Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Deck the Halls: Selvage Christmas Tree tutorial and giveaway!!

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by!

It's true--Christmas is less than a month away! Today I'm a guest at Jennifer's blog, with a tutorial on how to make this cute little selvage wall hanging:
Zipit is generously giving away a $20 gift certificate. An early gift!
I hope you will check out my tutorial, and then leave me a comment here telling me whether you are decorating with traditional colors of red and green, or going out on a (Christmas tree) limb and doing something retro or modern. Pink...aqua...limey green...purple? I'd love to know! A winner will be chosen on December 8.

Be sure to check out the rest of this fabulous schedule for lots of fun ideas!
11/26: S.O.T.A.K. Handmade / Giveaway from Sew Me a Song
11/27: Live A Colorful Life / Giveaway from Zipit!
11/28: Petit Lyons /Giveaway from Zipit!
11/29: Little Bluebell / Giveaway from Mountain of the Dragon
12/4: Jednoiglec / Giveaway from Sew Fresh Fabric
12/5: Owen's Olivia / Giveaway from Sew Fresh Fabric





Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Selvage Ornament Pillow






Selvage Ornament Pillow

Being the selvage obsessed person that I am, this simple pattern is a perfect fit for me. 
Here is what you need for the pillow front:
2 - 2 1/2" x 8 1/2" red print
1 - 4 1/2" x 8 1/2" piece of muslin
4 - 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" white
1 - 1 1/2" x 8 1/2" white
2 - 1 1/2" x 3 1/4" white
2 - 1 1/2" x 10 1/2" white
1 - 1 1/2" x 3" gold
2 - 2 1/4" x 10 1/2" green dot
2 - 2 1/4" x 14" green dot

You will need this for the pillow back:
1 zipper (at least 14" long)
1 - 8" x 14" print
1 - 7" x 14" print

1 14" pillow form.


Start with your piece of muslin, or any scrap fabric--you're just using it as a base and covering it with selvages so it won't show.

I happen to have a whole bag full of Christmas-related selvages, but any selvages would look cute. I always try to add at least one that has the color registration dots.

Place a piece of scrap piece of fabric at the bottom your base, like this:

Lay out your selvages to check the spacing and order,

then just start sewing them, one at a time, close to the selvage edge, adding the next one on top, building your way up to the top until your fabric base is covered.
Turn it over and trim to 4 1/2" x 8 1/2" inches.

Next add your red print, one at the top and one at the bottom of your selvage piece. Draw a line diagonally from corner to corner on each of the 2 1/2" squares. Place a square piece at each corner, sew on the diagonal line, trim and press open so you have a square piece.
 (Sorry, I forgot to take a picture of this portion after pressing the white pieces open to make a square)
Sew one  1 1/2" x 3 1/4" white piece on each side of the 1 1/2" x 3" gold piece. This is the top of your ornament. Sew it to the red piece.  Add the 1 1/2" x 8 1/2" white piece to the bottom, and then a 1 1/2" x 10 1/2" white piece to each side. Now you are ready to add the green dots. I decided I wanted a little ornament hanger so I basted a little piece of ribbon to the gold piece before I sewed on the green dots at the top.

then you can add the green dots on the top and bottom, and then on both sides. Voila! Your pillow top is complete!
I wanted an exposed zipper for my pillow back. This tutorial is great! When you have sewed your zipper to the two backing pieces, trim it to 14" inches, make sure your zipper is at least halfway open, and then sew the pillow front and pillow back together.
 Add your 14" pillow form and enjoy your pillow!






Monday, November 5, 2012

The Name Game: A Quilter's Table

This week Debbie is here from A Quilter's Table.

I was trying to think when Debbie first popped up on my quilting radar. You know--that moment when all of a sudden you see something that just makes you stop and pay attention, and then you want to see all the other things that quilter has made. I'm pretty sure it was this quilt:
I spend my days at a computer doing medical transcription, so of course I was thinking I really need a quilt like this one!

Since this quirky "qwerty" quilt, I have been following along with the adventures at A Quilter's Table.


     How did you choose the name for your blog?
 I really struggled with the name of my blog. First and foremost, I intended for it to be a journal of sorts of my quilting journey. But I also am such a foodie, and The Table is such a meaningful place for me and my family. I really wanted to be able to share about that too. I finally settled on including ‘table’ in the name, because it could refer to either a table where meals are shared or a cutting or sewing table. It also seemed to reflect a speaking platform, and since my blog would be an extension of me, that seemed appropriate.

 Were there other names you considered, and can you share any of them with us?
 Oh my goodness, there were oodles! Some of the major contenders were quilteatrepeat, stitchabit, stitchesandtastes, aquiltingfeast, aquiltersspace, and aquiltingandtastingjourney.
  Now that you are recognized by A Quilter's Table, are you happy with it, or do you wish you could change it to something else?
 I am pretty happy with it. Sometimes I question my choice, and even my decision to include ‘The Table’ as much as I do. But the name “A Quilter’s Table” definitely reflects a lot about me, and I like that.

Debbie recently hosted a Polaroid block swap on Flickr.  Such cute blocks! She used one of her blocks and made this cute little drawstring bag using Jeni's pattern (this pattern is worth every penny, by the way--and would make great presents for the upcoming holidays).

 

Be sure to check out this part of Debbie's blog. Yum!
And Debbie's tutorial for the triple-zip pouch is high on my list in the next couple of months.
Debbie has some other great tutorials as well, so please head over and say hi. Lots of cheery inspiration to be seen. Thanks, Debbie, for playing the Name Game this week!

Friday, November 2, 2012

Friday Finish

Finally finished. On a Friday. Fabulous!

The fabric is "Indie," by Art Gallery. This fabric was a dream to work with. It is a wedding gift for this dreamy couple.
Here's a close-up.
The quilting was beautifully done by Dea of D'Vine Quilters.
It will soon be in the mail to Texas, where I'm sure it will be well-loved.