Scrapin' w/ Cat Quilt-a-long..."Cookie Cutter Christmas" (Phase 3)

 Hey quilter's....hope y'all are having a great weekend. Well phase 3 of my Cookie Cutter Christmas Quilt-a-long is "sew" much fun. I had to laugh due to this is the one part that you don't "see" a lot of progress. This step you will be doing "raw edge applique." Depending on your technique used you might not even "see" your stitches. But you just need to know that this step is very important. Doing a raw edge applique "secures" your cookie cutter design in place. Using Sulky light-weight tear-away stabilizer will keep your stiches "taught" & your design very neat. The stabilizer will make "stcitching" around the curves easy. I used Aurifil 50 weight # 2692 and you can hardly see my stitches. Use a thread that blends with your fabric or choose a thread that accents your design. Enless Possibilities! 

Have fun & remember...less-stress-quilting!

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

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Here's all you need...

*Sulky light-weight-tear-away Stabilizer

*Aurifil thread

Heres all you do...

Layout your design & number your blocks if you did the "advanced step." See pic.

Decide what stitch you will be using for your "raw edge applique"

Tip...small stitch length makes piviting around corners easier :-)

Rotary cut your stabilizer a bit larger than your square.

Tip...I like to use double-sided tape to temporary secure stabilizer to fabric....trim tape to a 1/4" depth and place on edge or your fabric. Or use pins to secure.

Applique as desired.

I chose to only stitch stitch on the inside edge of my snowflake then I'll do some "accent stitching" around snowflake once I get to the quilting stage. 

Do the same if you wish. 

Tip...if you are appliqueing with more then one thread hue try to applique each block while using that thread hue. No need to keep changing your top threads. One reason why I number my squares to keep in the correct order. #less-stress-quilting!

Quick q....don't y'all love my "temporary design wall"....or floor....I have to admit I'm gonna miss putting my blocks on the floor once I finish my sewing room. Sometimes we just need to do what works and it is definatley working for now anyway :-)

Talk soon for Phase 4 :-)

Scrapin' w/Cat Quilt-a-long..."Cookie Cutter Christmas" (Phase 2)

 Hey quilter's...hope your weekend is off to a great start. Weather "calm" here in sunny Florida this morn. Enjoying 'cause you never know when it will change here! Still not used to "hurricanes" but trying :-) Well here is Phase 2 of my Scrapin' Quilt-a-long. You will see the fabric is changed up a bit but that is due to my daughter's Christmas theme. So I am combining "Country & Christmas." That's what makes this "Sew Easy" & Fun..."One design...Sew Many Ways!" I'm also including an advanced option for the "Snowflake Cookie Cutter" block. Remember...this is your quilt project...change it up as you wish...let your creativity flow! You'll be making 9 Snowflake squares of your desired fabric but the techniques are the same. #less-stress-quilting! Have fun & talk soon for "Phase 3" :-)

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

email q's cmhdesigns2@yahoo.com

Follow on Facebook & Pinterest & www.cookinganddecorwithcat.blogspot.com

*Advanced Option...

Here's all you need...

*Snowflake Cookie Cutter

*desired "Scrap Fabric"

* HeatnBond Lite

Here's all you do...

*Rotary Cut your "Snowflake Cookie Cutter" background fabric to 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 squares (this includes a 1/4" seam allowance.

Repeat for 9 squares. 

Tip...depending on your "Scrap Fabric"...rotary cut length then subcut into blocks. 

*Press your "Snowflake fabric"

Rotary cut fabric to allow for your "Snowflake shape" Mine is 4 1/2 x 4 1/2. So I rotary cut my strips to be 5" wide to make it easier. 

*Following Manufacturer's Directions...fuse HeatnBond lite to the wrong side of Starflake fabric.

*On "paper side" trace using a pencil the outline of Snowflake Cookie Cutter. (see pic)

Tip...I rotary cut my HeatnBond Lite a bit smaller then size needed. This helps when fusing so "glue" doesn't seep out. 

Using sharp scissors cut along outline of Snowflake.

*Peel backing off & fuse Starflake to the center of "right side" of your block.

Repeat for all 9 blocks.

Advanced tip...

Follow same method above but "change it up a bit" by adding in some Smaller Snowflakes using a smaller cookie cutter.

Position larger "Snowflake" off centered in block & add in a small one or two :-) 

Just remember to allow for your 1/4" seam allowance (see pic)

I positioned small snowflake then using a square up ruler drew a 1/4 line then cut snowflake before fusing. Use ruler to guide on square when positioning snowflake for fusing too (see pic)

Repeat as desired for all 9 blocks. 

Tip...you can also "rotate" your blocks when we get to the stage of sewing blocks together. This will also give your design even more character. 

Remember have fun! #less-stress-quilting!

Talk soon for "Phase 3"

Note...White fabric is from "Quilting Treasures"...has tiny stars...love using this fabric for the Holiday projects :-) Who knows where I purchased the red/black check. Just using my "scraps/stash" :-)

"Cat's Tip of the Day!"

 Hey quilter's....hope your day is going well & having fun putting your scrap project together. I wanted to share this with y'all. My "scrap project" will feature bright red...black...and white scraps for my daughter's Snowflake Runner. My biggest concern was using "red scraps" along with "white scraps." We all know how red can bleed and definately don't want that too happen. Well first tip is that when I do wash my fabric I do take "pinking sheers" and tip off the corners before washing the fabric. This is a great 'reminder" when you do come across your red scraps and wonder....was that washed? Sometimes you can tell by the texture of the fabric scraps if has been washed. But my "OCD" kicks in...I know also known as "Only Cat Does." But when you've had fabric bleed into a project it really makes you extra careful :-) 

My other tip is I alway's use a mesh laundry bag for those pieces of fabrics that I'm not so sure if previously washed. These mesh bags come in different sizes and are a great investment. I do keep one aside for my "dark items". Again.,,,my "OCD" :-) Another benefit is those tiny scrap pieces don't get lost in your washing machine. Anyway, I hope this "Scrapin' tips helps."

Have fun & talk soon for Phase 2!

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

email q's 

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Scrapin' w/Cat Quilt-a-long..."Cat's Cookie Cutter Christmas" (Phase 1)

 Hey quilter's....hope all is well and your week is off to a great start. As promised...my "Scrapin' w/Cat (me) Quilt-a-long is ready & I hope you are as well. It's hard to believe that it's mid September and that's when I start gearing up for Holiday gift giving. I love making "handmade" gifts & with this quilt-a-long you'll be using your scraps....stash....or what I love to say..."my little pretties" :-) If you're like me those little scrap pieces are just as beautiful as the "yardage" they're cut from. The inspiration came from my favorite time of year...making cookies & cinnamon toast with my Grandson using this "snowflake cookie cutter." My Quilt-a-long is designed for any stage....beginner to advanced. I will share easy or advanced techniques along the way & you can put your own spin on it. My design concept is "One design...Sew Many Ways from Country to Coastal to Christmas!" You can easily enlarge the design plus I'll be posting "mini" projects too!  I believe in "less stress quilting" so I hope you follow along. "Sew grab your Scraps & Aurifil thread & let's have some fun 2gether."

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

email q's cmhdesigns2@yahoo.com

Follow on Facebook, Pinterest & www.cookinganddecorwithcat.blogspot.com

Here's what you need to get started...

Scraps of your desired design

Snowflake Cookie Cutter ( I used Wilton)

Heatnbond lite

Aurifil thread :-)

*note....runner below is 14.5 x 49.5

Talk soon for "Phase 2"

"Country Cookie Cutter Christmas"

                                                   "Coastal Cookie Cutter Christmas"

                                                        "Cookie Cutter Christmas"

                                                                  "My Inspiration"

Scrapin' w/ Cat Quilt-a-long....gift 4 any occasion..."Scrapin' Coastal Fold-n-Go Tic-Tac-Toe!"

 Hey quilter's...hope y"alls week is going great. Today I'm a bit older...which I could say wiser :-) So today, I'm relaxing and starting off my "Scrapin' w/Cat Quilt-a-long." Easy & fun projects to use up our scrap stash. Although don't be shocked when your "stash pile" starts to grow. Oh my goodness....after designing some of these upcoming projects, I now have evern smaller pieces to use. I put them in a zip lock back 'cause I was afraid where they'd end up :-) "Sew grab your Scraps & Aurifil thread & lets have some fun 2gether!"

Below is a design that I did recently for my daughter's birthday. We all love going to the coast but sometimes it's hard with the wind and water to break out a game to play. We've alway's loved tic-tac-toe. Especially my grandson. I needed to come up with a unique fabric that wouldn't care if got wet plus wanted to use up my "scrap pieces." I came across this "dish mat" while shopping and thought..."that's it...plus it was the right color." I knew that it would need to be a "coastal design" and the blue mat was perfect. My family love's starfish and turtles so that was an easy choice for the x's & o's. My biggest challenge was the blocking of the squares. I went through my scraps and was going to do it from strips of fabric but them thought of the "rope" for a more coastal feel. You can easily use fabric strips to mark your squares or even "craft tape." Dish Mats come in all different sizes so just mark up your design and then decide on the size square for each X & O. I used "fabric glue" and pinned in place while I was designing the squares. I tied knots along the way to give more of the "coastal look "Thís was a bit time consuming but I'm please with how it turned out plus they loved it...win win! Again....craft tape would work great if you want to make it easier. I did the "starfish & turtle squares" just like my previous posts on "trivets." Use the same method but just adjust to your desired square size and design. I made 5 each just in case one got lost but do as many as you desire. I had so much fun using my scraps and making a fun & practical gift that I'm designing another one for Christmas. I love it when a gift comes together easy that inspires me to make more :-) 

This design is so practical...I used "sticky back tape" to hold the pieces in place while playing if the wind was blowing plus it keeps the squares in place for storage. Just fold-n-go!

Have fun with the design....change it up...makes a great gift for any Season...plus you're using your scraps! :-) Enjoy!

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

email q's cmhdesigns2@yahoo.com

Follow on Facebook & Pinterest and www.cookinganddecorwithcat.blogspot.com

 

"Labor Day Weekend starts Quilting Season?"

 Hey quilter's....hope all is well & you're enjoying Labor Day Weekend. I saw a quilting humor post that really did make me laugh. It stated "Labor Day Weekend starts Quilting Season." If I waited to start my quilting projects "Labor Day Weekend," I'd never get anything finished. Especially now when I can only sit and sew a bit at a time. The old saying is true "have your ironing board" away from you so you do "have to" get up. Having back problems and sewing don't mix well but little tips like that one does help! Don't give up your passion just "rearrange" your sewing/quilting room to accomodate your needs. I'm going to try sewing at my cutting table this week. After all "longarm" quilter's mostly stand. Maybe theirs some significance to it...I'll let you know if it helps :-) Well....here's a little humor below that I especially love now that I'm on a "special diet." You just never know what the next day will bring so enjoy every moment you can. Stay following this week....I'll be posting some fun gifts & will start my "Stash Quilt-a-long" I've had a blast designing it and finishing it up this weekend. :-) Have a Great Labor Day!

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

email q's cmhdesigns2@yahoo.com

Follow on Facebook & Pinterest

also www.cookinganddecorwithcat.blogspot.com