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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~ Bee Skep Pin Cushion ~

Happy Friday Quilting Friends!  Its a Friday finish and a FREE-BEE for you!  

EDITED ON 1 22 2022

The Bee Skep Pin Cushion tutorial can now be found on my YouTube Channel.  Click the image below to go to the video tutorial.

Mr. Podunk has been a bee keeper for a few years.  I've been wanting to make a bee quilt but something always keeps me from designing one.  So when Jacquelynne Steves asked if I would like to be a featured blogger for her new Save the Bee's Block of the Month I was elated!   If you would like more information about the Save the Bee's Block of the Month CLICK HERE.

While waiting for the Blog Hop to start I stitched up this super cute and easy Bee Skep pin cushion.  

The little queen bee was a last minute idea that turned out adorable.  I will not be giving instructions for the bee but I will tell you a funny little fact about it.  This sweet little queen bee body is made from a cinnamon capsule.  It's a pill filled with cinnamon!  Cinnamon is good for regulating low and high blood sugars.  I usually run on the low side.  Anyway....with a black sharpie marker I drew some lines on a piece of scrap yellow fabric.  Then glued it to the capsule.  A black button with yellow head pins made the head.  The only thing holding the button is the pins stuck into the capsule.  The wings are 2 layers of fabric fused with Heat N Bond Lite in between them.

  

 Now what does every Queen Bee need? ..... Worker bees!

After about an hour of searching for Bee pins I found them....in Jacquelynnes shop!  Geesh....I should have looked there first.  NOW OUT OF STOCK Click here if you like cute pins...she has several different style of pins with different heads.

Awe.....that's better.  

~ Lea Anne ~

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I Love Home FREE Block of the Month

Who can resist free?  I know I can't especially when it's so cute.  I wanted to share Jacquelynne Steves new Block of the Month that will Start in August called "I love Home".   I saw the sneak peak of this quilt being designed a few weeks ago and was anxious for it to begin.  Much to my surprise as I waited for the big reveal and launch of the pattern Jacquelynne contacted me asking if I would be willing to be one of the featured bloggers in the sew along...Well of course I would!  What an honor, Thank you Jacquelynne!

To participate you need to sign up to receive the free patterns in your email as soon as they are released.  Isn't that wonderful?  You'll never miss a month with the blocks coming directly to your email.   And If your not a fan of applique like me, there's an embroidery option or a plain pieced block option.   To sign up click here.  

The fun doesn't stop at a free quilt pattern.  If you participate and share your blocks along the way there's several giveaways.  One of which will be right here on my blog.  So hop over to quickly sign up and find out more about the amazing sponsors and giveaways.  Click here to sign up I'm looking forward to seeing your version of this fun free quilt.

~ Lea Anne ~

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Free Podunk Posy Pillow pattern from Becky and Dean

Nothing makes my little ole heart sing like pictures in my inbox of projects made using my tutorials and patterns.  It's makes all the hours spent designing and writing them worth the effort.  About a week ago Becky contacted me sharing her sweet pillows made with my Podunk Posy Tutorial.  

I knew immediately I NEEDED to make one.  They are right up my alley in cuteness and springy decor.  

Well it's my block but not my idea and not my photos so I had to ask for permission to share her and her husbands creations....yes I said her HUSBAND.  Dean you are every quilters dream husband.  Your little pillow in the front looks fabulous!

Becky graciously supplied her cutting measurements with me.  Thank you Becky it saved me from more quilty math...not my favorite thing to do.  So below is her math.  You can use this to make a few pillows of your own.  First you'll need the directions for my Podunk Posy block that can be found by clicking HERE.  Make 2 of these blocks.

 After the blocks are made, add your sides, then the top and bottom borders.  The block should finish at 17 inches square.

Here's the back of one of  Becky's finished pillow cases.  

 This is how a I made my back panes using the measurements provided.  (2) 17 x 13 backing fabrics.  I pressed a double fold on one side of each of the 17" panels.  Then used my quarter inch foot to stitch the hem.

Here's where my pattern differs a bit from Becky's.  I made my Posy Pillow top and quilted it.  Becky did not.  Her instructions suggest you do a french seam.  You can find directions for making a french seam by clicking here.  Remember use Becky's measurements, not the measurements in the link provided.

Ok, I chose to quilt my pillow top before adding the back panels.  Then I layered on my pieces wrong sides together as shown in the next two pictures.

Secure them in place with a few pins all the way around.

Stitch about 1/8 of an inch away from the edge all the way around, securing the two pieces.

Next I used (2) 2.5 X WOF strips to add a binding just like you would if you were making a quilt.  

You won't need to look to hard to see my pillow top flaw.  Those stand out squares are what happens when you miss cut your fat quarter and use another one.  Same brand, same line of fabric but it must have been a different dye lot.   I couldn't see the color difference at 11 pm.  But it shined like the north star at 7 am then next day.  Oh well I decided to just continue on like nothing was wrong.  So here's another tip.... had I not made an error in cutting, the pillow top could have been made with one fat quarter for the background fabric.  Start cutting your largest pieces first.  I cut the borders first then all the pieces for the Podunk Posy blocks, starting with the larges pieces first.  

Now if I get tired of seeing this as a pillow the pillow form can be removed and it can be hung on the wall as a mini quilt.  First I think I'm gonna wash it, maybe those two patches will fade.  

Thanks again Becky and Dean!  You've made this spring so much more special!

To everyone else, here's a reminder.  If you make something using one of my tutorials or patterns please let me know and share your pictures with me via email.  It lets me know that all my time and effort making patterns is worth it.   Since I don't sell patterns the only thing that makes it worth my time and effort is your sharing.  I won't share any pictures here on my blog without your permission.  So if your bashful for whatever reason...you're safe with me.   But you shouldn't be bashful...I mean really...just look at my big error in the picture above.  To error is human.    

~Lea Anne ~

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Simple quilt finish and quicky tutorial

 A couple of weeks ago I finished a lap quilt and forgot to share it here on the blog.  This is the last of the simple quilts I made during the last few weeks of taking care of mom.  The simple designed allowed for mindless sewing for the soul and a quick finish.  

The idea for the quilt came from seeing this picture on google while searching for quick quilt patterns.  Sadly I cannot give credit where credit is due because the google picture links to pinterest and when I get to pinterest this picture isn't anywhere to be found.  So somebody is being cheated by google and pinterest.

With that little rant behind us lets get back to the pattern.  Here's my EQ7 drawing of a small lap quilt.   Since the quilt is basically scraps, except for the red border, I designed by how many 2.5 squares were already cut and ready to sew.  The sashing and background fabric were leftovers from a jelly roll and some 2.5 scraps.  

The quilt finishes at (64 x 72)

If you'd like to make this quicky quilt here's a quicky visual tutorial/pattern.  You'll need some quilting knowledge I'm not going to explain every step n the quilt top making process.  Don't forget my blog is printer friendly just scroll down to the bottom of this post, click on the print friendly icon to print this page in pdf format.  It will also allow you take out parts of this post you don't want to print.

Use the the picture above and the first full quilt drawing to help you with your layout.

~ Lea Anne ~

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Quilt Doodle Designs Mystery 1&2 ~ No curved piecing Tutorial

Hello quilting friends!  I've got something to share with you today that is so stinkin cute and easy.  Blocks one and two of the Quilt Doodle Designs Mystery BOM 2017 are almost complete.  All I need to do is decide on a background fabric.

Since this mystery is spread out over several months I've plenty of time to find the Pur-fect fabric to put behind the dresden blocks.  

Before starting the tutorial let's talk about the pattern.  It's a free BOM from Quilt Doodle Designs.  But don't take the word free for granted, these two blocks are only free for one month, and that month is just about over.  Once Cindy posts the new blocks for February these two will no longer be free but on sale in her Crafty and Etsy Shops.  So click right here to be taken to the free PDF downloads.   Maybe you're not interested in making this quilt.  Well don't let that stop you from browsing the huge selection of cute reasonably priced patterns for sale, and I saw some free ones too!  

Designing and writing quilt patterns is very time consuming.  So I want to thank Cindy for the sharing her talent with us at no cost and allowing me to share my alteration of her pattern with you.

 No Curved Piecing Tutorial

In the original pattern this center circle is pieced. (Click here to see Cindy's tutorial for piecing the center.)  I'm not a fan of curved piecing, it's a skill I've yet to master.  Today I'll share with you how to use the templates provided in the free pattern to make an inexpensive applique template for the center circle.

The first thing you'll need is Freezer paper.  Notice on the left hand side of the box.  An advertisement for use in arts and crafts.  Now if your freezer paper doesn't say it can be used for arts and crafts, its still okay to use.   

You'll also need some type of starch.  I use Sta Flo concentrate because it's cheap.  But any type of starch or sizing will work.

We've got our supplies, let's make an applique template.   I also made my pig and kitty applique using the scraps of freezer paper leftover from the center circle.

1. Cut a piece of freezer paper about 16 inches wide. 

2.  Next we need to cut it into 4 sections.  I did this by folding it in half and then in half again.  

3.  Using my square up ruler to cut away the folds.  This will give you 4 equal sizes.  

4. From this point on we will be working with the shiny side down.

Pre-shrinking the freezer paper is necessary to keep your templates from shrinking as you use them.  

1. With shiny side down spray each piece of paper with water. 

2. Then with a medium heat iron(wool setting), iron each piece separately to your ironing surface.  Yes they are going to stick to your ironing table.  Don't worry, there will be no residue left behind when you remove them.  Sometimes this shrinking process causes the paper to wrinkle.  No worries here either.  Just peel it off, don't spray with water, iron them separately again.  I've never been able to get them completely without wrinkles.   

3. Next peel up two of the papers.  Lay one of them on top of the one still stuck to the table.  Iron it. Repeat with the third piece. 

4.  You have 3 layers ironed together.  Allow them to cool before removing.

1.Next cut out the template provided in the pattern.  Cut outside the outer circle.

 2.Glue this circle to the non shiny side of the layered freezer paper.  I used quilt basting spray but any glue will work.  

3. Then carefully cut on the seam allowance line.  You now have a usable applique template.  

4. Iron the template shiny side to the wrong side of your circle fabric.  Cut 1/4 inch away from the template.  You might need to iron with the fabric on top.  Just make sure it's shiny side to the wrong side of your fabric.

5. Using a paint brush apply starch to the seam allowance.  

6. Then iron the seam allowance over onto the template.

1.Remove the fabric from the template and finger press in half and then in half again.  As you can see in the picture below I only pressed the very edges.  Use these pressing marks to line up with 4 seams on your dresden.  This will center the circle onto the dresden.  

2. flip over your circle to the back and add a few dots of  Roxanne's basting glue to temporally hold it in place.  

3. Turn it back over and line up your marks with 4 of the seams.  

4. Press with a medium iron to dry the glue  Elmer's washable school glue is a good substitute if you don't want to use Roxanne's .  Pinning it in place will work also.

See wasn't that easy?  In past projects I've used one template as much as 20 times and it still sticks.  Freezer paper applique is cheap and one roll will last a long time.   Saving money in one area of quilting allows me to spend more in other areas like thread and fabric.   To stitch my circle in place I used Invisifil 100wt thread.  It's a little more expensive but lasts forever.  This super fine thread melts into the fabric and is barely noticeable.

Just because it's fine doesn't mean it's not durable.  When I bought my first cone of thread I gave it the pull to break test.  OUCH!  This is some tough stuff. It nearly cut my finger.

Just look at those close up results.  

For the pig, kitty and embroidery I used Aurifil 50 wt.

It doesn't melt in quite as nicely but it was just the look I was after.  The embroidery work was done on my sewing machine with those fancy stitches we pay for and never use.

To stitch down my little critters I used a tiny blanket stitch and went very 

S-L-O-W.  Not much room for error!

But the results are Marvelous.

Well that's it, I hope this inspires some creative stitching.  

~ Lea Anne ~

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