Suzn Quilts’ patterns – Page 10 – Quilting my way through life!

A Quilt Along, My Life

Moda Signature Quilt Along – Day 7

February 27, 2013February 27, 2013 suznquilts

Moving right along into Day 7…

These are the blocks of the day.

I’ve been out of town for a few days

and I took one of my featherweight sewing machines

and these blocks to work on.

The weather in mid-Eastern Illinois wasn’t forecasted to be very nice,

so just in case I was snowed in, or if I got the chance to sew I could.

Since I don’t sew on my featherweight machines very often,

I kind of have to re-teach myself to use them.

You know, where is that pesky scant 1/4″?

How do I rewind a bobbin if heaven forbid I run out?

Imagine my surprise when I got done with this square-in-a-square and it looked like this:

Perfect!!!

I can’t say this for all of my sewing all of the time, for sure.

I was very pleased with this progress however.

I also found it very nice that the pattern actually told me what size this piece was supposed to measure at this point, thank-you!

Block #4 by Primitive Gatherings.

This block turned out so nice…I love it!

Block #19 by Me & My Sister.

This block was a breeze too.

I wouldn’t mind making more of these either.

Block #13 by Malka Dubrawsky.

Looks pretty good from here, but…

I had to re-sew two of the seams, one of them twice to make it satisfactory to me.

I had to laugh when I was pressing it and trimming the threads before I photographed it.

It reminded me of a funny story that my MIL & husband tell of my SIL and her 4-H pancakes.

Anyone take “Milk & Eggs in Your Meals” for a 4-H project?

Back in the day, for the show, you had to make 3 pancakes EXACTLY the same size and present them on a plate to the judges.

They would critique them for size, color and of course they got to taste them too…

(how many COLD pancakes they must have had to taste that day, yuk!)

and then you were awarded a ribbon.

Well, that morning was very stressful to say the least, said SIL could not get 3 pancakes the same size to save her life, so she got out a pair of scissors and trimmed away the excess!

I can’t image the judges didn’t notice cut edges and I never did hear what color the ribbon was for those pancakes, but it makes everyone laugh whenever we are reminded of it!

This is what I thought of while I was trimming the threads.

Too bad I didn’t think of the pancake story before I ripped out those seams.

I probably could have saved myself some time and just trimmed something instead.

Hopefully yours will go together more smoothly, but if not…

Until next time,

Susan

A Quilt Along

Moda Signature Quilt Along-Day 6

February 26, 2013February 25, 2013 suznquilts

Are we having fun yet?

I guess it’s because I love playing with fabric that I have to say “yes!”

Here are the patterns for Day 6.

I love the fact that I have strips cut of background fabric that are just the right size for slicing off another couple of rectangles, a few more 2″ squares, another 3-1/2″ square, etc.

Block 12 by Laundry Basket Quilts.

Block 30 by Kathy Schmitz.

Block 27 by Lauren & Jessi Jung.

Each one is prettier than the next, don’t you think?

Just four more days to go!

Until next time,

Susan

A Quilt Along

Moda Signature Quilt Along- Day 5

February 22, 2013 suznquilts

Another day, three more blocks…

I’m really enjoying the three blocks a day.

It doesn’t hurt that they are cute little blocks, that are mostly blocks that I’ve not made before.

In particular, I’ve never appliqued a block before that was raw edge appliqued with no fusible web.

So far I’ve made two different blocks that way.

This is block #18 by French General.

The other block was block #20 by Zen Chic.

That’s one of the reasons I decided to do this Quilt Along.

I’m sewing blocks I never would have made otherwise.

This is block #5 by Kansas Troubles Quilters.

Cute little bowties.

Lastly,

Block #10 by Kate Spain.

I really like the fabrics that I chose for this one.

They make the block very eye appealing.

Well, that’s week #1 under our belts.

We’re half done.

We can take a break now.

No new blocks until Monday.

Or if you’ve not started yet, you have the whole weekend to get caught up with the fourteen blocks that I’ve already made!

Until next time,

Susan

A Quilt Along, My Life

Moda Signature Quilt Along-Day 4

February 22, 2013 suznquilts

Moving right along here…

Day 4 only resulted in two patterns.

Block 15 by Fig Tree Quilts.

Block 24 by Jan Patek.

Jan is a master at applique and so she stitched a cute little house in the middle of her block.

Maybe when I get the pdf I’ll add it to my block too.

These blocks are quick when you already have the fabric choices narrowed down to just a handful.

I can spend a lot of time belaboring that issue!

I also read the first three patterns and cut background strips of each size that I would be needing before I started sewing.

The other nice thing that Moda did was use pieces of the same few sizes.

I keep going back to the 3-1/2″ strip and cutting off a few squares or rectangles.

Then I cut a few more 2″ squares, etc.

This really simplifies the cutting.

Are you really not going to join in the fun?

If you are sewing the blocks, send me your photos and I’ll post them along with mine.

Until next time,

Susan

A Quilt Along

Moda Signature Quilt Along Day 2

February 20, 2013February 23, 2013 suznquilts

Day 2 blocks are complete.

Block 16 by Cotton Way.

Block 20 by Zen Chic.

Block 28 by Bunny Hill.

The instructions for Anne’s baskets tell you to make the handles with your favorite bias method.

I used these,

These bias bars are worth their weight in gold!

I cut and made two short handles of each color instead of cutting one long bias piece.

I didn’t have to cut a long bias chunk out of my 1/2 yard of fabric that way,

and it’s easier to work with two short pieces instead of one long one.

Are you sewing yet???

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

Applique quilt projects, new fabric collection, New ideas, New Pattern Sample, Quilt Market, Suzn Quilts Patterns

Oh, how I LOVE color!

September 6, 2012 suznquilts

Is it just me…

or could you too, sit and sew with these all day long?

I love color(s)!

This is more of Julie Comstock’s new Odds and Ends fabric line by Moda.

I’ve given you a couple of glimpses of it recently,

but yesterday I received a bit more for a few projects that I’m working on for market next month.

Yikes, that’s way too soon!

I noticed as I moved our

latte bowls from Anthropologie

from this serving (not tray, not platter, not bowl) whatever it is,

that the colors of some of the bowls matched the fabrics perfectly.

Color!!!

This is our kitchen table centerpiece this summer.

My daughter Clare and I bought these at Anthropologie last winter, one of every color they had.

When we brought them home,

they landed on this cool platter with wire base…thing.

How perfect to set our ~~useless~~ adorable little latte bowls on.

They make me smile, kind of like a new box of 64 crayons.

It would seem Clare has a few of my genes, she talked me into buying them.

Back to the fabric…

You can see the whole collection at Moda.

I like to go here and look at “Future Groups” to see what’s coming out.

Odds and Ends is due out this month, so check you local quilt shops.

I need to get sewing.

I’ve got some quilts to name (hint, hint). ;)

Until next time,

Susan

New Quilt Pattern Magazine, Quick Little Projects, Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Blog Tour

May Day, 100 Blocks Winner

May 5, 2012May 5, 2012 suznquilts

Thanks for all the wonderful comments about my block!

For me, it’s not hard to come up with new designs when I have such beautiful fabrics to work with.

I’m impressed with all the May Day memories comments.

I really thought is was just some obscure memory that only I had…

I’m happy to report that the winner of the 100 Blocks Vol. 5 issue is

# 65 Cecilia

Cecilia, please send me your full name & address to receive your free issue.

For those of you that didn’t win, hopefully you can find the new 100 Blocks issue at your favorite newsstand.

If you have trouble finding it, you can always go to Quiltmaker’s site and buy it there.

I chose two subscribers to receive a free pattern of choice and they are,

#28 Barb N.

#68 Vicki T.

If you both want to let me know your choice and address, I will send you a free pattern.

Thanks for joining in on the blog hop!

Until next time,

Susan

fabric shopping, My Life, New Pattern Sample, New Quilt pattern sample, Suzn Quilts Patterns

Out Quilt Shoppin’

March 15, 2012March 14, 2012 suznquilts

It’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it!

That’s right, buying fabric.

This is how they looked on the bolts,

and this is how they look sitting on my work table.

(next to some of my new threads)

Also shown is my Garden Trellis pattern that I’m making with these new fabrics.

I’m teaching this quilt at a workshop next month and decided I wanted another sample.

Garden Trellis has been one of my best-sellers since I dreamed it up in 2005.

That’s right, I dreamed it!

I literally woke up and came downstairs and sketched it and the next day sewed it.

David thought (& still thinks) I was crazy, but how crazy is it now that it’s one of my top-selling patterns???

Do you ever dream in quilting?

Time to sew…

Until next time,

Susan