Amy Butler

A Half Square Triangle Baby Quilt

May 4, 2015 by Jessica 2 Comments

Two weeks ago I really just wanted to sit down and sew. I grabbed the leftover half square triangles from this quilt project and laid them out. It was a little small for a quilt, even a baby quilt, but I was determined to make it work. Especially since I really like to try to use all of my fabrics. No need in it going to waste, right?

After I sewed them all together to create a diamond pattern, I decided to add more fabric to the sides to make it just a bit bigger.

I didn’t want to have to go to the store, so I used this pink cotton gauze fabric for the back. It’s a really soft and a fun texture. I sandwiched a 100% cotton batting into the middle for a little extra warmth.

I used scraps to create the binding as well. I went ahead and tried machine sewing it on again and for the first time it came out just perfect! I really took my time and read a ton of tutorials to see if I could find any more tips and tricks for this. I think having a wider binding really helped me out. Normally I do the typical 2.5″ strips to make a binding, but this time I made it 3.25″. Well, to be honest, it was kind of because the scraps were already that width and I didn’t want to cut them. Neat how things work like that sometimes, huh?

I played around with the stitching because I felt like it needed something more than straight lines. I like the pretty outline it made on the back. I wish I had some matching pink thread to match the back, but remember how I said I didn’t want to go to the store? Yes. So white thread it was. Now I have one baby gift down and many more to go.

-jess

A Half Square Triangle Quilt

March 4, 2015 by Jessica 4 Comments

Another item from my to do pile is all done! I just pulled this half square triangle quilt out of the dryer this afternoon. I tried out a few new techniques to see if I could make creating a quilt a bit easier. I’m all about working smarter and saving time.

After doing a more complicated quilt pattern last time, I decided to stick with a half square triangle quilt. Somewhere on the internet I had found a graphic put together for this pattern. There were no sizes or anything, just a graphic for inspiration. I, yet again, just bought a pile of fat quarters (Amy Butler’s Alechemy) and went for it. I started by cutting out a ton of 5 inch squares from the patterned fabric and white fabric. Then I sewed them all together to make half square triangles (one white to one pattern). Then I laid them down until I recreated the pattern I had seen. I added two extra lines on the sides to make the quilt wider though and ended up with a good stack of leftover half square blocks that I can make into a baby quilt.

I tried out quilt basting spray for the very first time and it helped me immensely with keeping the backing straight while I quilted simple straight lines. I found that I liked only using the spray in a few spots (like the middle and each corner) as opposed to spraying the whole thing. I had a hard time separating the backing from the batting when I sprayed the whole thing, so when I did the top I spotted it and it was much easier to arrange the layers with no wrinkles.

I also did curved corners for the first time because I just struggle with doing the square edges. Sometimes I get the mitered edges to look good, but it’s always a hit or miss. I also like machine sewing the binding because it’s faster and I never can do a good job of that when I do the traditional binding. And guess what? I bought a premade binding to try out as well. I did like this and it saved me time, but I think I will go with the smaller width binding next time. All in all, I’m very happy with the new things I tried and look forward to getting down the way I like to make quilts.

-jess

Star Surround Quilt

January 27, 2015 by Jessica 14 Comments

You guys, I just finished the most time consuming quilt I have ever made! Oh how my respect for quilters who do all the fancy stuff has grown. And this was an easy quilt! Time consuming, but not difficult. I have always wanted to do a quilt along because I figured it would help me get through making a large quilt like this one. I have a tendency to get bored when a project takes too long. Anyone else? So I went searching and found an old quilt along on Happy Quilting (great name for a blog right? I mean it has “happy” in it 😉 haha). It’s called the Star Surround Quilt Along and I fell in love with the design.

I had this big pile of Lark by Amy Butler fat quarters that I wanted to use for this. I did have to add in one solid color to make up for being short one fat quarter, but I was happy to use that big bundle up.

I love the colorful happy outcome of all those colors. It makes me think of bright and sunny Florida which has a special place in my heart after living there for a few years.

The final size is a lap size quilt. Perfect for cuddling on the sofa.

I used some little extra scraps to connect the fabric on the back. I love when I can add little extra details like this. I feel it adds more specialness to a project.

I’m not quite sure when I will do such a pattern again, but I’m sure my love for these style of quilts will convince me to go back and make one for myself next time. I dream of this being loved very much and one day in the future being a very cool vintage quilt adored by others, like me, that appreciate this type of sewing. -Jess