Puppy Quilt Love

The December 2013/January 2014 issue of McCall's Quick Quilts is now available on newsstands and online at Quilt and Sew Shop, and it has a pattern inside that's dear to my heart. Here it is... Zuzu's Car Quilt!

This project was great fun to make, and it's really quick and easy. Wouldn't your favorite dog like a version of this design as a holiday or birthday or anyday gift? There's also a completely free pattern for the coordinating tote bag on the Quick Quilts website:

Toys not included!

I'll tell you a little secret. Although the quilting pattern of interlocking dog biscuit shapes is included in the pattern, and I did use it on the tote front and back, on the sides of the tote I quilted Zuzu's name over and over. I'm afraid I have a serious case of puppy love  :)  Hope you enjoy these designs as much as I enjoyed creating them!

Stitch a Sampler with Us!

It all started with a project to help my niece Lara learn to quilt. She made her version of this sampler last summer as part of her internship at McCall's. Now the project is being patterned in 6 parts, beginning in the December 2013/January 2014 issue of McCall's Quick Quilts. Here's my version, the one that appears in the magazine:

Studio Stash fabrics by Jennifer Sampou for Robert Kaufman

We named it Studio Sampler; click on the link for more details. Each installment of the pattern will also have special how-to photos for a piecing technique. This first part focuses on half-square triangle units, and includes patterns for 3 of the blocks.

I hope you'll give this project a look. I had a lot of fun making the quilt, and samplers are always exciting, don't you think? The magazine is just reaching subscribers and newsstands now, and you will also be able to buy digital and print copies here beginning October 29. Check it out!

Stitching Fused Appliqué Edges

Wow, it's been a busy day in my sewing space! First I cut fat quarters from all the block fabrics in the Quick Quilts sampler so we can photograph how a kit will look. With 35 different fabrics, that took about an hour. Then I got to work edge stitching the love birds and hearts on the Valentine table runner. I used red rayon thread for a little shine, and really enjoyed the process. Not as much as hand appliqué, but since it's fused shapes for Quick Quilts, machine blanket stitch worked just fine and helped define the edges of the shapes. I also took photos as I went so I could add a page here with tips for machine blanket stitch. Here's the end of the table runner now:

And here's a little closer shot:

Now the reward...a home pedicure and pink polish!