Cats "Tip of the Day!"...marking blocks/rows when sewing/quilting :-)

 Hey quilter's...hope your weekend is off to a great start. Recently I was watching one of my favorite shows "Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting" and saw this tip. I love this show and at the end they share tips from viewers. This tip is genius! I always mark my squares/blocks with a "paper scrap" labeled with the number but this is "sew much easier." This tip recently helped me because I sew a lot of "directional half-square-triangles." I did add pins labeled "Top/Bottom/Left/Right" for borders. I am working on a design that I'll be sharing soon, and the pattern has an "advanced tip" of directional borders. I do have to say, if you know me, this tip had a reason behind it! It is no fun...ripping out a border after you have it sewn on perfectly and realize your half-square triangles are facing the wrong direction. It happens! I guess that's why we all have a "seam ripper." :-) Needless to say, I'm sharing this tip for a great-fun-soon-2b-posting design! So, check back soon. As always, I promise it will be a fun & easy design! #Less-stress-quilting!

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

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Cats "Scrapin' a-play-que Series"...Kids Project...Quilted Wall hanging in a Weekend...Phase 2

 Hey quilter's....hope y'all are having a great weekend and enjoying this fun project. Today you will be finishing your wall hanging & "blinging it out" if desired. I'll be showing some tips of how I did this sweet design but remember let your creativity go! A wonderful thing about sewing/quilting it really inspires your "inner creativity." I believe there is no "wrong" in creating...just an opportunity to make things a little different and possibly a better version. Quilt designs have evolved tremendously in the years that I've been quilting. Designs have become a work of art... combining old and new to create unique designs. When I learned to quilt, we "tied" certain quilts and when we quilted, we used our "presser foot" as our guide. We didn't have "fancy tools and rulers." Maybe that's why I'm obsessed with my rulers and all the color hues of "Aurifil thread." I hope you continue to follow along and explore how sewing/quilting can be therapeutic for the soul. So, let's finish this fun wall hanging!

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

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www.cookinganddecorwithcat.blogspot.com

Here's all you do...

*Press sides again if needed

*Starting at top of block...Fold over about an inch or binding to back side and press. 

*Fold in again and press/pin or clip to close your binding on back side. 

*Sew "in the ditch" on right side of your block...this will give you a finished hem on back of your block as well....(c pic)

*Repeat same process for bottom...then left and right border...Press as you go if needed. 

* You will have a closed binding on back...#less-stress-quilting! (see pic)

You did it....be proud of what you have created! Now technically you're finished unless you decide to "add some bling." Just remember to "erase" any pencil marks before embellishing your design.

Here's all you do...

*Fuse heatnbondlite to the wrong side of your fabric (following manufactures directions)

*Trace your design on paper side but remember your design will be reversed. I used a stencil for this design and then carefully using sharp scissors cut the design out. Then following manufacturer's directions, I fused to block in center. 

Tip...I used a "circle template" to help keep my design in order (see pic)

* I then adding some "jewels" using glue specifically for adhering jewels to fabric. 

Get creative or just stand back and say those "chevron lines" look amazing and that's how I'm keep it :-)

Just remember....no matter what you decide to always have fun!

Cats "Scrapin'-a-play-que Series"...Kids project "Quilted Wall Hanging in a weekend!" Phase 1

 Hey quilters...hope y'all have been having a great summer. It's pretty HOT here in Florida...even the gators are laying low. As promised, the last but not least summer project for kids is a fun & easy wall hanging. The one pictured is a baby gift for a girl's room but you can totally change this design into a boy or girls' design. Change your fabric per your design. The chevron quilting is pretty basic for any age. You'll be learning "straight line quilting using your pressor foot as your guide"...You know me...#less-stress-quilting!" This would aslo make a great "4-H project" design in your school colors. What a fun gift for someone going off to college as well. Anyway, the instructions are easy to follow along and today I'll be posting "phase 1." I quilted with Aurifil 50 weight thread #1320, 2710, 2588 & used 2 fat quarters for the front and scrap fabrics from Michael Miller Fairy Frost. I love how the thread & fabric complement each other nicely. Her room has blue tones, so I accented a few stitch lines to bring out her colors. At the end I embellished with a wreath design traced from scraps & then added a "little bling" with some rhinestone beads. Embellish the design as you wish. Remember this is your design...get creative but most of all have fun! Sew let's get started! :-)

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

Follow on Facebook...Pinterest & Instagram @ihearditthroughthequiltvine

www.cookinganddecorwithcat.blogspot.com

Wall Hanging (16.5 x 16.5)

Here's all you need...

*2 Fat quarters

*Batting/Backing (roughly half yard each...borders will be cut from same fabric)

*Ruler w/ a 1/4" seam mark

*Aurifil thread to compliment your fabric :-)

Here's all you do...

*Rotary cut one fat quarter to 12.5 x 12.5 (includes 1/4" seam allowance)

*Lightly mark with your preferred method (I use a #2 Pencil, then erase later) a 1/4" seam all around your square to make sure you don't sew into your "seam allowance" 

*Now divide your square into sections...using your pencil mark 4 diagonal lines & four horizontal lines creating 4 (3"sections) per row....16 sections all together. (see pic)

*Using your ruler as your guide...mark diagonal lines in each 3" square...alternating angels creating the "chevron design" Repeat with each square. Then come back to each square and draw a 1/4" line from original marking to create your sewing lines. Repeat this process until your grid is complete or your desired design. (see pics)

Step 2...adding Border/Binding

*In this step you will be adding on your "border strips and your binding strip". What..binding now too...Yes, this is my "Border/Binding technique" that I lazily love to do :-)

*Rotary cut 2 strips to 1 1/2 by 12 1/2 (includes 1/4 seam allowance) ...Sew to top and bottom of your block...press...square up corners as needed. 

*Rotary cut 2 strips 1 1/2 x 14 1/2 and using same method as above sew to left and right side of block.

*For second row of borders...repeat same method but your border strips should be rougly 1 1/2 x 14 1/2 for top and bottom (you can square up extra) and 2 strips 1 1/2 x 16 1/4 for left and right side of block. 

Press and square up as needed. 

Now for your "border strip"...rotary cut 2 1/2 wide x the top/bottom/right and left side of square and using the same method as above for sewing and squaring up. 

TIP...while you are pressing only press your border strips...not your pencil marks with the squares :-)

*Now turn block over and measure the inside of block w/borders...but only add One inch. You will now rotary cut your batting and backing to this size. The extra length is not added onto at this time because you will later turn the "binding strip over to the back for your finished edge) 

*Place your backing piece (right side down)

Your batting piece on top

Block (right side facing you) :-)

Pin or clip to secure in place. 

Quilt on your grid lines creating the chevron design or quilt as desired. Have fun...remember this is your design so let your creativity flow! :-)

Tip...

Carefully use your hands to hold fabric in place when quilting. If you have "small hands" a child's garden gloves with a gripper back work wonderfully ;-)

Next phase you'll be finishing the border and embellishing :-)