Best. Day. EVER! Free Appliqué Pattern

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As promised in my Moda LOVE post, here’s the fun appliqué pattern I used on the back of my quilt! The pattern is formatted for fuseable web appliqué, and measures a whopping 13” x 32”. It’s pretty big, but I thought it was fun for the back of my quilt. Of course, if you want to take on some tiny appliqué, you could always reduce it by 50% and make a really fun pillow for your couch! (If you do that, send me pictures, I want to see.) If you’re new to appliqué, check out my tutorial here. It will help, I promise. :)

Click here to download the free pattern.

And remember! The Moda LOVE blog tour is still going strong, with a giveaway at every stop! Be sure to follow along and enter. I’ll announce my winner(S) on the 13th.

Happy Wednesday!

xoxo

April

Pillow Collective: Beautiful Bolster Pillow

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Sooooo….

Today I get to be a part of the Pillow Collective!

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Amy and I thought it would be fun to highlight some fun, fast projects that you can use to spruce up your living space during these cold dreary months before spring comes.

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I’ve been wanting to make a bolster pillow for some time, and I always have need to use up my leftover Half Square Triangles, so I figure a bolster made from HST’s is perfect, right?

Now, I know we’re supposed to share a tutorial for our pillow, but in this case I’m going to have to give you rough instructions, because so much about this pillow depends on your pillow form. Sorry for the lack of pictures, it was late when I was sewing and the pictures didn’t turn out at all. I’ll snag you some as soon as I can.

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So, HST bolster pillow…here we come!

First off, snag a bolster pillow form. Mine was pretty big, but I’m sure they come in all different sizes.

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Measure the length and the circumference of the pillow, write those numbers down.

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Then, trace the end of the pillow on a sheet of paper.

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Make (70) Half Square triangles by cutting (35) 3″ colored squares, and (35) background squares. Using my quick HST method, make (2) HSTs with one colored and one white square, by sewing two season either side of the midline, and cutting the pieces apart. Press toward darker fabric.

Cut (6) 2 1/2″ strips and (2) 6″ strips th

at are an inch or two longer than the bolster.

Lay out your half square triangles in your desired pattern, using 2 1/2″ strips in between the rows. Place 6″ sashing on the top and bottom of the rows. Stitch blocks together in rows, pressing seams open. Stitch rows to sashing, press toward sashing. Finished panel should be large enough to cover the bolster with about 6 inches of overlap. (Remember when you measured the circumference and length, those will come in handy here.)

Layer quilted panel with batting and backing and quilt as desired. I used metallic thread and quilted it in a wavy line.

Hem the 6″ top and bottom sashing strips by folding under 3/4″, and then folding 3.4″ again. Press and topstitch in place.

Cut out 2 circles for the ends of the pillow, using the traced circle from the end of the pillow. Layer circles with batting and backing and quilt as desired.

Pin panel to the circle, right sides together, allowing the panel to overlap about 3 inches.

On my bolster, I placed a few pleats in my panel, to help it lay more smoothly.

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Stitch around the circle. Repeat on opposite side.

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Turn pillow cover right side out, and place pillow form inside. It should be snug.

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On my pillow, I finished with a large button, which helps the envelope style closure from gaping open.

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Plus, who needs an excuse to use a 2″ button?

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Hope you love my bolster as much as I do!

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Have so much fun on the rest of the Pillow Collective stops today, and throughout the week!

xoxo

April

PS Visit the other stops on the Pillow Collective today and throughout the rest of the week!

 

 

Quick and Easy Half Square Triangle (HST) Hack

half square triangle quilting quilt tutorial shortcut

The other day (or like, two months ago) on QuiltCast, Amy and I were talking about shortcuts and tools we use in our studio. I mentioned blue painter’s tape, and how I use it for making Half Square Triangles (HST) quick and easy. WITHOUT MARKING. Yes, you read that correctly. I don’t mark the back of my half square triangles. I’m a quilting rebel, what can I say. (By the way, have you been listening to QuiltCast? It’s a podcast for quilters that I’m doing with Amy Ellis of Amy’s Creative Side. We’re getting some great feedback on it, and I’d love yours. Head on over and download it and let me know what you think? xoxo)

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Anyway, I figured you’d want to see this awesome little hack, because hey, it saves me a ton of time…and who really loves marking the back of HSTs anyway? *crickets*

That’s what I thought.

So get yourself some blue painter’s tape, and let’s do this thing.

Mark one line right down the middle of the tape, and another line 1/4″ away on either side, for a total of 3 lines.

Put the tape on your extension table, lining up the middle line with your needle. Be sure not to place the tape over the feed dogs.

half square triangle quilting quilt tutorial shortcut

To sew a standard HST, line up the top corner with your needle and place under your presser foot. Align the other corner with the middle line.

half square triangle quilting quilt tutorial shortcut

Start sewing,

half square triangle quilting quilt tutorial shortcut

keeping the bottom corner on the middle line as you sew.

half square triangle quilting quilt tutorial shortcut

Sew all the way to the other corner…

half square triangle quilting quilt tutorial shortcut

set your seam, trim your excess,

half square triangle quilting quilt tutorial shortcut

press toward the dark, and VOILA!

half square triangle quilting quilt tutorial shortcut

To make 2 HSTs, simply align your top corner with your 1/4″ seam allowance (I use the edge of my patchwork foot) and the right or left line.

half square triangle quilting quilt tutorial shortcut

Sew,

half square triangle quilting quilt tutorial shortcut

then rotate and repeat…

half square triangle quilting quilt tutorial shortcut

on the other side of the diagonal.

half square triangle quilting quilt tutorial shortcut

Cut between the two seams…

half square triangle quilting quilt tutorial shortcut

Set seams, press toward dark, trim up, and check it out! Two HSTs and NO marking!

Seriously people, it’s like magic. (However, it is not magic taking photos in the basement.)

On my table, the biggest HSTs I can do with this method is 3″ square–but for those of you lucky ducks who have a custom table where your machine is inset, you may be able to go even bigger. Just make sure your tape is straight out from the needle.

half square triangle quilting quilt tutorial shortcut

What do you think? Will you try my Half Square Triangle Hack? Do you have any fast and easy methods of your own? I’d love to hear them!

Also. YOU GUYS. New Patterns and a Black Friday coupon code coming tomorrow!! I’m crossing my fingers you love these new ones as much as I do.

xoxo
April

 

Twelve Words Block of the Month #6: June Delight

June Delight

Hello sweet friends!

Here’s my fun June block for the Twelve Words Block of the Month.
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I kinda love it.
June Delight
It turned out to be a delightful surprise, as I had a different block planned and finished for June, but when I put it alongside the previous 5 blocks, it just didn’t jive, you know what I mean?
June Delight
Turns out that block will work out better later in the year, and this block works perfectly now.
June Delight
Sometimes, the most delightful surprises aren’t the ones you planned. They aren’t things you control or expect.
June Delight

As your faith is strengthened you will find that there is no longer the need to have a sense of control, that things will flow as they will, and that you will flow with them, to your great delight and benefit.

Emmanuel Teney

June Delight
I think I’m going to plaster that on my wall somewhere. For the less-than-delightful surprises.

xoxo
April

PS Let’s make this block, shall we? Miss the previous blocks? Here you go: January, February, March, April, and May.

Instructions:

Materials:

(12-15) fabric strips in widths between 3/4″ and 2½” wide.

(1) 3½” x 18″ linen fabric strip (for middle strip)

(1) 10″ x 4″ dark colored rectangle

(1) 12½” x 12½” piece of lightweight paper (I used newsprint.)

Block6A

Use a glue stick to temporarily adhere your linen strip across the paper square, on a diagonal, making sure it is evenly centered.

Block6CPlace next strip right sides together and sew to the right edge of the linen strip.

Block6BPress away from the linen.

Block6DContinue placing, sewing, and pressing strips to cover the newsprint out to the corner.

Block6ERepeat on the left side.

Gently tear away newsprint paper.

Block6FApplique word using your favorite method. (Tutorial for machine applique using fuseable web, here.)

Block6GTrim the block to 12½” square, being sure to center the linen strip on the diagonal.

Download the template for the word here.

Post pictures in the flickr group. :)