HCB: Zig Zag Table Runner Tutorial

And here we are. The last Holiday Craft Bash tutorial!

Today, I've got a Zig Zag Table Runner for you. This was almost the tree skirt, but I felt it would be better suited for a table than under the tree.

Directions below are for 1/4" seam, unless otherwise noted.

List of materials:

-1 charm pack (or forty 5 inch squares)
-1/2 yard of coordinating solid
-1 yard of backing fabric
-FQ of binding fabric
-batting
-60 degree triangle template

Directions:

1)Sew charms into pairs.

2)Next, sew the pairs into four-patches. (if you are using a charm pack, remove two squares). You should have ten four-patches.

3)Cut your solid fabric into 8 1/2" strips along WOF.

4)Now, using your triangle template (you can get one here!), cut eleven triangles from your solid fabric.

5) Again, using your template, cut a triangle from each four-patch. Consider rotating your template over the fabric, to get a different arrangement of the fabrics.

6) Alternating solid and scrappy triangles, sew three rows of triangles.

Each row should have seven triangles, and two rows should start/end with a solid piece.

7) Sew these three strips together, with a solid-start strip on either side of the scrappy-start strip. You will have jagged ends!

8) Now, we'll square up our short ends.

9) Cut your backing fabric slightly larger than the front.

10) Baste!

11) Quilt as desired. I chose to quilt the scrappy triangles in a free motion loop and the solid portions in "organic" zig zags.

12) Trim your quilt square. Make your binding.

As usual, I used a 2 1/2" wide binding.

13) Apply your binding.

Finished!

Thanks for checking out the Holiday Craft Bash tutorials, and thanks especially to Meredith, for inviting me to contribute! It was a challenge, but very fun!

And be sure to check out the last tutorials from Jessica, Debbie and Meredith this week! Please make sure you add any finished projects to the flickr group!

Monday

I cannot even believe the response to the happy trees mini! Friday, Sew Mama Sew posted the project in a collection post, and over the weekend, it got tons of views. How exciting!

I had a busy week, although I didn't end up working on all of the items I mentioned last week.
I have the x & + bug.

I now have fifteen blocks! I've been cutting for them as I cut for other projects. They are so fun to make.

I finished the top for that postage stamp pillow I mentioned last week.

On a whim, I cut into my Happy Drawing panel and stitched up these fun little stuffed animals for Mr. Oliver.
I think they will be a fun gift for him!
I intend to stitch up a few extras.

I'm also working on a set of stockings for a custom order. I really love these fabrics together! I'm using my tutorial found here.

In knitting news, I finished a shawl on Saturday, and started a hat!

I haven't blocked the shawl yet, but I hope to do so soon. And the hat is about halfway done already! I love how fast a hat can happen.

I probably won't be back in this space until the weekend.

For those of you in the states, have a very happy thanksgiving! And for the rest of the world, have a wonderful week! <3

HCB: Happy Trees Mini Quilt

Hello, hello. I cannot believe how fast November is flying by! Here we are, nearing the end of our Holiday Craft Bash.

Today, I've got a little mini quilt tutorial for you. This little mini definitely gives me a Bob Ross vibe.

When I was planning my project for this week, I wanted to use some of the scraps generated by my Hexagon Tree Skirt.

List of materials:
fabric scraps, cut into triangle shapes
Fusible interfacing (I use Pellon SF 101)
Batting (approx. FQ size)
Fat quarter of background fabric
fat quarter of backing fabric
1/4" yard of binding fabric
small scraps for tree trunks
Basting spray I use the June Taylor brand, found at Joann) or safety pins

Directions

1) Iron interfacing to wrong side of tree and tree trunk pieces. I laid mine out on a strip and ironed all at once. Just make sure you don't iron directly on the interfacing!

2) Cut out all pieces.

3) Baste your background fabric to your batting.

4) Plan your layout. Make sure you work with at least a 2" border, and lay out the trees in a desirable fashion.
At this point, it's helpful to take a picture of your layout!

5) Pin your first tree (starting with the trunk if applicable) to the background. Using a walking foot (if you have one), topstitch the trunk and tree to the background. You can use decorative stitches if desired.

6) Continuing with the remaining tree pieces, applique your happy trees.

I went out of order with some of my trees, to create a little interest.

7)Once you have appliqued all of your trees, create a ground level with a few lines of quilting. I used brown thread for this, but feel free to use whatever feels right! You could use white for snow, perhaps. But in Texas, the ground is brown in the winter.

8) Now, we need to attach our backing fabric. Baste the back fabric to the other side of the batting.

9) Now, quilt around the trees! You could choose to quilt over them, but I like the effect of quilting around them.
I tried to create some movement with wavy lines. Have fun with this!

10) When you are satisfied with your quilting, trim your mini down to the desired size. My mini is 16" x 19". Make sure you leave at least an inch border, so your trees don't get covered up by the binding!

11) Make binding. I used 2 1/2" binding with a 3/8" seam allowance.

Apply your binding to the front of the quilt using your machine.

12)Apply your binding to the second side. I adore the hand sewing process on the second side, but you can surely apply it by machine if that's your thing!

13)Admire your forest of happy trees!

Please be sure to check out the other tutorials from this week!

Debbie and I were thinking along the same lines. Check out her Christmas Tree Farm mini!

Meredith is sharing her santa canvas (that you might recognize from our graphic!), and Jessica made a Frosty Advent Calendar! As always, if you make something from our tutorials, please add it to the Holiday Craft Bash flickr group!

We're taking a break for the Thanksgiving holiday next week, but I'll have my last installment up the following Thursday!

patchy patchwork

I've been working on a variety of patchwork projects.

A little Shoo-fly, for my month of do/Good Stitches, in blues and grays.

Some super scrappy improv, for a "to be determined" project.

I really love this kind of sewing. Using up little bits and making fun shapes. That's what it's all about.

I finished this pillow in time for my craft show, and it sold. Now, a friend has asked for another similar pillow! So, I'm cutting some 2.5" squares today.

I also decided to make some progress on my long-lingering Single Girl quilt top. I finished the third quarter blocks this weekend.

And finally, I intend to finally sew a second Prairie Braid this week. I've got the scraps cut to size.

Variety is the spice of life, right?

Enabler alert: Pink Castle is having a one-day sale with the code "VETERAN20" for 20% off everything.

Have a wonderful Monday, full of patchwork!

HCB: Embroidered Gift Tags Tutorial

Well, it's week four of the Holiday Craft Bash!

This week's topic was open for interpretation, and I chose to make a pile of embroidered gift tags! Be sure to check out the adorable Charlie Brown ornaments that Jessica made! You can also make a lovely table topper via Debbie and some super cute Christmas tree coasters over at Meredith's blog! As always, please add any projects you make to the flickr group for a chance at the weekly prize!

List of materials:
Linen scraps (I use Essex linen)
Scraps of fabric
Fusible interfacing (scraps are okay!), I use Pellon SF 101
Water-soluble pen
Perle cotton or embroidery thread
Baker's twine, yarn scraps
Directions:

1) Iron interfacing onto linen scraps.

2) Using a water-soluble pen, draw your designs onto the scraps. Make sure your designs stay near the center of the linen, so you don't lose it in the seam allowance.

3) Using your Perle cotton or embroidery thread, stitch up your designs!
4)Now, trim down your linen to a smaller size. Mine are approx. 5" x 3".

Trim your print fabrics to the same size.

5)Using a small piece of baker's twine or yarn, lay the linen and prints right sides together, with the twine inserted between the layers. There should be a loop between the fabrics, with the ends outside.

6) Stitch around all four edges. Make sure you use a shorter stitch length (I used 1.5) when stitching over the baker's twine! Also, leave a small opening to turn out the tag.

7)Flip the right sides out, clip corners and press.

8)Topstitch, and you're done!
Repeat as desired.

These tags will work for year-round gift-giving and can be personalized to your heart's content!