Great Paper Piecing Project 3 -- Pinwheel Square

Now that the process is becoming more familiar, it's time to get a bit more complicated with our designs.  More pieces on this one but lot's more interest as well.  Just keep following those basic instructions and this will go together for you without a problem.  Go to www.crazyladyquiltdesigns.com to download the project. Check out some of the other patterns and projects that are available while you're there.  They're all free!

Double Pinwheel Whirls Block -- Project 2 in the Great Paper Piecing Project

This fun block is the next step in my Great Paper Piecing project.  It's a fun block that is still very simple but the added dimension gives a bit more flair than the Pinwheel Block.  The cut sizes for the patches are included in case you want to pre-cut instead of using the scrap method.  I personally don't usually pre-cut my patches unless I'm making more than one of the same block but some people prefer the more precise cutting method.

 

Go to www.crazyladyquiltdesigns.com to get the free pattern and instructions!

Great Paper Piecing Project RESTARTED!!!

Last year I had ambitions of creating an ongoing paper piecing project where I share some of my favorite paper-pieced blocks with other quilters.  Those ambitions were overshadowed by life in general but now I'm ready to start anew.

Go to my website www.crazyladyquiltdesigns.com and you'll see the image above there as well.  Clicking on the image will take you to a free pattern and some pretty darn good directions on basic paper-piecing technique (if I do say so myself!).  I include LOTS of pictures and step-by-step instructions to get you started on your own paper-piecing project.

Going forward, I'll be sharing more of my favorite blocks.  We'll start out pretty simple and who knows exactly where my project will take us?  I plan to progress to more complex and detailed blocks and maybe by the end of my project, I'll be ready to design a whole paper-pieced quilt to share with everyone.  So get clicking and find your way to my website.  Come back here and share your input and progress with your own project.

Valentines Day is right around the corner...

Since I've just about run out of snowman inspiration, I decided to try my hand at a little valentine block.  My granddaughter, Izzy, is a monkey fanatic so I think I am going to put this applique on a t-shirt for her.  The  free pattern is available at www.crazyladyquiltdesigns.com.  The pattern is based on a "little quilt" (12" x 12" finished size) but you can always use a xerox to resize your templates to whatever size you want.  If you would like me to email templates of a specific size to you, please email me at georgia@crazyladyquiltdesigns.com.  I can resize the pattern for you in my EQ7 software and email a pdf of the proper size templates directly to you.  I hope you enjoy my little Monkey Love design.

Snow Couple Leads to Snow Child...

This proud papa snowman is pulling his son on a sled.  Of course, with the weather warming up in Minnesota, this could be the shortest sled ride in snowman history!

Another Snowman pattern... Getting romantic this time~

This cute little snowcouple are taking a stroll on a cold winter's day.  Arm in arm and smiling away... can't you just feel the snowflakes in their little hearts melting for each other.  Download the pattern at www.crazyladyquiltdesigns.com

Snow = Snowman + Sled

After the snow has been around a few days, you always see kids out on their sleds.  This little snowman is gonna have some fun too!  Go to www.crazyladyquiltdesigns.com to download the pattern!

Sha-Zam!!! The Pillow Sham!

The Create-a-Bed by Christmas is progressing well despite an awful round of flu and an unexpected but delightful weekend trip with some of my grandchildren.  I'm making two of these and I have one quilt completed -- well, I'm sewing on the binding... the second is ready for quilting.  Since I'm quilting using a simple allover design, that takes almost no time. 

I decided to take a binding break today and get ready to make the pillow shams.  As I wrote the pattern, I decided that these are gonna be "easier-than-pillowcase" shams.  There's really nothing to it!  Check it out at http://www.crazyladyquiltdesigns.com/createabed/

Can't wait to post pictures of these quilts on my beautiful granddaughters beds!

Create-a-Bed SewAlong moving right along!

Bed Skirts are on their way.  Gotta love Amazon.com.  I have moments though when I think I really should make them even though the cost to make them will be about triple (or more) than to make them.  It must be something about actually writing a pattern and then not getting to use it.  Oh well -- no time for regrets now.  I have quilts to get mede!

I have finished the pattern for my Twin Size Fat Quarter Quick Quilt.  It is made with 30 very simple blocks.  You will get two blocks from each fat quarter so gather 15 quarters and a little yardage for your borders and let's get started.  Here is the link to get to the pattern -- http://www.crazyladyquiltdesigns.com/createabed/
I think I can get the center of one quilt finished this afternoon.  Since I am making two, I plan to do all of my cutting at the same time so the second quilt will be a breeze.

The cutting and sewing are fast and simple.  The totally random placement of fabrics and blocks makes this a quilt top a no-brainer.

Join me and SewAlong!

Bed Skirts Comin' Up in the Create-a-Bed Sew Along

December 3rd and I have the pattern all worked out for the Bed Skirt. I called my daughter to see if she wanted them to be pink or white and she tells me that she really thinks I should save some money and buy them. You can buy a twin size bed skirt for about $13 at Amazon. Well -- I can't justify spending the money on fabric when the finished product is so reasonably priced! So, I ordered the bed skirts and I'm getting ready to move on to the quilts. Don't panic though... I'm still including the Bed Skirt pattern for those of you who want to make one.  Go to http://www.crazyladyquiltdesigns.com/createabed/ to find it.

I've chosen the fabrics for the quilts and shams.  I have a good supply of Beach House by Robyn Pandolph in my stash.  This is a soft, feminine fabric line without going completely pastel.  I think the quilts can be used for years and years with this fabric because it's not juvenile.  Now -- to decide on a quick, easy pattern that will let me get these quilts done in flash!

Create-a-Bed Commences!

The instructions for the Bed Skirt will be posted soon.  I have already shared a tutorial for French Seams which I will be using on my bed skirt just to give it that professional polish.  As I am working through the pattern though, I have encountered another technique that we, as quilters, do not use very often -- gathering.

This is a technique that is used often in garment sewing and I remember the headaches that I used to encounter.  The traditional method of gathering involved two stitched lines of basting that were pulled to gather fabric along the seams.  I can't tell you how many times I had those flimsy basting seams break on me and I had to start all over with the gathering. 

I now use a technique that is easier and much less frustrating.  It involves crochet thread but you can use just about any cording or string.  Here is a super tutorial that illustrates this technique -- www.crazyladyquiltdesigns.com/createabed/valuableinfo/

You can use your favorite gathering technique when gathering your bed skirt, but this cord method is what I will be using!

Week 5 Tassel Hat Snowman Block has arrived early!

Well, I've had a busy day.  Spent the day at work... yay!... at the quilt shop and had a wonderful day.  This Is Sew Broadway in Crookston is having their holiday open house this weekend.  Business was steady and even busy at times today which is always a good thing. 

It's going to be a busy weekend.  I don't have to work tomorrow but I'm going to the third session of my Bali Wedding Star class.  My homework is done and I'm excited to make more progress on this particular quilt.  This is the first quilt I've ever made from the very beginning to be MY quilt. 

Then I do work again on Sunday.  Hopefully it will be another busy day.  Since I'm going to be so busy this weekend, I decided to post the next snowman  block today.  Go to www.crazyladyquiltdesigns.com and download this cute little guy.

Bundled Up Snowman... Week 4 of Free Block of the Week

Since I will be spending some quality time with my DH tomorrow, I decided to get this week's snowman posted a bit early.  He's quite simple and will work up in no time at all! 

I did receive my fabrics from Connecting Threads a couple of weeks ago.  I spent the appropriate amount of time admiring my thrifty purchase and promptly placed the fabrics on my gotta-get-to-it-soon stack in my sewing room.  I have also prewashed my white batting and it sits there with my fabric.  Thus far, my Let It Snow-Man! quilt is completely virtual -- thanks to Electric Quilt 7.  I will get it done -- soon but I have been so busy with finishing up projects and working on my Bali Wedding Star.  My next class for this Judy Neimeyer quilt is November 5th and I refuse to show up without all of my homework done!

If you have finished any blocks, please send me a picture at georgia@crazyladyquiltdesigns.com or post on my facebook page.  I'd love to see them and post them in my gallery.

Speaking of my gallery, please go to www.crazyladyquiltdesigns.com/gallery/ and check out my most recent finished project.  Download this week's snowman while you're there!

Patriot Dreams Tablerunner

I'm not usually a tablerunner person but I have a friend who loves them.  I completed this one using a panel from the Patriot Dreams fabric line by Henry Glass.  To be quite honest, I wasn't at all impressed with the panel itself.  It looked too much like -- well, a printed fabric panel.  I decided to sew blue rick rack over the "seams" between the blocks.  Now I actually like the darn thing.  When I started this little project -- which took me just over 3 hours to complete including quilting and binding! -- I was thinking of a gift for my tablerunner friend.  Now, I'm thinking I may just keep it!

Here are some pics of some of  the "blocks"

 

 



This simple project consists of the printed panel, batting and backing.  I sandwiched the layers and did some quick meandering on my home machine.  Then I laid the blue rick rack over the "seams" on the panel and stitched it down with matching thread.  I put the binding on and voila! I have a nice tablerunner that measures 22" x 40". 

You can get the panel at This Is Sew Broadway in Crookston, MN for a mere $7.13.  They also have some of the coordinating fabrics if you want to use them for backing and binding.  If you call them at 218-470-0070 they will even mail it out to you!

Back by popular demand...

 
As many of you know, I recently started working parttime at This Is Sew Broadway -- my favorite LQS in Crookston, MN.  This is definitely the job for me.  Yesterday I was actually PAID to sit in front of the most awesome Janome 11000 and make a Classy Bag (pictured above) as a sample.  Yep -- happy is the quilter who can get a paycheck to test drive the newest Cadillac of sewing machines!

Anyway -- as a result, the quilt shop needs my pattern for the bag and the owner also mentioned that she would like the Armchair Buddy patterns as well.  Both of these patterns were released last year but I'm reposting them today.

Both are fast, easy and fun to make.  They would also make great gifts for the upcoming holidays.  Check them out at the Free Patterns link at my website.  www.crazyladyquiltdesigns.com