Dogwood Quilt Block and December Free Quilt Block Patterns

 

"Friends are threads of gold in the quilt of life."

 

Greetings Quilter -

This week the Stack and Whack quilt blocks were machine quilted. I tried a couple of different designs, and settled in on the one shown on the right - mostly because it was easy to quilt and have it look relatively nice.

Much of the fabric in this quilt is somewhat busy and any intricate machine quilting would get lost.

I tried a circular design, but the block ended up looking like a potholder, so I ripped it all out - highly unusual for me to rip out quilting stitches - and tried something else.

I used colored chalk from my mechanical chalk to mark the quilting lines, and you can still see the chalk. It will wear out in very short order.

Coming up this week, I will stitch blocks together using a Quilt as You Go technique. I haven't quite decided whether I will use sashing between the blocks, and will decide once I get started sewing them together.

Stay tuned. I'll have an update next week!

Rosie has set aside some of the same Layer Cake Fabric for us, so if you are interested in using the same fabric, please contact her:

Rosie at Rosie's Calico Cupboard - rozgonzalez@cox.net

We'd love to see you in www.TheQuiltingCoach.com for this project - it's really fun!

Machine Quilting on the Stack and Whack quilt blocks

And now for the rest of the news - -

Happy Quilting!

 

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Using this Easy-to-Follow DVD Mentor,
Your Quilt as You Go Project Will be
a Beautiful Family Heirloom.

Sew it on the run, while you are waiting for an appointment,
or in the comfort of your home,
your Quilt as You Go project will be finished before you know it.

 

Have you ever taken a long car trip, gone on a cruise, or had a bunch of appointments and wished that you had a portable quilting project?

Now you can learn how to make a quilt one block at a time while you are traveling, waiting, or just because you want to make it that way.

Quilt as You Go projects are easy and fun. And because you finish one block at a time, you can machine quilt the blocks without having to deal with the bulk of the quilt in your home sewing machine.

This is the technique I am using for the Stack and Whack quilt!

Read more - - -

 

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BOOK OF THE MONTH – Cozy Modern Quilts by Kim Schaefer

Kim Schaefer knows cozy and quilting. The author of 2007’s “A Cozy Quilted Christmas” has now published “Cozy Modern Quilts.” The book, now available at your favorite bookstore or craft shop, was published by C&T Publishing in November. The book generally retails for about $20.

In the book, Schaefer offers patterns for 23 different cozy – yet contemporary – quilts that will complement any décor. The book contains various sizes for the patterns included so you may create wall quilts, lap quilts, table runners and placemats.

With a few adjustments, you can use the patterns as inspiration for other home décor items like throw pillows, valances for window treatments, even holiday items like tree skirts and stockings!

The best part about the patterns included in this book is that they are made up of easy-to-stitch, straight line pieces. There are no tricky measurements or bias edges with which to concern yourself.

The book also explains color choices and how to confidently make those choices to help you create quilts to reflect different contemporary moods.

The big message of this book is that the straight lines associated with modern and contemporary design elements can still be cozy. The lines don’t have to be hard. The quilts in “Cozy Modern Quilts” are made from squares and rectangles, but make a soft, cozy statement. Even if you are not typically a fan of the contemporary style, you will find something that appeals to you in this book.

This is the second book that Schaefer has published this year. In March, her book “Flower Festival: 50 Appliqué Blocks to Grow Your Garden” was released. The book contains blocks to make nine complete quilts. It features flower designs, naturally, but also contains some super cute bug designs (especially for lady bug fans).

Schaefer has published several other quilting books as well. In 2008, she created “Quilts, Bibs, Blankies...Oh My! Create Your Own Cute & Cuddly Nursery.” These projects use appliqué for adorable baby quilts, bibs, growth charts and more. This book can help you create an entire nursery of quilted appliqué projects! She has also authored “Flowering Quilts: 16 Charming Folk Art Projects to Decorate Your Home.” That book was published in 2006.

Schaefer is also a fabric designer and owns her own quilting company, Little Country Quilts. She studied textiles and fibers at the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee and was given a wonderful opportunity to learn weaving from Indians while pursuing her college studies.  She joined the Tarascan Indians in the mountains of Mexico. She learned their centuries old weaving techniques.

Schaefer’s studies of textiles and design, experience in quilting design and writing instructions make her quilt books very valuable resources. If you want to create contemporary quilts, you will no doubt find very valuable information in her newest quilting book. For more information about Schafer’s quilting books or fabric designs, see her website, www.littlequiltcompany.com.

Her latest book is also available at popular online book retailers like amazon.com and just might be on the shelf of your favorite local bookstore.

 

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Quilting Tip - Thread

Matching or contrasting thread, which is best?

 

King Tut thread from Superior Threads is excellent thread for quilting

A:  Like so many other things about quilting, it depends….

For sewing patches together, I usually use white or black thread.  Black only if all of the fabric in the quilt is dark.  For everything else, I use white. 

You could spend your life changing thread for each block, or using two different colors – one for the top and the other for the bobbin.  Unless you press your seams open (which I don’t recommend too often), the thread won’t show, so I make it easy, and just use the same color all the time.

For quilting, if you would like your stitches to show, use contrasting thread.  If you want the pattern to show, but not necessarily the individual stitches, then use matching thread. Variegated threads are fun to use as well.

It’s ok to use many different colors of thread in one quilt, too.  Several years ago, Stephanie and I started making a quilt together.  It’s a story for another day how it all happened that way, but regardless, it’s all layered and being quilted. 

Well, it’s been “being quilted” for a few years now.  But that’s not the story.  The story is that for this quilt, we decided (or maybe I decided) to use different color thread in each block.  There are metallic threads, and adding some sparkle to the already bright quilt. 

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Postcard Quilts for the Troops

Valentines' Day Roundup Next - Deadline January 21!

 

If you missed the deadline to send Christmas fabric postcards to Penny’s Postcard Posse, you can still participate in the next roundup.

Our next big holiday is Valentine’s Day 2010. The deadline for submitting your cards is January 21, 2010. That means you have more than a month to work on them and get them sent in!

If you have never participated in Penny’s Postcard Posse, here’s what we do. We collect the fabric postcards you make and send in and distribute them to the men and women protecting our countries in the military. It’s admittedly a small contribution in comparison to the time they spend away from their families to protect the quality of life we enjoy. It’s a way quilters can share their love of the craft to brighten a soldier’s day.

For Valentine's Day 2007, the Postcard Posse sent 217 postcards to Canadian troops stationed in Afghanistan. By Christmas 2008 quilters sent in more than 2,200 postcards that were forwarded troups to the Middle East. All in all, more than7,300 postcard sized quilts have been sent to soldiers abroad.

During the year end holidays, take a few minutes to make a card or two. And to get you started, download a package of free Heart Quilt Block patterns. These are full size patterns that can easily be made into small fabric postcards.

The directions are very easy. You’ll find free designs to get you started at www.fabric-postcards.com.

You'll find tons of free fabric postcard patterns at: www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com

Please send your cards to:
Diane Malaznik
14215 Westmore St.
Livonia, MI 48154-4149

 

Diane is doing a fabulous job keeping the pictures updated, and if you have sent cards in, let your friends and family know that they can see pictures of them here: www.Fabric-Postcards.com

Remember you can get FREE postcard patterns at: www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com

Special Note - we are in the process of changing the Picture Gallery on the Fabric-Postcards.com site. It may take a few days, so bear with us. Not to worry - We have all of the pictures and will get everything squared away soon.

 

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Featured Block in Video - Dogwood Quilt Block

 

This Dogwood quilt block would make a fabulous Friendship Block or a block featuring a favorite photo.

It is easy to sew together, and can be made in any color.

Visit www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com to see other quilt block videos and get free patterns, including free fabric postcard patterns for Penny's Postcard Posse.

Enjoy!

 

Download the Dogwood Quilt Block Pattern

 

 

 

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December Quilt Block Patterns

The December selection of free quilt block patterns includes a variety of 4 patch quilt blocks, ranging from the easy to make to some that are a little more complex.

Click here to download your December FREE quilt block patterns

Crazy House	Dogwood	Empire Cross	Indian Hatchet
Lily Palm	Mayflower	Old Star	Rock of Ages
	Rose Mosaic	Steps to the Altar

Click here to download your December FREE quilt block patterns