December 2021 – Quilting my way through life!

Welcome to Day 6!

Today we will make a sewing machine block!

You may ask why I made my sewing machine white…

My original quilt design had a black sewing machine, but for Christmas a few days ago I received the most beautiful Featherweight machine that I’ve seen to date from my DH. When choosing fabric I decided to make this quilt block to commemorate my newest Featherweight machine.

This machine, although it was born the same year I was, looks brand new & so does its box!

I’m so excited to sew on it!

Hopefully one of these days life will slow a bit & I’ll have a chance to do so.

I used my go-to freezer paper (no raw edges) appliqué

but you can feel free to use your favorite technique.

If you’d like to master a new technique in the new year, I have a lot of very short videos of the very easy task or turning the seam allowance under & machine stitching it so there are no raw edges on the appliqué.

This is a bigger version of my sewing machine that I originally designed last year during our Quarantiny quilt.

You can see how I made it here. It’s not hard but you will need to practice. Having the right tools is key, in particular Apliquick Bars & small glue sticks for this sewing machine but also paper circle cutters & other tools for the little Dresden plates.

I have everything you need for making little Dresden plates & turned edge appliqué on the notions page of my website. You can find them by clicking here.

The pattern you need to make your white (or black or whatever color you choose) sewing machine can be found my clicking the download button below.

The template is reversed for you.

yetanother12dayssewingmachineblock-1 Download

When you get your blocks made (I know there are lots of you following along) please share them with us on my Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SewingWithSusan

I’ll be back tomorrow with our Day 7 block.

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

Yet Another, 12 Days of Christmas Mystery Quilt-Along, Day 5

December 30, 2021December 29, 2021 suznquilts

Welcome to Day 5!

Today we will make an angel block.

I still love this little angel that I designed several years & have incorporated into several patterns.

A Joyful Christmas was the original design.

It seems perfect on a tree of Tiny Dresden Plates.

You can find them in both paper & PDF versions by clicking here.

My Happy Place has several of the tiny angels.

You can find it in both paper & PDF versions as well by clicking here.

Tiny Dresden Friends also has the precious angel.

I’ve made several of these as gifts.

They’re a perfect little something for a special friend.

It can be found in paper version complete with the button kit by clicking here.

She has Tiny Dresden wings!

I made a PDF for you to download to make your angel block.

Just click the download button below.

yetanother12daysangelblock Download

I stitched her face & halo on my machine, but you can stitch them by hand.

When you get your blocks made please share them with us on my Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SewingWithSusan

I’ll be back tomorrow with our Day 6 block.

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

A Quilt Along

Yet Another, 12 Days of Christmas Mystery Quilt-Along, Day 4

December 29, 2021December 28, 2021 suznquilts

Welcome to Day 4!

Thanks to all of you who are sewing along with us,

especially those of you who are sharing your block pics with us!

I love seeing the blocks in your fabrics & also the spins you put on them.

Today we will make this cute but simple flower block.

I prefer to use a bias tape maker any time I’m making stems on a quilt.

For this block I recommend the Clover 3/8″ Fusible Bias Tape Maker.

Note: The stem fabric doesn’t need to be cut on the bias for this block.

If you have a similar but different size bias tape maker it may work. You can also fuse a piece of fabric if you’re not comfortable using a bias tape maker.

Remember, this should be fun!

Click the download button below for the PDF instructions for the Flower Block.

yetanother12daysflowerblock Download

I used my 1″ & 2″ circle paper cutters to cut the freezer paper templates for the flower.

Well, in all honestly, I just pulled them from my cute antique tins already cut.

It’s no coincidence that the flower uses these 2 sizes of circles. I’m basically lazy!!!

When you get your blocks made please share them with us on my Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SewingWithSusan

I’ll be back tomorrow with the Day 5 block.

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

My Life

Yet Another, 12 Days of Christmas Mystery Quilt-Along, Day 3

December 28, 2021 suznquilts

Welcome to Day 3!

Today we will make a Santa block.

You may have noticed this block is part Tiny Tree block & Tiny Dresden plate.

We’ll be referring to the previous 2 days’ instructions to make Santa!

Sorry for the delay, a storm this morning has had our internet off & on so I’ve had issues trying to complete this post.

Since I’ve rushed a bit I hope the instructions are complete & accurate!

I need to post now before it’s off again! lol

Just click the download button below to get the complete instructions to make this 5″ x 6 1/2″ (unfinished) block.

yetanother12dayssantablock Download

When you get your blocks made please share them with us on my Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SewingWithSusan

I’ll be back tomorrow with the Day 4 block.

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

My Life

Yet Another, 12 Days of Christmas Mystery Quilt-Along, Day 2

December 27, 2021December 27, 2021 suznquilts

Welcome to Day 2!

Today we will make just 1 Tiny Dresden plate block.

If you have my Tiny Dresden Plate Template you already have the instructions,

just make 1 block!

If you don’t have the plastic template & would like to purchase one

you can find them on my website by clicking here.

I made a PDF of the detailed instructions with a paper template.

Click the link below to bring up the PDF.

yetanother12daystinydresdenplateblock Download

When you get your blocks made please share them with us on my Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SewingWithSusan

Another perk to joining my Sewing With Susan FB group is that I have videos of the applique process for the Dresden plates.

I’ll be back tomorrow with Day 3 blocks.

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

Mystery Quilt-Along

Yet Another, 12 Days of Christmas Mystery Quilt-Along, Day 1

December 26, 2021 suznquilts

Welcome to Day 1!

Are you ready to sew your way to the Epiphany with me?

The first block we’re going to make is one of my Tiny Trees.

tinytreewredstar-3

You can easily sew this in an hour or less.

You’ll need 4 fabrics for the tree.

I’m going old time Christmas scrappy.

Watermarked Photo

If you already own my Tiny Tree Template Set #286

just use the instructions on the template sheet.

If you’d like to purchase the template set

you can find them on my website by clicking here.

The block should measure 3 1/2″ x 5″.

For the star you’ll need to download the PDF at the bottom of this post.

Be sure to appliqué the star at least 1/4″ below the top of the block to be sure it doesn’t get sewn into the seam allowance.

Click the link at the bottom of this post to bring up the PDF.

Be sure the 1″ square prints out exactly 1″ for the templates to be the proper size.

I hope you enjoy making the tiny tree as much as I did!

When you get your tiny tree made please share them with us on my Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SewingWithSusan

I’ll be back tomorrow with the Day 2 block.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

tinytreetemplatesetinstructionswstarsuznquilts Download

My Life

Yet Another, 12 Days of Christmas Mystery Quilt-Along!

December 26, 2021December 26, 2021 suznquilts

T’was the day after Christmas & everyone is gone. Not a creature is stirring but the man making ham & beans since before dawn…

The kids have all gone home, and taken the babe. She was the light of the party, unanimously the best part of the day!

But now it’s again quiet. We’ve been to Mass & back home. What to do now besides play on the phone?

Get out your fabrics, let’s make our own fun & play. It’s going to be another fun-filled 12 days!

I’ve a design in mind now, it’s small & it’s cute. I hope that you’ll join me, to give the Christmas blues the boot!

A Few Of My Favorite Things

Yet Another, 12 Days of Christmas Quilt-Along!

There will be

steps, 1 each day for the 12 Days Of Christmas,

right here on my blog.

Finished quilt is 21.5″ x 23″.

If you have to ask if there will be Dresdens involved, you don’t know me at all… it’s called “a few of my favorite things,” duh!

Go find some of your favorite fabrics & meet me back here later today.

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

My Life

A Joyful Christmas

December 25, 2021December 25, 2021 suznquilts

A joyful Christmas is wished for you & yours today.

May this holy season find you well

& with loved ones.

Susan

My Life

Mood-Boosting Activities to Fend Off Winter Blues

December 17, 2021 suznquilts

It’s that time of year for us.

The days are short & the nights are very long! Most of these days are gloomy, like today… Fortunately for another week we’re so busy with all the Christmas hustle & bustle that we hardly notice, but after Christmas it really kicks in; the winter blues.

So what are we to do?

Redfin has put together a list of mood-boosting activities to do at home and how to begin incorporating them into your routine, one which of course is quilting!

I can think of no better way to spend a cold, dreary day than inside where it’s warm & cozy *with lots of lights on* planning & sewing a quilt!

It’s a great time to start your Valentine or spring quilt.

If you’re reading my blog you probably already quilt,

but don’t miss the recent Redfin article we were featured in: “Mood-Boosting Activities at Home to Fend Off Winter Blues: Indoor Hobbies and Practices.”

Head over to their site & check out their other great suggestions of mood-boosting activities to do at home and how to begin incorporating them into your routine.

pilates – reading – yoga – preparing delicious meals – quilting – create handmade holiday decor

There you’ll find they’ve included my quick tip,

“There’s no better way to make your home truly yours than by making custom quilts in your own style. Colors, sizes, and designs can be customized for everyone in your home, by everyone in your home. Young children up to adults can join in the creative process and make quilts for beds, walls, and tabletops. – Suzn Quilts“

Your days will begin to look brighter even before the first signs of spring.

You can find their blog by clicking here.

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

My Life

Get Your Christmas Sewing On

December 4, 2021December 4, 2021 suznquilts

Are you like me & have a hard time thinking of Christmas in July, even October???

With Thanksgiving over, the house decorated & the Christmas season underway, I want to sew with all the beautiful red, green & Christmas fabrics around me!

There are still plenty of days to sew before Christmas. And if you don’t finish it before this Christmas, there are plenty more days before Christmas 2022, 2023…

If you need some inspiration, I dare you to click this link to reveal some awesome Suzn Quilts Christmas patterns!

I did a “Christmas” search on my website to see what would happen.

There are 3 pages, 53 items!!!

I knew I loved to sew for Christmas, but I had no idea I had that many Christmas patterns. Some are quick & easy like my quilt-as-you-go Christmas Pines table runner & placemats