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!!!!

Panels, A Quilters New Best Friend

Have you ever realized you needed a quilted gift in a hurry, like in 5 days or less? Nahhh that has never happened to any quilter. LOL!!  Okay, it's happened to me and you know a quilt would make the perfect gift instead of a last minute gift card. Well hopefully I have something that can save the day. How about a quilt made with a panel?

Panel fabrics are found in any quilt shop or fabric store. They come in diverse themes and colors and the great thing about panels are you can cut them apart, keep them whole and add what ever borders and embellishments you can come up. The options are limitless!! Here are some examples of panel quilts I have done. Then I'll give the step by step instructions on how created them. I also have a wonderful tutorial from my favorite quilter, Jenny Doan of the Missouri Star Quilt Company all about panels.  Go ahead, start your creative engines for more quick and easy quilts with PANELS!!!"






"Asian Bird" Quilt. Designed and Quilted by
Me, Cambria Thompson for my Sister-in-Law, Mandee





 

   

"Asian Dragon" Quilt. Designed and Quilted by
Me for my Brother Adam.



"Baby Bear" Quilt. Fabric chosen by my Mum. Designed
and Quilted by me for a baby gift.

"Milton for All Seasons" Quilt. Designed and Quilted by
Me for my Cousin's 1st baby. Isn't Milton the Lamb sooo cute?

INSTRUCTIONS:

"Asian Bird" Quilt

I made this quilt for my wonderful Sister-in-Law, Mandee Brown. It was my 3rd pieced quilt in my long career of quilting for only a year.

I found the 4-bird panel of fabric at Walmart. I cut apart the four birds and found coordinating fabrics and made borders around each of the bird blocks. I then went to my favorite quilt shop here in Arizona, Sun Valley Quilts, and found a beautiful Asian print fabric for the backing.

Border made of squares of coordinating fabrics. Each
bird block had it's own border.

Sandwiched with quilt top, batting, and Asian print fabric.

Quilted stitch in the ditch throughout the quilt and then
quilted just inside each of the bird blocks
to showcase the birds.

Now if you can see that my quilting is not that great it's alright. This was my 3rd pieced quilt I had ever made since my 1st class and I was making my brother's quilt at the same time as this one. I was on a deadline to get them done.

The  next quilt is my brother's quilt. The inspiration came from his love of dragons and big, loud motorcycles. A perfect quilt for a member of  the "Arizona Dragon Slayers" for our Renaissance Faire. Bonus pictures below:



Dragon Slayer Clan



"Arizona Dragon Slayers"
My brother is on the left. Each Dragon Slayer makes his own garb.
From the dragon on their breast pieces down to the last silver stud.
Their weapons are real swords and knives.

A panel quilt fit for the dragon slayer:



Adam, "The Dragon Slayer"

For my Brother, Adam's quilt, I found an Asian Dragon panel and thought this sooo him. I then trooped off to Walmart to find some backing fabric for it and "Low and Behold!!!" I found flames and dragons surrounded by flames fabric. I also discovered a Harley Davidson motorcycle fabric with flames. WHAT A TREASURE!!!

 

I created a border of the dragons and put a fire, breathing Harley in each corner.

My quilt testers: Tuff (Red Min Pin), Gonzo (the lounging
grey cat), Bremley, my quilting kitty (a little camera shy).

 

My quilt testers below (Bremley, Gonzo, and Tuff), approved of the softness and the stitch in the ditch quilting.  Pet approved, ready to give!!!



 Baby Bear Panel Quilt

My mother found this adorable fabric at the quilt shop in Eagar, Arizona in the White Mountains area. My mum found a panel and then this wonderful coordinating background fabric.

My mum was pretty clever to get additional backing fabric because I took some the fabric and turned it into a border for the panel. It turned out perfectly.

I couldn't find the picture I took of the finished quilt. However, I sandwiched the quilt, batting, and backing fabric and something a little extra went into the sandwich. And it's not peanut butter and jelly. No, I found some lace trimming and laid that down, sewed the sandwich closed except for an opening at the top. I turned the quilt and the result was astounding. I had never done this before so I was taking a risk. Not to worry, I had my trusty seam ripper close at hand in case it didn't work.

Voila!!! Just like magic it worked, and I didn't even use magic words like Bibbity Bobbity Boo, or Boil and Bubble, Toil and Trouble, or  Abraaaaa Cadabrraaaa make this quilt beautiful!!!!

(When I find the picture I'll add it in)

"Milton for All Seasons" Panel Quilt

This is the most adorable fabric I have ever seen. Milton the lamb is my most favorite with his adorable floppy ears and cutiepatootie face.  It's all about his ears in each of the seasons. Look closely and see what you can notice in each scene.

This is how the panel came. Two sets of Milton and the four seasons. I could have cut it apart but I decided the length of the panel would make a little bit bigger quilt. I made this one for my cousin in Australia for her 1st baby and I wanted her baby to be able to not outgrow it.  So that was the deciding factor of keeping the panel all in one piece.

Now that I decided to keep the panel as is, it was longer in length than in width, hence no perfect squares to work with. What can you do if your panel is not a perfect square? All else fails, add fabric borders.

So I found some coordinating fabrics in the baby fabric section of Sun Valley Quilts. They are polka dots and ducks. I made some four-patch blocks and then cut large rectangles and created a border around Milton the Lamb.

I then took a light green colored flannel, batting, and Milton the Lamb and sandwiched them together. I quilted stitch in the ditch in all of the seams and quilted around each block to make them stand out a bit more. It turned out soo adorable and it didn't take me hardly any time at all.

I was watching my favorite tutorials from the Missouri Star Quilt Company and low and behold Jenny was doing one on panels and precuts. Hopefully this will give you more creative ideas for a quick and easy quilt. Just click on the link below and LET the CREATIVE JUICES FLOW!!!!

Let's go Panel quilting!!!!

Panels and Precuts with Jennie Doan of the Missouri Star Quilt Company

Your Quilting Rooms or Your Dream Quilting Rooms

Well I don't have any quilts done yet, but don't fret I do have some ideas floating around and fabric picked out for the next project. I just have to sit down and get crackin on it.

So in the mean time I wanted to show you where I do all my quilting with my Quilting Kitty Bremley. Then I'll show you a before and after pictures of reorganizing my quilting room. Come on in to my room of creative happenings!!!!




 

This room also doubles as a music room. It also use to be a library
with all of my hubby's and I's books. It was a little too crowded. So we moved
the 5-shelved bookcases out into the other spare bedroom.


1. I have a cutting table that is on the left side of the room. That is just a fold up table from Target. I have a table cloth on it so the kitty litter that is underneath the table is hidden from view. Sometimes the smell is not. "HUBBY!!!! The quilting kitty has a full litter box. I'm busy quilting can you clean it? Hehe.  Just kidding. We take turns cleaning Bremley's litter.

2.  I have a sewing table. This is our old kitchen table that we had when we first got married. Actually is was my husband, Jeremy's table when he was still single and living with roommates. My sewing table sits under the window. It's a great place for Bremley, the Quilting Kitty, to sit and watch me as well as watch for birds while I'm quilting.

3. I have two 3-shelf bookcases. They sit on either side of my sewing table. These hold books and some of my fabrics. My rulers also sit atop one of the bookshelves. On the other bookshelf I have an unfinished quilt that I found at an antique shop. (Remind me to tell you the story about that quilt) as well as my Nanna's, from Australia, little glass pitcher. I only met her three times in my life. She passed away a couple of years ago and so this is very special to me.


4. I have a small stool to sit upon at my sewing table that belonged to my Grandpa Brown. He use to sit upon this stool in his workshop or while cooking in the kitchen, or out in the garage tinkering. He passed away a couple of years ago and this was given to me. The piano was my Grandma Brown's and she use to teach me piano on this. These are some pretty special things I have in my quilting room from my grandparents from both sides of my family.

5. The two wall hangings are quilts I have made. The quilt next to my cutting table is my very first quilt that I made back in 2005. It's an Alex Anderson sampler quilt made in Thimbleberries fabric. The small wall hanging above the piano was something I quickly put together from tutorial given by Jenny Doan of the Missouri Star Quilt Company.  I needed something to hang above the piano that wasn't so big. This quilt was perfect. It's done in Asian prints. I'll have to post instructions and pics of this quilt. It's another quick and easy pattern. You'll love it!!!

Now it's time for some before and after pictures. Sometimes my quilting room looks like my before pictures while I'm quilting. I'm sure a lot of you quilter's never have your spaces look like this. LOL. My quilting room then looks like the after pics after my projects are done. Bremley, the cat can even use her litter box. lol



Before being organized



Just purchased the bookshelves

Wow what a mess!!!! This is not really how messy my quilt room is when
 I'm working on a quilt. This was just me reorganizing when I got my new
bookshelves and cardboard box lids for my fabrics.  I hope no one gets lost
in here. It looks like a tornado went through this room! Let's just close the door,
Shall we?

 

Had a brilliant idea on what to do with my fabric.
I cut off some cardboard box lids and wrapped my fabric
around the lids. They fit perfectly on my shelves.

Phew, this looks soooo much better. Organizing makes me feel
stress free. What a GLORIOUS feeling to be able to
see the floor and everything is in their rightful place.

Here are some of my fabric. The little glass pitcher is Nana Sims'
The Dresden Plate quilt is the one I found at the antique shop.
The pattern above the bookcase is called "Crossing Canoes"

My Bernina and the kitchen table that doubles as my sewing table. My husband, Jeremy,
researched and tested out which sewing machine would be the very best.
What an amazing husband I have!!! Look Jeremy I'm getting a lot of use
out of my Bernina.

My cutting table, Rowenta ironing board. What's behind closet door
number 1?

Fabric!!! And closet door number 2? More Fabric!!!



My cutting table, mat, and a rotating tool organizer (My mom bought this for me, I love it)
Shhhh, the kitty litter is under the table. The table cloth is just to hide the whereabouts
of the Quilting Kitty's private bathroom.

Another view of my sewing table.

My Grandma Brown's piano that is now mine.

The other bookshelf holding my little library of quilt books, my quilting
scrapbook that I started as well as my box I take with me to classes to carry
my necessary tools for quilting and a notebook. The blocks on the wall are paper piecing blocks
from the paper piecing class I took. I love paper piecing.



Another view of my piano and bookcase



 Ok you have now seen where I do my quilting. It's  just a little space and certainly not filled with amazing furniture like the Koala quilting studio set up, but it brings me joy and a lot of creativity happens in this room. I would love to hear from you and see some of your quilting spaces. So leave a comment and or pics to share where you do your creative happenins!!!!

You can even share what your dream quilt/craft/scrapbooking spaces would look like if you had all the money in the world. Happy quilting and organizing!!!!