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. 🙂
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. I’ll 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 Chloe’s high school (can you believe my baby started high school???), the lunch lines are so long that she has been skipping lunch! She’s always starving by the time she gets home because she doesn’t 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 1/2’’ square fabric pieces that come in mini-charm packs.
I’m 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 away… 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. 🙂
I LOVE my new Japanese Knock-Off Tote Bag! This free sewing tutorial will show you how to make a beautiful patchwork tote with pockets on the inside. Or an adorable tote with pockets on the outside and patchwork on the inside. Choosing how to sew it is up to you!
Make your own bag handles! Using fabric to make purse handles has more benefits besides saving money – you have practically unlimited choices when it comes to customizing your bag handles with the same or contrasting fabric and making them just the right length – or making them adjustable. Read on for 5 great ideas to help you make your own purse or bag handles.
Are you curious about the BSR – Bernina Stitch Regulator? It’s an amazing sewing machine foot that helps you keep your free motion stitches an even length. I used it to quilt a sweet meandering design on some of the blocks in my quilt and made a quick video to show you how!
Quilt a sweet meandering quilting design that includes a little heart every now and then! This design is even easier than a regular free motion quilting meandering design because if you get quilted into a corner you can just ‘heart’ your way out of it. It’s like stitching love into your quilt!
This is a story with a happy ending. A story of a blog reader reaching out and helping a blogger. And now that blogger wants to pay it forward and help you!
A few weeks ago I wrote about my new Juki 2010Q (that I LOVE) and in my review I only had a few very minor complaints. One of those was weird lighting. The led light on my sewing machine is very bright, but it is to the left of the needle, so it casts strange shadows like this:
12 Comments
Your new quilt is really wonderful, I love the quilting and the backing!
I really do like those blocks, and your quilting is fine. Definitely go free motion – way too much turning otherwise, and when the quilt is washed, it will all blend together anyway. Excellent!
I noticed that your 9-patch blocks use the fabric randomly, but your snowball blocks all have the same fabric on each corner, and you only used the black fabric and some of the rose fabric for the snowball blocks. I don’t see any of the black fabric in the 9-patch blocks. What was your idea behind that? Why not randomize the corners of the snowball blocks, too? Just asking, because I’m trying to get better at colors and fabric usage by understanding how the "pros" think!
Hi Alice… you’d better not call me a pro, cause I’m not! This is what happened: I saved my black Harmony print for the corners, but then I got so carried away making 9-patches that I didn’t have enough of the black print to make the right number of snowballs. That’s when I decided to make pink snowballs too. And I had almost enough. I needed to make one more snowball and had neither pink nor black print and just threw in some solid black. I love scrappy quilts so I don’t mind having the odd block in there, but I’m sure there are others who would disagree. I could have ordered more Harmony prints, but who can wait that long? Thanks for asking, the more quilts you make the easier it will get to put fabrics together. 🙂
Your new quilt is really wonderful, I love the quilting and the backing!
Thanks Christine!
Your quilt is stunning twice! The front and the back. This back is a quilt in its own right. Great effect the quilting.
Thank you Nesta… such kind words! xoxo
What a fabulous finish, Caroline! The quilting is amazing. And the use of those two simple block designs has incredible results. Well done!
Thank you Lorna, hope you are having a great weekend! xoxo
That quilt is GORGEOUS! Love it.
Thank you Ren!
I really do like those blocks, and your quilting is fine. Definitely go free motion – way too much turning otherwise, and when the quilt is washed, it will all blend together anyway. Excellent!
I just washed it and it looks great! Thanks Barb, I’m glad you agree. xoxo
I noticed that your 9-patch blocks use the fabric randomly, but your snowball blocks all have the same fabric on each corner, and you only used the black fabric and some of the rose fabric for the snowball blocks. I don’t see any of the black fabric in the 9-patch blocks. What was your idea behind that? Why not randomize the corners of the snowball blocks, too? Just asking, because I’m trying to get better at colors and fabric usage by understanding how the "pros" think!
Hi Alice… you’d better not call me a pro, cause I’m not! This is what happened: I saved my black Harmony print for the corners, but then I got so carried away making 9-patches that I didn’t have enough of the black print to make the right number of snowballs. That’s when I decided to make pink snowballs too. And I had almost enough. I needed to make one more snowball and had neither pink nor black print and just threw in some solid black. I love scrappy quilts so I don’t mind having the odd block in there, but I’m sure there are others who would disagree. I could have ordered more Harmony prints, but who can wait that long? Thanks for asking, the more quilts you make the easier it will get to put fabrics together. 🙂
Caroline