A Stitched Typography Quilt Tutorial : :

I created this quilt for my son Jacob and wrote the tutorial to first share on the Janome Project Center here, as a Janome Independent Designer. It's a Quilt-As-You-Go style quilt, made with log cabin style blocks, including a simple and fun applique, and stitched typography created using the built-in text stitches in the Horizon Memory Craft sewing machines! This is definitely my most favorite style of quilting!

Janome Supplies Required : :

• Horizon Memory Craft 12000

Fabric and Materials Required : :

• a variety of fabrics cut into fat quarters ( I used blacks, greys, and whites)
• twin size cotton or another 100% natural fiber batting
• black & white thread
• typewriter fabric or another fabric for fussy cut applique
• a light weight iron-on fusible interfacing (HeatnBond Lite)
• fabrics for the quilt backing and binding
• rotary cutter/mat/ruler set

* Notes * 

• Synthetic batting is not suggested, I only use a natural batting. It is important to be able to press the batting with a hot iron and steam. 
• Low-loft batting is preferred.
• Quilt blocks can be made in any pattern and size..
• Have fun with your quilting, this is the perfect time to experiment with new stitches or Free Motion Quilting!
• This method does not include the quilt backing fabric. I like to add my quilt backing at the end, to avoid hand-sewing, which is really hard on my hands.

Making a Log Cabin Style Block : :

1. For this quilt tutorial, I made off-centered log cabin style pieced quilt blocks. To make the blocks for the applique and stitched words, begin with a piece measuring a 7.5" square. Using fabric strips in widths varying from 2" to 4" add each new "log" working around that first square. I cut my strips (logs) longer as I went, trimming back after each piece has been added. Continue until you have a block measuring a 17" square




Applique Block : :

2.  Prepare the applique pieces by following the light weight iron-on fusible interfacing directions



3. Remove the interface backing and position applique piece in the center of the block, then press with a hot iron to set  4. Baste the quilt block to a piece of batting measuring at least a 17.5" square  5. Sew just inside the raw edge of the applique piece, attaching it to the quilt block and batting layers 



6. Add the quilting stitches, removing pins as you go, if you pin basted. For my blocks, I quilted with straight lines, using the edge of my presser foot as my spacing guide. If needed, you can mark where you want the quilting lines with a disappearing ink pen before hand. I like to be more improv and free with this type of quilting. I often change directions and make up the quilting pattern as I go



7. Using a rotary cutter, ruler, and cutting mat, square up the quilted quilt block by trimming away the excess batting to measure a 16.5" square block



Stitched Typography Block : :

8. Make another log cabin block, this time beginning with a 7.5" square in a white fabric, building out until you have a 17" block. 9. Baste this block to a piece of batting measuring at least a 17.5" square



9. Using the built-in letter stitches in the Block style, plan out your text. I used special little sayings and song lyrics that are meaningful to me and my family. Add the text, moving slowly across just that first white square, until it's filled in with the text



10. Continue making the log cabin style blocks, adding both the applique and text to the centers, as well as making several blocks with only a variety of solid and print fabrics. For a throw size quilt measuring 48" x 64", you'll need 12 - 16.5" blocks



Joining the Quilted Blocks : :

11. Place two quilted quilt blocks right sides together, matching up all ends and pin in place. Sew together on one side using a 1/4" seam allowance



12. Using a very hot iron with steam, press the back seams open



13. Continue sewing together the quilted quilt blocks, pressing all seams open as you go. Press the quilt top front as you go, as well





Quilt Backing, Basting, & Binding : :

14. Piece together fabrics for the quilt back to measure a large 49" x 65" piece, and baste to the quilted quilt front.  I love using 505 basting spray for this, however pin basting works just as well



15. Working your way down from the top of the quilt to the bottom, with a stitch length set at 3, simply sew about 1/4" to maybe 1/2" from the seam lines (when adding this stitching it IS recommended that you do use a Walking Foot). I continued this for both sides of each seam running from the top of my quilt to the bottom, as well as side to side. The photo on the right is an example of what these stitches will look like from the back side of the quilt



16. Finally, bind the quilt using your preferred method, and Voila! Your Typography Quilt is finished!!




If you've given this tutorial a go or plan to, be sure to share on my Facebook page or in my Maureen Cracknell Handmade Flickr group! I'd love to see it!!  ♥  Maureen 

Quilt Stitches : :

My one BIG sewing goal for this Summer was to finish, finally, this quilt. My longest project in the making, my very first attempt at quilting, hand-quilting, yo-yo flowers, voile, and the beginnings of my sketch stitch artwork. phew. This quilt is so, very special to me, so taking my time and enjoying the process felt really important for this one!

Yesterday I sat down at my machine feeling ready to add those final quilt stitches, although I was a bit unsure of where to begin. With so many different techniques being used in this quilt, with an already happy result, I knew I wanted the quilting to be subtle, but not simple. I browsed through the stitches that my Janome offers, and I started to feel a little brave. Since the makings of this quilt has been one very long experiment from the beginning, finishing it up by trying some new quilting stitches just felt right. I used several different colors of Aurifil, some variegated, but kept my bobbin thread a color that would blend into my quilt backing fabric nicely. This morning, although it's overcast here today, I took some photos to share a close up look at some of those quilting stitches, along with some hand-quilting I added with a neutral colored floss!















What do you think?! It's impossible for me not to second guess what I've done just a little, since I've really tortured myself with this quilt from the very beginning! I am curious to know how many of you have tried out quilting with both colored thread and decorative quilt stitches? Typically I do prefer pretty dense, straight-line quilting just as I did on my last quilt, but branching out was so much fun and in the end always pays off!  Have you given these a try yet?

Now, all that's left is for me to make and add the binding, along with a new photo shoot -- I'm so excited!! 

Until then!   ♥ Maureen

A Stitched Typography Quilt & Family Photoshoot : :

A little more that a week ago we took a quick drive out to Cherry Springs State Park for a new quilt photo-shoot and some Sunday fun. It was a sweatshirt warm afternoon, but up in the woods there were still a few lingering piles of snow that we knew the kids would love to play in. If photographing in a field of newly bloomed flowers isn't possible, at least the ashy forest of a late-to-arrive Potter County Spring would match my neutral quilt well!



This quilt is a new favorite of all of ours, which is a surprise for how much we all love color! It's made in the quilt-as-you-go style I shared here, in shades of blacks, greys, creams, and whites, with some stitched typography using the built-in letter stitches my Janome offers, as well as some fun applique using Melody's Typewriters!



From the beginning I had planned to bind it in a black & white stripe, but in the end this aqua Pezzy print won out! The back is finished with a one yd cut of Silver Crosshatch from Angela's new Textures collection for AGF and a modge podge of a few other large cuts of black, greys, and whites that I had in my stash.





You can find this full quilt tutorial on the Janome site, in their Project Center here.  I really hope you check it out, and if you do give this tutorial a go at anytime, be sure to share on my Facebook page or in my Maureen Cracknell Handmade Flickr group! I'd love to see it!!

Last night after the kids were in bed, I finally went through all the pictures we took that afternoon, as I watched the news. All I could think about was how lucky I am to have my family and how grateful I am for these times we have together. We had taken turns with my camera until my memory card was full that day. These are just a few of my favorites!

It was such a great day! More and more I've been wanting to add in just a little bit more of our family life here . Having this little guy who's about to turn nine on Sunday, a marriage that's about to turn eleven on Saturday, feeling so blessed for our full, good, simple life. I really should take advantage of having this space to share these moments, even if it's just to remind me to treasure them a bit more. Today it feels necessary to share and to savor the beauty and happiness I felt looking at these photos, along with the new quilt ones, and the fun we had taking them together as a family.  

Thanks so much for stopping by!  ♥,  Maureen 

A Forest Collage Quilt Pattern { & Fabric GIVEAWAY! } : :

Last Monday I shared a little peek of the new colorful and sweet Cloud9 Fabrics collection I was working with, In the Forest. Described as "A folkloric tale of an adventure in a fantastical forest," French illustrator Steffie Brocoli has created a beautiful and bold collection, with designs so prefect for sewing for children of any age, boy or girl!
 


What I made, I'm calling my "Forest Collage Quilt." A simple and modern, primary-colored crib size quilt, made up of just a FQ bundle and a few other cuts for finishing. I'm sharing this quilt pattern HERE, along with a some of my favorite designers, as a free downloadable pattern!



For the quilting I used an Aurifil thread and an interesting wavy built-in stitch option on my Janome. This stitch has two different stitch lengths in a wavy pattern, which I used set at the highest width and stitch length. I thought those curves would be a fun balance to all the chunky piecing!



My quilt is bound in Branches, a wonderfully bright, lemony yellow!



The flip side reveals a whole lot of Moon & Sun, one of my favorites in this collection!



I really loved making this sweet, quick, and simple quilt! I can't wait to make another!!!

Throughout this week, the Cloud9 Fabric Blog has been hosting a special series featuring this new collection, "In the Forest Book Nook."

Who wouldn't love to create this magical space for their children?! I love it!!



Each day throughout the series, Cloud9 has been sharing a brand new, amazing handmade project idea!  From curtains, to cushions, storage ideas, and even this simple and brilliant Ikea lampshade idea!
                                                                           

Today, I have an extra FQ bundle of In the Forest to Giveaway to one of you, courtesy of Cloud9 Fabrics!!



To enter,  

-- Simply leave a comment here in this post! I'd love to know what you'd make with your FQ bundle of In the Forest?!
-- You can follow the Cloud9 Blog or facebook page, as an optional extra entry! Just let me know that you did by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (optional extra entry)
-- My followers get an extra entry, too! Since Google Reader is closing down, I'd love for you to find me on Bloglovin', if you're making the swtich! Just let me know that you do by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (optional extra entry)

I'll be sure to add the winner to the bottom of this post on Monday! Thank you so much stopping by today!!!     ♥,  Maureen  

p.s. it looks like the mid-week Giveaway might become a new thing around here for awhile! Yay!!

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 

Thank you to all who entered the Giveaway!! 

 

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *   

  From 907 entries, Mr. Random says the lucky winner is...

Comment #277 -- momentary lapse, who said...

I want to make a floor cushion like the one in the picture above from Cloud9. I could do a patchwork one for my little boy.

Congratulations!!! I will be in touch shortly!