Support Group Quilt Along

Support Group Quilt

I wasn't sure I was going to do this quilt along, I thought the image of tons of bra's was a little odd.  I actually have two cousins who successfully beat breast cancer, so it's not that it didn't touch my heart ...but I just couldn't get past all the bra images.

Then I saw someone say they looked like bikini tops, and I thought oh yeah, cool.  A sweet summer reminder of fun and sunshine, or trips from the past.  

Not long after that, Fat Quarter Shop reached out to me and asked me to take part and share my progress on social media.  Of course, I have enough block of the month, and quilts in progress to keep me going for a year, but I came up with a plan.  Make this quilt out of scraps....and donate it to raise money for breast cancer.  

Now if you want to purchase the kit, it includes the Support Group Quilt Pattern and Stitch fabric by Lori Holt to make a 59.5" x 66.5" quilt top and binding.

Quilt Kit

Alternatively you can just purchase the pattern like I am, and use stash or scraps.

Support Group Quilt PDF Pattern

So keep checking back as I start to make these blocks and show my support for Breast Cancer Awareness.  

ps.  There is also a cross stitch chart if your not into quilting!!  More information HERE!!

Until next time, craft on!!

Tying a Quilt

Have you ever tied a quilt?  I just did my first one....and it was epic!  This is the Unravelled quilt from the June 2021 Sew Sampler Box.  I made it for my daughter-in-law and added an extra row of blocks and an extra border.  So now it was huge!   

While I enjoy machine quilting on my Singer sewing machine, and I am learning so many cool techniques (Ruler Quilting, Free Motion, Walking Foot) this quilt was now bigger than I wanted to handle on my domestic sewing machine.  So it sat for a few weeks, while I decided what to do with it.  Then someone suggested I tie it. Wait what??  

"Tying, or tufting, is a quick alternative to hand or machine-quilting. Tied quilts have a puffier look than those that are quilted.  A tie is a stitch taken through all three layers of the quilt sandwich and knotted on the quilt top surface or, occasionally, on the back of the quilt."  American Pachtwork & Quilting, Nov 2017

So first I laid out my backing fabric, then batting and finally the pieced top using safety pins to secure them together.  I used some cotton yarn and a larged eyed needle, and did large ....really large, running stitching across the quilt top, through all the layers...almost like a huge loop.

Then I snipped each loop with my scissors, and tied a knot.  Keeping them spaced out as evenly as possible.

After each knot was tied, I used Fray Check to secure the knots.

It took me two afternoons to finish tying the quilt while sitting at my dining room table, watching the telly.  Think I am all caught up on Virgin River now....oh wait, season 4 just dropped.  Then it was time to trim, and bind.

I don't know about you but I love making and sewing on binding.  For me it really marks the finish, it's kind of like backstitching a cross stitch picture, just makes it POP.  And yes,  I do hand stitch it on the back.

I enjoyed tying this quilt so much, I think one I had earmarked to go to a long armer, will now be hand tyed by me.  It makes the quilt just so soft and puffy and you can really see the beautiful fabric shine through.  

Don't forget to check out tomorrow's Tobyknits Quilty Fun video, and see this quilt up close, including how I added a label.

Until next time, craft on!!

Piazza Puzzle Mystery Quilt

 What is a Puzzle Mystery Quilt?

Okay, so you have heard me talking about PMQ's or Puzzle Mystery Quilts before on my Youtube channel.  But do you really know what it is?  How it works? Why you need to sew one??

The Puzzle Mystery Quilt from Cotton Cuts, is a 10 month block of the month program.  With a twist!

It is pre-cut for you!!  Yes...no incorrect cuts, no waste, no left over fabric to figure out what to do with.

Valle 

Cotton Cuts latest PMQ is called Piazza and the first clue ships out on July 29th, but there is still time to get one of your favourite colourways.  I am doing a Valle small.  Click this LINK to go to the Cotton Cuts website to select your colourway and size.  You have two size options, a small 48" x 60" or a large 72" x 72".  

All the pretty colourways

Months 1-9 you will be sent a small packet in the mail with that months clue instructions and pre-cut fabric puzzle pieces.  Month 10 you receive border fabrics and the final clue of how to put the quilt together.

Let me tell you, my first Cotton Cuts PMQ was Olympia which I started August 7, 2021.  As a new quilter, the idea of pre-cut pieces really appealed to me.  I also love a good mystery, so the idea of putting something together each month, and trying to figure out how it all fit together was exciting for me.  The really interesting thing was, each month when I had assembled the clue...it still did not look like a standard quilt block.  All odd sizes and style blocks.  

Clue 1 of Olympia PMQ

It was not until Clue 10, when we started putting it all together that everything made sense.  

Centre block of Olympia

And then the final beautiful quilt.   I still need to finish the backing, and quilt this....but I made this for my Dad as the colourway name was Dorothy, which was my Mum's name.  I hope it will give my Dad some comfort being wrapped up in Dorothy again.  What do you think?

Finished Olympia Small Quilt

It looks like a stained glass window doesn't it??   The colours just flow together beautifully.  Here is a better shot, with no light behind.

Finished Olympia Small in Dorothy Colourway

It really is the most fun Block of the Month and definately beginning friendly.  If you do sign up, and why wouldn't you at this stage??  Remember to use my code ANNEPIAZZA to receive a FREE gift from Cotton Cuts in your first clue.  ALSO....I will be sewing my clue's EACH month on my Tobyknits Youtube Channel, so make sure to tune into watch if you need some help....or just want to sew along together.

Until next time, craft on!!