Quilting with Circles (Tutorial)

Isn't this just about the cutest quilt ever?  I think every baby and mommy would love to receive this as a blankie.  I choose this size specifically for a baby quilt (34 x 45) but you can make it as big as you want.

Here is the square detailing.  Which the next few steps will show you how easy it really is to do.

Here is the back detailing...I love the different colors of jeans.  I saved up all of the old jeans from my hubby and cut them up.

First thing you will need to cut your circles.  Mine were 8 inch circles.  I just used a manilla folder.  measured 8 inches on the fold  and from center I measured 4 inches in.  Cut out and got an 8 inch circle.

This is now my template to cut all my circles.  My quilt is 6 blocks across and 8 blocks down.  I needed 48 circles.

Next I cut my fabric.  I used six different kinds of fabric.  ***The fabric in these photos is purely for the tutorial photos.  Not used in quilt.***  The reason I used six fabrics was to make it easy to make sure no two fabrics were next to each other.  Since I had 6 blocks across...6 fabrics.  You will need to cut 48 squares at 5 1/2 inches.  You will also need to cut your batting at 5 1/2 inches.  I used warm and natural batting.  It is warm not bulky.

Now that you have to work all done the fun begins.  You will first lay out your quilt.  I layed all my circles with the fabric inside the circle (you will see your fabric will lay corner to circle edge) out and placed them where I wanted to them to go.  I then joined the circles and and squares by making sure the circles lined up and the corners of the squares lined up.

 Sew them along the edge of the square about a 1/4 inch in to catch the fabric and batting.  Continue to join all the circles in each row until you reach the end (mine was six).

Imagine that my photo above has more circles.  Now stack your rows on top of each other in the pattern you like.  If you laid them out before hand just lay them back in the rows.  Now you will join the rows where they are not together.  Just pin them the same way.  Edge to edge and corner to corner.

Once the quilt is attached to each other, you will need to iron down your flaps.  Yes...it is important.

Next you will sew in an "S" pattern along the edges of the flaps.  Start on one side and sew along the edges all the way down the length.  Once at the edge, leaving your needle in the quilt re-direct your sewing to go up the other side of the same flaps.  Continue until you get all the flaps sewn.  First up and down.  Then side to side.

Next you will sew the crosses in the squares.  You will start at one corner and sew at a diagonal until you get to an edge.  Then leave your needle in and re-direct your sewing across another area.  Continue until you have all your crosses in the squares.

Last put a side seam on the edges.  You are almost done...you now need to wash and dty it to get the edges to fray.  If hope you understand these directions if not leave a comment and I will try to help out.

Sick is in the house

What to do with all those extra jeans?  Oh, so pretty!

Lately we have had one sickness after another in our house lately.  Influenza A, stomach flu, Croup, etc.  I have been going crazy taking care of all of the sickies!  I needed something to do...momma needs an outlet!  I recently started quilting and decided to quilt something but I needed to figure out which beginner pattern to do.  When I was considering this I took notice to the jeans in the DI pile.  I knew I wanted to do a jean quilt.  Let the quilting begin...This is a great tutorial for doing this style.

Elf is in the House

 The Elf is in the House

Elf napping in his quilt sent from Santa!

What do you get when you have a mom craving to do crafts, a husband out of town and The Elf on the Shelf needing to start?  Well, a quilt session of course.  I have to be honest, I have never quilted in my life.  There was one time a made a square quilt for Columbine High School after the shooting but the work was done for me.  All I had to do was sew the squares together.  Someone else stitched and bound it. 

Fabrics I finally settled on!

I saw a cute quilt idea on Pinterest (of course) and got to thinking it shouldn't be too hard right?  The quilt was a simple strip quilt.  I went to the fabric store and encountered my first dilemma; how do I put 5, 6, 7 fabrics together and know if they are going to look good.  I had my three boys with me and all they wanted to do is get the heck out of the store, so they were no help.  I finally decided on 6 fabrics.  I got up to the cutting counter after what seemed like an eternity.  There was my next dilemma, how much of each fabric?  "Well, hmmm, a yard of each?  Oh crap I guess I also need a backing.  You cut those while I run a get some solid fabric..."  Lets just say the lady behind the counter was happy when I was done.  Time to check out...I need thread.  "Boys stay in line I will be right back..."

Quick thinkin' mom!

We finally made it out of the store.  Then I realized that the boys saw the fabric that I got to make the quilt that I had decided the elf was going to "return" in.  So now I had to come up with something...I decided to send the fabric to Santa and see what he could do with it.  Off went the fabric and a letter asking for Santa to return our Elf.  Perfect!

Now to get to sewing...wait am I suppose to wash my fabric first?  No time for that, I wanna quilt!  I cut my strips and questioned every cut I made but carried on.  Now to arrange and sew together.  Easy enough...Next basting.  I watched a little video from The Film is in the Fridge and decided to spray tack my fabric onto the batting.  Worked fabulously!  My last scary step, binding.  I was not sure that I would be able to conquer this step.  Thanks to Old Red Barn Company Blog Tutorial I was able to make it look like I have been quilting all my life!

What the strip quilt looked like finished

I love the quilt and think I have found a new hobby.  I love to shop for fabric and NEVER know what to do with it.  Well for now, strip quilts are it!



Special Delivery

This is how the kids got it this morning!  They were so exctied to have a package sent all the way from the North Pole! 

Elf wrapped up as snug as a bug in a rug

This is what they saw when they opened up the package.  With a poem written by me (I have a Poem Printable:)

It is once again that time of year

When your familys’ elf comes to spread good cheer.

It has been awhile since you’ve had an elf guest

Let’s go over some rules to make this year the best.

Your elf will watch over you all day through

And will report back to me about all you do.

Be good for sure and you will get a Christmas treat

But if not, you will only get socks for your feet!

Do not touch the Elf for if you do

He has to come back to see you know who!

He sometimes might cause some mischief and even hide

It is tough for Elves to stay out of trouble and be good all the time.

Enjoy him while he is with you for once Christmas is done

He has to go back to the North Pole and his won’t be around for anymore fun!

Love,

Santa and Crew