This month I shared free tutorials for two quilt blocks because it’s so cool how these two simple blocks make a stunning pattern when put together. Can you see the simple nine patches and humble snow ball blocks here? Visit the tutorial for more about that. The binding and solid white fabrics are both Kona Cotton (celery and snow).
I let the piecing guide me on my quilting choices… and my first intention was to quilt it all using my walking foot. I used the walking foot to do the curved lines around the nine-patch seams, making that flower pattern. I love it, although I see I need more practice. ๐
Then I decided to ‘echo in’ with my walking foot for the snowball patches. I did the first one with my walking foot (the one above) and I love how accurate the walking foot make my quilting lines. But quilting that one block took 2 hours! It took so long because I had to stop and turn the quilt around a zillion times.
So after that I switched to the same pattern using free motion quilting. I didn’t have to turn the quilt around at all but my lines aren’t nearly so accurately placed. They wobble a lot and the space between them varies a lot. But each block only took me 20-30 minutes. I wish I could have done all of the snowballs with the more accurate walking foot, but I just didn’t have time.
Here’s the back. I had so much fun putting this together with one big orphan block (the star), some leftover Harmony (from Blend Fabrics) and three similar taupe fabrics. I was pinning the star and print pieces to my quilt wall (like I learned from Elizabeth Hartman’s free Creative Quilt Backs Craftsy class) when I noticed the empty step shape at the bottom and decided to fill it in with neutral fabrics from my stash.
This is one of my favorite parts of the quilt because it shows off the quilting.
So, what have you been sewing up this week? Did you make something with one of my free sewing tutorials or patterns? I would love to see! Tag me on Instagram @sewcanshe.
Sew an organizer covered with pockets that you can hang in your closet! This easy sewing project is great for organizing sewing and craft supplies, fashion accessories, bathroom necessities, gift wrappings, and more. There are pockets on both sides plus a big interior pocket so every bit of space is used. Iโll show you easy step by step instructions for sewing this organizer and putting it to use in your home. Get sew organized today.
Are you sewing a Closet Organizer with me? I hope so! This is Part 2 of our free sewing tutorial for an amazing organizer with a coat hanger inside so you can hang it anywhere.
If you are getting started, make sure you start at Part 1 of the free pattern.
Be a basketmaker! Sure, you can sew, but did you know that you can make amazing baskets too using your sewing machine, some fabric and the same materials that you use for your other projects?
Have you fallen in love with Quilt as You Go yet? It’s a fun technique for quilts, of course, but I’m having lots of fun using it for pouches and tote bags too.
I’m so excited to share with you the pattern for our first mini quilt of 2018… Flora! This beautiful little quilt was designed by the very talented Lauren of Molly & Mama…
At my daughter Chloeโs high school (can you believe my baby started high school???), the lunch lines are so long that she has been skipping lunch! Sheโs always starving by the time she gets home because she doesnโt want to carry a big lunch bag as well as her heavy backpack – poor girl!
Looking for free table runner patterns? I gathered up all my favorites in one place – here are free quilt patterns for table runners for fall, winter, spring and summer!
I am so in love with the beautiful look of simple patchwork quilts with lots of squares. This is the perfect way to use up fabric scraps like I did, or you can make a beautifully coordinated quilt with pre-cut 2 1/2โโ square fabric pieces that come in mini-charm packs.
Iโm also in love with the process. If you feel like quilt making is your escape from the world and sitting down to sew for a few hours makes your troubles fade awayโฆ this is the quilt for you!
Sew an easy beautiful apron with this free sewing pattern that only uses one yard of fabric! Whether you are sewing for yourself or for a friend, an apron always comes in handy and makes a great gift. This blog post includes a link to a free template that I digitized for you.
Disclosure: some of my posts contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of those links I may receive a small commission, so thank you for supporting SewCanShe when you shop! All of the opinions are my own and I only suggest products that I actually use. ๐
Caroline Fairbanks-Critchfield is an author and publisher who is passionate about the world of sewing and quilting. You can find her work in books, sewing patterns, magazines, and articles all over the web. She founded and publishes her ideas on the popular sewing website SewCanShe.com.