The Nightfall Parade | | A Soaring High Quilt Pattern in Nightfall

For yesterday's Nightfall Parade project I had every intention of blogging the Easy Tote bags I recently made using my Nightfall canvas, Mystical Woods in Solar. Lately the mornings have been dark, and as I waited to take photos of my finished bags I moved onto my next plan -- a Soaring High quilt in Nightfall! Once I began work on this fun project, I didn't want to stop, and as a result I'm so excited to have a new quilt pattern to share with you all today!





I designed this quilt a few years back to showcase a Skinny LaMinx collection for Cloud9 and have been dying to remake it using one of my own collections now that I'm designing for Art Gallery Fabrics. Nightfall happens to be the perfect match to this modern take on the traditional flying geese block! This pattern is made simple and addictive with my "make four at a time" flying geese method and chain piecing, you're going to love making this quilt!

Let's get started!



This quilt is made up of thirty flying geese blocks using some of my favorite Nightfall prints. My son Kaiden picked this particular combo and love how gender neutral it is!





Follow these easy cutting and assembly instructions to piece together your very own Soaring High quilt. I made this quilt top from start to finish in just a little more than a day! It's truly one of the quickest, most enjoyable quilt patterns that I've designed!



After stitching up those last few final seams that were waiting for me this morning, my husband and I took my newly finished Soaring High quilt top to a nearby pond for some quick photos. The morning mist suspended above the water was stunning, I was lucky to capture such pretty photos to share so soon!





You can see that I arranged my quilt blocks alternating rows of geese pointing up and geese pointing to the left. When you make your own I encourage you to have fun playing around with other layout options. There really are so many possibilities for this particular block pattern!



I hope you love this project as much as I do! If you do give it a go at anytime, be sure to share on my Facebook page or on Instagram with the hashtag #NightfallFabrics & #NightfallParade -- I love seeing what you create!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!! ♡ Maureen

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* You can find the list of online retailers currently carrying Nightfall under my SHOP my Fabrics page -----> https://maureencracknellhandmade.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html

The Nightfall Parade | | A Midnight Observer Quilt : :

The Nightfall Parade continues today with my Midnight Observer QAYG Quilt, featuring my Bird of Night owls in the Slate colorway, along with Nightfall prints and AGF Solid Smooth Denims!



I'm so excited to follow yesterday's tutorial with this quilt! It was made using the same exact method with just larger batting squares and additional fabric strips. Each block began with a fussy cut owl at the center, but this time while I added my fabric strips (logs) I was inspired by this Converging Corners quilt block pattern. I'm constructing these blocks similarly to my Mini Log Cabin QAYG blocks I shared yesterday, with a little twist! After I frame each owl with low volume prints and solids, as I work my way out into the corners of each block, I'm adding darker solid and printed fabrics to two opposing corners. This creates a really cool, interesting design once a group of four blocks are put together.



Looking at the quilt as a whole, notice how those dark corners seem to form a scrappy four-pointed star. To me it appears to sparkle, such a perfect reflection of the Nightfall theme!



Using the owls in this way was so much fun for me! I had a very limited amount of strike offs when I began this quilt for Quilt Market, but as my army of owl blocks grew it was so satisfying to see how such little fabrics could stretch into a quilt that I really love!





Once my quilt blocks were finished and joined, because of the beauty of quick quilt as you go, all that was left to do was back & bind with minimal quilting!



From the reverse Prisma Element side of my quilt you can see how I attached the backing by simply stitching my way down from the top of the quilt to the bottom, as well as from side to side, sewing about 1/4" from both sides of each of the seam lines. It works perfectly!



I chose to bind the quilt in a yummy stripe from Pat Bravos' Essentials II collection. I love how the yellow of the stripe brings attention to the golden butterflies of Nightfall!



I hope you're all enjoying the Nightfall Parade projects thus far! I think tomorrow it's time for our first Parade Giveaway, so be sure to stop back!!

♡ Maureen

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* You can find the list of online retailers currently carrying Nightfall under my SHOP my Fabrics page -----> https://maureencracknellhandmade.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html

A Nightland Quilt Top : :

I had every intention of making four more Nightfall & Heartland fabric star blocks before finishing up this Nightland quilt top. I was sure I'd need additional yellow-heavy blocks to create a balanced, harmonious quilt design. When compared with the sweeter, peachy-pink, aqua, and blue star blocks, the bright yellows really popped, overshadowing the softer colors that seemed to fade away. For a minute I even questioned if the blocks I had already finished could even work together. Before deciding what might bring it altogether and which new color to pair with the yellows, I placed the dozen finished stars I had onto the floor to begin playing with layout options. The large 18.5" unfinished blocks quickly filled up the entire working floor space of my sewing room, the familiar signal to me that this work in progress is plenty big enough - time to stop!









After moving blocks around for a bit, I decided a sashing was the perfect remedy to unify the mixture of blocks, keeping the flashy yellows at the four corners, while opting for a new twist on a traditional cornerstone -- friendship stars!



This idea was so perfect in keeping with the star theme of this quilt design!



With the added 2.5 sashing and friendship stars, combined with the dozen large star blocks, this pieced together quilt top measures 60" x 80", a wonderful throw size! For picture taking sake alone, I'm perfectly pleased with deciding to modify my original plan for this quilt. I'm sure my husband/quilt holder thanks me, as well!



This September moody morning, with the rising fog was the perfect, dreamy setting for this star filled quilt design! The best Monday morning I've had in a while!

Wishing you all a wonderful start to the week! ♡ Maureen  

A Reverie Quilt Pattern { Tutorial } : :

I'm excited to share with all of you that you can find my newest tutorial on the Janome Blog today for my Reverie Quilt pattern!




This quilt tutorial features prints from my new Nightfall collection and the Playground collection by Amy Sinibaldi for Art Gallery Fabrics. A combination of simple half square triangles and patchwork in these pretty prints reveal a beautiful quilt design, that is fat quarter friendly, and is so fun to make!



Quilt blocks sew up quick to a cute 9.5" unfinished square, a wonderful size for making both small and large quilts!



You can find this new tutorial on the Janome Project Center page right HERE as a PDF for you to download and enjoy!







I really hope you all enjoy this quilt tutorial! As always, be sure to let me know if you give it a go! Feel free to find & tag me on Instagram, be sure to add #NightfallReverieQuilt or you're always welcome to share the things you make using my project ideas and/or fabrics on my Facebook page Maureen Cracknell Handmade!

Happy sewing, friends!  ♡ Maureen

Reverie Quilt Top : :

Reverie: a state of dreamy meditation or fanciful musing; a daydream.

After a busy Summer with very little quilt-making, along with the awaited release of Nightfall, that's exactly what creating this quilt was for me!



One week ago I felt the overwhelming amount of tasks ahead of me as we entered upon the arrival of the new school year for the kids and the return of a regular work schedule for me. But rather than working my way down the ever-growing todo list, I indulged in the making of this quilt. It was exactly what I needed! A little gift to myself, creative, colorful bliss.



I had just designed this pattern, along with a few others,  to consider as one of the free pdf quilt pattern to couple with my next fabric collection due to release this January.  When we chose one of the other options, I swapped out those digital print swatches with Nightfall and several of Amy Sinibald's Playground fabrics, just to see how it might look, and I fell in love with the combination of these dreamy colors and prints!



Making HST's using the method for making eight at a time has become a favorite of mine, you may have noticed! For me, the process of creating using repetitive steps is like a deep meditation practice. With it comes a clearer mind, and more often than not, a release from my problems, worry, & stress, even if for just a little while. A refresh and refocus that feels so good.







I plan to share that goodness in the form of a tutorial for making both these blocks & quilt top, so be sure to keep an eye out!



Finishing all fifty-six blocks and assembling the top took just a couple days sewing time, and by early Saturday evening my husband was helping me take these photos to share!





I should have the instructions finished and ready to share next week.  Until then, I'd love to know if you plan to make one for yourself!

♡ Maureen  

The Nightfall LookBook // Quilty Things : :

The LookBook for my brand new collection with Art Gallery Fabrics, Nightfall, was just released and I hope you'll enjoy taking a peek! Inside you'll find each print of this dreamy collection on display in the form of dozens of inspirational projects from creative bags, to beautiful garments and quilts! Today I want to start by showcasing some of the amazing quilts and pillows featured in the Lookbook to get you inspired for Nightfall quilting!



One of my favorite photos from the Lookbook is found right on the cover -- a whimsical outdoor haven featuring the Nightfall hourglass quilt I made for my quilt market booth with layers of cozy patchwork and Aurifil thread stitched pillows! It's so magical!!



I'm thrilled to finally have this collection on hand for quilt-making! Over the weekend I finished up my very first Nightfall quilt top using my advanced yardage, combined with Amy Sinibald's new Playground collection. I posted a few peeks on my Instagram and plan to share more later this week, I can't wait! I have so many quilt pattern ideas for this collection and each one is so different from the next. This simple quilt of large hourglass blocks is such a great way to showoff the pretty color palette of Nightfall, while the log cabin style Quick Quilt As You Go quilt peeking out underneath is such a great way to highlight my Bird of Night owls, one of the main prints in the collection!



In the Lookbook you will also find TWO free PDF quilt patterns! This Foxfire quilt was designed to frame both the Moon Stories bunny & moon prints and the Bird of Night owls with scrappy patchwork and half square triangles. To me, this pattern really sparkles, which couldn't be more perfect for this night themed collection! You can download the pattern for yourself right, HERE!



This second PDF pattern, Crescent Moon, was designed by the talented AGF Studio girls and features the Moonset colorway of Nightfall. This colorful, moon-filled quilt pattern is such a fun way to use these prints! To download this pattern simply click HERE!



You all know how much I LOVE making pillows, especially ones made using my Quick Quilt As You Go Craftsy class! I made ten pillows for this past Quilt Market with my strike offs and was happy to see some of them included in the Lookbook, along with a log cabin pillow made by my friend Heidi Staples (Fabric Mutt)!





I'm overjoyed that Nightfall is finally here, that it starts shipping to stores this week, and I can't wait to see all the things you're going to create with this new collection! To ensure I don't miss a thing, please remember to use the collection hashtag #NightfallFabrics and to tag me @maureencracknell when you share anything Nightfall on Instagram, or to upload your Nightfall stash and project photos to my Maureen Cracknell Handmade Facebook page!



To celebrate this release, the AGF Blog is having a huge Giveaway for a complete fat quarter bundle!! Be sure to enter by clicking right HERE for a chance to win!



I'll be back soon to share the amazing Nightfall garments & bags that were featured in the LookBook, along with more of my own projects to get you inspired to sew with Nightfall!

Thank you all for your continued support, encouragement, & love!  ♡ Maureen