Just Let Me Quilt

Friday, July 2, 2021

Ready For Christmas Wall Hanging For A Sew Yeah Class

Covid restrictions are lifting and we're seeing quilt expos, classes, and retreats happening...woohoo! It has been a while since I've taught a class, but on July 17th that changes. I'm so lucky to get to teach a beginner's applique class at the Sew Yeah Quilting store in Las Vegas. I love that store and staff!

Ready for Christmas

15" x 23" wall hanging

I'm even more excited because one of my blog friends is coming to visit and take the class. Not that she's a beginner at all, but she's there to harass/support me...fun times!

Blog friends are the best and even better when you get to finally meet them. I can't wait to meet my wicked friend, Joan from Moosestash Quilting! Hopefully, we won't need anyone to contribute or rescue us with bail money. LOL I promise we'll behave...sort of.

If you're in the Las Vegas area on July 17th, you're welcome to join me. I'd love it!

Thursday, July 1, 2021

Cackling Stitches "Hagatha's House" July BOM Blocks

We are on the final stretch of "Hagatha's House" BOM with only a couple months to go. This month it's Fat Jack, a pieced block, and Hagatha’s Daughter, an applique block, joining the BOM.

Fat Jack - make four

Hagatha's Daughter

Here's how "Hagatha's House" BOM works at our Facebook Cackling Stitches group:

The BOM will run from March 1st to September 1st.

On the 1st day of each month we will release block patterns that will be free until the next block(s) is released. 

Once new blocks are released, the previous month's blocks will no longer be free. They will be available in our Etsy stores at a cost of $2 for each month's worth of blocks.

On October 1st the entire pattern will be combined and sold in our Etsy stores for $10.

We hope you appreciate the time we put into creating the BOM quilt and understand that we are keeping the costs to a minimum. If you're quick to get the patterns during the month they are free, there will be no cost to you. 

You can find the supply list HERE if you want to join along with the rest of us wickedly crazy Halloween lovers.

My version of the Hagatha's House BOMs

Joan's version of the Hagatha's House BOMs

March BOM - Hagatha's House - Find it HERE

Created by Joan Kawano from Moosestash Quilting

April BOMs - The Butler Did It - Find It HERE

May BOMs - Ghostly Stitches - Find it HERE
Created by Carol Swift from Just Let Me Quilt

May BOMs - Gorf - Find it HERE
Created by Joan Kawano from Moosestash Quilting

June BOMs - Going Batty - Find it HERE
Created by Carol Swift from Just Let Me Quilt

June BOMs - Frankie - Find it HERE
Created by Joan Kawano from Moosestash Quilting

July BOMs - Fat Jack - Find it HERE
Created by Carol Swift from Just Let Me Quilt

July BOMs - Hagatha's Daughter - Find it HERE
Created by Joan Kawano from Moosestash Quilting

Thanks for stopping by!

Monday, June 28, 2021

Mini 4th Of July Star Quilt

With the 4th of July coming up really fast, I felt the need to sew up something patriotic. Here's my mini 4th of July star quilt! I love how it turned out and how cute it looks on this hanger.

A few weeks ago I found the little 6" quilt hanger at a local quilt shop and just had to have it, of course. This morning I saw it sitting on my shelf begging for something to hang on it. Out came my Crafter's Edge triangles to help me get creative! I love all the cutting dies from CE, but those triangles are among my favorites because of how easy it is to make half square triangles.

This mini quilt went together really quick! The dog eared corners didn't have to be trimmed off after sewing the triangles together and there was no trimming to get the right size HST. Easy peasy!

The Crossover II can cut up to six layers of fabric and has adjustable pressure dials to allow for different thicknesses of fabrics.

Lining up the dog eared corners and sewing 1/4" seams gives perfect HSTs after pressing. I used the smallest triangles to give me 2" unfinished HSTs which will become 1 1/2" finished HSTs.

I used the 2" squares for the corners of the star. I really like all the sizes that come in this package!

What you need for the mini 4th of July Star Quilt:

One blue fat quarter, one red fat quarter, and one white fat quarter

8" x 8" batting square

Spray n Bond Basting Adhesive

Thread

Iron

Cut 4 - red triangles

Cut 8 - blue triangles

Cut 12 - white triangles

Cut 4 - 2" white squares

Cut 1 - 8" blue square for backing (extra added for quilting)

Cut 1 - 2 1/2" x 43" strip for binding

With right sides together, sew each of the red and blue triangles to a white triangle. Press seams towards dark side.

With right sides together, sew 2" squares and 2" HST's together in rows as show below. Press seams in each row in opposite directions.

With right sides together, sew rows together; match seams. Press seams open to reduce bulk.

*Mini Quilt assembly with batting and basting spray:

Protect the area where you will be working by placing an old sheet or paper under and around the area you’ll be spraying. Place the quilt backing, wrong side up on protected area. Lightly spray with Spray n Bond Basting Adhesive. Lay batting on sprayed fabric. Smooth to remove wrinkles.

Lightly spray batting from one edge to the other. Carefully lay the wrong side of quilt front over the sprayed surface of batting. Smooth fabric to ensure it adheres to the sprayed fabric and remove any wrinkles. Let dry.

Quilt as desired. Trim mini quilt to 6 1/2" x 6 1/2". Add binding using your favorite method.

Have a wonderful patriotic July!

Friday, June 25, 2021

Riley Blake Colorful Friends Project Tour

A visit to a zoo would be so fun after over a year of very little travelling, don't you think? If you can't go to see the lions, tigers, and bears, how about checking out Riley Blake Designs new fabric, "Colorful Friends." It's adorable and the panel is full of zoo animals!

The panel makes a quick quilt by adding just a few borders and HST corners. It measures 53" x 60" when finished.

It's A Zoo Out There!

The prints in the panel are just too cute and so bright. Seriously, I love them all!

Elephants, zebras, and lions, oh my!

The binding fabric I chose for this was Riley Blake Designs Crayola Stripe Multiple...it's so versatile! The border fabrics are RBD Colorful Friends Wildblue, RBD Colorful Friends Wisteria, RBD Colorful Friends Outrageous Orange, and RBD White.

An 18" square pillow with an applique hippo was easily made to add to the quilt.

I think it would work great for boys or girls!

Monkey Baby got comfy with the quilt and pillow!

The variety of fabrics in the "Colorful Friends" is amazing!

They are 100% cotton and are official licensed products.

Photo taking was adventurous with some of my own zoo family members, The Monkey Boys.

They jumped right in to be part of the photo fun.

We challenged them to pick a favorite animal, but it wasn't easy for them.

Monkey Baby loved the lion and so do I!

Monkey Boy #5 thought the elephant was his favorite.

Monkey Boy #4 went for the zebra with a huge smile on his face.

Bruster never gets on my quilts when I'm taking photos, but for some reason he felt he deserved to be included and wouldn't get off the quilt. I think he was a bit jealous of the Monkey Boys or he was selecting the hippo as his favorite.

The quilt and pillow are very comfy and soft!

"It's A Zoo Out There" brightened up the backyard with all it's color.

Sewing with "Colorful Friends" was such a happy experience with all those sweet fabrics and it was icing on the cake to have the Monkey Boys help with photos.

You can find the free pattern for "It's A Zoo Out There" HERE.

Applique on the pillow was a breeze with Heat n Bond Lite EZ Print Sheets*. I copy the designs by running the sheets through my inkjet printer...no tracing! Plus, the backing peels off without having to score it with a pin. I love that! *Affiliate link

Check out more projects made from "Colorful Friends" on the RBD blog:

Riley Blake Designs Blog

Wednesday, June 23, 2021

It Is My Day For "Fairy Tales" Blog Hop

I love a good fairy tale and feel like one is never too old to enjoy stories like Cinderella, Snow White, and Little Red Riding Hood. Thanks to Joan from Moosestash Quilting for this great idea for a blog hop...Fairy Tales!

Vintage art is my kind of thing and I totally love this one, which I chose to reproduce in fabric. This has been a really fun project to work on!

Once Upon A Time

"Once Upon a Time", a poster by illustrator Kenneth Whitley, shows Little Red Riding Hood and a wolf. The poster was produced by the WPA Federal Art Project and published circa 1939.

There aren't any wolves in my backyard, but we do have some coyotes that hang around in the desert near us. I recreated the poster in my EQ8 program. Fabrics are Moda Grunge.