cute little bears with a variety of colors.

 

 

   



 

  So after choosing your fabric it's time for cutting. The backing fabric needs to be cut at the larger size. 40" square for the backing fabric. The puppy dog fabric is cut at the 30" square size.

 

Now comes the fun part! This next step is what makes the quilt but you'll feel it's quite awkward to do. Just hang in there and you'll be amazed!!!!

 

first find and pin the centers on all four sides of each piece of fabric. Then lay the 30" square fabric, pretty side down, on top of the 40" square. You are going to match up the pins. Remove one pin and use the other to pin both fabrics together at each center point. Ignore how the quilt looks. It's going to look a bit wonky. let me show you!!!

 

Matching the centers with both layers.

It looks wonky and crazy but don't give up.
it's going to work, I promise!!

More pinning together the 40" and  30" squares
of fabric.

It's not neat or tidy but just wait, you won't believe
what all this craziness becomes.

 Now that the crazy pinning is all done here comes the magic of this self-binding quilt. What you are going to do is sew the two pieces of fabric together. Don't forget your quilting feline and canine to test your fabric and to check on your progress.

Bremley, my Quilting Kitty

Ceasar, my Quilt Tester

As you sew the layers, don't forget to leave an opening to turn the quilt. Your quilt is going to have little rabbit ears on all four corners after you sew all sides closed.

 

Cute little rabbit ears

 

Now this next part you may need to stop the tutorial and replay. You are going to be creating mitred corners and Jenny has a magical way to do this. It's all in the placement of the ruler. Let me show you!

It's all in the folding and where to line up the ruler.

Pencil line to mark where you are going to stitch.

Penciled line is for your personal sewing guide.
You are going to stitch right on the line.

 

You are almost done. You just need to cut a 1/4" from the stitched line to remove the excess fabric. You should have four little triangles left over.

 

 

Triangles from the corners. Maybe they can be
used in another project.

 

 

Is the quilt done yet? I'm getting sleepy!!



I'm working the pedal as fast as I can!!!

Phew, this quilting stuff is hard work!!! But I love
all that fabric and thread. Ohhh thread, can I play with some?!!! 





Now that the corners are trimmed you can turn your quilt. Flip the quilt right side out and presto change!!!! You have a self-binding quilt. You can get creative with your decorative stitches. Choose a stitch and go around your entire quilt so you can close up the opening that you used to turn your quilt. Magic!!!

 

 

 

 

 I hope this is something you can use for quick and easy gifts. This is perfect for baby quilts, Christmas gifts, or last minute projects. Which us quilters never are in need of last minute projects.

 

 

 Wishing you happy quilting from Me, Cambria, Bremley, the Quilting Kitty, and Ceasar, the Quilt Tester!!!

 

  

"Snuggle Up" Quilt Pattern

So I was searching on the Internet one day and found this website is called Quiltmaker.
When you click on the above link, you can do two things. One you can click on the pattern icon (button) or you can click in the search box that is found in the upper right hand corner and search for a specific name of a pattern.

This is where I stumbled upon my next quick and easy quilt pattern. Oh my goodness, you won't believe how fun this one is and how amazing it turns out. I tried out this pattern when I was fairly new to quilting so I know it's a perfect quilt for beginners and it's an adorable quilt for those needing something speedy and quick. Watch out it's Spring time, it's the season for baby showers.

Here is the quilt I made using this, "Snuggle Up" quilt pattern from Quiltmaker. In fact, I loved how easy and fun it was I actually used this pattern for two quilts. However, I didn't get pictures of one of the quilts so I only have the music quilt that I made for my sister. The other quilt was for one of my male friends so I used black and white fabrics on his quilt.




My Sister, Marisa, loves music so I found the perfect fabric. It's all music note
fabric and backing is a dark blue solid back.

Here's how to make it.

1. Click on the link "Quiltmaker" above and find the search bar in the upper right hand corner of the website.

2. Type in Snuggle up and hit enter or click on the go button.

3. Click on the words 1. Pattern: Snuggle up" that's how it's worded on the search page of Quiltmaker.

4. It will take you to another page then find the words, Download PDF. Click on that.

5. You must have PDF reader on your computer in order download this pdf pattern.

6. Save this pattern to your computer.
        1. Press the ALT key on your keyboard. A menu should pop up.
        2. Click on the word file and select Save as...
        3. Choose the folder you want this pattern to be saved in
        4. Finally name it Snuggle Up and click save.
7. Print out the pattern and you are ready to start this quick and easy quilt.

This is where your creativity can really shine in choosing your fabrics. This quilt is designed for using just two fabric choices or as many as 10 different fabrics. For my quilt I used three. A pink with red music notes, black with white music notes, and a sheet music print fabric that looks like it's almost grey.

Just don't do what I did and forget to check what rows go where. As you can see some of the same color block line up. So try and mix up your rows so you get a good mishmash of color and design.

The directions are simple and easy to follow so this could even be a perfect project for kids to with the help and watchful eye around the sewing machine of course. Have fingers sewn into the quilt is not one of the steps given in the pattern and blood doesn't exactly go well most fabrics. LOL

I do not have step by step photos of this quilt as this was probably my 6th quilt ever made in my long career of quilting of only 6 months approximately.

But try it, share it, and get creative with it. Check out the Quiltmaker website for more quilt patterns to try.

Bremley in her favorite place
the Linen Closet

Happy Quilting from the Quilting Kitty, Bremley and I

Me, Cambria, golfing with my Dad and
Mum. Mum drives the golf cart
while Dad and I play 9-holes.

My Sew-Vivor Disappearing 9-Patch

If you have read my very first post called, "Firsts" you'd know I began a new adventure just before New Years and that is... drum roll please!!!! My first blog!!! So I am adding to that idea of "Firsts" and I am entering into a Sew-vivor competition.

I think I can safely say that I passed the first Sew-vivor test, choosing a quilt to enter. Phew, that was pretty tough to choose just one out of a plethora of  quilts that I have made. Here is the winner!!!

What? I won?!!! REALLY and TRULY!!! I WON!!!? I Can't believe it!!! I'd like to thank... Oh wait, sorry I got carried away. I was just practicing. OK here is my entry project:

The "Disappearing 9-patch" from a tutorial video of Jenny Doan of the Missouri Star Quilt Company.

Pink and Brown Disappearing 9-Patch

I always take photos of the step by step process of each of my quilts. So here is a short walk instead of the scenic route to this quilt.



  

Fabrics I chose for this quilt



This is the center of the quilt. Hmm not quite big enough. Border time!!! Borders are a great way to accent the focal point of the quilt and to help make your quilt larger.

   

Pink and Brown are a beautiful together.

 Close up view of the blocks. These look like I did a lot of intense measuring and cutting. If you watch Jenny Doan's Tutorial and you won't believe how simple this really is.

Flannel is the backing fabric of choice because you don't need batting and it is a much wider fabric. Most fabrics are 44" but flannel is 60" and of course it's warm and soft.







To help me with my quilts I always have my quilting kitty, Bremley and my quilt test Ceasar or Min Pin.









Ceasar our Min Pin and my quilt tester.
His favorite is a pillow and blanket.





It's time to add the borders. I love the polka dots, roses and stripes.

Another quilt top completed!!! And another quilt to add to my quilting scrapbook. 

 This quilt was wrapped and given as a Christmas gift for a Secret Santa present. The person I had to do Secret Santa was totally surprised I made this for her. She loves it and so do her animals!!!





 I love quilting and I love that my cat and dog follow me everywhere I go when I am making a quilt. Quilting is my passion my Quilting Kitty and Ceasar the Quilt Tester are my sunshine every day. Love you Bremley Boo and Ceasar Boy!!!

Check out my post "Disappearing 9-Patch" for a more detailed tutorial and another color option for this quick and easy quilt pattern.

Happy Quilting with your feline and canine assistants!!!!