Cuddle Fabric Quilt

Cuddle Fabric is so soft and I have found not that hard to work with. Cuddle fabric by Shannon fabrics is much like the Minkee fabric you see in fabric stores. The fabric is 100% polyester and oh so soft. I needed to make some craft sale items so I elected to sew up some quick cuddle stroller blankets. The blankets measure about 29 inches square and require 30 inches of two different 60 inch wide fabric. Since the fabric is so wide, you can make 2 cuddle blankets from the two 30 inch cuts. Lay the two 30 by 30 inch fabrics right sides together and then pin the heck out of the two layers. When I say pin the heck out of the layer I mean you will need a pin about every 1 1/2 inches. Sew the two pieces together leaving about a 4 inch opening on one side. Clip the corners and turn the blanket inside out. Pin the 4 inch opening and top stitch about a 1/4 inch away from the edge all the way around. Once you master pinning and not running over the pins, you can make these quick little baby stroller blankets in less than an hour.



The second Cuddle fabric project created I learned about from attending quilt market in October. The strip Cuddle quilt requires a combination of different prints that are sewn in strips onto a solid backing that is basted to your batting with spray adhesive. The strips sew on quite easily when you follow the directions. Add border strips as desired and then sew on binding and you have a great quilt as you go project that is so soft. I used the jaguar print and the brown fabric for the front of my quilt, green for the backing and then used the dark brown for the binding on the quilt.

Accuquilt Go!

How much Fun is the Accuquilt Go? I am having fun playing with my Go! Pictured is my quick baby quilt made from the Udder Cowboy fabric from Moda using one of the many Go! triangle templates. The Go makes cutting sew much faster. If you want the Go! for Christmas you better get your order in fast.

I have also cut snowflakes, Christmas trees, bears, ducks and hearts from the templates. There are lots of ideas on the Go website for what you can create using the Go templates.

Moda Sampler Box

I am so excited. I received my order of Moda Sampler Boxes today. Each Moda Sampler Box contains 12 miniature (2 1/2 by 2 1/2 inch) charm packs of 40 squares each. The fabrics are all from the 2010 Spring fabric lines. Each box contains the history of the Charm quilt by Barbara Brackman as well as five different templates that can be used to make a charm quilt. Additionally, ten project ideas are also included in the sampler box template book.

Fun Gifts

Several gift giving occasions have come my way of late. I love to sew and when I have a gift to give it makes it even more fun. With inspiration from the ModaBakeshop.com website I created a diaper bag using 1/2 a Sultry Honey Bun and some coordinating Eva fabric. The most fun part was creating the inside of the bag and making goodies to go inside. I added a lined zipper pocket, a removable center pocket and a padded side pocket. Extras for the diaper bag included a vinyl coated changing mat made using iron on Heat and Bond vinyl, a vinyl lined bib embellished with an Accuquilt duck applique' and a burp pad made from a prefolded diaper, a bit of Eva fabric and large ric rac. Way fun project.






For a young lady getting married soon I made a reversible apron using Nouveau fabric. The main apron was a small floral print with teal accents. I embellished the apron bodice with a teal band and large rust colored ric rac. Ric rac was added to the pocket as well. The reverse of the apron was the teal fabric. The bride to be looked so cute in her apron.

New projects in the works

A diaper bag for a baby shower is in the works currently. It's been 10 years since I have needed a diaper bag though it seems just a few years ago. It's kind of fun picking out the fabric and design. I am using the Eva fabric that just arrived and a Sultry Honey Bun which coordinates well with Eva since both fabric lines are by Basicgrey for Moda. The lime greens are great color that really seem to go with just about any other color.



I just received my Happy Camper fabric by American Jane for Moda. Happy Camper fabric takes me to Colorado every time I look at it. As a kid we tent camped nearly every summer in Colorado. I love fabric that brings back memories. I am going to make a throw for when we go camping. I just have to decide what pattern to use.

Houston Quilt Market Finds

Inspiration at quilt market in Houston is a little overwhelming. There are lots of bold and bright large print fabrics on the market but also a large number of the retro look with a more muted earthy color in smaller prints. Of course there are always reproduction fabric lines that are so inspiring. Shannon Fabrics and Moda both have the cuddle soft polyester fabrics for those oh so soft baby blankets that are so popular. The Shannon Fabrics come in a multitude of prints. I should have soft pastels and brown animal prints in stock within a week or so just in time for Christmas gifts for you favorite baby.

The AccuQuilt GO! Quilter was everywhere at market it seemed. There were lots of new patterns for use with the die templates used but primarily what I saw was just imagination using the different die cuts. I had ordered an AccuQuilt Go cutter just before market and found it a great tool. One of the main trends I saw was scrappy quilts with large squares of small prints with the various appliques. Very nice. Appliques are used not only on quilts but also are great for bibs, children's clothing, tea towels, aprons or just about anything else you see applique on. AccuQuilt GO is available for order on my website. New dies will be added to the website as soon as possible.




Pictured is an over view of one slice of market and a picture of the Pittsburgh Friendship Quilt which was completed in 1988 and recently found. The quilt display was very pretty. For more information on the display go to the Quilts.com website.

The American Jane Booth (first picture below, Fig Tree Quilts Booth and the Blank Quilting Booths were three of my favorites.




The Spectacle Receptacle was one of my favorite pattern finds. This is a really quick little project to hold just about anything from eye glasses, rotary cutters, remote controls or perhaps use as a desk pencil holder.

Getting Ready for Quilt Market

Here is my new Market Bag all ready for stuffing lots of stuff in from quilt Market this weekend. Same block pattern used on both sides. The pattern is

Sweet Sugar Swirls

from Fig Tree Quilts. I will try to update with pictures and notes this weekend.