That's A Wrap ~ Table Runner Tutorial

When I was invited to participate in Fort Worth Fabric Studio's Halloween/Fall Blog Series, I didn't hesitate!  The challenge was to make something fall inspired or Halloween themed, use 1 1/2 yards of fabric and write a tutorial.  I couldn't resist, Halloween it was!

Fort Worth Fabric Studio

I was excited because first, it was Halloween and second, sweet candy is what it’s all about for me!  Spooky and scary are fine, but unwrapping a delicious piece of candy...my weakness!  

Today I'm sharing my ‘THAT'S A WRAP’ Table Runner Tutorial.  The little wrapped candies seal the deal and the table runner is a feast for your eyes!  This on-point design may look a little scary, but it’s really so very simple!  

14” x 32 1/2” 

Candy should be fun!  Right?!  Using a variety of prints and colors just made sense to me! You can find the fabric requirements and the tutorial over at the FWFS Blog.   All the fabric I used is also available at the FWFS shop.  

I hope you enjoy this tutorial!  Don’t forget to check out the other Halloween/Fall Projects this month!  Thank you FWFS for letting me share this fun project.

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Needle & Thread Thursday

Just The Basics Ma'am

As much as I would love to have a stack of 'knock your socks off' bright and bold fabrics to share...alas...it is not that!

It is however, the basics.  Basics are a must.  Yardage is a must.  Backings will be made from these and most likely a front or two!

The low down.

  

Good old basic every day must have colors!  I wonder how much grey thread I go through?! I picked this four pack up from Craftsy.  But you know, there is a story behind it.  

I bought a good bit of yardage from Craftsy a couple weeks ago.  Happy days!  When the package arrived, wouldn't you know it...it was open.  Freak out time!  All the fabric was accounted for.  Unfortunately, the thread bundle had slipped out and was never to be seen again.  I contacted Craftsy, and as always they were very quick to respond and to send out a replacement.

Denyse Schmidt 'Hadley' was a shot in the dark!  I needed a backing for this quilt:

  

and I though it would work.  It doesn't look like it from these pictures, but they actually match pretty well.  For some reason, which is not normal for me, I wanted to use a print on the back. We'll see.

To go with my Michael Miller Glitz Fabric bundle, 

I picked up a yard or soft white and black.  Both are Cotton Couture.  Raise your hand if you haven't a clue what you will make for the Quiltcon Challenge!  This is just in case.  

For years this fabric has haunted my dreams!  I've seen it everywhere...everywhere but with me!  Even after Ikea said 'no more', they really didn't mean that!!  

Every once in a while I check out #thegreatfabricdestash on Instagram.  I haven't had much luck finding 'me' stuff on there for a while...until this!  Someone in Texas bought up 4 or 5 bolts and happily shared her find.  I got four yards, which should be perfect for something! To me it was the deal of the century for only $6 a yard!!

The last and most 'Ho-Hum', no sun glasses needed stack...Kona Cotton.  I can tell you, I have lots of white now!!  (another 8 yards worth)  Let's give a mention to the beautiful Sandy Sand, Steel Grey, Basic Black, Deep Red, Terrific Teal, and Jazzy Jade Green!!  

Standing 'O', I don't think so!  A soft, and quick golf clap...and move on!

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Sunday Stash

The Guilt Quilt

Oh boy!  Throwback Thursday is here!  I have so many from years gone by, it was hard to decided which to share next.  I decided the infamous 'Guilt Quilt' would be worth a revisit!

By this time, I was well on my quilting journey (2010), quilts had been made for everyone imaginable...except my own kids!  My daughter Britt, made me a second quilt for Christmas hoping once I received it, guilt would set in and I would make one for her.  

She choose Tanya Whelan's ~ Dolce fabric and told me to go to town!  I was referred to Fresh Modern Quilts on Flickr for inspiration, which was so overwhelming!  The task at hand, design something...for the first time...EVER!

It was agonizing designing my first quilt!  I wanted to knock her socks off, impress her and surprise the hell out of her!  

Eventually (and I mean weeks), I came up with a rectangle inside a rectangle.  The inside piece is place differently inside the blocks.  Center, horizontal, vertical, top, bottom...all over the place.  

  

Finishing the blocks was pure relief!  You would have thought that was the end of it, but no you would be wrong.  Just finishing the blocks was not enough.  Always wanting to impress my dear daughter, I had to come up with a layout!  

I could have gone simple.  Rows of blocks.  But that 'knock her socks off' thought kept creeping in!   This is where husbands cower and hide!!  Usually!  Mine helped me!  He suggested the diagonal layout.  Seriously, I think he got the T-Square out too!  He even drove me to get the grey fabric for the sashing!

How many times have we said how much we love the backing of a quilt as much as the front? I did, she did!  Plus, I didn't have any scraps left over after this!  

Eventually there came a time when the quilting needed to happen.  I hadn't really played with designs at this point, but came up with what I called my 'Chicken Scratch' quilting.  

Which was inspired by this print.  Randomly placed all-over lines.  It worked.

This quilt gave me confidence.  It started me on the path of designing my own quilts.  It was the beginning of what has become a daily adventure!

You know how I know she loved it?!   

This picture said it all! 

I look back on this quilt with pride and joy!  

Britt said this on her blog: 

'This is one of the best gifts I've ever received.  Mama, you outdid me.  Moreover, you outdid yourself!' 

End of story.  

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Throwback Thursday

Needle & Thread Thursday

Fabri-Quilt New Block Blog Hop {Giveaway}

Welcome to my blog!  But mostly...welcome to the Fabri-Quilt New Blog Block Hop!  This promises to be an amazing show of creativity!  With over 60 participants sharing their blocks over a 4 day period, there will be some ‘hopping” to be had!  

Today, I would like to share my block 'CASUAL LINK', along with a semi-simple tutorial!  

CASUAL LINK
12 1/2" x 12 1/2 Unfinished

This block is all about secondary designs.  While interesting on it's own, it becomes amazing when more and more blocks are added!  (really!)

Watermelon Summer Palette

We were generously supplied 6 - fat eights from Fabri-Quilt, Inc.  The rules for this challenge:  Use at least 3 of the colors, make the block 12 1/2” unfinished (12" finished) and write a tutorial.  Piece of cake!!!    

CUTTING:  

White:

2 - 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" Squares

4 - 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" Squares

6 - 2" x 2" Squares

Teal:

4 - 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 Squares

2 - 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" Squares

2 - 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" Rectangles 

Blue:

1 - 4 1/2" x 4 1/2 Squares

2 - 2" x 2" Squares

2 - 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" Rectangles

Step #1:

Once all your pieces are cut, mark a diagonal line on the 2" and 2 1/2" inch squares. 

I use this method for sewing the corners. 

Step #2:

Follow the diagram below for corner placement. Sew, trim and press corners.

Sew (1) 2” blue square to each 4 1/2” white square 

 Sew (1) 2” and (1) 2 1/2” white square to each of the (4) 4 1/2” teal squares 

Sew (2) 2 1/2” teal squares to the  4 1/2” blue square

Step #3:

Sew (1) blue and (1) teal 2 1/2” x 4 1/2” rectangles together.  Press. 

Step #4:

Sew (1) white 2” square  to the corner of the teal.  Press.

Step #5:

Block Assembly.  Following the layout below, sew each row of blocks.  Press. 

Step #6:

Sew Rows together. 

Alternative Block:  

The only change is the middle top and bottom blocks.  Assemble the rectangles the same as above, except change the placement of the corner.

In the end, there are so many different layouts you can achieve with this block!  

This layout is with one block, rotated throughout the quilt.

Perhaps a two color quilt?

When you combine the original block with the alternative block, you get yet another design! 

...this plus this...

Equals this!

I wasn't sure if this block would work in a quilt, one never knows!  I ended up making a quilt to prove to myself...it would work!  I'll give the quilt it's own 'spotlight' in a later post, for now...enjoy the HOP!

GIVEAWAY!!

  
Wouldn't you love to play with these colors?! You have two chances to win a half yard bundle of the Watermelon Summer Palette!  Check out  Inspired by Fabric , and Quilting Jetgirl  for all the details!

Now you must check out these other blogs to see their block tutorials!  I know they will be amazing!!

Thank you to our wonderful hosts: 

Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl

Cheryl @Meadow Mist Designs

Stephanie @Late Night Quilter

Terri Ann @Childlike Fascination

Josi @Avocado Quilts
Stephanie @Quilt’n Party
Cristy @Love You Sew
Sarah @Sarah Goer Quilts
Shelly @The Carpenter’s Daughter Who Quilts
Jayne @Twiggy & Opal
Sharla @Thistle Thicket Studio
Adrian @Making It – Family Food Quilts Crafts
Julie @Pink Doxies
Sarah @123 Quilt
Jane @Jolly and Delilah Quilts
Carrie @The Zen Quilter

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