A Quilted Pillow Sham { Tutorial } : :

Today I'm sharing my very first Fat Quarter Gang Project right here! A tutorial for a set of Quilted Pillow Shams, a project designed for Art Gallery Fabric's LillyBelle Fabric Collection by Bari J. It's a super quick & easy project, takes only 10 Fat Quarters to make and you'll have a set of new, fabulous shams! It's a great project for a beginner or if you want a smallish project to practice sewing those perfect straight quilting lines! Let's get started!!

What you'll need : :

• 10 - Fat Quarters of LillyBelle or any other fabrics of your choosing
• 2 - Standard Bed Pillows measuring 20" x 26"
• 2 - pieces of cotton batting measuring at least 21" x 30"
• 1 - yard of cotton muslin cut into two pieces measuring 22' x 36"
• Coordinating Thread, I prefer Aurifil
• Rotary Cutter/Mat/Ruler

Cutting and Piecing the Fabrics : :

1. Choose six different fat quarters from the 10 fabrics you've chosen for the pillow sham fronts, save the other four for the pillow sham backs 2. Cut each of the six fat quarters into two pieces measuring 5" x 20"  (I recommend using a rotary cutter and mat set for cutting)



3. With right sides facing, pin and sew six fabric strips together, leaving a 1/4" seam allowance 4. Press all seams open as you go



5. Continue to piece both pillow sham fronts and press well on both sides



Layering and Quilting the Pillow Top : :

6. Cut Muslin into two pieces measuring 22" x 36". Cut batting into two pieces measuring 21" x 30" 7. Lay muslin piece onto the work surface, center batting piece on top of that, and then center the pieced pillow top



8. Prepare for machine quilting. Pin layers together well, adding a few pins running down each of the six different fabrics that makeup your pillow sham top 9. Stitch on either side of the seams as shown in the photo below 10. Once quilted, remove pins



11. Using a large ruler or straight edge, trim away excess fabric, batting, and muslin. The pillow top should now measure 20" x 26"



12. Continue to baste, quilt, and trim both pillow sham fronts



Sewing the pillow together : : 

13. Prepare back pieces -- Using two of the remaining LillyBelle Fat Quarters for each pillow sham, cut fabrics to pieces measuring 18" x 20", fold over one of the sides measuring 20" a 1/2", press, fold over again, press. Sew along inner folded edge and along the outer edge, staying close to the fold. This will create the double seam finish. 14. Place pillow top piece RIGHT side up on your work surface. Place both backing pieces RIGHT side down on top of the pillow top piece.



15. Pin and sew along entire perimeter using a 1/2" seam allowance



16. Zigzag stitch around the entire perimeter, as well 17. Trim all four corners



18. Turn pillow right side out, making sure to poke out each corner. Press well. Repeat for second pillow



Insert your pillows and now you have your very own set of beautiful Quilted Pillow Shams!!

You can find LillyBelle still available with several of my sponsors --

*  Fat Quarter Shop  *  The Intrepid Thread  *  Moona Fabrics  *  Sprightly Fabrics  *  Stash Fabrics  *  

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

I went and made a second pair to donate to a local auction, using Bari J.'s Splendor 1920 collection, as well. I'm a such a fan of hers and of Art Gallery Fabrics for everything, but especially bedding! The soft, luxurious hand that AGF's have, truly makes for some extra cozy pillows!





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. And, if you've already made some pillows using this tutorial from when I had shared this project on the Art Gallery Fabric's blog, feel free to add a link to where I can find them below. I love seeing them!!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!!   ♥,  Maureen

An Improv & LillyBelle Quilt { A Quilt As You Go Finish } : :

I am so thrilled to have this quilt finished! To say that I took my time with it, is a HUGE understatement, and definitely shouldn't signify that creating it wasn't fun! I really enjoyed it and I'm so glad I took my time! I think it's honest to say that the main reason it did take until now is simply because I was making this quilt just for me, and you know how those things get pushed to the bottom of the list!

Well, since sharing my Quilt As You Go How-to, I've received so many questions on finishing a qayg quilt! I took lots of photos as I finished, to share today and link to as a Part 2 of that tutorial. My intention was to make the finishing of this quilt as easy as possible and I think it was!

For starters, I used 505 Basting Spray for the first time. That's the only part I didn't photograph. My husband helped with the spraying, I laid the quilt right side down, he sprayed the batting that was already quilted to the quilt top in smallish sections, and I made sure the seams were all nice and flat while I smoothed down the backing fabric. All in all it took maybe 20 minutes!

About a week later, I finally found the time to add my final quilting stitches. When adding this stitching it IS recommended that you do use a Walking Foot. I haven't found it necessary now that I am using my Janome. Working my way down from the top of my quilt to the bottom, with my stitch length set at 3, I simply sewed about 1/4" to maybe 1/2" from the seam line.





I continued this for both sides of each seam running from the top of my quilt to the bottom!



Here's a good look at just how these stitches will look from the backside of your quilt!



Now working from side to side, I decided this time to add my stitches by stitching in the ditch. This is a way of quilting that minimizes how much thread shows on the top of the quilt. Even though stitching in the ditch is somewhat invisible on the top of the quilt, it does secure all three layers of the quilt sandwich!



You can add your quilting stitches either way -- by stitching along the seams, by stitching in the ditch, or combining them as I did.  Any of these will be enough to set that backing fabric to your quilt as you go quilt top!

Here's a look at how those stitches will look from the back of your quilt, once you're completely finished!



But first, you have to bind the quilt using your preferred method! I know there are about a million ways to do so, my go-to is exactly the same as Allson's of Cluck, Cluck, Sews Machine Binding method! She has a wonderful tutorial!!

I also love using this super smart, time saving trick!



If you have a foot on your machine or extension table, the binding unrolls neatly and slowly, and out of your way, as you add it to your quilt. No need for pins -- LOVE it!!



Seriously -- between the quilting as you go, the basting spray, and this little binding trick -- quilting doesn't get any easier folks!!

And, in the end you have a pretty, handmade quilt!!

Since this quilt is just for me, yay ! I went a little crazy with the super sweet and girly LillyBelle Garden Rocket border and used nothing but Bari J.'s Henna Stripe for the back! I love it!! It's so colorful and fun on the front and has such a Wintery back, and I do LOVE Winter!!



In the end I think we'll all agree, regardless of your fabric taste or even how you make a quilt -- that this is the very best part!



I hope you do give qayg a try! Be sure to let me know if you do, ok? Feel free to share on my Facebook page or in my Maureen Cracknell Handmade Flickr group, and of course you can share a link here or email me anytime, as well!

Thanks so much for stopping by!!   ♥,  Maureen

A Quilt Top Finish : :

Well, I finished my Quilt As You Go quilt top yesterday! It took hours for me to finish it up and was just what I needed to spend yesterday doing. Listening to nothing but the hum of my machine as I added all my simple, straight-line quilting stitches gave me that same sense of comfort and calmness that I had only ever found through knitting before. It was, well...nice. And has me feeling this morning like this may just be the year of the quilt for me, although I'm pretty certain I declared that last year? I guess we'll see!



I added a large quilted border of Bari J.'s LillyBelle print, Garden Rocket in Turquoise. I had stashed 4 yds of it, and now all I have left are a few tiny scraps and just one fat quarter!



Adding all that LillyBelle added such a softness to this quilt and took the sweet, feminine vibe of my improv blocks off the charts! I think my husband's reaction was, "Wow, that's really girly!" My response was, "Yup, and it's just for me...I think?" assuring him that it wouldn't be living on our bed!



Although this morning as I looked back through the photo album I have for this quilt, I noticed that Lily sure seems to like it, too!





Eww, she actually looks mean in that last photo, yikes! Good thing I don't mind sharing.

Well, I've decided to try out some 505 Spray Adhesive for the first time for quilt basting. Reading over Ashley's of Film In The Fridge Tutorial convinced me that this is worth a try. It should be here any day and in the meantime I just need to decide on a backing -- this Folsky Flannel or this Indie print? I have lots of both and I'll need it! This finished quilt top measures 68" x 72"! So, what do you think? I actually changed my mind and will be finishing it in this LillyBelle print! But more importantly....

Have you tried 505? Any tips or reviews you could share here would be oh, so helpful!!

Thanks in advance! ♥,  Maureen

A Fabric GIVEAWAY : :

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It's Fabric Giveaway Friday!

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

My sponsor The Intrepid Thread is a family owned and run business. In their shop you'll find Fat Quarters, Half Yards, Yards, and Yardage, as well as patterns and embellishments. Their designer fabrics include many of our favorites -- Art Gallery Fabrics, Moda, and Riley Blake Designs just to name a few! 
The owners work extremely hard everyday to bring their customers the best fabrics,
at the best prices, with high quality customer service!
  
SHOP  *  BLOG  *  FACEBOOK
 

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

We hope you enjoy visiting The Intrepid Thread's sites!! 

For this weekend's Giveaway The Intrepid Thread is offering a generous fabric bundle including TWELVE Fat Quarters! Six from each of the collections LillyBelle and Rock N' Romance by Art Gallery Fabric Designers Pat Bravo and Bari J.!

You can find the LillyBelle collection available in The Intrepid Thread Shop in yardage, FQ's, 
and in a variety of bundles HERE, as well as the Rock N' Romance collection HERE!!

Enter to win!

Here's how,
 
1. Simply leave a comment here in this post. I'd love to know what fabric collection or fabric designer you're most excited about right now?! (one entry)
2. Follow The Intrepid Thread on facebook, their blog, or sign up to receive their Newsletter. Just let me know that you did by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (optional extra entry)
3. My followers get a third entry! Whether you follow me here, in your reader, or on Facebook, just let me know that you do by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (optional extra entry)
4. Help spread the word!! I know that many of you already do, so I thought it would be nice to add that as another way to enter! Whether by tweet, facebook, pin, blog, etc... (one optional entry)  

That’s 4 possible entries! Enter now through Monday morning, January 14th. Mr. Random will pick the winner and I will announce their name at the bottom of this post, here on the blog!
 
* Note * This giveaway is open to EVERYONE! If you're a "no reply" or anonymous commenter, please remember to include your email address in your comment so that I can contact you should you win!
                                        

Good Luck everyone!!! Have a great weekend!


* * * * *  UPDATE  * * * * *

Thank you to all who entered this past weekend's Giveaway!! 

 

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

  From 1,799 entries, Mr. Random says the lucky winner is...

Comment #618 -- pasqueflower, who said...

Beautiful fabrics!
I love Lilly Belle. 

Congratulations!!! I will be in touch shortly!

HOMEmade -- A Butterfly Appliqued Curtain : :

Making a curtain is a super satisfying thing, it always leaves me with a good feeling! Besides being so simple, it's functional and likely more affordable to go the handmade curtain route. Of course, we LOVE that!



I'm hoping at least a few of you understand just how tricky it might have been to take a photograph of a hanging curtain, on a bright winter day, in a not-so-large bedroom, with a not-so-wide camera lens? It wasn't easy and I can't say that I ever really figured it out. When I went through my pictures I was a little disappointed, it looks so much prettier in real life, I promise! Yet my dedication to sharing my first "HOMEmade" project for this new home of ours pressed on, and I really hope you like it!



I only made one curtain and I'm still trying to decide if this window really needs two? What do you think?

This one was made with some simple, large improv piecing of several Pure Element solids from my stash and scraps left over from this qayg project, one of my favorite Summerlove prints Daydreaming in Sunshine (still available at @Hawthorne, Moona, & FQS), and a second curtain layer made up of lots of LillyBelle Garden Rocket in Turquoise.



I love seeing that sweet LillyBelle print peek through! Still the appliqued layer can be lifted or swept to the side, once we choose a Tie-Back, to reveal that gorgeous print. I chose to do it this way just for fun really, I thought the layers would look really sweet and girly, plus I knew we wouldn't reverse the finished drape often.



I added a quick Butterfly applique to match my girl's bedding!



Machine stitched with an Aurifil 12WT in a brown, and a hand-stitched loop-de-loop with pearl cotton floss.



It was a lot of fun to make this curtain and is definitely not the worst thing in the world to finish something and the only struggling part be the photographing that comes after!



When we first moved in I loved all the white shutters on the windows so much, I was rather opposed to having curtains on most of them. It was so lovely to see clearly outside! But now that we're deep into the winter months it's feeling a little bare. If I find time and a stronger urge in the weeks ahead, a few more windows in this home might just get a treatment after-all -- we'll see if I improve!  ♥, Maureen

A Fabric GIVEAWAY : :

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

It's Fabric Giveaway Friday!

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

My sponsor The Intrepid Thread is a family owned and run business. In their shop you'll find Fat Quarters, Half Yards, Yards, and Yardage, as well as patterns and embellishments. Their designer fabrics include many of our favorites -- Art Gallery Fabrics, Moda, and Riley Blake Designs just to name a few! 
The owners work extremely hard everyday to bring their customers the best fabrics,
at the best prices, with high quality customer service!
  
SHOP  *  BLOG  *  FACEBOOK
 

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

We hope you enjoy visiting The Intrepid Thread's sites!! 

For this weekend's giveaway The Intrepid Thread is offering a lovely bundle of Art Gallery Fabrics, 
chosen by Julie & myself with my Pretty Bow Pillow as inspiration! 
 

I also put together one of my Color Inspiration mosaics to share, just for fun and because I love a good visual of how unexpected color choices can be paired together to create something gorgeous. 
Can you imagine a quilt in these rich colors? Now that would be amazing!!
 

This weekend's Giveaway offer includes the ELEVEN Fat Quarters in pretty Pink & Yellow prints and solids, 
that make up this custom fabric bundle!! 

You can find this bundle available in both Fat Quarters and Half Yards in The Intrepid Thread Shop. 
 

Enter to win!

Here's how,
 
1. Simply leave a comment here in this post. I'd love to know what you'd like to make with these? (one entry)
2. Follow The Intrepid Thread on facebook, their blog, or sign up to receive their Newsletter. Just let me know that you did by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (optional extra entry)
3. My followers get a third entry! Whether you follow me here, in your reader, or on Facebook, just let me know that you do by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (optional extra entry)
4. Help spread the word!! I know that many of you already do, so I thought it would be nice to add that as another way to enter! Whether by tweet, facebook, pin, blog, etc... (optional extra entry)
 
That’s 4 possible entries! Enter now through Monday morning, September 17th. Mr. Random will pick the winner and I will announce their name at the bottom of this post, here on the blog!
 
* Note * This giveaway is open to EVERYONE! If you're a "no reply" or an anonymous commenter, remember to include your email address in your comment so that I can contact you, should you win! 

* * * * *  UPDATE  * * * * *

Thank you to all who entered this past weekend's Giveaway!! 

 

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

  From 1,640 entries, Mr. Random says the lucky winner is...

Comment #996 -- Lindsay, who said...

i think i'd make a fun crib quilt with these. such a lovely combination!

Congratulations Lindsay!!! I will be in touch shortly!

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