Finally Sewing Again: Making A Table Topper Quilt

After a really long time not feeling creative, or having time to do anything crafty, I'm slowly finding some free moments and a bit of inclination to tackle things.  Truthfully speaking, most days I'm exhausted from dealing with my big kids, corralling my toddlers and keeping my shop running, but the crafting spark hasn't totally gone out!  

What pushed me to start sewing again was needing a sample project for my shop (so this post kind of ends up being a bit of an "advertorial", but more because this really is what I'm making right now - not because I want to get all sales-y on ya!).  

I've just started carrying digital quilt patterns, which is great for getting customers sewing asap, but one design didn't have a finished project photo or digital mock-up to go with it.  Kind of hard to sell an item without an image of it, right?  So I decided to use fabrics from a new Christmas collection I got in (called Comfort & Joy) to make this sample table topper quilt:

To be honest, I'd been a bit nervous to start it.  I've been a self-taught sewer of bags, clothes, home decor and literally every other fabric project for years, but I'm not really a quilter.  I've only made a handful of basic quilts and since I'd not sewn anything in months I was a little apprehensive of my rusty skills making a go of it.  Add the fact that two of the fabrics I was using were directional, I needed to take a little extra time to make sure I had them cut with the pine trees and text facing the right ways:

I do have to say it came together pretty quickly.  The design is the Guiding Star Table Topper Digital Quilt Pattern.  The instructions are very straightforward so a beginner quilter like me can easily make it.  It features an 8 inch focal square, so I fussy cut from my text print fabric to make a nice holiday phrase block:

The one modification I made was to make the back self-binding rather than doing a separate backing piece and binding edge.  

It saved me a bunch of time and made it easier to get a nice even binding edge on the front.  I used this handy how-to for getting nice mitered corners with a self binding, since it had been so long since I'd done them last: 

This little quilt can be used as a table topper, wall hanging finished or as a center for making a larger quilt.  

I feel confident enough to do another one (or more) and possibly piecing them to make a larger quilt, so I'm pleased I could get back in the sewing saddle and test drive a new pattern at the same time.  Plus, I've got a nice, new, Christmas-y item already sewn up early.  Boy, does it feel good to be ahead on a project for a change!

   

A Moment of Feeling Craft Store Famous

I'll be the first to admit there hasn't been a whole lotta crafting going on chez Sew Can Do recently.  Business & family needs have made crafting a lower priority since my fabric shop and dueling toddlers burst onto the scene, but many moons ago I was crafting like crazy.  I used to do a good bit of professional pattern designing for brands and publications back in the day too, like this April Showers Quilt Pattern I created as a freelance designer for Pellon about a decade ago.  I did a number of projects for them and this one was for National Quilting Month (which is March):

I was at my local Hobby Lobby last weekend with my entire entourage of 5 kids & husband, finally getting supplies for some new crafts I'm aiming to tackle soon.  And when I went to grab a package of Wonder-Under I and discovered this very project front & center on it:

 It was a huge surprise to see my creation (and the photo of it I took in my foyer) right there in the notions department at a huge chain store!  This project has been a PDF download on their website for a long time and made the rounds on their social media when I first designed it, but having it on the front of an actual product package felt a little surreal.  

Seeing my little quilt has stood the test of time (being 10yrs+ after it was designed) was really amazing too. 

You can get the free pdf pattern HERE.  If I were making this again I'd probably try doing a pastel version or use some small prints with rain-themed designs like clouds, rain coats, boots, umbrellas...maybe even frogs to really bring out the "April Showers" theme!  If anyone wants to try it, I'd LOVE to see how it turns out:)  

  

Kid's Comfort Quilt Tutorial

Sometimes the best projects are the ones we give away.  I've just finished this lovely little Kid's Comfort Quilt to give away and am happy to share how I made it so others can make some to donate too.

The striped design features framed charm squares and is self bound with fabric from the back side.  

I decided to do this quilt as a present for the 4yr old relative of some friends.  She was recently diagnosed with stage 3 cancer after an unexpected tumor was discovered.  Unfortunately she's about to begin a long series of chemotherapy treatments.  I'd just gotten these fabrics as new additions for my shop (talk about providential timing!).  So I thought a special comfort quilt might help lift her spirits a little at this difficult time.  

I don't do a lot of quilts, so I kept the design very simple.  I was inspired by this Little Star Quilt, but made mine more basic so there was less to cut out and it was quick to assemble.  

While this quilt could be made with any fabrics (it makes a great baby quilt too), I choose some that would team with the theme of kicking childhood cancer.   For my main fabric I used this pretty fabric that I thought a little girl would love - full of words of hope, pink and butterflies:

The stripes feature coordinating inspirational script words like  blessings, gratitude, and love too.

There are also some specially themed charm squares:

The kid-themed messages are meant to help little ones fighting cancer to stay positive:

and feel brave:

I used this Let's Fight Together Childhood Cancer Fabric Panel to create them.

The messages are so sweet and they look nice with the inspirational-themed fabrics I used.  I also quilted some butterflies to echo the butterfly main fabric.

Which adds a nice butterfly design on the back too:

Finished size: 39 in wide by 44 in high 

Materials:
- 7/8yd Soulful Shades of Pink Inspirational Butterflies cotton fabric
- 3/8yd Soulful Shades Inspirational Words Pink cotton fabric
- 3/8yd Soulful Shades Inspirational Words Grey cotton fabric
- Let's Fight Together Cotton Panel (or 12 charms squares)
- 1 1/4yds Backing cotton fabric (at least 44 inches wide)
- Crib size lightweight polyester batting (45 in by 60 in)
- Notions: pins, rotary cutter, yardstick, iron, disappearing marker

All seams are 1/4 in.

Start by cutting out the squares from the Let's Fight Together panel (or cutting twelve 5 inch charm squares).

Next cut the following from the Inspirational Butterflies (main print):

(20) 1 1/2 in wide by 5 in high inner frame strips

(4) 2 1/2 in wide by 5 in high outer frame strips

(1) 39 in wide by 13 1/2 in high center stripe

(2) 39 in wide by 1 1/2 in high inner frame stripes

(2) 39 in wide by 2 1/2 in high outer frame stripes

From the Inspirational Words Grey cut:

(4) 39 in wide by 2 1/2 in high stripes 

From the Inspirational Words Pink cut:

(2) 39 in wide by 4 1/2in high stripes

From the backing fabric cut:

(1) 42 in wide by in 47 in high

Begin with the charm squares.  Starting with the square that will be furthest left, pin and stitch a 2 1/2 in wide strip to the left side of the square, with right sides facing.  Do the same on the right side with a 1 1/2 in wide strip.  

Stitch another 1 1/2 in wide strip to the previous strip, then another square.  Repeat with the remaining 3 squares except use another 2 1/2 in wide strip on the right side of the last square.  Repeat to create another row with the remaining 6 charm squares and strips.  Press seams toward the frame fabric.

For the top framed Row 1, stitch one of the 39 in wide by 2 1/2 in high outer stripes along the top edge and one of the 39 in wide by 1 1/2 in high outer stripes along the bottom to finish framing the squares.  

Repeat with the lower Row 9, but doing the remaining 39 in wide by 1 1/2 in high outer stripe on top and the 39 in wide by 2 1/2 in high outer stripe on the bottom.  Press seams toward the frame fabric.  

Take Row 1 and stitch Row 2 (a grey words stripe) to the lower edge.  Press seams open.  Stitch Row 3 (a pink words stripe) to Row 2's lower edge then Row 4 (another grey stripe) to Row 3's lower edge.   

Stitch Row 5 (center butterfly stripe) to Row 4's lower edge.  Repeat with remaining stripe Rows 6-9, Grey, Pink, Grey and lower framed row at bottom, pressing all seams open.  

Measure quilt top and cut batting to same dimensions.  With backing fabric pressed flat and open, right side facing down, lay batting then quilt top over it, making sure there is an even 1 1/2 inches of backing fabric showing on each side.  

Double fold backing fabric inward to create the binding and pin all around.  

To miter the corners, fold one corner upward at a 45 degree angle and then fold the perpendicular side of the corner upward and pin.

Top stitch binding edge all the way around close to the fold.  

Quilt as desired.  I decided to do a simple 3 part butterfly shaped design along the alternating stripes tracing a paper template with disappearing marker:

and a 2 part large butterfly design in the center stripe panel.

And topstitched around those lines.

I really hope the recipient likes it and this quilt helps make the tough days of chemotherapy ahead a little more comfortable.

I'm planning to help my kids do a few simple stripe flannel blankets next as a family service project for the charity Project Linus.  I'll be sharing those kids-can-make projects soon too. 

Little Star Reversible Playmat Quilt & Fabric Bundle Giveaway

I'm so thrilled to start July with a new project tutorial and a BIG fabric giveaway to go with it! First up is today's new free pattern project: a Reversible Play Mat Quilt.



I created this how-to as my first official design project for Team Timeless a few weeks ago and am now sharing it here too.  The front has a sun ray shaped design with an octagonal center. 



And it reverses to this cute block side featuring sweet bunny stripes and polka dots:

The lovely soft yellow & grey shades are the perfect neutral to mix well for boys or girls:

The 32 inch square size and layer of poly batting gives it the body and space for use as a play mat,

but it's still small enough to be used as a crib or stroller quilt.  My littlest guy has confirmed that babies find it cuddly:

It also folds up easily for travel:

This is a new licensed fabric collection from the famous Bunnies By The Bay (designed for Timeless Treasures).  I've been a long time BBTB fan - their bunny Original Cuddle Coats & plushes are legendary baby items.  We've had several over the years and I'm passing ours down to our newest arrival:

And after the tutorial, I'm also giving away TWO bundles of this fabulous fabric collection to some lucky Sew Can Do readers!

Finished Size:

32" x 32" 

Materials:

- 1/2 yd cuts of 12 fabrics.  Mine are the entire Little Star Collection

- 1 yd medium loft batting 

- Paper, pencil, yard stick, rotary cuter, iron, disappearing marker, mini clips, quilt basting spray, matching thread

Make the following pattern pieces from paper/cardboard for the front panel:

Cutting Instructions:

Front panel

- Cut (1) octagon from Bunny Bees (Bunnies-C6455 Yellow)

- Cut (1) trapezoid piece from each of the following 8 prints:

Shooting Stars (Bunnies-C6450-Grey), Sunshine (Bunnies-C6449-Milk), Smiling Moons (Bunnies-C6456-Grey), Bunnies and Little Ones Grey (Bunnies-C6453-Grey), Dots Yellow (Dot-C1820-Banana), Bunnies and Little Ones Yellow (C6454-Yellow), Packed Bunnies (Bunnies-C6492-Grey) and Happy Bunnies (Bunnies-C6451-White), mirroring and flipping the pattern piece as needed to make the design shown below.

Back panel

Cut (2) 16 1/4in squares from Bunny Stripe (Bunnies-C6452 Grey) and (2) from Dots Grey (Dot-CF1820-Grey).

Assembly:

Along the shortest side of each trapezoid piece (which will match up to the octagon center), mark 1/2 inch inward from each corner with disappearing marker.

On the octagon piece, mark 1/4in inward from each corner.

Start piecing the quilt together by taking one trapezoid panel and, with right sides facing, match the markings on one side of the octagon with the top of the trapezoid.  Stitch together between markings.  Repeat with the next trapezoid in order on the next side of the octagon.

With right sides facing, stitch together the coordinating side of the two panels.  

Note: Stitch sides just up to the stitching of the octagon - do not cross over it.  This will keep the seams laying flat when pressed.  Repeat this pattern of stitching the next two panels to the octagon and stitching the matching sides until all pieces are sewn together. 

Take completed front and press seams to one side and entire panel smooth.  Fold in half and trim raw edges to be perfectly square.

For back panel, stitch the squares together as shown, press seams to one side and press smooth. 

Flip so right side is facing down and spray with quilt basting spray.  Cut a piece of batting 32in x 32in and lay it on top of the back panel to attach the layers and smooth out any ripples or wrinkles.

Spray top side of batting with basting spray and place the front panel, right side up, on top and smooth.

Trim off any excess batting around edges.

Make 1 1/4in wide double fold bias tape for the edge binding from the Dots (C1820-Silver). Cut 5 inch wide strips on the bias.  Sew binding strips end to end using diagonal seams to make one continuous piece. Press in half, lengthwise, wrong sides together.  Open and fold raw edges toward fold on wrong side and press again.  Total length of binding should be 130 inches.

Starting on one side, sandwich the quilt into the binding, using clips to hold it in place.

Edge stitch all the way to to one corner and stop, fold over binding on an angle to miter the corner, and clip to hold it, then stitch along next side.  Repeat all the way around and fold under and stitch raw end of binding at end to finish.  

Now this versatile quilt mat is ready for little ones to love!



These prints were so cute I had to whip up a pair of matching pants with the leftover Bunny Bees fabric:



Now onto the giveaway!!  One winner will receive this 10 piece bundle of 1/2yd cuts of the Little Star collection:

And a second winner will receive this 8 piece fat quarter bundle of the collection:

So much beautiful, sweet & sunny fabric!!!  Wouldn't it be great if it were yours?  So enter for a chance to win!

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