A Diamond Zig Zag Quilt : :

Today I'm thrilled to share with you my very first quilt finish of this new year, my Diamond Zig Zag Quilt!



This pattern was created using a quilt as you go method similar to the one I share for my Herringbone Quilt Tutorial, and is made up of Art Gallery Fabric's beautiful Minimalista collection and four of their soft & silky coordinating Pure Element solids in Coral Reef, Honey, Cozumel Blue, and Ash that I ordered from the Intrepid Thread!



This quilt pattern is something I quickly sketched up when my Minimalista fabrics arrived, inspired by the modern design of each print and the four various colors that make up this pretty collection. Although I had worried at first that my idea was a bit too simplistic, I never wavered, and I'm so glad I saw it through!





For my quilting I used lots and lots of Aurifil! First a variegated spool of gray to add a dense, straight line quilting throughout the solid fabric areas of each palette panel, and my final quilting was done using four colors of 50wt from Pat Bravo's gorgeous & handy Aurifil thread collections!







Keeping with the modern style of this quilt, I finished my binding in Minimalista's very strong Optical Noir print, and for my backing I chose a gray chevron flannel to keep it soft and cozy, like all quilts should be!





It feels so good to have this first quilt finish, although I'm running quite a bit behind schedule with everything these days! The good news is, my project pile up has turned into a party of pretty big finishes that I'll now have the pleasure to share in the weeks ahead! And after that, if you're all still interested, be sure to let me know, I do hope to circle back to this quilt idea to offer as a pattern, maybe with a little twist! What do you think?

♥  Maureen 

Project Pile Up : :

Last week I had so many projects going on at once, and to give you a good understanding of my situation, I thought I'd share a little project show and tell today! First I should remind you, I've never been one to have just one or two projects going, but after a couple weeks full of many things that kept me more running around in circles and caused much less time for sewing, things got a little busy!













My Diamond & Zigs Zag Minimalista quilt, a new making rows quilt in Rapture, new fox pillows finished with Chromatics Pointelle, pillows to match my flower crowns (more on that this week), last minute Valentine's decorating & crafting. And, that's not all!  Each day on average I have about four Birthday Crowns orders to fill, felt to cut and organize, several new quilt projects in progress awaiting pictures, surprise gifts to make, let's leave out all the computer work, it's endless! Good thing I love sewing so, so much!

So how about you, when it comes to sewing, are you able to stick to just one or two projects at a time, working start to finish? Or, like me, do you sometimes take on too much?

Tuquoise and Lily : :

After literally being buried under the heap of felt and fabric scraps I've created these past two weeks, yesterday in between etsy orders galore, I promised in it's recovery at least an hour of work to this Minimalista quilt project of mine!



It's a fairly quick quilt as you go. I was able to sew up and quilt the Watermelon and Honeycomb panels in just a few hours of work, and finished assembling this new Turquoise panel in a little more than an hour yesterday. All that's left now is the Noir, some quilting, flannel backing, and binding!



It's a simple design that I'm calling my Diamond Zig Zag quilt! I think this Turquoise is my favorite of the four colors!



I love this shot with Lily's little paw peeking in on the left!





I guess she wanted to say Hello!  ♥ Maureen 

A Fabric GIVEAWAY : :

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

It's Fabric Giveaway Friday!  

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

My sponsor The Knotted Thread is run by Jenn, a fabric lover with a passion for sewing!  In her shop you'll find both bundles and single cuts of Fat Quarters, Half Yards, Yards, and Yardage, as well as some of Jenn's very own handmade items up or sale!! Designer fabrics include many of our favorites -- Free Spirit, Moda, and Riley Blake Designs just to name a few! 

She's just getting started and invites you all to stop by today to look around!! Thanks Jenn!
  
SHOP  *  BLOG  *  FACEBOOK  *  INSTAGRAM 
 

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

We hope you enjoy visiting The Knotted Thread sites!! 

For this week's Fabric Giveaway, Jenn is offering the winner their choice of any Fat Quarter bundle colorway in the Minimalista fabric collection, a new fresh & modern fabric collection by Art Gallery Fabrics In-House Studio! Choose between the Noir, Watermelon, Honeycomb, and Turquoise colorways! Each bundle will include the SEVEN Fat Quarter cuts, one in each of the prints that make up this wonderful, new collection!

You can find Minimalista available in The Knotted Thread's Shop as a Fat Eighth Bundle, a Fat Quarter Bundle, and in a variety of colorway bundles!!

In addition, The Knotted Thread is offering my readers 15% OFF any order from the shop throughout this Giveaway, just use coupon code "Maureen15" at checkout!! AND, Jenn is including a little extra, mini charm pack, in all orders over $30 placed throughout the rest of this month (while supplies last)!!

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

Enter to win! 

Here's how,

 
1. Simply leave a comment here in this post! We'd love to know what color you'd choose?! (one entry)
2. Follow The Knotted Thread on Facebook or on Instagram Just let me know that you do by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (optional extra entry)
3. My followers get a third entry! 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, January 20th!! Winner will be picked at Random 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!

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

Thank you to all who entered the Giveaway!!

From 1,543 entries, Mr. Random says the lucky winner is... 

Comment #797 --   *  GO STARS!   *
   

Congratulations! I will be in touch shortly! 

Monday Plans : :

Today begins a first full week since before the holidays of school, work, and finally a revisit to our regular routine. Which for me, means that I will no longer have to scramble to finish up etsy orders during the sewing time I find and that I can finally focus some real energy on new quilty projects!  

Last Wednesday on my one and only free sewing day of the week, I accomplished exactly half of my Minimalista quilt top. I'm using the full collection in fat quarter cuts combined with coordinating Pure solids in Coral Reef, Honey, Cozumel Blue, and Ash. I had hoped to write up instructions for my quick pattern sketch as I went along, but things didn't come together as easily as I envisioned. I am really pleased with how it looks so far, but it involved a bit of tweaking to get it there!



I love how Art Gallery fabrics quilt up, especially combined with Aurifil! You might have noticed!!





With my Watermelon and Honeycomb panels complete, this week I plan to cut into the Noir and Turquoise colorways with high hopes up finishing up to share by this Thursday or early next week at the very latest!



But first, I'm super excited to work my Fat Quarter Shop Blogger bundle into something special! I LOVE color, but these colors are so, very me! If you'd like to take a closer look, be sure to visit the Fat Quarter Shop!



I'm off to jump in... Everyone have a wonderful Monday!

♥ Maureen 

Diving In : :

After more than a month of birthday and holiday celebrating, visitors, trips, sickness, school cancellations and delays, today is the first day I'm home alone in a very, very long time! I still plan to share a post just for last years quilts, but for today I am treating myself to a free sewing day!







Yes, I'm finally starting my first quilt of the new year! I've been eager to cut into my stack of Minimalista and matching solids since they arrived a couple of months ago. I can't wait!!

How about you, what will your first project for 2014 be? 
  
♥ Maureen

Super Stashy : :

After not sewing a single stitch yesterday, once the kids were off to school this morning I dove right into a new project -- making use of all those pretty Tule Sunset scraps!



But want I really want to share today is my ironing board full of goodness! Just check out this wonderful, HUGE stack of fabric!!



I took major advantage of the 40% OFF sale happening at Sprightly Fabrics, stashing 64 different Art Gallery Fabric prints! Yes, Bijoux, Carnaby Street, Floressence, Lux in Bloom, Splendor 1920, & Reminisce is all here!



At the top of my stack sits more Art Gallery Fabrics -- Angela Walters' new Legacy collection, more Tule, and the pretty coral & cool black prints from AGF's new Minimalista!







A bundle of Cloud9's soon to be released Up, Up, and Away by Skinny laMinx. I've designed a free quilt pattern for these that will be available just as soon as this collection is!



And, I couldn't resist these Domino Dots by Violet Craft. I love the colors!



Lovely piles, aren't they?! Now my only problem is that I cannot decide which to cut into first!

How about you, have you stashed anything new lately?  ♥  Maureen