Happy New Year!

Yes I know - it's the first of September. But for me that's New Year. It's the beginning of a new school year and as a student and then a mother and the wife of a University professor the beginning of September always marked and still marks a new year for me. The heat of the summer is over and warm and colorful fall days are around the corner so it's time to take a gulp of fresh air and get going. 

 

This year for me the new year means that I will reactivate my blog. I refuse to let the pandemic drag me down as it did the last few months. As always quilting will be my therapy. 

So - how to celebrate this new start? The best way I can. With a free quilt pattern for you all - the pattern for my quilt "Jewels" which you can also see at the top of my website. 

 

The name comes from the fabrics in jewel tones which are really glowing because of the black sashing and border fabric.This pattern is for a twin size quilt 140 x 200 cm (74“ x 107“) but of course with a few blocks more or less you can easily make it any other size

 

For the top you will need

54 squares of fabric 20 x 20 cm (10“ x 10“) in jewel tones

250 cm (3 1/3 yards) for the sashing and border strips

 

Cut a length of 210 cm (7 feet) from the black fabric

Cut this fabric lengthwise into

8 long sashing strips each 4,5 cm (2“) wide

4 border strips each 12 cm (5“) wide and

4 binding strips each 6 cm (2 ½“) wide.

 

Please note: seam allowance is already included in the measurements.

 

Btw - if you do the maths you will realize that the measurements in centimetres and in inches do not exactly correspond. That's because I adjusted them for easier cutting.  

 

Cut all 54 squares in jewel tones on one diagonal – you will get 108 triangles.

 

Join 2 triangles in different colors on the long side and press the seam allowance to one side. Sew 54 blocks.

 

From the remaining black fabric cut 40 short sashing strips 4,5 cm (2“) wide and the length of your block.

 

Lay out the blocks in 9 rows, 6 blocks in each row. When you like the color combination sew the blocks into rows, adding the short sashing strips between the blocks.

 

Sew the rows together adding the long sashing strips.

 

Add the border strips.

 

Assemble the quilt sandwich and quilt.

 

Bind the quilt with the 4 binding strips.

 

Have fun and enjoy your beautiful quilt! See you next time!

 

I'm linking to Nina Marie's "Off the Wall Friday"

A cover for my calendar

I decided that my calendar needs a cover showing my passion for fabrics. And especially for this cute fabric with paw prints. It is so easy to do and just needs about half an hour. And this is how to do it:

Measure the outside of your calender, don't add any seam allowance at this point. Measure the complete width backside, spine and frontside - a tape measure works best for this.

Add 2 cm/1 inch to the width and to the height for seam allowance and cut 3 pieces out of the chosen fabric. I did cut all three pieces from the paw print but you can use a contrasting color for the inside piece and/or the flaps.

If you want to make your cover softer cut a piece of batting in the same size.

Cut one piece of the fabric into two halves. My piece has a width of 28 cm (see measure tape in the first picture) and 2 cm of seam allowance which makes 30 cms. So I cut 2 pieces of 15 cms.

Fold each of these 2 cut pieces into half, right side out and iron them. These are your 2 flaps.

Lay out your piece of batting (if you use one). Lay the first piece of fabric (which is the outside of your cover) on the batting right side up. Lay the two flaps on the ends of the fabric and align the open ends with the end of the fabric.

Put the last piece of fabric (which is the inside of the cover) on top, right side down. Pin all the layers together.

Sew around the cover leaving approximately 8 cm/3 inches open in the middle of one of the long sides. Backstitch at the beginning and the end of the seam to secure the thread. Leave 25 cm/10 inches of thread at the end of the seam.

Trim the batting almost to the seam and cut off the four corners. Be careful not to cut into the seam.

Turn the right side of the cover out through the opening, iron and close the opening with hand stitches using the leftover thread.

Iron once more and put your calender/book/notebook/sketchbook/... into the new cover.

I'm linking this post to Nina-Marie's "Off the Wall Fridays" blog.