Archives for June 2014

06-25-2014

Crackerjack Quilt and Giveaway!

Crackerjack_Quilt

Crackerjack

Pattern by Swirly Girls Design

This Crackerjack quilt was such a fun and quick quilt to make! It is one of the Swirly Girls Design-Dashing Bobbin Series patterns.

These are made to be quick piece patterns and they don’t break the bank! Best part…..it only takes 10 Fat Quarters and some background fabric….love that.

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I am so in love with this black pin dot I used for the background! I could use an entire bolt of this…..the only place I could find it was at a big box store**gasp**, so I am not sure what the name of it was.

The blocks are made from Daydream in Jewel by Swirly Girls Design for Michael Miller Fabrics.

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I quilted this in an all over meander or stipple design using a 50wt. Aurifil 100%cotton in white. This actually blended a little too well! I could barely see where I had quilted ….BONUS>>> you can’t see if I made any mistakes, Lol:)

Here is the back…

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I decided to use a different color within the blocks. I went with a teal 50wt. Aurifil 100% cotton. I thought the white was just too stark inside the block.

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You can see the teal did not have too much contrast on the back so I was happy with it. It can get tricky finding threads that blend on both sides. I’m just now noticing the random thread on the loose…we all have those:)

Wondered how it would look if I did the whole quilt in this color???

crackerjack_quilt_label

I used my handy personal quilt labels that you can have made HERE. These are awesome and cheap!

Don’t ask me why I decided to use the teal thread on the binding, you always want to draw attention to your binding……right! Not.

I used THIS machine binding tutorial.

crackerjack_quilt5

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

Because you guys are so awesome….I have an awesome GIVEAWAY for you today!

Fort Worth Fabric Studio has created a lovely bundle for this quilt…

and Swirly Girls Design is throwing in a FREE pattern!

Crackerjack_bundle

You can purchase this bundle HERE if you just can’t wait!

You can also get the pattern HERE over at FWFS.

If you buy this pattern now and win the giveaway, I can swap out a different one!

To enter the GIVEAWAY:

Leave a comment below telling me how you follow The Sassy Quilter, so that’s up to six chances! Do as many or as few as you like.

(giveaway open thru July 2nd and open internationally)

Thanks you guys for all your support and good luck!

Keep it Sassy♥

You can find and follow TheSassyQuilter on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin’, Instagram, Twitter or by email updates(form on right sidebar)!

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Filed Under: Finished Quilts Tagged With: crackerjack quilt, Daydream, quilt, quilting, swirly girls design

06-19-2014

Sewing Machine Mat Winner!

Congratulations to our Sewing Machine Mat Winners from my stop on the Riley Blake Designs Quilted Cotton Blog Tour!

2609o has won the oh so cute Chevron and Polka Dot Mat!

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Tonia Conner has won the fun and funky Skull and Bow Mat! You can visit her at her blog AllThingzSewn.

Sewing Machine Mat Tutorial

If you missed it HERE is the tutorial to make your own using Riley Blake Designs Quilted Cotton Fabric….super easy!

Don’t forget to check out the other fun stops on this blog tour! There are some real cute projects to see.

6/5 – Jedi Craft Girl

6/10 – Nancy Zieman

6/12 – The Sassy Quilter

6/17 – Just Let Me Quilt

6/19 – Simple Simon & Co.

6/24 – Haberdashery Fun

6/26 – Sew We Quilt

7/1 – Jina Barney Designz

7/3 – Leigh Laurel Studios

7/8 – Riley Blake Designs

Keep it Sassy♥

You can find and follow TheSassyQuilter on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin’, Instagram, Twitter or by email updates(form on right sidebar)!

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Filed Under: Riley Blake Blog Tour, Uncategorized Tagged With: quilts, riley blake quilted cotton blog tour, sewing machine mat, sewing machine mat tutorial, tutorials, winners

06-16-2014

My Favorite Quilt- Double Wedding Ring!

Double Wedding Ring Quilt

What is my favorite quilt????

Double Wedding Ring

I decided to go back into my quilt vault for this one and it is one of my favorites for so many reasons!

First and foremost it was my grandmothers favorite quilt to make; her signature quilt! She was the original “Sassy”… because that was her nickname. She taught me everything I know and this was like the second or third quilt I made, ever! She assured me it was easy and wouldn’t be too hard…..by the time I was done I swore off curved piecing forever. I no longer hold anything against curves, but haven’t forgotten, as a beginner, how crazy I thought she was telling me I could make this quilt! Guess what??? I did and I learned a lot! Each piece was drawn with a template and cut out with scissors and then it was hand quilted and hand bound. It is by no means perfect and I can definitely see how my style has changed since, but it is my favorite and I am so glad I got to make this quilt with my Sassy grandma before she left us.

When did I make it? What pattern? What fabrics?

8 years ago from a pattern from Lap Quilting by Georgia Bonesteel, a quilting book that was my grandmothers. I still have that book. I used fabrics from my grandmothers stash and yes….a big box store…gasp!

Have I shown this quilt anywhere or entered it in contests?

No.

What memories or people does this quilt remind me of?

Sassy! of course. I remember sitting at her coffee table using her old Kenmore sewing machine while she sat in her recliner hand quilting her latest quilt. She would readily help me work out my sewing machine disasters and assure me that a little pucker here and there were fine and to just keep going!

wedding_ring_backing

What do I like best about the quilt?

Hmmm, I would say the memories and that it actually looks like rings and it pretty flat! I was severely doubtful along the way:)

How did I grow as a quilter while making it?

Oh, I learned soooo much about accuracy and how important the cutting process is, curved piecing, improved my hand quilting skills, scalloped binding and how NOT to finish binding by hand! Those whip stitches look crazy on the back, lol! I did a reverse whip stitch and basically showed all the thread instead of hiding it. Good thing the thread color matches!

wedding_ring_binding

If I could make this quilt again, what would I do differently?

I love every crazy stitch on this quilt! But, I would like to make another in a completely different style. Unlike my grandmother…I don’t think it will be my signature quilt, but I do think it has a lot of wow factor and is totally worth the trouble.

Where is the quilt now?

It is actually the only quilt I have made myself that I actually use! It is in my living room as a throw for the couch.

So…..

Don’t be afraid to be Sassy and try a quilt you think is out of your skill set! You might just learn all kinds of things and make a memory that lasts forever. Maybe even a Double Wedding Ring Quilt!

This post is being shared as a part of My Favorite Quilt @ SewMamaSew. Check out the link and see everyone’s favorite quilt or share your own!

Don’t forget a few other fun things that are going on:

Fat Quarter Shop Anniversary Sale!

20% off purchase coupon code @ Gotcha Covered Quilting: SASSY

My Sewing Machine Mat Tutorial and GIVEAWAY!!!

Keep it Sassy♥

You can find and follow TheSassyQuilter on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin’, Instagram, Twitter or by email updates(form on right sidebar)!

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Filed Under: Finished Quilts Tagged With: double wedding ring, hand quilting, my favorite quilt, quilting, quilts, sew mama sew

06-12-2014

Sewing Machine Mat Tutorial

Today is my stop on Riley Blake Designs Quilted Cotton Blog Tour!

I have a quick and easy sewing project using their new

Double-Sided Quilted Cottons….which are just too fun!

Sewing Machine Mat Tutorial

I absolutely love my sewing machine mat and can’t imagine working without it! Mine was a handmade gift from my sister and really changed my sewing experience. Having all your tools right at your finger tips is great. No more knocking them off the table and trying to find where they landed:) I like my sewing table low and my knees just slide right under the pockets and I don’t even know they are there. Not to mention it adds some flare to your sewing studio!

Sewing Machine Mat Tutorial

Supplies

22″ x 24″ piece of RBD Double Sided Quilted Cotton- Medium Chevron/Dot in Aqua.

1 Fat Quarter of a coordination print/solid for Binding- Honeycomb Dot, Tone on Tone in Red.

sewing_machine_mat_binding

Directions

Cut your Fat Quarter lengthwise into six 2.5″ strips, then join on the diagonal to create one long strip of binding. HERE is a machine binding tutorial to help if you need it!

Using the binding you just made, bind the edges of your 22″ x 24″ piece of double-sided quilted cotton just like it was an entire quilt. HERE is a tutorial for binding a quilt.

Sewing Machine Mat Tutorial

Fold up the bottom edge of your mat approximately 5″(this doesn’t have to be really specific). Secure ends with pins to hold in place. Decide for yourself how you want your double sided prints to show. One side will be the top and the reverse will be the pockets.

Sewing Machine Mat Tutorial

Using a removable marking pen, mark lines where you want your pockets and how far apart you want them. You can adjust this to hold your special tools. I used a disappearing ink pen, but a water soluble or chalk marking tool are other good choices.

Sewing Machine Mat Tutorial

I like a few bigger pockets for my machine quilting gloves with three smaller slots for a pen, seam ripper or a specialty tool. You can’t go wrong here!

Sewing Machine Mat Tutorial

Using a matching thread, stitch along the outer edge just inside the binding. Start just below the binding at the opening of the pocket and end at the fold where the bottom of the pocket will be. This will close the sides.

Sewing Machine Mat Tutorial

Now finish stitching all of the lines you marked to create your pockets.

Voila! That’s it…simple right?

For the more edgy quilter….I ventured out and made a sewing machine mat with skulls! Yes, I said skulls:) I know they don’t float everyone’s boat, but I thought it would be fun. I even added a little bow to give it some extra sassy-ness! The binding and bow are a Riley Blake Designs solid FQ in Hot Pink.

sewing_machine_mat_skulls

Don’t like skulls or chevrons>>>> click HERE to see all the fun prints they have to offer.

***I am going to giveaway both of these sewing machine mats!***

So if you are interested and want to enter, just leave a comment telling me which one you want…chevron or skulls.

Giveaway is open through the 18th. Open internationally.

In case you missed it, I also have a coupon code good for 20% off your purchase at Gotcha Covered Quilting!

COUPON CODE:

SASSY

Here is the schedule so you can follow along with all the quilty goodness:)

6/5 – Jedi Craft Girl

6/10 – Nancy Zieman

6/12 – The Sassy Quilter

6/17 – Just Let Me Quilt

6/19 – Simple Simon & Co.

6/24 – Haberdashery Fun

6/26 – Sew We Quilt

7/1 – Jina Barney Designz

7/3 – Leigh Laurel Studios

7/8 – Riley Blake Designs

Keep it Sassy♥

You can find and follow TheSassyQuilter on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin’, Instagram, Twitter or by email updates(form on right sidebar)!

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Filed Under: Riley Blake Blog Tour, Tutorials Tagged With: binding, double sided quilted cotton, quilting, Riley Blake Designs. riley blake designs quilted cotton blog tour, sewing machine mat tutorial, tutorial

06-09-2014

Gotcha Covered Quilting

Have you visited Carrie over at Gotcha Covered Quilting yet??? She is definitely sassy and has an extra sassy deal for us….. a 20% off Coupon Code!

Carrie lives in California and has a passion for fabric. Good quality modern quilt fabrics from Fat Quarters, to pre-cuts, to FQ bundles, to yardage is what you will find in her Etsy shop. It is her goal to provide you with excellent customer service, quality products, and quick shipping. Carrie also has custom quilting services available! Having quilted for 15 years, she knows her stuff. I have been ordering from her for a while now and am always happy with her service and quick delivery. She has great sales too and you know we love a sassy deal!

I don’t know about you but, I have been dying to try some of these new American Made Brand solids. I love the fact that they are “entirely sourced and manufactured in the United States”. Carrie has 19 of the 50 available colors to choose from and is adding all the time. I recently ordered a couple yards in aqua and navy so I could check them out. I just had to have some Dottie too! The one on the bottom is actually a pale aqua. I couldn’t get the color to show just right, but you get the picture.

gotcha_dottieamb

Here are just a few other fabulous things you can find at her shop:

organics

minky

bella solids

amb solids

dottie

daydream

april showers

solstice

be jolly

She also has a fun “Create your own Bundle” option where you get to pick 5 Bella solids and then choose your cut!

You can find Gotcha Covered Quilting in their Etsy shop or on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest or at Carrie’s BLOG.

So head on over to Gotcha Covered Quilting and see what you like!

20% off COUPON CODE:

SASSY

Thanks Carrie!

Keep it Sassy♥

You can find and follow TheSassyQuilter on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin’, Instagram, Twitter or by email updates(form on right sidebar)!

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: amb solids, coupon code, dottie, gotcha covered quilting, quilting

06-08-2014

People, Places and Quilts!

Molli Sparkles

I am sharing my Sunday Stash from the road today……My baby bro graduated from Navy Power School in Charleston, SC so not a lot of sewing happening. Now you know I had to find something quilty! So we tracked down a local quilt shop called People, Places & Quilts. Better Homes and Gardens selected it as one of North Americas top ten quilt shops! And I see why:) They had the friendliest staff and the atmosphere was so charming. The fabric selection was amazing and really had something for everyone….I especially love the sale wagon where I scooped up some awesome deals!

Want to take a peak….

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The shop is in a historic building that was once a hardware store so from the flooring to the french doors it is fun just to walk around taking it all in.

Don’t you just love that chair!

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Lots of the antique furnishings are put to use….cute, cute, cute!

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Loved this area where the books were….

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They had fun scrap bins on the table you could pick through, .50 for the 10″ squares….I thought that was a deal and could get you some fun prints. They also 6″ and 7″ squares.

So many rooms full of fabric to explore and I can’t show you all of them, but if you are ever in South Carolina it is worth the trip!

What did I get for my stash???

ppq_fatquarters

Some cute Fat Quarters all from the sale wagon! Love<3

ppq_backings

These were some larger pieces on the sale wagon that are perfect for backings! I love those typewriter keys and the blue flowers remind me of a vintage sheet.

Here is some more info on People,Places & Quilts:

people_places_quilts

People Places & Quilts is located in an old hardware store at
129 W. Richardson Ave. • Summerville, SC 29483.

Keep it Sassy♥

You can find and follow TheSassyQuilter on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin’, Instagram, Twitter or by email updates(form on right sidebar)!

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Filed Under: Sunday Stash Tagged With: quilting, quilts, sunday stash

06-05-2014

Riley Blake Quilted Cottons Blog Tour!

Today is the official start of Riley Blake Designs Quilted Cotton Blog Tour and I am so excited to get to participate in this one!

This blog tour is featuring Riley Blake’s Double Sided Quilted Cottons. Each stop on the tour will show you a fabulous project you can make with these super fun double sided prints.

Take a look at a few….

Riley Blake Double Sided Quilted Mustache White

Riley Blake Double Sided Quilted Medium Chevron Red

Riley Blake Double Sided Quilted Glasses Off White

Totally adorable!

Here is the schedule so you can follow along with all the quilty goodness:)

6/5 – Jedi Craft Girl

6/10 – Nancy Zieman

6/12 – The Sassy Quilter

6/17 – Just Let Me Quilt

6/19 – Simple Simon & Co.

6/24 – Haberdashery Fun

6/26 – Sew We Quilt

7/1 – Jina Barney Designz

7/3 – Leigh Laurel Studios

7/8 – Riley Blake Designs

Make sure you visit on June 12th for my stop because I have a quick and easy project you are going to love!

Keep it Sassy♥

You can find and follow TheSassyQuilter on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin’, Instagram, Twitter or by email updates(form on right sidebar)!

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Filed Under: Riley Blake Blog Tour Tagged With: double sided quilted cottons, Riley Blake, riley blake designs, riley blake quilted cottons blog tour

06-03-2014

Quilting tips- Setting Seams

sassy_tip

What does “setting my seams” mean?

This term refers to pressing the seams of your patchwork after you sew two pieces together. You “set the seams” before you press open your patchwork .

setting_seams1

Take a look at this HST….I have sewn my two pieces together and I now need to press open my patchwork.

(The angled corners are where I trim off my dog ears before hand.)

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Take your iron and gently press over the 1/4″ seam area only, no steam needed! This is going to press the seam flat and also imbed the thread into the fibers of your fabric.

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Why do we bother setting seams?

Well, now when you press open your patchwork there will be less distortion and your work will be just a little more precise:)

I don’t know about you, but if I don’t do this my seam line gets just a little wonky and when my block has a lot of piecing all that wonkiness really adds up!

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What a cute little HST!

What if you don’t wanna set your seams??? Good news is this is just one of those quilty things you just have to try and see if you like it or not….and if you don’t….dump that technique and keep moving:) At least now you will know what it means when you hear the term though.

Keep it Sassy♥

You can find and follow TheSassyQuilter on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin’, Instagram, Twitter or by email updates(form on right sidebar)!

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Filed Under: Quilting Tips Tagged With: quilting, quilting tips, sassy tip, setting seams

06-01-2014

Triangle QAL- Last Chance Link Up!

Okay guys! I have a little something special for those who participated in the Triangle QAL, but were late to the party and missed the deadline:) It was my first quilt along and I know I didn’t give everyone(including myself!) a whole lot of time to get the entire quilt done, but no worries!

I am doing a Last Chance Link Up!

sunny_triangle_quilt2

Starting today there will be a link up open on this blog post for everyone that didn’t make the earlier deadline to come and share their finished quilt. Entering the Last Chance Link Up will give you a chance at another prize win!!! The Link Up will remain open until July 31st and the Last Chance winner will be announced August 1st. The winner will be drawn randomly so no pressure to be perfect, just get it done and have fun.

That means you have two more months to get those quilts finished and bound. I hope this is just the extra little inspiration and push you need to not give up and get those sassy triangles done:) What is the prize…..well, that’s a secret! I might share when we get closer so keep plugging away just in case its a brand new car or something….~~probably~~ definitely not;) But it will be something really cool, I swear!

triangles_folded

What you need to know:

Your quilt must be a finished quilt.

You must link up your finished quilt to where ever you like to share your quilts. A pic in the Flickr group, Facebook, Instagram, a blog post or you can email me and I will help you out.

Click on the blue button below that says “Add your link” and enter the web address where the photo of your quilt is being shared into the first box. Then add your name and email info in the corresponding boxes.

You must link up your finished quilt by July 31st at midnight/EST.

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Please contact me if you have any questions at all! No bother I promise:) and I would love if you left me a comment letting me know how you are doing with finishing up your quilt.

Keep it Sassy♥

You can find and follow TheSassyQuilter on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin’, Instagram, Twitter or by email updates(form on right sidebar)!