Connor's Rear Window

Last year, our 17 year old son Connor, discovered the beautiful, Gracy Kelly.  Alfred Hitchcock's famous film, "Rear Window", became his favorite movie.  You have to see it to understand the name of Connor's quilt.

I used Kate Conklin's tutorial on fussy framed blocks. 

 labeled with Heather Ross, of course.

Exercising? Accessorizing? how about QUILTING!!

I can't come to the gym for my training session today, Val.   I'm at home quilting, I mean, I'm home in bed with a fever :)

Olivia Strip Quilt

Who can resist a strip quilt?  My good friend Nettie @ a quilt is nice, introduced them to me.  Here is one of hers with Katie Jump rope fabrics.

Olivia fabrics make a great strip quilt.

Be sure you "stitch in the ditch" between your fabrics, and where your stripes are wider, quilt inside.

 

 A tight stipple around figures makes them POP!

Beany Boy Quilts

 Meet Benay of Beany Boy Quilts, a very talented artist and passionate quilter.  Some of her beautiful quilts feature fabrics manufactured by Moda and Riley Blake.

Being a mother of children, some of her quilts are interactive, bringing a whole new dimension to quilting.   She invited me to help in her booth at Market in Houston this past fall.  If I had a day, I'd tell you about all the things we learned, people we met, treasures we purchased (or didn't purchase), and all the hard work we put into this incredible experience!

Here are some of her interactive children's quilts:

This one is called SUGAR HIGH.  It was the most popular pattern.  It has some simple applique, and has a Pantograph designed especially for it by Benay, as do most of her quilts.

This beautiful quilt is called LOVE BUD.  It also has some simple applique and it's own Pantograph.  

 PETAL PARTY is an interactive quilt.  Behind each flower pedal and leaf, you will find pictures, for a matching game.

 
FARMING FUN has corn, carrots and strawberries which can be velcroed to their designated spot, or housed in a pocket.

  corn . . .

 carrots . . .

This one is called SECRET POCKETS, to be filled with what ever your imaginative child can find. 

Her quilts have been officially and throughly, "kid tested" and approved.  You can find her patterns here.

Don't forget to look at Benay's pantographs here.  My favorite is "drip", so adorable!

Rice Warmers

Have you ever worried about keeping your heating pad with you in bed while plugged in all night?  Looking for the perfect solution?

For Christmas gifts we made Rice Warmers.  You can use them in place of a heating pad for soreness or cramps.  You can take one to bed with you on a cold night.  If made correctly, they can stay warm for 20 to 30 minutes.  

Pick 2 coordinating, pre-washed fabrics.  I found some in my Heather Ross stash.  Flannel works well, though a tight weave such as poplin, gives a light feel to the skin:  

 

 Lay your fabrics right sides together, cutting both at the same time.
 Using your rotary cutter, cut 2 - 8.5 x 14 inches.
 Sew around 3 sides, leaving a smaller end open.  Trim corners.

 Turn right side out, and press.

 Turn under unfinished edges and press.

 Fill with 8 1/2 cups rice (largest size grain you can find).  Sew 1/8th inch seam along pressed opening, double stitching at beginning and end.

Put your Rice Warmer in a clean microwave for 3 1/3 - 4 min.  You will have to experiment on the time.
Enjoy!

 

We made some with pannels, but I don't think they'll stay warm as long.

Hamilton's 9 square slash

 Take 9 -5 inch squares, and sew them into a block, slash down the middle, and again across.  Lay your squares out, and randomly toss them.  White Kona sashing makes your blocks pop.  

I love this quilt, it finished up real nice.  I had a hard time letting it go, but it went to the home of our newly married son and his darling wife and I know it will be loved and appreciated.  (Hamilton is the name of their dearly loved pet Hedgehog . . . yes, you heard right).

 This was my first quilt made with bamboo batting.  It is so soft, and light weight.  Please leave me a comment if you have used bamboo batting.

 I love meander quilting.  It is by far the fastest to quilt.  I picked a variegated thread for this one.

 I found a fun new way to add a little more character to a quilt, and use my sacred Heather Ross scraps at the same time.

Basic Quilt Making

Laura's Fish - A beginner quilt - this post has a lot of good information for the beginning quilter.

Chasing Cottons - 12 week course from beginning to end. 

 Week 1 - Fabric - Choosing fabric, fabric designers, fabric bundles, Fat Quarters, jelly Rolls etc, Where to buy fabric locally or online overseas, shipping costs.. My favorite online shops etc.

Week 2 - Design - 'Sew as you go' OR the Designer - Using a graph book and planning, no rules.. Books/ blogs/ flickr... all the online sources or inspiration..
                             - Design Tips with Jennifer from That Girl That Quilt
                             - Design Tips with Amy from Amy's Creative Side

Week 3 - Cutting - Tools I use, how to cut your material properly, to wash or not to wash, incorporating seam allowances etc.
                             - To wash or not to wash??  Leanne from Mount Vincent Quilts
                             - Cutting Tips - with Rachel from Stitched in Colour

Week 4 - Sewing - Your machine, threads, needles, 1/4" foot, seam allowances, joining seams accurately, pins, 
                            - Threads, Needles and Pins,  Cindy from Live a Colorful Life

Week 5 - Constructing your Quilt Top
                - Part (A) Sections, Chain Piecing..Design
                        - Part (B)
                        - English Paper Piecing with Saffron Craig
                        - Raw Edge Applique with Jess from Twin Fibers
                        - Stack and Slash Tutorial with Kate from Kate Conklin Designs.

Week 6 - Borders - adding borders the correct way, 

Week 7 - Batting - The different types and what each one is used for..
                                            - The Pro's and Con's of Batting - Amy - Diary of a Quilter
                                            - Piecing Batting by Machine Tutorial - Vicki - Sew Inspired

Week 8 - Backing for your Quilt - Different backing fabrics, creating a pieced back, How much fabric required...Check out the Linky's in today's class for tons of inspiration!! 

Week 9 - Basting - how to Baste your quilt, spray? Pins? Types of pins? Tape etc..
                                            - Spray Basting Tutorial with Kristie from OCD

Week 10 - Quilting by machine - Straight line Quilting, using a guide, free motion quilting, stitching in the ditch etc..
                                           - How I'm Quilting my QC Quilt!

Week 11 - Quilting by hand - Cottons to use, technique, needles, hoops..
                                           - Hand Quilting my QC Quilt

Week 12 - Binding - By machine or by hand.. or both.
                                                - Fusible Thread and Binding Tutorial from Amelia, Stitch 'n' bits.

Week 13 - Labels - Labeling your Quilt with Krista from Poppyprint


Other good Basic Quilt Making sites:

Basic Rotary Cutting Tutorial
The only thing I would add to her tutorial is to press your fabric WITH STARCH before cutting.  It gives you a cleaner cut and makes your fabric easier to work with.

Oh Frasson - quilt making basic
quilt making basics, projects, pattern downloads


Missouri Quilt Star Co. - video tutorials
videos for beginning and intermediate quilters, projects 


Crazy Mom Quilts - quilt making basics
binding, grid quilting, free motion quilting, quilt pattern tutorials 


Film in the Fridge - basic pattern tutorials 
straight line quilting, 505 spray adhesive, strip quilts, pillowcases, and other quilt patterns and projects.


Fat Quarterly - index of basic quilt making tutorials online
scroll to the bottom to see the index.