Do you have fabric you just can't cut?

I bought a yard of this fabric and I just could not cut into it. I decided to make what I call a "panel quilt". 

I cut some purple cloud fabric for the borders.

I stitched on the borders with the clouds facing in on the top and the sides.

I love this fabric - "My Heart always come home to you"

 It reminds me of how important my family is to me. We are all going to be together soon and in my home.

I quilted it with two color Ribbon Quilting. I selected zinnia and a soft blue for the thread colors.

I quilted the words:  "A Quilt for Grandmama's Grand baby 2013".  This will be a quilt I will keep at my house for my Grand baby.  

It will be a quilt for Grandmama and baby to cuddle up in! Yes, I will let others cuddle with him too!  For sure Grandpapa!

I selected a super soft blue fabric for the backing of the quilt.

Oh my! I can not wait to cuddle up!

I used an 80/20 (Cotton/Poly) Batting.

I attached the binding with an all machine embroidery stitching.  A soft purple was the perfect choice for the thread on the binding.

Flipped the back to the front so you can see both sides.

I know babies don't use quilts or blankets in the crib any more, but I just had to see what it looked like in the crib!

I am ready to have my Grandbaby come to visit. I only have a couple more days to wait!

Last week, I got out the nursery rhyme books.

 I started reading them to the baby on Skype. 

They are the ones that my Mom read to me when I was a baby and that I read to my children. 

I can't wait to read them to my Grand baby all cuddled up in my Grandmama's Quilt.

I even cleaned up some stuffed toys. We are going to have so much fun.

Plus, I am making some little stuffed toys using my quilting fabric. I will share them with you soon.

Enjoy!
Marcia

Hodgepodge Patchwork Tuesday - It's a Charming Midnight Blues!

When I first started writing Hodgepodge Patchwork Tuesday, I wrote them at night after Taco Tuesday.  I should have probably named them Hodgepodge Patchwork Wednesday, because I didn't finish writing them until later on Tuesday night.  Tacos must inspire me!  We didn't go out for Tacos tonight, but I am inspired to write. 

I am always looking for simple construction ideas to make really cool looking quilts.  This summer, I made this quilt top using fat quarters, but I cut them into 5 inch squares - charms.  I named the quilt "Midnight Blues".

I used 3 shades of blues - light, medium, and dark and 2 golds and a blue and gold star fabric.  Since I started with fat quarters, I really don't know how many charms I used for the quilt top. 

First, I mixed up the 5 inch squares and sewed them together in random order into long strips. You could do them in an order or a pattern, but I like the randomness it creates.

I moved them around, so the same colors weren't together, like in the photo.

Then I staggered them.

Next I cut several 1 1/2 inch strips in a coordinating color. I chose the lighter gold.

Then I sewed the strips in between each row.

Press/Iron.

Then trim off the offset ends that are sticking out!

I bordered it with the same gold on the top and on the bottom - sorry no photo. But you know what I mean - right? You can see the sides in this photo.

That is it.  Fun and simple and it looks cool!

This would work great for a charm pack of many colors.  I also think an I-Spy Quilt would be cool in this pattern!  It would be a great pattern for a beginner - no matching!

Remember to take time to play!
Enjoy!
Marcia

Panel Quilts with SHORT backing fabric!

So you bought a beautiful panel of fabric with matching backing fabric (maybe it was a kit), but the backing fabric is the same size as the front and it is not big enough for a long arm quilter to pin and clamp onto the rollers, so what do you do?

Add fabric strips! Here's how to do that.

Press/Iron your backing fabric and then make sure it is straight. Trim the uneven sides to make it a perfect rectangle?

Then add long strips at least 5 to 6 inches wide to all four sides. Use a small tight stitch to sew/attach the strips to the sides of your backing fabric. Make sure they are straight and even also.

Press/Iron again, so your seam allowances are pressed towards the strip not the backing fabric.

That's it! So simple!

You can do this with almost any backing fabric that is large enough to cover the back of your quilt, but not large enough for your long arm quilter. When you have a larger quilt like a full size quilt your backing fabric needs to be at least a couple inches bigger than the back and then you can add strips. When in doubt, email or call your long arm quilter.








More information on Backing Fabrics:
In my quilting shop I carry several extra wide backing fabrics from a quilter's blenders in at least a dozen colors to bleached & unbleached muslin to tye dyes and floral color tones to solid dark backing fabrics. Most are 108" inches wide. You can order online thru' my website at Extra Wide Backing Fabric Page. There is a listing of most of the fabrics available.

Photos of Backing fabrics in the Photo Gallery. Click on any of the photos and it will take you to the complete photo gallery.

Any questions feel free to email me at Marcia@craftysewing.com.

Project Quilting Season 2 Challenge One Primary Colors

Need something quilt inspiring this winter? This is it!!



Project Quilting Season 2 Challenge One Primary Colors

Click on the link AND Check it out! It just started yesterday -- you can do it too!! No sign up ! Just read the challenge and try it -- Use what you have in fabric and supplies if not go shopping !!! ---- if you like it --- Enter it -- even if you don't like it--- Enter it! You are entering a photo of your quilt. It is so easy!! Bonus: There are cool quilting prizes!!!

Great Gifts for everyone on your list --- Bright Note Cards FREE SHIPPING

Brightly colored quilted photo note cards with blank insides... and plain envelopes. Great gift to give to a friend or use as a stocking stuffer! All occasion! Premium quality!

Available to purchase at www.craftysewing.com with a credit card or your paypal account.

Three note cards in one package for only $6.00. Sold in packs of three assorted or three all one design.

Or send a check or money order to Marcia Wachuta 41826 Cty Rd W, Boscobel, WI 53805

FREE Shipping on order of any size in the continental United States!!

Quilt that was featured in the Quilting Video

This is the colorful quilt that was featured in the Quilting Video. 
 The pattern is "The Easy to Sew Quilt Pattern." 
 It is available for purchase on my website.




This unique quilt looks different every time you make it! See examples in my photo gallery of quilts and quilting. Easy to read and follow. This pattern makes sewing and quilting fun again!

Three Easy to Sew Quilts -- All from different lines of fabrics....

Quilts will be on display at LouAnn's Quilt Garden in Oelwein, Iowa later today, October 4, 2010.

.... Just choose a line of fabric and stitch it up!!! Using The Easy to Sew Pattern... it will guide you thru' how to choose the fabric and how to sew this easy quilt! Sewing made fun again!


Linda Kowalski made the brown and yellow quilt and I quilted it with vertical wavy lines. Deb Czech made the pink and green quilt. I chose to quilt it with overall swirls. I made the blue and yellow quilt and quilted it with a two color ribbon quilting and double daisies. All using the same Easy to Sew Quilt pattern, with different lines of fabrics .... The pattern makes it so simple!! ..... Choose a focus fabric for the center sections of the block and then add a light, medium and two dark fabrics.... choose some with a little texture. The possibilities are endless!! Add a wider border on the outside or add two or three borders to make the quilt larger. Choosing a whole line of fabric makes it easy! 


See several photos of the Easy to Sew Quilts at the Photo Gallery at www.craftysewing.com Lots of close ups too!

Black & White EXTRA Wide Backing Fabric (108" wide)

Black & White EXTRA Wide Backing Fabric (108" wide) 100 % cotton. Click here to place your order for the Black or the White backing fabric. You can use it on the back of a quilt as it is 108" inches wide. 


 You can use it to piece a beautiful black and white quilt top. 



Or have it quilted with one fabric on each side --- makes a wonderful comforter/bedspread! 
You can make a king sized comforter 108" by 120"!




Only $12.00 a yard!!!  Very reasonable shipping!
30 Extra Wide Fabrics available and in stock.

The Easy to Sew Quilt Pattern available today!

The Easy to Sew Quilt Pattern is available starting today for only $8.00 and FREE SHIPPING for the month of March!!! This unique quilt looks different every time you make it! Your quilts will be crafty, unique, and creative! One of a kind! You can make it in any size from as small as a hot pad, place mat, or table runner to as large as a full, or queen, or king size quilt size! You can use new fabric or you can use up your scraps! It is a simple way to learn how to be crafty and creative! This pattern makes sewing and quilting fun!!!
Mail check or Money Order of $8.00 per pattern to: Marcia Wachuta, 41826 Cty Rd W, Boscobel, WI 53805. Order one for a friend too --- I will mail it directly to them with a gift card from you! Free gift card and FREE Shipping! Make sewing and quilting fun again for everyone!!!

See previous post for full size picture of a lap sized quilt.



Current update:  You can order online here.