Sponsor News - Pile O'Fabric - Back To School Sale

I just wanted to quickly post to let you know of an awesome back-to-school sale happening over at one of my sponsors, Pile O'Fabric.  This weekend only (August 7th - 9th), all fabric, patterns, and supplies are 30% off.  No coupon code is needed, all of the prices have been adjusted on the website.

Happy Shopping!

Poinsettia Pinwheels Pattern Release

In November of 2014 I had a Christmas pattern called Poinsettia Pinwheels published in the Fat Quarterly Magazine.  I am releasing it as a stand alone pattern now available in my pattern shop (digital and print versions) and on Etsy, just in time for a start on Christmas and holiday sewing.

Poinsettia Pinwheels is a fun and modern lap-sized Christmas quilt created by a repeating 18” (finished) quilt block. The pattern includes instructions for a 54" x 72" lap sized quilt, but the pattern can easily be made larger or smaller by adding or subtracting blocks. The pattern is not difficult, but it is time consuming with all of the half square triangles.

I made the quilt used Kona cotton solids by Robert Kaufman in poppy, red, pear, leprechaun green, and white. I added a lot of quilting to this quilt which is difficult to see on the front, but stands out well on the back.

I really like the graphic design of this quilt and how it is Christmas-like while still being a little different and more modern.  The pattern is available in the Meadow Mist Designs pattern shop (digital and print versions) and on Etsy.

I am linking up to Link a Finish Friday, Whoop Whoop Friday, Thank Goodness Its Finished Friday, Finish It Up Friday, Fabric Frenzy Friday, and Show Off Saturday @ Sew Can She.

Midnight Mystery - August Instructions - Flying Geese

Welcome to the third month of instructions for the Midnight Mystery Quilt!  The first set of instructions posted in June were on fabric selection, and the second set of instructions posted in July were on cutting the fabrics (all links and other information can be found in the Mystery Quilts tab above). 

First, a Few Announcements:

1. Is it too late to join? - I have been asked a few time whether it is too late to join in.  It is definitely not too late! This is the first month of piecing so you can very easily catch up.  Also, the instructions for the mystery quilt will always be available on the blog (see Mystery Quilts tab above) so you can start at any time.

2.  Want instructions in an easier to print format? - Simply leave a comment below (with e-mail address if you are a no-reply blogger) or send me an e-mail at cheryljbrickey (at) gmail (dot) com to get on the e-mail distribution list.

3.  Share your progress - Don't forget to post pictures of the fabrics you have chosen and your in-progress pics to our very active Facebook group and on social media using the hashtag #MidnightMysteryQuilt.

4.  New Sponsors - I am so excited to announce that since the cutting instructions were sent out in July, the Midnight Mystery quilt-a-long got its 5th, 6th, and 7th sponsors!!!  The new prizes include bundles of fat quarters from Blank Quilting Corporation /Studio e, quilt patterns from Busy Hands Quilts, and quilting services from Quilting Among the Groves. Thank you so much to our wonderful sponsors!

And without further ado, who wants to start piecing?  This month we are going to make...a whole bunch of Flying Geese!  I will admit that flying geese are not my favorite quilting block to piece, so I figured we would do them first and get them out of the way.

We will be using Fabric C and Fabric D for these geese and will be using the no-waste method to make them.  Just as a reminder, in the illustrations for the quilt instructions, Fabric C will be represented by the color purple and Fabric D will be represented by the color white.

For those that have never used the no-waste method to make flying geese, if you need additional help there are tons of videos on YouTube showing the technique, simply search "no-waste flying geese".

Combine 9 Fabric C squares (7 ¼” x 7 ¼”) and 36 Fabric D squares (4” x 4”) to form 36 Flying Geese Units (6 ½” x 3 ½”) using the No Waste Flying Geese method outlined below.  (In this method, a set of 1 Fabric C square and 4 Fabric D squares will yield 4 flying geese.)

1.         Place two of the Fabric D squares (4” x 4”) on opposite corners of a Fabric C square (7 ¼” x 7 ¼”) right sides together.  (The Fabric D squares will overlap in the middle of the Fabric C square.)  Use a removable marking device to make a line diagonally across the Fabric D squares (solid line).

2.         Sew scant ¼” seam on either side of the marked line (dotted lines) and then cut on the marked line (solid line).

3.         Press seams towards the Fabric D squares. (You will have two of these intermediate units.)  For each intermediate unit, place a Fabric D square on the corner the Fabric C square right sides together.  Draw a diagonal line on the Fabric D square (solid line) and sew a scant ¼” on either side of the marked line (dotted lines).

4.         Cut on the marked line (solid line) and press seams open or towards the Fabric D squares.  (Each set of 1 Fabric C square and 4 Fabric D squares will yield 4 flying geese.)  Repeat 

Repeat to form a total of 36 Flying Geese Units (You will be using 34 of the Flying Geese Units in the quilt).  Cut off tabs (also known as dog ears) and trim blocks to 6 ½” x 3 ½” if necessary, making sure that there is ¼” between the point of the Fabric C and the edge of the unit.

A Few Additional Announcements:

1.  Button - I have made a button for the mystery quilt :)  If you decide to join in on the quilt-a-long and have a blog I would love it if you posted the button.

 

2.  The Un-Mystery Quilt - Want to join in the fun but making a mystery quilt is not your thing?  If you would like to see the final pattern to decide whether to join in, or to help pick colors; simply e-mail me and I will send you a sneak peak (the only rule is that you have to keep the design completely to yourself as to not spoil anyone else's surprise).

3.  Share your progress - Don't forget to post pictures of the fabrics you have chosen and your in-progress pics to our very active Facebook group and on social media using the hashtag #MidnightMysteryQuilt.

Many thanks to our wonderful Midnight Mystery sponsors!

Midnight Mystery - More Sponsor News

The first set of piecing instructions for the Midnight Mystery Quilt is coming tomorrow ... but today I have some more exciting news.  The Midnight Mystery Quilt just got its 7th sponsor!!

I met Jan from Quilting Among the Groves last year through my first mystery quilt-a-long, the Foothills Mystery Quilt.  He recently finished quilting it and the finished quilt is gorgeous (go take a look here).  Jan is actually making two Midnight Mystery quilts and from the fabrics he selected I know that they are going to turn out beautifully.

In addition to being an elementary art teacher, Jan is a quilter and offers of long arm quilting services.  Jan is graciously donating a prize to one winner of a semi-densely quilted all-over design on a Midnight Mystery Quilt top, or a quilt that is similarly sized. 

The winner (US only for this prize due to shipping costs) will provide the finished quilt top, backing and batting and shipping costs to Quilting Among the Groves.  Quilting Among the Groves will provide an email or phone and photo consultation with a semi-densely quilted all-over design, thread, and return shipping.  This prize has a value of over $140!

Thank you so much again Jan and all of our sponsors!  Please take a minute and visit the Quilting Among the Groves blog and check out Jan's work.

Would you or your business like to get in the fun with the Midnight Mystery quilt and become a sponsor?  If so, just send me an e-mail :)

Floating by Cooking Up Quilts Giveaway

I love being able to return the favor of pattern reviewing and testing for my pattern reviewers. I recently had the opportunity to review Beth from Cooking Up Quilts's very first pattern called Floating. Beth is such an awesome pattern tester, one of the fastest quilters I have ever met.

The pattern uses 5 fabrics, 4 print fabrics and a background and contains instructions for five sizes – baby, lap, twin, queen, and king.   The pattern is very well written, clear with excellent instructions and illustrations.  Most of the pieces for the block are made using strip piecing which is such a time saver. Floating is now available on Beth's Etsy and Craftsy shops.

Beth has graciously allowed me to giveaway a pdf version of the Floating quilt pattern to two winners. Simply leave a comment below with your favorite color combination right now. Leave your e-mail address if you are a no-reply blogger.

Giveaway now over, thanks for taking part!