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Showing posts with label mean sarah jean. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mean sarah jean. Show all posts

May 7, 2014

Gift Certificates

But first some news!

Supernova now available ...
I'm pleased to announce that my pattern, Supernova, is now available at Quiltworks Northwest in Bellevue Washington.
Quiltworks Northwest is a brick and mortor store that offers a wide selection of fabrics, patterns, beads, embroidery supplies, and more! For those in the area, you can visit Quiltworks Northwest at 121A 107th Avenue NE. Hours & Directions are listed on their website.  
Did You Know...

Fabric Seeds offers gift certificates! You can even customize them to any occasion. Mother's day is right around the corner, wouldn't she love a gift certificate?!
Just see how easy it is!!
First, click on the Gift Certificate link at the top of the page. 
Fill out the required fields.
Preview your certificate.
Add your certificate to cart.
Proceed to checkout!

Once checkout is completed, an email with the gift certificate will be sent to your recipient, and your done! Easy peasy!!

March 3, 2014

Name That Quilt ~ Letters

Machine applique. It's the last step to finish the Name That Quilt quilt top. It's what names that quilt! 

I may have forgot to mention one thing in the requirements. It's not something I even thought about until about 2 weeks-ish ago. 

Stabilizer. 

Purely optional. If you don't have it. Don't worry. Most the time, I don't use it. However, it can be helpful. It does it what it implies. Stabilizes your fabric, making it easier to maneuver your fabric. I have found it easier to applique when there are layers. My needle doesn't get caught in a soft spot, and there's no thread build up. Just clean stitches. 
If using stablizer, simply cut enough to cover the space you'll be using and iron on to the back of your quilt top, about 10-15 seconds in each spot, or until fully secure. 

Okay. On to the actual applique....

First, you need to print your letters. You can use any font you like for this. I used 'Joint by PizzaDude' and you can download it for free from Dafont.com. 
In the requirements, I was a little generous with the size of square you'll need for your letters. This being to accommodate for any letter, especially those tall letters like j, t & h. 

If doing the lap size, you'll want your letters to measure 6 inches in height, or at around 600 point in Word. 
For the twin, you'll want your letters to measure 8 inches in height, or at around 800 point in Word.
Print your letters and cut out from the paper. Next, trace your letters backwards onto the back (or smooth) side of the fusible web. 


Next, I like to spray starch my fabric pieces to get them a little stiff. I've found it helps with cutting and less loose frays. Then, place the letter right side (or gritty side) down on the wrong side of your fabric. Your letter should still be backwards to you. Press with your iron for about 6-10 seconds, or until it's secure. 



After the letters have cooled down, cut out around your outline. 


then peel the fusible web backing from the fabric. 



Arrange your letters to your liking. I placed mine in the center as best I could - without getting out the measuring tape ;)

Press into place for another 6-10 seconds, or until secure.


Before you stitch down your letters, you need to decide what type of stitch you'll be using. There are a variety of stitches you can use to machine applique. For this quilt, I will be using my triple stitch, which is also a setting on my machine. 


I also use the embroidery foot, which has a nice wide opening. I like to align the needle about 1 mm in from the edge of the fabric. Going at a comfortable pace, stitch all around your letters. 




If using stabilizer, once your are finished stitching your letters, turn top over and gently tear away the stabilizer. 

Here is my finished quilt top!




I would love to see your quilts!
If you would like to participate in a Name That Quilt parade, you can send your completed quilt tops (with any links you'd like to include) to admin@fabricseeds.com and I will showcase your quilt! 

I hope y'all have enjoyed this quilt along!








February 24, 2014

Name That Quilt ~ Piecing

Piecing:

The piecing is the same for each quilt. Beginning with the stripes and working left to right, sew one background strip along the right side of each colored strip, except the last one. Press open.


Again, working left to right, sew the left side of each background strip to the right side of each colored strip.
Press open. Do this for both sets of stripes.


Once your stripes are sewn, take your middle piece (11.5"x(25.5") rectangle for the lap, and 12 1/2"x(40 1/2") for the twin. The length may vary, depending on how many stripes you have. If you are using more or less than 5, you will need to measure the width of your stripes to determine what your length should be).


Sew the middle piece to one of your short stripe set. Press open, away from stripes. Sew your long set of stripes to the opposite end of the middle piece. Press open, away from stripes. 


Next, for the Lap, sew the 10.5"x15" and the 10.5"x41" together along the 10.5" side. Press open.
For the Twin, sew the 12.5"x32.5" and the 12.5"x40.5" together along the 12.5" side. Press open.

Sew this long skinny strip the to right side of your stripes. Press away from stripes.


Lastly, For the lap, if you are using 5 stripes, go ahead and sew the remaining background piece (55.5"x36.5) to the left side of the stripes, along the 55.5" side. 
If you have more or less than 5 stripes, you will need to measure the width of your quilt top from the beginning stripe to the end of the background fabric, just like you did for measuring your middle piece in step 3. Minus this measurement from 72.5. This will be your width for the remaining piece. Cut your background piece to measure 55.5"x your measurement. Continue to sew this piece to the left side of the stripes, along the 55.5" side. Press away from stripes.

For the Twin, sew the remaining 2 pieces from your background fabric together along the 49" ends. Press seams, and sew this portion to the left side of the stripes, along the 72.5" side. Press open, away from stripes.
If you have more or less than 5 stripes, you will need to measure the width of your quilt top from the beginning stripe to the end of the background fabric, just like you did for measuring your middle piece in step 3. Minus this measurement from 90.5. This will be your width for the remaining piece. Cut your background piece to measure 40.5"x your measurement and 32.5"x your measurement. Sew these pieces together along [your measurement] side. Press seams. Continue to sew this piece to the left side of the stripes, along the 55.5" side. Press away from stripes.

 If you have questions about measuring your pieces, please email me at admin@fabricseeds.com. 


Next week is the appliqued letters!


February 17, 2014

Name That Quilt ~ Cutting


Cutting:



For the Lap:
(these instructions are for a 5 letters/stripes)

Starting with the stripes, cut (2) 3 1/2"xWOF strips from each color. (if using the same fabrics for the letters, cut 10" from one end before cutting your strips).
     Subcut into (1) 3.5"x32 1/2" strip and (1) 3 1/2"x12 1/2" strip.
From the background fabric, cut (6) 2 1/2"xWOF strips.
     Subcut into (4) 2 1/2"x32 1/2" strips and (4) 2 1/2"x12 1/2" strips.
Next, cut (1) 11.5"xWOF strip.
     Subcut into (1) 11.5"x25.5" rectangle (if you have more or less than 5 stripes, this will need to be adjusted to your width after piecing the stripes). From the remaining strip, trim to 10 1/2" wide. Trim to 15" in length.
Cut a new strip at 10 1/2"xWOF. Trim the selvedges. Trim to 41" in length.
From the remainder of the fabric, trim the length to 55 1/2" and selvedge end to 36 1/2" (if you have more or less than 5 stripes, this will need to be adjusted after piecing the rest of the top. You may want to hold off on cutting this piece until the next step).


For the Twin: 
(these instructions are for a 5 letters/stripes)

Starting with the stripes, cut (2) 4"xWOF strips from each color.
     Subcut into (1) 4"x42 1/2" strip and (1) 4"x17 1/2" strip.
From the background fabric, cut (6) 3 1/2"xWOF strips.
     Subcut into (4) 3 1/2"x42 1/2" strips and (4) 3 1/2"x17 1/2" strips.
Next, cut (1) 13.5"xWOF strip.
     Subcut into (1) 13.5"x29 1/2" rectangle (if you have more or less than 5 stripes, this will need to be adjusted to your width after piecing the stripes).
Cut (2) strips at 12 1/2"xWOF.
     Subcut into (1) 12 1/2"x40 1/2" rectangle and (1) 12 1/2"x32 1/2" rectangle.
From the remainder of the fabric, cut (2) rectangles 49"xWOF. Trim one rectangle (selvedge end) to 42.5" and the other to 30.5". You should have (1) 42.5"x49" rectangle and (1) 30.5"x49" rectangle (if you have more or less than 5 stripes, this will need to be adjusted after piecing the rest of the top. You may want to hold off on cutting this piece until the next step).

Next week we will start piecing!

February 5, 2014

Oops!

Oops! I forgot to mention one little thing in the fabric requirements. You will also need fusible web for each letter, such as Pellon or Heat 'n Bond. Be sure to have enough to cover each square of fabric you have for each letter. For the Lap size, you should have a 10"x10" square per letter; and for the Twin size you should have a 12"x12" square per letter.

Also, I had to update the background yardage for the Lap size to 3 yards (or 3 1/4 for good measure). Apparently I forgot which way I did the layout when I did my math, and found a much simpler way today. The original post has been updated to reflect these changes.

February 3, 2014

Name That Quilt ~ Fabric Requirements


I am so excited at the response I've received for this quilt along. I can hardly wait to get started!
I keep thinking of more words for this quilt; my list of want-to-make's keeps growing. I'm hoping to use my stash for the majority of them, and hopefully put a huge dent in it!


I'm still working out some of the details, but in the meantime, there's no reason we can't pick out our fabrics! 

Because this quilt can be customized with any word, the fabric requirements will vary slightly from quilt to quilt. For the quilt along, I will be doing 2 sizes, Lap & Twin, and only 1 variation for the strips. I am putting together a full pattern for more sizes, including all variations for sewing the strips. But let's start out easy as I work to put the whole pattern together.

The Lap size,will measure approximately 55"x72". You will need a 1/4 yard fabric for each strip, plus a 8"x8" piece for each letter; 3 yards for background, 3 1/4 yards backing and 1/2 yard binding for a 2.5" double fold binding. You will also need enough fusible web to cover each letter square.

The Twin will measure approximately 72"x90". You will need a 1/4 yard fabric for each strip plus a 10"x10" piece for each letter; and 5 yards for background, 5 1/2 yards backing and 5/8 yard binding for a 2.5" double fold binding. You will also need enough fusible web to cover each letter square.

(Note: I'm being generous with the letters, just to give enough space for varying widths/heights of each letter possibility. The background fabrics are approximate, as it will vary depending on how many strips you have. You may need a little more, or a little less. Amounts are based off a 5 letter word.)

To give plenty of time to gather your materials (and time for me to test the pattern first), I'll post the cutting instructions in 2 weeks.

Here's a button for easy back tracking to all the quilt along posts..




 

January 31, 2014

Name That Quilt ~ Quilt A-Long

I've been in a little bit of a lull this month. I think my boy has done more sewing than I have. I'm okay with that :) I haven't felt very motivated to do any machine sewing. Sometimes, all you need is a break. And, sometimes, all you need is a new quilt! The other night I came up with a new quilt design. It is such an easy quilt, but with endless possibilities to make it your own.

So here it is ...

Simple, Right! And how fantastic would this be on top of a bed with the occupant's name hanging over! And like I said, SOOO many possibilities! The stripes can be pieced several ways, or left as a solid/print strip. You can use ANY word (not just 5 letters), or font for the lettering. And, of course, it can be made in any size! 

I thought it would be fun to do this quilt as a Quilt A-Long. If you'd like to join, please leave a comment below, so I know there is interest for it. If I get my butt in gear enough (or not play around in all my fabric), we could even start next week. I'll post sizes, different options for the stripes, fabric requirements and the font I used (and where to find it). 
I plan to make one for each of my kids for their beds, but I would love to hear if you have a preferred size. 

Just to show you some of the possibilities with color and letters, here's a few more I have been playing with ..







You could even do it in your school colors/mascot ..


or your favorite football team! 




SO ... Who wants to Quilt A-Long with me!?! 


October 21, 2013

October Newsletter


New Fabrics In Store!

With over 50 bolts added to the store, October has been a busy month!
3 of the newest collections from Riley Blake Designs are available in yardage.
 
First up, and just in time for Halloween, is Emily Taylor's newest line, Zombie Apocolypse.
 
 
 
Natalie Lymer of Cinderberry Stitches joins the Riley Blake team with Enchant.
 
 
And, back by popular demand is Andrea Victoria by My Mind's Eye.
These fabrics are gorgeous! (The computer images have been highly saturated and do not properly reflect the true colors.)
 
 

 
New from the RBD designers is Think Pink, a tribute to Breast Cancer research and survivors. (available in fat quarters)
 
Also new in stock and available by the yard, are these POP basics by the RBD designers.
  
 
 
 
 
New Patterns!
 
I am incredibly pleased and excited to announce my first printed pattern, Supernova. This pattern is pre cut friendly, using 5" and 10" squares. Pattern also includes large and small scale blocks with 7 quilt sizes! Quick and easy to sew, great for any sewing level.
 
 
Julie Herman of Jaybird Quilts will be debuting her 3 newest patterns at Quilt Market this week. All 3 should be arriving the shop later this week as well. Patterns use Julie's Hex N More and Sidekick rulers. Templates also included in pattern.
  
 

   
Stroller Quilt Tutorial
I recently had the opportunity to work with Shannon Fabrics Cuddle to create this Stroller Quilt with Ties.
This is perfect for the cooler Fall nights and upcoming Winter. The ties create a pocket for little toes to be kept warm and easily ties to the side of the stroller to prevent it from falling down and getting run over. For the full tutorial, visit the Shannon Fabrics Cuddle Corner.

Hope you all have a happy and safe Halloween!
Thank you for your continued support!
Sarah