Quilted Patriotic Star Pillow

Throw pillows are a quick and easy way to update your seasonal decor.  This one is perfect for the summer holidays - Memorial Day, Flag Day, 4th of July - but you could also make it with alternate colors for other holidays as well. It has four Sawtooth star blocks made from four fat quarters for the front (you could also easily use scraps for the stars) and finishes at around 18" square.  If you'd like to make one like mine, I'll link to the fabrics at the bottom of this post.  Here's how to make it:

MATERIALS NEEDED

Stars - (2) red fat quarters and (2) blue fat quarters (or scraps)

Background - 1/3 yd. cream or low volume print

Pillow back - gray fat quarter for solid pillow back OR 5/8 yd gray for envelope back

20" Square of fusible or thin batting

18" pillow insert or stuffing

10" design board (optional but helpful for piecing the stars)

CUTTING

From each red and blue fabric - 

Cut (1) 4.5" square

 Cut (8) 2.5" squares

From cream background fabric-

Cut (2) 2.5" x 20" strips and subcut into (16) 2.5" squares 

Cut (2) 4.5" x 20" strips and subcut into (16) 2.5" x 4 1/2" rectangles

Cut (2) 1.5" x 18.5" strips (not shown)

Cut (2)  1.5" x 16.5" strips (not shown)

MAKE STAR BLOCKS

For each star block:

Points - Make four "Flying Geese" units using the sew-and-flip method as shown: 

Layout block like this.

Sew left sides to middles.

Sew right sides to the middles.

Press in the direction of the arrows.

Sew top, middle and bottom rows together, press seams open.

SEW PILLOW TOP TOGETHER

Sew blocks together, press, then sew 1.5" x 16.5" border strips on sides.  Press side strips outward, then sew 1.5" x 18.5" strips to top and bottom.  Press those outward.

  

Fuse or baste your pillow front to your batting.  I didn't feel the need to add a backing layer because it wouldn't be seen and quilted just fine.  I quilted horizontal lines using a narrow stretch zigzag stitch approx. 3/4" apart.  

Trim square (it will have "shrunk" a little to around 18-18.25" due to the quilting) 

For solid pillow back - from your pillow back fabric, cut a square the same size as the front, pin and sew around all four sides leaving a 12" opening at the bottom.  Turn right sides out, stuff with pillow form or stuffing and whipstitch closed.  

For envelope back - cut two pieces 24" x the width of your pillow (for example 24" x 18").  On each piece, fold one shorter side under 1" and press, then turn 1" again and press, and sew seam across the fold.

Place one of the pieces at the top of the pillow matching corners and raw edges (sewn edge will be toward the middle), pin in place.  

Place the other piece at the bottom of the pillow matching corners and raw edges (sewn edge toward the middle and overlapping the top piece).  Pin in place and sew all 4 outside seams. 

Turn right sides out and insert pillow form.  Here's how the back will look finished:  

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial and make one for yourself!  

As promised, here are links to the fabrics that I used:

Fat-quarter bundle for Stars and pillow back (if making solid pillow back)

Cream text fabric for background

Gray tulip fabric for envelope pillow back

 

Easy Panel Tote Bag Tutorial

I love totes, they're so handy to throw your stuff into while running errands or taking a trip.  At 14.5" H x 15" W, this bag is just the right size for carrying your papers, books, tablet, or whatever stitching project you're working on. When I saw this panel from Lori Holt's Flea Market collection, I just knew it would make a cute bag!

I lined the tote with fabric and fusible interfacing to give it some body.  It's washable and reversible too. It's easy to make, I'll show you how. 

What you'll need:

• Bag front & back (and optional inside pocket) - one "applique" panel from the Flea Market collection by Riley Blake (or other cotton panel that would look good with (2) 16" squares cut out for the front and back), or 1/2 yard of fabric 
• Interfacing - 1 Yard Pellon medium-weight fusible
• Lining - 1/2 Yard coordinating cotton fabric (I used the text print from Flea Market)
• Handles - 1/4 Yard coordinating cotton fabric (I used the red check from Flea Market
• Lining of pocket (optional) - Scrap of light-colored fabric (you may have enough bag lining fabric for this

I suggest prewashing your fabrics so that they won't shrink while adhering the fusible interfacing (you'll be using steam to fuse it to the fabric).

CUT:  

(2) 16" square sections from the panel (or yardage) for the bag front and back.  (You may have to tug on the corners a bit to get the panel square.)

(2) 16" squares from the fusible interfacing

(2) 16" squares from the lining fabric

(2) 4" x 25" strips from the handle fabric 

(2) 2" x 25" strips from fusible interfacing (it's ok to piece shorter lengths together, overlap two ends together slightly and zigzig stitch) 

Optional pocket:  Cut one small "applique" square and one lining piece the same size

Fuse one 16" interfacing square to the back of each 16" panel square following manufacturer's instructions.

SEW:

Pin and sew fused panel squares right sides together along sides and bottom using a 3/8" seam allowance.  Sew another seam between that seam and the edges for added strength.

If you want boxed corners, fold bottom corners as shown, then draw a 2" line across the top of the "triangle", sew on that line.  Trim corners if desired (I didn't). 

Turn bag right sides out and press seams to one side.  

For handles:  Fuse a 2" x 25" strip of interfacing to the wrong side of each strap piece down the middles,  Fold in 1" on each of the long sides, press.  Fold in half lengthwise, press.  Topstitch on each side of both straps. 

Attach ends of each handle to top edges of front and back of bag (handles facing down), centered, 5" apart. Baste in place.

For optional pocket:  Sew small applique square to matching lining square, right sides together.  Sew 1/4" seam all around, leaving 3" open at bottom for turning.  Clip corners, turn right sides out.  Turn raw edges of opening under, pin and sew closed.  Press.  Center the pocket on the right side of one lining piece, pin and sew along the sides and bottom close to edges.

Sew the two lining pieces together along sides and bottom using a 3/8" seam allowance and leaving a 6" opening along bottom edge.  Box bottom corners like for the bag.  Press seams to one side.  Leaving wrong sides of lining out, fit over bag right sides together, matching raw edges at the top.  Pin and sew 1" seam along the top raw edges. 

Turn right sides out through opening.  Turn raw edges of opening under, pin and sew closed.  Push lining into bag.  Topstitch 3/4" along the top edge of bag.  Enjoy!

Stacy

Fabrics used are from Lori Holt's Flea Market collection by Riley Blake available here in my shop

LIttle Fabric Trays

I made a bunch of these little fabric trays to give to friends at a quilt retreat a few weeks ago, and everyone loved them.  They're fun little gifts to make that just take a few minutes, and they look so cute holding pins, clips or whatever.  I use mine for holding a small pin magnet (which got a cute slipcover to match).

 

I used A Spoonful of Sugar's easy tutorial, only making two small changes - I used two regular charm squares instead of linen and lawn fabrics, and closed the corners by machine instead of hand-stitching with embroidery floss.  Embroidery floss does add a nice touch, I just needed them done in a hurry.

These would also be fun to give out with a few treats like wrapped chocolates or cookies.  Let me know in the comments what other ideas you have for them.   

Quick & Easy Christmas Table Runner Tutorial

Now that the leftovers have been eaten and the dishes put away, it's time to get sewing for Christmas. 🎄  And since some of that sewing will be for gifts, I've come up with a quick and easy table runner that would make a great gift (think neighbor, teacher, gift exchange, hostess gift).  It uses 16-patch blocks and can be made in just about any color scheme (I made this one using Little Joys).  I quilted mine with a simple serpentine stitch using my walking foot, but you could quilt it even faster using a free-motion foot.  Great for scraps or leftover 10" squares.  Let's get started: 

Materials needed:

• Total of (32) 5" squares (2 each of 16 different prints - you can repeat if necessary)
• 1/4 yard fabric for binding
• 1/2 yard fabric for backing
• 18" x 34" piece of thin batting 

Block size: 8" finished
Finished size: 16.5" x 32"

For each of the eight blocks - take a set of two matching squares and team up with a different set of two matching squares.  You will now have 8 sets of 4 squares.  Keep sets together.

Take each set and cut squares in half: 

Each set will now have eight 2.5" x 5" strips (4 of each color).  For each set, take a strip, and lay an opposite color strip on top (right sides together) and sew on the long side to make a strip unit: 

Repeat for remaining strips in each set (you should have 4 strip units for each set). Press the seams to the darker side, or open.  Now take each strip unit and cut in half:

Make a 4-patch by taking one cut half, flipping it around, pinning and sewing to other half.  Repeat for all strip units.

Lay out each set of 4-patches, and sew together to make eight 16-patch blocks.  Wait to press.

Arrange your blocks 2 down and 4 across.  To make sewing easier, press each block the opposite way of its neighbor.   Sew blocks together.  Do a final press.

Layer your top (right side up), batting, and backing (right side down).  Quilt as desired.  (I quilted mine going diagonally in one direction with a large serpentine stitch.)  Trim sides even, making sure corners are nice and square.

Prepare binding and attach using your favorite method.  I like to finish my binding by machine - here is a good tutorial if you need one. 

This table runner can be made larger, or quilt-size just by making more blocks.  Forty-eight (arranged 6x8) would make a nice throw size quilt - 48"x64"). 

Fabrics used:  Little Joys by Elea Lutz/Riley Blake

Fabric Pumpkin Finish

Happy October!  In the desert southwest, we pretty much live for this time of year. 

The other day, I was putting out some fall decorations, and realized I didn't have any actual "pumpkin" decorations.  So I searched and found this tutorial and made one up.

 It was so easy and probably took less than an hour.   Here's what I used:

• A 9" x 21" piece of orange floral fabric (half of a fat quarter works great)
• Scraps of green dot fused together with Heat-n-Bond 
• Craft stuffing, cream-colored crochet thread, piece of jute, 1/2" x 2" stick, cookie cutter for leaf shape, glue  

I just love it and plan on making more in other sizes.  A display with several would be fun.  

Finished size:  Approx. 6"W x 3 1/2"H (not inc. stem)  

Fabrics used in project are from the Fig Tree Farmhouse collection by Moda
 

Strawberry Biscuit Blog Hop Here Today!

 
Welcome to my stop on the Strawberry Biscuit blog hop!  Oh my goodness - have you seen all the adorable projects being made with Elea Lutz's new collection?  Quilts, bags, kitchen accessories, baskets, pillows, skirts and even dolls.

I love the happy colors and sweet motifs of this vintage-y collection (I mean, how could you not?), and since they are the colors in my sewing space, I thought baskets to hold sewing supplies would be fun to make.       

I made three sizes so they could hold a variety of items like threads, scraps, notions, leftover binding, leaders & enders, you get the idea.

small

medium

large

For the inside of the largest, I used this pink print which has sweet little animals playing together.

There are MANY good tutorials available for fabric baskets, but this one is the most similar to the method I used.  It's basically like making a pouch without the zipper, and adding handles.  I used Pellon fusible batting ironed to the outside instead of interfacing.  Quilting would have added a nice touch and more stiffness.    

Because I loved the gray floral so much, and because my other phone case was getting a little ragged, I used some scraps to make myself a new one. 

I made the case so my phone would be snug, added a loop for my house key, and used the selvage to give it a cute tag.  Now when I go for a walk, I just grab my phone and go.  For a quick trip to the store, I can also tuck in my license and debit card. It even garnered a compliment from my teenage son. *smile* If anyone is interested in a tutorial, let me know in the comments and I'll get one done. 

I hope you enjoyed your stop.  Thank you Elea and Penny Rose for allowing me to participate!  For more inspiration, go check out the next stops on the hop:

28 April - Megan of Sew Style Love (@dollyhenryau)

28 April - Kimberly of Fat Quarter Shop (@fatquartershop) 

29 April - Christa of Cotton Berry Quilts (@cottonberryquilts)

29 April - Elea of Elea Lutz Design (@elealutz)

 

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