Punky-Wunkin Quilt-A-Long

Welcome!

I would like to thank Connecting Threads for sponsoring this year's Quilt-A-Long on my blog.  Today, on their blog Notions they featured my wall-hanging version of this project as lucky #13 of the Gifty Galore features.  I am thrilled to be a part of this program.  You can down-load your copy of this pattern exclusively from Connecting Threads HERE.  Also, all of the awesome fabrics shown you can purchase from my blog sponsor at Connecting Threads.

I like this quilt.  I can decorate with it all harvest season--September through November!  It's a great seasonal project.  It works for both Halloween and Thanks Giving.

Wall-Hanging Version

 For the quilt-a-long, I will be sewing the entire quilt as a throw-sized quilt.  It'll be revealed here!

This is the Punky-Wunkin Throw Quilt measuring 72 inches.

And...for a Halloween flare, here is a diagram of the wall-hanging done in Halloween fabrics--the Rest In Pieces fabric line from Connecting Threads.

This would be awesome done in Halloween prints!  Great for October decorating.

It's going to be awesome!

Here is the schedule:

• September 29--Fabric Requirements
• October 6--Sewing the Pumpkin Blocks
• October 13--(Happy Columbus Day US!)--Leaf Blocks
• October 20--Sewing the Setting
• October 27--Machine Quilting & Final Reveal

So...here are your Fabric Requirements:
Note that if you are doing the wall-hanging these fat quarters are LINEAR and not cut.  It would be really easy to make this from your scrap stash.

Wall-Hanging Fabric Requirements:

·         Medium Orange Print for large pumpkin: 1/4 yard

·         Light Orange Print for top pumpkin: 1/4 yard

·         Dark Orange for bottom pumpkin: 1/4 yard

·         Gold for maple leaf: 1/4 yard

·         Light green for maple leaf (or brown for Halloween version): 1/4 yard

·         Red for maple leaf (or taupe for Halloween): 1/4 yard

·         Brown for pumpkin stems:  1/4 yard

·         White for block back-grounds & sashing (or purple for Halloween): 2 yards

·         Autumn Print for outer border (or black for Halloween):  3/4 yards

·         Binding: ¾ Yards

·         Backing: 1 ½ Yard

Throw Fabric Requirements: 

·          Medium Orange Print for large pumpkin: 3/8 yard

·         Light Orange Print for top pumpkin: 3/8 yard

·         Dark Orange for bottom pumpkin: 3/8 yard

·         Gold for maple leaf: 3/8 yard

·         Light green for maple leaf: 3/8 yard

·         Red for maple leaf: 3/8 yard

·         Brown for pumpkin stems:  1/4 yard

·         White for block back-grounds & sashing:  3 yards

·         Autumn Print for outer border: 2 yards

·         Binding: 1 yard

·         Backing: 5 yards

Free Pattern--Twin Sisters Charm Square Quilt

Hello everyone!  I thought it would be fun to offer a free pattern.

Here is the PDF for my Twin Sisters Charm Square Quilt.

Please leave me a comment as you download your free pattern.  I'd like to know what is your favorite blog-following service (either Google+, Bloglovin' or something else).

Enjoy!

5-Block Charm Sampler Quilt Pattern & KISMIF Linky Party 15

So I've decided to enter the Quilt Blogger's Festival over at Amy's Creative Side.

I decided to enter their new category--designed by me--with my latest quilt pattern, 5-Block Charm Square Sampler Quilt.  A special "thank-you" goes out to Karen Perry for doing the pattern checking and piecing of this top.  I did something similar for Moda Bake Shop--but with different quilt blocks and thought it would be fun to publish another version of the pattern in its original setting.

It can be purchased here: Craftsy, Etsy and Pattern Spot.

Also, as promised, some new patterns that work with pre-cuts are available now on Connecting Threads.

The Ruby fabric line from Moda Fabrics was used to create this quilt top.  Looking at it, it's hard to believe that it was once all charm squares!

The center of the blocks was perfect for some curved cross-hatching.

The center of this block was perfect for a nice swirl.

Today's FMQ (free-motion quilting) tutorial is about this quilt and is being shared with My Quilt Infatuation Linky Party and Sew Fresh Quilts Linky Party.  As always, remember to KISMIF (Keep It Simple & Make It Fun).

The hardest part of quilting this project is that my machine doesn't have a 22 inch throat--so how can I custom quilt all of those blocks at once?  I had to divide them in sections and decided that all of the "back-ground" (white) areas would be done in white and the print fabric areas would have a loop the loop style to them.  Truthfully, my machine only has a 9-inch throat so I work in sections about 6 inches wide at a time.  If you look at the photo below, you can see the back of the quilt and that the block is stitched in the ditch in thirds.  This just happens to correspond to my machine's throat space.

You can see how it looks on the back.

Un-loading the quilt from the quilting frame--my favorite part!

Here's a diagram of a thread-path to practice tracing to get nice and even loop the loops.  These are so simple that they can even be done on a domestic quilting machine.

Jelly Turnover Quilt on Moda Bake Shop

Greetings!

Today I am excited to announce that I have another pattern featured on Moda Bake Shop--Jelly Turnover Quilt.

Going Dutch Quilt & KISMIF #14

I've been busy updating my "Flying Friends" quilt.  It seems that a lot of folks are intimidated by applique and wanted a version without the applique panel.  So...I re-drafted the pattern to be fat-quarter friendly, omitted the applique panel and re-named it the "Going Dutch" quilt.

A special thank-you goes out to Emily Fonnesbeck for doing the pattern testing for me.

To get your copy of the pattern, it is available on my Etsy shop, Craftsy and Patternspot.

This quilt features the LOVE collection by Amy Butler for Rowan fabrics.

I used an edge-to-edge Paisley design to finish this quilt.  While in the middle of it, I got a little creative and decided to start with a swirl.  I call this the Peacock.

Thread-path diagram for the Paisley pattern.

Thread-path of the Peacock pattern.  It is harder to draw on the computer than it is to quilt on the top.  Pretty great!

Now it's your turn.  What have you been doing to "Keep It Simple and Make It Fun"?  Share your links below!