Garden Girl Quilt

We’re back…Yep, it’s been awhile since Kelli and I have had a quilt for you here at Moda Bake Shop. We’ve been really busy. We sent our quilt book, scheduled to come out in early 2015, to our publisher. Kelli’s been taking college classes and we bought an old foreclosure house that we are remodeling. You can read all about that and see pictures on our blog, Jo’s Country Junction. With all that going on you’d think we’d not have time to to sew anything else..NOT!! Sewing is therapy for us and trust me, we need therapy. Besides, who can resist a great fabric line like MoMo’s Avant Garden…not us! Read the pattern here then stop over to our blog and we’ll fill you in on some behind the scenes info about the quilt and we have a sweet $50 gift certificate for one our readers to win.

Before we get going here are a few stats on the quilt.

Finished Block Size: 10”

Finished Quilt Size: 80” x 90”

Layout: 8 x 9

Fat Quarter Bundle of MoMo’s Avant Garden

4 yards Blue Background

4- 1/3 yard cuts of coordinating solids/dots

5 1/2″ yards backing

3/4 yard binding

**Note WOF means the width of the fabric**

Pick 24 fat quarters from the bundle. From Each (of 24) fat quarters cut:

-Cut 2- 7 1/2″ x 21” strips. Subcut 1- 7 1/2″ x 21” strip into 2- 7 1/2″ squares

-Cut the remaining 7 1/2″ x 21” strip into 1- 7 1/2″ square and 2- 3 ½” x 13.5” rectangles.

-Cut the 2- 3 1/2” x 13 1/2″ strips into a total of 12- 2” x 3 1/2″ rectangles.

**From each fat quarter, you will need a total of 3- 7 1/2″ squares and 12- 2” x 3 1/2” rectangles.

From Blue background fabric:

-Cut a total of 36- 2” x WOF strips

-Subcut into a total of 576- 2” x 2 1/2″ rectangles.

-Cut a total of 29- 2” x WOF strips

-Subcut into a total of 576- 2” squares

From Each of 4 coordinating solids/dots (cornerstones):

-Cut 4- 2” x WOF strips

-Subcut each strip into a total of 72- 2” squares of each color (288- 2” squares)

From binding fabric:

-Cut a total of 9- 2 1/2″ x WOF strips.

Sewing Instructions (for one block):

1. Using 4- 2” squares and 4 matching 2” x 3 1/2″ rectangles, place a blue square, right sides together, on the corner of each of the colored rectangles. Sew from corner to corner on the blue square.

Trim seam allowance to a quarter of an inch. Press to the blue. Add a second square to the opposite side of the printed rectangle. Again, sew from corner to corner of the blue square. Trim seam allowance to a quarter of an inch and again, press to the blue.

Repeat for each matching colored rectangle.

2. Attach a 2” x 2.5” rectangle to opposite sides of each flying goose created in step 1. Press to the blue rectangles.

3. Attach a 2” colored square (cornerstones) to opposite ends of two of the units created in step 2.

Attach the remaining two segments created in step 2 to the opposite sides of the main 7 1/2″ colored squares. Press to the colored center.

4. Attach the remaining segments (with cornerstones) to opposite sides of the block. Press to the colored middle.

5. Repeat to make a total of 72 blocks.

6. Arrange in a 8 x 9 layout sewing the blocks first into rows then sewing the rows together.

7. Quilt as desired. Check out our blog, Jo’s Country Junction, to see what we did for a quilting design.

8. Join binding strips and bind.

Finished Quilt Size: 80” x 90”

This is such a fun fabric line…perfect for picnics and perfect for any girls room. We couldn’t resist the fabric!!

Jo and Kelli Kramer
{ Jo’s Country Junction}

Avant Garden Turning Squares Quilt

May29

Hello! I am Erica from Kitchen Table Quilting and I am here today with a tutorial for a quilt using MoMo’s gorgeous new fabric line Avant Garden. I made this quilt nice and big with picnics in mind, but it is just as good for snuggling. However you use the quilt, this is a quick way to make a big quilt using jelly rolls.

2 Jelly Rolls Avant Garden
1 Yard Mochi Unbleached Linen
4 1/4 Yard Linen Mochi Dot Boysenberry
Batting at least 76″ x 76″

You will need 72 total jelly roll strips for this project. I chose to cut a few 2.5″ x Width of Fabric strips and mixed them in with my jelly roll strips, but the jelly rolls have more than enough strips. Set aside the extra strips for future projects or use them to make your binding.

Take 36 of the jelly roll strips and cut them down to 2.5″ x 12.5″. Cut the remaining 36 strips down to 2.5″ x 6.5″. You will need a total of (108) 12.5″ strips and (216) 6.5″ strips. It sounds like a lot but the precuts make it quick work!

For each block you will need (3) 2.5″ x 12.5″ strips and (6) 2.5″ x 6.5″

Place your strips into the following layout.

And start piecing the strips into pairs, pressing the seams open.

Add a third strip to each pair and press.

Then piece the 6.5″ squares together.

And then add the 12.5″ piece to create a 12.5″ square. If you are using a scant quarter inch, you might need to trim your block down a little to get make it 12.5″.

Make 35 more blocks.

Place your blocks into groups of 4, turning them so that the 4 small squares in the center line up. Piece them into pairs and press the seams open.

And then piece the pairs together.

Arrange the squares into 3 rows with 3 squares in each row. Piece the squares together into rows and then join the rows.

Baste, quilt, and bind as desired.

Finished size: 72″ x 72″

I used the linen dot for the back of the quilt and the solid linen for the binding. Not only does it have a wonderful texture, but it was wonderful to work with and gives the quilt a nice weight. If you decide to use linen for the binding I would suggest cutting it slightly wider than normal (I cut mine 2 5/8″ instead of 2 1/2″).

Erica Jackman
{www.kitchentablequilting.com}

Bitty Bunting Quilt

Aug22

Everyone loves a bunting quilt! I was inspired to make this quilt from the trimmings of another quilt. I was using a pattern that calls for dog ear corners from 2½” squares. The resulting triangles looked like pretty bunting flags to me (considering that the fabric was Bonnie and Camille’s Marmalade, any excuse to not throw out even tiny scraps, right?) I kept them in a bin on my cutting table for a few days and the idea of using Moda Candy for tiny bunting flags popped into my head.

Moda Candy are perfect for this quilt since folding them in half allows you to create two-sided flags that look very cute waving about. There are lots of ways to attach the flags – use bias tape like I have or sew them all down first and add ric rac trim. I’ve also made bunting quilts with Perle cotton stitches standing in for the bias tape. Use what you have on hand. There is really no wrong way.

If you want to use a solid background instead of piecing the ombré background, simply start with a 1½ yard cut. I’ve also included a girly color option below.

Bunting:
43 Moda Candy pieces* (equivalent to 1 packages plus 1 more. I used a mix of Lucy’s Crab Shack, PB&J, and Oh Deer!)
4 yd of ¼” double-fold bias tape in coordinating color
Background:
¼ yd dark blue (Royal | Bella Solid 9900-19)
¼ yd cobalt blue (Bright Sky | Bella Solid 9900-115)
¼ yd bright blue (Capri | Bella Solid 9900-225)
¼ yd gray blue (Glacier | Bella Solid 9900-207)
¼ yd light blue (Blue Raspberry | Bella Solid 9900-84)
¼ yd white (White Bleached | Bella Solid 9900-98)

Binding: 3/8 yd preferred print (I used Silver | 9900-183)

Backing: 3¼ yd (I used bits of leftover blues and Lush Uptown | 26047-22)

*NOTE: You may use more or fewer pieces of Moda Candy, depending on how you swag your bunting across the quilt.

1. Piece ¼ yd strips from light to dark to create ombré background. Trim the selvedges before you sew or leave them on and trim all of them at once like I did. Press each seam from light to dark.

2. Layer up with your backing fabric and batting and quilt.

3. Square up quilted background and set aside.

4. Time to sew the bitty bunting! Set your stack of Moda Candy next to your sewing machine. Fold the first Candy square diagonally from corner to corner to create a triangle. Press or pin to make it easier to sew.

Top stitch around the sides of the triangle. You can chain piece but be careful not to stitch your Candy pieces together.

5. Place one bunting triangle between your bias tape with the fold facing away from the triangle point. Top stitch along the opposite edge of the bias tape to close the seam.

6. Pin bitty bunting to quilted background so that it drapes from edge to edge.

7. You can attach your bunting by top stitching long fold of the bias tape OR use an invisible stitch to tack it down (that’s what I did).

8. Trim any loose threads and bind as desired.

A simple, sweet, and modern baby gift! Measures approximately 43″ x 51″.

Lisa Calle
{www.vintagemodernquilts.com}

Ring of Memories

Jan24

Hi! It’s Quilted Works blogging with you today on the Moda Bake Shop. We are excited to be here again to share a unique project created by Rhonda Ferguson, an instructor here at Quilted Works. This super easy “Ring of Memories” is sure to be a project you’re going to want to make. It’s just perfect as a gift for little ones, because we all know kids LOVE to see pictures of themselves. And what a great way to accomplish that…with fabric of course!

Family Pictures
Charm Pack (one square for each picture)
Iron-on Photo Transfer Paper
Hobbs Batting – 3 1/2″ square for every two pictures
1/4″ (6mm) Eyelets and setting tools
2-inch metal book ring (found at office supply stores)

Picture Preparation:

* We realize there are numerous Photo Editing programs and different techniques you can use to edit your photos for print. Please choose whatever you’re comfortable with or follow our simple instructions.

Bring family pictures into a photo editing program and crop pictures to make them square. Make sure you leave enough room on the top left or right hand corner so that the eyelet will not interfere with the faces in your pictures – this should be approximately 1/2″. Save pictures to your desktop.

In Microsoft Word, open up a new document. Go to margins, and adjust them to .25″ on all sides. Go to Insert Picture, and insert a picture from the desktop. With the picture highlighted, click on text wrapping. Click on square (this allows you to move the picture anywhere on the page). In the picture toolbar, adjust the size to 3 1/2 x 3 1/2″. Move the picture to the top left hand corner.

Insert a total of six pictures onto the page using the steps listed above. Pictures will be end to end with the paper having 1/4″ margins. *You can print the photos any size you wish. We did the 3 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ to maximize the use of our photo transfer paper.

Remove any paper from your printer’s paper tray and insert photo transfer paper (one at a time) into the tray. Using manufacturer’s directions, adjust settings as needed for your printer and print.

Continue to replace pictures in your layout with new pictures and print each new page of pictures.

Cut out pictures to 3 1/2 x 3 1/2″.

Choose a charm square for each picture. Place the picture in the center of the charm square and iron it on, according to manufacturer’s directions.

Sewing Instructions:

To reinforce the picture, sew 1/8″ inside each picture.

Group pictures in sets of two. Remember that you need to leave room for the eyelet so it doesn’t interfere with faces in the picture.

Make a sandwich with a picture square (right side down), then a layer of batting (centered over picture) and last another picture square (right side up).

Pin the square in each corner, lining up the corner of the top picture, the corner of the batting and the corner of the bottom picture. Follow these instructions for each set of pictures.

With coordinating thread, sew 1/8″ away from edge of picture.

Eyelets:

Following directions on eyelet package, place eyelet in top left hand corner of each picture square.

We placed the eyelet on the picture and traced the inside, then cut out that small circle to fit the eyelet piece inside.

Trim edges of fabric square with pinking shears to desired size. I trimmed 1/4″ from each side.

Slide picture squares onto the 2″ metal ring and you’re done!

One darling Photo Book! The perfect gift for baby!!!

Quilted Works
{www.quiltedworks.com}

1 Million Pillowcase Challenge Blog Hop

Sep22

Today the Moda Bake Shop is hosting the 1 Million Pillowcase Challenge blog hop! Oda May whipped up a pillowcase to share with you.
Hello, Moda Bake Shop readers and blog hoppers! I made my pillowcase using All People Quilt’s free pattern for a basic pillowcase + a few modifications to make it Moda Bake Shop ready. Click here for the basic pillowcase pattern.

The steps below tell you how to modify the cuff of the pillowcase. Use a 1/4” seam for piecing. Assembly seams are 1/2″ as indicated in the basic pillowcase pattern.

3/4 yard fabric for pillowcase body {Bella Solids 9900 73 – Clover used}
4 layer cake squares {Oh Deer! by MoMo used}

Cut your solid fabric to 26.5″ x 41″ as indicated in the basic pillowcase pattern. Cut your width of fabric carefully so that you have two 1.25″ strips from each end. This will be used to piece the cuff.

Cut your 1.25″ strips to lengths of 10″. Sew a strip to one side of three of your layer cake squares (remember, a 1/4″ seam). Press seams. Sew all strips together so there is a solid strip between each layer cake:

Proceed with the rest of the basic pillowcase instructions (use a 1/2″ seam for here on out).

A pretty patchwork pillowcase!

Ready to sew up a few pillocases? Don’t forget to Hop on over to the other blogs on the hop for more inspiration:

{And don’t forget to let APQ know that you made and donated a pillowcase to help them reach ONE MILLION.}

1. Welcome from American Patchwork & Quilting {www.allpeoplequilt.com/blogs/apqstaff}
2. Rashida Coleman-Hale {www.iheartlinen.typepad.com}
3. Olivia and Alayna’s Pillowcase Project {www.allpeoplequilt.com/blogs/apqstaff}
4. Morgan’s Smile Factory {www.allpeoplequilt.com/blogs/apqstaff}
5. Pat Sloan {blog.patsloan.com}
6. Northcott {pattispatchwork.com}
7. Betsy Chutchian {betsysbestquiltsandmore.blogspot.com}
8. Vanessa Christenson {www.vanessachristenson.com}
9. Andover Fabrics {blog.andoverfabrics.com}
10. Laurie Simpson {minickandsimpson.blogspot.com}
11. Oak Hill, Ohio {www.allpeoplequilt.com/blogs/apqstaff}
12. Robert Kaufman Fabrics {www.swatchandstitch.com}
13. Pam Buda{www.heartspunquilts.blogspot.com}
14. Indygo Junction {www.indygojunction.com/blog}
15. 4-H {www.allpeoplequilt.com/blogs/apqstaff}
16. Katie Hennagir {baywindowquiltshop.wordpress.com}
17. Anni Downs {hatchedandpatched.typepad.com}
18. FreeSpirit Fabrics {www.freespiritfabric.blogspot.com}
19. American Patchwork & Quilting Staff {www.allpeoplequilt.com/blogs/apqstaff}
20. Patty Young {modkidboutique.blogspot.com}
21. Moda Fabrics {modafabrics.blogspot.com}
22. Monica Solorio-Snow {thehappyzombie.com/blog}
23. Moda Bake Shop {www.modabakeshop.com}
24. Andover Fabrics {blog.andoverfabrics.com}
25. Roseann Kermes from Rosebud’s Cottage {rosebudscottage.typepad.com}
26. Ann Kelle for Shannon Fabrics {www.annkelle.com/category/blog}
27. Therm O Web {blog.thermoweb.com}
28. Edyta Sitar {www.laundrybasketquilts.com/blog}
29. Fabri-Quilt {inspiredbyfabric.blogspot.com}
30. Cherri House {www.cherryhousequilts.com}

Happy sewing!

The Sunbathing Companion

Jul12

Hi Everybody! I’m Stella from The Golden Adventures of a Very Dark Horse and this is my very first time sharing a recipe here at the Moda Bake Shop. Today I am sharing a project I created last Summer (it is midwinter here in New Zealand), for all those lazy days sunbathing down at the beach. I am forever dragging all sorts of ‘essentials’ with me when I set out to sunbathe, which is how and why this project was borne (much easier to carry it all in one go).

I made a few changes from my original design for this tutorial. This time I created an envelope sleeve so that you can slide your pillow out after using the towel, which makes it much easier to wash, and pack away when you’re not using it. I also experimented with the edging just to spice things up. You’ll see!

This is really quite a simple project, and should suit beginner sewers (such as myself). I hope you enjoy making it, and please let me know if you have any questions!

1 Oh Deer by MoMo Layer Cake
2 towels in your desired size (old or new – I repurposed two old towels for this project).
1 pillow
Velcro/snaps/domes/buttons. You may choose whichever of these you prefer.

If using buttons you will need a small amount of braid/ric-rac/cord or something similar to loop around the buttons.

Take your first towel and line it up against your pillow. Trim the towel so that it is the same width but with a small allowance, 1/2″ or so each side (you can trim it further at a later stage, if needed) – as your pillow, and then put that towel to the side.

Take your second towel and wrap it around your pillow, with the wrong side out. Pin it down one side, against the pillow, and trim the other side allowing for a 1/4″ hem. Leave some excess towel along the bottom of the pillow. You’ll use this fabric to attach the two towels later. Remove your pillow and stitch down the side that you have pinned. Hold onto any toweling that you have trimmed off, as you will use these pieces to make the handles for your tote.

Turn your pillow sleeve right side out and place your pillow inside it once again. Pin along the length of your pillow and also leave a pin where your pillow ends and the hem will be.

Pin marks where pillow ends and hem will be (envelope opening).

Remove your pillow again, and sew where you have pinned – up until your marker. With the towel wrong side out once again, fold the edges of your pillow sleeve opening and sew a basic hem. Right side out again, you now have a home for your pillow!

Take both pieces of towel and piece them together, short side to short side. The pillow sleeve piece will have two layers of towel with adequate room for you to attach it to the other towel. It is your choice whether you want to slide the other towel between these two pieces before sewing them together, or just bang them together and sew. The result will look much the same regardless. This time around I was unable to do a tidy hem as my machine couldn’t get through that much towel, so I left the edges raw. It looked fine in the end, which made me wonder why I’d bothered trying to make it look tidy last time!

To make this item nice and strong, I made two seams. One just below where the pillow slides in, with both pieces of Towel 2 backed by Towel 1. I then stitched another seam just above the edge of Towel 2. See below to get a better idea of what I mean. You basically just want both pieces stitched together as strong as possible.

Now for the edging! I used six pieces of Layer Cake from the ‘Oh Deer’ collection by MoMo. I chose polkadots because they were bright and colourful and I was sure that the recipient of this towel tote would love the colours. I stitched all six pieces together with a 1/4″ hem. Easy peasy.

Sewing those lovely pieces of layer cake together.

Then I folded the strip in half, width-wise, and cut it straight down the middle, leaving me with two matching pieces of edging.

I folded these in half again and ironed them this time. I then folded each edge another 1/4″ and ironed those edges down, leaving me with two pieces of binding, perfect!

Depending on the size (length) of your towel, you may need to add another piece (or two) of layer cake, but you should end up with two pieces of binding long enough to add to each side of your towel tote. This time I chose not to add edging to the pillow itself, as I wanted the opening, but the choice is up to you. All you need to do now is pin your binding to each side of your towel tote and topstitch it. Woohoo! Your towel tote is looking fabbity fab now!

So now you slip your pillow in (again! It does get a bit tedious), and roll up your towel tote so that you can decide where want the pockets and handles to go. Mark out those spots with pins, and leave the towel tote where it is. Time to make those pockets and handles!

Choose another two or more (depending on how many pockets you would like) pieces of layer cake, and hem along the top of each piece that you are going to use. Fold (and iron if you desire) the edges in and top stitch the sides and the bottom of each pocket to your tote, in the spaces you have marked with pins.

Now take some of those pieces of towel that you trimmed off the second towel to make the pillow case. The size you make the handles will depend on how much towel you have, and what size you want them. The two pieces I cut to make handles with were 78cm long and 15cm wide. Stitch them together with a 1/4″ allowance, and turn them right side out. Then pin them where you would like them on your tote, and make sure that they are aligned.

Because you are sewing through so much towel at once, you will have to work slowly to attach those handles. You will also want to make sure they are as sturdy as possible. Good luck wrangling with your machine!

Once your handles are on (almost there!) just choose your method for closing your bag. This time I chose buttons, picking two brightly coloured ones from my collection, and a piece of cord that matched my towels to make loops.

Hopefully it looks something like this:

As well as being super handy for personal use, the Sunbathing Companion makes a perfect gift as well. I made this one for my sister-in-law who has hankered for one since I made the original. It would be fun to fill the pockets with sweet sunbathing essentials too (magazines and chocolate? Surely essential!)!

Stella Rutherford
{The Golden Adventures of a Very Dark Horse}

Goodie Pouch

Jun14

The perfect addition to any bag, this little pouch is lined with Rip Stop Nylon so toys or snacks won’t get lint on them {or get your fabric wet or greasy!}, and the handle has a swivel clip so it can be fastened to a stroller, purse strap, or somewhere else convenient! Made with a few leftover Jelly Roll strips, it’s a quick project that will be great for kids.

4 Jelly Roll Strips cut to 13″ outside
2 – 2 1/2″ x 1 1/2″ rectangles for zipper tabs
1 Jelly Roll Strip cut to 11″ for handle
8 1/2″ x 13″ Pellon SF101 Shape-Flex woven interfacing
2 – 8 1/2″ x 6 1/2″ rectangles Rip Stop Nylon Fabric {similar to what a kite or windbreaker would be made from,it has little grid squares on it that you cannot see in the photographs}
9″ Long Pull Zipper {my favorite type of zipper!}
1 1/2″ Swivel Clip

Start by piecing four jelly roll strips together lengthwise with a 1/4″ seam allowance, then fuse the interfacing to the wrong side. Quilt as desired {I quilted 1/8″ from each seam}:

Cut in half to make 2 – 8 1/2″ x 6 1/2″ rectangles, set aside. Fold the handle piece in half lengthwise, wrong sides together, press.

Then open and fold the raw edges toward the center, wrong sides together, press. Open handle and fold 1/4″ of one short edge down. Refold the handle piece along pressed lines. Stitch along the open edge. Feed the short folded edge through the swivel clip, stitch in place.

Stitch the handle 1/2″ from one top edge of one of the outside pieces.

Fold the two 2 1/2″ x 1 1/2″ rectangles in half {1 1/4″ x 1 1/2″}, then turn 1/4″ toward center on each side, press. Trim zipper to length of bag and sew the rectangles onto the zipper.

Place the zipper face down on the pouch piece, the closed zipper pull should be on the same side as the handle. Then place the nylon lining piece on top of the zipper, use a zipper foot and stitch in place. Fold the pieces wrong side together. Then place the zipper face down on the other outer piece {the two outer pieces will be right sides together}, and then put the remaining lining piece on top, stitch along zipper.

Fold the pieces so that the right sides of the pouch are together and the lining is together {as shown above} and stitch 3/8″ around the bag, leaving a 3″ opening along the bottom of the lining {note: make sure the zipper is partially unzipped}. Turn the bag right sides out. Stitch the opening closed on the outside of the lining. Then, stuff the lining inside the bag and it is finished!

One cute little pouch that won’t sink to the bottom of your bag, perfect for any outing!

If you make one of these, I’d love for you to share it in the Moda Bake Shop Flickr Group and the Clover & Violet Flickr Group!

{Clover & Violet}

Cup Of Cheer Mug Cozy

Dec19

Happy Holidays friends! I’m Amy Gibson of Stitchery Dickory Dock (you may have seen my Cathedral Window Baby Playmat tutorial here at Moda Bake Shop last month). I’m excited to be here again sharing a festive little tutorial with you. This quick foundation-pieced mug cozy is bright and scrappy- your drink will feel so loved! It’s the perfect holiday gift for friends at work, teachers, or anyone who loves a hot cuppa cheer (and by cheer, I mean caffeine). Tuck in a gift card to your favorite coffee shop or some chocolate-covered espresso beans (!!!) for a gift with a little more punch.

-1 Charm Pack (12 squares makes 3 cozies, so you could make a whole slew of them from 1 pack)

-Lining Fabric- at least 5″ X 13″

-Batting- at least 5″ X 13″ (I used Insul-Bright, but any type of batting will do)

-Sashiko thread or embroidery floss

-Embroidery needle

-Cardboard cozy from your favorite coffee shop (to use as a template)

Select 12 charms from your pack- I chose a rainbow selection from MoMo’s new line, Half Moon Modern, but choose what you like- sky’s the limit.

Cut a 1.5″ strip from each square. You can do up to 4 at once to make it even quicker.

Now open up your biodegradable organic free-trade cardboard cozy from the unnamed coffee chain of your choice, lay it out on the wrong side of your lining fabric and trace around it.

Now, layer some batting below the shape you just traced. I used Insul-Bright by The Warm Company, because hey, coffee’s hot…but any batting will work, so use what you like.

Now don’t freak out because you’re going to have to do a tiny amount of free-hand artwork here. No biggie- just use your pen to extend the ends of your traced shape by 1/4″ on each side. The shape is slightly curved so just do your best to follow that same curve.

Now, using your rotary cutter, cut out your fabric & batting, about 1/4″ outside of your pen line. This 1/4″ buffer will be your seam allowance so it’s important! Set your lining fabric aside for now- we’ll only be working with the batting for these next few steps.

Now lay out the fabric strips you want to use, and order them however is most visually pleasing for you- I chose in-color order because I’m OCD like that, but yours could be scrappy…(reminder: no rules!)

If you’re wondering why there are only 10 strips in this photo instead of 12, it’s because I needed to throw in one “mistake” to let you know I’m human. So there you go.

Now, fold your batting piece in half lengthwise to find the center point and mark it with a pin.

Grab your 6th strip from the left (don’t run away- I promise this is super simple- it’s just an easy way to get everything centered), and align the right side of it with your pin, right side of the fabric facing up.

Take the next strip to the right and place it over your first strip, right sides together. Stitch 1/4″ along the right edge.

Now press open the top strip. Be careful not to fry your batting during this process- use a cloth to cover the batting area if you aren’t sure. Cotton would be fine, but this Insul-Bright stuff would have a melt-attack!

Continue adding strips and stitching, until you reach the end of your piece. Note how I’ve aligned my strips perpendicular to the batting piece and not to the previous strip- so you will end up with a gap. This will help your piecing to follow the curved shape of the cozy.

Repeat going the other direction until the entire batting piece is covered. Ooooh, looking pretty!

Here’s what the back looks like.

Now take your piece of lining fabric and center it on your piece front, right sides together and pin. It’s important to feel around the edges to make sure there is batting under the entire lining piece.

Stitch on your marked line around the entire piece, leaving one end open. Trim down to 1/4″ from your seam.

Turn the piece right side out, poke out the corners with your scissors or a knitting needle, and press.

Your open raw edge will look like this- not to worry- he’ll be sewn up soon.

Let’s go ahead and embroider this puppy while one of the ends is open so we can hide the knots inside. Using Sashiko thread or embroidery floss (both work great, just slightly different look), gather running stitches onto your needle and pull through. Because this piece is fairly thick at this point, you might find it hard to build up stitches on the needle (depending on your needle). No worries- you can just bring the needle up and down completely for each stitch.

Now turn under your raw edges 1/4″ and press. I love a shot of heavy spray starch at moments like this to help the fabric behave.

Now fold your entire cozy in half so the ends meet, patchwork sides facing in, and stitch a scant 1/4″ seam along the edge. The scant 1/4″ is important so that you catch all of your turned raw edges from the opening.

Turn it right side out, press if you like, and voila!

1 addictive little cozy that will be smiling at you the entire way to work.

Thanks for stopping by to check out my recipe! If you like it, don’t forget to leave a comment, and pop on over to my blog to say hi and check out my other tutorials and quilty ramblings.

Cheers!

Amy Gibson
{Stitchery Dickory Dock}

Retro Fun Book Cover

Oct7

Hi I am Kim from My Go Go Life and I am thrilled to be here at the Bake Shop with a fun idea for boring book covers by just using some craft paper and some Moda Freebird charms. Easy peasy lemon squeezy :o) And your daughter will be happy too.

Moda charm pack or Moda scrap pieces
Brown paper grocery bag or craft paper
glue stick
White or off white thread
Hexagon template ( or if you want to do 1.5 inch circles I think that would work too)

Ric Rack

Start off with super cute fabrics. I have this charm pack that has the perfect colors.

All measurements are approximate in this project since not all books are the same size.

For my book, it was about 18×31. That is one of the great things about paper, it is easily adjustable.

Fold down the top and fold up the bottom to where they are just covering the binding of the book.

Fold the ends over the front and back cover to make your pocket.

Now that the basic folding and size is decided, cut your fabrics. I used a hexagon template for mine but you can also use a circle and I think that would look just as lovely.

To cut the stem choose one charm and cut one side 1/2 inch.

From the other side of the same charm, cut out the leaf. It does not need to be perfect, just like in nature.

I tried both of these adhesives and the glue stick won hands down!

A little dab of glue on your fabric pieces to keep them in place…

Ta da!

Use a blanket stitch to connect the seams together in the middle first so that the petals will not shift when moving the paper around.

Then stitch around every other one with a wee bit of overlap but not much.

Starting around the petal to the right of the stem skipped, start at the corner and go around the petal then sew the stem. The leaf will be sewed after the stem.

Finish up the sewing around the other few petals you did not previously sew. When the applique is completed, slip the pockets over the front and back covers. I also added a bit of tape to the inside of the flaps where the paper met the paper to make it more secure. I may try sticky velcro next time.

The before…

The after…

One book cover.

I like this cover since it is personal, kinda old school {where is my Holly Hobby doll?} and one of those instant gratification projects! It is also an inexpensive way to change the look for the different times of year. I am already planning one for the holidays.

Kim Niedzwiecki
{gogokim.blogspot.com}

Squaredy Cat Quilt

May22

Hi this is Wendy from Sewing in the Wendy City. I’m thrilled to bring you my second Moda Bake Shop recipe! This time I got to work with Momo’s Just Wing It! collection, which is fabulously beautiful.

I call this quilt my “Squaredy Cat” quilt because it uses giant squares to make a large quilt and goes together very easily and quickly. If’ you’ve always been a “Scaredy Cat” about a bed-sized quilt, then “Squaredy Cat” is a good pattern for you!

1 layer cake in Just Wing It by MoMo

2 Jelly Rolls in Just Wing It by MoMo

1 yard of a coordinating print for binding

5 1/2 yards of a coordinating print for backing

From the layer cake, pull out the following:

18 squares that will be the centers of our blocks

4 squares that will be the corner posts on the piano key border (trim to 8″ square)

9 squares that will be subcut into 2.5″ x 10″ strips (yielding 36 10″ strips)

3 squares that will be subcut into 2.5″ x 8″ strips (yielding 12 8″ strips)
The rest of the layer cake can be pieced into the backing

From the 2 jelly rolls, you will need the following:

8 solidish strips to be the inner border. I used the blue toned ones.

36 strips, each cut into: one 18-inch strip, a 14-inch strip, and an 8-inch strip

Another 36 strips, each cut into: one 14-inch strip, and three 8-inch strips

When you finish cutting you will have:

36 10-inch strips

72 14-inch strips

36 18-inch strips

156 8-inch strips

It may be helpful to find a ziploc or a basket for each size of strips.

Now, time to sew! It is very, very helpful to chain piece these. If you do this, it will go pretty quickly.

To each of your 18 center squares, add the following:

10-inch strips to each side,

14-inch strips to the top and bottom,

another set of 14-inch strips to the left and right

And finally, 18-inch strips to the top and bottom.

At this point, your blocks will be approximately 18 inches square. Press them well, and take them to your cutting mat.

Cut vertically and horizontally to make four 9-inch blocks.

You will have 72 of these 9-inch blocks.

Layout the blocks in pairs like so… and pin them. Make sure you have the squares lined up… in the top right on the left and the bottom right corner on the right. I suggest pinning them all and then chain piecing all 36 pairs.

Aren’t they pretty all lined up like that?

Next, sew the pairs of blocks into rows of 4 blocks, alternating the square placement each time.

Then put 2 groups of 4 together so that you have 8 blocks. You will have 9 identical rows of 8 blocks each.

Find the 8 jelly roll strips you reserved for the inner border and sew them together end-to-end.

Add the inner border onto your quilt center.

Find the giant pile of 8-inch strips you cut earlier, and sew them together to make a piano key border.

So that I didn’t have to deal with a very long border at one time, I split my strips into approximately 4 strips and pieced them together as I needed to to add to the quilt.

I used corner posts on mine.

First, add the piano key border to the short sides of your top. Then we do some careful measuring. Put an 8-inch square onto one end of a piano key strip. Then carefully lay it out, marking where you get to the other end where the other corner post will be.