Favorite Finish Monthly Linkup - October 2019

Welcome to October's Favorite Finish Monthly Linkup!

My favorite finish for October were some new pineapple blocks.  I made a variety for the beginning paper piecing workshop I taught in the middle of October.

Ready for the party?  

Here is a reminder of the party details:

• The linky party will open at 12:01am EST on the last day of the month and will be open for 5 days, through the 4th at 11:59 pm EST.

• For instructions on how to link up blog, Instagram, or pictures from your computer (new - there is now a way to just upload a picture without a web link) to the party, click here.  

• If linking a blog post, I ask that you please add a link back to the party (and the button graphic if you would like).

• Please visit at least 3 other links (and preferably leave comments) to share the love and celebration :)

I hope you join in by checking out the posts or linking your favorite finish of the month!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Why We Quilt

I would love to share some good news today, I was included in Thomas Knauer's new book :)

I was contacted by Thomas Knauer if one of the quilts I had made could be used in a book he was writing called Why We Quilt (affiliate link).  I was so honored to be asked I accepted immediately.

The quilt he wanted to place in his book was Drizzle.  I made the quilt as part of Christa Watson's book launch for her book Machine Quilting with Style.  Drizzle is made from Christa's book pattern called Rain and because I made it about half size, I called mine Drizzle :)

Also in the book is a quilt I designed but did not make.  Allison Dutton made a version of my pattern Use Your Illusion (she called hers Emerging Illusion) as part of a charity bee.  I got to see this quilt hanging at QuiltCon and loved the different colors she used in the quilt.

The entire book is both inspirational, reading about why quilters quilt, and eye candy for all of the beautiful quilt pictures.  I am excited to have added this book to my quilt library.

You can pick up a copy of Why We Quilt on Amazon (and you can find the pattern for Use Your Illusion in my Etsy shop).

Note: all photos courtesy of Storey Publishing except for Emerging Illusions, taken by Allison Dutton.

Dumpling Pouch ++ Aurifil Artisan October Challenge

As an Aurifil Artisan I have the opportunity to take part in some monthly challenges. This month's (October) was to create something using at least 5 Aurifil thread colors.

I traveled to see my sister this past weekend and thought that it would be great to be able to make something for this month's challenge that I could give as a gift to my sister.  After searching through many patterns on the internet, I arrived at the Dumpling Pouch by Sew Sweetness. I loved how the top of the pouch is curved giving it a slightly different look.

I have made a number of Sew Sweetness patterns before and they are always easy to understand and she has great videos to go with most of her patterns. The Dumpling Pouch is one of her free patterns that you can find right here.  I decided to make the smallest version (mostly due to the length of zipper I had already in my sewing room).

I knew that I wanted to play with some of the special stitches on my Bernina, there are so many stitches that can give different decorative looks that I never use.  I also decided to use really thick Aurifil thread, 12 wt, to make sure that the stitches stood out from the fabric.

I paired some pink linen-looking fabric with 5 Aurifil colors in 12 wt:

• 2420 - Fleshy Pink
• 2535 - Magenta
• 2530 - Blossom Pink
• 2435 - Peachy Pink
• 2024 - White

I first used four of the colors to make the swirl stitch design using stitch 656 on my Bernina.  Then I filled in the space between the swirls with some match-stitch quilting with the white thread.

A purple zipper and some white and pink polka dot fabric for the inside completed the pouch.  My sister and I took the pouch on a photo shoot around Washington DC and had fun taking some good and some pictures of the pouch.  This picture was taken on a wooden bench in the Smithsonian Sculpture Garden right off the National Mall.

Thanks Aurifil for including me on this challenge!

Mosaic Mystery Quilt ++ October Square in a Square Linkup

Today is the link up to show off pictures of your Square in a Square units for October and enter to win some great prizes from our generous sponsors.

Mosaic Mystery Quilt Links:

• Fabric requirements / fabric selection tips
• Cutting Instructions
• House Blocks
• Square in a Square units
• Quilt kits available
• Facebook group
• Non-mystery quilt option
• Sponsors & Prizes

Octobers's Sponsors & Prizes

Aurifil

Monthly prize: collection of 12 large spools of thread

Aurifil is a favorite of quilters for their high quality, wonderful colors, variety of thread weights. I love Aurifil's thread colors and weights (and my machine loves Aurifil thread)! Aurifil thread is made from the finest cottons grown in the Mako region of Egypt and manufactured in Milano, Italy.

Honey, Bunny, and Doll

Monthly prize: One winner of 2 pdf patterns

A family affair! Honey, Bunny, and Doll Patterns are designed by a mother (Lori) and two daughters (Alison and Amanda). While it is hard for them to live in three different states, their mutual love of quilting keeps them close! They aim to design quilts that appeal to a wide variety of quilters and designs that work well with a range of different fabric styles. We also offer a limited selection of kits and precuts in our Etsy store, as well as a variety of 108" wide backing fabrics!

Congrats to #54 and #34 for winning!

Now onto the linkup!

Linkup Details:

• You will link up your picture of your fabrics using the inLinkz system below.  Details on how to link up and a practice link up party can be found here.
• The linkup party will open at 12:01 am EST on the second Thursday of the month and will stay open until 11:55pm EST on the last day of the month.  Winners will be announced within the first week of the following month.
• The prizes will be awarded randomly to people who link up using this system on this post (posting a picture on Facebook is awesome, but it needs to be entered here to be eligible to win).

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Mosaic Mystery Quilt ++ Square in a Square Units

Here are the Mosaic Mystery Quilt instructions for October...

Mosaic Mystery Quilt Links:

• House Blocks
• Fabric cutting instructions
• Fabric requirements / fabric selection tips
• Quilt kits available
• Facebook group
• Non-mystery quilt option
• Sponsors & Prizes

Now that the Mosaic Mystery Quilt has ended, you can find a easy to print, full version of the pattern for sale in my pattern shop.

Full pdf Instructions of Mosaic Mystery Quilt

Square in a Square (SiaS) Units

1.  Combine 7 fabric A squares 4 ¾" x 4 ¾" and 14 bg fabric squares 4" x 4" to make 7 A/bg Square in a Square (SiaS) units 6 ½" x 6 ½" using steps a.-e.
         a. Cut each 4" x 4" square (bg fabric) in half once diagonally.
         b. Center a triangle 4" x 4" along a first side of a 4 ¾" x 4 ¾" square (fabric A).  Sew along the edge with a scant ¼" seam (shown as a dotted line), pressing seam open or outwards.

         c. Sew a second triangle 4" x 4" on the side of the square opposite to the first side, pressing seam open or outwards. (Note: you can sew both of these triangles on then press instead of pressing after each addition.)

         d. Continue by sewing a third and fourth triangle onto the square, pressing seams open or outwards.
         e. Trim off the tabs (dog ears) formed by the sewn on triangles and square the unit to 6 ½" x 6 ½" (if necessary) making sure there is ¼" between the corner of the inner square and the outer side of the unit.  Repeat to form a total of 7 A/bg SiaS units 6 ½" x 6 ½".

2. Repeat step 1 using 8 bg fabric squares 4 ¾" x 4 ¾" and 16 fabric C squares 4" x 4" to make                        8 bg/C SiaS units 6 ½" x 6 ½".

Many thanks to the generous sponsors of the Mosaic Mystery Quilt!

Hobbs Batting | Bear Creek Quilting Company | Quilting Jetgirl | Sew Fresh Quilts

Quilter's Planner | Needle & Foot | Fat Quarter Shop | BackSide Fabrics

Cooking Up Quilts | Paintbrush Studio Fabrics | Honey, Bunny, and Doll | Make Modern | Tish's Adventures in Wonderland

OLFA | Aurifil | Busy Hands Quilts | Whims and Fancies | Meadow Mist Designs

Any questions?  Leave them in a comment below or post them to our Facebook group page.  I look forward to seeing everyone's SiaS units.  The next set of instructions will be published on the first Thursday of November (the 7th).