Great Granny with a Twist & a Giveaway!!!

Good Morning! Today I'm celebrating the anniversary of the lovely Lori Holt's book Great Granny Squared along with Lori and some of her quilty friends. For something extra fun we made projects that use the squares from the book but with a twist of some kind.

My Great Granny Squared project uses the "mama" block form Lori's book. I made 9 blocks using Nadra Ridgeway of Ellis & Higgs Bloom and Bliss fabric and an aqua solid I had in my stash. I can't remember the maker, sorry about that.

For the "twist" part I decided to crochet a granny stitch around all of the blocks and then connect them with a granny stitch. I turned it into a pillow because I actually need some new pillows. Mine are tired, haha. I love pom-poms on pillow edges so I decided to finally give that shot. I love how it turned out. The tutorial I used for the pom-poms is HERE. I'm not sure that I did them exactly right but I think they turned out pom-pomish :)

The back of the pillow is envelope style and all I did was press the top and side edges in 1/4 inch to get a finished edge and sew it to the back of the crocheted edge wrong sides together. I stitched it down with a fat 1/8 inch seam. Things get a little squooshy sewing to the yarn but it does sew down very securely. I made a pillow form to fit it. It's about 18 x 18 inches.

I love it! I can't wait to make another!

If you would like to have Lori's book Great Granny Squared and make some of the fun projects in it or put your own twist on them you're in luck! I have a copy of the book to send to one of you lovelies thanks to Fat Quarter Shop! Just leave a comment below. I'll pick a winner next week.

Then be sure to check out the other quilty friends celebrating with Lori and the twist they put on their Great Granny projects!

Monday, December 14, 2015

Fat Quarter Shop (Hey, that's us!)

Lori Holt of Bee in my Bonnet

Vickie of Spun Sugar Quilts

Katie of Good Golly Ginger

Sinta of Pink Pincushion

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Tina of Emily Ann's Kloset

Renee of Sewn with Grace

Tricia of Notes of Sincerity
Debbie of Happy Little Cottage

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Melissa of Oh How Sweet

Nadra of Ellis & Higgs
Marni of Haberdashery Fun

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Jennie of Clover & Violet

Erin of Why Not Sew

Sherri Falls of This & That Patterns

Rachel of P.S. I Quilt

Sharon of Daisy Cottage Quilting

Friday, December 18, 2015

Greg of Grey Dogwood Studios

Pam of Pam Kitty Morning

Jamie of Busy Bee Quilts

Daisy of Ants to Sugar

Gerri Robinson of Planted Seed Designs

Happy Sewing!
xo Erin

2016 Crossroads Quilt Along

I am so happy to be participating in the 2016 Crossroads Quilt Along with Fat Quarter Shop.

This year we will be sewing a vintage inspired quilt using Strawberry Fields Revisited by Fig Tree Quilts!

I am so thrilled that Moda is reprinting some of the originals and some new prints for this line. Now I feel like I don't have to hold on so tightly to the original scraps I still have. It was one of my all time favorites.

(the back of the quilt)

The quilt along starts February 2016. Fat Quarter Shop will post the downloadable pattern on the 15th of each month.  All of the info for the fabric requirements, kits and patterns are on The Jolly Jabber

But the best part about the quilt along is that is supporting the March of Dimes an organization dedicated to preventing premature birth, birth defects and infant mortality. Each pattern is free, but a $5 donation to March of Dimes is requested for each pattern download.

I was asked if I would mind sharing about a transforming time in my life...a crossroads.  Like you, I am sure there are many. But the single most important, life changing thing that happened to me was becoming a mother. It's not a crossroads in the typical sense of the word, but it did change my life forever. There was never any going back to the girl I once was. I had this little new life who was completely dependent upon me. That intense love that filled my heart until it was bursting at the seams. Knowing what it felt like to love someone so much you would lay down your life for them. Staring at that sweet angel face for hours while she slept in my arms. There is nothing like it in this world. That's my crossroads. The most important event in my life and I know that I am blessed and forever changed. 

Here is a list of quilty friends sewing along and sharing their stories ~

                                                 Joanna of Fig Tree Quilts (@figtreequilts)

Pat Sloan (@quilterpatsloan)

April of Prairie Grass Patterns (@amrosenthal)

Tina of Emily Ann's Kloset (@emilyannskloset)

Melissa of Oh How Sweet (@ohhowsweet)

Angie of Gnome Angel (@gnomeangel)

Vanessa of Lella Boutique (@lellaboutique)

Melissa of Happy Quilting (@happyquiltingmc)

Erin of Why Not Sew (@whynotsewquilts)

Greg of Grey Dogwood Studio (@greydogwoodstudio)

Sondra of Out of the Blue Quilts (@sondradavison)

Sedef of Down Grapevine Lane (@downgrapvinelane)
Taunja of Carried Away Quilting (@taunjalynn)

Share your progress and creations with us on our Crossroads Facebook group. Post your blocks using #crossroadsquiltalong on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Happy Sewing!

xo Erin