Herringbone Quilt

Posted on June 18, 2015 by Jenn Thurston | 0 comments

A friend of mine is having a baby, her first baby, and it's a little girl!  I'm so, so excited for her.  Of course I knew I had to make her a quilt!  I asked what her nursery colors are going to be (more like demanded to know… ) and she said coral, aqua and yellow.  How perfect is that!  Those are my favorite colors (plus navy and grey)!  What a perfect color palette for a baby's nursery.  

I know she didn't technically say navy and grey, but I just couldn't help myself!  I used a Herringbone pattern, it's a free pattern on Moda's webpage.  The pattern features the Mixed Bag line, which we carry in brushed cottons in our store - and they are heavenly!

Since it was for a baby, I wanted to go for more of a toddler size than the larger size featured on the pattern.  I used a variety of every print my heart desired and cut 2 1/2" strips instead of using a jelly roll.  The backing is a Michael Miller solid called Geranium, it's so soft!

I took it home to photograph since we have a crib, what I didn't anticipate was little man wanting back in his crib during my photography session.  This picture explains my life perfectly; beautiful quilt, rambunctious little boy!  

Here are the quilt stats:
Pattern: Herringbone by StudioM
Size: 44" x 52"
Quilting Design: Lacey Swirl
Fabric: Variety of fabrics from Michael Miller, Moda and Art Gallery.  Quilt Backing Geranium by Michael Miller.

Jenn

Posted in art gallery, baby quilt, herrignbone, moda

Self Binding Baby Blanket

Posted on February 15, 2015 by Jenn Thurston | 0 comments

I recently received a request from a friend to make a baby blanket.  Luckily for me she wanted it out of flannel, usually I would wonder what I could make from this soft, luscious flannel we carry.  Not this time… I knew exactly what I was going to make!  A self binding baby blanket!  

Now before you go running for the hills, hear me out.  It's super simple to make, in fact I have made three of them.  Two for friends and one for a store display, so trust me when I say the first one is always the hardest. 

I used this self binding blanket tutorial, I thought the directions were clear and easy to understand and best of all it has great photos.  Flannel works great, but you could substitute with brushed cotton.  I used Wee Ones by Tim and Beck, but Storybook by Kate and Birdie or Mixed Bag by Studio M would be oh so cute too!  

So go ahead, give it a try!  You won't be sorry!  I mean, really - look at these perfect corners!  So quick and easy!

Jenn

Posted in baby, brushed cotton, flannel, mitered corners, moda, self binding baby blanket, wee ones

Pieces and Comfort Challenge

Posted on January 28, 2015 by Jenn Thurston | 0 comments

Have you heard about the Pieces and Comfort Challenge? This is a challenge to recognize and honor the sacrifices that are made by our country's military families.  By joining this challenge you have a chance to give back to those families by donating your quilts directly to an organization or to a local military family.

Challenge Rules:

WHO: All quilters who would like to create a beautiful quilt to honor a military family in their circle of friends, the community, or the nation.

WHEN: Challenge begins January 1, 2015 thru March 31, 2015

  • Challenge quilts will be displayed at our shop April 6 – 18. (If you’re not local, just send us a picture to jenn@quiltedthimblecottage.com Make sure to include the quilters name, city and contact information).
    • Customers will get to vote for their favorites. Each shop’s Viewers’ Choice winner will receive a prize.
    • A digital image of the Viewers’ Choice winner from each shop will be entered in Moda’sPiece and Comfortonline quilt show.

WHERE: Pick up an entry form at our quilt shop, if you you're not local just send us an e-mail to request the form to jenn@quiltedthimblecottage.com

WHAT: Ninety percent of quilt must be made with Moda fabrics. Fifty percent of the Moda fabrics must come from one or both of the featured collections (Red, White, & Free or Because of the Brave).

  • Quilt(s) must be 54″x65″ or larger.
    • Quilt must be quilted or tied and bound.  No quilt tops will be accepted.
    • Quilt must be labeled with Maker’s and  Quilter’s name, city and contact information.
    • Quilt(s) remain property of maker unless they choose to donate quilt to a military family.
    • No limit to number of entries.

Prize Awards for Moda’s Online Quilt Show:

First Viewers’ Choice – $500
Second Viewers’ Choice – $250
Third Viewers’ Choice – $150
Designer’s Choice – $500

We hope you participate with us!  Here is a really small sneak peek into what we are making!

 

We can't wait to see what you make!

Jenn

 

 

Posted in challenge, moda, patriotic, piece and challenge, red white & brave, red white and brave, sandy gervais

Itsy Bitsy... Pieces

Posted on June 16, 2013 by Jenn Thurston | 0 comments

I'm not known for small piecing, I'm more of an instant gratification type of girl.  But I just couldn't resist busting open one of these Boho candies

Aren't they adorable?  We have a whole assortment of mini charms, more and more lines are coming out with them.  If you haven't had the opportunity to work with them, they sure are fun!  42 squares in a pack (just like a charm pack), but these little guys are only 2.5" x 2.5".  Check out the mini charms we have available, it's hard to choose between them all!

Those little pieced squares are only 2" x 2", maybe not the smallest blocks out there but they sure are cute!  I'm only about half way done...

Make sure to check back to see how this little mystery quilt turns out!  I'm hoping to be done with the top this week if all goes according to plan.

Jenn

Posted in Boho, candies, charm squares, charms, mini charms, moda, urban chiks

Selvage Coasters - A Quick How To

Posted on June 08, 2013 by Jenn Thurston | 0 comments

Ever wonder what to do with your selvages?  I was in desperate need of some coasters, so I thought why not make them a little interesting!

Here's a quick and informal tutorial on how to use your selvages to make coasters.  I began by taking some scrap fabric or muslin and cut them into 5" squares.

Take a ruler, line up the 45 degree line with the corner of the 5" square.  Mark with a pen (I used a Frixon pen, but you could use something permanent since the selvage will be covering up the line).

Grab a handful of those selvages you've been hoarding (come on, no point in denying it....).  I only used 7 or 8 different strips, they stretch surprisingly far!

Place the first selvage aligning the top with the line you just marked.  

Place the next selvage above the first selvage (both selvages facing up), overlapping slightly so that when the top stitch line is sewn both selvages are sewn down.  Stitch close to the edge of the lower portion of the second selvage.

Continue to layer the next selvage in line slightly above the selvage just sewn, stitch close to the edge making sure both selvages are sewn down with that stitch line.

Continue until the whole square is completely covered with selvages.  Here is a picture of the front and back.  That's it, now all you have to do is cut them into the desired size (I used a final size of 4.5" x 4.5"), make a quilt sandwich with backing and batting, quilt as desired and bind! 

Who couldn't use some new coasters?? I know I did!

 

Jenn

 

Posted in happy go lucky, moda, quilting, selvage, selvages, tutorial

Happy Go Luck in the Store

Posted on June 03, 2013 by Jenn Thurston | 0 comments

Check out Bonnie and Camille's newest line Happy Go Lucky.  Every line they come out with I think "this is my favorite one", then they out do themselves on the next line!  This one is exceptionally nice because they added a navy to make a pop of color.  I made a sample quilt for our store using two charm packs and some white fabric.  The quilt pattern can be found in the book Fresh Fabric Treats, very easy and fun to make.  

 

So fun in fact, that I used the few charm squares I had remaining from the quilt to make a pillow.  For the pillow cover I cut the charms into 2.5" squares and used the same wonky star technique.  Like I said really fun to make, I'm sure this is not the last wonky start object you'll see from me!

 

 

The colors in this line are so stunning, yellow, navy and of course red and aqua.

 

 

You really must check it out soon, with a line this delicious it will certainly be gone soon!

 

Jenn

Posted in bonnie and camille, charm packs, charms, happy go lucky, moda, wonky stars

A Swine Evening

Posted on May 25, 2013 by Jenn Thurston | 0 comments

We are excited to announce that we have donated a quilt to be put in A Swine Evening silent auction benefiting A Childs Place organization.  If you're not familiar with what good work A Childs Place does, then hop on over to their website!  They are fully funded by donations and fund raising, providing school lunches, uniforms and organizing volunteers to mentor Mecklenburg County homeless children.  

Did I mention there were over 4,900 homeless kids in Mecklenburg County last year alone?  Truly hard to believe so many kids and parents have no permanent address.  That's why we have also decided this will be our local organization that our Charity quilts will be donated to, I can think of no better place than helping out these local homeless kids!

Here is the quilt we donated for the silent auction.  

 

The fabric is Kaleidoscope by Northcott Studio, featuring a Dresden Plate pattern.

 

 

We used a feather pattern in a white thread color so the quilting flows nicely between the white background and the dresden plates.

 

 

I was told this will be placed with a set of rocking chairs that were donated as well as a celebrity decorated pig!  I would love to see all the donations and can't wait to hear how much money they are able to raise!  What an awesome job! 

 

Jenn

Posted in a childs place, a swine evening, charity, dresden plate, longarm, moda, quilts

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