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31 May 2016

Ugly Christmas Sweaters QAL - Linky Party!

Welcome to the Ugly Christmas Sweaters QAL Linky Party! I have been showing a block each week and am so happy to see the works of those who have quilted along. Some people have shared photos of their quilts by email. And lots of you have been sharing your progress on instagram using the #UglyChristmasSweatersQAL hashtag. Some have made a block or two. Some have made the full quilt.





If you are late to the party, the Ugly Christmas Sweaters quilt along page that includes all the information you will need and a weekly schedule, can be found by clicking on the Quilt Alongs link found just below the blog header.


We've been working hard on making our Ugly Christmas Sweaters since February 1st. Through this experience, I have met some of the most wonderful, friendly and amazingly talented and creative people from all over the world. Thank you, each of your for making this quilt along a success!!!!

 NOW...
Today is the start of the Show Us Your Ugly Christmas Sweaters Linky Party!

 Please link up your finishes here. And then do visit some or all of the other linkers! It has been so much fun to work together on these projects!

Whether you made the entire quilt....
or just a block....

 Write up a blog post or link up your flickr or instagram photos and...

 Show Us Your Ugly Christmas Sweaters!






Even if you don't have a finish to share yet, it will be fun to see what everyone has to share. And the linky party will be NEVER ENDING.  So you can link up whenever you are finished!

Please feel free to share via social media!  And add the hashtag #UglyChristmasSweatersQAL

And add any progress pictures to the Sew Fresh Quilts Flickr group here!


Keep On Quilting On!










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27 May 2016

My Pet Hamster quilt finishes



Just in time to pay tribute to the Royals newest family member.....
It's the My Pet Hamster quilt.

I was beyond happy to put the final stitch in the binding of this playful finish on Wednesday night. Unfortunately, when I returned to work on the Super Mini quilt the next day....




My iron died a horrible death. Alas, I tried everything. Took it apart and redid the wiring. But it was all to no avail. Now what????!!!!!! ACKKKKK!




 The fabrics are all from Northcott Fabrics' Artisan Spirit Ambience collections and the solids are from their Color Works collection. The background and the backing are the same print in two different colourways. I am truly smitten with the Ambience collection, love how the prints all coordinate together from one colourway to another, and how the prints can tend to read like a solid. You see, I have a lot of trouble coordinating prints and tend to stick to solids because of it.



This photo below is on my front yard, which is now looking a lot more like winter is finally over. I have been taking photos of my finishes hanging from the tree house lately because these quilts are too long to get a full front shot on the old hay wagon. But the lighting is poor beneath the tree. These photos below give a truer sense of the colours of the fabrics. 




The edge to edge horizontal quilting was done using my signature wavy lines. I chose a variegated green from Superior Threads for the top and Omni in light gray for the bottom. I am so pleased with the brightness and shine of that green on top! I was tempted to use my favourite blue variegated thread, but was afraid of running out as that spool is low.







The My Pet Hamster pattern provides instructions for making six different quilt sizes and two different block sizes. The full size hamster blocks finish at 10" wide by 9" tall and the half size blocks finish at 5" wide by 4.5" tall. A 14" by 13" mini quilt can be made using one full size block or by using 4 half size blocks. Using the full size blocks, you can also make:

Crib Quilt using 11 full size blocks finishes at 38" x 46"
Lap Quilt using 28 full size blocks finishes at 62" x 68"
Twin Quilt using 38 full size blocks finishes at 62" x 90"
Full Quilt using 53 full size blocks finishes at 86" x 90"
My Pet Hamster is a 7 page pdf quilt pattern and is a modern minimalist design made using traditional piecing methods. No templates. No paper piecing. Only simple straight line sewing and diagonal seams. Easy to follow instructions are provided for every step of the way!
My Pet Hamster Crib quilt finishes at 38" x 46"





"My Pet Hamster" Lap Size finished at approximately 62" x 68"
and was the 95th use of my 100 labels
ordered from Ikaprint.






The MY PET HAMSTER pattern is now available here in my shop.

I am offering 25% OFF everything until the end of May.
Minimum $10 purchase.

Use coupon code MAY25







Linking up to Finish it up Friday with 

Amanda Jean of Crazy Mom Quilts










Keep On Quilting On!





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26 May 2016

More Mini Mini Quilt Mania

I warned you....
These little mini mini creations are addicting!!!

 On Tuesday I told you about the fantastic #MMminimini challenge hosted by Make Modern Magazine. You can read all about the details here. The challenge runs until June 20th.

 I had so much fun making the first wee little mini mini quilt.
And now I think I'm hooked!


This Raccoon mini mini quilt was quilted in organic wavy lines. And finished my binding by machine. This time I remembered to add some corner tabs on the back for hanging. But could not find any Popsicle sticks to show you how they would be perfect for placing in the tabs.



But Mr. Raccoon wasn't the only one on the assembly line....




There was also a My Pet Hamster block in the works!



It's becoming more and more apparent that I am a very slow learner. The black eyes for both of these blocks are not doing a thing for me. Contrast, contrast, contrast! Maybe I will listen for next time. Maybe not. For this mini mini quilt I did some random straight lines. After quilting, I trimmed them down and they each measure exactly 6" square when finished.




Have you ever made a mini mini quilt?






Keep On Quilting On!










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25 May 2016

Let's Bee Social #126

Welcome to the Let's Bee Social!

I must admit. I'm pretty lucky to have you for a friend.

 Last week we had a brand new blogger join us for the Let's Bee Social linky party. I sent out the word to a few of my regulars around here, asking if they would offer her a warm welcome. You guys are like gold. The bestest quilting buds out there. THANK YOU all for taking the time to stop by Jen's blog at A Dream And A Stitch. Your visit and words of kindness shared in the comments make me very happy. And it is quite clear to me that I have some pretty amazing friends out there - in this great big global world of the online quilting community - of which I am so proud to be a part of. Thank you!

I started working on a new project.....





You know those little exercise wheels found in the cages of the hamsters in the pet store?



Well I don't have one of those... But I was certainly spinning around in my sewing room this week! This is My Pet Hamster in progress.

My Pet Hamster is another new pattern I've been working on. There are 4 different styles of Hamster blocks and 2 different sizes. The big Hamster blocks are 10" wide by 9" tall and the Baby Hamster blocks are half sized blocks that finish at 5" wide by 4.5" tall.

 And the pattern also includes instructions for 6 different quilt sizes in all!



Just like with my Raccoon quilt pattern, I am making the Baby Hamster blocks into a mini wall quilt to match the big quilt. These little chubby cheeked critters make me smile!


No. These are not paper pieced.
The wee ones are a little challenging, but doable.




Hoping to share the finishes in a post on Friday when I will share all the details.

Meanwhile the My Pet Hamster pattern has been added to my shop.

I am offering 25% OFF everything until the end of May.
Minimum $10 purchase.

Use coupon code MAY25



It's your turn for Show and Tell!!!
What have you been working on?





Sew Fresh Quilts

    • Click on at least a few of the others who have linked up.
    • In your blog post, please include a link back to my blog.
    • Grab the "Let's Bee Social!" button from above and put it on your sidebar. This way others who visit your blog that week can join in the fun!  Share the news of this new linky and Let's Bee Social!
    • Following Sew Fresh Quilts is not required. But it sure would BEE nice!














Keep On Quilting On!










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24 May 2016

Mini Mini Mania

They all say that bigger is better. But I beg to differ. Tiny can be so satisfying!

 Have you heard about the fantastic #MMminimini challenge hosted by Make Modern Magazine? You can read all about the details here. 

 I had so much fun making this wee little mini mini quilt.
And now have plans for making so many more!


This Cougar #miniminiquilt was made for my good buddy Sarah of Cedar Fork Stitches 


I used a variegated thread for the straight line quilting and finished my binding by machine. Because I am too lazy to do any hand sewing. Here you can see that I added borders to my 4" x 4" Cougar block and am ready for the quilting! 




 After quilting, I trimmed it down and it now measures exactly 6" square.



The binding on a mini mini can be a little intimidating. I found a single fold binding tutorial on Crazy Mom Quilts blog here. But I did a mitered joint for my binding. I measured the perimeter and then added the amount for the overlap to miter. This was the length of my binding:

 6" sides x 4 = 24" plus width of binding 1.5" = 25.5"

 After applying my binding to the back, I then pressed and folded to the front and pinned the binding in place before stitching. Next time I will have to remember to add some corner tabs on the back for hanging.
You know I am not the only crazy quilter out here that has been sucked into the mini mini craze. If you are looking for some mini mini inspiration, here are some great links!!!

 From Yvonne of Quilting Jetgirl.

Tutorial for single fold binding on mini mini quilts


 From Jayne of Twiggy and Opal.

 Mini Mini Quilts
mini Raccoon blocks finish at 5" x 4"
I've been working on some tiny piecing lately while making the blocks for the mini quilts included in the recently released Raccoon pattern. And now am making tiny baby blocks for the My Pet Hamster pattern, which will also be released soon. 

mini My Pet Hamster blocks finish at 5" x 4.5"

And I also started a couple of mini mini quilts back in October when I made the Wee Little Bird table runner. What took me so long to finish them? I had so many other things to do. And I was getting frustrated with the binding. After finishing these three mini mini quilts, I think I have it down to a science now.

 Here are my two finally finished Wee Little Bird mini mini quilts.
mini Wee Little Bird blocks finish at 4.5" x 4"


And here are the backs.





How do you feel about tiny piecing? 




Keep On Quilting On!










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