Kathy's Kwilts and More

Monday, November 30, 2020

Monthly color challenge December 2020

I can't believe it is already December. I had so many plans this year. Oh well. There is always next year. This monthly blog hop is hosted by Jen @ https://patternsbyjen.blogspot.com

This month's color is red. It is inspired by the cardinal.

This block goes together very fast.

Some tips:

One think I did with this block that I wish I had done with the others is starch the fabric. By searching, the fabric is a lot crisper and behaves much better. I usually use best press or the good old Niagra. I cut the amount of fabric I needed and starched that. It cut easier and straighter.

Another thing I did was do as many steps as I could before going back to the cutting board for trimming and before pressing.

Pinning. Don't be afraid to stick a pin in to help hold some of the pieces.

Doing these steps made my blocks look a whole lot nicer.

To get your free block pattern, please visit Jen at https://patternsbyjen.blogspot.com

A very special thank you to our sponsors during this color challenge.

The sponsors this quarter are:

Patterns by Jen 2 different prizes: 1 pdf pattern 1 spool of Superior so fine 50 wt thread,

Island Batik - 3 1/2 yards assorted fabrics. I love their batiks. They are awesome to work with.

Quilters Dream - a 60x60 Dream blend which is 70% cotton 30% poly. The poly gives it a bit of a poof.

For the Love of Geese - pdf pattern

P&B Textiles - fabric Bundle of over 60 fat quarters

Said with Love - pdf pattern

Warm Company - warm and plush batting 45 x 60

Be sure to visit these other bloggers:

https://patternsbyjen.blogspot.com

https://prettypiney.com

https://www.kathleenmcmusing.com

https://www.createwithclaudia.com

https://quiltycreationsbyfawn.blogspot.com

https://joanne-everyonedeservesaquilt.blogspot.com

Now I am off to finish the months that I did not do. Hopefully I will have a finished quilt soon, or maybe 3, as I have been doing with the light background, the white and the black.

Happy Sewing and/or Quilting!!!!!!!

Kathy

Sunday, November 15, 2020

Make a list Monday - 10-16-20

It has been a while since I have made a list, but I find I do much better with one.

I posted on Saturday, on my sewing blog about sewing with a plan, you can read it here. https://sewcutecouturebykathy.blogspot.com/2020/11/swap-sewing-with-plan.html?m=1.

So here are the things I want to work on this week:

1. This quilt I am quilting for a friend. It is king sized and I am doing it on my Juki tl98q. It has been lots of fun.

2. Cut out these pajamas. There are 8 of them for grandkids for Christmas.

3. Cut out doll clothes. 4 granddaughters. 4 dolls. Some are even requesting Barbie clothes.

4. Work on my fabric pull for a mystery quilt with Bonnie at https://quiltville.blogspot.com/?m=1

5. Work on these 2 quilts that I am making. The pattern is Eve by Be a Lee @Https://beaquilter.com

6. Work on this quilt for my bed.

7. Work on this quilt. It has a lot of applique on it.

8. Work on quilting this quilt.

9. Work on this BYU quilt for my hubby.

There are more things I want and need to work on, but I think this is good for now. Maybe even start decorating for Christmas.

Have a great week and I will share progress on Wednesday. So, what are some of your plans for things you are working on? I would love to hear from you.

Saturday, October 31, 2020

Monthly color challenge November 2020

Welcome to November. Time just seems to be flying by.

This month's color challenge is buff. I am hoping that my color worked for this. I have been trying to use my stash as much as I can.

This is what Google says about buff: it is a light brownish yellow color.

This month's color inspiration is the Buff breasted sandpiper.

This bird is a small shorebird. This species is brown above, and has a buff face and underparts in all plumages. It has a short bill and yellow legs. Males are larger than females. Juveniles resemble the adults, but may be paler on the rear underparts.

Now on to the block. This is a very easy block to sew. You can chain piece a lot of the block before you press seams.

A couple of tips: a real Time saver is to chain piece as many pieces as you can.

If they are for different steps, as soon as you start the steps, pin a piece of paper to the 1st one with that step number.

2nd tip - is the 3 P's: press, press and press. The blocks look so much nicer when you press.

This block sews up very fast. To get this pattern visit Jen's blog at Https://patternsbyjen.blogspot.com

This quarters sponsors and prizes are:

Patterns by Jen 2 different prizes: 1 pdf pattern 1 spool of Superior so fine 50 wt thread,

Island Batik - 3 1/2 yards assorted fabrics. I love their batiks. They are awesome to work with.

Quilters Dream - a 60x60 Dream blend which is 70% cotton 30% poly. The poly gives it a bit of a poof.

For the Love of Geese - pdf pattern

P&B Textiles - fabric Bundle of over 60 fat quarters

Said with Love - pdf pattern

Warm Company - warm and plush batting 45 x 60

Be sure to visit these other bloggers:

Https://patternsbyjen.blogspot.com

https://quiltnparty.com

https://prettypiney.com

https://sewjoycreations.com

https://scrapdash.com

Https://joanne-everyonedesevesaquilt.blogspot.com

Dragonflys quilting designs https://view.flodesk.com/emails/5f8a6a20bdb7256076324a2a

https://rainbowsbunniescupcakes.blogspot.com

Monday, October 26, 2020

From the Heart blog hop

Well, we are less than 2 months away from Christmas. It is almost November and time to start thinking about neighbor gifts, office gifts and friend gifts.

Hi and welcome to the 2nd day of from the heart blog hop. This hop is hosted by Carol at https://www.justletmequilt.com/?m=1

I love to make handmade gifts for the people I love. Hot pads seem to always be a welcome gift. I know they are something I use a lot.

Today I want to teach you how to make a basic hot pad. For your hot pads you want to make sure that everything you use is 100% cotton. The reason for this is that cotton burns and polyester melts. Also, make sure your thread is 100% cotton

Materials list
1 - 6 1/2 inch square of fabric for the front
2 - 1 1/2" x 8 1/2" rectangles of a contrasting fabric
2 - 1 1/2" x 6 1/2" rectangles
1 - 10 inch square for the backing
2 - 10 inch squares batting 100% cotton

1 - 10 inch square insulbright

You will take your 6 1/2" square of fabric and your 1 1/2" x 6 1/2" rectangles and on two opposite sides you will sew the rectangles. Use a 1/4" seam allowance. Once you have sewn the two short rectangles on, then press the seams towards the darkest fabric.

You will now take the 1 1/2" x 8 1/2" rectangles and do the same thing. Press towards the dark side of the fabric.

Now you have the beginnings of a hot pad. Good for you.

Now, comes the fun part. Layer and quilting the hot pad. Sometimes I will free motion quilt them, but for this one I decided to just do a simple crosshatch with 2" squares. So, take the top of the hot pad and mark 2" segments across the top and bottom. Unless your fabric is directional it does not matter which side is the top. Then turn the fabric 1/4 turn and mark again. Now layer the top piece with the right side up, 1 square of batting, insulbright (shiny side facing the front, so lay it shiny side down) 1 square batting, then your bottom fabric with the right side down. (You have just made a quilt sandwich, Good for you). Begin quilting at one of your markings and go all the way down. Do on one side first, then 1/4 turn and do the same. You will have some cute little squares on your hot pad.

In this photo you can see that one side has been

done, and now I am doing the other direction

You are almost done with your first hot pad. Good for you. Trim all sides of the hot pad so front and back are even. Should be approximately 8 1/2". Now comes the binding To do the binding, cut 2 strips of your fabric for the binding at 2 1/4" x 8 1/2" and then cut 2 at 2 1/4" x 9 1/2". Take the 2 8 1/2" long pieces and fold in half lengthwise and press. Stitch using a 1/4" seam to opposite sides of the hot pad on the front side.. Now, take the 2 remaining pieces and fold down a 1/4" on each of the short edges and press. Fold in half lengthwise and stitch with a 1/4" seam to the two sides that don't have binding on. Now you can do the next step by hand or machine. It may get a little tough with the machine, so I suggest trying it first, if it is hard, then do this by hand. You are going to fold the binding to the back and stitch it down.

Now, your hot pads should look like this. Yay!!!! great job.

Please check out all the bloggers. They all have some fun gifts you can make.

I would love to see what you make for gifts from the blog hop. Tag me at Kathy's kwilts and more on Instagram. #fromtheheartbloghop.

I love reading your comments. Thank you for visiting and please follow my blog and my other social media.