Aqua and Tangerine Stars Quilt

Do you remember this was supposed to be the back for this top? When I posted them and said that I think I love the back more than the top some of you agreed with me. Monica said that I should just make 2 quilts instead. I thought that was a brilliant idea and so that is what I did...

or should say I am going to do. I have this one made and I really, really love it.

I quilted a couple words on one of the bottom corners of the quilt. Always Dream. So I never forget. And my kids never forget. And so anyone who sits under or on top of this quilt never forgets. Because, honestly, I forgot!

*ETA if you love this color combo too, there's a flickr group for that.... The Sweet { Aqua } Tangerine.

Fabricworm Fat Quarter Bundle Giveaway!

Today I am super excited to have the opportunity to offer you an incredible fat quarter bundle from Fabricworm.

  Fabricworm has generously offered a beautiful bundle from their very own fabric line for Birch Fabrics called Circa 52!

 I think this line is awesome.

I love retro and whimsical and these prints fit that perfectly.

If the prints themselves weren't enough to make you love this line, the fact that Birch Fabrics  fabric is 100% organic should! I love that. Treated with love not pesticide, isn't that great?! I really love the colors of these prints too. Birch Fabrics also has other fabulous lines. 

So along with creating this wonderful fabric, Fabricworm has a wonderful fabric shop! They offer many kinds of bundles which we all love.

  I have my eye on the Echo Park bundle.

 I have such a fondness for Japanese prints which Fabricworm has, and great ones at that! In fact I could barely get this written for taking so long looking at all of those! Heather Ross, Kei honeycomb dots (I want all of them) Kokka, Echino, Daiwabo, Lecien! I am in love.

Their customer service is incredible too! Cynthia is so totally sweet and has been such a pleasure to interact with. I wish her many great things with Fabricworm and Birch Fabrics.

Today they are also having a spectacular Cyber Monday sale! Plus if you are one of the first 20 orders you get one of these nifty little cosmetic cases. There is one of the Circa 52 prints! Isn't it great?!! So hurry on over and don't miss out!

But before you go enter to win the Circa 52 fat quarter bundle.

Here's what you can do.

1.) leave a comment
2.) check out Fabricworm then come back and tell me what you would order! (I really enjoy this part because I get to hear about fabrics I may have missed)
3.) let me know if you are a follower of my blog ( or a new follower)!
4.) spread the word...blog, flickr, facebook, twitter...whatever you like. 

4 chances to win! Please leave a separate comment for each entry!

I'll pick a winner Saturday Dec. 3 using Random Number Generator!

Many thanks to Fabricworm for your generosity and for creating such awesome designer fabric that is good for us and the environment!

Finished Pin Toppers and a Pin Cushion

I couldn't sleep last night so I got up and made this pretty pin cushion for the pin toppers we made yesterday.

The Robin's eggs are definitely my favorite.


I think Sculpey clay must last forever because some of this I have had for over 15 years, back when I went through my hemp necklace making faze. I used to make these mushrooms all the time. I think I still have some necklaces with mushrooms like these on them. I love the idea of putting them on the pins. I've seen them at quilt shows and things but I didn't fall in love with the concept until I saw this shop! I could buy one of everything.

I love the pin cushion too, in all it's lopsided glory. I used a cookie tin for the base (about 5 inches in diameter). and made the hexie pillow to fit on top. I made cording for the rim to kind of hold the pillow in place. All in all I think it came out pretty good for being 3 am and not really measuring anything.

Fat Quarter Shop Giveaway Winner!

The winner of the Fat Quarter Shop fat quarter bundle giveaway is #257 Toni!

 Toni said...

Congratulations, Erin! That is so exciting! That line is one of my favorites right now, too!

November 24, 2011 7:28 AM

Congratulations Toni! I'll send you an e-mail shortly!


Come back Monday for another awesome giveaway!

Pin Toppers and Christmas Ornaments

 Today we had loads of fun using polymer clay to make some Christmas ornaments and pin toppers.

 I made this little set.

Love that funky chicken! the bunny and hedgehog too!

I am always amazed by the things little hands can do.

I love that my kids love crafting as much as I do.

The pins are stuck into the balled up foil to be baked. We have more to make so I'm going to get going! I feel the makings of a pretty pincushion coming on. Hope your having a fun day!

Black Friday and Cyber Monday with Fabric Worm

Fabricworm is having an  awesome Black Friday sale! 30% off their entire sale selection. Sale ends Saturday 5am PST. There is a fabulous selection of  fabric. The first 14 orders get this fantastic apron! Go check it out.

And on Cyber Monday Fabricworm is having another great sale 15% off orders of $50 or more and the first 20 customers to order $50 or more get this super cute cosmetics case.

Don't forget to check back here on Cyber Monday for an incredible giveaway from Fabricworm. You are gonna love it!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy 

Thanksgiving!

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. -Psalm 100:4-5

Paper Pieced Kitchen Aid Mixer Pattern

Paper Pieced Mixer Pattern and Tutorial

Paper Pieced Kitchen Mixer

by Erin @ Why Not Sew? Quilts

© 2011

Welcome to the tutorial and pattern for the paper pieced mixer block. This isn't paper piecing in the traditional sense of the word. You won't be sewing onto a foundation. You will be piecing using the paper templates as your guide. The best part is there is no paper to rip out when you are finished.

You will need:
freezer paper
Spray starch (optional)

Step 1.) The first thing you want to do is download and print these 2 files.

paper pieced mixer pattern (print this on the paper side of freezer paper that has been cut to 8.5 x 11 inches) - download pattern 

And another smaller one with brief instructions (these will be helpful if you don't want to print out the whole tutorial) - download 

*** links no longer work. I will put a new link as soon as I can. ***

New Link Here 

 

Step 2.) Color in the pattern. This helps you keep track once you start cutting your pattern apart.

Step 3.) Cut the first 3 lines of your pattern apart. Pieces 1-10

Step 4.) Cut all of the pieces apart from those strips.

Step 5.) Iron your paper pieces onto the right side of the fabric you have chosen for those pieces.

Step 6.) Trim all of your pieces. Leaving 1/4 inch around all sides of your piece. 

Here is a picture of pieces 1-10 trimmed.

Step 7.)Sew piece 1 and 2 together.

Matching your paper pieces up so that they are properly aligned. Carefully pin trying not to shift the pieces. 

It helps to only stick the pins straight through.

Step 8.) Sew piece 3 to piece 1.

Step 9.) Sew pieces 4, 5, 6 and 7 together.

Step 10.) Sew pieces 8, 9 and 10 together.

Step 11.) Sew piece 1,2,3 to piece 4,5,6,7.

Step 12.) Sew piece 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 to piece 8,9,10. Set this piece aside. This is unit 1.

Step 13.) Cut apart the section that includes pieces 11-18.

These are small pieces. Starch may be particularly helpful here.

Step 14.) Piece 14-17 next...

and then the rest of the section. This is unit 2.

Step 15.) Sew unit 1 to unit 2. Becoming the new unit 1. I took the paper off at this point because I am impatient and want to see what it looks like and because they start to fall off by this time.

Step 16.) Cut apart pieces 19 - 26.

For piece 25 you will cut out the whole piece. Later we will carefully peel this away and cut out the bowl piece.

Iron on your pieces to the front of the fabric and trim leaving 1/4 inch seam.

Step 17.) Sew pieces 20 and 21. Then sew to piece 19.

Step 18.) Sew together 22,23,24.

Step 19.) sew piece 22,23,24 to piece 25.

Step 20.) Sew on piece 26. Then sew 22,23,24,25,26 to piece 19,20,21. This is now unit 2.

Step 21.) Cut apart pieces 27,28 and 29. 

Iron onto right side of fabric. Sew together.

Step 22.) Sew piece 27,28,29 to unit 2.

Step 23.) Peel off the paper pieces carefully. Cut the mixing bowl out from piece 25.

Step 24.) Iron the mixing bowl piece onto the WRONG side of the fabric. Cut out the bowl leaving at least 1/4 inch on all sides.

Step 25.) Fold your raw edges over the paper and baste them down.

 

Step 26.)  Position the mixing bowl on the block. 

Try to align the flat edge of the bowl with the piece that is the bottom stand of the bowl.

Try to align the top of the bowl with the seam where the mixer attachment piece comes down.

Step 27.) Using your preferred method of applique, stitch the mixing bowl to the block and remove the thread.

at this point the paper piecing part is finished. 

Step 28.) Now to finish off the block. From the print you used for the background cut a 1 1/2 inch strip by the width of your block (I used more but trimmed it down). Sew this strip to the top of your block. Cut a 1 1/2 inch strip by the width of your block of a contrasting fabric to give the block a place to rest, like a shelf or counter top. 

Now stand back and admire your paper pieced mixer!

 I can see a whole quilt of these in bright, happy colors. I also think they would look great embellished with knobs and such. Here is the one I made and used a selvedge for the contols. Have fun making this block and please let me know if you have any questions! If you make one please let me know I would love to see your blocks!


© 2011 Erin @ Why Not Sew? Quilts

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

:::::: Coming soon...Paper Pieced Sewing Machine Pattern ::::::