More from Missouri Star

I've done it again.  I ordered more fabric from Missouri Star Quilt Company.  Earlier in the month I ordered an Ellie Ann charm pack and layer cake to make a twin bed sized quilt.  My local quilt shop doesn't carry any of the Ellie Ann line, but I needed some yardage for the borders (the Ellie Ann Petit rose China Blue and Ellie Ann Twilight Cobalt yardage above).  And if you are ordering something, you might as well get the deal of the day (the Snowmen Gatherings Charm Pack).  And if you order $100 worth or more you get free shipping so you might as well get something else, especially if it's on sale too (the Tea House Plum layer cake).  So, you know, it all makes sense if you think about it, right?

Simple Fringed Fleece Blanket

Here is a picture of the fleece blanket that I made for my church's blanket drive this year.  Two years ago we collected blankets for the Child Advocacy Center here in town and we are doing it again this year.  Last time I made several fleece blankets, but this year I only bought fabric for one.  The finished blanket measures approximately 53 x 56 inches, not including the fringe.  I had hoped to make it a little longer, but that was all the fabric that was on the bolt.  It should still be a good size for a child to cuddle up with it.

To make the blanket, I simply evened up the cut edges and trimmed off the selvedge.  Then I sewed a straight stitch about two inches from the edge of the fabric all the way around.  Then I used my trusty spring loaded scissors to cut in from the edge, almost up to the sewing line, at about half inch (maybe 3/4) intervals all the way around.  It is a very easy project that takes almost no time to make.  It took just over an hour from start to finish.  It probably would have taken less time if I hadn't had a fluffy black feline "helper" in my lap.  In fact, if I see some more fleece I like at a good price, I might make more. . .

From Row Swap to Quilt Top

Here are some pictures of my row swap rows sewn into a completed quilt top.  Unfortunately, my design wall isn't big enough to hold the completed top, so I took the pictures with it lying on a twin bed.  The finished top is 66-1/2 inches by 86 inches.

I used all the rows in my quilt top.  Seven of them make up the center of the quilt top.  They are sewn together straight without any sashings.  I then added a dark 3 inch border.  Then I added a light colored 9 inch border.  I took one of the rows apart and used the squares as corners in the border.  (You can't really see them in the picture. You can see a little bit of one of them in the top picture.)  Then I added another 3 inch border of the same dark leaf fabric.  I plan to use the same dark leaf fabric for the binding if I have enough of it.  If not, I'm going to use a different harvest fabric which has a black background.

I'm really happy with how it turned out.  All the rows work together so nicely.  And it goes well with the wall color in the room too.  Now I just need to decide how I'm going to quilt it...

A New Addition

Here is a picture of the newest addition to my sewing room.  It is a Janome DC2013, that I ordered through Amazon.  I haven't had a chance to use it much, but so far I'm pleased with it.  It has a 1/4 inch foot and walking foot, which I really wanted, plus some other feet that seem like they will be useful as well.  I'm looking forward getting good use out of it.  I don't know how many of those fancy stitches I'll be using, but it sure looks like fun.

Precuts from Missouri Star Quilt Company

I don't normally buy precut, except for fat quarters, but Missouri Star is luring me in.  So far I've ordered a layer cake and charm pack of Ellie Ann fabric (by Eleanor Burns), a Starflakes and Glitter charm pack (by Tina Givens), and a Holiday Accents fat quarter bundle (by RJR fabrics).

I've formulated a plan for the Ellie Ann layer cake: a twin sized quilt with four patches and setting squares and a pieced border.  Some of the fat quarters are earmarked for a Christmas quilt, along with the Christmas cat fabric from a previous post.  The charm packs are yet to be determined at this juncture.  I thought I would need the Ellie Ann charm pack for the layer cake quilt, but it turned out that I didn't.  The Starflakes and Glitter charm pack may be used in my next guild project, if we do the charm pack challenge, or it may end up as Christmas gift.  I'm not sure yet.