A Stitch In Time

signing off....

2009-07-01T15:46:00.000-07:00

With the store gone and so much going on lately I haven't blogged or sewed in quite some time now. I feel a lack of interest since everything was taken. I'm sure that soon I will come to my senses and start making up for lost time, but for now I am happily enjoying the summertime pleasures that Colorado has to offer. I've also taken up a new hobby that I have been really enjoying and spending alot of time doing. Cheer season is in gear again and I'll be busy agin with all that bow making.....YIKES...better get started soon. Hope everyone is enjoying there summer! ~Nicki

New life

2009-06-11T18:18:00.000-07:00

I was sitting on our porch swing two weeks ago and noticed a nest in our tree. There was mom taking care of her 4 beautiful eggs. I love the miracle of life, how fragile it is and how incredible.

Today we went to the hospital to take my mother in law off of life support. Such a beautiful and kind women I wish that you all could have met her. We will miss her dearly. After coming home Chris and I checked the eggs.....new life. It was a beautiful thing. And a true reminder of the new and perfect life that Patty received today. We love and miss you already mom. :(

(

What I am doing now that I have spare time......

2009-05-16T13:48:00.000-07:00

I have alot of extra time now. Tanner is playing roller hockey and I have time to enjoy this beautiful wheather. I have struggled with everything that was done to us, but things will work themselves out in the end I am sure. I am picking up new hobbies like soap making and making all of my meals from scratch with fresh herbs from the garden.

I will continue to post fun and exciting stuff on here. Quilt patterns, children's patterns, recipes, crafts, ect. Give us a little more variety. For now here are some pics of what I have been doing this weekend. Enjoy the warm sun and I'll talk to you soon!!

Some rainy day fun.....

2009-04-17T14:02:00.000-07:00

With the rain coming down we need something creative and fun to do! So, enjoy!!!

Fun Binder Cover!!

Use as a photo album, quilting articles, a journal, the options are endless!

Supplies:

1/2 yard of a large scale print

2 fat quarters for pockets

1 fat quarter for binding

1 charm pack

1/2 yard backing fabric

1 leftover piece of lightweight batting1

1/2 yard ric rac

(I used Arcadia by Sanae for Moda)

From your large scale print, batting, and backing, cut a piece 3 inches taller and wider than your binder. It will shrink up a bit when quilted. (My binder measures 11 1/2 x 24. Yours may vary!)

From the charm pack, cut strips 1 1/2 inch wide x 5 inches. (I used about 46 pieces for mine.) You can leave the pinked ends on them. They will be trimmed later.

Sew your first two 1 1/2 x 5 inch pieces together as shown in the photo.

Continue to add 1 1/2 strips until your braid piece is longer than the width of your large scale print piece.

Trim the uneven edges as shown

Cut both ends of your braid piece straight, leaving them a little longer than needed.

Sew the ric rac on the long sides, 1/4 inch from the edge.

Press, turning raw edges under.

Pin the bottom edge of the braid piece 2 inches from the bottom edge of the large scale print.

Topstitch both long edges to the large print piece.

Layer your backing, batting, and top and quilt as desired. I just did a quick meander, and left the braid section unquilted.

Carefully measure your binder and cut your quilted piece 1 inch taller and 1 inch wider than the binder.

You now have a cute little mini quilt!

Cut your pockets the height of your quilted piece by 16 inches. Fold in half so the piece is 8 inches wide and press. Pin the pockets to the back of your quilted piece as shown.

The fold should be to the center

Stitch the pockets down a scant 1/4 inch on three sides, leaving one side open for the binder.

Slide the binder into the pockets. At this point, you can adjust the size if the quilted piece is too loose. The binding will tighten it up just a bit, so don’t make it too tight. (Ask me how I know this!!!)

Cut your binding 2 1/4 wide and press. Sew binding to the quilt cover. Hand stitch your binding to the back side.

Slide your binder into your cover. Sit back and marvel at how cool it is!!!

I dare you to make just one! Maria at passingdowncrazy

Pictures from Block of the Month

2009-04-15T10:36:00.000-07:00

SEW! SEW! SEW!!
One of our wonderful teachers, Elaine

Quilt Making 101

2009-04-15T10:24:00.001-07:00

We've had a ton of fun in our Quilt Making 101 class.

Be sure to sign up for our next 101 class in May

Busy at work

Betty doing a fantastic job of "pressing" not ironing!!

April Specials and Announcements

2009-03-31T11:17:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to announce

The Tax Time Rebate Event!

running for 6 days only from April 15 to April 20 2009.

This promotion offers mail-in rebates plus accessory shopping sprees on four popular models.
Mail-In Rebates PLUS Accessory Shopping Spree

~Quattro 6000D: $400 mail-in rebate PLUS $400 in-store Accessory Shopping Spree
~Innov-ís 1500D: $150 mail-in rebate PLUS $150 in-store Accessory Shopping Spree
~LB6770PRW: $75 mail-in rebate PLUS $75 in-store Accessory Shopping Spree
~Innov-ís 80: $50 mail-in rebate PLUS $50 in-store Accessory Shopping Spree

Come in for some special easter saving and free gifts!!

Mention that you visited our blog and recieve an
easter egg to recieve a discount on your fabric or a free gift!

Visit Sew Mama Sew for the pattern pictured above!!

http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=431

Mother's Day Special!

All Horn Cabinets 40% off!

Water Bottle Carrier

2009-03-23T12:46:00.000-07:00

This water bottle carrier was inspired when I found myself carrying everyone’s water in my backpack for the 4th of July parade. Next time, everyone can carry thier own water!

Cutting Instructions

Cut one piece of fabric for the exterior and one piece for the interior each 10 3/4 wide x 8 inches tall. I’ve pieced my exterior fabric with two coordinating prints in the tutorial pictures.
Cut 2 circles of your lining fabric, the circle should have a 3 3/4 inch diameter. The diameter of the circle stitching line is 3 inches. Add an additional 3/8 inch seam allowance making the cut circle diameter 3 3/4 inches.
Cut one piece of Insul-Brite 9 x 7 inches. Cut one Insul-Brite circle with a diameter of 3 inches.
For strap, cut one length of twill tape and one length of ribbon, both 42 inches long. This fits my 8 and 11 year old daughters. When I sized it for myself I cut it 50 inches long.

Sew exterior to lining along the top edge only, right sides together using a 3/8 inch seam.

Press open seam.

The Insul-Brite is going to get sandwiched between the exterior and the lining. Pin Insul-Brite to the wrong side of exterior fabric, aligning and centering top of batting with the joined seam line. Pin in place about an inch down to keep batting from sliding around. Fold over the the lining fabric and pin some more. Top stitch 1/4 inch along the top edge. This provides a baseline anchoring of the batting.

Pin entire sandwich like a quilt, securing as needed to keep layers from puckering when stitched. Stitch all layers as you please. Repeat this for the bottom circle. Finish bottom edge of top and edges of circle with a zigzag stitch or serger.

I used a French seam to join the side edges of the carrier. A French seam is two steps which result in the raw edge being trapped inside the second seam. Use some scraps and do a practice seam if this is the first time trying this. This seam is great for fairy skirts too!
Step One: Pin WRONG sides of sides together and stitch a 1/4 inch seam. Don’t press seam open, you want them to lay flat together.

Step Two: Turn tube wrong side out. Pin again along the edge, RIGHT sides together and stitch a 3/8 inch seam. This seam will ‘trap’ the previous seam inside. This gives you a nice clean finished edge for the inside of your carrier

7. Leave tube with lining turned to the outside. Pin bottom circle to tube’s raw edge, right sides together. Clip edges of the tube to make fitting easier. Only clip about 1/4 inch into seamline

Stitch using a 3/8 inch seam.

9. Turn carrier right side out.

10. Attach twill tape to ribbon with a single stitch down the center.

11. Turn up 1 inch of strap raw edge and attach to inside edge of tube, centering ends on either side of the carrier side seam. (After making this I think it would have been easier to attach the strap before creating the tube.)

12. Enjoy watching your kids carry their own water bottle.

Thanks to Pink Chalk Studio for this awesome pattern!!

2009-03-16T13:17:00.000-07:00

Look What Judy was able to make with the Accuquilt!!

It's as easy as 1-2-3!!

"I just cut out pieces for a Puss in the Corner pattern, crib size. Strips slightly wider than 4.5 inches were folded back and forth over the 4.5 square die. 2.5 wide strips of two fabrics were also die cut. They were stitched together in sets of two. After that, they were cross cut on the strip die into 2.5 segments. Quite a timesaver!" -Judy

Radiating Diamonds

2009-03-16T10:48:00.001-07:00

We had the wonderful pleasure of having author Nelline Kornock teach her Radiating Diamonds Class in our store.

This is a picture of Dorothy's beautiful Radiating Diamonds top completed!

Come in to check out some of the great classes we have scheduled!!

Petit Fours Table Runner

2009-03-13T10:08:00.000-07:00

Petit Fours Table Runner

Petit four (plural: petits fours): a tiny, bite-sized cake with delicate layers of moist cake filled with smooth butter cream and jam fillings. Each cake measures approximately 1.5 " x 1". The miniature cake is often dipped in fondant and decorated with piped icing flowers. The name is from the French petit four, meaning "small oven".

Supplies:

1 Charm Pack (40 - 5" squares) I used Wildflower Serenade 2 by Kansas Troubles
1/8th yard for inner border

1/8th yard for binding
Backing and batting at least 15" x 47"

Instructions:

Select 27 (I used the top 27 from Wildflower Serenade) of the 5" squares and cut each into 3-1.5" strips. This will give you 81 strips that are 1.5 x 5". You need 80. Have a nice sharp blade and you can stack and cut several charms at once.
Reserve the remaining 13 charms for the outside border.

Sew into 40 pairs of 2

Sew 2 pairs together. Repeat until you have 20 sets of 4 strips.

Press all seams one direction.

Trim length to 4.5". I stacked 4 blocks; trimmed 1/4" off one end...

then trimmed the other end to equal 4.5".

Sew two 4-strip units together as shown below. Repeat to make 10 units

Press as shown below

Sew these units together...

to make 5 blocks like this.

Cut the inner border fabric into 3-1" strips. Attach the inner border to the long sides of the runner first, then to the short ends.

Take the last 13 charms and cut at 2". You will get 2 pieces that are 2" x 5" per charm.

Sew 2 sets of 3 together and 2 sets of 10 together.

Attach to long sides of the runner first, matching center seam of runner with center seam of border. Trim off the extra
Put a pin in the center of the 3-charm strips and match to the middle seams on the short ends of the runner. Stitch. Trim off the extra.

Quilt, bind and make another one.

I think it's sew fun getting a tablerunner from 1 charm pack!!

One tablerunner 12" x 43.5"
Happy Quilting from Angela Davy at All Washed Up

Don't forget to sign up for the Quilt Till You Wilt!

2009-03-10T09:31:00.000-07:00

We're going to have a blast with Quilt Till You Wilt on April 24th!

Come with your UFOs and a small dish to share

We'll have a ton of fun and you'll receive a gift bag valued at $60 to take home!

5:30-midnight

$30

Anita Goodesign Blowout Sale!!

2009-03-05T15:39:00.000-08:00

Buy any 3

Anita Goodesigns or Dakota Collectables

and recieve 1 free!!*

*Of equal or lessor value

Another Pattern to play with!

2009-03-02T09:47:00.000-08:00

Supplies

One charm pack (Hello Betty by Chloe's Closet for Modawas used in this project)

1/2 yard (Bella Solid Ivory block) background

3/4 yard (Bella Solid Betty Pink) alternating blocks

1/3 yard (Bella Solid Betty Green) binding

1 yard backing

batting 36 x 44

Instructions

Select 32 charm squares from your Charm Pack. From each square cut (2) 2 1/2 inch squares and (2) 1 1/2 inch squares

Cut (64) 2 1/2 inch ivory squares
Cut (31) 4 1/2 inch pink setting squares

For each bowtie block you will need (2) 2 1/2 inch and (2) 1 1/2 inch bowtie squares and (2) 2 1/2 inch ivory squares

Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of each of the 1 1/2 inch squares

Place a small square on each of the 2 1/2 inch background squares and sew on the line. These are your knot units.

Press towards the knot and cut away the back of the knot fabric in the middle, leaving the background piece.

Sew your block together as shown :

Press center seam open if desired, for a flat center

Make 31 more blocks! They're super fast. Set in 9 rows of 7 blocks alternating bows and pink setting blocks, using completed quilt as a guide. Layer and quilt as desired. This old fashioned quilt is perfect for grid quilting (on sample) or meandering! Bind with Betty Green Solid and enjoy!

Tumbling Blocks Class coming up soon!!

2009-03-02T09:33:00.000-08:00

Only a couple of spaces left in Elaine's Tumbling Blocks class! Kits with marbles and batiks available with all 15 of your diffrent colors. This wonderful technique has NO Y SEAMS!! You'll make this extravagant quilt using a strip piecing.

class pictures...as promised!

2009-02-25T09:22:00.001-08:00

I thought I might give you a bit of a tease with some of the classes that are coming up......

Wondering what to do with those beautiful charm packs that Moda has released? Flowers for Thee uses one charm pack, a large and small yo yo maker. Have fun making this for yourself or others! Elainewill be teaching this class Tues, Mar. 31st from 5:30-8:30 pm Class fee is only $10!

Bonnie has taken the loved browns and pinks and created this beautiful Quilt!

No need to purchase a pattern! Bonnie created it herself

and will show you step by step how to complete it.

Shannon's Quilt is Tues, Mar. 10th & 17th

5:30-8:30pm

$30
Kits available!!

I absolutley love the way this came out! Irene did such a beautiful job! Make this one of a kind dimensional applique wall hanging Sat, Mar. 21st 9-2pm. Class fee $20 Kits available!

Some exciting things are happening!!

2009-02-24T10:12:00.000-08:00

Well we've finally done it......we are now bloggers! With so much going on, this will make it fun to visit every once in a while to check out classes, contests, and free stuff!! An let's not forget the latest and greatest in the sewing and quilting world! I will be compiling pictures of the quilt classes that are on our calender in the next couple of days. In the meantime enjoy a free pattern!

2 charm packs-Soiree by Moda

1 1/2 yards white fabric for sashing/borders

1/2 yard fabric for binding

1 1/2 yards of fabric for backingbatting that measures 44" x 55"

quilting thread
please note: 1/4" seams are used throughout this project.

Cut each charm in half. This will yield 144 "coins". Each will measure 2.5" x 5". (You will use all but 12 coins for this quilt.)

Sew coins together. I found it very helpful to match the pinked edges with pinked edges and straight edges with straight edges when piecing.

Make 5 strips of coins. Each strip is made with 22 rectangles.

Cut 6 pieces of white fabric 3.5" wide x 44 1/2" long for the sashing.
If your seam allowances aren't completely accurate, you may want to measure the length of your patchwork strips and cut the sashing to match.

Sew sashing to the coin strips. Press all seams toward the white.

Cut 2 pieces 3.5" x 41" for the top and bottom of the quilt.

Sew together and press well.

Your quilt top is done!

For the back...
I love adding a patchwork detail to the back of my quilts. It takes a bit more time, but it's a nice way to tie in the design from the front to the back.

Join 22 coins together and press.

From the backing fabric, cut one piece 36" x width of fabric. And one piece 15" x width of fabric.

Layout as shown and sew together. Press.And the back is done, too.

To finish your quilt, baste, quilt and bind as desired.
On this quilt, I did an all over stipple in white thread.

I just love the one strip of patchwork on the backing.

Wash and dry your quilt for that soft crinkly goodness.

The finished quilt measures approximately 41" x 50".

This is a fun + quick project. I made it from start to finish in about 2 days. It's perfect for a last minute baby gift.
Enjoy!