Saturday, August 10, 2024

Vintage Zippity Zip Charm Pack Table Runner


This fun little Zippity Zip quilted table runner was the second quick little quilt top I pieced while at lake retreat a couple weeks ago.


I wasn't sure what I was going to do with the Vintage (by Sweetwater for Moda Fabrics) charm pack I grabbed on a whim on our way out the door, but I've been wanting to make with it all summer so I grabbed it.


Zippity Zip is a fun table runner to piece and quilt with just a charm pack and as it needed a summer sample made up it's what I settled on making.


The morning sunshine was hitting it just right this morning and made the quilting pop.


The quilting pantograph used here is Wicker and can be found at quiltingit.com. It has a bit of backtracking but I love the outcome - just like a woven basket. I did shrink it down a bit to get a denser quilting that I like on a table runner.


Vintage is such a simple fabric line of oldie favorites. We are really enjoying this table runner quilt on our dining room table. There is something to love about the little prints, simple text prints, and limited colors.


Sometimes a simple quilt is all it takes to warm up the table, the heart of the home.

Happy quilting, everyone : )
Anna

 

Thursday, August 1, 2024

Cozy Cabin Table Runner - Red White and True version


As I packed for lake retreat this year, the first quick project I prepped for was a patriotic/summer version of my Cozy Cabin table runner quilt pattern.


For over a year I've wanted to make with Red White and True, a vintagey patriotic collection by Dani Magstad for Riley Blake Designs. This year it was going to happen! The tiny prints, the checks, the florals, the jars, the paper bag brown - patriotic summer perfection!


Not a lot of thought was put into planning this table runner quilt.


Between dips in the lake and paddles in the kayaks, I quickly decided to make the scrappy version of Cozy Cabin and went with it. There is one log piece of every print. Then it was just mix them up and sew them together.


The only deviation from the pattern was the insertion of the white sashing strips between the blocks. The white strip is the same width as the logs of the blocks.


Had so much fun quilting this long table runner on our APQS Millie longarm quilting machine using the #wobblestarspanto from  SewShabbyQuilting.com


This pantograph quilted out quickly and smoothly with very minimal backtracking. I did shrink it down a few sizes to get a denser quilting. The spacing is about 1/2".


The quilting is still clean and simple like my traditional straight-line quilting but with a little movement.
Love it!


I like the touch of the little quilted stars as the fabric prints and colors are very patriotic yet without stars themselves.  


There were moments when I wasn't sure I was going to like how this quilt was turning out (I usually don't just wing it : ), but I couldn't be happier with the finish.


Cutest jelly roll - those bits of red, blue, and paper bag brown! Love me a cute quilt binding! This one seems to add a lovely touch of whimsy.


The best moonrises while on lake retreat.


It took a couple days to unwind, but lake retreat this year was the best!

Happy quilting, everyone : )
Anna




















 






Saturday, July 13, 2024

Quilted Easily Done - Flower Girl version


The Flower Girl (by Heather Briggs for Moda Fabrics) version of Easily Done is quilted, bound, and freshly washed. It has already been nap-approved : )


This beauty was quilted on my APQS Millie with the Ginger Snap pantograph from Urban Elements using So Fine thread.


This pantograph quilts out so quickly and is so fun to watch as it is just curves and circles - no stops or pauses.


A couple of my favorite prints and colors from Flower Girl.
This check would make an awesome whole cloth quilted tablecloth or picnic quilt.


Easily Done is a layer cake friendly quilt pattern. It is very similar and just as quick to make as my Simply Done quilt pattern, but the mix of the two blocks adds a bit more interest. It's a fun quilt to make.


With the leftover layer cake square scraps I whipped up this long table runner.


Here it is beautifying our 7-foot table. It finishes at 18" x 78".


This scrappy table runner was quilted up using the Lovely Loops pantograph from Sew Shabby Quilting.


I did shrink the pantograph down a bit to get a denser quilting. Love how it turned out.


Flower Girl is such a pretty, pretty fabric line from Moda Fabrics.


Perfect binding!





It looks really well on the TV credenza as well. Dresses things up so nicely.


Don't think we will grow tired of this runner for a bit : )


Extra-long quilted table runners make the best quilt rolls!

Happy quilting, everyone : )
Anna





 

Saturday, July 6, 2024

New Quilt Pattern: Fresh Strawberries

Summer and fresh-picked strawberries go hand-in-hand. Can't have one without the other, in my opinion : ) We have been taking our children to pick fresh berries for jam and eating for about 21 years. 


To commemorate the years of memories, the Fresh Strawberries quilt pattern is finally ready to share with quilters everywhere. Although way behind schedule, after bouncing around in my head for 2-3 years, it is so good to have it out and "on paper".  


The hardest challenge with Fresh Strawberries was settling on a block setting. At first I was thinking of a star setting block, but in the end simplicity won out with this simple patchwork style block setting. 


Sh! Don't tell the others, but this is my favorite berry of the entire bunch.
That red check has my heart! Just darling!
While the berries are the most tedious piecing I have ever done with a quilt, they turn out so darling and once they are done the blocks finish up rather quickly.


Piecing this quilt revealed to me how imperfect my piecing skills really are (lots of seam ripper with this one). While I shall strive to become a better piecer, imperfections are ok, and I'm not going to let them stop me from enjoying quilting. I will only unpick a seam maybe a couple times before moving on. It's not worth becoming stressed. As one of my sons informed me, strawberries aren't even "perfect". He picked one once with seven butts : )


The color palette of Jelly & Jam by Fig Tree Quilts & Co for Moda Fabrics is just lovely. So summery and cheerful. And the name? Don't you think it is just the right match for the Fresh Strawberries quilt pattern?


The Fresh Strawberries quilt pattern is traditionally pieced. You can work with scraps or charm packs or layer cake or even fat quarters. Very versatile quilt pattern.
You can make a wall hanging/table topper or a runner or both : ) 


It took a while to quilt up in 1/2" straight-line crosshatch quilting, but SO worth it.


Love the quilting! It looks and feels awesome, especially in the border.
And doesn't that green check print make the perfect binding?!


Ask me how many times I checked the bottom of that strawberry container before placing in on this quilt for a quick photo : ) It had to be done!


Another close runner-up for favorite strawberry block.




Happy summer and happy quilting, everyone : ) 
I hope you have the opportunity to enjoy some fresh berries.
Anna



Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Easily Done - Flower Girl Layer Cake Quilt


It all started with a layer cake of the gorgeous Flower Girl by Heather Briggs of My Sew Quilty Life for Moda Fabrics. Added in the simple and oh so easy Easily Done quilt pattern.


Did some fancy string piecing and ended up with a bunch of blocks.


Flower Girl is such a beautiful fabric line. All the prints are and colors play so very, very well together.
She's not quilted up yet, but I couldn't wait to share...

(my favorite print combo)


Voila! Isn't she a beauty?!?!


My favorite thing about the Easily Done layer cake quilt pattern is that with the extra pieces you can get another sizable quilt.


This time I made this simple and quick table runner.


Not quilted yet but another beauty! I'm thinking next time I make an Easily Done quilt the leftover pieces are going to be a square wall hanging or maybe even a baby quilt. Time will tell : )


Happy quilting, everyone!
Anna : )