New Pattern Sample – Page 5 – Quilting my way through life!

New patterns with Vintage Play

November 9, 2013 suznquilts

I’ve been really busy these past months using my new fabric line,

Vintage Play by Red Rooster.

This is the panel with 12 blocks that can be trimmed to 6-1/2″.

This is the border print that is available in 2 colorways.

The tossed cars are available in 3 colorways.

The tossed butterflies were one of the last prints, but has become my favorite background print.

The puppies are available in 2 colorways.

The check print makes a great border!

These tossed flowers are available in 2 colorways too.

The green tossed flowers are good for a background as well.

The tossed numbers read as solids.

They make great applique in 5 colors!

The road dashes are also in 2 colorways.

Funny thing is, quilters thought they were stitches!

This gives me more ideas…

In yellow I thought this print would make a great legal pad effect.

You might think it would be hard deciding where to start, but before I even had the fabrics, I designed a free pattern for Red Rooster. After that, the rest just kept coming…

This quilt uses some of each of the fabrics, except the green border.

I have kits!

Kit includes:

Vintage Play Quilt Pattern and Vintage Play fabric

for the 76.5″ x 92.5″ quilt top and binding.

Price $136.99 plus shipping.

You can purchase the kit by emailing me:

SuznQuilts@aol.com

There is also a lap size kit.

Kit includes:

Vintage Play Quilt Pattern &Vintage Play fabric

for the 61.5″ x 77.5″ quilt top and binding.

Price $94.99 plus shipping.

You can purchase the kit by emailing me:

SuznQuilts@aol.com.

I also have a new book,

Vintage Play

It includes 6 new lap quilts, prefect for laps or toddler size beds.

3 of the quilts are with my Quilt-as-you-go technique,

and 3 are traditionally pieced.

Price just $15.95 on my website!

This is Vintage Play, my personal favorite.

I have kits!

Price is $68.25 plus shipping for the 48.5″ x 62.5″ quilt top & binding.

Book sold separately.

You can purchase the kit by emailing me:

SuznQuilts@aol.com

This shows all of the quilts included in the book:

I have limited kits for them.

If you’re interested in purchasing a kit,

contact me SuznQuilts@aol.com.

There is also a bonus quilt pattern included in the book “Tiny Play”

I made this quilt from scraps of “Vintage Play” & “Toy Cars” quilts.

I also have 6 new patterns with Vintage Play.

Add-a-Candle birthday counter.

This is a birthday counter that you add a candle to each year to celebrate a child’s age. I suggest making as many candles as you intend to add to this quilt when you make the quilt so you don’t have to go back each year & make another candle. This is also a good idea to give to mom’s that don’t sew. Just fusing the candles each year will be OK, because you won’t need to wash the quilt.

Measuring Up!

I designed this to measure children’s height, but at market & festival I think more quilters were interested in buying the pattern so they could hang the quilt in their sewing room! I didn’t even think of that! Guess where this is going later…

Crooked 9-Patch is a stack, cut & swap quilt.

It’s actually a revised older pattern of mine that I’ve taught to children at summer camps. It’s quick, easy and as long as you sew a straight seam, the quilt will lay flat!

My Pencil Box

is another of my Quilt-as-you-go lap quilt patterns.

In case you’ve not seen my tutorial on this you can see it here.

Quick & easy lap quilts… my thing!

These next two quilts are traditionally pieced, then handed of to my awesome quilter, Tamara.

Oh Happy Daisy,

also a lap quilt, but with great-big applique!

Out to Play.

This is also a lap quilt with great, big applique.

Below is a link to view my Schoolhouse session explaining my new fabric line, book & patterns on You Tube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KPtz59fChw

I hope you enjoyed my last several months!

Until next time,

Susan

Applique quilt projects, Hot Tips, My Life, New Pattern Sample, Suzn Quilts Patterns

Applique for the really lazy quilter…

September 19, 2013 suznquilts

I’m curious, when you make fusible applique and the pattern tells you to trace 3 or 6 or 15 of an applique shape, do you really do that???

Do you trace any shape more than once?

If so, my next question is “Why?”

It occurred to me several years ago that I’m lazy & I like to get things done quickly so I can move onto the next project.

What occurred to me later is that not everyone thinks like I do. (Thank goodness!!!)

I never, never, NEVER trace a shape more than once, and I really don’t like to trace it even once.

How slow, boring and a waste of time!

When I have more than one of the same shape to cut out,

I fetch my bolt of Wonder Under.

Next, I calculate what I need.

If the object is about 6″ square (I’ve added about 1/4″ all around the object) and I need 6 of them, I will cut a 6″ x 36″ piece(s) of fusible web.

Since Wonder Under is only about 17″ wide, I need more than 1.

I also cut a 6″ strip of the fabric I’m going to use.

Next, I fuse the Wonder Under to the back of the fabric aligning the edges.

If I need to piece the Wonder Under, I just butt the edges together.

It doesn’t show if you have nice straight lines cut of the Wonder Under.

Let the piece cool,

then remove the paper backing by scoring it with a pin & pulling it off.

Next, cut the “fused slab” into however many of the size shapes you need.

It is CRITICAL that you stack up the pieces all the same way, fabric to fusible web

NOT fusible web to fusible web.

If you cut out your shape that way,

you will have one nice double-sided object.

You will most probably NEVER get those two shapes apart again.

Ask me how I know!!!

On the other hand, if you need a right and a left (reversed) object,

I recommend leaving the paper on and stacking paper to paper

then cut out the shape and you’ll have mirror objects, both cut at once!

Voila!

6 jacks with one fast cutting with my rotary cutter and rotating mat!

One more tidbit of info…

If your pattern is already reversed for you as in my

Suzn Quilts’ Patterns,

you will need to pay attention to which side you lay the pattern on before you cut it.

You don’t want to accidentally cut out the shape in reverse.

When I’m working on a new pattern like this one,

I don’t reverse the shape until I put it into pattern form,

so I put the shape on the fabric side of the stack.

If the shape is reversed for you, just put the pattern on the fusible web side of the stack, then cut.

By the way, this new design that I’m working on also has 7 big circles.

You may say I can’t cut out circles with my rotary cutter…

but I just did!

The key,

hold the ruler tightly down on the stack,

holding it right at the edge where you need to cut.

You’ll need to keep all the layers tightly held together and cut smoothly.

When you stop to re-grip, leave the cutter in place.

Yes, I have a circle cutter, but for this instance, this is quicker.

Steady hand and close to the ruler!

Any questions?

Until next time,

Susan

Finishing up a quilt project, New Pattern Sample, New Quilt Book, New Quilt pattern sample, Quilt Market, Suzn Quilts Patterns

New book, A Christmas Sampler

June 15, 2013June 11, 2013 suznquilts

Now for my new book!

This is my new Christmas Sampler that is written as a 12 step block-of-the-month.

I love this pattern and it is only $20!

I sold out of these at market last month!

Do I need to tell you that it is made with Deb Strain’s Christmas Countdown by Moda?

There is applique and piecing and the instructions are broken down into 12 steps so you won’t be overwhelmed.

If you’re like me you’ll just want to jump right in & stitch this sampler as quickly as humanly possible,

but I know there are a lot of quilters out there that like the option for quilt shops to cut kits for them in the block-of-the-month fashion.

Each step is printed on its own page(s) that are perforated for easy tearing out and each applique step has full-size, reversed templates ready to trace.

The last step has detailed illustrations and instructions for sewing all of the completed segments together to make the finished top

and the last page is devoted to kitting instructions for quilt shops.

The back cover features another version of the quilt.

I chose the fabrics for this sample from my stash.

It has a more primitive or country feel.

I also left off the outer border; partly so you could see how it still looks good smaller,

but most importantly because I want to hang it in my kitchen for Christmas on the hanger my late father-in-law built for me

and this is the perfect size!

The quilt features more holly buttons by Just Another Button Company on the mints like on my Peppermint Pizzazz pattern

and the holly berries and snowflakes are actually more Hillcreek buttons.

Have I enticed you yet???

I hope that I have.

If your local quilt shop doesn’t have them, all my books and patterns are available on my website.

I had a lot of fun piecing both color versions

and I enjoyed going back the last couple of months with you remembering my sewing journey!

Thanks for following.

Until next time,

Susan

New Pattern Sample, New quilt pattern, Quilt Market, Suzn Quilts Patterns

New pattern #4, Cobblestone Courtyard

June 14, 2013June 11, 2013 suznquilts

Today’s new pattern is Cobblestone Courtyard.

It is made with exactly 1 jelly roll (40, 2-1/2″ strips) and

1/2 yard of binding fabric plus the backing & batting.

I’m always challenged to create ways to use those clever pre-cuts.

It is just so much fun!

You can of course cut your own 2-1/2″ strips,

but who doesn’t have one of those luscious jelly rolls sitting in their sewing room that was just too tempting to pass up?

The beauty of this quilt is

if you make it with that precious jelly roll, you’ll be able to display this quilt anywhere and be able to enjoy it forever!

Another fun tidbit about using a jelly roll is that most of the cutting is done for you.

You truly can make this quilt in 1 day including the hand work on the binding.

The jelly roll that I bought for this quilt is the new PB&J collection.

It’s not too bright and not too dark either.

Below is another version, with guess what fabrics???

It coordinated with my market booth.

You can purchase the pattern on my website.

I’m scheduled to teach this quilt in Denver on July 10, 2013

at the Rocky Mountain Sew Expo.

Think about those jelly rolls that you might have stacked up in your sewing room and come join the class.

My new book is next.

Until next time,

Susan

New Pattern Sample, New quilt pattern, New Quilt pattern sample, Quilt Market, Suzn Quilts Patterns

Yes, another post & another new pattern!

June 13, 2013June 11, 2013 suznquilts

Today’s new pattern is Peppermint Stripes.

A bit redundant, I know…

It’s made with Deb Strain’s Christmas Countdown…

It’s a quilt-as-you-go lap quilt…

It has more cute peppermints…

The pattern includes not only the lap quilt, but also a table runner…

What more can I say???

I’m a creature of habit, I know already!

It is however the first time that I’ve added a flange to a quilt.

In case it’s hard to tell,

I added the flange (piping without the cording) of green before adding the binding.

This is because I wanted to use black binding, but I didn’t want the black binding to fade into the black fabric of the quilt.

Pretty clever, huh?

I know, not that clever.

Two more patterns,

then my new favorite book!

Until next time,

Susan

New Pattern Sample, New quilt pattern, quilt as you go lap quilt, Quilt Market, Suzn Quilts Patterns

New Patterns!

June 11, 2013 suznquilts

Hi all!

I bet you thought I got caught in a mudslide. Eaten by a lion. Got run over by a crappy purple Scion…

(lyrics from Train’s “50 ways to say goodbye”)

…but no.

Since you last heard from me, besides working like crazy to get new designs ready for spring market,

I’ve been to Paducah with my mom & a friend for the AQS quilt show.

I’ve been to Effingham with my husband where he attended meetings.

I’ve been to Portland, Oregon for International Spring Quilt Market with my daughter, Chloe, plus several thousand close quilting friends.

My husband, David, turned 50, we had a surprise party (wow he’s old!!!).

And I just returned from our guild’s Quilt Away 2013, which I was the chair person for.

It’s no wonder I’m tired & feeling like I’m always running…behind.

So, last time I chatted with you I was whining about these:

Can you believe that these trees in their pattern form were the best-selling of my 4 new patterns?

I also have a new book, but we’ll talk about that later.

So, back to the forest of trees…

I told you they were fun, and they are.

It’s just that I had made so many prototypes,

that by the time I got to sewing the tree blocks for my actual pattern sample,

well, I was just over the beauty of them and wanted to be done so I could move on to my next pattern sample!

Introducing: Oh Christmas Tree

The pattern includes one of my signature quilt-as-you-go lap quilts

& a cute little table runner.

The trees are cut in the “stack & whack” fashion,

sewn into blocks then sashed into strips.

Once all the 40″ strips are made,

they are sewn onto the foundation of basted backing/batting

to make the finished quilt.

Lastly I added another touch with buttons atop each tree.

I used the hand-dyed black buttons by Hillcreek.

They have the cutest buttons!

You can find Oh Christmas Tree on my website.

More new patterns & my new book coming soon!

Welcome to my new followers!

Until next time,

Susan

Finishing up a quilt project, New ideas, New Pattern Sample, New Quilt pattern sample, quilt as you go lap quilt

Tired of Singing La La…

April 5, 2013 suznquilts

I can only partly remember the story my grandma used to tell us, but the part that has lived on in my memory is “I’m tired of singing la, la.”

So the story goes…

She was rocking someone to sleep and to help lull them she was singing, “La, la. La, la.” over & over.

Apparently the little tyke she was singing to wasn’t tired enough to be lulled to sleep, but instead into annoyance, when they announced, “I’m tired of singing “la, la!””

Well, it’s a story that hit my grandma’s funny bone and she told it over and over.

Consequently, as I was growing up, when someone in my family was tired of doing something we would announce

“I’m tired of singing la, la!!!”

Among other designs that I’ve been working on with my “Christmas Countdown” fabrics,

I’ve been making a whole forest of trees.

Big trees,

Little trees,

Pretty trees,

(special trees, Here comes Winter book…)

Don’t get me wrong, they’re quick & easy, but I made so many prototypes

and then designed a few quilts to make with the blocks.

Now that I’m getting to make the finished blocks for the pattern sample

it feels a bit redundant…

..more & more trees, 44 trees…

(Dr. Seuss book…)

Pretty sure I could make trees in my sleep!

Perhaps is delirium? sorry…

The quilt will have 36 medium trees, 40 small trees and a bonus table runner will have large trees,

but that number has yet to be determined.

I’ll be putting these into one of my signature Quilt-as-you-go lap quilt patterns.

Now to start counting sashing strips.

What are you working on?

Until next time,

Susan

My Life, New Pattern Sample, New Quilt Book, Quilt Market

New Book & Patterns Ready For Fall Market

October 16, 2012 suznquilts

I finally have all of my printing done for market, yeah!

My new covers and books were delivered last week, but I’ve been busy doing other things like getting my distributor packets together, packing & putting the new designs on my website.

So, as I introduce my new designs this week, know that you can go to my website and order them and not have to wait for me to do that task after market.

Now for the best part, introducing them to you.

First, my new book.

You may remember me showing you the new Odds & Ends fabrics a couple of months ago, and then showing you the backing and batting of all three of these quilts basted and ready to sew.

Along with them I also designed and sewed some name banners.

I was lucky enough to get two more perfect models; Delaney my little friend, and my new great-nephew, Benjamin.

Aren’t they cute?

In this new book you’ll find Quilt-as-you-go instructions to make the name quilts in either baby size or lap size.

You can see from the photos that the lap quilt is the perfect size for any age kid to cuddle up in and the baby size is generous enough for wrapping any age baby into. (you know, for when the baby is 6 months old and you still don’t have a gift…)

The name banners can be made either horizontal or vertical and can say anything you want, not just names.

Entire full-size alphabet is included.

Instructions and yardage guidelines are given in the book too.

This summer our family moved into the next generation with the birth of Benjamin.

Upon trying to decide what to give the expectant parents, knowing I would be setting a precedence with 10 nieces & nephews plus 3 kids of our own, I decided on a quilt using my unique quilt-as-you-go technique. It’s really quick, cute and usable!

I was able to match Benjamin’s nursery colors, personalize it with his name and it was quick & easy.

I also thought ahead for those of you sewing for babies that maybe are not named in time for gift sewing and giving, just put on it the word “BABY” such as I did for the quilt above that Ben is lying on. Problem solved!

I’m so excited knowing when all those babies start coming very close together, and you know they will and soon, I will be able to sew up a quick quilt by just selecting 3 fabrics and starting to sew.

Pretty smart of me, huh?

I hope you will give them a try.

Look for two more new designs coming up.

Until next time,

Susan

New Pattern Sample, New Quilt pattern sample, Quilt Shopping Out & About

A Pile of Pretty

October 5, 2012October 4, 2012 suznquilts

Isn’t it pretty?

Full of color!

It will look cute hanging in my booth with my coordinating quilts.

I can’t wait to put it all together.

So, what are you up to?

Been out at the quilt shops?

Seen the new “Odds and Ends” by Julie Comstock for Moda???

Have I at least enticed you to check your nearest quilt shop the next time you’re there???

I hope you look,

I hope you find it,

and I really hope you pick some up so you can make some of my new patterns with it!

Until next time,

Susan

New Pattern Sample, Suzn Quilts Patterns

Miles of Charm Pack Garland, coming up…

October 4, 2012October 4, 2012 suznquilts

Last week while I was in Bloomington, I found the Odds & Ends pre-cuts.

Ever since I designed my Charm Pack Garland pattern, each market I make new strands in coordinating fabrics to drape around in my booth. So…I bought a couple of charm packs.

The yardage always takes longer to arrive in shops, so I’m going to use a Moda solid that matches really well.