Trifle Dish: Cherry Spools and Lady Fingers

 
To make LAYER 1, use fat eighths to create a two-color version. Two fat eighths will yield two blocks. Alternatively, use a variety of precuts to create a scrappy version.

For EACH Cherry Spool block, you will need:
Fabric 1/Spool:

• (2) 2½” squares 
• (2) 2″ x 8″ strips

Fabric 2/Leaves:

• (6) 2½” squares

Fabric 3/Cherries:

• (4) 2″ squares

Fabric 4/Background:

• (8) 2½” squares
• (2 ) 2″ x 8″ strips
• (9) 2″ squares

You will need (6) 2½” x 11½” strips for sashing between blocks (Lady Fingers)

Finished block measures 11″ square

Tip: use a mix of low value prints for the background if desired

Suggested precuts for scrappy version: fat quarters, layer cake, charm pack

 
1. Create half square triangle (HST) units

• Draw a line on the wrong side of each 2½” background square. 
• Pair each 2½” background square with spool squares and leaf squares (a total of 8 pairs of background fabric + print), right sides together. 
• Lining up the edge of your foot with the pencil line, sew a scant ¼” seam on each side of the line. 
• Cut on the pencil line and press to the darker fabric. 
• Square up each HST to 2″.

  Make 12 sets of background/leaves HSTs and 4 sets of background/spool HSTs per block.

2. Lay out your block pieces for the center as shown.

Piece together in rows.

Add background side strips and spool top and bottom. Press well.

3. Repeat step 2 to make 4 more blocks (5 total).

4. Join 5 blocks and 6 lady fingers together to form Layer 1.

1 row, measuring 64″ x 11″

Block design by Robin Nelson of {www.craftsisters.com}

Big Hearted Quilt

Hello again from Robin at Craft Sisters. It’s great to be back sharing a quick and easy project. This one could be fun for your February table or wall. And… adorable tucked around your littlest Valentines in the car or the stroller. I’ve made two so far in two different Moda lines but both in luscious pinks and reds. One from Sandy Gervais’, Table for Two and the other using Deb Strain’s, Surrounded By Love. The idea for this was to make a big, modern, Log Cabin-ish looking block. One Moda Candy or Charm Pack makes the heart and two half-yard pieces are used for the backgrounds.

1            Moda Candy or Charm Pack – Table For Two – heart
½ yd.     Diamond 1775611 – Table For Two – background 1
½ yd.     Rose 1775513 – Table For Two – background 2
⅜ yd.     Rose 1775613 – Table For Two – binding
1 yd.      Backing fabric
1 yd.      Low loft batting

Layout the heart
Place the 42 – 2.5″ squares from the Moda Candy or Charm Pack on a design wall or floor. 

If you are using a Charm Pack, cut 42, 2.5″ squares (obviously more color choice with charm pack). 

Audition color placement of squares until you get the color arrangement that you like. It’s fun to play with it. I ended up using darker squares to outline the heart so it would stand out in the photograph. Make the heart more subtle and pixelated looking, by mixing up the colors more.

Cut background squares, strips and complete quilt layout

Cut the squares and strips from background fabrics 1 and 2 as shown on the quilt layout map (it’s at the end of this post). 

Following quilt layout map, add background squares and strips to design wall around the heart. It always looks completely wrong to me when laid out like this, but feels great when it all comes together after sewing.

Sew squares and strips to form horizontal rows
Use a ¼” seam allowance throughout this project. It really helps in matching up squares if you sew a consistent seam width, ¼” or scant… 

Press seams in opposite direction. This avoids bulk and makes it easy to nest seams when sewing everything together.

Sew the rows together
Start sewing the rows together in the order you like, top to bottom, from center out, bottom to top. Whatever makes sense to you.

Press seams in one direction.

Make a quilt sandwich
Layer backing, batting and quilt top. Baste using pins, spray, or use fusible batting. Quilt simply or more dense, whichever you prefer. This is a good one to try your free motion quilting on because of the size.





One small but Big Hearted quilt for February or anytime. Mine finished at approx. 28.5″ x 29.5″. Hope you try this one and have fun doing it. And please stop by my blog over the weekend. www.craftsisters.com/robins-blog.html There’s a giveaway for some Table for Two background fabrics to use in this project. – Robin

Robin Nelson
{www.craftsisters.com}

Simple Snowman Mini Quilt

Early Season’s Greetings fellow Bakers! This is Robin over at Craft Sisters. Here’s a simple idea for a winter/holiday wall quilt using jelly roll strips and a fat quarter. It’s so great to be sharing it with you. Joy Batiks from Laundry Basket Quilts delivers the perfect colors for this and I love red (makes it an easy choice for the background for me). The greens are also gorgeous or a combo could be great too. There are lots of things you could do with this design and some other ideas are suggested at the end of the recipe. Hope you have fun with it.

 
1 Jelly Roll Joy Batiks from Laundry Basket Quilts 42120JR
1 Fat Qtr. Joy Holiday Pudding 4212585 for snowman circles
1 Scrap Lightweight sew in interfacing (big enough for 3 snowman circles)
2/3 Yd. Backing fabric
24″ x 30″ Low loft batting (suggest fusible batting)
White chalk pencil for tracing tree Freezer paper
 18 4-mm press on crystals for snowflakes
1 Skein Rayon embroidery thread (ivory or cream) for snowflake embroidery
1 Skein Sashiko thread or embroidery thread for tree stitching

Make the Appliqué Background 
Choose 10 strips from jelly roll in high contrast to snowman circle fabric. Cut strips in half and remove selvedges. Sew 10 half-strips together lengthwise using 1/4″ seam allowance. Press seams to one side. Save the other half-strips for another project. Choose two more strips for borders. Sew border strips to sides of background. Press seams out. Trim and square. Sew border strips to top and bottom of background. Press seams out. Trim and square and set background piece aside.

Make Snowman Circles 

Using the circle templates found in the Printer Friendly Version, trace 1, small, medium, and large circle on to sew-in interfacing. Leave an inch of space between the traced shapes.

Place and pin interfacing circle on right side of the snowman fabric. Shorten your stitch length (15-18 stitches per inch) and sew around circles on the drawn line. The needle down feature of your machine really helps here with staying on the line, stopping and pivoting.

Trim the circles leaving 1/8″ – 1/4″ seam allowance outside the drawn lines. Cut a center slit in the interfacing only of each circle.

Turn circles right side out and use a chop stick to smooth seams. Press. I love this method of appliqué because it adds a bit of dimension and is a stabilizer for the embroidery.

Note: It’s easy to remove the interfacing if you don’t want it by following these steps: Use water soluble thread in the needle and regular thread in the bobbin to sew around the circles. Trim and turn circles right side out and smooth seam with chopstick. Lightly spray circle edges with fabric sizing. Press edges with steam and interfacing will lift away. Edges will still be turned under and bobbin thread can be removed or remain to help maintain edges.

Use a window or a light box to trace snowflake embroidery lines on each circle. Embroider the snowflakes using two strands of rayon embroidery thread (rayon thread adds some shine). Stem or outline-stitch each snowflake. Couch or use fly stitch for the snowflake cross pieces. Crystals get ironed/pressed on after snowman is appliquéd to background.

Trace the Fir Tree

Trace numbered tree lines on to freezer paper, leaving generous space between lines. Cut out the separate pieces.

Place top of tree shape on to background fabric 3″ down from the top edge and 4″ in from left edge (not including borders).  Iron the shape with the waxy side of freezer paper down. Trace around the shape using a white chalk pencil. Peel off the paper shape.

Press line #2 in place and trace. Continue with remaining pieces until tree is entirely traced.

Place and Appliqué Snowman Circles
Pin circles in place and hand or machine stitch using your favorite method.

Stitch Tree on Background 

You won’t need to stitch the entire tree because the snowman covers part of it. There are a number of ways to stitch this tree. Choose what you like best and stitch it – whether it is outline embroidery, bobbin work, Sashiko (Japanese surface embroidery), small ric rac. I opted for Sashiko. Here are a few basics to get you started. It’s fun and relaxing and no hoop is needed. Use a Sashiko needle and Sashiko thread. The thread stands out on the surface and is easy to work with. Sashiko needles are longer than regular embroidery needles. Cut the thread approx. 20″ and knot one end. Load needle with several stitches before pulling it through. Pull fabric taught so there isn’t any puckering. Try to make all of your stitches and spaces between the same length (think rice grains). End stitches in corners to define a pattern sharply. Space stitches so they don’t touch or cross where pattern lines connect. Knot on back when you finish.

Apply Crystals to Snowflakes
Place press on crystals on to snowman circles as shown on template and in photos. Press each one following manufacturer’s directions. A small craft iron is helpful for this step (easier to control and not bump crystals out of place).

Finishing 
Make a quilt sandwich (spray baste or use fusible batting) and quilt around the tree shape close to all Sashiko stitches and around snowman circles. Quilt vertical lines in the ditch in remaining background strips. Trim and bind using left over jelly roll strips. Add hanging strip to back and hang in a noticeable place.

Or… add one more border and use it to wrap quilt around an art canvas. Staple to secure and add picture wire to hang. The intent for this quilt was to keep it very simplistic but a lot more could be done with it.

Here are a few more ideas to try using the rest of your jelly roll.

• Make it a pillow(s) 
• Make it a much larger quilt using the whole jelly roll for background, enlarging the snowman and quilting a fancy holiday motif inside the circles. 
• Make it a runner lengthening the background and adding a tree and snowman to each end.
• Make the tree an appliqué instead of stitching it out.

 
One simplistic, wintery, snowman, wall quilt approximately 21″ x 25″

 

I hope to try some of those other ideas and will post pictures on my blog. Please stop by and visit.

Thanks,

Robin Nelson
{www.craftsisters.com}

Steps To The Sea Quilt

Hello from Robin at Craft Sisters. It’s great to be back at the Bake Shop sharing a new quilt. The pattern is a simple log cabin block variation – Courthouse Steps and uses Deb Strain’s beautiful “Seascapes” Jelly Rolls and Panel. Thanks Deb and Moda for all the beautiful colors.  

1 Seascapes Panel 19610-12

1 Bella Solids Jelly Roll White 9900JR-98

2 Seascapes Jelly Rolls 19610JR

5 Yds. Backing fabric

Batting 79” x 85”

Just a note that one Jelly Roll will make six blocks.  This quilt could be made with 2 Jelly Rolls if you are OK without borders or smaller borders. I added the white, Bella Solid to get more contrast.  There are only a few light strips in the Seascapes Jelly Roll.

Step 1 – Cut the panel squares using a square ruler

Center a ruler over each letter and trim to 6-1/2” square 

Center a ruler over each shell and trim to 6” square

Step 2 – Separate the Jelly Rolls by color from light to dark.  Light strips were used at the top and bottom of the block, med for the left side, and dark for the right side. Strips were sewn, trimmed, and squared as I went instead of cutting all the strips for the blocks in advance. If you cut in advance, I recommend making one sample block before cutting everything. Everyone sews a little differently. 

6” long            2 light

9-1/2”              2 light, 1 med., 1 dark

13-1/2”            2 light, 1 med., 1 dark

17-1/2”            2 light, 1 med., 1 dark

21-1/2”            1 med., 1 dark

Step 3 – Block assembly   

One block uses 16 strips – 8 light, 4 med, 4 dark and a shell center square

The block finishes at approx. 21-1/2” square

a. Sew 1 light strip to the top and 1 light strip to the bottom of a shell square. Press 

b. Sew 1 med strip to the left side and a dark strip to the right side – Press

c. Continue adding strips in this way until the block is completed with 4 strips on each side of the center square.  Make 9 blocks

Step 4 – Lay out the blocks in rows of 3 in the color arrangement you like the best.

Step 5 – Sew the blocks in to rows.  Press

Step 6 – Sew the rows together.  Press

Step 7 – Borders

Use remaining strips and letters to make 4 borders.

a. Layout strips around the edges of the quilt, auditioning for color.  I chose to put white at the top, med down the left side, dark down the right side and the bottom. Pretty much like the block. Place the letters of the word Sea in different places in the border to see where it reads best to you, vertical, horizontal… 

b. Measure across the center width of the quilt top to get accurate border length for top and bottom.  Measure down the center length of quilt top for border length of sides. Start sewing strips together end to end diagonally as you do when sewing binding strips together. Trim, press and add as many as you need to get desired length. 

c. Sew 3 of these long strips together to make each border strip set and add letters to two of the 4 sets.

d. Sew the side borders to the quilt top – sewing from centers out.  Press seams out and repeat this step for the top and bottom borders.  Measuring and then sewing from the center out helps to avoid wavy borders and the quilt to lay flat.

Step 8 – Quilt and bind

I used a swirl pattern called “Nesting Waves” by Ellen Munnich for the quilting on this one. Use more of the remaining strips to bind your quilt.   

One beachy quilted throw of a generous size, approx. 73” x 79”

Hope you have fun making this one. Be sure to stop by my blog in the next few days and get your name in for the giveaway (Thanks Moda).  Leave a beach related comment and we’ll put your name in the hat for a beautiful Seascapes Jelly Roll. Thanks so much. Robin   Craftsisters.com

Robin Nelson
{www.craftsisters.com}

Kapalaa Kolors Table Runner

Here we go. It’s exciting to bring a second contribution to the Moda Bake Shop using Moda’s new line of Kapalaa Batiks.  If you ever have a chance to visit Kapalua (Northwest side of Maui)… GO!!!  It’s beautiful (total understatement) just like this new fabric. This project is easy.  Make just two pineapple blocks using a Charm Pack and fat quarters. Create one strip block for the center to separate the pineapples.  Pineapple leaves are fused and appliquéd.  Hope you enjoy making this one.  

Ingredients:

1 Pk. 5” x 5” squares – Kapalaa Batiks

1/2 Yd. Leaf Green for background 4320 11

1 Fat Qtr. Jungle Green for leaves 4320 13

1 Fat Qtr. Jungle Green for leaves 4320 14

1/2 Yd. Midnight 4320 24 for quilt border

1 Yd. Hibiscus 4320 36 for backing and binding

1/2 Yd. Paper-backed, fusible webbing for leaves

Low-loft batting approx. 18” x 54”

Instructions:

Step 1 – Cut 2,  8-1/2” x 12-1/2” rectangles from background fabric.

Step 2 – Audition charm squares for the body of the pineapples on a design wall or the floor (follow the layout diagram or picture below). There is extra background fabric in case you want to try different colors in the half-square triangles. Trim 5” squares for pineapple body to 4-1/2” square.

Step 3 – Make half-square triangles.  Place 2,  5” squares on top of one another, right sides together.  Draw a diagonal line down center of lighter batik squares.

Step 4 – Sew 1/4” away from each side of the drawn line.

Step 5 – Cut the squares apart on the drawn line and press seam towards darker fabric.

Step 6 – Trim to 4-1/2” square.  A 4-1/2” ruler is helpful for this.

Step 7 – Sew the squares and half-square triangles together in vertical rows – then sew the rows together forming the body of the pineapple.

Step 8 – Sew the background rectangle to top of pineapple body.

Step 9 – Make the pineapple leaves.  Trace and number 2 of each leaf using reversed templates and paper-backed fusible.  Overlapping edges of leaves get fused together to make one large appliqué piece.  Trace extra (dotted lines) on leaves that slide under others.

Step 10 – Cut out the paper shapes leaving at least ¼” around outside edge of drawn line.

Step 11 – Optional – Cut out the centers of each shape leaving 1/4” on inside of the line.

Step 12 – Fuse shapes to varying shades of leaf fabrics following manufacturers directions.

Step 13 – Let cool and cut out each shape on the drawn line. Remove paper backing.

Step 14 – Lay Placement Guide under an appliqué, pressing sheet.

Step 15 – Place leaves on top of the pressing sheet following the template underneath.

Step 16 – Lightly fuse just the overlapping edges as you build the appliqué.

Step 17 – Carefully peel layered leaves from pressing sheet.

Step 18 – Place leaves at the top of each pineapple and fuse to background following manufacturers directions.

Step 19 – Machine appliqué  leaves to quilt top.  I used the blanket stitch that comes with my machine and black thread to help define the individual leaves.

Step 20 – Make the center block.  Cut 2” wide strips from the remaining dark fabrics.  Sew strips end to end. Use varied lengths to get a random pattern. Make 3 strips and sew together to form a rectangle.  Press and trim rectangle to 8-1/2” x 12-1/2”.  Photo below shows my mistake using a couple of light strips (lighter fabrics confused the separation between the pineapple blocks).

Step 21 – Sew center strip block to the bottom of each pineapple. Press.

Step 22 – Cut 4,  2” wide strips for side borders and 1 for runner end borders.

Step 23. Measure down center length of runner. This is the length of the side borders you will need. Piece strips to get length.

Step 24 – Mark center of each side of quilt.  Sew borders to each side from the centers out to the ends.  Press seams out.

Step 25 – Measure across center width of quilt and repeat steps above for end borders.

Step 26 – Cut the one yard piece of backing in half lengthwise.

Step 27 – Sew together at narrow ends to make one long backing piece. Press seam to one side.

Step 28 – Make quilt sandwich, layering batting on top of backing and quilt top on batting. 

Step 29 – Quilting suggestions.  You could stitch in the ditch for all.  Or… Stitch in the ditch around the pineapple leaves and around strips in center block. Quilt diagonal rays out from

pineapple leaves to edge of quilt.  Try a twist motif in the squares of the pineapple body.  Sally Terry makes a great one.

Step 30 – Bind quilt.

One festive island table runner approx. 15” x 55”.

Robin Nelson
{craftsisters.com}

Sock Santa, Modaelf and Rudolpharilla Quilt

Hey everybody – Robin here from Craft Sisters™ . I thought you might like to build some sock monkey appliqués. Erin Michael’s Santa’s Little Helper line is irresistible and I’m excited to share my first Moda Bake Shop recipe using this adorable fabric.

I appliquéd Sock Santa, Modaelf, and Rudolpharilla to a quilt as a gift for my grand daughter’s first Christmas.  These appliqués would be cute on bibs, nappy covers, a little shirt, bags… whatever you can think of.  The appliqué characters print out at about 8” tall but could easily be re-sized using a photocopier.  Have fun with these!

Note: Use appliquéd or embroidered eyes and earrings if you are gifting to a small child (buttons are choking hazards).

1 Santa’s Little Helpers charm pack – This is more than you need but you’ll have a lot to choose from

3 Santa’s Little Helpers Fat quarters, one each in brown, red and green monkey skin

1 Fat quarter Moda white or white on white dot for beards, hat trims etc. or scraps from your stash

1yd Paper-backed fusible webbing

Matching thread for applying appliqués

Applique patterns included in Printer Friendly Version at the bottom of the post

Contrasting embroidery floss if you decide to do any hand stitching (optional)

Tear away or wash away stabilizer for satin stitching (optional)

Small craft iron (optional)

Step 1 – Trace reversed pattern pieces on to the paper side of fusible webbing.

Step 2 – For a softer appliqué, cut out the centers of the larger pieces (leave about 1/4” inside the line, similar to seam allowance).  Leave extra around the outside too to make the piece a little more stable and the paper easier to peel away.  Then fuse to the wrong side of appliqué fabric pieces.  Be sure to let it cool before you cut it out and try to peel the paper away.  The paper comes off much easier.

Step 3 – Trace the details.

Using a window or light box, tape pattern down.  Place each fabric shape over the right side of the placement guide version of the pattern and trace details (facial features, etc.) on to the right side of the fabric shapes so you can easily see to stitch later. 

You can create your own makeshift light box by putting a flashlight under your clear plastic, sewing table.  Line up the fabric shape over the pattern on the table, turn on the light and trace away.

Step 4 – Assemble the appliqué. 

Slide the paper placement guide under an appliqué-pressing sheet and use it as a placement guide.

Place antlers under the bow, collar under the muzzle and mouth and Rudolpharilla’s head

under the top of the muzzle.  The overlap can be anywhere from1/8” to 1/4”. 

1/4” is easier to peel off of the pressing sheet.

Step 5 – Join the edges.

Lightly fuse the appliqué where edges join/overlap.

A small craft sized iron can be helpful with this if you have one.

Let the assembled appliqué cool a bit and gently lift/peel it off of the pressing sheet.

Step 6 – Fuse the appliqués to the background of your choice and they are ready to stitch. 

Step 7 – Stitch the appliqués to the background.

Use your favorite stitch or a combination of stitches to secure the appliqués and make their faces come alive. I used a combination of machine stitches on all the characters including satin stitch, blind hem, and straight stitch. The big blanket stitch (my personal favorite) was added by hand with embroidery floss.  

Three darling sock monkey appliqués for your favorite project!

Robin Nelson
{craftsisters.com}