The Picnic Quilt - Free Pattern

Memorial Day is coming up and who doesn't love a good BBQ with the family. And what goes better with BBQ and family then a quilt? Well, maybe cold drinks, yummy deserts and campfires, but a quilt should be on the list, too. This one is quick and easy and uses a Layer Cake and a Jelly Roll.

Finished size is 68 x 68

Needed supplies:

1 Layer cake - or eightteen 10" squares

1 Jelly roll - or twenty-six 2 1/2" x width of fabric strips

2 yards of 108" backing fabric OR 4 1/4 yards 40" fabric

Embroidery thread ~ if you choose to tie instead of quilt

Download the instructions here.

I used Moda's Bandana and Robert Kauffman's Kona Solids in white.

You will need a total of 18 squares, mark the diagonal on the back of 9 of them.

Place two squares that have some contrast, right sides together, and stitch 1/4 inch on both sides of the marked diagonal. Cut on the drawn line. Press the seam to either side. Repeat to make 36 Half-Square Triangles

Square to 9 1/2". There will not be a lot to trim off.

Lay out your HST's in an appealing pattern. I tried to go for pinwheels, and I had to lay them out a few times before I got the finished project. 

*Hint: After laying out your quilt take a picture with your cell phone or camera. It will let you see a square that stands out or a color that doesn't really fit in the place it's at. 

Once you have decided on your pattern sew a 9 1/2" strip to the right side of the first five blocks in each row.

Once your blocks are sewn into rows, sew a 64 .5" strip to the top of each row, as well as the bottom of the last row. Sew the last two 68" strips to either side.

I match up the seams and pin when I am adding a strip. This helps keep the blocks lined up. 

Lay your quilt top, right sides together with your backing. Leaving an 8" opening, stitch 1/4" around the entire quilt. I recommend sewing with the backing on top.

Clip the corners and turn your quilt right side out. Give the edge a good press all the way around, and using a slip stitch close the opening.

At this point you can quilt it or use embroidery thread to tie it. 

There are so many options for this quilt. Play around with your blocks and find a pattern that is pleasing to you.

Enjoy this light weight quilt.

Happy Stitching!

Jen

I am linking up with Needle and Thread Thursday from My Quilt Infatuation, and Let's Bee Social from Sew Fresh Quilts.

Mother's Day gifts and a Sneak Peek

I love to make gifts for people. The trouble is finding the time between the "work" quilting for the "fun" quilting. Which means that sometimes those gifts are late, though I try really hard to make the gifts on time.

My Mother's Day gifts for my Mom and Mother-In-Law went out a week and a half late this year. :( Not something I am proud of. But I do love how they turned out, and the rich colors have a lot to do with it. 

My Mom's gift is The Easy Striped Table Runner from The Quilt Company. I know I'm late to the party, but man was this a quick and simple pattern with a great looking finish. This is wider then the original pattern calls for, but I couldn't get rid of those eggs, they make the center so interesting. The 12 1/2" 60* ruler worked perfectly for it. The fabric is Feather Your Nest Fabrics for Wilmington Prints.

 I didn't do a lot of quilting, you can't even see the stitching unless you go looking for it, because I didn't want to take away from the finish. The blues in this fabric are just scrumptious.

My Mother-In-Law's gift is this bright and cheery wallhanging. It's a little bit (a lot) bigger then the usual size I make her, but it will also go nicely on a table. This comes as a panel, called Baltimore Spring by Perl Pereira of P3 Designs for Red Rooster Fabrics. that you cut up and piece back together. I switched out the purple inner border for a blue. 

The border is simple and pretty, and the added triangles finish it off nicely. I used echo quilting throughout the entire piece, including those purple triangles. 

I hope they enjoy the spring a little bit more with these little gifts of love. 

I am currently working on a free picnic quilt pattern using a layer cake and a jelly roll. I will hopefully release it by the end of the weekend. 

A little sneak peek. (I'm currently using Bandana from Me & My Sisters for this.)

Do you find it harder to work on quilts when the weather warms up? I've been known to move things outside to enjoy the sun and birds, but still sew. How do you keep your sewing mojo during the summer months?

Happy Stitching!

Jen

Crossroads Quilt Along ~ Block 3

 Introducing the Friendship block in our Crossroads Quilt Along journey. There were a quick and easy blocks to piece. The Friendship block instructions were release April 15th. The next set will be released May 15th. This quilt is offered for free from The Fat Quarter Shop, but they encourage you to make a $5 donation each month to March of Dimes. A beautiful quilt for a worthy cause. It's a win win. And the fabrics you get to work with Strawberry Fields Revisited. Ahhhh.

We used these three beauties along with our background fabric this month. I still just love those strawberries!

At this stage in my quilting journey I'm not a fan of pressing seams open, but that could always change, and I know that many quilters like it. I chose to not to do them this time around. I get bulkier corners, it's true, but I like being able to match those seams up a little bit faster. 

For these I pressed towards the beautiful prints.

And for these I pressed towards the prints as well. I didn't grab a picture, but for the Flying Geese I pressed to the top goose. This makes it so all my seams can be sandwiched in together and I get nice points.

All the beautiful blocks so far.

Don't forget to go to the March of Dimes site to make your donation!

Happy Stitching.

Jen

Picked By Jen - Owl You Need

This Picked By Jen is the adorable Owl You Need Sewing Buddy from The Modern Tomato. Isn't she adorable??!! 

This was a quick sew. Aren't those nice? Stitching up something that you can enjoy almost instantly can be so rewarding. Especially if you are working on big projects that seem like there is no end in sight. 

Since my favorite color is purple, I had to use it for my buddy. After all, she is going to be hanging with me, right next to my machine, watching me, every day... with those owly eyes...ok, moving on.

The instructions were easy to follow, and her tutorial is great. She has a couple different options for downloading the pattern, too. Nice and easy. And who couldn't use an extra set of hands, er, wings?

 I think I might go back and put a stitch in to hold her wings together, She holds a lot, though she might need a partner for a little help. At the end of Shannon's post there is a link so you can check out all the little owl buddies helping out quilters and seamstresses. 

I hope you enjoy this Picked By Jen!

Happy Stitching,

Jen

Miniature Hanging Sleeve Tutorial and a Sneak Peek

 Today I am going to share how I make my hanging sleeves. There are different ways to do it, and this in NOT the way they like them done for shows. It is, however, quick and easy, which means I'm more likely to finish it and get on the wall, or in the case, the little hanging rack. This little tutorial is for a miniature quilt.

The first thing I do is measure.

I am measuring the inside of the quilted piece, not the binding. In this case it is 9 1/2". I need to add 1/2" for seam allowance, so 10". I'm going to find a scrap piece of fabric that is 2" wide and at least 10" long.

Next I press a quarter inch seam on either end. I just eyeball this. It doesn't have to be perfect.
Close enough is good enough in this case.

Using matching thread stitch each end. As you can see, my folded piece is a little wider then the 1/4", that's ok. I'm not going to worry over it. 

When both ends are stitched. Fold your strip length wise with WRONG sides together and stitch.

(right side showing, this is correct)

I like to start about 1/8" in from the end and back stitch, and when I get to the end I like to back stitch about 1/8" away from the end before clipping. This keeps my threads from showing.

Next we are going to press that long seam open. I maneuver my hanging sleeve so that the seam is centered. 

Your hanging sleeve is done. Now it's time to add it to the back.

Making sure you are adding it to the top of the miniature, you want to place your hanging sleeve with the seam towards the backing. 

I like to start stitching along the top first. I pin to make sure the sleeve stay centered while I stitch.

I start about 1/4" from the edge of the sleeve and come up right at the corner.

I love my thimble for this and for binding. It really saves your finger. 

At the end I go straight down from the corner with the needle and come out under the sleeve to knot off.

Next I pin the bottom. I like to push it up a bit to create a little give, pinning makes sure it's the same all the way across.

When I get to the end I do a back stitch in about 1/4", tie it off and bury the knot. 

You are ready to show off your little miniature. 

This 10" miniature is available with Patterns By Jen's 6th pattern: Star Light Star Bright Sampler. Coming sometime in May.

Happy Stitching!
Jen

Linking up withPatchwork Times and Main Crush Monday over on Cooking Up Quilts

Jaybird Quilt's Carnival - A Work In Progress Quilt

 This pretty little quilt is called Carnival from Jaybirds Quilts. I pieced it all together, and then put it away. I just wasn't happy with it, though I couldn't put my finger on why. I finally decided I didn't like the inner border. So I'm changing it up. 

I have these two colors to chose from. The current border, though this same pretty aqua, is a batik, and I think it just doesn't work with the other fabrics. 

Once I switch that inner border I am going to use this pretty little print for the outer border. This is Scrumptious by Bonnie and Camille for Moda. I just love the green in these leaves. And this spring like print is perfect for these dark, rainy days.

After I find the perfect backing I am going to bind it in this stripe, Marmalade by Bonnie and Camille for Moda. It will be my first striped binding, but I love this green. I think I may be ready for spring, and green things. 

Oh, look! Spring! It's too cold and wet to clean out the flower garden, but that doesn't stop these beauties from defying mother nature. 

Do you have a quilt you put away, because you weren't feeling it? If you have pulled out a quilt to work on after putting it away, how did you get inspired again?

Happy Stitching!

Jen

Linking up at: Sew Fresh Quilts, Midweek Makers, Sew Cute Tuesday and Needle and Thread Thursday