A Pillowcase Made with Money Fabric

I am not sharing the pattern for making pillowcases, as there are a million out there!  Just Google it.

I stitched french seams.  I love pillowcases with no raw edges on the seams.

It really makes it look nice and neat on the inside.

I did not stitch the line straight for the top stitching on the hem, so I stitched it again and again and again.  Just wiggle lined the top stitching.  Makes for an interesting edge!

I made it for my nephew as part of his graduation gift.

It's folded up and ready to go!

Enjoy your day!

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

How to Create a Scattered Checkered Pattern

Using a Fat Quarter Fabric Set I created a simple table runner and table topper with a scattered pattern.

I created a scattered checkered pattern using a simple method to scatter the squares.

Choose a printed fabric and 3 Quilter's Blenders fat quarters.

Orange, Yellow, and Blue (Fat Quarters) and Hot Peppers Print 29" X 19".  This Fabric Set is available by email - While Supplies last.  
Super Sale Only $6.50 plus shipping (US $5.20 - Flat Rate Envelope- too heavy to weigh - but more than one set will fit in the Envelope for the $5.20) Marcia@craftysewing.com.  
You can also hop over to the Facebook Fabric Destash Page and bid or buy other colorful fat quarter fabric sets. Request to join the Destash Page -- It is free to list fabrics and you can bid and buy all you want!

Let's get started:

Press the fat quarters and the print.
  
Lay them on top of each other and cut the strips all at once.  Cut the strips 3 inches wide.  You should be able to get six 3 inch strips across the 18 inch side of the fat quarter.  Then length of the strips will be 21 inches long. If your fat quarters are not 18 inches -- then make your strips just a little less than 3 inches -- like 2 7/8" or even 2 3/4"  --- just as long as you make them all the same width and later when you make the cross cut you need to make it 2 7/8" instead of 3".

Randomly sew the strips together --- do not make a pattern or sew them in any order. First in sets of 2 and then 4 and then 6 and then 8.  

Press the strips and then you are ready to cross cut the strips at 3" wide or 2 7/8".  

Randomly sew the strips together --- sometimes I even lay them out and flip them around to see how it looks before I sew.  You may have to stagger them or even take a square off on the end to make them line up.  It is OK to have two colors together, but it it bothers you move them around.

Remember the print was larger than a fat quarter.  You could use two prints and you could use more than three quilter's blenders.  More colors - more scattered!

Another fun project that is simple and easy to make!

You could add borders to the runner and the topper to make them larger.

Remember to take time to play!
Marcia

Wordless Wednesday - Gabby and Toby All Cuddled Up in My Quilt Again...

Linked with Wordless Wednesday - Blog Paws.

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!!!

When I am not Quilting... I am Sewing... and I am Weaving!

Sometimes I make other sewing projects other than quilts!!! During the past two weeks my mom and I made 16 woven baskets!!! They are called Biscuit Baskets. First we were at a quilting retreat and worked on them for 3 solid days. Then we came home and I quilted for my business in the mornings and we worked on the baskets together in the afternoons and evenings up til the Eve of Thanksgiving. It was a fun project to do together! I cut the strips and stitched them. Mom turned them right side out and fed the heavy stiff interfacing into each strip. Then I pressed each strip and started the weaving process -- which this is where I added my own step of Zig Zag stitching the base of the basket before weaving the sides of the baskets. I did a lot of pinning to hold the fabric strips as a wove the strips and then stitched on the binding. I again used a Zig Zag stitch to finish the edge of the binding (an all machine stitched binding).

Biscuit Basket is the name of the pattern. See the picture with the information. I made a few changes as I made the baskets. I stitched the bottom of each basket with a Zig Zag stitch to hold the strips in place before weaving. I also used a 3 inch strip for the binding. The changes made the binding and weaving process easier. This is a link to all the pictures of the baskets.

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!!

Quilts in my Garden

Quilts in my Garden ---- Make a "Quilt Like" Cover for your hanging planters for next year! All of the simple instructions FREE under each picture in the Photo Gallery under "Quilts in the Garden" direct link to my photo gallery --- Just follow along and make... your own "Quilt Like" Cover! Feel free to share it with your friends too!