Candy Stars Mini Quilt

Hello everyone!  My name is Chrissy Lux and I co-own Sew Lux Fabric with my mom.  I am really excited to be back on the Moda Bake Shop sharing another project with you today.

Moda Candy precuts (mini charms) are super cute and so easy to collect!  Here’s a fun & quick mini quilt project that could easily be enlarged to make a bigger version – just add more candy!

Fabric Needed:
76 mini charms *
1 yard solid for Background (Bella White Bleached 9900 98)
1 yard for backing (Mixed Bag Dots 32870 21)
1/4 yard for binding (Bella Etchings Slate 9900 170)

(*I used 4 packs of the New Bella Solids, which have 30 mini charms.  But most print collections have 42, so you may only need 2 candy/mini charm packs if you are going for a scrappy look.) 

Tools Needed: 
Machine & basic sewing supplies

Use a 1/4″ seam throughout. 

Step 1: Prep Background & Borders: 

From the solid background, cut the following: 

TWO 2.5″ x WOF strips – SUBCUT into twenty (20) 2.5″ squares

THREE 2.5″ x WOF strips – SUBCUT into twenty-eight (28) 2.5″ x 4.5″ rectangles

TWO 2.5″ x WOF strips – SUBCUT into eight (8) 2.5″ x 8.5″ rectangles

FOUR – 3.5″ x WOF strips for borders

For this project, we’ll make two blocks – a variable star and a simple 4 patch.  You’ll need four 4-patch blocks and five star blocks.  

Step 2: Sort your Squares

Sort your candy squares into piles with five piles of 12 squares (corners & center) and four piles of four squares (middle of top & bottom row and left and right columns) as shown. 

Since I was using solids, I sorted mine by color into a ROYGBIV type of color wheel.  Because of this, I took extra time while sewing to make sure I kept things in the correct order and placement.  If you are using prints to create a scrappy look, you can certainly sew a little more carefree!  🙂 

Step 3: Make the 4-Patch Units
The 4-patch blocks are easy to whip together.  Sew two sets to two squares together.  Press in opposite directions.

Then stitch them together.

Repeat this process for the four 4-patch units. Next, we’ll add borders to complete the units.

Sew a 2.5″ strip to the top and bottom of your 4-patch unit.  Press toward the border/away from the 4-patch.

Then add the 2.5″ x 8.5″ sides.  Press toward the center.  Repeat to complete all four 4-patch units.

Step 4: Make the Variable Star Units
For these blocks, you will start by making a 4-patch for the center.   Then we’ll make and add wonky geese on the sides to create the star.

Place one candy square on top of one 2.5″ x 4.5″ rectangle. (If using prints, remember to place right sides together!)  Sew on the diagonal, being sure that when you fold the square over, it will cover all of the background rectangle.

Trim away excess fabric and press toward the candy square.

Next, add another candy square opposite of the first.  Sew along the diagonal, trim away excess and press towards the candy square fabric.
TIP:  Since these are so small, I just finger press to create a crease down the diagonal as a sewing guide. If you prefer to mark with a pencil or disappearing ink, feel free. 

Trim your completed wonky geese unit to 2.5″ x 4.5″.

Assemble the star, by sewing two geese units to the top and bottom – press toward the center.

Then sew 2.5″ background squares to the sides of the remaining two geese units, pressing toward the background squares.

Then sew the side units to the center, and press away from the center.

Step 5: Assemble the Top
Now, its time to assemble your quilt top!   Start by making a large 9-patch with your 4-patch and variable star blocks.

Then add border strips to the sides and then the top and bottom.

Layer and quilt as desired.  Finish by adding binding.  (Need help binding?  MBS tutorial here.) 

You can easily make this project with prints – here is a mock up of what it might look like in Scrumptious by Bonnie & Camille.

Hope you enjoyed this project!

1 Sweet Mini Quilt approximately 30 in x 30 in.

Chrissy Lux
{www.sewlux.blogspot.com} 

Sweet as Honey Quilt

Hello everyone!  My name is Chrissy Lux and I am thrilled to be sharing a project here at the Moda Bake Shop!  I co-own Sew Lux Fabric with my mom and share my adventures in sewing on our blog.

Hexagons are so cute and I was excited when Moda introduced their Honeycomb precuts.  If you’re scared to piece them, don’t be!  I am going to walk you through this quick and easy quilt.  I’ve listed the ingredients below, but if you need a kit for this quilt you can order one here.

Let’s get sewing, shall we?!

Fabric Needed: 
1 Honeycomb (Scrumptious 55070 HC)
1/2 half yard for sashing (Bella Off White 9900 200)
1/2 yard for inner border (Scrumptious Berry Pink 55074 21)
1 yard for outer border (Scrumptious Paisley Aqua 55077 12)
1/2 yard for binding (Scrumptious Printed Color Aqua 55078 12 )
3 yards for backing (Scrumptious Summer Aqua 55072 12)

Tools Needed:
Marking Pen
Hexagon template (included with Moda’s Honeycomb precuts)
Rotary cutter & ruler
Machine & Basic sewing supplies

STEP ONE: 
First, let’s cut all your sashing & borders so they’ll be ready.

From the outer border print, cut five strips 6.5″ x WOF.
From the inner border print, cut four strips 3.5″ x WOF.
From the sashing solid, cut six strips 2.5″ x WOF.
From the binding, cut six strips 2.5″ x WOF (not shown in photo below).

STEP TWO:
Sort your precut hexagons into the following stacks:
SIX stacks of 5 prints
ONE stack of 6 prints (these will be cut in half and mixed among the stacks of 5 hexies)

Note: Try to disperse your colors among each stack.  OR make them monochromatic – its up to you!

Use a ruler to cut the stack of six hexies in half.

Add two half hexies to each of the six stacks of 5.

STEP THREE: 

Each Honeycomb comes with a plastic template with holes in the corners that make it super easy to mark your seam allowances!

 Grab a stack of five full hexies + two half hexies, the template and a marking pen.

Use the template to mark dots on all the points the WRONG side of each hexie.

Next, take your center hexie and one of the half hexies and place them right sides together, lining up the dots.

Pin in place and stitch from dot-to-dot using a 1/4 in seam.  Be sure to back stitch at the beginning and end (the dots).

Stitch the other half hexie to the opposite side of the center hexagon.

Sew two full hexies together.  Line up the dots and stitch using a 1/4″ seam from one dot all the way to the outside edge of the hexies (ignore the second dot).  Don’t forget to backstitch at the beginning dot!  Make two pairs.

Now its time to hook them all together!  Start by sewing one hexagon to the half hexagon.  Match the dots and stitch from the inside dots (closest to the center hexie) to the edge of the fabric (past the outer dot) using a 1/4 inch seam.  (NOTE: You are going to ignore the dots along the outside edges of the hexie block and stitch all the way to the edge of the fabrics so that all seams along the outside of the block are completely closed.) 

BE SURE YOU ARE ATTACHING THE SIDE PAIR WITH THE OPEN DOT TOWARDS THE CENTER HEXIE.

Pin the top side hexie to the center hexie.  Match the dots and move the other pieces out of the way so they are like wings sticking out from the intersection of the dots. Stitch from dot-to-dot.  Don’t forget to backstitch!

Continue going around the center hexie.

Pin and sew from dot-to-dot to attach the hexies.  Make sure to move the other fabrics out of the way.

For the bottom, you’ll sew from the inside dot all the way to the outer edge of the fabrics.

Repeat the process on the other side so you have a ring of hexies around the center hexie as shown below.

Press your hexagon block as shown.  (Away from the center hexie.)

Make six blocks of pieced hexies.

Press and use a ruler and rotary cutter to trim each hexie block to 9.25 in  x 11.5 in. 

STEP FOUR: 
Let’s sash and add the borders!

From one of the sashing strips, subcut into four 2.5″ x 9.25″ strips.
Sash the blocks by adding the 9.25″ long strips between blocks to make two columns of 3 blocks.

Then join the columns by adding the WOF strips between the columns and onto the right and left sides. Then use the remaining two strips to add sashing to the top and bottom.

Add the inner border to the sides first (long sides) and then to the top and bottom (short sides).

Finally, add the outer border.  Cut ONE of the outer border strips in half (6.5″ x 22″) and sew one half strip to each of TWO WOF strips to make them longer.

Sew two WOF strips to the top and bottom (short sides).  Then add the pieced strips to the right and left sides (long sides).

For the backing, cut your yardage into two 1.5 yard pieces.  Sew along the selvage side – be sure to include a seam allowance and trim away the selvage.

Layer and quilt as desired.  Finish by adding binding.

Need help binding?  See the MBS tutorial here.

One pretty lap quilt (42 in x 59 in)

Chrissy Lux
{www.sewlux.blogspot.com}