Flying Free Mini Quilt ~ FREE

I'm flying high after finishing the Flying Free Circle Mini Quilt.  I'm feeling like I could make 10 more of these little cuties!

The Flying Free pattern was designed for turned edge applique, but I decided quick and easy raw edge applique suited my needs better.  So, I had to trace some of the applique from the backside of the printout.

My applique looks pretty good until you take up close pictures, but I wanted you to see the tiny little blanket stitch.  It looks like a mess when this close but honestly it looks pretty normal when at a normal distance.

For the quilting and applique on this one I decided to use the thread I normally use when quilting on the longarm.  Superior Threads MicroQuilter 7002.  It's100wt polyester and melts into most fabrics.

If you're interested in making this little mini quilt, there's some things you need to know.  First, I had to reduce the size of the applique to 60%.  It took many trials and errors before finding the perfect size to fit the 10" circle needed for my project.  I also opted to print only the print the pages I thought were needed, which was pages 6-9.  However, after printing them, it dawned on me, I didn't need pages 8 and 9.  They were the templates for the hat and flag.  Both of these could be traced from pages 6 and 7.

If you're interested in make one of your own, here's a link to the free wall hanging pattern called Flying Free from All People Quilt.  

There's one more little circle quilt I plan to make this week before going back to quilting up another UFO quilt top.  If you would like more information about this Scallop Metal Quilt Stand, check out a previous post here.   I'll see you in a day or two with another mini!

 

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Happy Flag Day Quilt Parade

 Happy Flag Day!  Over the years I've made many Red, white and blue quilts and projects.  Hope you enjoys today's parade of quilts.

Today I'll be celebrating Flag Day by stitching up a new patriotic project using this free pattern below called Flying Free.  Of course, I'll be changing the pattern a bit to suit my needs.   If you're looking for a quick summer project, you can download this FREE PDF from All People Quilts here.

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Love Blooms 2.0 and a Lazy Tutorial

Remember the scraps I pulled a few days ago?  And do you remember the finished quilt the day before?  All I can say is I have absolutely no will power when it comes to the dresden block and

HOW CUTE IT THIS?!!

This may seem like an impulse project but it's really not. It too is a UFO because the black scallop quilt stand was purchased in December at my local quilt shop called Back Door Quilts.  If you would like to purchase one of these quilt stands you can find it here on their website along with several circle wool applique patterns.  

Since I'm allergic to wool and the applique patterns aren't my style, I decided to design a few patterns of my own.  Stay tuned for at least three more in the upcoming months. Don't get me wrong the patterns for sale in the shop are cute just not my kind of cute.  Below is an example of two of the patterns in the shop, cute!

By the way if you purchase this stand you will need adhesive magnets to make the mini quilt stick to the scallop.  I'm using two-sided tape for now.  I didn't see the magnets on their website but I called the shop and they said they have them in stock.  So, you could call them to place the order if they haven't added the magnets to the website.  I'm in no way affiliated with this shop other than it's a great place to shop!

I love this project and the Love Blooms quilt so much I decided to share both with you.  This won't be a real tutorial.  We'll call it a lazy tutorial.  You will need basic quilting knowledge.  I'm giving measurements and cutting information only.  If you don't know how to make a dresden quilt block or make applique, there is a gazillion tutorials for both via a Google search.  I made one for raw edge applique a few years ago and it has over 100,000 views!  You can watch it by clicking here.

 All the measurements for the tutorial below are in inches. The yardage is estimated by the EQ8 program, and I round up for UH OH's. Use a quarter inch seam allowance. Press however you like.  I press to the dark when possible.

The ruler I used was EZ Quilting Jelly Roll Ruler Mini Dresden.  I don't know if any other ruler will work.  I purchased mine at Joann's a couple years ago but it can also be purchased many places online.   Here's a link to one on Amazon.  I'm sure if you search you can find it cheaper.  

For the center of the Dresden, I used Heat and Bond Lite to make raw edge applique.  You could easily make it turned edge if you like.  The choice is yours.  Below is a picture of the FREE PDF with the applique templates. Before printing make sure your printer is set to "actual size" before printing.  After printing, measure the 1" square to make sure it printed correctly.  This PDF can be used for both the Circle Love Blooms 2.0quilt and the full Love Blooms quilt.  

Download the Love Blooms PDF.

 Love Blooms 2.0 Circle Quilt 

(1) 12 x 12 Background fabric

(1) 12 x 12 Backing fabric

(20) fabrics for the Dresden blades.  If using scraps, they must be at least 2.5 x 2

(1) 4 x 4 white for the center of Dresden.

(2) 2 x 2 prints for the hearts 

The binding NEEDS to be cut on the bias.  37 x 2.5

After quilting your mini quilt you will need to trim it to a 10 inch circle.  I used a bowl from the kitchen.  Then bind it using your favorite method.  Mine was 100% machine binding technique.  Sew to the back first then stitch it down on the front.

Love Blooms Quilt Basic Instructions

Cutting Instructions for Dresden Blocks

PDF Template Download (same link as above)

(5) 10 x 10 Background fabric

(100) fabrics for the Dresden blades.  If using scraps, they must be at least 2.5 x 2

(5) 4 x 4 white for the center of Dresden.

 (1) red 5 x 5 and (1) pink (5 x 5) or super scrappy (10) 2 x 2 for the hearts

After stitching the Dresden to the background fabric, trim to 9.5 x 9.5

Cutting for the pieced blocks

White/background estimated by EQ8  2yds.

(4) 9.5 x 5.5

(4) 5.5 x 5.5 corners of quilt

(16) 2.5 x 3.5

(24) 3.5 x 3.5

(104) 1.5 x 1.5

(64) 1.5 x 2.5

Binding

(4) 2.25 x WOF- I used 2.5 strips

Make (4) of the blocks below. 

Make (8) of the bocks below

Assemble the blocks as shown below. Finishes at 37 x 37.

That's it for today! 

 

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New Fabrics and New Project

Yesterday was cleaning day in the sewing room.  It had been a few weeks since it was last dusted, cleared of clutter and mopped. Sure, I had been giving it a quick vacuuming when vacuuming the rest of the house, but it was way overdue for a little deeper cleaning.  After cleaning and clearing the clutter off my sewing table it was time to play!  Just a quick small project that can be finished in a day or two.

I came up with a plan for a project and a few little cute scraps were pulled and pressed.  By this time, it was late in the day.  I was plum tired and still needed to cook super for Mr. Podunk.  So, it was lights out in the sewing room for the day.   

Would you like to see what was cluttering my table?  Well, you're in luck because before I put away the mess, I took a few pictures of what was in a basket on my cutting table.  The basket is a catch all for clutter.  Kind of like the kitchen drawer that holds everything from ketchup packets to old dirty hammers.  I'm sure your shocked to find new fabric to be considered clutter.  The two with stars on them have been waiting to be put away since Mother's Day!  They were gifts from my son (Derek) and his wife (Kristi).  The other fabrics I purchased from our local quilt shop.

In the bottom of the basket was A Dozen Roses book.  It was an online impulse purchase in late April.  

The quilt on the cover stole my heart and within minutes I found it online and clicked buy now.

It has several beautiful patterns but the chances of me making one of them isn't very likely. So why do I keep buying books?  Pretty pictures of inspiration!  Once or twice a year I like to pull out quilt books and just thumb through them for fun.  Sometimes they inspire me to design a new quilt.  But most of the time is just me wanting to chill out and see pretty quilts without clicking a computer mouse.

The last of the clutter in the basket was the 2 bucks a block I've be collecting from our local quilt shop. The reason I signed up for the 2BAB was because fabrics in these kits are Lori Holt fabric.  I made January's 2 blocks and haven't made another.  The plan is to play catch up sometime soon.  But not today.  Today I'm playing with my pretty scraps.  So, the 2BAB were added to their own UFO bin and stacked with the rest of the UFO's.

 

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Love Blooms Finish

 At last the Love Blooms quilt is finished.  I love this little darling!  As you all know, all dresden quilts make me happy.  And it seems the smaller they are the happier I get.

Throw in some over the top quilt it to death quilting and its happiness overload!

Funny how quilting it to death gives it so much life. 

The original quilt it death plan for around the hearts was to leave it unquilted. But while looking over the quilt before taking it off the frame I decided it needed more quilting.  The meander was a perfect fit for me and the quilt....quick and easy!

The tiny scallops inside the dresden center were also added at the last minute.

Now I need to control this urge to start making more mini dresdens!  Maybe I should dig through the UFO's.  I know there's two or three dresden quilt tops needing to be finished.  They aren't mini dresdens but I think the larger ones might stop me from starting another new project.

So, tell me do you have a favorite quilt block?  One that is your go-to, that makes your little ole heart go pitter pat?

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Cherry On Top Revisited

 In the last few weeks, I've had some emails inquiring about my Cherry On Top Quilt.  I designed and made this quilt way back in 2013.  The tutorials for it can still be found on my blog.

Before linking to the tutorials, I feel I should mention they were made in 2013 and are not the best quality, I did the best I could at the time.  So I updated them just a bit this weekend. Still not the best quality tutorial but I think they are much better and easier to understand.

  If you make this quilt I would love to see it and share them with my followers!  You can send pictures to my email podunkpretties.gmail.com 

The cherry block tutorial and links for the rest of the quilt can be found by clicking here.

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Slow Summer Quilting

A quick little pop in to share the quilting progress on my Love Blooms quilt before heading outside to work in the flowerbeds.  I'd rather stay inside and quilt, but mother nature won't wait for me to finish quilting.    

The next few days weather forecast looks to be good quilting weather.  Tomorrows forecast...HOT.  I don't do hot, so I can work outside in the morning if needed and quilt later in the day. Then three consecutive days of rain.  But you know how that goes...they call for rain but that doesn't mean it will rain here.  

Hope to see you soon with a finish!

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