Down to the last scrap

What to do with all the leftover "Holly Topper" scraps? I am always short of place mats.  So, this year I am going to make 14" x 18" place mats with the leftover blocks/pieces of blocks from my projects.  Bind and back them with the same fabric and I will have a matched set of sorts.  Let's see how long it takes my family to find their favourite one and then the jockeying for "their" mat will begin.  

I had a bit of fun adding in the 3" house block from the Quiltmaker Bitty Blocks series from 2015.  This block is addictive.  You can find the 12 months of Bitty Blocks on their website.  These are yet another great leader and ender project to have beside your machine.  I am rather addicted to these small blocks and have only made 2, so far!  Quiltmaker Bitty Blocks  How many will you make this year?

Holly Easter

Tis the season of the sewing machines in overdrive.  As I spent the last two evenings madly working Christmas gifts, my mind kept drifting to the stack of happy "Easter" fabrics to the left of my machine.  What would "Holly Toppers" gone Easter look like?  Well in the wee hours this morning I couldn't resist playing on my iPad to plan out "Holly Easter".  The next project!

Holly Toppers gone neutral

I had a lovely afternoon stitching an alternative color way for a dual purpose - Holly Toppers class sample and part of a Christmas present.  After this color way, I'm going to try Easter themed colours.  

Holly Toppers - my new pattern Done!

Excited to have completed this pattern. Holly Toppers is a scrap friendly table topper that can be made in three sizes.  Six strip sets will make the large table topper (27" x 63") or both the small table topper (27" x 45") and square topper (27").  

Raid your stash to complete these toppers in traditional Christmas colors or change it up for other seasons or decors.  

Thrilled, I have completed my goal to have my second pattern done by year end!  That is a first, a goal for a year completed prior to December 31st.  

Wonderful Invisifil Thread - Great quilting experience

Last night I was furiously quilting my class sample of my new pattern "Holly Toppers".  It is a 27 1/2" square table topper.  I wanted to cross hatch the topper with a relatively neutral thread so that I got the definition from the quilting without overpowering the topper.

Wow what a great result!  I used the resources on the Wonderfil site to select a 80 microtex needle.  

Now just the binding and hand quilting for the centre and I'm done!

A Peek at my new design...

Last week I finished the sample of my newest pattern - Holly Toppers.  Holly Toppers is a scrappy Christmas table topper in three sizes:

• a 27" x 63" table runner 
• a 27" x 45" table runner or
• a 27" square table topper.

I just picked up my runner from my long arm quilter.  I am just thrilled with the custom quilting done by Mary Dylke of No Rules Quilting. 

I will release the pattern the end of October, just in time for making a gift for that someone special.  Make it modern using low volume prints for the background or make it traditional using some of your older stash.  Stay tuned for the details on where you can purchase my pattern at your local quilt shop.

I am excited to be teaching the Holly Toppers square table runner November 21, 2015 at the Threaducation Centre here in Calgary.  www.threaducationcentre.com/#!machine/ctzx

If you need that perfect Christmas gift, don't hesitate to join me for this full day class.