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!!!

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.