teaching sewing confidence, tip by tip
Showing posts with label Cloud9 fabrics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cloud9 fabrics. Show all posts

Friday, 9 January 2015

Raw Edge Circle Appliqué Quilt


Always wanted to master applique?
Raw Edge applique is one quick and easy method and a great introduction to this technique that I'll be teaching next week in my one day class in Manhattan.

Circle Appliqué Quilt- $70

Saturday, 17 January 2015 - 11.00 am to 5.00 pm, The City Quilter, Manhattan


Learn to cut perfect circles and add them to a whole cloth quilt base using a raw edge applique method, then machine quilt to finish your baby/lap quilt By the end of the afternoon you could even be ready to bind your finished baby/lap quilt.  

Open to anyone who knows how to use a rotary cutter and sewing machine and can sew a straight seam.

Here's pics of my class sample, currently on display in the store.


Fabrics:

Tools:
Circle Savvy Ruler by Creative Grids.

NOTE - I'm an Amazon affiliate and will receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) on any purchase you make following this link.




The class was inspired by my Foxy Circle Quilt donated to charity earlier this year and which had a great response via social media and in store.


If you live in the greater New York area or are making a quick visit to the Big Apple, why not join in one of my classes?



You can find details of all Spring 2015 classes I'm teaching via the 'My Classes' link in the side bar or by clicking the link button below.




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Friday, 7 November 2014

The Curious Case Of Unnecessary Burp Cloths


 When there's a baby on the way everyone know's you're going to need burp cloths ...


and bibs ...


 and wash cloths.


So obviously I got stuck in a made a pile of necessaries ready for my grandson Oliver's birth.


Left to right those fabrics are:
Bears in Woods - Get Together! by David Walker Studios for Free Spirit, Westminster Fibers
Giraffes Special Delivery in White/Tangerine by Quilting Treasures 
Lions - Safari Soiree in Teal by Dan Stiles for Birch Fabrics
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Flannel by Eric Carle under license to Andover Fabrics
Squirrels and Nuts - Get Together! by David Walker Studios for Free Spirit, Westminster Fibers


Quite curiously Oliver has never 'possied' as my Dad would have said.

 I wondered about this phrase as I've never heard anyone else use it and I've discovered posset is an old English word for semi digested milk brought up by babies after a feed - as well as being a medieval word for a British hot drink of spiced milk curdled with wine or ale.  These days posset usually refers to a type of milky dessert.


Before Oliver I've never known a baby not to posset, how fortunate are Jack and Ana and I'm sure Ana can find other uses for this unnecessary pile of burp cloths?!!! 


The bibs will no doubt come into their own once Oliver starts on solids

Fabrics
Goldfish in white by Hoodie for Timeless Treasures
Goldfish Bowls by Caleb Gray for Robert Kaufman 

Fabrics:
Foxes and Scribble from Ed Emberley's Picture Pie collection for Cloud9 Fabrics (left over from making my Foxy Circle Quilt)

  
and there's always a use for a wash cloth.

Fabric:
Find The Narwhal - Out To Sea Collection by Sarah Jane for Michael Miller Fabrics


Here we are winding after a feed - note the 'like new' burp cloth on my shoulder!



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Thursday, 23 October 2014

Cloud9 Fabrics Cirrus Solids HST Block Challenge


Remember the Cloud9 Fabrics Baby Quilt Challenge I took part in with my NYC Mod Quilt Guild back in June when I made this Foxy Circle Quilt?  


Well, Michelle Engel Bencsko, Co-Founder, Design & Marketing Director at Cloud9 Fabrics set our Guild another challenge to introduce Cloud9's new range of Cirrus Solids.


There're 21 colours in the Cirrus Solids range - chambray weight cross weaves and 100% certified organic cotton.

Our current challenge to create an 8.5" x 8.5" block comprising of only HSTs in a layout similar to the examples in the given black and white diagram below.


There's three given colour groups with different rules for each group - I chose two packs, Combo 2 - Invigorating and Combo 3 - Soothing 


Although I've not put this post together as a tute I've included my design notes for both blocks so you make them too.   Both blocks are quite simple - 16 half square triangles (HSTs) joined together to form rows that are then sewn with nested seams to make the final block.  I've written tutes for both of these processes before and here's links to those if you need them.


The blocks are made up of 16 x 3.5" squares which are joined as HSTs and trimmed down to 2.5" blocks, joined in rows of 4 to produce an 8.5" block including seam allowance.


 HST Block Challenge: Combo 2 - Invigorating


Above are the Cirrus Solids fabrics supplied by Cloud9, aren't they gorgeous?  

Rules from left to right: first two fabrics must be used in any amount as a positive, the third fabric must be used in every HST as a negative and then use one colour only in any amount as a positive from the remaining five fabrics supplied.


My design and chosen fabrics.

Here're the cut 3.5" squares:
2 x Coral, 4 x Lava, 8 x Ash, 2 x Iris


HSTs sewn, trimmed and laid out in rows as shown in the design.


My finished Combo 2 - Invigorating Block



Here's a close up of the fabrics - I want to try to share the texture with you, it's a really great cross weave.



HST Block Challenge: Combo 3 - Soothing


The next group of Cirrus Solids fabrics supplied by Cloud9, I love these even more than the first group if that's possible!  

Rules from left to right: first two fabrics must be used in any amount as a positive, the third fabric must be used in any amount as a negative and then, from the remaining five fabrics supplied, use one colour only as a positive for a maximum of 2 HSTs which must touch within the finished block.


My second block design and chosen fabrics.

Here're the cut 3.5" squares:
1 x Turquoise, 6 x Rain, 8 x Sand, 1 x Fuschia


HSTs sewn, trimmed and laid out in rows as shown in the design.


My finished Combo 3 - Soothing Block



Another close up of the cross weave fabric.


And the two blocks together.


Michelle will be judging the finished blocks and a 'best block' winner from each of the three colour groups will receive a Fat Eighth bundle of all 21 Cirrus Solids colours.  The finished blocks will be made into a Cloud9 Fabrics marketing sample quilt and after it's made its rounds it'll be auctionned.

You can see all the blocks here on the NYC Mod Quilt Guild website.   

I really enjoyed working with the fabrics, I was nervous that the weave would fray easily but it didn't and it also held its shape well when cut on the bias without needing to use starch.  I was impressed that it didn't shrink when I water sprayed it before pressing - don't know if you've ever noticed but some fabrics do?!!!  It's soft yet has a great weight and I like the look and feel of the texture.  I'm enjoying that there're so many more solids and particularly solids with texture available across the fabric companies these days rather than always turning to Kona (though I do love them!), still it's really refreshing.

Have you tried Cirrus Solids yet - what do you think of them?



Click these buttons to see more of my NYC Mod Guild blocks and my tutorials

Disclaimer: Some fabrics used were supplied by Cloud9 Fabrics at no charge to mbCD otherwise this post is for informational purposes only, no payment or commission is received on click-throughs and opinions are my own.
 
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