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?

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!!

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.

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!!

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!!

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!!

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.

Quilt Along for Beginners!!!

I will be posting a supply list for a Quilt Along for Beginners!  If you'd like to sign up, just email me and I will add your name to the side wall.  What are we making you ask???  It will be a modification of the Candy Buttons Quilt on the Moda Bake Shop designed by Vickie Eapan.  You can take a look at it here http://www.modabakeshop.com/2009/07/candy-buttons-quilt.html.  I will be posting a list of supplies this weekend with pictures so you can see EXACTLY what I am blogging about.  We will NOT be making yo-yo's but if you'd like to add them on your own, that is your preference.

My daughter, who is learning to quilt, will be making the same exact quilt.  We will post a new step every Saturday, complete with lots of step by step pictures.  There will be so many pics you'll think I am silly, but I want you all to know exactly what you need to do.  I know sometimes when you look at tutorials or patterns you may have a hard time figuring how to get from A to B.  I am going to try to eliminate the confusion.

You will need some cirlces and squares.  If you'd like to buy these pre-cut you may go to an etsy store Canton Village Quilt Works  http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5962226.  She will make you whatever size circles you need.  Dont be shy to ask for other fabrics than what she has posted.  I myself bought a variety of circles.  I will not be centering them on the blocks so I thought the different sizes would lend to this style.  It will also make it easier for my daughter to sew.  You will also need 6.5" white (or another color) squares.  I have these available in my ebay store http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Beverlie-Boutique-Quilt-Squares__W0QQ_armrsZ1.  I can do them in any color of Kona Cotton you'd like.  You may also be able to get them form Canton Village Quilt Works as well.  You'll need at least 36 a few more if you'd like to be on the safe side.

That's it for now!!  Happy shopping!!  Let me know what kind of circles you'll be doing.  I went with the 1930's prints.  My fave... reminds me of the quilt my great grandmother made for me.

Brick Wall Flannel and Minky Quilt Top

This is an extremely cuddable flannel and minky quilt made from my rag quilt leftovers.  I LOVE leftovers sometimes they are yummier than the original quilt!! There are 120 "bricks" in this quilt. The pattern is random.  Each brick is made by taking a 6.5 inch block, then halving it.  I chain piece seven bricks lengthwise, creating 12 strips.  Then I take 8 bricks and half those.  I put 1/2 of a brick at opposing ends, alternating from one strip to the next.  So all the odd numbered strips (looking at them horizontally) may have the half brick on the right and all the even may have it on left. Then all that is left to do is sew the strips together. 

I have completed this quilt a couple of different ways.  I have backed it with anti pill fleece envelope style, then top stitched the edge.  When I back it this way, I generally sew free motion small circles or a girls may have rag quilt hearts, randomly placed, stitching through the top and fleece back.

Another way I have finished this quilt top is traditionally with batting and flannel backing then wavy stitching down the center of each brick, ribbon style or a for a boy I have quilted 1/4 from each seam. 


The approximate finished size of this quilt is 42"x44". So it makes a nice baby quilt or a cozy throw.  It is very simple and forgiving for beginners because you don't have any seams to match up.

So collect all those leftover rag quilt squares, separating for girl and boy or collect 10 sets of 12 squares. You can easily compete this quilt from beginning to end in a weekend or even a day.  It makes a great last minute baby shower present or for a charity blanket.  Because the pattern is random you dont have to lay any blocks out.  The more of a variety you have, the better.  This one I've pictured, I tried to stay with blues, yellows and creams.

I will provide you with a tutorial in the next couple of weeks.  I have a girl brick wall quilt ready to be pieced, including some rag quilt hearts.

My Daughter Learns to Quilt

I will not be reporting on my daughters progress for a bit.  Her machine is not feeling well :(.  We are dropping it off at the Sewing doc's tomorrow for treatment.  Lets hope the repair is not too costly. 

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I will be documenting my 9 year old daughters progress as she learns to quilt.  I will show you how I am teaching her, what works for her and what doesnt, and you will see her quilts.  Her first few quilts were rag quilts, security size, which she sold on ebay.  She is making these to help her become more familiar with the sewing machine and all its stitches. 

Please feel free to let me know your opinions and criticisms.  If you have an idea to help make something easier or patterns that are simple and quick.  Quick is very important for her.  She likes results.  

Olivia - 9 years old

Here is her FIRST QUILT:

Quilt Bloggin Newbie

Well, I have finally decided to start my own quilting blog. I have wanted to do this for a number of years. I am such of fan of the quilting blogs. They are a great resource for ideas, fabric choices, color selection, etc. Please be patient. I am sure there will be a learning curve for me.

Pictured above is a Breast Cancer Rag Quilt made from 16 different fabrics. There is a mix of flannels and cottons. I love the fringe of the exposed seams. Babies love these rag quilts too. The fringe provides an interesting texture for them.

Please check out my etsy store for rag quilting supplies and other charm packs or fabric. http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5548627

Thanks - Be back soon!!!!