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Sunday, September 30, 2018

Island Batik Star Struck

Welcome to September's Island Batik Ambassador challenge: Starstruck.




For this challenge I chose my Star Light Star Bright Sampler pattern and used Paisley Dot collection that I was given as part of the Ambassador program as well as their basic black.




I chose to make one log cabin star with warm colors and one with cool.




Using black as my background really brought out how bright and beautiful the Paisley Dot collection truly is. I used a variegated thread for quilting.




This is the 30" square option, but the pattern has multiple options including a 60" sampler, the large log cabin star wall hanging, miniature log cabin star and a table runner.







All the quilting was done on my Husqvarna Lily 555 with a walking foot.




Start Light Star Bright Sampler pattern:







Happy Stitching!
Jen

New to Patterns By Jen?

Find paper and digital patterns in my Etsy shop.


The Border Quilt Quilt Along is coming September 2018

Follow me on Instagram and Facebook for daily sneak peeks and updates.

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Border Quilt Quilt Along - Checkerboard Border

Welcome to Week 2 of Patterns By Jen's
The Border Quilt Quilt Along!



During this two week period we will be making the checkerboard borders, as well as adding the background borders.




If you are just finding us, there is plenty of time to grab your pattern and fabric and join in. With each border there is a two week time period to make the border before we start on the next. You can stop at any point for any size you quilt you like.

Grab your pattern!

Printed: The Border Quilt

Etsy Digital: The Border Quilt

Craftsy Digital: The Border Quilt

Payhip Digital: The Border Quilt





For inspiration see The Border Quilt tester quilts HERE. I am using Enchanted Forest generously provided by Northcott Fabrics. These gorgeous fabrics are in shops now! They are super soft and easy to work with.

***Please note! If you are using them for the quilt along, wait to wash them until you are done with the quilt, or buy extra fabric. Flannel shrinks more than quilting cotton.***

We're going to start off slow for the first few weeks as we get into the swing of the quilt along. We will be doing the center first, I will go over both versions, then a border every two weeks. This will hopefully give you time to work on them a little bit at a time if you need to, as well as get any questions answered. Don't worry about keeping up, this is supposed to be fun, so go at your own pace. Do try to make at least one block for each border as we go so you can ask any questions as they come up.

To get direct help, as well as opinions of others who are sewing along with us, join the Facebook group: Quilt and Learn with Patterns By Jen.

Quilt Along Schedule

July 18 - Intro post

Sept 12 - Making the center (both center options will be included in this post)

Sept 26 - Checker border with two background borders

Oct 10 - Star blocks with a background border

Oct 24 - Friendship stars with a background border

Nov 7 - Pinwheels with a background border

Nov 21 - Flying Geese

Dec 5 - Finishing touches

Let's Get Started!

Checkerboard Border

Before we work on our checkerboard we need to add a background border around our center piece. The following pictures show the center as one unit, but the instructions are the same for both pieced and solid center units.




I believe in cutting your border strips to the size needed and then pinning. To do this I pin each end and then pull the fabric taut to pin the center and then the rest of strip. Do NOT stretch your pieces, just keep them taut.




If one piece seems a little longer than the other, sew with that piece on the bottom. The feed dogs will help pull those even.




I found that when I was sewing the flannel, using quilters gloves helped me keep the fabric moving evenly and lessened the strain on my hands and arms. Especially as the quilt grew!




Press towards the border strips.




When cutting the strips in half for strip piecing using a scissors is quick and easy. 






I found that holding the threads when I started stitching the thicker flannel strips helped to keep my threads from knotting or getting pulled out.




Do not worry about these strips lining up at the end because we will be trimming them into smaller units.




Set the seam with an iron.




Once your seams are set I highly recommend finger pressing before using the iron again.  This helps prevent stretching and warping which easily happens when using flannel.




Can you tell which on I finger pressed first?




Before trimming your strips into smaller units, trim one edge straight. I use the seam as my guide for straight cuts, not the mat lines.




Chain piecing is your friend at this stage.




I am always a fan of pinning, but especially so when sewing with flannel. It stretches. Have I said that yet?




Press towards the background border.




Add another background border around your first checker border, pressing towards the background.




Make the second checkerboard border the same way you made the first.  Pin either end, pull taut and pin in the center. At this point I like to keep an eye on the seams as I pin the rest, to make sure they aren't getting pulled. They don't have to be exact, because there is a border strip between them, but you shouldn't have to stretch or manipulate this border, the seams should align on their own.



Press towards background strips.



Add the last set of background strips and you are done! If you are making the baby sized Border Quilt then you really are done. Quilt it up and snuggle a baby.

If you share your progress on social media please tag Patterns By Jen and /or use #theborderquiltquiltalong. I can't wait to see your pieces!!!

If you are a blogger who is sewing along please fee free to grab and use this button.




Instructions: Select all code above, copy it and paste it inside your blog post as HTML


Here are the bloggers that participated in the Interview Session. Please take a moment to follow them and see their progress. Some will be posting right away, some will be posting during the two weeks between borders.



Becca - Pretty Piney
Joanne - Quilts By Joanne
 Marija - Mara Quilt Designs
Stephanie - Quilt'n' Party



Happy Stitching!
Jen

New to Patterns By Jen?

Find paper and digital patterns in my Etsy shop.


The Border Quilt Quilt Along is coming September 2018

Don't miss the Quilters Meet and Greet going all September. 

Follow me on Instagram and Facebook for daily sneak peeks and updates.


Sunday, September 23, 2018

September Color Challenge Link Up

The September Color Challenge Link Up is live!



September's color was Red Violet. Did you find this a challenging color to find?




Which block did you use for your challenge? Patterns By Jen, Dizzy Quilter, Powered By Quilting, Clever Chameleon Quilting or did you use something else?

If you made something using the challenge color, Red Violet, THIS month, you can link up through September 30th and have a chance to win this bundle of Art Gallery fabric from Phat Quarters.



If you are having trouble linking up read this post. If you are still having trouble please email me directly; patternsbyjen(at)gmail(dot)com and I will happily get you added.

Grand Prize

Don't forget, for each month you enter the Link Up, you are also entered for the grand prize at the end of the year:

Jen at Dizzy Quilter is providing the grand prize! 

The generous prize provided is your top quilted by her (up to 90" x 90"),  a $202.50 value!

You must provide the backing, 8" longer than width and length. Batting can be purchased from Jen, for $20, if you like.

Return shipping is included for US residents only.
**Please note, the quilt will not be trimmed or bound, those services are extra**



Happy Stitching!
Jen


New to Patterns By Jen?

Find paper and digital patterns in my Etsy shop.


The Border Quilt Quilt Along is coming September 2018

Don't miss the Quilters Meet and Greet going all September. 

Follow me on Instagram and Facebook for daily sneak peeks and updates.

Saturday, September 22, 2018

Introducing Harlequin Court!

Introducing the next pattern in the Pattern By Jen's family: Harlequin Court.




You may have seen her last week when I posted my Island Batik July Challenge and asked for help renaming her.

I chose to go with Tara's medieval castle idea. This lead me to search "court" in the Thesaurus, which lead me to Quadrangle which I absolutely loved, only to find out it was already taken as a quilt pattern name.

Back to the drawing board, aka Thesaurus, I went. I clicked on synonyms and antonyms, I went pages deep into the word royal.

I went back to the picture and thought there was a look of peepholes or arrow slits. Did you know an arrow hole in a castle is called an arrow loop, or loop or loophole? Now you do!



I tried again and thought that the triangle around the 9 patches had a slight jester type look to them. Back to Thesaurus I went and found Harlequin. Of course that is taken as well, but adding Court to it and I have my pattern name.

This pattern will be available as digital only, but comes in four sizes:
54" square (shown), 66" x 78", 78" x 90", 90" x 102"

Lets take a look at a couple of tester's quilts.


Joanne made her quilt all in purples and chose to leave off the outside border. This is the 54" square version. I can't tell you how much I love this, and it has nothing to do with the fact that purple is my favorite color. She calls it Grapesicle.


Sandy asked to do hers in scrappy colors because she made the largest version and was pulling from her scraps. She kept careful track of the fabric amounts to make sure the requirements were correct. Look at this beauty! That is a labor of love.

You can pick up your digital copy HERE at a special introductory price of $7 through the end of the month.

Happy Stitching!
Jen


New to Patterns By Jen?

Don't miss the Quilters Meet and Greet going all September. 

Find paper and digital patterns in my Etsy shop.


The Border Quilt Quilt Along is coming September 2018


Follow me on Instagram and Facebook for daily sneak peeks and updates.




Saturday, September 15, 2018

July Island Batik Challenge: Pattern Play

Yes, you read that right, this is July's challenge.




Do you want to know what's worse? This quilt has been sitting, finished, for over a month. Embarrassing!! I hope you think it was worth the wait, because I loved this challenge.

The challenge, way back in July, was "Pattern Play, Secondary Pattern," make a quilt that produced a secondary pattern when the blocks were put together.

My design is still called Creamsicle because I designed it in oranges. It obviously needs a new name, but for now I'm calling my version Chocolate Sundae with a Cherry On Top. That's obviously not going to stick either, but it fits for now!




This is the original block.




This is the quilt. I love this design. 




I pieced the backing and it kind of has that 70's tube sock feel.

This pattern will be available as a digital download soon, watch for the announcement on Facebook and Instagram.




Some of the fabrics used were given to me by Island Batik as part of their Ambassador program. I used wool batting from Hobbs, also given to me through the Ambassador program. The wool batting was a joy to quilt, an dif yo look closely, even though it sat for a month folded up, NO creases!!

Do you have an idea for the new name for this quilt? Add it in the comments and if I choose your idea you will win this as a free digital pattern! Plus bragging rights. ;) Be sure to watch the comments for notification, just in case I can't email you directly. Contest ends Friday, September 21st! Enter as many times as names you can come up with. Good luck!




Happy Stitching!
Jen

New to Patterns By Jen?

Find paper and digital patterns in my Etsy shop.


The Border Quilt Quilt Along is coming September 2018

Don't miss the Quilters Meet and Greet going all September. 

Follow me on Instagram and Facebook for daily sneak peeks and updates.

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Border Quilt Quilt Along - The Center

Welcome to Pattern By Jen's
The Border Quilt Quilt Along!




If you are just finding us, there is plenty of time to grab your pattern and fabric and join in. The center piece is easy, but I still planned on a two week time span to welcome anyone joining us late.

Grab your pattern!

Printed: The Border Quilt

Etsy Digital: The Border Quilt

Craftsy Digital: The Border Quilt

Payhip Digital: The Border Quilt





For inspiration see The Border Quilt tester quilts HERE. I am using Enchanted Forest generously provided by Northcott Fabrics. These gorgeous fabrics are in shops now! They are super soft and easy to work with.

***Please note! If you are using them for the quilt along, wait to wash them until you are done with the quilt, or buy extra fabric. Flannel shrinks more than quilting cotton.***

We're going to start off slow for the first few weeks as we get into the swing of the quilt along. We will be doing the center first, I will go over both versions, then a border every two weeks. This will hopefully give you time to work on them a little bit at a time if you need to, as well as get any questions answered. Don't worry about keeping up, this is supposed to be fun, so go at your own pace. Do try to make at least one block for each border as we go so you can ask any questions as they come up.

To get direct help, as well as opinions of others who are sewing along with us, join the Facebook group: Quilt and Learn with Patterns By Jen.

Quilt Along Schedule

July 18 - Intro post

Sept 12 - Making the center (both center options will be included in this post)

Sept 26 - Checker border with two background borders

Oct 10 - Star blocks with a background border

Oct 24 - Friendship stars with a background border

Nov 7 - Pinwheels with a background border

Nov 21 - Flying Geese

Dec 5 - Finishing touches

Let's Get Started!

Center

There are two options for the center of The Border Quilt.

Center 1 is a pieced and then trimmed block. This is not the one I used in the Enchanted Forest version, but is the one in the original quilt that you see on the front of your pattern.

*Errata:
Step 2 under Assembly should read 2) Add light 8" strips.
The cutting instructions are correct!




For my fussy cut center I found the middle of my piece and pressed.




Because this center unit is on point I needed to trim it so the point was about the bunny. I used the pressed line to find the center before trimming.




Following the instructions in the pattern sew each piece and press. I have found that by setting the seam and then finger pressing before pressing the seams to the side, I don't get a stretched and bowed seam when I use the iron. Flannel stretches very easily, if you are using it, make sure to just press, do not move your iron over and around your seams. 

Next we're going to trim this piece down to size. Follow the trimming instructions in the pattern.




To trim the center piece I start with the top and bottom, this makes cutting the longer sides easier. Lay your center on your cutting mat, lining the opposite points up on the same line on both sides of the mat. PS I did make sure to pull that right side down a bit, I just missed it in the photo.




You will be trimming 1" from the point shown in your pattern. Put the one inch mark on that point.




Then check on either side to line up your ruler for a nice straight cut.




Repeat with your side trims, this time trimming 1 1/4" from the point in your pattern.
Take your time, check your measurements twice and trim. See picture at the very bottom of the post for WHY you must double check where your ruler is lined up.

If you have questions on this don't hesitate to ask!




Done! You are ready for the first borders September 26.

Center 2 is simply a rectangle.




I chose to first make sure I centered the animals that I wanted in my center piece by using my ruler and making a small mark on either side at the desired width.

I like to fold in half and trim the long sides first, in this case where those marks for fussy cutting were made.




Then making sure my edge is straight on the mat, I trim the short sides. Easy peasy.

Remember you can ask questions and get help directly from me and your fellow quilt along pals by joining the Facebook group listed above.




Don't be like Jen, check before trimming!!!


If you share your center piece on social media please tag Patterns By Jen and /or use #theborderquiltquiltalong. I can't wait to see your pieces!!!

If you are a blogger who is sewing along please fee free to grab and use this button.




Instructions: Select all code above, copy it and paste it inside your blog post as HTML


Here are the bloggers that participated in the Interview Session. Please take a moment to follow them and see their progress. Some will be posting right away, some will be posting during the two weeks between borders.


Becca - Pretty Piney
Joanne - Quilts By Joanne
 Marija - Mara Quilt Designs
Stephanie - Quilt'n' Party



Happy Stitching!
Jen

New to Patterns By Jen?

Find paper and digital patterns in my Etsy shop.


The Border Quilt Quilt Along is coming September 2018

Don't miss the Quilters Meet and Greet going all September. 

Follow me on Instagram and Facebook for daily sneak peeks and updates.