"Jelly-Roll Gift Bags" 100% Re-gift-able!

 Hey quilter's...happy Friday! I hope y'all had a great week & fun plans for the weekend. I'm sew excited to share this series w/y'all. We'll be making "gift bags" from one Jelly Roll "Joyful Holidays" by Robert Kaufman. This is such a stunning Batik Christmas collection that I received from Missouri Star Quilt Company. It's full of beautiful batik strips...2.5 " wide by width of fabric. I also received "Olga" 45mm Rotary Cutter by MSQC. Y'all...this rotary cutter fits smoothly in my hands...I say "hands" because sometimes I do cut left/right handed. I love how it's so precise and lightweight...great for my arthritic fingers :-) Plus I have MSQC Christmas templates! Sew I thought...I need to make a bag using these stunning Batik strips that is 100% Re-Gift-able. This was inspired by my Grandson Davin during Christmas last year that said "put all this in the Recyclebles." I thought...wow...a lot of Christmas wrapping going to waste. Yes...we do re-use as much as possible but still a lot gets recycled. Well in this fun series we'll be making "gift bags" from the Jelly Rolls plus that you can gifts inside & your recipient can "re-gift" the bag as well. I'll be featuring small...medium & large bags using the Jelly Rolls & you can enlarge if needed. I pieced on my Janome and quilted the bags on my Babylock w/ MSQC 50# thread & Aurifil 50# thread. I'm challenging myself to see how many gift bags I can make using one Jelly Roll. I love this "medium size gift bag." The rotary cutter fits perfectly inside :-)  I also am excited that I'll be using some Christmas fabric that I recently inherited too. I know my late mom-in-law would be thrilled how her fabric will be used in many ways. We"ll be starting this series Monday but I wanted to give you a "sneak peek" so you can grab your supplies. I'm thrilled about sharing this fun & easy Christmas gift series w/y'all. In fact...what a great idea to make for Birthday gifts or any occassion. Thanks so much for following and keep checking back as we make more fun & exciting Holiday gifts 2gether. My link to MSQC (upper right) will take you to all the fun exciting sales/products & adventures they are having all month long. Enjoy!

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

MSQC Affiliate

Paid Partnership w/MSQC

Follow me on Instagram...Facebook & Pinterest (upper right on home page)

Medium Size approx. 6,5" x 10"

Here's all you need...

* Joyful Holidays Roll-ups by Robert Kaufman

* MSQC Olga 45mm Rotary Cutter

* MSQC Holiday Tree 7.5 x 8.5 Nesting Template

* Pellon Fusible Fleece

* MSQC Sew Light fusible adhesive "double sided"

* June Tailor Pressing Cloth

* MSQC 50# thread "white"

* Aurifil thread 50# red (2260) green (2885)

Talk Soon,

Cat

"Sewing Room Re-do Inspiration"

 Hey quilter's...hope your week is off to a great start. I was thrilled when I received my package from Missouri Star Quilt Company with my "Press On" Iron Toss fabric designed by J. Wecker Frisch for Riley Blake Designs. If you're an antique iron lover or all things vintage notions collector like me then you will fall in love with this fabric. I have an "inspiration area" in my sewing room and my "peg board" needed some love. I've been wanting to cover it with fabric but didn't find the right fabric. Then MSQC recently came out with the "Press On" collection & I was so inspired. I order it right away because I knew it would sell quickly. In fact Mrs. Jenny designed a super adorable quilt using this collection. You can view MSQC website for her pattern & tutorial. My link upper right on home page will take you directly to site. I love this fabric...it compliments my inpiration area perfectly. A few of my old irons are displayed and I even used my iron with a missing handle to prop Jenny Doans inspirational book "Quilting through Life."  A great inspirational book of families stories and history. I might add this would make a great gift for any occassion. Well this is part of my series..."Back 2 School...Sewing Room Re-do" SEW if you have a peg board that needs a little attention check out MSQC for fabric inspiration. This is such a simple project...no sewing...would make a great dorm gift for a college student too :-) I did use Pellon Sheerweight fusible interfacing for a smooth finish on fabric & I used my Olga 45mm rotary cutter for precise cutting. All products can be found on Missouri Star Quilt Comapany's website. I for one need "inspiration" to keep me focused...pics of my daughter & grandson...MSQC quotes "Stitch Happens & Keep Calm & Quilt On" and of course Chuck :-) I hope you enjoy this project and check back soon for more fun & easy projects. Enjoy!

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

MSQC Affiliate

Paid Partnership w/MSQC

Follow me on Instagram...Facebook & Pinterest (links upper right on home page)

Here's all you need...

* Peg board

* "Press On" fabric by J. Wecker Frisch" or your favorite.

* Pellon Sheerweight Interfacing

* MSQC Olga 45mm Rotary cutter for precise cutting

* Clear Push Pins

* Dritz Mighty steam iron.

Here's all you do...

* Measure your "cork area" of Peg Board.

* Iron your fabric.

* Rotary cut your fabric to the size needed plus 1" all around.

* Rotary cut your Pellon fusible interfacing to the size of cork area.

* Fuse to wrong side of  fabric following manufacturer's directions,,,making sure you leave the 1" all around.

Starting at top....

Note...make sure you have your "hooks" for hanging facing right direction before adding fabric :-)

* Using your Dritz iron...press your 1" seam allowance over to the back.

* Tack w/ the clear push pins to adhere fabric to peg board (no sewing or glue needed unless desired) :-)

* Continue this method on all sides...smoothing fabric as you pin.

* Thats it! Now "pin" your inspiration and enjoy!

Honestly, I think this was the easiest...cutest addition to my sewing room...I love a fast project!

Talk soon,

Cat

Jelly Roll Strips 2a Sewing Machine Cover...Phase 2

 Hey quilter's...hope y'all are having a great day. I was able to watch my grandsons scrimage game last night which was wonderful. Being away sure stinks so I truly treasure the moments when I do get to see him play or practice...all take anything! It was a crazy evening though...poured rain...game on..then delayed then back on. But that's football...right? September is fun for me..my grandson's birthday...football pre-season practices and the start of fall. But I do love sewing projects especially this time of year. The weather is so unpredictable...but it's always sunny in my sewing room. Phase 2 and finishing of this fun sewing machine cover is super easy. I love a fun & fast project that uses scraps especially a Jelly Roll. This fabric collection has been a blast to design with and the selvages are perfect. I'm going to incorporate fun selvages anyway I can from now on! I even used one Jelly Roll strip to make the ties! Well there is more fun projects happenning this month so keep checking in and especially pop over to Missouri Star Quilt Companys site for all their Birthday Bash happenings. My link on home page will take you directly to their website for fun daily deals & inspirational tutorials.  Enjoy & talk soon!

Blessed Quilting,

Cat

MSQC Affiliate

Paid Partnership w/MSQC 

Follow me on Instagram...Facebook & Pinterest (links on right of home page)

Here's all you do...

* Starting at the top...fold your border/binding strip over to the back leaving a 1/4" binding on front.

* Fold in half again on back to secure the hem.

* Pin or clip to secure.

* Top stitch on the front to secure your fold.

* Repeat same steps for bottom....left & right sides.

Tip....Place your cover on your machine & mark where you want your ties.

Yes you definately can use a ribbon for your ties but my Jelly Roll ties are super easy :-)

To make the ties....

* Take one Jelly Roll Strip & cut in half.

* Take each half  Jelly Roll strip & rotary cut in half lengthwise (appron 1 1/4 x Jelly roll length)

* You will now have 4 strips.

* For each strip fold in half a 1/4 to inside then fold again to secure.

* Pin or clip.

* Top stitch to secure the fold.

* Pin your ties to the wrong side of cover as desired.

* Top stitch to secure.

Enjoy!

Thank so much for joining me on this fun project.

Check back soon for more!

Cat

Jelly Roll Strips 2a Sewing Machine Cover! Phase 1

Hey quilter's...hope you're having a great week. I know some of you are getting some fall weather. I'm one of those goofy people that do pumpkin bread all year and love pumpkin spice anything. But will admit it does taste a bit better when it is fall. I am excited to share this left-over Jelly Roll Sewing Machine Cover with y'all. The design was inspired by the drapes made from an old quilt top in my previous post. I love how fabric inspires your creatitity. Sometimes the designs...color hues just spark an idea/project that I can't wait to start. I especially love using up scraps. If you like "Jelly Rolls" like I do then you know how much fun they are to use. The "Old Glory" jelly roll designed by Lella Boutique for Moda matched my old quilt top perfectly. So of course this was a "no brainer" to make the well needed sewing machine cover. I have a sewing machine table in front of a window. Probably not the smartest but I love to sew and peek out the window at birds etc. It's very therapeutic for me. But along with that comes with the sun. So this is a fun & easy project for our "back to school...sewing room re-do." I love this fabric collection so much that I evern incorporated the "selvages" in the design! If you don't have left-over Jelly roll strips you can always rotary cut fabric strips 2 1/2" x your desired length. But will mention Missouri Star Quilt Company has a lot of Jelly roll inspiration and fun sales going on this month as well. My link (upper right) on home page will take you directly to their webiste. Also check out their daily deals and inspirational tutorials too. We don't have an affiliate discount to share this month due to all the exciting daily deals that are happening and especially follow their 16th Birthday Bash. Lots of fun & exciting times during the month of September. So keep following...you never know what I might be sharing with Missouri Star Quilt Company :-) Enjoy!

Blessed Quilting,

Cat

MSQC Affiliate

Paid Partnership w/MSQC

Follow me on Instagram...Facebook & Pinterest (links on right of home page)

Jelly Roll Sewing Machine Cover...

Here's all you do...

* Measure you sewing machine (width/length) plus extra for quilting allowance.

* Rotary cut your strips in random pieces for a more scrappy design like I did or do a solid strips.

Note...Jelly Rolls strips finish to a 2" width after sewing w/a 1/4" seam allowance.

* Sew strips with right side together in vertical strips to you achieve your desired width/length.

* Finger press as you go then press when finished.

* Square up to your desired width/length.

Border/Binding....

* Rotary cut your strips 1 1/2" by your top/bottom width...sew w/right sides together...press.

* Rotary cut your strips 1 1/2" by your left/right length...sew as above ...press.

Tip...scrap fabric is great for this step...I use my scraps from Missouri Star Quilt Companys White Missouri Tossed Star. Complimented the fabric great :-)

Quilting....

* Rotary cut your backing fabric...batting to your sewing machine cover size. 

* Layer....backing fabric right side facing down...batting...then quilt top.

* Pin or clip to secure.

* Quilt as desired.

Note...I did a 1/4" accent quilting. This is a fun small project so it's a great time to practice your straight line quilting....I still struggle sewing straight after all these years :-)

Remember...have fun...there's no sewing police in my sewing room!

Check back soon for Phase 2,

Cat

How Fabric Inspires Creativity!

 Hey quilter's...hope you're having a great week. I've been working on my next project that I will be sharing soon with y'all but first want to share something very dear. Have you been inspired just by looking at fabric? Has fabric sparked your inner creativity by the pattern...color hues...textures? Sounds crazy but what I'm going to share with y'all will blow your mind. We all know that I recently made drapes from an old quilt top....well...as I was "carefully pressing" the quilt top I was admiring the pattern & fabric colors. Oh my goodness...I immidiately went to my "scrap basket." My left-over Jelly Roll strips of "Old Glory" by Lella Boutique for Moda fabrics coordinated perfectly. Honestly I got the chills. I've been wanting and needed to make a cover for my sewing machine that I use in front of my window. I get tons of sun and that is also why I will be adding a "mock lining" to the drapes. We all know how much sunlight can cause damage but I also wanted a cover to be super cute. I've procrastinated on this project for quite a while but this definately inspired me to get the project done. After all we are re-doing our sewing room now that we have time with the kiddos being back in school. The pic below is the inspiration for my "Jelly Roll Strips 2 Sewing Machine Cover" that I will be sharing with y'all next week. I wanted to also give y'all a heads up that my discount code with MSQC will be running out at the end of the month. Plus "Jelly Rolls" seem to sell out fast because they are very versatile too. My link to MSQC (upper right on home page) will save you 20% off $50. or more until the end of August. Also check out MSQC webiste for daily deals and inspirational tutorials. If you're like me they have so much to offer that I keep going back to see everything :-) Don't want to miss out on their fun tutorials! So grab your "jelly rolls" and lets get ready to make a super fun & easy sewing machine cover for our "sewing room re-do." Talk soon!

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

MSQC Affiliate

Paid Partnership w/MSQC

Follow me on Instagram...Facebook & Pinterest (links on right of home page)

Quilt Top 2 Drapes...1st Cut w/ Amelia Scissors by MSQC!

 Hey quilter's...hope y'all had a great weekend. I spent mine re-organizing fabrics...making a donate pile for items that I definately know won't be used or by me anyway. I for one know when a quilter passes and you inherit tons of items can be daunting. So I have been doing a little at a time so my daughter won't be left with my crazy U.F.O's :-) My motto lately is...if I haven't used it in 4 years let someone else give it a go! It's actually been fun. Makes you feel good of quilting it forward so to speak in hopes someone will enjoy the items. I have been donating to a local church sewing group that a neighbor has been organizing. They are mostly new quilter's so donating my items will definately help them all. My project that I'm sharing with y'all is very centimental...as you've read in previous post. But I will admit the 'first cut was the hardest." I used my Amelia 8" scissors by Missouri Star Quilt Company for precise cutting by hand. Seriously I haven't cut that much fabric by hand in ages. I love my rotary cutter and normally r/c everything. The biggest tip that I can share before starting this project if using an old tattered quilt top is to carefully spot clean or wash by hand in a very mild detergent. I know...ugh but they shred and tear. There is wonderful quilt detergent/soap on the market but I hand washed with Dawn. I feel if it's safe enough for birds then it should be great for fabric ;-) The previous person might have washed it in a machine and i feel that's one reason why it was so wonky. I did use a little fabric glue on some places but then decided I was just going to keep the torn areas and do the best that I could to honor the quilt top. Again...cutting down the middle was impossible with how wonky it was and fragile. Even cutting by hand was difficult but I'm glad that I did. Also second tip...you will need to carefully...lightly press the quilt top. If you agressively iron with pressure again it will get more wonky as it will stretch on you. I know you are probably going...yuck..then I'm not even going to try. But please do...cherish someones legacy by stitching their legacy forward. Trust me once you do your side seams you can hardly notice :-) I will line mine with Moda Muslin once it arrives due to sunlight. I want the drapes to last and hopefully someone else will admire all this hand piecing like me. I actually did my hem/side seams on my Babylock Jazz II. I took my time due to the wonky-ness but it worked out fine. So don't be afraid to start a fun project like this and cherish someone elses hard piecing. I'll be sharing some more fun tips and tributes to this quilt top this week. It's really fun of how a "quilt top" tells a story as you admire all the squares. Enjoy!

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

MSQC Affiliate

Paid Partnership w/MSQC

Link upper right on home page will save you 20% off $50. or more in August on most supplies. 

Follow me on Instagram...Facebook & Pinterest (links upper right on home page)

Here's all you do...or what I did :-)

* Fold your quilt top in half (verticle) and finger press down the middle to create a cutting line.

* Carefully cut on that line...take your time...if it's wonky/tattered like mine it will shift on you as you cut.

Hem the sides/top/bottom...

* Carefully fold top over to create at least a 1 1/2" fold ...then fold again to secure the raw edge on back.

* Pin or clip to secure.

* Top stitch on front of quilt to secure seam on back.

* Repeat for both sides and top/bottom.

* Lightly press the hem.

Tip...I took my time and actually did a fold n go as I stitched...that way I could carefully fold the quilt top in the areas that were torn and wonky. I used a long running stitch on my babylock with a long stitch length. I truly and pleased with the outcome but every quilt top is different so you stitch yours as needed. Just don't speed sew...take your time...you're sewing a very deliecate item that you are preserving :-)

Note...I kept the length of the quilt top just in case I was to move and my next window is longer. I just let them "puddle on the floor." But you could always do an exact length to accomodate your window if desired. I also used "rings" to secure to the rod. This is another easy method of hanging drapes plus it doesn't put as much "stress" on the quilt and it's very decorative too ;-) 

Here's all you do to hang using the "rings/clips"...

* On the right side of the drapes at the top...Fold over about a 4" hem.

* Then fold that hem back up to the top in half which makes a floating pleat as you position the rings.

* Depending on your width...position the rings/clips about every 4-5"

* Clip all layers of the fabric and hang on your rod.

* Super easy and gives a cute decorative top with new sewing ;-)

* Enjoy!

Note...I will be sharing my easy lining technique soon with y'all once my fabric comes arrives.

Talk soon,

Cat

Project Peek..."Quilt Top 2 Drapes"

 Hey quilter's...happy Friday! I hope y'all have fun but restful plans for the weekend. I know a lot of the kiddos are back in school and I can't wait to hear how my Grandsons week went. Hard to believe he's in 8th grade. Time sure does fly y'all. I started a serirs "Back 2 School...more time for you" w/ a sewing room re-do. In my previous post you can see the fun wall decor. Had a blast with that one...it's sew me :-) A doc told me once to not drink coffee. Yes, can you believe it? But in his defense I did cut back...ugh! The truth is, I don't sleep due to my pain levels & coffee just keeps me going. Well the second part to this fun series is very dear to me. Over ten years ago, while antique shopping in Indiana I came across this 'tattered" but stunning quilt top. I went nuts due to that is one of my passions...collecting quilt tops. The strore owner say me 'eye balling" it and she told me that it is very worn and would be impossible to quilt. Honestly at the time I thought no biggie,,,I can do it. She even preceeded to tell me that she tried and it kept shredding as she worked on it. Again...in my weird quilter's brain I was still thinking "no biggie." I put it down and walked away. Well we checked out with a few items and she then said..."you can have the quilt top for 7 bucks." What!!!!! My fat feet couldn't get over to it fast enough! My husband said "what are you going to do with it?" My reply was 'Who know's but it's mine now!" my thought was...it's all hand pieced and how many stories we're told while sewing it together. Then how did it end up in a quilt shop. How many owners...hands exchanged of people giving up on it. Was it just stuffed in a hope chest? Hoping to get quilted one day? It was pieced with so many fabrics so we're they shirts from loved ones? Oh my gosh y'all...my thoughts to this day wonder. I alway's say...if quilts could talk,,,oh the stories we would here. I know quilting with Oma was my time to hear stories of her childhood and what made her the remarkable woman she became. It's really crazy of how fabric and the art of quilting brings people together. I've carried this quilt top from Indaian...to Texas and now Florida. Seriously! :-) I tried several times to "repair/patch" and it was impossilble." The more you touched it the more it shredded. I told myself one day I will honor this quilt by making something special out of it. I know...you're thinking..."what would you do and how could you cut it up?" Yes...I couldn't cut it up...I had to cherish the design...the hard work that went into it plus I wanted to see it for inspiration. Alot of hard work went into every stitch. When you piece by hand it is time consuming plus hard. Every square was preciously pieced to perfection and that's what intrigued me from the beginning Well, needless to say with my "sewing room re-do" was the time to honor and cherish this stunning quilt. I've wanted drapes in my sewing room and I love the pattern and fabrics so I did it y'all. I actually made this adorable quilt into panels that I will cherish and hope to gift to someone one day. Her legacy or their legacy will continue on as I cherish it everyday as I'm sewing. Yes...it was hard to cut. I had to cut by hand due to it being "wonky." I used my sharp Amelia scissors by Missouri Star Quilt Company and carefully hand cut the quilt in half lengthwise. Starting Monday I will share how the process went just in case you have a "quilt top" lying around. I will admit it was a bit hard to sew with it being so delicate but I'm pleased of the outcome. Due to the strong sunlight that I get in my sewing room I will be lining the panels later. I was able to catch the Moda sale that was going on with MSQC and I ordered Moda Muslin for the lining. I will be doing a "old school trick" of "free floating" the lining due to the delicate quilt top. That is a fun technique that I will be sharing with y'all too. I've got so much to share with y'all of things that I noticed within the quilt even when I was carefully pressing. I hope this might inspire you to purchase an old "tattered" quilt top. Sometimes we do need to keep someones legacy going even if we don't even know them :-) Wishing y'all a great weekend and check back Monday of how this was sewn into drapes and the next project that was inspired from the fabric squares. As the story goes...fabrics bring people together! 

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

MSQC Affiliate

Paid Partnership w/MSQC

(link upper right on home page to save 20% off $50. or more on most supplies.)

Follow me on Instagram...Facebook & Pinterest (links upper right)