Book Review – Quilted Holiday Accents

February 25, 2008October 26, 2008Leave a comment

The weather warmed up a little this week-end and it made me think of Spring! And what better way is there to beat the Winter blues than to create something you know you will be using in warmer weather? So I began looking for inspiration – I remembered all the yo-yos I have recently made, and thought of the great spring colors I could make more yo-yos in, then I remembered this quilting book had a great Easter table-runner with yo-yo embellishment.

I went to the store to pick out some fabrics and started my project. Of course I choose bright spring-time colors, and the fabrics used for the yo-yos on the sides of the table-runner are the same fabrics I used for the egg appliqués.

This book is a wonderful book full of appliqué projects for all the seasons. There is also a 4th of July table-runner, as well as a tote bag and sweatshirt for the 4th – one of those may need to be made when I start thinking of Summer picnics! There are also several ideas for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Anyone who enjoys quilting and making new items for holidays, but doesn’t want to make a full quilt for a holiday celebration, should take a look at this book. And here’s the finished project!

I used the Extra large yo-yo tool for the embellishments on each end of the table-runner. And, as you can see in the close-up below, I used buttons to finish the yo-yos and to decorate the egg appliqués. It’s been a long time since I sewed this many buttons on a single project!

There are several places I could see placing this project. Of course, the obvious is the dinning room table – but it could also go on top of the piano or on my dry sink or even the coffee table. It would also be fun to add some stuffed or ceramic bunnies sitting with the runner.

Even though this book doesn’t show placemats – I have decided to make some using the same appliqué shape so they will coordinate with the runner. Watch for that project, and a small pattern just for you, tomorrow.

What are you doing to get ready for Easter and to chase off the Winter blues?
Sheila Reinke, Heart of Sewing
Sheila

Book Review – Sunbonnet Sue Visits “Quilt in a Day”

February 21, 2008October 26, 20081 Comment

This review will cover the title Sunbonnet Sue Visits “Quilt in a Day” – from the Quilt in a Day series by Eleanor Burns.
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First, I need to stress – the quilt shown here is NOT a quilt that can be made in a day. The publisher of the series is called ‘Quilt in a Day’. I thought of this book because we are talking about appliqué this week – and what is more traditional in appliqué than Sunbonnet Sue?
When I made the towels yesterday, we used Pellon Wonder Under to apply the appliqués. For the Sunbonnet Sue quilt, we will use lightweight Pellon interfacing.
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Draw the mirror image of your appliqué design onto the interfacing. Make certain the glue side is down.
If you are using more than one appliqué, you may draw them all onto the same piece – but be sure you leave at least ½” between images so you have room to trim around them.
If you have drawn more than one design on your interfacing, and you will be using different fabrics – you need to cut the designs apart.

Next, place the glue side of the interfacing down against the top side of fabric you are using to create the appliqué.
Stitch (do not press) the interfacing to the fabric – stitching over the lines you used to draw your design.
Cut a small slit in the center of the interfacing (be careful not to cut into your design fabric), and use that to turn the piece right side out. Now your stitching will be to the inside, and the interfacing will have the glue side facing out.

Single Sue

After you have turned each piece of Sunbonnet Sue for one block, lay out the design elements onto the block. I have found it helpful to make a dark copy of the appliqué placement from the book, and place that under my block as I arrange the appliqués. This helps to ensure that each block comes out the same. When it comes time to iron the appliqués into place, I use the Singer Steam Press, which works great for this type of ironing.

For my quilt, I used a blanket stitch (I did mine by hand, but you could use a machine if you prefer). I never added any other embellishment to mine, but if you look at the book, it recommends items like lace, buttons, ribbons, etc. The book has instructions for sizes from a Springtime Wallhanging to Double Coverlet size. This book can be picked up at any Hancock Fabrics store in the quilting department.

This quilt has become quite a favorite in my home, anytime my granddaughter comes to visit, she insists on sleeping with the ‘dolly’ quilt.

Book image and information posted with permission from Eleanor Burns
Sheila Reinke, Heart of Sewing
Sheila

Quilting Book Review – Crazy for Baby

January 28, 2008October 26, 20081 Comment

Are there times in your life when you fill like everyone around you is expecting a baby? It seems like that’s the case for me right now. Pretty exciting! But now I need to make baby gifts.

When you love to sew and make things as gifts for people, the most natural gift for a new baby is a quilt. At a time like this, I find that I need quick baby quilts, that will still have a great look. I found a great book called “Crazy for Baby” by Me & My Sister Designs. The book features four fast and fun quilt ideas with 10 color variations.

It seems that when I’m in the fabric store, I always find lots of great juvenile theme fabrics. The only problem with these fabrics is that you won’t want to cut them into small pieces for quilt blocks – the whole look of the fabric would be lost. What I really like about this book is that you can take a juvenile fabric and use for a center panel. You than sew pieced blocks around the large picture. How easy and fast is that? You’ll probably want to make more than one project out of this book!

My granddaughter got a Care Bear for Christmas, and when I found this cute fabric at Hancock Fabrics I thought her Care Bear might need a blanket.

For the pinwheel quilt blocks, I went to the section in the store where they have the Fat Quarter single program. This is a great program, fat quarters arranged on an upright rack by color and shade. Shopping through these is always fun and inspiring. It was so simple to pick-up 5 different fat quarters to complete my color selection.

You can complete this quilt top in a day easily. Perfect for a quick gift for a new baby (or bear) in the family! My finished quilt was 45″ x 50″, yours may be different if you change the borders on the quilt.

After I finished this quilt, I looked around Hancock Fabrics for some other fabrics that would work for this type of quilt. There are so many fun theme fabrics out there! Here are just a few of the other fabrics I may have to consider some day.

And look what came with the Care Bear fabrics. . . a fabric book panel. Make this up and give to the newcomer!