An Easter Table Topper - Part 1

Today, and one day last week, I went to Sew Much Fun in Gastonia for training on the Bernina 580e.  While there I spotted Flora - an adorable little charm pack by Lauren and Jessi Jung for Moda.  I've been thinking about sewing an Easter table topper using a lot of the features on my machine, and thought that the charm pack was perfect for the little eggs around the edge.

The light yellow print in the background is from Curio, by Basic Grey.  I bought a yard and plan to use it for the background.  (That will be enough for one table topper, but to make a second I'll have to purchase another yard.)

I'm going to incorporate some specialty stitches, fun finishing techniques, and maybe some (optional) embroidery,  I'll be posting every week until Easter, so feel free to follow along.

I want to piece the the eggs, so I started off by matching each charm square with a contrasting charm that complemented it.  I then cut pair into (1-3/4" x 5''), (1-1/4'' x 5"), and (2'' x 5'') strips.  I took the 1-1/4'' strip and sewed the contrasting 1-3/4'' and 2'' strips onto either side of it.  The #57 foot has a 1/4'' training blade that allowed me to sew all 42 squares together in no time.  (There will be only 16 20 eggs on the Table Topper, so I will have enough to make two Toppers if I buy more background fabric.)

I pressed the seams open.  This is key because I plan to stitch some fun specialty stitches down these seams later in the process. 

As you can see from the pieced charms in the background, you will end up with 21 pairs of pieced charm squares - each pair having opposite placement as far as fabrics go.

Happy sewing!
Amanda

Funky Flower Quilt

Here she is, my Funky Flower Quilt...

Accuquilt's half-square triangle dies make this easy, but you can make up this pattern even if you don't have an Accuquilt cutter.  (I would love to see this in batiks on a black ground!  Wouldn't that be fun?)

Enjoy!

Amanda

And the winners of the Aurifil Giveaway are...

MRZ, who said...


I have bought and used all 3 - but fat quarters are my favorite.

Gene Black, who said...


Of the choices, I would choose fat quarters. however, my real choice is a full yard.

And Cheree @ The Morning Latte, who added...


Fat quarters, tho I do use the 10" squares occasionally. Love the thread. :o)

Thanks to everyone who participated.  Sorry I samples to send out one to everyone...

As an aside, I just sent Garden Paths off for its third printing, and I print by the thousand!  Thanks, you all!  When I receive the patterns back maybe I'll post another giveaway.  In the meantime, I'll be back later this week with another complimentary pattern - this time for a spring lap-sized quilt.

Happy sewing!
Amanda

Another Aurifil Giveaway

Hi everyone!
It is time for another Aurifil giveaway! 

Three lucky people will be sent an assortment of Aurifil threads to play with!

To enter, just leave me a comment on this post telling me whether you prefer to buy 10'' squares, roll-ups (2-1/2'' strips), or fat quarters.  Do you have a favorite?  Please become a follower if you aren't already. 
Only one entry per person please.  Deadline is this Monday, February 20th, at midnight.

That is it!

Good luck and happy sewing!
Amanda

Love...

My new baby - a Bernina 580e

Need I say more?  She arrived Monday and I'm still swooning.

I've sewn hundreds of flying geese since then...

Flying Geese - made from Laurie Wisbrun's Brrrr line

And tried out some applique and embroidery...  The stitch quality on a Bernina 580e is nothing short of AMAZING!  I feel like I have only tapped the surface of what this machine can do.

It is worth the mess that is accumulating in the front room as I sew.  The kids homeschool and I design and sew all in the same room (usually) and I'm working on a big (secret) project, so things are crazy here right now.  But, in case you don't think I'm serious about the mess, here are some peeks:

Clockwise from top right: more flying geese (from Patrick Lose prints), a wonky star block for the Charlotte Modern Quilt Guild's exchange, about one hundred yards of washed and ironed fabric, and school books galore... 

Lesson: Cropping makes even messy rooms look a lot better.

Happy sewing!
Amanda

P.S.  I'm taking a little break from introducing Accuquilt tutorials this week to have another Aurifil giveaway - so stay tuned because I'll post rules tomorrow.

Accuquilt Complimentary Pattern 2 - Funky Flower Pillow

It is week #2 and I'd like to introduce my second complimentary pattern for Accuquilt - the "Funky Flower Pillow".

It is named, of course, after Accuquilt's Funky Flower die.  As was the case with the first pattern, you can still whip up the project without the die, but the die does make it more fun.

Next week, I'll post directions for a coordinating Funky Flower quilt!

Happy sewing!
Amanda

P.S. For my Australian readers, I've just found out that Sew Bright Alpine Quilting is running my Under the Veranda Block of the Month program, and they are still accepting new participants.  It is such a thrill to think of sewers half way around the world making this quilt!

Accuquilt Complimentary Pattern 1 - Bubbles Table Runner

I was thrilled when Accuquilt contacted me last year and offered to do a GoBaby giveaway right here on this blog.  At that time I was secretly designing several projects that used their dies.  Those tutorials haven't made it up on the Accuquilt website quite yet, but the folks at Accuquilt have graciously agreed to let me share the patterns with you here in the meantime.

So... every week for five weeks, I'll be debuting a new complimentary pattern here on this blog!  While having a GoBaby Accuquilt cutting system certainly makes these patterns even quicker and easier, you don't have to have one to complete the projects.  I've included all the instructions that you need either way! 

The first pattern is my "Bubbles Table Runner".  She is perfect for spring and all the fun fabric collections that are starting to come out.  Hope you like her and are inspired to create your own unique project!

Happy sewing!
Amanda