A Christmas 2 Remember! Festive Wishes Gnome Gift Bags!

 Hey quilters...hope y'all are having a great weekend and hopefully a fun relaxing one to celebrate Labor Day. If you're needing a super fun project to stitch up this weekend then hang out with me! I've been having a blast using these super cute Gnome Templates gifted to me by Missouri Star Quilt Company. If you're a Gnome lover like me you need to grab these templates while they are still in stock. They are sew versatile to spark your Holiday sewing. I've been designing "Gift Bags" that are 100% re-gift-able using the "Festive Wishes" 5" stamps by Island Batik/Lumin Fabrics. Oh my gosh y'all...the prints of this fabric collection was perfect to compliment the Gnome templates. I a-play-qued around the designs using Aurifil 50# thread on my Brother sewing machine. I love to play with decorative stitches on my machine. You can get creative and add a personal touch to a simple design. I've designed 3 bags so far using the templates that I'll be sharing all using a fun technique of piecing the 5" stamps together. Plus I'll be sharing tips a long the way to make this a super fun...fast & fab project :-) The only extra fabric that I used was for the lining but that is an optional step. I wanted to incorporate some of the Christmas fabric that I recently inherited.The first 2 bags finish roughly at 9" then I have a fun bag to use for small gifts or a gift card. I made gift bags last Christmas and they were a hit so I'm continuing the fun! I'm listing the supplies below to get you started so you too can create a Christmas 2 Remember. Thanks so much for following. Enjoy!

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

MSQC Affiliate

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Here's all you need...

* Gnome Sweet Gnome Template Builder Set by Missouri Star Quilt Co.

* Festive Wishes 5" Stamps by Island Batik/Lumin Fabrics

* Scrap fabric for lining (optional step but gives bag a professional look) :-)

* Aurifil 50 weight thread # 2260...2885

* Pellon fusible fleece

* Missouri Star Quilt Co double sided fusible adhesive

* Applique scissors for trimming around templates and basic sewing notions.

Phase 1...direstions for my design above...

* Select 8 fabric squares from the 5" stamps per bag for the front and back. Set aside.

* Select 2 5" stamps for the top band...set aside.

* Per Gnome (pictured)...

* Select 5" squares desired for the Gnome body...beard....hat...nose

* Rotary cut your fusible adhesive 4 3/4 x 4 3/4 and fuse to wrong side of 5" squares following manufacturer's direstions.

* Trace templates on paper side of square...cut out. Set aside,

Per Mushroom Home...

* Select 2 5" print squares and sew together for the "Mushroom Cap"

* Repeat same method as above for fusing adhesive to wrong side of fabric squares.

* Trace on paper side using the mushroom cap template. Cut out...Set aside.

* Select 2 prints for the mushroom bottom and repeat same method as above...Set aside.

* Select 1 square for the door and repeat same steps as above. Set aside.

Per bag front...

* Sew your 4 squares previously set aside together per design using the 4 Patch method and 1/4" seam allowance. Press seams flat.

* Square/s will be roughly 9 1/2 x 9 1/2.

* Rotary cut Fusible Fleece 9 1/4 x 9 1/4 and fuse to wrong side of square following manufacturers directions.

* On bag front...place your cut outs as desired making sure you peel off paper backing. I layered mine but you do you. These are super fun templates so put your own spin on it if desired :-)

Tip...I use a pressing sheet while fusing to protect my iron from any glue seepage.

A-play-que as desired....

This is where I love to play with my decorative stitches on my Brother sewing machine. Sew fun to try new stitches and get creative. I used a loop stitch to add "lights" around the Gnome Mushroom Home and did straight stitching around the other pieces.

Tip...when a-play-queing around the designs...use a small stitch length to make pivoting easier around the curves.

I sewed on  a "Snowflake button" for the wreath on the front door and glued a old button for the knob.

Remember...get creative and have fun!

Talk soon for Phase 2,

Cat

Cats Christmas 2 Remember "Christmas in Quilt Town Top Finished!"

 Hey quilters...hope your week is off to a great start. We're having weird weather here in Florida but I shouldn't complain considering it's Hurricane season. But I'm like a kid when it comes to lightening...I would be under with bed with my cat if I could fit :-) I also don't like to be on the computer or on my sewing machine during storms. I know...I'm a bit too cautious. But that's me! Well...I recently finished the quilt top using the Christmas in Quilt Town 10" squares that was gifted to me from Missouri Star Quilt Company. I've had a blast with this stunning collection and the pattern "Starburst" is sew clever with the techniques stated within the pattern. I seriously will be using this pattern especially when I need a fast gift too. I was so excited when the top was finished and you know me of how I like to take pictures in progress. But....we had a bit of a "photo shoot" malfunction....misshap...cat happened....whatever you want to call it :-). I don't know what it is but when I lay fabric out and Aurifil thread my sweet cat "Lottie" arrives. I should know this is going to happen....she loves to sling Aurifil thread scross the room plus she almost stepped on "Chuck." The good news is Chuck was not harmed and I finally found the thread under my couch but gosh what a morining! Plus if you're like me...you press your quilt tops before taking pics. Right? So please excuse the wrinkles in the quilt top...I finally just gave up! Yup...one day I'll learn :-) On a serious note...check out this stunning collection of Christmas in Quilt Town precuts on MSQC website. You can get a better view of how beautiful this collection is with all the Christmas prints and sewing notions within the fabrics. Super cute and you too will be stitchin' up a Christmas 2 Rmember in no time at all! Plus the Starburst quilt pattern comes together sew quickly and is great for beginners as well. I used Green fabric from a stash that I inherited for the borders so this quilt is super special. I'm off to my next project that I'll be sharing with you so check back soon. Thank so much for following!

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

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Christmas in Quilt Town top using Starburst quilt pattern by MSQC...

Cats Tip of the Day! "Sewing HST's"

 Hey quilters...it's midweek already...for me it's going a bit too fast. Sometimes I get that quote .."I can't adult today" :-) But we all know it's a part of life...but....don't you have those days where you just want to hang out in your sewing room...drink coffee in your pj's and listen to Christmas music? Don't laugh but that's what I did this morning. It was the best few minutes of my life! :-) I love sewing Christmas quilts...brings me joy knowing that I'll be making a loved one happy soon. Every year I tell myself to start sewing early to avoid the last minute sewing rush. Well, I started early this year and I bet I'll still be sewing up a last minute gift or two. As you know I've been Stitchin' up Christmas with the Christmas in Quilt Town 10" precuts that was gifted to me from Missouri Star Quilt Company. The prints and color hues inspired me to use the "Starburst" pattern by MSQC. It was the perfect pattern for this collection. But my design brain wanted to use as many of tho precuts in this collection as possible. Yes...you can make it as stated in the pattern using a coordinate for your HST's. I did not...shocker...but I did realise something very important while piecing the squares togther. My HST's needed to go a certain direction as per the pattern design. So when sewing my rows together to keep the Starburst design from going in the "wrong direction"...I would place a "quilt pin" at the upper left corner of the row that I was adding on. Trust me..my cutting table is only 4 feet away from my sewing machine and for some odd reason I can manage to flip a block in the wrong direction. If it happens...no big deal...just carefully remove the stitches sewn and sew correctly. This tip has really helped me a lot sewing other designs as well. Just remember to place your pin away from your seam line that you will be sewing and remove before quilting. My other "tip" is a funny one. Years ago my late mother-in-law asked me..."do you trim your dog ears off your HST's?" Hmm...honestly I laughed. I thought what the world are dog ears and why would I be trimming them off my HST's. She said carefully remove them so you don't have the added bulk when sewing your squares together. Clever right? Well...you know me by now I'm going to use those "dog ears" to my advantage. When a block says "square up" to a certain size...especially while sewing the fast method of HST's...I don't trim away the "dog ears" until I have rotary cut the square to the size needed. This is a helpful trip if you are piecing this Starburst pattern due to so many HST's. Plus it never huts to have a friendly reminder to not "forget" a very important step :-) I hope these tips help you when piecing HST's. It's one of my favorite blocks due to it being so versatile when designing a quilt. The pic below shows how my Starburst quilt is coming along plus I circled the quilter's pin for you. I having a blast sewing this design on my Brother machine. I can't wait to start quilting it using the Aurifil colors hues in red and green. Thanks so much for following and check back soon for more fun...fast & fab projects. Talk soon!

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

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HST tip...

Starburst Christmas quilt progress...

Cats "Still Stitchin' up Christmas!"

 Hey quilters...hope your weekend is full of stitching projects. I've been stitchin' up Christmas still in my sewing room. I know "Christmas in July" is over but for me Christmas stitchin' is all year. I love to make gifts and it seems every year Christmas comes around too fast. I was recently gifted Christmas in Quilt Town 10" precuts by Missouri Star Quilt Company. The fabric collection is filled with brigt Christmas hues and prints in stripes...dots...trees...poinsettias...candy canes..sewing notions and Chuck! I knew right away what pattern I was going to use. I've been holding on to "Starburst" quilt pattern by MSQC for a bit now just waiting for the right fabric. The pattern uses 10" precuts and with the techniques within the pattern you will be stitchin' up a Holly Jolly quilt in no time :-) The pattern is sew versatile and fast. You can choose a accent fabric per design or pair 2 10" squares together of Christmas in Quilt Town precuts. I did the math in my EQ8 software and you will have 10 squares left over. Perfect to make a holiday pillow or table square or whatever your heart desires. I'm having a blast coordinating the fabrics together with this festive collection. It's sew fun and will compliment any decor. I'm sewing and quilting on my Brother sewing machine using Aurifil 50# thread.  I love a fun...fast & fab project that comes 2gether quickly. Don't you? This will definately be a Christmas 2 Remember! Pop on over to MSQC webiste to view more of this Holiday collection and last time I look the Starburst quilt pattern was still available :-) I hope this inspires you to keep sewing up those holiday gifts. This would also make a great pattern to follow for new quilters too. I have more Christmas projects coming soon. And yes...you know me...I just might throw in a Spooky one too :-) Thanks so much for following and talk soon!

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

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

Christmas in Quilt Town using Starburst pattern....

Coming along :-)...

Cats "Christmas 2 Remember w/ Festive Wishes by Lumin Fabrics!"

Hey quilters...it's Friday...but already August 1st. Geez how does this happen! If you're like me Christmas comes along too fast. I've been sharing on Instagram and Facebook stockings that I've made using Festive Wishes by Lumin Fabrics...Island Batiks along with the Simple HST Stockings pattern by Missouri Star Quilt Co. The fabrics and pattern will definately spark your holiday sewing. I've made the small stocking and medium size and soon to be the large. I had a blast with the pattern. It comes with 3 sizes and instructions to make the ones or get creative and try the other ways noted in pattern. The pattern is super easy to follow along and you can create your own design too. I a-play-qued my stockings using Aurifil 50# thread playing with decorative stitches on my brother sewing machine. I love to hang stockings around the house as decor & give as gifts. The batiks are stunning in this collection and you can view more on MSQC website. I will also be starting a Christmas scrap-a-long soon using this collection Festive Wishes. It's never too soon to start your Holiday stitching. Well for me anyway :-) So check back soon

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

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

Festive Wishes Stockings...

"Small size"

"Medium size"...