Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Flannel Yellow Girls Coin Quilt - Done!!

Another quilt finished!!  I love these flannel quilts.  They  are so cuddable!!  The wavy stitch is just the right amout of quilting so they keep their cuddability (is that a word) and flexibility.  They also give the back side a poofiness (i dont know if this is a word either).  You know when I am sewing down the binding on a flannel backed quilt I find myself stopping periodically just to run my hand over the back of it.  I wonder if the recipients of these quilts do the same thing.



Coming up next - I will be finishing the Dora Log Cabin!!! 

I feel as though I am making so much progress!!!  I can't turn the quilts out as quickly as some.  There are many days I may have only a half hour to sew.  Most of my quilting is done an hour here, 45 minutes there... Whatever little time spent in my the sanctuary of my sewing room is precious.

How many of you feel the same way?  Have similar circumstances?

Friday, October 30, 2009

Flannel Strippy Quilt

I finally finished my son's Flannel Strippy Quilt.  This quilt was made from leftovers.  That is everything other than the backing.  Even the batting was from leftovers - a mix of cotton batting, poly batting and fleece. Check below - sorry about the weird angle:


The front is made from leftover flannel strips and a few blocks most of which were salvaged from my Mother In Law making her mother, sisters and grand-daughters pants for Christmas.   Some strips are from some of my projects and kid's pants as well, but I'd say 75% are from her.  Thanks Bev!!!! :) 


This isn't the finished blanket.  I am waiting for my son to let me take a picture.  He has a bunkbed so I can't get a good pic of it - too dark - and every weekend we've had rain since it's been completed.  This Saturday, Halloween, is supposed to be nice and sunny!!!  Woo Hoo!  So maybe we will have a completed quilt pic along with pics of our scarrry trick or treaters.


To our right is a close up of two blocks joined.
I cant tell you how much fun it was to make these.  Once I got started it went so quickly.  My son would hand me the strips he wanted next and I just kept going!!

I've got a bag of girly flannel for my daughters blanket.  If you'd like a tutorial on how I put these togther, stay tuned for the girl version.  It may be spaced out over a few months, as this one was, as I wait for the leftovers to become available from my other projects.  I like to have quilts like this going because they are a nice break from piecing and they are what I call "mindless sewing".  

What can you do to get ready?  Start putting all your flannel scraps in a box or bin.  If you want to use cotton, that is fine too.  Cut 12 inch squares out of all your left over batting pieces.  If you dont have any that are 12 inch squares, dont worry.  You can join them together by butting them up and using a zig zag stitch.  If you think they feel to flimsy this way, dont worry, you'll be sewing your strips across the zig zag seem which will reinforce that.  Remember this is mindless sewing, no worries!!! 

Happy Quilting!!



Thursday, October 29, 2009

Quilt Along for Beginners - Circles

As promised here is the material list for the Quilt Along for Beginners. In the parenthesis I've listed the fabrics I am using. The finished approximately 52" square. My daughter is making this for herself and she wanted something a bit larger to snuggle up with. If you'd like to make the baby size (47" square) check out Vickie Eapan's material requirements for her Candy Buttons quilt at the Moda Bake shop.


Materials

49 5" squares of your choice (Combination of miscellaneous die cut circles 80 or so)

1 3/4 yard of solid background fabric

2 yards of border fabric (A srappy border -4 different fabrics is an option)

4 yards of backing fabric (Scrappy backing make it 65" square).

1 yard of binding fabric

Batting 65" square


Cutting for your blocks

If you've not purchased your circles pre-cut, you'll need a to cut your 5 inch squares into circles. If you have die cutter, great. If not create a 4" circle template or purchase a premade plastic template. I am kind of lazy when it comes to circles. I bought my circles pre cut. I chose 1930's prints. If you have charms you'd like to use, I suggest you get out your fabric pencil and start tracing circles. Once you've traced them, carefully cut your circles with your rotary cutter. Don't worry if they aren't perfect. That is the beauty of exposed seams. (Don't use a pinking blade!!)

Cut your background fabric into 6.5" squares. Again, if you dont want to do these yourself, I can provide them through my etsy store. I die cut all my 6.5" squares. I have Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton, but can obtain just about any color you'd like. Just email me. You'll need 49 squares. Cut 8 extra if you'd like to make some matching pillows.


Next week, we'll talk about laying out your block and my suggestions for placing your circles.  I suggest post its or a bunch of srap paper you can use to pin to each block so you can keep them in order. 

Sneak Peak


If you have any questions, want to know order squares or know where you can purchase die cut circles, just email me.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

CANTON VILLAGE QUILT WORKS GIVE AWAY

Hey Everyone - Click on over to Canton Village Quilt Works for some give away fun!!!  Follow her instructions and you have 4 chances to win 5 different prizes.  So much fun. 

While you're there check out her Etsy store and pick up some of her Die Cut circles for our quilt along.  I will be posting a supply list along with cutting instructions later today!!


Friday, October 16, 2009

Breast Cancer Rag Quilt - Finished!!!

The commissioned Breast Cancer Rag Quilt is done!!!!  I am hoping that the new recipient is as happy with the outcome as I am.  It is important to remember Rag Quilts will continue to shed with each washing and the fringe will become shabbier and shabbier.  While this only enhances the loveliness of the quilt, you must remember to clean your lint trap frequently during drying!!!

These Rag Quilts are made to order!!!  Each one is unique in that I am constantly adding new Breast Cancer Fabric as well as pinky pinks!!  Since the fabric placement is random, it also gives the added feel of shabby patchwork.






COMING SOON!!
I've nearly completed my sons Strippy Flannel Quilt!!!  Just a few strings and a wash and dry.  This quilt, other than the backing is made completely from leftovers.  Even the batting is leftover pieces!!

Monday, October 5, 2009

Quilts to Finish - 2009 UFO'.s


I need help organizing all my various quilt projects. I have a few commissioned projects to finish with upcoming deadline dates so those are at the top of my list. The rest are subject to change. I will post pics of each individually as I go along and as I finish the tops, quilt them, and then wash them. I will post this list on my sidebar. As I complete quilts I will move them to a newly created finished 2009 quilts heading. 


I am guilty of starting a quilt then starting another before I finish the previous one. I get a thought in my head, then I start a block or two, then I get another thought. This blog will serve the purpose of keeping me on track. I am sure as I go through the UFO's I will find lots more. I have lots of projects cut out and not yet started the sewing part. This is a whole other list and trust me it is probably waaaaaaay longer than this one.

Below is the layout for the Breast Cancer Quilt I will have finished this week.  It is going to be rag style.  There is a mix of flannel and cotton prints with lots of Breast Cancer fabric mixed in with some other pink blocks.  There are 64 blocks in this quilt and it will fnish to 57" square.   I love how shabby these turn out!!




Check back at the end of the week and you'll see the finished quilt, complete with batting and backing!!

Monday, September 28, 2009

What to do with those Endless Flannel Scraps!!!!



I cut lots and lots of flannels squares for backing, batting, and tops of flannel rag quilts and to sell on my ebay store (here is my plug:  http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Beverlie-Boutique-Quilt-Squares  ).  So I always have tons of selvage ends that range from one inch to about three inches.  These little pieces are so fun to make scrappy quilts, which also double as eye spy quilts.  Here is the start of a stacked coin quilt make with my flannel scraps.   I am in the process of quilting it by simply using a wavy stitch down every seam then down the middle of each column.  I find this is the perfect amount of quilting, giving it that ribbon affect.  It helps it retain its softness on the back and the flexibility and cuddleness you'd expect from flannel.

If you are interested in purchasing these scraps, I have small priority boxes available with either boy or girl flannel ends, both solids and prints. Most are 6.5" long and range from one inch to three inches in width.  Each box is more than enough to create alternating columns for a baby quilt in this style.   Just email and let me know.