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Can’t wait to stitch these patterns together with you!!!! Tutorials coming soon!
As Quilters we love to make patriotic quilts to cherish the things we value most! One of my most favorite things to celebrate is my love for nation and home.
In Philadelphia, Betty Ross stitched the flag during the 1700’s and we are still celebrating it today. She stitched it together at great risk but did so to unite the people of the colonies. I loved visiting Betsy Ross’ home in Philadelphia!
Today our American flag has changed with the adding of 50 states. As quilters, we get to follow that tradition by Betsy Ross. I love to study the way sewing celebrates our American heritage.
Bargello Flag Quilt made with a simple strip quilting method.
On this Bargello Flag Quilt is embroidered the Star Spangled Banner in a wave movement.
Bargello Flag Quilt embellished with buttons. It took me a long time to collect enough different star buttons for this quilt. It looks like I lost a couple star buttons. I like the random nature of the star button. The quilting helps the envision the movement of the waving flag. One of my most favorite patriotic memorials in is Baltimore at Fort McHenry, as it really helps you appreciate the flag and the Star Spangled Banner.
I love how the Americana Flag stands out with the toile historic fabric around it.
This is a quick quilt that I put together to use a special collection of 911 fabric printed in 2002.
I opened my Stitches Quilting in 2002, so this was one of the first deliveries of fabric I received at my store.
I used a beautiful home dec fabric from Moda as the backing of the quilt. I quickly sold out of both the 911 fabric and Moda Home Dec Fabric. Our sweet little family was entering a new phase of life and I enjoyed embroidering our family’s names on this sweet picnic quilt.
Well these were some fun photographs for today’s patriotic post. Tomorrow will be a post about more patriotic decor, history and celebration.
How do you celebrate your patriotism? I haven’t had to make personal sacrifices for this country but I revere and love all that do. Do you quilt to celebrate the American Flag? What things have you made? What have been your most cherished items to make? What are some of your favorite historical American places to visit?
When watching an ocean sunrise, we relish and hopefully memorize every moment! It’s intoxicating to feel the cool breeze with your toes in the sand, while deeply breathing the salty air. It is mind boggling to reflect on how the land, sea and sky can be both powerful and peaceful at the same time. We can only quietly watch as the evolving timed colorful masterpiece quietly disappears as quickly as it appeared. Don’t you just love to quietly sit there enjoying the live beauty and allow our minds to break from the hustle of worldly needs?
We don’t all have the privilege to live by the ocean, but when I am by the ocean, I try to memorize these moments in my heart. Ever since there have been people on the earth by the sea, I am certain that the ritual we enjoy and feel from ocean sunrises and sunsets are similar. It is mystifying to think we are relishing things that have been experienced by many different civilizations, cultures, people and times. That quiet private therapeutic moment with nature can make us realize how small we are in scale to the civilizations that came before us.
Paintbrush Studio is sharing an Ocean Sunrise color palette from their new line Painters Palette solids for us to use our imagination to celebrate these moments. As you surf the World Wide Web, you will notice over 30 quilt bloggers creating new quilt blocks to try to express their joy through fabric providing full tutorials to inspire you.
I can picture generations and different eras dressed in their ever evolving clothing styles enjoying these moments. The one item consistent with people enjoying a sunset or sunrise is clothing and the fabric they are wearing. Don’t we just love fabric? Some of the fashions, style, fabric come and go with the ebb and flo of our cultures.
I love modern twists on vintage items. For my block, I thought I would celebrate the modest vintage swimsuits that perhaps people were dressed in ready to leisurely enjoy the day along the sandy beaches. I designed a modest man and woman’s swimsuit sitting next to each other on the sandy beach. Perhaps watching the early morning sunrise or evening sunset, they would not only have their swimsuits but also a quilt to stay warm. (wink)
As stitching this block together we can think about and appreciate the civilizations before us that have enjoyed ocean sunrises and sunsets during daily life, times of war, contemplation, anticipation and peace.
To create this block I used the Painters Palette Midnight Blue, Daydream Blue, White, Peach Sand and Bordeaux Solids. The methods used to create this block are piecing and strip piecing with a consistent 1/4 inch seam. I love the striped vintage men’s swimsuit in Midnight Navy Blue and Daydream Blue. The women’s swimsuit gives a nautical feel with the Bordeaux, White and Daydream Blue along with the white buttons to embellish the suit.
Part One Tutorial – Men’s Vintage Swimming Suit for an Ocean Sunrise
1. Read through the entire tutorial and instructions. Stitch everything together with a 1/4 inch seam.
2. Here is a friendly layout of the Vintage Bathing Suits and the sections we will be working on.
3. Cut the fabric carefully according to the instructions and specifications provided in the tutorial.
4 . To create this 12.5 inch block we are going to break the block into manageable pieces working on Part One: Men's vintage bathing suit section and Part Two: Women's vintage bathing suit.
Part 1: Men's Vintage Bathing Suit
ConstructMen'sSectionBB - Center Section of Men's Bathing Suit
Cut 3 - Midnight Navy Blue strips 1.5 inches by 7 inches
Cut 4 - Daydream Blue strips 1.5 inches by 7 inches
Sew 7 strips together alternating the Daydream Blue Strips with the Midnight Navy Blue strips. Since you are working with 4 Daydream Blue strips and 3 Midnight Navy Blue strips each section will begin and start with a Daydream Blue strip.
Square up this section so it is 6.5 inches wide and 7.5 inches tall. This will be the center body portion of the men's vintage bathing suit section MEN-BB. Carefully Press and set aside.
ConstructMen'sSectionAA - Men's Bottom Section for legs
Cut 2 - Midnight Navy Blue Strip 1.5 inches by 3.5 inches
Cut - the 8 Peach Sand templates provided in the Men's Bathing Suit printable. The 8 Peach Sand Pieces are labeled MEN-A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J to reference where to stitch them. Use the 8 templates to cut pattern pieces from the Peach Sand fabric.
To ensure that the sizing is just right there is a special pattern piece labeled Men's Swimsuit Polygon Pattern Piece. Be sure to trim the fabric of this connected section to the size of the Men's Swimsuit Polygon Pattern Piece.
Arrange the 2 - 1.5 inch by 3.5 inch Midnight Navy Blue side by side lengthwise.
Stitch the Men's Peach Sand A & B small triangle pattern pieces individually to each center ends of the 2 - 1.5 inch by 3.5 inch Midnight Navy Blue pieces. Stitch the two pieces together lengthwise. Carefully Press and set aside.
Join Men's Sections AA to BB
Join Men's Vintage Swimming Suit Section AA to Men's Vintage Swimming Suit Section BB. This is the lower portion of the Men's Vintage Swimming Suit with the center Peach Sand triangle as the bottom.
Stitch Men's Peach Sand C & D long triangle pattern pieces to the bottom left and right sections of the lower portion of the Men's Vintage Swimming Suit (Combined sections just stitched together of Section MEN-AA and MEN-BB). Carefully Press and set aside.
ConstructMen'sSectionCC - Men's V Neckline
Cut 2 - Midnight Navy Blue Strips 1.25 inches by 7 inches
Cut 1 - Daydream Blue Strip 1.25 inches by 7 inches.
Alternating 3 of the 1.25 inch by 7 inch blue strips, stitch together 2 Midnight Navy Blue Strips with 1 Daydream Blue Strip in the center.
Cut this set of strips in half and stitch Peach Sand Pattern Piece E & F
Sew the set of strips back together along the long side of the triangles E & F. Attach the Men's V Neck Line section to the Men's Main Swim Suit Section.
Stitch the Peach Sand Pattern pieces G & H to the left and right edges of the Polygon Pattern Piece.
Men's Vintage Swimming Suit Section CC is now complete. Carefully Press and set aside.
JoinMen'sSectionCCtoBBtogether.
Complete shape of Men's Swimming Suit Section by sewing both Peach Sand Pattern Pieces F & G to the left and right top sides of Section CC combined with Section BB. Carefully Press and set aside.
ConstructMen'sSectionDD - Men's Upper Straps to Suit
Cut 2 - Midnight Navy Blue Squares 1.25 inches by 1.5 inches
Cut 4 - Daydream Blue Squares 1.25 inches by 1.5 inches
The 2 bathing suit straps are constructed by sewing 2 Daydream Blue Squares with 1 Midnight Navy Blue Square in the center. The final size of the bathing suit straps will be 3.25 tall by 1.5 inches wide. Be careful on this step to stitch the bathing suit straps so the stripes when finished will be 1.5 inches wide and 3.25 tall.
Join the two Upper Straps of Suit with Peach Sand Pattern Square Piece H (2.5 inches x 2 7/8 inches) to either side of the 3.25 strap length.
Stitch Peach Sand Pattern Pieces of I & J (1.5 inches by 2.5 inches)to either side of the bathing suit straps. Carefully Press and set aside.
JoinMen'sSectionCC & DDtogether.
Finishing the Men's Bathing Suit Block Section
Now that the Men's Bathing Suit is constructed, carefully press. The block needs to be carefully squared to the dimensions of 6.5 inches by 12.5 inches.
Please comment below, I can't wait to hear from all of you! Where have you enjoyed an ocean sunrise or sunset. All of the blocks from the entire group are AMAZING! Can't you imagine one a these blocks extra large size as one quilt? Want to see more Vintage Bathing Suits and Ocean Quilt Blocks? I will be posting more - sign up for Stitches Quilting email list to have them delivered to your inbox! Which blocks from the entire 2016 Paintbrush Studio Blog Hop do you think would pair up great with the Vintage Bathing Suits?
Now don't stop here.... there are many more innovative quilt blocks and full tutorials to see on the 2016 Paintbrush Studio Blog Hop! To view the blocks visually and quickly you can use the Stitches Quilting Pinterest Board I created below for the Blog Hop.
Its that time of the year welcoming guests into your home for the holidays. Are you starting to get your home ready and planning food? We are and enjoying the process. I have lots of recipes that I would like to share along with simple Fall décor and easy sewing quilting projects to fit in before the holiday comes.
These are very simple table runners that I made just out of scraps of fabric. I used a strip quilting method and how it went together so very fast. I enjoy setting these around during the fall months to bring a bit of Thanksgiving and Fall décor without making too strong of a statement. Here you will see the shorter table runner on my cedar chest. This is a special little spot in the dining room for us to reflect upon those things that we are most grateful for. Making your home ready for Thanksgiving or Fall Festivities doesn’t need to be stressful just lay out some simple items to celebrate the season.
Simple Fall Table Runner
This is our narrow long farm house dining room table, that I made this table runner extra long for. Gathering together just a few items with the table runner is just enough to set the tone. I tend to purchase through the years metal holiday décor and one thing that I really love about it is that it just doesn’t break! I gathered clumps of sunflowers to brighten up the table with a couple acorn salt and pepper shakers and I am certain you probably have a fantastic turkey or holiday platter that rarely comes out of the closet that you can use on a metal easel to make that Fall Thanksgiving mood. When I pieced this table runner together by strip quilting, I just didn’t fuss about what fabric was touching which one and there are a couple of the same fabrics touching each other. I like to not have to spend so much time thinking through something, get a project done and enjoy it! What do you think?
Fall Dining Room Table Decor with Quilted Table Runner
These quilted fall Thanksgiving Pillows are perfect to toss around for your family and guests, especially after eating that turkey dinner! These pillows are so fun to make with just four cream squares in the center, leaves blanket stitched appliqued after a couple borders. What another great way to use scrappy fabrics laying around just begging to be used. I am going to make some more pillows this week with feathers reminding of the First Thanksgiving and the generosity of the Indians! May those pillows remind us to always be accepting of those around us and know that by uniting we have much that we can share and enrich each others lives. The feather pillows will be a full tutorial with downloadable pattern for you.
Toss around some Fall Thanksgiving Quilted Pillows for people to nap with
For anyone that has been entertained at our home they know that I love to make guests feel welcome. One of the things I do is having inviting places for people to sit and visit. Our backyard patio is really an extension of our home with pillows, tablecloths and holiday décor to greet all. We spend lots of time on the back patio entertaining, so I keep the table cloths and decorative table squares always on the tables. The couches and chairs are full of bright pillows to cozy up to and of course there are quilts to wrap up in to stay warm if it is a little breezy. I love pops of color! You will notice that I have used Riley Blake’s home dec fabric to create matching fabric squares and table runners for the tables. I just used a 1 1/2 yards of fabrics for a table square and then just hemmed the edge. They are outside all year long and wash very well! I throw placemats to add color for the different seasons. Easy way to create warmth for you and your guests. The fabric is available in the online store to ship immediately.
Outdoor Patio Fall Table Squares to invite your guests to
I’ll even stitch together a quick table runner for the coffee table of the coordinating Riley Blake Home Dec fabric with a bit of their extra wide ric rac stitched down the center. I just love the yellow fall aspen tree leaves that are falling everywhere.
Riley Blake Home Dec Fabric used for Table Squares and Table Runner
Our family loves to separate our pumpkin seeds from the pumpkin to bake and nibble on. It is a tradition that goes back a long way, that my great nieces and nephews along with my own children look forward too. Notice the fabric I’m planning to use for the feather fall pillow tutorial later this week! I can’t wait!
Fun in the Kitchen with Pumpkin Seeds and cooking up plans for those new quilted pillows!
Now remember that the pumpkins we buy are not just for decoration or pumpkin carving. We always buy small pumpkins that we slice open the top and then microwave until the sides are soft and then use that raw pumpkin for real homemade pumpkin pies. The challenge is worth it along with the full your children and family members will have watching a small pumpkin become a pumpkin pie. I don’t save these pumpkins for Thanksgiving Day but cook these up so the kids can do it with me and marvel at how simple it is to make pumpkin pie! When we make ours this week, I will take lots of pictures and post our recipe with complete instructions online!
Don’t forget to cook up your small pumpkins for pumpkin pie
We have a very wide fireplace mantle. This is just some simple classy decorating of the fireplace mantle. Dried gourds that I have kept through the years, our two small pumpkins for pumpkin pie, sunflowers, metal pumpkin and a cornucopia basket. These are the things that have lasted through the years. After I set it up and thought – I didn’t use any burlap that I have so much of but I think it looks simple and clean. I think I might just use that burlap to create a fresh wreath for the front door that can be versatile from holiday to holiday. I’ll keep you updated. I would love to see all of your fantastic ideas and thoughts. What have you used this holiday season?
Thanksgiving Fall Fireplace Mantle Ideas
One thing our family does enjoy is lighting the fireplace and feeling that cozy feeling. There are lots of quilts folded on the edges of the couches and chairs waiting for people to get comfortable and cozy! Enjoy your family and focus on your blessings this season. Remembering our bounty can take away the feeling that we just don’t have enough!
Before cutting out the paper pattern completely for Rosie’s body front and back, I cut out the pattern construction markings and taped them to the front of the pattern within the cutting line. Cut the Body Front and Back out of a gray fabric.
Cut 2 pieces each of the arm and leg following the fabric grainline on a gray fabric. Here I used Riley Blake’s Gray marble. Set the legs aside because you are going to stitch on the legs with black thread the “scratches”.
Cut out Rosie’s Front of Hair and Back of Hair in a black fabric. At the same time of cutting out the hair, I also cut out batting to match and set these aside.
For the Pink Main Zombie Love Fat Quarter, cut out the Front of blouse A, Back of Blouse and cut 1 Sleeve because the sleeves will be two different fabrics. Please note, we are laying the pattern pieces with the grain line of the Fat Quarter which is parallel to the selvedge. I also tried to lay out the pattern pieces to capture the Zombie scenes on the fabric.
We are now cutting out Rosie’s shirt accent color pieces with a contrasting sleeve and shirt front.
I thought the orange skeleton hands with hearts would be perfect for Rosie’s skirt. If you are making Rosie more for a Valentine project perhaps you would like the pink skeleton hands fabric. A fat quarter is the perfect size to cut the skirt front and back. Be certain to line of the top and bottom of the skirt with the pattern of “lines/stripes” of the fabric while cutting with the grain line.
Notice that I am now cutting a lining for Rosie’s skirt from the black flower pattern in the Zombie Love Fat Quarter Collection. You can see a bit of the orange skeleton fabric peeking out below.
Here are all the pieces of Rosie laid out so you can get an idea of how the pieces work together. Notice the accent stitches along the sleeves and that the homemade bias is not yet sewn to the skirt back.
Here are the clothing pieces sewn together for Rosie the Zombie. Can you see it starting to come together? Here Rosie’s clothing is now pinned to the body pieces getting ready to be stitched together.
You can notice that I layered Rosie’s Hair with batting and quilted hair designs to give Rosie more texture.
Notice the stitching on Rosie’s face. First I transferred the face pattern to the gray fabric with a disappearing fabric pen. Then we stitched away with a variety of satin and zig zap stitches. I also added 2 pink heart for her eyes.
Now you assemble the Rosie the Zombie according to the pattern instructions by Emily Taylor Designs. A couple tips would include to be sure to match up certain points like her head, neck, bias tap for skirt front and back etc.. I also customized the pattern by added some bloomers sewn into her using the extra fat quarter pieces.
Rosie is almost three feet tall including her skinny legs. She isn’t too big but definitely a fun accent piece to have in your home to bring some delight!
I am attaching some video that I did when periscoping this tutorial and you might find it helpful but video from Periscoping isn’t ideal because you are filming live and just awkward things happen. To follow me on periscope my handle is @stitchesquiltin
Please let me know if you have any further questions.
Do you happen to pick up just fantastic fabric panels from time to time but somehow don’t seem to get them done? Sometimes I am disappointed with the end result that doesn’t look quite like I had imagined! I have to say that this Zoe Zombie Doll and Bones her Immortal Dog did not disappoint me! What do you think?
The trick for me on this panel was that before I even cut the panel apart I long armed the pieces giving each one structure and form with the 80/20 Warm and Natural Batting and muslin backing. The tutorial for How to Quilt a Fabric Panel and particularly the ideas to accentuate Zoe and Bones. I have lots of thoughts, pictures and actual video of the tutorial for Zombie Apocalypse Fabric Panel by Emily Taylor for Riley Blake Designs. If you are interested in purchasing this fabric panel it come free when you purchase a Zombie Love Fat Quarter Kit by Emily Taylor Designs for Riley Blake Fabric
I have to tell you that my family and I really enjoyed making Zoe and Bones come to life for our Fall Festivities!
Zoe the Zombie Doll body part pieces that you will need.
Bones the Immortal Dog body pieces that you will need.
Additional Supplies Needed: a NEW Demin Jean Needle for your sewing machine, Gray Thread and Stuffing
Let’s Get Started to Bring to Life Zoe the Zombie Doll:
Cut out the quilted body part pieces for Zoe. For the arms and legs, I left about a 1/4 inch seam allowance around them but with the Zoe Front and Back Body pieces I cut them along the outer edge of the doll. Be sure to mark where the location of the arms are on the doll front and back pieces.
The arms and legs are constructed in a tubular manner. Fold one arm piece in half with right sides together and sew around the arm starting at point A and ending at point B. Turn inside out and stuff until firm. Repeat with the second arm. Set aside arms.
Fold one of Zoe’s legs in half with right sides together. Sew around the leg, leaving the straight edge open. Turn inside out, stuff until firm. Repeat with other leg.
Use a fat knitting needle or other blunt object to push the seams of the arms and legs all the way out after turning them inside out.
I did not close the openings of the arms or legs and did not allow the stuffing to poof out where I was going to attach the arms and legs to the body of Zoe. We already have a lot of layers to sew through with the batting and fabric. You can see in the picture that I have positioned Zoe’s Arms and stitched them to her body.
Now attach the legs to the body bottom. (Refer to photo)
Match up the front and back body pieces of Zoe the Zombie Doll. It is important to notice that you want to make sure that her hair, neck, dress white stripe are matched up on the body as those will be noticeable pieces to not have accurately matched when turned inside out – see photos and video for additional help on this.
First stitch her head together first matching her collar and hair on each side.
Leave the legs hanging out with the arms tucked in, stitch the front and back of the Zoe the Zombie bodies together Leaving the bottom of her dress open to turn her inside out.
Stuff Zoe the Zombie doll firm and hand stitch her dress bottom completely closed.
There she is! Embellish her with some of your own home elements or leave her just exactly as she is! Sweet isn’t she?
Let’s Get Started to Bring to Life Bone’s the Immortal Zombie Dog:
Cut out all of Bone’s Quilted body part pieces of the left body side, right body side, underbelly, front ear piece and back ear pieces.
Sew together Bone’s front and back left and right ear pieces. The back side is polka dotted and the right side is black. Turn the ears inside out and finger press the quilted ears. No stuffing is needed as they have great structure to them.
Fold the underbelly of Bones along the dotted line. Pin the underbelly to match “E” and “F” side of the left quilted body then stitch together. Next pin the underbelly to match along with the “D” and “C” sides of the right quilted body finish stitching the underbelly to the right side of the quilted body. Bone’s is starting to take shape eh?
Line up the ears on the left side of the Bones body and stitch into place.
If needed, trim some of the batting from the ear seam when you are attaching them to the body to have less fabric to sew through. I decided to offset the ears when stitching the top of the body together so my sewing machine needle would smoothly go across all layers. (See photo)
It is important to make sure the Bone’s green collar is matching under Bone’s chin and the back of his neck. These would be obvious places that one would notice if his body was not stitched together right.
Start stitching the top part of Bone’s right and left side of the body together starting at Bone’s neck to ensure the matching of his green color and then leaving open a 2 to 3 inch space at the back of his body below his tail.
Turn Bone’s body inside out from the opening. Use a long blunt knitting needle or object to ensure that all seams are pushed all the way out.
Stuff Bone’s the Immortal Zombie Dog and hand stitch his opening completely closed
There he is! Embellish Bones with some of your home element or leave him just exactly as he is! Darling isn’t he?
I would just love if you emailed me a photo of own created versions of Zoe and Bone’s! I would love to see how they turned out. If you get stumped anywhere do not hesitate to email me!
What extra ideas do you have to embellish Zoe or Bones and share your ideas or tips to construct them. Post your photos and #ZoeZombieBonesDog so all can search them and see your fantastic ideas! YEA! It sure feels great to share!
Have you purchased a fabric panel and don’t know what to do with it? Have you used panels before and then disappointed with your effort and money spent?
We have some ideas for YOU! I am going to break down how to take a panel and figure out how to embellish it so it takes form into something that is unique and loved! You will feel great about the efforts you spend and the new skills you learned. I have purchased several panels through the years and rarely turn back to actually do anything with them. In the spirit of Halloween Fun, let’s break down this darling panel created by Emily Taylor Designs for Riley Blake. This panel was a coordinate with Emily Taylor’s Zombie Apocalypse 2014 Fabric Collection.
Zombie Apocalypse by Emily Taylor Designs for Riley Blake Fabrics
For Fall 2015, Emily Taylor designs with her talented skills created the Zombie Love collection for all of us to play with!
Zombie Love by Emily Taylor Design for Riley Blake
Zombie Love is just beyond adorable! I love studying her whimsical artwork and sweet loving Zombie story lines on her fabric! Darling! We will get to more of that in another post!
Let’s go back and focus on the 2014 Zombie Apocalypse panel we are going to break apart today.
Zombie Apolcalypse Panel Zoe Zombie Doll and Bones Dog Pattern
You can see here there is a darling doubled sided Zoe the Zombie doll that has one side featuring her loveliness and the other side featuring her zombiness. Zoe the Zombie has cute tubular arms and legss to attach. Emily Taylor just couldn’t stop with her talent with a Zoe Zombie Doll, but Emily’s imagination gave Zoe a companion of “Bones”, the Zombie Dog! How darling is that? Bones the Zombie Dog has two body sides, an underbelly along with darling floppy ears to attach!
There have been times that I will create something from a panel but it lacks any shape or form to make the sewable item look like what I imagine it should be. Well to solve that issue in sewing you use interfacing right! This time we are going to quilt this panel with Warm and Natural 80/20 Batting and 100% cotton muslin fabric backing. This type of panel would be fun to learn and experiment how to quilt on a domestic sewing machine. Challenge yourself and play with a panel to learn quilting techniques on your sewing machine. I have a long arm quilting machine and going to load this sweet panel on that machine and doodle away.
I brainstormed what might look good for this Zombie panel and thought of things associated with Zombies while not being morbid. I’m more of a playful Zombie Halloween person not the scary kind run away from. Being the conservative person that I am, I do not find enjoyment in watching scary movies; life is already a bit to scary to add more to it. I do have immediate family members that enjoy scary movies. We do have Walking Dead fans in our family and I thought they might appreciate me “entering their world” making some fun Zombie items for them. Back to brainstorming… I find that Zombie culture has plaid in it, flowers, humor, and more.
When I was long arm quilting this panel, I felt like I was doodling with Emily Taylor and just simply embellishing her darling drawings! I used shiny black thread with on the hair and eyes. I used a metallic light green thread that worked great on all the various colors in the panel and made the quilting simpler by not have to change threads for the rest of the parts.
I decided to put flowers on Zoe the Zombie’s dress, accent her hair with waves, accentuate her eyes with more eyelashes, give the collar a bit of a lacey look and finally give her skirt some swirls. On the other hand, Zoe the Zombie’s scary side I quilted her eyes to look more zombieish, accented her hair with zig zags, scratched up the tares in her dress, and more. You can study the images to see more.
Zoe’s legs and arms are sewn in a tubular fashion so there wasn’t a zombie and non-zombie side but the panel seemed to have a zombie arm/leg and regular arm/leg. After making this observation, I decided to quilt the zombie arm/leg a bit scary and the non-zombie arm/leg a bit friendly.
Zoe’s Zombie dog Bones is already darling but I decided to quilt him with abstract non-descript “bones” on his body. I accented his eyes and features along with quilting a plaid pattern on his nose.
On the outside of Bone’s ears, I quilted lines between the polka dots and the inside of his ears did a circular pattern.
Videos of the long arm quilting of the panel are included in the post if you want to watch it in action. Remember I am trying to be lose with my quilting of the panel to give it a whimsical look. If you are new to quilting it is best to not try for perfection but instead be “consistently inconsistent” and you really end up with a great result. It pains me to think of the unpicking going on with quilting. Remember quilting is a fluid art with each person having their own fingerprint and style. Find your style and let it flow throughout your work. This video was filmed as a live Periscope Video with people asking questions during the video. After watching it I can’t believe the number of times I said “um” YUCK! I promise my next live video will NOT have that going on! The first person to watch the entire video and count the number of “um”s that I said and be the first to make a remark in the comments of this blog post, will have a quilting Halloween surprise mailed to them! The video was also a bit shakey and I will improve upon my video set up while long arm quilting and not have the video camera attached to the machine.
Tomorrows post will be on assembling and stitching together Zoe the Zombie Doll with her companion dog Bones which will be a written photographed and video post from streaming live on Periscope. If you are new to Periscope then it is an app you download on your phone, you can follow me at stitchesquiltin for live broadcasts and inspiring chats. You can watch the video and interact with me live by making comments and I can answer your questions. Let’s have some creative fun together.
Zoe and Bones are definitely going to bring smiles to my family members! You can still purchase this Zombie Apocalypse Panel at Stitches Quilting with either the Zombie Love or Zombie Apocalypse Fat Quarter Kit. So pull out fabric panels that you may already own and let’s get them put together for possible holiday gifts this season! I am a firm believer in using up what you have and put it to good use! Maybe this tutorial will motivate you to pull out some panels laying around transforming them into something unique! Please share comments below if you have been disappointed with panel results yourself and any tips you have used to make them come to life. I would also LOVE your comment of other ideas you have for quilting Zoe the Zombie and her dog Bones along with use of the fabric collections!
Summary of things that would describe this quilter:
Blogger & Owner of Stitches Quilting Online Store – Live in Salt Lake City Utah – Born on a farm but now live in a city – Quilter – DIY – Sewist – Pattern Writer – Surface Pattern Designer – Graphic Design – Special Needs Mom – Proud Handy User of Power and Hand Tools – Hand and Machine Embroidery – Heirloom Maker – Long Armer – Jewelry Maker – Gadget Lover – Technology Lover – (I use every gadget to its fullest potential to not waste money – I like to read the entire manual) – Social Media Networker – Laid 2 stories of my own hardwood floors – Redecorated husband’s law office with DIY Repurposed Stripped Filing Cabinets in Industrial Look – Thrift and Repurpose Lover – Positive – Appreciates Antique, Vintage, Simplistic Items – Bargain Enthusiast – Spiritually Oriented – Survivor – Creative parent – Gentle Spirited – Non Judgmental – Divorced and Happily Remarried for 12 years – Mother – Practical – Enjoy making Household Products and Makeup – Novice Photographer & Videographer – Entrepreneur – Firm Personal Believer in the Quote, “Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.” (Often in this day and age we live a life of such over excess.) – Generous and Love to Share what I have with Others – Always and Endlessly trying to improve myself to be a better person.
My love of sewing started when I was a young girl and I actually made a vest with my grandmother on a non-electric foot treadle sewing machine!
My First Sewing Experience Was on This Manual Machine
As a teen, I loved finding a pattern to make something to wear or a gift for someone else. I always felt a sense of accomplishment after I made something, although I have to admit that sewing my own clothing was disappointing at this age.
I learned about quilting when I was in high school and I know this is mind boggling but my first quilt was a whole cloth hand quilted quilt. I started it in the 1980’s which the shiny fabric and design dates my selection, I found hand quilting relaxing although I have to admit that family members helped me finish it as it was a huge undertaking.
My very first hand whole cloth quilt I started my senior year in high school
My next sewing adventure that I loved was making Halloween costumes for my children. It was something that my girlfriends and I enjoyed doing with our children and my children loved how I could make their imagination come alive with fabric. My children loved the super hero capes and everything else I sewed for them. Just a few years after I had my first child, a good friend, Randi Welch, taught me how to cut fabric and piece it back together again to create a quilt top. I loved it and embraced the craft with precision. The quilting generation at that time taught you to always press your seams to the side with the darker fabric. I lived in Galveston Texas at the time, with no fabric store on the island with my only access to Walmart fabrics and one small darling quilt store that I didn’t feel I could afford the quality quilting fabrics. Not having much of a budget for gifts during my 1st husband’s school and training, I made every gift for each holiday to extended family members. I loved giving gifts that were personal, useful and handmade. We didn’t have much money so I was very frugal with what I made.
Stitches Quilting Brick and Mortar Storefront
I never lived in a place where I had easy access to trendy quilt stores and especially in Yuma, Arizona. I found myself having to travel three hours to Phoenix or San Diego to try to find quality quilting fabrics. Even though there was a quilting store in Yuma, they did not sell Moda fabrics, and I really loved the style of Moda fabrics. After my divorce in 2002, I invested some money into opening a 2,000 square foot brick and mortar quilt store.
I loved my Shoppe and it was a second home to my three young boys. When the fabric started arriving, I was in ecstatic and loved touching and arranging displays. My Shabby Chic Italian themed Shoppe attracted new young quilters along with the snow birds that would travel to Yuma for the winter months. The Shoppe had a large variety of classes available, but was ALWAYS open and room for someone to just plop in with their sewing machine to stitch there and socialize instead of being alone at home. The Shoppe had a beautiful area for children to play that had a custom crafted stucco Italian playhouse as the central feature along with dolls, quilts, tea sets, dress up clothing, legos, TV’s gaming and more.
Custom Stucco Italian Playhouse for Children to play in while their Moms shopped
It was darling because no child ever wanted to leave my Shoppe. After a mother would make her selections, we could see her nervously approach the child to say it was time to leave, and the child always protested. The mom would have to say to the child five or ten more minutes and then nervously walk the Shoppe and visit with others going back to retrieve the still resistant child. People loved to come to the Shoppe although leaving the Shoppe was often difficult. Every month I showcased a local ordinary quilter’s work and displayed all their pieces in the store. The Shoppe evolved monthly with new quilts from designated local quilters of the month let alone the beautiful samples for the fabric, books, pattern and notions being sold.
My Boys and I at Stitches Quilting in Yuma AZ
One of the hardest things I did was close the Shoppe, my youngest child sustained a traumatic brain injury at 11 months of age from riding a horse. He was paralyzed on the right side and had to learn everything over again and I already had one autistic son diagnosed with Tuberous Sclerosiss . I knew I needed to focus all my energies to my children and it was costing so much to have other people run the shoppe. I remarried and moved to Utah. I had no idea how much fabric the sweet employees and snow birds had packed up for me after my son’s accident. Unknown to me these boxes traveled with me from Arizona to Utah. After getting my master’s degree 2008 and being the practical person that I am, I decided to re-open the Shoppe online with the boxes of bolts of fabric newly discovered from the store. The fabric sold like hot cakes because by that time the fabric was highly collectible and out of print.
Current Stitches Quilting Shoppe Studio
After selling enough fabric, I saved up to buy a long arm quilting machine. I always wanted one and would only machine quilt my quilts on my domestic machine. I had a friend, Renae Haddadin, at Quilts on the Corner, that encouraged me that I could operate a long arm machine and after admiring them for years, I finally bought one in 2010. I don’t care to long arm for other people but love to long arm for myself and teach others how to long arm quilt tops they would make in my studio.
Innova Long Arm Machine that Renae Haddidan encouraged me to get
I choose the name of “Stitches” for my business in 2002 but after reopening it in 2008, I had to add “Stitches Quilting” to the name in Utah. The name Stitches represented happiness and lightheartedness. I am a glass half full kind of gal, and the one that looks at things through rose-colored glasses. I am one of those positive “Tiggers” that seem to naturally annoy “Eeyores”, although when I sense an “Eeyore” is with me, I am sensitive and naturally limit the positive annoying “Tigger” within me.
Stitches Quilting
One thing that I love about quilting is the connections it brings with other people. Either making a gift by hand or building relationships through spending time to teach someone how to quilt those connections naturally come. I have domestic machines that are always available for people to come over and sew with.
I wouldn’t be able to even count the number of quilts I have made in my lifetime or the number of people I have taught to quilt. I’m apprehensive to just show you quilts I have made, as it isn’t the quilts that I work hard at making but connections with other people and impacting others’ lives through quilting that is important to me. Do you feel the same way about your quilts that each one is a personal journey of growth or meaning with an entire story behind it? An extremely simple quilt of mine may have the most amazing personal impact in my life based on why I was making the quilt and what journey I was on in my life at the time.
A Quilt I made for my Mom before she passed away of ALS Lou Gehrigs
Many people think that they can’t quilt, based off of negative impressions say from their home ec class. Nothing thrills me more than to share my enthusiasm that anyone can do anything they set their mind to. Nothing is as difficult as it ever seems when it is broken down into sizable pieces. Especially for quilting because anyone can embrace it at any level as really it begins with simple sewing of straight lines. I love to teach people and even children that what they have told themselves from past experiences that they can’t do they really can do and are capable of anything if they have the faith and encouragement to try. Were you someone that didn’t think you had a skill set or thought it would be too difficult that made you apprehensive to enjoy quilting or something else in life?
Quilting is also a hobby that is simple or challenging as one wants. Each quilt is uniquely personal by learning new techniques, using different materials, fabrics, threads or expressions of what one loves at the time. That is what I love about quilting is the connections you make with others and that the craft is as easy or challenging as you want it. I now no longer need a pattern to make anything. Someone can just show me a picture or doodle of something and I can personally make it or teach them how to make it. I love the challenge to create my own patterns based off of the fabrics available, project needed and limitations existing. I find that sometimes the limitations we are given is what draws out the most creativity that is within us. Do you feel the same way? What is the simplest quilt you have made and then the most challenging? Do you find your emotional attachments of the quilts you make are based on the complexity of the quilting?
This quilt I made for my youngest son upon his birth. I customized it with his eyes looking at a bumble bee on his nose.
This blog is dedicated to teaching others what I have learned from many years of quilting and “stitching through life”. I fiercely believe that if someone buys fabric from me that I don’t want it to sit somewhere unfinished because they are overwhelmed by the project or just in need of some encouragement. I believe in supporting those that purchase things anywhere so they are used in that the work of our hands can delight the souls of others along with making ourselves feel uplifted and good.
May the Work of Your Hands Delight the Soul
A blogging tip from me at this time of developing my own blog is to make sure your branding is carried through all of your social media. Social media is a free place to draw others to the things we love. Make your email, usernames of all accounts the same along using the same profile picture and banners on every social media platform. Even if you are not comfortable with a certain social media platform and not nearly ready to even use it, save the user name so it is consistent with all your other social media accounts. One can also really polish their social media networking by inserting hyperlinks into the bottom of your email signature including social media icons, a photograph of yourself and logo of your brand. (photo) What blogging tip do you have to share, because I have a lot to learn including that this blog post should be shorter in length?
Another quilt blogging tip is to join our #Quilt Bloggers# Pinterest Group Board where we can pin our blog posts to and then each member of the group will repin each other’s group pins posted to the group Pinterest board. Email me at deanna@stitchesquilting.com to request to join.
For a quilting tip – take care of yourself meticulously now so that you can continue to quilt and share with others you love for a very long time. When I say take care of yourself, live a gentle life of balance, keeping in mind that a healthy physical, emotional and spiritual well-being will give you more time to quilt and create giving you extended years of health. I also believe in making your craft a family social affair to spend time together. What life or health things do you think can extend your ability to quilt a long and healthy life. My children always played right with me as I created things sometimes with them joining in to help and sweet gentle boundaries were always set to not touch the rotary cutter etc.
My son Nick helped me select every fabric for this quilt. Watched me stitch it together as he played along side me for his lizard decorated themed room.
A quilting tip is to always have your sewing machine out or fabrics to cut. I reward myself with a bit of stitching after getting a ton of required demands of life done. But even that 15 minutes I may have been able to stitch something and admire the block or item gives me much pleasure. If you always have a small area available it is amazing what time can be carved out of a day while you wait for noodles to boil for dinner or whatever it might be. So have your machine or hand sewing project easily accessible. What do you think helps you make progress on your projects?
A quilting tip is that hard and fast rules of quilting may change through the years as access to quality quilting materials, techniques, technology and sciences evolve. (ex. the standard is now to press your seams open because thread and fabrics are of a very different strength) Summing it up don’t be so rigid on yourself. What quilting technique have you seen change through the years?
A great long arm quilting technique is to use Renae Haddadin’s “Red Snappers” to attach your backing and quilt to the leaders by just snapping away instead of pinning or sewing zipper leaders to your quilt top and backing. It saves a TON of time! Are you not amazed by the things that can still be invented in this quilting industry that has been around for centuries? Below is a video of Renae explaining how to use these “Red Snappers”! What an invention!
My dream is to make a complete cathedral quilt and have that quilt be on my bed in my later years when I can no longer quilt and pass on to another season and phase of life. But before then I plan on sharing what I have learned in my younger years with anyone that would like to join me on the journey and share their experiences with quilting and life. Attached is the picture of the cathedral window quilt that I have kept posted on my daydreaming board next to my sewing machine for years. What ultimate quilt do you day dream of making? What other life experiences have you learned from embracing the art of quilting?
Please comment below, I love to interact with people and hear the thoughts that you have. I certainly don’t just want to ramble but look forward to having a dialogue with all of you and learn the thoughts you have about quilting. I hope this article helps you learn more about me as the store owner of Stitches Quilting and author of “Stitching through Life” Blog.
I was challenged to write this blog post as a member of the 2015 New Quilt Bloggers Group. This is week 4 of the group and there are many other wonderful Quilt Bloggers that are a part of the group that you would enjoy reading about them and their blogs. There are also several valuable Giveaways that you can enter that are being used to promote this group of Bloggers. I can’t possibly thank enough the four group leaders that have inspired all of us to collaborate as a group and optimize our skills.
My personal group leader is Terri Ann with Childlike Fascination and my group is called the Sewcial Swarm
Welcome to the final week of the 2015 New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop! I’m so happy and thankful that you’ve all been here to follow along and check out all these new quilt bloggers along with us. Today I am excited to introduce you additional members of the Sewcial Swarm Hive that are posting in week 4:
I invite you to click and visit their blogs, and leave them a friendly comment to say hi. Bloggers appreciate comments so much; so many of us don’t have friends to sew with and connect to the quilting world virtually. Comments make the online quilting world go ’round!
I always drooled over I SPY quilts and waited forever to make one for our family! I waited and waited because I just didn’t think that I had enough pieces of fabric to make the quilt! I didn’t want the quilt to familiar like it had pieces of every single other quilt I had made in it. Which I actually think now is a charming idea because my children can look at pieces of the I SPY fabric and actually remember other quilts made with the same fabric. Well it took me a long time to collect enough novelty pieces for the I SPY quilt that I was day dreaming to make. I did eventually get this quilt off my quilting day dreaming bucket list!
I stuffed all the obscure novelty prints in a squished plastic shoe box and often I would pull the pieces out to count them and see if I was close to collecting enough pieces that could work for the quilt. Disappointed after counting, I would shove those pieces back into their plastic bin determined to keep collecting! But one day I went through the count and holy cow I finally thought I had enough of a diverse variety to start the process of making the quilt.
I SPY Basket of Swap Fabric
I was so excited and my biggest admirer of my quilts was my darling son, Nick, so I immediately showed him that I had enough pieces. I so vividly remember Nick and I, sitting cramped against my sewing room wall examining and counting each piece. The pieces stuffed in that plastic box for years were now crumpled up odd pieces of fabric! They were really crumpled! I quickly grabbed a cutting board with rotary cutter and placed it on the floor next to us along with an iron and tiny ironing pad to start it right away. My son, in fourth grade at the time, and I sat so awkwardly against the wall with him just as excited about the project as me. We had bought so many I SPY books through the years and loved reading those. Maybe these I SPY quilts remind of my days as a child sitting in the doctor’s office going through Highlights magazines searching the hidden pictures! I guess I figured this quilt could be something like a permanent huge Highlight magazine hidden picture. No one in those days other than family practice offices had those Highlight magazines back then.
Well my sweet Nick would iron each of the crumpled ODD shaped fabrics and I was sitting on Nick’s left side fussy cutting away these pieces to work with the pattern I had in mind! It was a big task ahead of us and I have no idea why we didn’t do this process on a table. I know my back starting hurting crunched over to make these perfect cuts. Sweet Nick would iron each one and hand it to me and I would cut away. With excitement we examined each piece of fabric together to decide which image would be fussy cut and then BAM I felt this HOT searing feeling on my arm. Nick and I were sitting so close together watching what each other was doing that when handing me another pressed piece of fabric the iron hit my arm and I had one heck of a burn! Nick felt so bad but we just kept working away. I had a scar from that iron burn for the longest time but it represented a sweet memories of the two of us finally accomplishing something we daydreamed about.
I have no idea why I made the quilt in the pattern I did with all those hexagons! Being thrilled to finally have the resources to make this quilt, I got it put together quickly! Through the years, our family has cherished the quilt with the memories of playing I SPY and interacting with each other. I can only imagine the years and years of fun we will continue to have with this quilt with grandchildren and more! What an heirloom! I embroidered all around the border of the quilt different things to search for to start the challenge and interaction.
I SPY Embroidery of Items to Search For Completely Around Perimeter of Black Border
I have found some fabulous ideas for different I SPY quilt patterns! You may already have a pattern in mind. I have a Pinterest I SPY Quilt Board and would love if you pinned ideas or post them with #ISPYQUILT and I will find them! I will summarize my favorites in a blog.
At Stitches Quilting when I had a store front, we always had a basket that people could trade novelty square pieces of fabric for the pieces in the basket. It was fun and I still have that same basket today! You can mail me some of your extra novelty fabrics and I will mail you back the same number of pieces from the basket. Let’s keep that I SPY basket of fun swapping away. Click the following link to see 20 piece – 5 inch I SPY charm packs and 10 inch layer cakes for sale in the Stitches Quilting Shoppe! Let us know if you would like some! Many of the prints in the basket are out of print and no longer available so you will be getting a very unique collection and of course if you have a particular interest in girl, boy, fish, holiday etc. prints just let me KNOW!
Share the quilts that you waited and waited to get just those perfect fabrics that took forever and then you finally had it perfectly right to then assemble! What fabrics did you stash away for that perfect quilt? Post photos on Instagram or Twitter with the hashtag #quiltybucketlist #quiltfabricstashaway or #stichesquilting to share with each other what you are daydreaming about or have accomplished! I can’t wait to see your things and read your comments! Where you ever quilting with a family member or friend that developed into a first aid experience and memories? Tell us your stories!
What could be better than reading to a child wrapped in a kid friendly quilt? Reading couldn’t be more important to instill in our children; so making reading warm, friendly, and cozy in a kid friendly quilt just couldn’t be more ideal! They feel your love and warmth as you read to your children or grandchildren wrapped up in a quilt together. Not only can the quilt be used to cover eyes with anticipation, but the reading draws you and your child closer together. There are so many fantastic books to read! There is reading to babies, toddlers, grade school children, middle school and even high school teens. Maybe by that time we will need two quilts, one for us and one for the teen! The books to choose from are just endless in each of these age ranges. Each of our children have had their favorites and for Christmas one year we purchased a copy of their favorite childhood book, signed the front of the book with memories of reading the book with the child and how the book ties into the beauty of their individuality. What a great way to make your children feel loved and important to you than setting aside the time to read with them and enter their world with books that interest them.
Another way to help a child feel loved and appreciated is to make them a child friendly quilt to read those books in! TIP 1: Fancy quilts are not necessary; they will appreciate anything! TIP 2: A great way to learn how to quilt is to make a quilt for a child. That is one of the ways that I learned how to quilt was to quilt for my children along for my nieces and nephews. I love to do the quilting of the quilt with them right along side me. No surprises because I want them to see the way steps to build a quilt and constructed.
TIP 3: A child loves to watch a loved one make something extra special for them. Children playing along aside you as you piece the quilt top together is ideal. They can help in whatever way they can. My children loved to see me make a quilt for them. TIP 4: My children loved to help with picking out fabrics, designing a pattern, cutting pieces, ironing and sometimes piecing bits of the quilt together with guidance. All the children that I have done this with have enjoyed every aspect of the project, although when they tire of things and get distracted with other items, that gives me the time to get some real work in. TIP 5: Sometimes I involve them in the initial process and then as I build the quilt together, I continually show them it as it grows into what you designed together. They are just marveled…. marveled that you would do something like that for them and feel loved as you do it.
TIP 6: Now we don’t want to make the quilt too difficult and keep the pattern simple so the process goes quickly and it gets finished never becoming a UFO. TIP 7: The other reason we want to keep things simple is we want to get to the reading part of snuggling up with that child and read a book! We daydream that possibly this quilt will be the quilt that they drag everywhere feeling that safe loved feeling when they are sick, traveling, or creating good memories with. TIP 8: Do we really need to hand stitch the binding? No, we don’t because if one of those hand stitches get worn out with use, then that binding is going to start to unravel. Can’t you just picture those cute little fingers irresistibly fingering a worn spot with the binding not attached to the back and the batting now showing! Do we really want unraveling quilts?
TIP 9: Some tips with piecing the quilt…. too many things to come apart and become vulnerable with time. Kids appreciate the memories that these quilts bring and treasure them so keep it simple so they stay intact. TIP 10: Thinking of hand quilting that project? No, resist the urge, the quilt is small but once again we really dream of them wanting this quilt when they are sick and washed properly without jeopardizing the construction of it. TIP 11: So use this opportunity to try a new machine piecing, machine binding, or machine quilting technique that we have been curious to try. AND for goodness sake…. please let’s just domestic machine quilt the quilt.
TIP 12: Don’t send the quilt to a long armer for months waiting for completion. TIP 13: I promise you can quilt a child’s quilt. Easy peesy and you will love it too – so lower those feed dogs on your domestic sewing machine. Quilting three layers together is NOT difficult – I will teach you just how to do it. TIP 14: Now we have to resist the urge to fuss over perfection, remember ladies we are NOT submitting this to a quilt show or entering it into the county fair. This quilt is for the beloved child in your life and you know what…. I bet if you are a great lady then there are probably lots of beloved children you have around you that you want to give a quilt of literacy to.
TIP 15: So let’s keep everything simple because the point of these quilts is to make those kids feel loved and to read to these kids we adore! You need time and money to run to get a book that you will to read to this child with this quilt. TIP 16: Don’t fuss over quilting details because you really want to sign the front of the book with a personal message that the child can read emphasising how important reading and the child is to you. Below you can see my 21-year-old son’s favorite book was Good Night Gorilla, and you can see the message I wrote for him in the images. I not only tell him that I love him, that reading is important but I also share why I think that book was so important to him because he had the same mischievous snuggly spirit as the Gorilla in the book, wanting everyone included and part of the party! TIP 17: An extremely shocking tip for you, please hand print the message in the front of the book instead of cursive. Kids are no longer learn how to read cursive in schools…. yes one of those lovely cut backs. It’s okay…. just be aware of it so that your adorable child will eventually read the book and your message too.
TIP 18: As you work on the quilt, think of things to jot down for front of the book that is unique to the child and your love of reading – Post It notes are handy in my sewing station for this.
TIP 19: Now picking out the fabric…. find out what the child’s favorite colors are…. dive into your stash… I know you have those colors in there somewhere. TIP 20: You probably don’t need to spend any money whatsoever. TIP 21: If you are new to quilting, be sure to go to a quilt shoppe or visit an online quilt shoppe to purchase fabrics. The fabric dyes are stable and the fabrics shrink together. TIP 22: Have a special fabric that is a family heirloom then incorporate it into the quilt! I promise… you don’t need to follow a pattern. TIP 23: Design your own and sweet ladies out there quilting is just about math and it is simple math – you can do it. I have an entire series of videos that I plan to create to help you through every ounce of this process and then I’ll be learning from you. I LOVE to learn from other quilters! They are the best ladies in the world – gentle spirits, always willing to share. TIP 24: I know this is controversial… but you do not HAVE to pre-wash your fabrics! I don’t saving loads of time with every single one of the quilts in these pictures never pre-washed. Guess what? That is more time reading than washing and then ironing those fabrics. Let the fabric, batting and everything else shrink together after you complete the quilt. TIP 25: You do not need to wash the quilt prior to giving it as a gift. I never have and guess what… every quilt that I gifted was loved and then washed many time. That saves you more time and I like the way the sizing in the fabric feels.
TIP 26: Now what could be a family heirloom – grandpa’s ties or handkerchiefs. There are so many items in your home to cut up and put into a quilt making your gift even more special than you ever dreamed. Remember when you were newly married or a new mom and you just had to get creative. TIP 27: Pull yourself back to that creative place and pull out things that you would like to see become an heirloom within an heirloom.
Attached are pictures of many quilts that I have made for my children and the books I LOVED to read to them. TIP 28: Notice the quilts are simple – I made them fast and I wasn’t worried about them being perfect. TIP 29: The purpose of the quilt was to get it in the hands of the child I loved.
TIP 30: I think my children, my nieces and nephews sincerely felt valued when I made a quilt for them. I’ve made quilts for the friends of my children to comfort during difficult times they faced for instance, a parent passing away to cancer in 6th grade to have something special representing memories. TIP 31: Giving a quilt is more than giving a gift of love it is giving part of yourself to that child permanently.
May we all celebrate the opportunity to quilt for loved ones or just special kids out there that need a little extra love. TIP 32: Let’s combine those quilts with a book to read because quilting truly can increase literacy. Right now I am enjoying curling up at night reading Jonathon Living Seagull by Richard Bach with my 13-year-old son. TIP 33: Not all children are natural readers but as life changes and my 21-year-old son is a now a ferocious reader and even though he isn’t living in my house, I know my quilts are with him in his apartment at college and that dreamer of a son of mine is curled up in the quilts I sent with him to college reading those books. The reason I know is that I’ve seen him time after time reading in his room with several quilts propping him up and covering him to make him comfortable in his reading positions. TIP 34: Make the quilt kid size friendly. It doesn’t need to be a crib size or a twin size….. there are other sizes… you just make it up! I like to think the size of the quilt is a Reading size…. something they will drag around the house with them. That size to me is maybe around 40 to 50 inches wide by 60 to 70 inches in length. Just wing it – you don’t have to be precise! TIP 35: Remember after you give the gift, you can always read to your children or grandchild via FaceTime or Skype. Learn how to use the technology that is available so that reading becomes a past time that goes away. We can still read to our loved ones even if they are far away!
May we enjoy the process of creating quilts and sharing our quilts with loved ones. May our quilts support our families as they grow up and then as our children launch in life knowing we did our very best at balancing being a good mother and parent to them with all the needs of life. Most of all…. my motto… may the work of your hands in every way delight the souls of others to help them grow the ways they need to. More than anything kids in the world need to feel loved and accepted – the kids in the world today face more than you can ever imagine. I’m dedicating this blog to affirming that the quilts we make for our loved ones make a difference and they really can improve literacy when we let them know how important the individual is to us along with how important reading is to us too. Let’s not allow reading to become a pastime with all the distractions of the world but use our cozy quilts to actually read with our loved ones and increase the self-worth of those we love.
Please share what are some of your most cherished books or quilts that you want or have shared with you loved ones! Let me know if you want a pattern or some fabrics for the quilts above. I can do any tutorials for you on my YouTube channel of making any of these quilts or a particular skill you want to build. Just let me know and I can’t wait to hear from all of you! Please I am very respectful to all quilters and their desire to pre-wash fabrics or wash quilts prior to giving them away. We all have different styles and please don’t let any of my time-saving tactics turn you off from quilting with literacy. It is always up to you to decide your style of quilting. I’ve always been a busy mom with kids everywhere and very often quilt for my love of others and to relax and unfortunately at the time of life with many demands and have to get to the hands on of parenting. So many seasons of life and we must enjoy each and every one of them!
Yvonne
Cheryl
Stephanie
Terri Ann
