So Pretty Christmas Star

I'm back with my Christmas in July tutorial with Sew Lux Fabric!

Chrissy has set up a series of tutorials this week, including a link up, coupon code, and prizes at the end! :)

I was working with the 25th and Pine line from Basic Grey. I plan to turn this block in to a table topper, but for now, here is my So Pretty Christmas block!



The pattern will be available for free on Craftsy for a limited time, and then I'll turn it in to a full-fledged block pattern with multiple sizes.

...when I finish this one in progress.

The pattern is compatible with a charm pack, a little background, and some larger scraps (5" x 6 1/2" is the largest size needed -- info is in the pattern).

The pattern includes the paper piecing templates, directions, and a coloring page!

(it does not include a full paper piecing tutorial...)



Enjoy! ♥

Source: So Pretty Star via traceyjay on Craftsy

Union Jack quilt for Ty (finished quilt and free block pattern)

I got the quilt for this little guy done last week, and mailed it Wednesday morning.  It arrived Saturday, just in time for his birthday on Sunday!  *phew!*

Previous posts on this quilt here, and here.
Tutorial for similar quilt here (quilt size is different).
Free Union Jack block pattern in my Craftsy shop here.

This was a custom order for a little guy who is just a few days younger than Steiger.  His mama is British, and wanted a Union Jack theme.  We picked out some fabrics with an Anglophilic flair, and she said she wanted his name, and that flag in there.

I could not find a pattern I liked, so I made one.  I think it really looks great in there too!

I re-sized my Bricks in Bloom quilt so it was a nice twin size, this was (64" x 88").

Rachel posted this picture of the quilt on the bed (by the way - I didn't make the sham), and I was so glad it fit so well!

She says he loved it too. ♥

I free motioned the quilt all over, except in the flag part.

For the backing, it's mostly a cute plaid print. 

Hooray for another quilt finished!

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My friend Lindsey just emailed me this picture!  I LOVE the fabrics she used!  (and am happy that the pattern works!) ;)

Treasure Boxes Quilt Along - piecing

Sorry they weren't up yesterday... but here you go! :)

Piecing instructions for the Treasure Boxes Quilt Along. :)
See previous posts here.



Get a pdf copy of these directions here.

After step 1, you do not have to trim your HST's to make your design work, but if you'd like to trim them to 8 1/2" square (unfinished), then they will be perfectly perfect. :)

Make 12 blocks for the larger size (cut from fat quarters).
Make 20 blocks for the charm size!

Don't forget to add your photos to the flickr group!  (You can see Michelle was a bit of an over-achiever). :)

You have 2 weeks to make your blocks!  We'll be linking up the week of the U.S.Thanksgiving with finished/donated quilts  for a chance to win fabulous prizes from Julie at The Intrepid Thread! :)

P.S. I'm doing a pattern giveaway over on facebook because we hit 100 "likes!" :)
Go tell me which pattern you'd like to win, and I'll pick a winner on Monday. :)

Pretty Poof crib mobile

I made this for Scarlet's crib.

If you want to make one too -- head over to Angela's today for her SewLess Summer! :)

The coolest thing happened when I took this outside for pictures.

I was hanging it, and look closely...

cute, no?

I think so too.

These are a little bit time consuming, but fun to put together.

Hope you enjoy!

(and yes, of course they're pink). ;)

Sweet Baby Diamonds are here!

Finally!  

My LONG ago promised tutorial for these quilts is up at the modabakeshop!

If you're new here -- welcome!

I have to give my little disclaimer -- this tutorial does not give all the specific measurements; however, I did make two of these quilts (with slight variations), and tried to share my methods for those who might want to try a design that seems intimidating (at first).  I would recommend some quilting background, but then you should be able to use the tutorial and end up with something like those things pictured up there.

But I'm not making any promises. ;)

Story on the quilts --

The boy version was started forever ago, but then I changed my mind on the design, and then I made it in Sunkissed and gave it to my new niece, and then the quilt sat.  And sat and sat and sat.  And my belly grew and grew.

Then I had a baby, and the baby this was going to was almost 1 -- so I got it finished.

Then I didn't want to write the tutorial (those are a lot of work yo!)  BUT -- I did it this weekend. :)

And I hope you all like it!

Some more pics of the quilts: 

I really need to get pictures of these with the babies that own them!

I want to add -- I used this same method for piecing the little lonestar I made Krista!

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In other news -- 

I've almost got my Penny Candy pattern done! Hooray!

The pattern will include directions for the full size (84" square) or baby/throw size (54" square).

It's a super fun little pattern, that I'll tell you more about soon... but some of you have been asking about the fabric requirements -- so here they are:

Twenty-five assorted jelly roll strips (2 1/2" x width of fabric) -- OR -- 

Twenty-five assorted 10" squares

3 yards background (white)

1 5/8 yards contrast (red)

1 1/2 yards outer border 

7 1/2 yards backing (if you don't piece any in) -- OR -- 2 1/2 yards of 108"  (I'll use 5 yards and piece some scraps in)

5/8 yards binding (at 2 1/4" wide)

Here's a picture of the baby version!

These mock-ups feature Vintage Modern by Bonnie & Camille for Moda, but I have made another sample,  but in Denyse Schmidt fabrics (she did inspire the design after all!)

Anyway -- Thanks for coming by!

I hope you enjoy the tutorial!

♥ Tracey

(and now a couple recent family pictures)

the little ringbearer at his Uncle's wedding last weekend

Mama and miss Scarlet. :)

hair baubles (and mini tutorial)

My life right now = crazy busy.

No, I'm not talking about the normal kind of busy with a baby and a toddler, but the kind of busy when Daddy hasn't worked less than 12 hours/day in 5 weeks (though technically he only worked 11 on my birthday).

Mama = tired.

That being said -- I *know* that I spent a good chunk of time yesterday cleaning the kitchen.  This morning, there is no evidence of this, other than perhaps the vague notion of how much worse it could be had I not cleaned and tidied what I'm sure I remember cleaning and tidying.  Therefore, despite the days being long, and the realization that I really cannot maintain my sanity and try to do one more thing (like make quilts), this mama's heart still craves the investment of at least a little time in accomplishing something that no one undoes 2 to 45 minutes after it is completed.  A quilt may be out of the question (those take forever, and I wanted to FINISH something)...

So I made hair baubles.

And I was so happy I wanted to make twenty. (And when I say happy -- I mean the wave of happy, positive neuro-feedback something or others were streaming in). :)

Still - I decided to stick with four for now. :)

But I took lots of pictures to make up for it. (and I've got a little mini tutorial at the bottom for one like this one) :)

The smiley little Miss sitting up on her own!

I think this one is my favorite.  I googled a tutorial for a fabric rosette, gathered some linen and elastic lace trim together, stitched it to 1/8" elastic, and hot glued the flower to the middle.  Oh, I stitched some plastic pearl beads in there too.

I made the band a little too big, so I'll have to resize it, but I still got it to "fit" for a quick picture. :)

My sewing table is now covered in buttons, fabric scraps, a hot glue gun and the quilts have been moved to the side.  (At least until next week when Steiger goes to stay with his grandma for a couple days).

"Mini Tutorial"

Fabric Flower Hairband

1. Cut some "organic" circles out of fabric, linen, tulle, satin, whatever, in various sizes (so they get smaller gradually).  More tulle = more texture and poof obviously, and I think there were 4 

I burnt the edge of my tulle sometimes (on the pink ruffley one above to make it stand out a bit more -- just hold it next to a lighter, or your gas stove and melt the edges -- some of the tulle looks burnt if you do this, but the hot pinks didn't.  Make sure you don't hold the tulle over the heat of the flame, or it will have a hole burnt in it -- just the edge)

Stitch about 1/8" from the edge.  You can also use fray check if you don't have a sewing machine handy.  (But seriously, my first piece of advice for people who want to start sewing/being crafty is to leave your sewing area set up.  Hopefully you can still keep a dining room --unlike us right now).

2. Arrange them as you like, and stitch the layers together with a little X in the middle. 
(or you can use a little glue -- this is to tack or baste the layers together so they don't shift all over.)

3. Pucker/fold the centers and do a little stitching to make a gather.
And the picture isn't deceiving you - there isn't much perfection about this.  The bigger the gather, the poofier the flower (like the pink one above has more fabric in the pucker.  You could hand-stitch this if you don't have a machine, or I'm sure a glue gun could do something amazing.)

4. For the band, cut the toes and top band off a knee-high, and stitch the ends together.  

My machine likes to "eat" the nylon, so I start in the middle and sew to the edge.  Use regular size nylons if you need something bigger (for a toddler or, *ah-hem* yourself).

I didn't get a picture of the next step, but you're going to fold the sides over of the seam on your band.  Divide the band in approximate fourths, and fold each edge so they meet in the center like a pleat at the seam.

5. Grab a  button, hold the hair flower on to the pleat of your hairband, and stitch your button on, stitching through all the layers and securing the flower to the band.

6. Snag a baby, or a mirror, and you're done!

I call this bauble "country girl"

(You can see how it lies flatter than the pink one -- just depends on how much you pull in in step 3, and how much tulle you use)

(This one was made with the same method)

Pretty sure I'm hooked -- though I'm not sure if it's on the hair baubles, or just baby girl in general. :)

See her shirt -- she knows it's true.

(and lest any one worry I've forgotten about her big brother -- rest assured, he's just trickier to capture on camera these days -- but I did get him running by with his fly swatter... he was "getting bad guys" or "bugs" or both)

(and P.S. my pattern sale ends tomorrow)

setting triangles for Granny (and mommy pics)

This is a mini tutorial, with a slight alternative to the original as posted by Jolene and Blue Elephant Stitches (you can also see her inspiration quilt here).  Krista is also doing a quilt-along with this quilt! :)


Anyway -- I didn't have time to actually sew this block together, but in case you do, here's the idea behind using setting triangles for making this block, rather than trimming and ending up with bias edges.  This is the same concept as you would use with blocks set on point.  Because I can never remember the equation, I use this resource: http://www.laurenandjessijung.com/resources_charts.html


I hope it makes sense!


1) You need: 
- eight 2 1/2" squares outer color
- five 2 1/2" squares inner color
- two 4 1/8" squares sashing (for sides)
- two 2 3/8" squares sashing (for corners) 

2) Cut the 4 1/8" squares on the diagonal twice; these will be used for the side setting spaces.
Cut the 2 3/8" squares on the diagonal once, and use these for the corners.





3) Arrange and sew in to rows on the diagonal (as Jolene showed!)





You want to keep the straight edges of the square lined up with the side of the triangle, so the acute angle edge of the triangle will stick out a little, and you'll have to trim the little "dog-ears."  (this is what I'm talking about -- Kristen has yet to trim hers).


Hope this helps!  Both methods work; I just prefer no bias edges!


These blocks are just adorable however you cut them! :)





Thank you again Jolene for your quilty genius.

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(and now for a couple gratuitous cute kiddo pics)


Steiger likes to hold Scarlet's hand. ♥





And Daddy holding his baby girl.





And how Scarlet and I roll...

Oh wait!  One more -- Steiger did this the other night, and I promise neither Jay nor I had any hand in arranging these letters...

But it did make us laugh.

Come back tomorrow!*  I finished my "French Kisses" top and backing, and it's off to the quilter!  I will show you the top, give you fabric requirements, and you can think about if you want to quilt along with us!  (There might also be a giveaway involved... *hint hint*)

*"Tomorrow" is totally contingent on my two little ones... and whether or not my new glasses come in, because this morning I broke the nose pad off the ones I've been wearing the past three years.

a quick how to: Urban Lattice Blocks without paper piecing

I've got 32 of the required 48 blocks done (for the size I'm doing... twenty-eight of them are pictured above.)

This is my version of Cara at Me? A Mom?'s Urban Lattice Quilt Along.

You can find a list of all Cara's directions here.

Materials needed: a 12 1/2" ruler (I got mine here when it was on sale last year some time)

Cutting:

I used Cara's specifications, with a couple changes...

For the main body pieces: I didn't use a trapezoid template, but just cut mine at 5 1/2" x half the WOF (don't worry about trimming selvages)

I added a small inner strip of the contrast lattice that I cut at 7/8" x ~11" (I cut the WOF in to fourths)

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*Note: All seam allowances are 1/4" and I pressed all seams open for this block

• Sew a body piece to each side of your main 1 1/2" x half the WOF center lattice strip.  The lattice strip will finish at 1".  

• Shown in the picture below is a completed body section.

• Mark at about 10 1/2" from the top.  There are tiny white marks on the lattice strip.  These mark the approximate center of my piece.  I used the lines on my cutting mat to help me keep everything straight, then laid the quilting ruler across a line to mark the outside edge of the center.

•  If you want to add an inner contrast strip to your triangles, cut 7/8" x WOF strips and cut those in to fourths. Take your 5 3/4" squares, cut them in half on the diagonal, and sew the contrast strip to the hypotenuse (bias edge) of the triangle.  Press.

• Line up the flag section (that's what I called it) so that the raw edges are lined up RST, and the point of the triangle (at the right angle) is pointing at the center mark.  (You can see the little white marks better in this picture).  Sew down and press.

Now is time to trim everything up!

Originally, I had taped my ruler to see where the edges lined up on my 12 1/2" ruler.

As you can see, that didn't work out very well, and wasn't actually necessary.

• The diagonal center of the ruler is marked in one direction (It's hard to see in my picture -- click here to see what I'm talking about).  I lined that up in the center of my lattice strip (I drew tiny dots equidistant away from the corner of the ruler to mark where the edge of the lattice should line up with the edge of the ruler.  
• Center the ruler(ish) and trim on all sides.

• A completed Urban Lattice block (sans paper piecing)!

Making your blocks this way does require a consistent seam allowance and accurate cutting, so I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for an early beginner, but the blocks do line up so nicely.  I am confident my lines will look great when I sew them together.

P.S.  Quilt Hope In is accepting donations for a "soft" opening!  (We're trying to get all the kinks worked out with funding,etc.)